McCain needs Bush's support to appear presidential, but he also needs
to maintain his maverick image.
"He's making adjustments," Hess said.
"He's trying to adjust his position to be the most advantageous."
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_9450.shtml
Another McCain flip-flop on Iraq war
By Staff and Wire Reports
Aug 26, 2006
Republican Sen. John McCain flip-flopped on the Iraq war again Friday,
saying he now supports the U.S. mission in Iraq days.
This latest change in stance came just days after faulting the Bush
administration for misleading Americans into believing it would be
"some kind of day at the beach."
The potential 2008 presidential candidate and staunch war supporter
issued a statement "explaining his position" after his
headline-grabbing comments criticizing the Bush administration.
It is not the first time McCain has "explained" or changed his
wavering positions on the Iraq war not do political observers expect
it to be the last.
"I have never intended my concern that the American people be fully
informed about the conduct and consequences of the war to indicate any
lessening of my support for our mission there," McCain said in the
statement.
He complained in an appearance Tuesday about major mistakes by the
administration, such as underestimating the size of the task and the
sacrifices necessary.
The comment prompted criticism from the right and left that McCain was
flip-flopping, contradicting his backing for Bush's policy.
"Stuff happens, mission accomplished, last throes, a few dead-enders.
I'm just more familiar with those statements than anyone else because
it grieves me so much that we had not told the American people how
tough and difficult this task would be," the Arizona senator said.
He made the comments while campaigning for Republican Sen. Mike DeWine
of Ohio.
Those phrases are closely associated with top members of the Bush
administration, including the president.
Bush stood below a banner proclaiming "Mission Accomplished" on May 1,
2003 after the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime.
The war has continued since then, with the death of more than 2,600
members of the U.S. military.
Vice President ***** Cheney said last year that the Iraqi insurgency
was "in its final throes."
In a March 2003 interview on MSNBC's "Hardball With Chris Matthews,"
McCain was asked whether he believed the people of Iraq would treat
U.S. forces as liberators.
"Absolutely. Absolutely," the senator replied.
Democrats criticized McCain on Friday, calling him a "Monday-morning
quarterback" and arguing that he should try to change Iraq policy if
he disagreed with Bush's handling of the war.
"McCain's latest criticism is simply more talk without action from a
presidential wannabe," said Christy Setzer, spokeswoman for the
Democratic group, Senate Majority Project.
Republican consultant Rich Galen, who worked in Iraq for the Defense
Department, defended McCain, saying he was giving an "accurate
description of where Americans are on this war" while also making the
case it is necessary in the fight against terrorism.
All the potential 2008 presidential candidates are trying to make
strategic decisions about how close they need to be to Bush, said
Stephen Hess, a politics expert at the Brookings Institution think
tank.
McCain needs Bush's support to appear presidential, but he also needs
to maintain his maverick image.
"He's making adjustments," Hess said.
"He's trying to adjust his position to be the most advantageous."
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John "Lying Flip-Flopper" McCain is perfect Republican presidential
candidate material.
Harry
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