Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderball
You totally miscontrue what he says and what he means. Perhaps that's his fault in not being clear. He's opposed to gay marriage and abortion legislation, because he believes strongly that its a state issue. If Texas is opposed and California is in favor, why should they not each have their way. Very logical. (Politically, he's also handing the fallout to someone else). He's also a soldier, he's seen hell incarnate in Vietnam, and he's not exactly willing to send more guys to a meatgrinder unless he has to. What he meant when he's said that is that they simply can't dismiss policy alternatives out of hand like some candidates have... either they're liars or fools (or both). As for his anti-universal healthcare policy, that's just very conservative ideology, that socialist healthcare doesn't work with 300+ million people... hell it barely treads water in a country of 33 million.
What you didn't mention is McCain has voted against party lines on Stem Cell research, and other "leftist" democrat led initiatives.
Funny you bring up the Christian leader mentality... its something that most CANADIANS and Americans quietly believe in. McCain was being honest... he'd prefer a leader with some religious moral background (they don't have to be rabid zealots either). So do many people. Don't believe me, name one Prime Minister or President that wasn't some Christian denomination. Hell, I don't think there's ever been a Presidential candidate or major Party leader that wasn't white and christian. You might find non-christians in lower levels of government, but North American society as a whole seems to be most content with the status quo... an anglo-saxon (or French in Canada) christian male. Even Obama is staunch Christian, United Church of Christ I believe, and very proud to admit it.
As for his moderate stance... he is. You're looking at it like a Canadian. This is not Canadian politics. For the US, McCain is a moderate right of centre candidate. Would he closer to Stockwell Day than Stephen Harper or Paul Martin. Yep. But this is a different country. He is a moderate American candidate that appeals most to non declared independents and moderates. (those people win elections).
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I will give McCain credit for voting outside of party on stem cell and immigration, but I have to disagree with your perception of his abortion views.
"On
June 26,
1984, McCain voted for H.AMDT.942, the
Siljander amendment, to H.R.5490, "An amendment to define "person" as including unborn children from the moment of conception"
This amendment would not allow states to allow abortion in any way. Defining all unborn feotuses as persons would essentially make abortion of any kind equivalent to murder.
As for gay marriage, yes he has said each state should be given the right to decide, but he also supported an outright ban on gay marriage in Arizona. So despite the fact he believes it should be a state policy, he is still very much opposed to gay marriage.
"He's also a soldier, he's seen hell incarnate in Vietnam, and he's not exactly willing to send more guys to a meatgrinder unless he has to."
Well apparently there are a lot of situation where he believes he "has to" send in troops. He is constantly pressuring the government to send in more troops to Iraq. Publicly stated that Israel should not have used any restraint agaisnt Lebanon. He has also been extremely hawkish towards, Russia, Iran, and just about any other US problem. The man is a hawk pure and simple.
The only time his experience as a POW has shown through is his stance on torture. He has aggresively fought the use of torture by the US and deserves credit for that.
Yes you are right I am looking at it from a Canadian perspective. That still does not change the fact that although he is left of centre on a couple of issues (which may give him an overall rating of being centrist) he is extremely right wing on many issues. Considering there are so many posters who complain about polarization and the US military, this seems absurd to me that these same posters then support McCain.