D. C. Russell on John McCain

(Updated 30 Aug 2008)

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Click for a summary of comments I have posted at various blogs about John McCain.

 Free State Politics, 29 Aug 2008

But Palin does have executive experience, which Obama and Biden both completely lack. Obama could have picked someone with a executive background, but chose not to.

The unfortunate thing is that Palin is probably more intelligent, more competent, and more intellectually honest than McCain (or Biden). A Palin-Obama context would be better for the country than the current race.

Outside the Beltway, 23 May 2008

John McCain probably is a pragmatist. And saying “John McCain is a liar. He’s a man without honor, without integrity …” may be harsh.

Unfortunately it is true. McCain is a liar! Year after year he has made a solemn promise to defend the Constitution from its enemies. Yet he broke that promise and ignored the First Amendment when he sponsored legislation abridging freedom speech. And he has supported other legislation that appears to be in violation of his oath.

You can argue that Hawkins' judgment is harsh, but can you reasonably refute its truth?

Just because the courts let him get away without does not change the fact that he lied when he promised to make no law abridging freedom of speech.

Most people who swear oaths and then break them are called liars and perjurers. Unfortunately, politicians who do so are congratulated as pragmatists.

Calling McCain a pragmatist does not change the fact that he is a liar, nor does it restore his honor or integrity. Pragmatism is just a code word used to try to obfuscate or excuse lies and dishonor.

Given McCain's history, I don't see any reason to believe anything he says, certainly not any campaign promises, nor any oath he would take as President. Nor do I trust him to be bound by the laws of the country or by Constitutional limits on his use of power.

You can argue that Hawkins' judgment of McCain is harsh, but can you reasonable refute the truth of that judgment?

Red Maryland, 31 Jan 2008

McCain is dangerous!

He has amply demonstrated that he will not allow the Constitution and Bill of Rights to stand in his way when he is determined to stomp on the rights of the people or of state or local governments. He has repeatedly and falsely sworn an oath to protect the Constitution from its enemies even though he is himself one of those enemies.

I do not trust McCain to preserve our current form of government and civil liberties. The fact that he might have been some kind of war hero and acts like a Republican once in a while on a few issues does not make him any less a potential danger.

Romney, Paul, and Obama are all safer choices if we want to preserve what is (or should be) most important to all of us. I see Clinton as a toss-up. I'd rather have a Democratic President than a faux "Republican" autocrat.

Hot Air, 30 Jan 2008

McCain is dangerous. He scares me more than any other candidate.

The man is a serial liar who has repeatedly demonstrated his opposition to both the U. S. Constitution and the rule of law.

McCain has repeatedly sworn an oath to protect the Constitution from its enemies, but has proven himself over and over again to be one of the enemies of that Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights.

McCain has ridden roughshod over the rights of state and local governments. He opposes enforcement of federal laws that he dislikes. The Lincoln Federal Savings case shows his true disdain for ethics laws and rules and belief that he is above the law.

McCain has made it clear that he will not allow the Constitution to get in his way when he believes he is right–an attitude he seems to share with the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, etc.

Based on his record and behavior, he is not fit to hold any office of public trust.

Michelle Malkin, 26 Dec 2007

McCain’s actions, and often his words, have made it very clear that he does not believe in most of the Bill of Rights, or in local self-government. He perjures himself every time he takes the oath of office. He scares me more than Ms. Clinton does.

Wizbang, 22 Oct 2007

McCain has repeatedly shown that he does not believe in the Constitution and Bill of Rights--his oath means nothing to him--and that he favors using the authority of the federal government to stomp on state and local governments, even on state and local issues.

Outside the Beltway, 19 Jul 2007

McCain's support for restrictions on free speech, and the comments he made about the Constitution and Bill of Rights show that he has lied repeatedly when swearing a solemn oath to protect the Constitution from its enemies. In short, McCain has become one of those enemies.

Given his record on free speech, his disregard for the rule of law when it comes to immigration, his record of consorting with criminals, and his record of supporting federal government interference in local affairs, I see no reason whatsoever to trust McCain to uphold any of our rights under the Constitution, nor to believe any promises he might make. The man is a liar, dangerous, and a potential autocrat.

Voices (Washington Post), 15 Nov 2005

It never ceases to amaze me that the press loves such a hater of free speech. Maybe they like McCain because his free speech restrictions apply to everyone except the press.