Following Court Ruling, McCain Slams Obama for ‘Series of Reversals’
EmailABC News’ Bret Hovell and James Gerber Report: Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain took the occasion of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the D.C. gun ban to criticize Democratic rival Barack Obama for what he deemed "a long series of reversals of positions" on a variety of issues.
"It’s one in a long series of reversals of positions…whether it be on his pledge on public financing or his position on the second amendment," said McCain, R-Ariz., on Thursday. "So it’s not surprising."
Watch video of Sen. McCain discussing the Supreme Court’s decision HERE.
In an earlier statement, McCain called the ruling "a landmark victory for Second Amendment freedom"; Obama embraced the decision as "well-needed guidance."
Thursday morning McCain surrogates Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Randy Scheunemann, senior policy advisor, reiterated McCain’s support for second amendment rights to bolster their argument that Obama, D-Ill., is a flip-flopper.
On a conference call with reporters Brownback noted how pleased he was with the court’s decision and catalogued what he sees as a number of changes in Obama’s position on guns.
"I am amazed at the flipping on this position by Barack Obama," said Brownback on a conference call with reporters, asserting that "this is either an incredible flip flop or incredible inexperience on this issue."
Brownback outlined what he described as a developing pattern, noting Obama’s position changes on campaign finance and on the FISA legislation and even predicting where the next shift would come from. "I want to put a marker out there," said Brownback. "I think the next thing that you may watch and see Sen. Obama move on is going to be on Iraq, with the news coming out about the surge and its success."
Added Scheunemann, "You literally need a kaleidoscope to follow Sen. Obama’s positions on Iraq."
McCain has previously taken criticism from the National Rifle Association for his support of tighter restrictions at gun shows. Scheunemann acknowledged that McCain has advocated "standardizing sales procedures at gun shows," but claimed that "that is not a fundamental Second Amendment issue."
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oh mccain like you have room to talk you flip flop so much you dont even know what you oppose or support listen up mr mcflip flop can you stick to something already jeez your making me dizzy!!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | June 26, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
McCain AND Obama are liberal gun grabbers! No wonder they’re competing against themselves to fawn over this pathetic unconstitutional ruling.
Posted by: pity | June 26, 2008, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Seems this is one of five flip-flops for Obama in a week. Good show.
Posted by: Martin | June 26, 2008, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Obama playing the race card?
Did i mention that Obama lied about negotiationg with McCain over the public financing issue. Blaming “They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?“
Obama tells crowd that Repulicans will play race card. But has no evidence of this. They are not Democrats. Its funny the race card continues to played by the only racist.
Posted by: rhondas | June 26, 2008, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
Proof of another Obama “flip-flop”. Will this guy ever take a TRUE stand on the issues!
Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok
Q: You said recently, “I have no intention of taking away folks’ guns.” But you support the D.C. handgun ban, and you’ve said that it’s constitutional. How do you reconcile those two positions?
A: Because I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it’s important for us to recognize that we’ve got a tradition of handgun ownership and gun ownership generally. And a lot of law-abiding citizens use it for hunting, for sportsmanship, and for protecting their families. We also have a violence on the streets that is the result of illegal handgun usage. And so I think there is nothing wrong with a community saying we are going to take those illegal handguns off the streets. And cracking down on the various loopholes that exist in terms of background checks for children, the mentally ill. We can have reasonable, thoughtful gun control measure that I think respect the Second Amendment and people’s traditions.
Posted by: Jack, Chicago, IL. | June 26, 2008, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
Obama spokesperson said.
“Obama believes the DC handgun law is constitutional.”
Obama claimed he was a contitutional professor. I am afraid he was teaching Kenya constitution in University of Chicago thinking it was a US constition.
Posted by: john | June 26, 2008, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
McCain talking about Obama reversals of opinion, wow, is that rediculous or what? Doesn’t McCain have a lock on that type of thing? Is there ANY opinion McCain has today that he held a month ago? Hell, even a week ago?
Posted by: JR | June 26, 2008, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
These reversals must stop! There’s no excuse for them! I find them most disturbing!
What? . . . .Who? . . . .
I promise not to flip flop anymore till next time.
Sincerely, John McNoodles
Posted by: DAVID NH | June 26, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Who ever printed this story. Just watch out. You have spoken bad will against my savior. I am going to complain to my congressman.
SIGNED A LOYAL OBAMA FAN
Posted by: dei meat | June 26, 2008, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
Obama himself is still unknown to many, but his flip-flop tendency is a known character now.
Posted by: amy | June 26, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Yay!!! Americans can keep their constitutional rights thanks to the conservative judges on the SC.
Obama you’ve been busted AGAIN!!! No wonder you’re tied with McCain! The country is catching on to your phoniness.
Yeeeeehaw.
Posted by: Jo | June 26, 2008, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
Watching :
Don’t watch T.V. tonite….cause all they are going to show are Obama’s past statements on Gun Control and his newest flip on the ISSUE.
IT’s all about ISSUES folks…..But for Obama — he keeps bring up Race….
How many more times will Obama bring up race for all the fundraising he attends?
Because if anyone mentions FISA, GunControl, Public Financing…. Obama will bring up RACE.
It seems Obama can not realize that his faults are his lies and not the color of his skin….
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | June 26, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
Reminds me of a 1960′s program “Flipper”,changes directions faster than lightning.
Go ABC–now un-shackle Brian Ross.
Posted by: Robert in Cleveland | June 26, 2008, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
watching
You are talking about Mccain reversal on Oil drilling.
He said very clearly why he is changing his mind today because of National Security and American Economy. He also said I will leave the choice to the States to decide. By doing so he clearly cares and have a plan about National security and respects the US constitution which says “State Rights” very clearly.
I can pay the bill to Obama to go back to Law school to learn US Contitution
Posted by: john | June 26, 2008, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
What does Obama truely believe in and stands for? I thought he had a gangster mentality when he said:
“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun. Because from what I understand, folks in Philly like a good brawl.
Posted by: amy | June 26, 2008, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
There are far more dangerous stuff hidden in Obama’s record. CBS reported this long ago:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml
Posted by: amy | June 26, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Does Obama hold any principle on his own? He seems to refrain himself from making hard decisions and forming strong opinions until he finds out what is more politically beneficial for him to say.
There is a pattern emerging — his 130 present votes, his gun control position, his FISA, his NAFTA, how many more are coming?
Posted by: amy | June 26, 2008, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
The bots seem to be deaf, dumb and blind. The only thing that we know for sure about the guy is that he will do or say anything to get elected.
Posted by: Mack | June 26, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
Perhaps the next book Obama writes will be titled “Audacity of Flip Flops.” He could name each flip-flop and the reason for the reversal. He would have enough for a 500 page book selling for $40.
Posted by: Mary | June 26, 2008, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
I strongly agree with Rhondas comments. McCain you did not take the support of the Second Amendment far enough. It’s well and good to support and agree with the right to bear arms, but, in the next sentence, you SHOULD STATE YOUR OPINION and MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT YOU WILL DO ABOUT illegal bearing, selling and stockpiling arms and military style weapons. The ordinary citizen has no business with military style weaponry as a whole…unless permitted with special need. Otherwise, AK47′s etc have no business in the hunting fields, or collections, or homes. How do you support local and national law enforcement and their constant struggle to stay abreast of John Doe’s weaponry and quest for crime? How do you protect citizenry and law enforcement officers from getting shot and killed? There is a REAL HUE AND CRY for peace within our nation from the drug and crime sprees. Address that, John McCain, and make Obama figure out what he thinks he’s doing to solve that issue.
Posted by: CWeaver | June 26, 2008, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
I just hope he doesn’t become the president of the united states. I’m afraid there will be rioting when he loses.
Posted by: Stella | June 26, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
Time to take out that old video of Kerry wind surfing. Most appropriate…
Posted by: carljr. | June 26, 2008, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
As Paul Simon would say…
Flip Floppin away
Flip Floppin away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re flip floppin away
Posted by: rockthebleachers | June 26, 2008, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Wow… I can’t believe he is acttually trying to go there. I cannot believe all of the things he has flip-flopped on… so much for the “Maverick”
Posted by: matt w. | June 26, 2008, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
well heres mccain i oppose drilling no wait i support i support bush economic plan oh no wait there must be some changes i dont belive in global warming oh wait global warming is very real please mccain MR FLIP FLOP EVERY OTHER DAY!! the man dont even know what he stands for HA HA HA HA HA HA
Posted by: angie | June 26, 2008, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
Look at Obamas little robots crying because an OBJECTIVE, Non-McCain bashing article had the nerve to be published! 99% of the crap that floats around the media and internet is made up of Obamas blind little followers who dont know how to read or research. I even talked to a “hard core” Barack fan the other day and he couldnt answer a single question as to why hes voting. After i asked him Baracks stance on a myriad of important issues, he finally just said “well voting is the most important thing.. and thats what im doing”. If you are an uneducated moron, PLEASE DONT VOTE! your cancelling out the vote of informed americans!I also love how people are talking about Barack “making history”. How? Will he be considered “The first president to take office with ZERO Meaningful experience”? I remember the Democrats (although i was a little boy) bashing Dan Quayle as VICE president becuase he had “not enough experience” and “Was no Jack Kennedy”. Barack doesnt have 1/12th of Dan Quayles experience but look at the little lefties follow like blind morons!
see you all in november after you eff up our country (or try!)
Posted by: Tony | June 26, 2008, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
I do not particularly care for the word “flip-flop”, although it is great parody with the Paul Simon song! Obamas has changed his statements on issues so many times that the term really fits him.Sum it up this way: double-talking, lying, “change” artist, green, inexperienced, lacking in knowledge on too many issues, race card player, plagiarist, arrogant, audacious beyond words. I guess “flip-floppin” really does rock the bleachers!
Posted by: georgia | June 26, 2008, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
WELL AT LEAST OBAMA KNOWS WHAT HE STANDS FOR MR MCFLIP FLOP HE STANDS FOR ALL OF BUSH POLICIES AND HE KNOWS THAT WILL MAKE HIM LOSE NOW HES TRYING TO FLIP UP AND CREATE HIS OWN USELESS POLICES TOO LATE MCFLIP WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOUR ABOUT BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH BUSH
Posted by: angie | June 26, 2008, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
Ang – not sure if you are paying attention but your post makes absolutely no sense! You must be as confused as BO since he’s not sure where he stands on any one issue from one day to the next! Get a clue!
Posted by: rockthebleachers | June 26, 2008, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
Senator McCain is up 3 points over Senator Obama nationwide this PM. Good show.
Posted by: Martin | June 26, 2008, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Typical repubs, your candidate is such a loser you cant ever go on his record but just repeat the same old lies over and over. You really want another 4 years of lies, incompetence, and corruption? If so, keep voting Republican! Obama will be a fresh start for this country, maybe he can help get us out of the toilet Bush put us in.
Posted by: Michael | June 26, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
Mikey – you need to worry about your own candidate – BHO – who is turning out to be nothing but a big *ss liar himself.
Here’s another one for you:
I thought BO was a PROGRESSIVE? I am shocked to hear that Obama, leader of the liberals, supports capital punishment for crimes other than murder.
Posted by: rockthebleachers | June 26, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
you people are rediculous
Posted by: Joel | June 26, 2008, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
McCain certainly has no leeway to talk. He flip flops right after he’s said something in a speech, when he’s talking to a reporter. He’s changed so many times, he has no stand on anything important. And those that he does, are pretty ridiculous. I’m all for Obama, support him. Go WhyObama08.org!
Posted by: G Green | June 26, 2008, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Obama the Flip-Flopper strikes again!
He voted for the DC Gun Ban before
he Voted Against It!
He favors a womans right to choose,
but he wants an abortion reduction
plank in the Democrat Platform!
Barack Obama has Morphed into
John Kerry! No You Can’t!
Posted by: reaganfan | June 26, 2008, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
Wow! The rightwingnuts are going bat droppings over Obama not making the Supreme Court ruling an issue. They wanted so much for this to be another “gay marriage” issue to flush the ignorant cretins out from under their rocks and out of their trailer parks and into the polling stations in November. Doesn’t look like Obama is willing to play that game. The fact that he refused to walk into their trap has them screeching “Flip-flop!” in impotent, frustrated rage.
It is really driving the right wing up the wall to be facing an opponent who read their playbook. Obama may annoy some liberal supporters with his current tactics, but he will also not give the lunatic fringe anything to help them mobilize their base (those inbred troglodyte cretins who came out of the woodwork to prevent gays from being able to marry and, as an afterthought, voted for Bush last time). The KKKarl Rove playbook wont work a third time!
Ignorant losers!
Posted by: Bubba Bob | June 27, 2008, 2:39 am 2:39 am
It seems to be never ending for those two. Check out Diary of a Visual Poet http://diaryofavisualpoet.spaces.live.com/feed.rss
It’s a front row seat to watch the creation of a presidential poetic portrait and visual poem.
Posted by: Charity | August 1, 2008, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm