Kerry: McCain Is The Real Flip-Flopper
EmailABC News’ Teddy Davis and John Santucci Report: Maligned as a "flip-flopper" during his 2004 presidential run, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, D, argued Thursday that Arizona Sen. John McCain, R, is the one who truly deserves the "flip-flop" label.
"There was one issue on which the entire Republican campaign based itself last time about a flip flop which was that I voted for something before I voted against it in an amendment on the floor of the Senate. It was a vote of principle. It was not a change of position," said Kerry. "Our fault was in not explaining it adequately."
Kerry went on to contrast himself with McCain, whom he approached in 2004 about crossing party lines to be his running mate. Kerry argued that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has flip-flopped on a series of substantive issues.
"In the case of John McCain," said Kerry, "he has changed now on torture, which is a fundamental value. He has changed on taxes which he once called dangerous, and now he is in favor of the permanent Bush tax cut which he once voted against. A complete change of position on the actual substance."
"He’s changed on the intolerance towards Jerry Falwell and the evangelical movement’s right wing," Kerry continued. "He’s changed on oil drilling. He’s changed now, or he’s indicated a willingness to change, on the Artic Wildlife Refuge. He’s changed on a windfall profits tax. He’s changed on the mandatory cap issue. And he’s fast moving down the Mitt Romney road of changing on all the fundamental precepts."
McCain senior adviser Steve Schmidt responded to Kerry’s criticism by saying, "It looks like John Keerry was for John McCain before he was against him."
While Kerry’s "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it" line was the most vivid illustration of President Bush’s flip-flop argument against Kerry, the Massachusetts senator is wrong in portraying the funding measure as the only issue on which he reversed himself.
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee had also altered his stance on whether Bush was fighting the wrong war or whether he was simply pursuing the war in Iraq in the wrong way.
During a July 11, 2004, interview with CBS’ Leslie Stahl on "60 Minutes," Kerry said that what was wrong about President Bush’s handling of Iraq was "the way the President went to war." But at a Sept. 6, 2004, "front porch" event in Cannonsburg, Pa., Kerry said of the Iraq War: "It’s the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time."
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Takes one to know one.
Posted by: tww | June 19, 2008, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
“I’m John Kerry, and I’m reporting for “dooty.” Kerry and Bush were cousin from ‘Skull ‘n Bones.” Why didn’t he contest Ohio? The man has almost as little credibility, and his good friend John McCain who he asked for his VP.
Posted by: pity | June 19, 2008, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
Kerry flipped once, how many has McCain changed on?
Posted by: JR | June 19, 2008, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
The Dems should consider duck-taping Kerry’s mouth shut. He’s the spineless wimp who had the election in his pocket and still couldn’t bring it home, which is what I expect Obama will do this time.
I think we should OUTSOURCE THE PRESIDENCY! A phone room in Mumbai would be a whole lot cheaper and far less detrimental than W– and at least as effective as either of the two bozos we have to choose from this time.
Posted by: La Chatte | June 19, 2008, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
I actually think that McCain is a far worse FLIP FLOPPER than Kerry ever was.
McCain has FLIP FLOPPED on privitization of social security, off-shore drilling, ANWAR drilling, torture, taxes, etc.
Posted by: Sandy | June 19, 2008, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
LOL… Kerry. Ha. Why the long face? Lost your presidential bid because the voters never knew which side of the issue you were for, before you were against it?
Posted by: SmartPrimate | June 19, 2008, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Who cares what Kerry thinks.
Posted by: alpaig | June 19, 2008, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
Kerry — the jerk who has no credibility? The person who’s all in favor of windmills as long as they’re not in his state? Give us a break!
Posted by: A | June 19, 2008, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
Kerry is representative of what’s wrong with the democratic party. It’s no longer a party of principles and people. It’s now the party of taxes and power.
Posted by: Thomas | June 19, 2008, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
McCain the man who has committed Adultery, flip flops on every issue possible (probably can’t remember one day from the next), vietnam vets can’t stand him, they all tell me he is no war hero just a pow like the rest, has no credibility at all, the back half of Bush…opens his mouth again.
Posted by: Becky | June 19, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
Obama: Even his friends are afraid he’ll turn on them
Posted by: Soetoro No! | June 19, 2008, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
Politics as usual. Hard to decipher the lessor of two evils AGAIN.
Posted by: Digibella | June 19, 2008, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
Digibella: Have you noticed that you’re mudslinging?
Posted by: A | June 19, 2008, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
nd is he correct on what he said?
In the case of John McCain,” said Kerry, “he has changed now on torture, which is a fundamental value. He has changed on taxes which he once called dangerous, and now he is in favor of the permanent Bush tax cut which he once voted against. A complete change of position on the actual substance.”
“He’s changed on the intolerance towards Jerry Falwell and the evangelical movement’s right wing,” Kerry continued. “He’s changed on oil drilling. He’s changed now, or he’s indicated a willingness to change, on the Artic Wildlife Refuge. He’s changed on a windfall profits tax. He’s changed on the mandatory cap issue. And he’s fast moving down the Mitt Romney road of changing on all the fundamental precepts.”
Sounds like it.
McFlipFlop
Posted by: Thinking | June 19, 2008, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
Wow. John Kerry comes out to say Mc Cain flips more than Obama.
We all know how NEUTRAL Kerry is about all this.
What a EARTH SHATTERING HEADLINE.
Gotten even up bad news for Obama with manufactured replies from ULTRA biased sources you know.
Posted by: NED | June 19, 2008, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
I dont care if McCain flip flops so long as he changes in the direction that will benefit most Americans. Kerry is a loser supporting another loser.
McCain 08
Posted by: TH | June 19, 2008, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
kerry is a disgruntled loser. he really should just shut-up. the whole world knows he along with the other losers (dean, richardson, etc) are bitter people who totally blew their own presidential bids. obama could do better without these vendictive, bitter endorsers who constantly jump on the bandwagon to get attention.
Posted by: sonia trevino | June 19, 2008, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
becky do you have the evidence on the adultery allegation against mccain. please cite your sources this is not the national inquirer.
i’m (a hillary always will be) supporter by the way. i just get sick of all the b.s.
Posted by: sonia trevino | June 19, 2008, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
Kerry, you rather keeps quiet.
Posted by: chris | June 19, 2008, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
A stiff defense is what Obama needs to get through this temporary rough patch. He deserves to get slammed for reneging on his silly primary promise, but voters will forget as their wallets continue to get lighter.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | June 19, 2008, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
Yeah…maybe McCain’s a WORLD-CHAMPION FLIP-FLOPPER. But he has an excuse…his advanced age has addled his brain.
Posted by: wilderrr | June 19, 2008, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
Is this coming from the original flip-flopper? Lol.
Posted by: JULIE | June 19, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Who cares what any neo-con or liberal thinks. Both groups, which are the extremes of the two parties have created this country (mess) we are in. Bush and his neo-cons ruined it and since the dems have had power, what have they done to fix it? Remember, they promised to bring our troops home and the American people believed it. Now we know who the true liberals are by seeing who backed B.Hussein Obama (blame his parents, I didn’t name him, he should change it if it is offensive, it is to me). Say what you want about McCain, but he is the only moderate who has run since Wild Willie.
Posted by: James | June 19, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
Some of these posts are from people who sound like they voted for Bush Junior. Hey…don’t they know that NOBODY IN AMERICA cares what they think anymore? Endlessly wrong…wrong about everything…and STILL they have an “opinion”. These people must have egos the size of that “Mission Accomplished” banner from five years ago! ROTFLMAO.
Posted by: wilderrr | June 19, 2008, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
the one thing that he probably won’t flip flop on is something like picking Pawlenty as his VP… and then he can go forward with on his plans to take the gas tax moneys out of the state infrastructures and get a gimmick to get elected.
That won’t be a flip flop…
(Pawlenty was the guy who took money away from his states infrastructure by promising to reduce the taxes that paid for that infrastructure… you know that paid for bridges and highways and LEVEES…just like John McCain wants to do…
oh wasn’t it Pawlenty’s state that had that little bridge collapse situation…
atleast maybe John shows he’ll stick with one principal…give the voters 30 bucks and let their levees, bridges and roads rust out.
smart leaders…really smart leaders.
Posted by: dl | June 19, 2008, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
Kerry is hilarious!
Kerry asked McCain to be his vice-presidential running mate in 2004, but turns on him when McCain becomes the Republican presidential nominee in 2008.
Is Kerry disappointed that McCain doesn’t want him as his vice presidential running mate this year?
LOL
Posted by: USmarine0331 | June 19, 2008, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
sonia…….. I’m sorry to tell you that Becky is sooo right about McCain’s adultry. As a matter of fact he has admitted being unfaithful to his first wife……read all about it in his autobiography……..Ally
Posted by: Ally | June 19, 2008, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
I guess Kerry comes with Obama’s “change” package. Too bad.
Posted by: Mack | June 19, 2008, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
Why is this guy still talking as if his opinion matters?
Posted by: mpCT | June 19, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
McCain was unfaithful to his first wife after he came back from the Hanoi Hilton – Obama is unfaithful to his principles – Public Financing, NAFTA, Israel, Iran, Iraq… he cheated on his high minded promises of Hope and Change.
One makes Mccain an imperfect husband… the other makes Obama unfit to be the POTUS!
Posted by: SmartPrimate | June 19, 2008, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Why are you making this about John Kerry? He is telling the truth about all McCains flip flops. You and the rest of the media always excuse & give Teflon John a pass on crutial issues.
Posted by: straighttalk? | June 19, 2008, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
Is Kerry still hold a grudge against McCain for not being his VP in 2004?? So a flip-flopper call other a flip-flopper?? Sounds like a liar call other a liar.
Posted by: aaron | June 19, 2008, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
John Kerry’s, Obama’s mentor, nickname is flip-flopper. No wonder why Obama keeps on flip flopping.
Posted by: al4mcattack | June 19, 2008, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
The rest of the media give mccain a pass??? are you kidding me??? it’s obama that got all the pass. McCain is too vetted for anyone to not know his position. People knows John McCain. People don’t know Barack Obama and give him a pass when something comes up.
Posted by: aaron | June 19, 2008, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
The best thing John Kerry can do is shut up. Who is he to call McCain a flip-flopper when he is famous for flip-flopping? Didn’t he vote for the Iraq War?
Posted by: al4mcattack | June 19, 2008, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
I’m glad john mccain want to drill here. The gas price wasn’t $4 8 years ago Mr. Kerry. We have the capacity and resources here so DRILL HERE DRILL NOW!!! Chinese and Cubans are drilling 60 miles from floriday. Even if drill only serve just Floriday, we should still DRILL HERE DRILL NOW. Drill in ANWR too the Alaskans want us to drill there. so Why not..
Posted by: hannah | June 19, 2008, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
I just thought it’s funny “looks like John Kerry was for McCain before he was against him” LOL. that’s funny!
Posted by: hannah | June 19, 2008, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
Kerry was for Mc Cain before he was against him.
Posted by: NED | June 19, 2008, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
I agree there should be more than the five debates proposed by Barack obama. I think there should be six. One should be Mccain 2004 Vs Mccain 2008.
Posted by: eyes like summer sun | June 19, 2008, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
Keep talking Kerry, the more you talk better for McCain.
Posted by: Moe | June 19, 2008, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
The only Flip-flop that may have been a populist view is also very empty. Lifting the ban on off-shore drilling and yet States should be allowed to decide. Off-course which State would want to allow off-shore drilling? It may be popular now but when all factors are now weighed in, fear will definitely creep in. Imagine Florida without the beaches?
Posted by: eyes like summer sun | June 19, 2008, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
If McCain is a flip/flapper,Kerry
is a LOSER……
Hussein Obama is a flip/flapper and the biggest JOKE of the century.
Posted by: TEXAN | June 19, 2008, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
“There was one issue on which the entire Republican campaign based itself last time about a flip flop which was that I voted for something before I voted against it in an amendment on the floor of the Senate.
Right, These were the words of John Kerry.I vote for before I vote Against.
Posted by: waggdogg | June 19, 2008, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Obama gives the press no access and he still flip flops all the time.
McCain has the press on his bus almost every day. He talks to them for hours a day on his bus or plane.
McCain has town halls all the time.
Obama is tightly controlled. His audiences at forums all ask softball questions.
Obama almost never talks to the press.
Obama flip flopped just yesterday on Nafta.
Obama the day before flip flopped on social security taxes. Obama had gone after Clinton on that position.
No one flip flops like Messiah Obama.
Remember how he was against wright, for wright, against wright.
Obama said i never knew rezko was under investigation before he knew it.
Obama flip flops constantly. The media just never covers it.
Posted by: Jason | June 19, 2008, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Mccain is head of the flip-flop clans. Infact am officially changing his name to Mcbush flip-flop. There is not a single policy that Mccain has not flip-flopped on. There is a difference between augmenting your policies and changing your policies. Mccain has completely changed his. Mccain 2004 Vs Mccain 2008. Who wins? McBush flip-flop.
Posted by: eyes like summer sun | June 19, 2008, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
Hillary Supporter for John McCain. I am 1 in 18 million for the real candidate.
In this vast world of politics and qualified democratic candidates, how in the world did we land up with Barack Obama. Is this the best they could do!
Posted by: mary | June 19, 2008, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
Come aboard, Mary. You prove that the Republican party has become the real party of inclusion: we’ll accept anyone’s vote no matter how clueless they are.
Posted by: 1percenter | June 19, 2008, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
McCain is a giant flip flopper. He is doing everything he can to win over the republican base by giving up any integrity or honesty he ever had. Kerry was the best person to be president, but was mowed over by hateful lies and hateful ridiculing of something he said that was true. If he changed a vote when he learned more about it, he did the right thing. When you are John McCain and change positions you strongly held at one time. It is a lot more of a flip-flop. McCain spoke out loudly about the tax cuts for the rich and how we could not afford them. He was against torture, but now says water boarding or anything else Bush wants done is fine. He once seemed to be a man of worth, and now is nothing but an empty suit just like all the other republicans. They might as well be robots. They don’t have to think, just do as they are told.
Posted by: Vicki | June 19, 2008, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
Obama briefs the press that travels with him all the time. He is often shown talking to them on the plane between stops. You are delusional if you think Obama doesn’t talk with the media all the time. And as far as anything else you say, you are not right. McCain is a flip-flopper and everyone knows it. It is sticking and people are disgusted with him. Obama will change America for the better. Getting rid of republicans who care only for their own profit is a top priority with most people. It is pitiful how republicans still pounce on the honorable John Kerry to spew hateful bile, but are guilty of putting back in office the corrupt and incompetent joke George Bush.
Posted by: Vicki | June 19, 2008, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
@Omentum:
Stick to the musical interludes; the trivia doesn’t work. I’m not a big fan of McCain, but he did serve this country and deserves some repect for it.
Posted by: MIguy | June 19, 2008, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
respect… it’s late and misspelling is my cue to go…
Posted by: MIguy | June 19, 2008, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm
@Omentum:
Call him a waffler, call him misguided or confused or whatever. But, unpatriotic is not one of the things that he is. I know there is a lot of venom that goes back and forth on here, but I ask you not to get infected by it. I’ve seen your posts and generally they are not in this vein.
Posted by: MIguy | June 19, 2008, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
@Omentum:
I know trading insults and parsing words has become the sport here. I know very well the point you are making about Michelle Obama and the silliness of those who attack her; thus I claim no hypocrisy.
Posted by: MIguy | June 19, 2008, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm
hahaha – Maybe we can agree on something after all…
Posted by: MIguy | June 19, 2008, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
G’nite Omentum – don’t let the haters get to you.
Posted by: MIguy | June 19, 2008, 11:58 pm 11:58 pm
This 2005 interview with Tim Russert on Meet the Press made it very clear.
*********************************
RUSSERT: The fact is you are different than George Bush.
SEN. McCAIN: No. No. The fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I’ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.
STRAIGHT FROM THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS
Posted by: McCain is McSame | June 20, 2008, 12:39 am 12:39 am
Kerry is in trouble in Massachusetts for his election. He may go down. Finally Kerry ” who is against it before he was for it” is laughable to call Mcacin a flip flopper.
- A McCain DEMOCRAT
Posted by: vs | June 20, 2008, 5:27 am 5:27 am
It all comes down to whether or not you think we should continue the bush policies. If you think the war should continue indefinitely, while we spend $10,000,000,000 a month, and you think that bush has done well with the economy then mc-more-war is your man. If you think that it’s time we start to get out of iraq and do some positive things for the average American instead of just the top 5% then vote for Obama.
Posted by: pt | June 20, 2008, 6:33 am 6:33 am
Maybe Kerry should be more concerned about the fact that he and Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama – yet Hillary won their state of MA by 15 points!
Posted by: ch | June 20, 2008, 7:19 am 7:19 am
He was for McCain as VP before he was against him as President.
Go away Kerry – and take Ted and Caroline Kennedy and Bill Richardson with you!
Posted by: ch | June 20, 2008, 7:20 am 7:20 am
mc-more-war used to have a spine but now is nothing but a flip-flopper and a panderer. He’s also an OLD fart. The real straight-talker, John Murtha, the real straight-talker, said that the presidentcy is no place for an OLD man. There’s a reason they make pilots retire at age 60. mc-more-war needs to retire with his millionaire wife. (The one he had an affair with after his first wife waited for him to come back from the war.) Obama 2008!!!
Posted by: pt | June 20, 2008, 7:25 am 7:25 am
I’ll admit, the messenger in this instance may not be the perfect choice, but I gotta say he’s right this time.
The McCain camp says, “mommy, Obama did this!” When they are guilty of the same BS. I guess it’s ok if no one notices.
So now when they scream bloody murder, I look closely at them first. It’s an easy way of finding out their dirt without having to dig to deep. They always do it for me.
Posted by: DAVID NH | June 20, 2008, 8:19 am 8:19 am
Who do you believe John Kerry or the swift boat.I believe the swift boat vet.
Posted by: avery davis | June 20, 2008, 11:17 am 11:17 am
I meant to say when he wasn’t running for president against your Party!
Posted by: reaganfan | June 20, 2008, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm