On McCain being a Maverick

Obama Hits Back, Too Softly For Some - washingtonpost.com:
"Barack Obama released a television advertisement yesterday that questions John McCain's claims to be a 'maverick,' and he charged in a campaign appearance that the Republican displays independence only when it suits him politically."

This is so untrue. I recall as far back as 1995, when McCain was working on campaign finance reform, that conservatives had no end of trouble with him. That effort led McCain to work with Russ Feingold, a particularly liberal Democrat, and resulted in the so-called McCain-Feingold Bill. One would think this demonstrates McCain's unwillingness to toe a right-wing party line. The NRA even launched into a very strong campaign against him, even suggesting that Arizona voters should vote him out. If that's not getting on the bad side of conservatives, I don't know what is. But the liberal hate machine recasts McCain's efforts very differently from the truth.

Throughout McCain's career, he has typically done what he thought was right, on many occasions working with Democrats to get things accomplished that he thought needed to be done for the good of the country, rather than political expedience which has become the hallmark of Federal politics, the Democrats in particular.

If you doubt the veracity of that statement, look no further than Nancy Pelosi's efforts, or rather lack thereof, concerning the future of America's energy needs. In 2006, with gasoline at $2.91 per gallon, Pelosi vowed in her own press release:

“Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.”

In 2008, after the Dems have been in office for over 2 years, Congress has done NOTHING to address critical needs in this area. Pelosi, it seems, has decided to take any political heat in a re-election year, so that Democrats back in their home districts can blame her, get re-elected, and increase the Democrats lock on their do-nothing Congress. What a sham.

In looking at the two sides and how they address problems, if we want a president to end Washington gridlock and represent us all, it sure sounds like McCain's straightforward nature is the kind that's a good start toward that end.