The [tag]New York Times[/tag] ran a front-page item today on a “deepening if impersonal relationship” between [tag]George W. Bush[/tag] and [tag]John McCain[/tag], who, the article suggests, have come to rely on one another for very different reasons.
Given their history of intense rivalry and sometimes personally bitter combat, their newfound partnership is seen by some [tag]Republicans[/tag] as born more of political calculation than personal evolution. Either way, it could prove valuable to Mr. [tag]McCain[/tag] in his efforts to win the Republican presidential nomination in [tag]2008[/tag] by sending a signal to Mr. Bush’s conservative base and fund-raising network that, at a minimum, the White House will not stand in the Arizonan’s way.
The president had Mr. McCain to the White House three times in one week recently to talk about how Mr. [tag]Bush[/tag] should make the case for the war in Iraq and how to break the wall of conservative opposition to the immigration measures proposed by both men. Mr. McCain was back in the Oval Office again on Tuesday to talk about ways to win approval of the line-item veto.
Bush sees McCain, whom he calls “[tag]Johnny Mac[/tag],” as a lawmaker who might help get more of the White House’s agenda through the Senate. McCain sees Bush as a ticket to success in 2008. It is, as the NYT put it, “the product of the pragmatic calculation by two politicians who see potential gain in striking a peace with a powerful rival.”
But I think it’s worth keeping in mind the competing attitudes that make these two “rivals.” Considering the ill will Bush may have held towards McCain, it was pretty easy for the president to forgive and forget. McCain, after all, was an enthusiastic supporter on the 2004 campaign trail.
But what about the hard feelings on McCain’s side?
David Corn wrote a chapter in his book about the smear job Karl Rove and Team Bush pulled on McCain in 2000. It was six years ago, but it’s still breathtaking.
* Bush teamed up with a group called the National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition to blast McCain’s alleged anti-veteran policies. At one event, Bush appeared with J. Thomas Burch Jr., who argued McCain “forgot” veterans and “always” opposes legislation to benefit those who served. Even after Burch’s claims were proven false, Bush stood by the smear.
* Bush supporters spread devastating rumors about McCain in advance of the South Carolina primary, including the notions that McCain had been brainwashed by the Chinese; he had fathered an illegitimate child with a black prostitute; and he had connections to organized crime. McCain’s campaign always believed the Bush campaign was formally involved with the attacks.
* In advance of the New York primary, Bush aired a radio ad in which a breast cancer survivor condemned McCain for having opposed funding for breast cancer research. It was not only false, but hit close to home considering McCain’s sister had battled breast cancer herself.
I’m hard pressed to imagine McCain forgiving and forgetting all of this — just as I can’t imagine Bush apologizing for any of it — but I guess McCain really wants to be [tag]president[/tag].