Campaigning in New Hampshire today, John McCain, well aware of the Iraq war’s unpopularity, insisted that he’s been a critic of the administration’s approach for years.
McCain also notes, especially for anti-war voters, that he was an early critic of the war strategy waged by former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
“The strategy was going to fail with Rumsfeld. I fought against. I spoke against,” he said.
He’s been repeating this line quite a bit lately, holding himself out as one of the leading critics of the Bush war policy before Rumsfeld’s ouster a year ago. Indeed, two weeks ago, McCain told a GOP audience that it was he, and no one else, who was willing to step up and make the Republican case that the White House policy was failing.
Most political reporters are noting McCain’s talking points, but few are explaining how wrong they are.
In his stump speech, McCain argues that he “clearly pointed out [what] was a failed strategy.” This just isn’t true. In December 2003, McCain praised Bush’s strategy as “a mission accomplished.” In March 2004, he said, “I’m confident we’re on the right course.” In December 2005, he said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.”
And now he wants to position himself as a critic of Bush’s pre-2007 policy? For anyone who’s been paying attention, it’s a little late for that.