In Bob Woodward’s latest book, State of Denial, we learned that former Secretary of State Henry [tag]Kissinger[/tag], of all people, had become an important advisor to the Bush White House on the war in Iraq. Kissinger perceived “wobbliness” within the administration on Iraq, and told the president that the overriding lesson of Vietnam is to “stick it out.”
In his writing, speeches and private comments, Kissinger claimed that the United States had essentially won the war in 1972, only to lose it because of the weakened resolve of the public and Congress.
In a column in The Washington Post on Aug. 12, 2005, titled “Lessons for an Exit Strategy,” Kissinger wrote, “Victory over the insurgency is the only meaningful exit strategy.” He delivered the same message directly to Bush, Cheney and Hadley at the White House. Victory had to be the goal, he told all. Don’t let it happen again. Don’t give an inch, or else the media, the Congress and the American culture of avoiding hardship will walk you back.
Given Kissinger’s role in Vietnam, and his reflections on what went wrong, [tag]John McCain[/tag] made the right call in 2000 when he decided he didn’t want Kissinger to have anything to do with his presidential campaign. McCain’s fear, apparently, was that Kissinger “would taint the image of the ‘Straight Talk Express.'”
Of course, that was the old McCain. The new McCain has chosen Kissinger to be the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York.
With the “Straight Talk Express” already having been driven into a ditch, I guess this makes perfect sense.
Of course, you know what this means — it’s time to update the list of McCain’s biggest flip-flops as he transforms himself from maverick hero to right-wing hack.
* McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of [tag]Roe v. Wade[/tag] to saying the exact opposite.
* McCain criticized TV preacher [tag]Jerry Falwell[/tag] as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but has since decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. (Indeed, McCain has now hired Falwell’s debate coach.)
* McCain used to oppose Bush’s [tag]tax cuts[/tag] for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.
* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.
* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation.
* McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist.
* McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands.
* McCain gave up on his signature policy issue, [tag]campaign-finance reform[/tag], and won’t back the same provision he sponsored just a couple of years ago.
* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.
* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.
* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.
If we include Kissinger, that brings us to 12 — and McCain’s not done trying to pander to the far-right base.