I really don’t think this will ever happen, but the prospect of a Dem ticket featuring John Kerry and John McCain is starting to generate quite a bit of attention. It’s worth taking a step back and considering the pros and cons here.<\/p>\n
To be sure, Kerry and McCain have been friends for many years and McCain has drawn GOP ire for saying nice things about the Dem nominee in recent weeks. Indeed, this goes back a ways. Last June<\/a>, McCain was singing Kerry’s praises, saying that Kerry is “smart, he’s tough, and he’s experienced. He has the capability.” McCain added that Kerry “can connect with people in the same way” he did in his 2000 campaign.<\/p>\n McCain’s defense of Kerry has only grown since. Last month, McCain went out of his way to undermine Bush’s talking points by defending Kerry’s record<\/a> on defense and national security issues. Last week, McCain sounded<\/a> a lot like a Republican Zell Miller by saying his party “has gone astray.” He added that he believes the “Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy.”<\/p>\n Speculation about McCain’s interest in helping Kerry kicked into overdrive in early March. When asked what he would do if Kerry invited him to join the Dem ticked, McCain said<\/a>, “Obviously, I would entertain it.” McCain’s office had, however, categorically backed away from the statement within a few hours.<\/p>\n There are almost too many angles to this hypothetical, but let’s consider just a few. McCain is vehemently opposed to a woman’s right to choose, he has been an enthusiastic supporter of the war in Iraq, he voted to confirm John Ashcroft for attorney general, he accepted a “Friend of the Family” award from the Christian Coalition, he’s sponsored sweeping legislation for school vouchers, he supported a measure to bar gays from the Boy Scouts, and in 1998, he voted to throw Bill Clinton out of office in the Senate’s impeachment trial. He’s not only a life-long Republican, he’s already endorsed<\/i> Bush’s campaign this year.<\/p>\n Sure, McCain has shown a moderate streak on campaign finance reform, health care, and taxes, but McCain is not<\/i> a Republican in Democrats’ clothing.<\/p>\n
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\nMcCain is one of those Republicans that Dems generally respect and admire. He’s honest and principled, he’s a decorated war hero, and more important than anything else, he really<\/i> doesn’t get along with Bush (Enemy of my enemy…). That said, let’s not forget that McCain isn’t just a Republican, he’s a conservative one at that.<\/p>\n