McCain's complete lack of integrity

[RichardUK]

Was John McCain always this way? It seems to me watching from across the pond that he is completely morally bankrupt. During this election campaign he has taken every opportunity to sell out his integrity and whore out his dignity if there was the possibility of poll percentage points to be gained. Using this Wall Street melt down as a vehicle to boost his campaign and in the process potentially putting America's long-term economic stability in jeopardy seems to me incomprehensibly reckless and opportunistic. Appointing Palin as his VP and potentially putting the free world in danger should she have to replace him again seems almost criminal. Exploiting his POW experiences and the deaths of Iraq veterans is something he does on a daily basis without even questioning for a second how unscrupulous this is and without any consideration for the feelings of their family members.

But was he always like this or has he just become obsessed with winning this election at all costs? All I heard from the coverage over here about McCain when he won his parties nomintion was how he was a principled man and a "maverick" which is now a word I'm sick of hearing....essentially someone who DID have a conscience. Was that wrong? If not when did he start to become so Machiavellian and emotionally unstable?

[Betsy Ross]

1. I think you summed him up nicely.

I shyly admit there was a time I thought there was some good in him. But that was in another lifetime, his at least.

[VolcanoJen]

2. Yes, he's always been this way.

It's easy to spot in the written and reported coverage of his campaign.

You'll often find a "in typical McCain fashion" or "as is McCain's wont" or "McCain's maverick style" in the various articles. It's the Washington Beltway's Chorus of Fools' way of saying "He's always been like this. He's kind of an asshole."

Saturday Night Live's (mostly lame) debate skit really nailed this part of his personality tonight.

[liberalmuse]

3. McCain is a dishonorable man.

I don't know that he ever had honor. He was involved in corruption during the last meltdown we had back in the '80's, and it appears he has completely sold his soul in an attempt to win this election. He seems to feel he is entitled to the Presidency and has treated Obama with extreme disrespect, as if he has some nerve to contest him. I despise the man. He has shown nothing less than contempt for Americans, and people around the world. He's not a Maverick. He's a reckless, thoughtless, mean-spirited human being who has a temperament that has no place in the White House. I really wish more Americans could see what you see.

[cabluedem]

4. McShame is a loose cannon on the deck. His temper tantrums are legendary as well.

good thing Obama is going to win.

[opihimoimoi]

5. He got away with it for 30 years....times have changed....he has exposed himself

[barack the house]

6. Well that is most of the Republican party. "The GOP went to washington to change it and it changed >

and it changed them". McCain's own words his admission to the world his party is totally corrupt. I think from his time in vietnam he has occasions of telling the truth, but ultimately he is in line with the mass corruption of the Republican party.

[Orsino]

7. "Maverick" is polite-speak for "asshole."

I think that some of his alleged party-bucking stances may have resulted from tiffs with his colleagues.