A Summary of McCain Shortcomings

The Denver Post features a piece from David Harsanyi which sums up nicely why conservatives have such animosity toward John McCain:

Anger towards McCain, despite the spin of his supporters, isn't exactly irrational. McCain has shown an elastic sense of principle. To conservatives, it seems like temperamental predilections are just as likely to determine his positions as poll numbers. He's a man they have trouble trusting.

Conservatives may remember that after losing the South Carolina primary in 2000, McCain derided conservative evangelical leaders as wielding "evil influence" on the Republican Party. ("Evil influence" apparently means convincing people not to vote for John McCain.)

Now, he's one of the believers.

Conservatives may wonder why McCain joined Russ Feingold in writing legislation that allows the federal government to dictate free speech in ways never before imagined. Or that he joined Ted Kennedy on an immigration bill that was opposed by most conservatives. Now, McCain sounds like he's ready to join the Minutemen.

Free-market types may wonder why John McCain supports cap-and-trade schemes. Others may wonder why he not only buys into end-of-world global warming scenarios, but opposes drilling in ANWR — comparing that stretch of tundra in Alaska to the Grand Canyon and Florida Everglades.

Fiscal hawks may wonder why McCain was one of two Republican senators to vote against Bush's across-the-board tax cuts. He justifies the position by claiming he believes it should have been tied to spending cuts.

Conservatives, while not perfect, are a pretty principled bunch. They demand as much consistency as is humanly possible of themselves and their leaders.

John McCain is, rather than the "maverick" the media paints him as, a "deceiver." He legislates Middle-to-Left and campaigns Right.

He obviously expects the American people to be too stupid or disengaged to notice. While that may be true of many middle-of-the-road voters, it isn't true of genuine conservatives. They are watching like hawks, and have found McCain to be wanting.