AUG 15 - 30, 2004

VOL. 2 ISSUE 16

AUGUST 26, 2004 – By now you've seen the footage.  Then-presidential hopeful John McCain scolding then-Governor George W. Bush for using tactics he should be "ashamed" of and "apologize" for.

Supposed maverick Senator John McCain was run out of the presidential race by an entirely amoral smear campaign that used his service to his nation against him.  The Bush campaign had its henchman spread lies and misinformation until they had convinced enough people that war hero John McCain was crazy, not a hero, and couldn't be trusted.

McCain was furious and disgusted and demanded Bush apologize, but it was too late.  McCain was done.

Wanting to pass campaign finance reform, McCain swallowed his pride and kissed up to the man who sleazed him out of the chance to lead his nation.  John gave Bush his endorsement with a clear deal cut that it was on the condition the first bill passed would be McCain's campaign finance reform legislation.  McCain was taking one for the team.  Ever the good soldier, he swallowed his pride for the sake of taking an important step for his nation in getting control of the campaign finance situation.

But now here we are again.  McCain witnessed the President insult veterans and service to the nation first by smearing him, then by using Senator Max Cleland's service against him.  And now he is seeing President Bush run exactly the same lowly, amoral game against John Kerry that he used against McCain himself.

John knows this.  He derided the swift boat smear campaign and called on the President to condemn the ads.

The President hasn't.

McCain called on Kerry to condemn an ad that wasn't half as bad - it attacked the President's Vietnam era service record, but did so only with actual facts.  Yet even so, Kerry obliged.

And still, McCain sticks by President Bush.

He sees the President denigrating veterans and service to the nation.  He sees the President using his henchmen again to spread lies and false accusations to bring Kerry down.  McCain has made clear he is appalled and offended.

And yet he will do nothing.  Not only won't he stand up and condemn President Bush for it, he still continues to endorse him and campaign side by side with him.

Well we have some news for Mr. McCain:  if you stand beside the President while he continues to unleash dishonest attacks on our nation's veterans, then you are an accomplice to the act.

What credibility does McCain's endorsement have if we see he gives it to someone undertaking these lowest of disgraceful actions?  Even more, what does it show us about Senator McCain that even having experienced the fallout of such disgraceful attacks himself, he won't take a true stand against the President for it?

Every day now McCain has something to say.  He tells Kerry to pull this ad, condemn that one.

But the question now arises:  why should anyone give a damn what McCain has to say at this point if his actions show his words don't mean a thing?

McCain earned the respect of both parties and the nation by showing himself to be someone who puts principle above party or politics.  He was someone who boldly took stands for what was right and never bowed to partisan pressure.

But in continuing to endorse and campaign with President Bush despite the fact the President refuses to condemn the dishonest swift boat ad attacks on our veterans, McCain is showing that he has lost his stomach for standing up for what is right and has become nothing more than another political hack who puts party above what is right.

There is no excuse.  McCain's daily comments make clear he sees what is going on, he knows Bush is the source, and, as he demanded four years ago, he believes the President must stop these attacks, condemn them, and apologize.

And yet McCain's daily actions show that he is not willing to put action behind his words.  He loses all credibility as he refuses to take the stand he knows he should take, as he continues to endorse amorality and lying, smearing attacks on our nation's heroes.

Senator McCain has been getting a free ride in the non-Moderate Independent media - and here as well.  But that is now over.

John McCain has been a hero to us here at The Moderate Independent for putting what is right ahead of politics.  But unless John McCain shows himself to be someone who is capable of standing behind his principles, unless McCain draws the line with the President and tells him that unless he condemns and stops the swift boat-type smears he will withdraw his endorsement and stop campaigning for him, Senator McCain becomes just another useless player, not worthy of respect, not capable of useful leadership, not of man of bold action but a man who is only playing both sides for the sake of self-promotion, a man who talks righteously but puts nothing behind that talk.

It is time, Senator McCain.  Take a stand against President Bush's dishonest smear campaign against veterans and withdraw your endorsement of him if he doesn't apologize and desist, or simply shut your mouth already because your daily pontificating is clearly nothing but self-promoting politician speak.