The Tragic Irony of John McCain's Faustian Bargain

The Tragic Irony of John McCain's Faustian Bargain (9 comments )
READ MORE: Iraq, Tim Russert, 2006, Harriet Miers, George W. Bush

A lot of people are angry at John McCain -- and with good reason. His
contemptible performance on this week's Meet the Press was enough to make
any sentient person's blood boil.

For a dose of this ire, check out georgia10 at Kos who proclaims "the death
of McCain the Maverick", Paul Krugman who raises the notion that McCain has
become "a cynical political opportunist", Cenk Uygur who says McCain "is a
shell of his former self." and Rachel Sklar who slams his "transparent
political backtracking."

But I come here not to condemn John McCain but to weep for him.

Watching a true American hero hang a For Sale sign on his principles is a
profoundly sad thing. Especially for me.

I've long admired, respected -- indeed loved -- John McCain. I've written
many columns about him citing his courage and integrity, traveled with him
on the Straight Talk Express, been to his home and met his wonderful family,
and introduced him as the keynote speaker at the 2000 Shadow Convention I
helped organize by calling him "the most prominent voice for reform within
the political system." In fact, I am still on the advisory committee of his
Reform Institute.

Even though we've frequently disagreed on issues, I have always been
impressed with the unfailingly above-board way he has navigated the often
choppy waters of political leadership. Until now.

Back in December, following another dispiriting McCain appearance on Meet
the Press in which he repeatedly provided cover for Bush's woeful
mishandling of Iraq, I wrote: "The big question now -- a question left
unanswered on today's show -- is: which is the real McCain? The captain of
the Straight Talk Express, or the one who showed up today trying to have it
both ways -- expressing just enough gentle criticism to keep his 'maverick'
bona fides, while at the same time assuring Bush's right wing supporters
they have nothing to worry about?"

Sadly, that big question is unanswered no more. McCain has clearly convinced
himself that the only way he can become president is to sell his soul --
making a pact with the devils of the religious right and turning into what
Jim Pinkerton dubbed "a born-again Bushophile".

There he was on Sunday, disavowing his 2000 claim that Jerry Falwell is "an
agent of intolerance," offering the very telling insight that "the Christian
right has a major role to play in the Republican Party" because "they're so
active, and their followers are." In other words: there are votes in them
thar pews so principles be damned. Liberty University commencement, here I
come!

McCain was equally transparent in his repeated efforts to carry water for
Bush. He backed the president's handling of Iraq -- and even went so far as
to call Bush's recent speeches on the war "fairly eloquent" (is this the
first time Bush and eloquence have been linked, other than by Harriet
Miers-types?). He told us he "applauds" the president's efforts in Iran. And
he shamelessly turned his back on his powerful explanation for being one of
only two Republican Senators to vote against Bush's 2001 tax cuts. Here's
what he said then: "I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which
so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of
middle-class Americans who need tax relief." Now, when asked to defend his
recent vote to extend these same cuts, McCain offered the GOP boilerplate:
"I do not believe in tax increases."

There can be no doubt: McCain's blatant desire for the White House has
caused him to abandon the Straight Talk Express and hop on board the
Bullshit Express. Talk about "pimping your ride."

I find it deeply ironic that, at a time when voters are desperately longing
for a political leader with authenticity, a man who defined the authenticity
brand has now decided to screw with the formula.

The New McCain is the political equivalent of New Coke -- and will meet with
the same disastrous results.

It's worse than a Faustian bargain. At least Faust got what he desired in
exchange for his soul. McCain, in giving up the core of who he is -- as a
man and as a leader -- may actually be destroying his chances of getting
what he so desires.

The saddest thing is not how McCain has betrayed us -- it's how he has
betrayed himself.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/the-tragic-irony-of-john-_b
_18409.html