Straight Talking Maverick?

John McCain likes to use the by line "straight talk" when he wants to let everyone know that he is telling it like it really is, despite the political consequences. He also uses the nickname "Maverick" to distinguish himself from his Republican cohorts who have held the White House and ran the government in a ditch for the last eight years. He also wants to hide from the fact that his Republican Congressional colleagues ran the Congress for the better part of the last thirty years and ran up our national debt while catering to special interests. But what does he really stand for? Let's look at his "straight talk" from this self-proclaimed maverick:

Is it straight talk when he was against the Bush tax cuts, but now offers them as a major part of his plan?
Is it straight talk to champion deregulation for over 25 years, but now support regulation only when the financial markets are crashing?
Is it straight talk to champion comprehensive immigration policy, but now support border security and the multi-billion dollar wall?
Is it straight talk to say the surge worked when we still can't bring home the troops? In fact, even with Bush's most recent announcements of withdrawals there will still be more troops left in Iraq than before the surge began.
Is it straight talk to have his running mate constantly say she was against the "bridge to nowhere" when she actually supported it and then kept the money when she said she was against it? "You know Charlie, I told the Congress, thanks, but no thanks."
Is it straight talk when she says Alaska supplies 20% of America's energy which makes her an expert, but in fact it is merely 3.5%? Do we really want her in charge of our energy future? Some expert!
Is it straight talk to claim that John McCain was responsible for my Blackberry? Blackberrys are manufactured by RIM, a Canadian company.
Is it straight talk to deliberately advertise misinformation about your opponent on TV and then admit that "I approve this message?" Hundreds of well informed newspaper editors and political commentators don't think so. This even includes the likes of Karl Rove who while commenting on FOX news stated that the McCain campaign has crossed the line on truthfulness. He above all others should know.

So what about his maverick solutions for America? More tax breaks for the wealthy, Tax breaks for Oil companies, "Drill Baby Drill" instead of a real alternative energy policy, Health Savings Accounts instead of real health care solutions, privatizing social security, cutting a few pork programs instead of real spending cuts,and picking a right wing running mate with little experience. These may indeed sound like maverick solutions to some, but they are what the Republican hard right has been supporting all along. The notion that John McCain is somehow a Republican "Maverick" is purely a sham. Don't forget to notice the (R) next to his name on the ballot.

Don't be fooled by the rhetoric. Just saying that something is "straight talk" while you twist the facts doesn't make it "straight talk!" The real straight talk on the McCain campaign is that it is led by entrenched lobbyists and Republican political operatives who will stoop at nothing to retain their power. The John McCain who might have had some "maverick" tendencies years ago, has compromised his principles to fall in line with the hard right faction of the Republican party. He will say anything simply to get elected. America doesn't need another chief executive who will deceive us while pursuing the agenda of the special interests. Slogans will not put America First. Only you can put America First. Make your vote count in November.