McCain's Miscalculation

One has to feel at least a little sympathy for John McCain. In 2000, he ran for President as the straight-shootin’, no-nonsense pragmatist who wouldn’t kiss up to anyone or allow himself to be held captive by ideologues and special interests. He did what many of us like to think we would if given the opportunity—he cut through the crapfest and behaved like a genuine leader.

It made him the most popular politician in the country for a few years (before and after the campaign), but alas, it was not a good formula for capturing the Republican nomination. He was, of course, passed on the right by George Bush, a man who epitomized ideological blindness, displayed insulting disingenuousness, and held virtually no ethical scruples regarding campaign finance and political hypocrisy. By rubber-stamping every wish of Big Business, by resisting any reform of the corrupted election process, by pitting neighbor against neighbor, by doing or saying whatever the cynical back-room operatives told him to, and by embracing those who represent the ugliest side of our country’s religious identity, Bush became the most well-financed campaign juggernaut in history—and ended up sitting in what many felt was McCain’s chair.

Not to be fooled again, McCain clearly decided to follow the Bush model for his second wild ride. While it has been sickening to see him transform from maverick hero to incorporated powerhouse, who could blame him? He already tried once to run as the Real Thing, and he lost. This time, he’s running hard to the right—embracing divisive and intolerant ideologues, supporting Bush’s war 1000%, and consolidating cash from any source he can.

So now that he has it all figured out, the nomination is automatic, right? Wrong. In a cruel bait-and-switch, the country is shifting out from under him. McCain has bolted to the right, only to find himself passed by Rudolph Giuliani in the independent center—McCain’s abandoned territory. He has become Bush 2000, only to realize the country is now finally ready for McCain 2000. And it is too late to go back.

Much like Barack Obama’s steady gains against Hillary Clinton in Democratic polls, Giuliani’s strength is due to the nation’s longing for someone—anyone—who can be genuine, or at least seem so. John McCain once held that position like no other figure in the country. He’s abandoned it, just when we were finally ready for it.