Seems that McCain can’t get his story straight regarding civil unions. Event though he supported the Arizona ban that would prevent both gay marriage and civil unions, he first told George Stephanopoulos that he wasn’t against civil unions. Then, he changed his mind:

Host George Stephanopoulos asked McCain why he supported the measure, saying it “actually denied any government benefits to civil unions or domestic partnerships. Are you against civil unions for gay couples?”

First McCain said: “No, I’m not.”

“I think that initiative did allow for people to join in legal agreements such as power of attorney and others,” he said. “I think that there was a difference of opinion on the interpretation of that constitutional amendment in Arizona.”

“So you’re for civil unions?” Stephanopoulos asked.

“No,” he said. “I do not believe gay marriage should be legal. I do not believe gay marriage should be legal,” he repeated. “But I do believe that people ought to be able to enter into contracts, exchange powers of attorney, other ways that people have relationships can enter into.”

Later, he came back: “I just want to point out again: I believe that gay marriage should not be legal. OK?”

There are two possible reasons for this flip flopping position. First, McCain could support civil unions personally, but may believe that voicing that support could sink his support within the Christian conservative movement. In this case, he is just a dishonorable panderer.

The other, more troubling, possibility is that McCain was confused by the question and his short term memory couldn’t hold up to the admittedly simple line of questioning. Remember that earlier in the interview, McCain had to repeatedly refer to his notes in order to answer a straightforward question about his Iraq policy. Was John McCain tired? Is his old age catching up to him? Perhaps he should just stay in the Senate where he can take naps.

Thanks to Americablog for picking up the convoluted logic in Newsweek regarding McCain pandering to the religious right on issues of non-discrimination. From Newsweek:

McCain was clearly squirming when ABC’s George Stephanopoulos pressed him on “This Week” last weekend about whether he supports civil unions, a loaded term among social conservatives who see it as a fig leaf for gay marriage. McCain avoided the phrase but said he supported various partnerships to facilitate hospital visits and the like. His home state of Arizona just voted down an anti-gay marriage initiative that also would have banned domestic partnerships even among heterosexual couples….

McCain gets more latitude on this subject because we sense that in his heart, he’s a Goldwater libertarian. Social issues are not what drive him in public life. He’s playing to his party’s conservative base as newly defined by the religious right, but if elected president, he’s not going to be beholden to them the way Bush has been…The voters may be less inclined to give Romney a pass if he goes overboard with his fealty to the right.

So McCain is lying to us, but that makes him honorable? What sort of horse-shit logic is that? If Senator John McCain were truly an honorable man, he would let everyone know exactly where he stands on the issue of civil unions. No equivocating, no vague talking points. Apparently the straight talk express is lost on the curving roads of political desire.

While being interviewed by George Stephanopoulos, Senator John McCain can’t say more than a few words without glancing at his notes. There’s nothing wrong with having an outline of talking points and I certainly would not begrudge an old man a cue card or two, but this is getting ridiculous.

As Senator McCain has aged, how much has his memory degraded? I don’t want to be mean, but we are talking about a man who wants to be President of the United States of America. We can’t afford to have a President who is losing his short term memory.

According to some campaign operatives in Ohio, 70 year old Senator John McCain just couldn’t keep up the demanding schedule set for him during the 2006 campaign season:

“He was tired, he was short, he went his own way.” “Nothing close” to the energy level necessary for a presidential campaign: “He was out of gas well before he should have been.”

The Presidency is an unimaginably stressful and demanding job, one that requires long periods of concentration and unending energy. If Senator McCain were to win the Presidency, he would be 72 when sworn in.

It seems that McCain isn’t physically up to the job.

Even though Senator John McCain has cozied up to prominent religious conservative leaders many pundits have placed his chances as less than good in a nasty GOP primary. Some conservatives are still riled over the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law that they view as a restriction on the freedom of speech. Additionally, the very mention of the McCain-Kennedy Immigration plan that was proposed in the Senate is enough to make many conservative activists red in the face.

Personally, I think McCain’s largest asset in a GOP primary battle could be Hillary Clinton. If she runs, and if she looks to be the prohibitive favorite in the Democratic primary, the republicans will be desperate to find a candidate they think could beat the Clinton juggernaut. If McCain presents himself as the only GOP candidate that could beat Clinton, then the conservatives may just choose electability over ideology. Obviously, this scenario depends on Clinton running and being the front-runner.

What do you think? Are there other scenarios that would make the conservative base hold their noses and vote for McCain in the primary?

After an extended hiatus for the 2006 campaign season, Stop John McCain 2008 is back. As always, please send any tips or suggestions to stopjohnmccain2008@gmail.com.