McCain Gets Credit For Consistency

McCain Gets Credit For Consistency


The Orangeburg Times And Democrat
September 20, 2007


ISSUE: John McCain's campaign

OUR VIEW: Senator consistent in message about war

U.S. Sen John McCain went from presumptive nominee to sagging candidate. Now the Arizona senator's GOP presidential campaign is showing signs of life. ...

McCain is focusing on key early states in the primary process, making South Carolina a popular stop. Importantly, he here has the support of a majority of the GOP establishment.

More important, however, is the McCain message. Saying he favors exiting Iraq at the earliest feasible time, the senator has been steadfast in stating a pullout at this point would lead to chaos in Iraq and destabilization of the region. It would amount to a major American defeat. ...

In the war's first years, McCain was a consistent administration critic. He echoes that today, saying the Bush team badly mismanaged the war. He says that as much as anything is why Americans have become disillusioned with the battle.

McCain concluded the tour at The Citadel Monday night by imploring veterans, cadets and a wide demographic range of supporters to oppose any plan for a premature troop withdrawal from Iraq. ...

Give McCain credit for consistency. He has not shied away from supporting the war even when his popularity numbers were plummeting. His campaign may never regain the stature accorded it by prognosticators when the '08 presidential politicking began, but McCain is not surrendering. If the Iraq situation can be improved in the coming months, or at the very minimum does not deteriorate, McCain might well be back in the ball game.