This letter describes Mr. McCain’s frequent self-contradictions, deep similarities to President Bush, and irritability when confronted with facts.

Follow the link below to an article in which McCain states wrongly that the troop surge in Iraq came before the Iraqi “Awakening,” then insists again and again that he is correct, in the face of much evidence to the contrary, even his own words.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/22/mccain-gets-history-of-th_n_114419.html?page=23

Follow these links to a video...

The link below is to a video showing two McCain campaign speeches side by side. One speech is given to supporters, the other speech is given to a conservative group that doubts McCain’s conservative credentials. In the speech to supporters, McCain ridicules the idea that he is just like Bush. In the other speech, he affirms that on all matters “of importance to the American people,” he is just like Bush. The speeches play together, line by line. It’s actually a little eerie to watch him make two utterly contradictory points so emphatically. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnb2IrsU1Cg

For a description of other McCain contradictions, read this New Republic article: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=f32048af-6a69-4594-8a9f-e99d213578c1

Follow the link below to an article describing an incident in which John McCain claimed that US troops in Iraq had been reduced to pre-surge levels. When told that he was wrong, that troops had been drawn down, but not to pre-serge levels, McCain argued that he was essentially right, that saying “drawn down to pre-surge levels” is the same as saying “drawn down.” In reality, the statements are different from one another in substance, not merely semantics. Still, McCain got quite testy with the journalists and angrily stood by his words.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/05/mccain_the_surge_and_verb_tens.html

This fascinating insistence that his words should be regarded as true and accurate even when they are not, has contributed to McCain’s ability to maintain positions that are similar, if not identical to President Bush’s, while claiming that he does no such thing.

He does. Below are links to articles in which Mr. McCain echoes the President’s position on most of the issues of our day, sometimes word for word.

McCain states that Bush was right to veto kids health insurance expansion. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/

McCain and Bush vote to oppose the 2008 expanded GI bill. McCain states that it is just too expensive to send vets to college, and that giving vets a college education discourages them from remaining in the military. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/

McCain is not pro-choice. In this USA TODAY article, he states, “I do not support Roe vs. Wade. It should be overturned.” http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-19-mccain-roe_x.htm

McCain defends Bush’s plan for Iraq, calling it, “Difficult but necessary…” http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/12/ap/politics/mainD8MJRGCO0.shtml

An article in the Huffington Post explaining that in 2008, McCain voted with Bush 100% of the time. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/27/mccain-voted-with-bush-10_n_103718.html

John McCain votes to filibuster the minimum wage hike, which is a wage hike supported by 75% of all Americans: http://news.aol.com/elections-blog/2007/01/24/john-mccain-votes-to-filibuster-minimum-wage-hike/

McCain lobbyist and economic adviser is vice chair of a giant Swiss bank with a clear interest in keeping the U.S. mortgage market deregulated. He continues to both advice McCain and work for the bank. http://news.aol.com/elections-blog/2007/01/24/john-mccain-votes-to-filibuster-minimum-wage-hike/

President Bush and McCain share the stage in a joint appearance airing their shared views about Social Security. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002216444_bush23.html

McCain reaffirms his support for NAFTA and blasts Hillary and Obama for wanting to renegotiate the treaty. One rationale he uses is that since the US needs Canada’s help in Afghanistan, we should not make changes in NAFTA that might anger them. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/01/nation/na-mccain1

The McCain Plan to Cut Oil Company Taxes by Nearly $4 Billion

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2008/pdf/oil_tax.pdf

While deploring the federal governments response to Katrina, McCain himself voted against an independent 9/11-style commission investigating Katrina. Stating that he had voted for “every investigation” into the disaster, he was corrected by a New Orleans journalist who pointed out his “no” votes. McCain then went on to say that he really couldn’t remember. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/06/mccain_forgets_his_own_votes.html

This article traces comments made by President Bush regarding the Iraq war, from 2002 up to the present. Side by side, you can read McCains comments, which eerily echo Mr. Bush’s words, line per line: http://mccainsource.com/security?id=0007

This article shows McCain parroting Bush’s comments on the economy, using the same phrases as the President, “The Fundamentals are strong,” “We are not headed for a recession,” “We’re only in a rough patch,” etc. McCain is shown echoing Mr. Bush’s thinking, down to the details. http://mccainsource.com/economy?id=0004

McCain’s fundraising sources are the same as Mr. Bush’s. Here is the list of 36 bundlers who raised large amounts of cash for Bush during his 2000 and 2004 campaigns and are now raising the same large amounts for McCain. http://mccainsource.com/corruption?id=0008

This article shows the deep connections between President Bush’s and candidate McCain’s lobbying teams. Even after firing four lobbyists in late May, Mr. McCain continues to court them. His current election team includes 22 top aids and fundraisers who also lobby for defense contractors, 13 advisers and fundraiser who also lobby for oil companies, and 37 advisers who also lobby for pharmaceutical companies. http://mccainsource.com/corruption?id=0009

Although McCain is publicly critical of the government’s response to Katrina, he voted several times against a commission to investigate its response. He also voted against an amendment that would establish a committee to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in the reconstruction after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also voted against granting Katrina victims access to Medicaid. Acknowledging that FEMA’s response was central to the problem, McCain recommends privatizing relief efforts, putting Wal-Mart, FedEx and Home Depot in charge of distribution of needed supplies. http://mccainsource.com/homefront?id=0006