Is John McCain a Serial Liar?

It seems that the past weeks did portray John McCain as a serial liar.  The list is long but I'll try to list some of the areas that jumped at me.

Just shortly Iran test-fired some missiles this week, McCain came out to claim that the test was conducted by the Revolutionary Guards that he (McCain) voted to label a terrorist group.  

McCain said: "It's my understanding that this missile test was conducted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. This is the same organization that I voted to condemn as a terrorist organization when a amendment was on the floor of the United States Senate. Senator Obama refused to vote, called it provocative. Called it a provocative step. And the fact is, this is a terrorist organization and should have been branded as such."
http://mediamatters.org/items/2008071000 08

Well it turned out that he did not vote on the bill - a bold face LIE.  Media Matters has the video and the comments from CNN  

Then there was the lie about his time as POW in Vietnam, replacing the Greenbay Packers in his famous book with the Pittsburg Steelers at an interview event in Pennsylvania.  ABC has this on the story:

"In Pennsylvania, McCain Tells a New Version of Heroic P.O.W. Story -- Subbing the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Green Bay Packers"  
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/ 2008/07/in-pennsylvania.html
It's a lie of Tuzla proportion.  It's McCain's Sniper-Fire moment.

Again on his votes in the Senate, McCain could not admit that he voted against measures that would have forced the insurance companies to give women a pill choice as they gave men a Viagra choice:  
"I certainly do not want to discuss that issue," the Arizona senator said aboard his "Straight Talk Express" bus in Ohio when asked about his views on health insurance covering the medication.

However, the record was presented to him and he refused to acknowledge it:

McCain has voted against Senate measures that sought to require insurance companies to cover birth control medication.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/200 8/07/10/mccain-avoids-viagra-question/

Then McCain claimed that he did not say that he don't understand economic as he should.  Think Progress has it here:
 This week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is traveling through Colombia, making a push for a free-trade agreement. In an interview with ABC this morning from Cartagena, McCain was asked about his now infamous statement that he doesn't understand economics well. McCain quickly interrupted the interviewer, denying he ever said this:
Q: You have admitted that you're not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy and many have said -
McCAIN: I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not. I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military. I'm very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent.
But here is what McCain said in January 2008:
McCain: I Never Said That I Don't Know Much About Economics»
This week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is traveling through Colombia, making a push for a free-trade agreement. In an interview with ABC this morning from Cartagena, McCain was asked about his now infamous statement that he doesn't understand economics well. McCain quickly interrupted the interviewer, denying he ever said this:
Q: You have admitted that you're not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy and many have said -
McCAIN: I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not. I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military. I'm very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent.  
In fact, McCain and his advisers have repeatedly admitted that he is weak on economic issues:
"The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should," McCain said. "I've got Greenspan's book." [December 2007]
Seeking to explain his shift on economic issues, McCain claimed: "I didn't pay nearly the attention to those issues in the past. I was probably a 'supply-sider' based on the fact that I really didn't jump into the issue." [January 2000]
Carly Fiorina, a top McCain adviser, acknowledged that McCain has said he knows little about the economy, noting that "he did say it one time, no question, maybe twice." [6/10/08] http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/02/mcca in-dodge-economics/

McCain also lied about his divorce in his famous-book.  Here is the LA Times take on McCain divorce saga:
1.    McCain said in his 2000 book, "I spent as much time with Cindy in Washington and Arizona as our jobs would allow," McCain wrote. "I was separated from Carol, but our divorce would not become final until February of 1980.".  This indicated that he had separated from Carol before he began dating Hensley.  But according to court documents,  McCain did not sue his wife for divorce until Feb. 19, 1980, and he wrote in his court petition that he and his wife had "cohabited" until Jan. 7 of that year -- or for the first nine months of his relationship with Hensley.
2.    LA Times also write that, "Although McCain suggested in his autobiography that months passed between his divorce and remarriage, the divorce was granted April 2, 1980, and he wed Hensley in a private ceremony five weeks later. McCain obtained an Arizona marriage license on March 6, 1980, while still legally married to his first wife."  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/ nation/la-na-divorce11-2008jul11,0,59249 26,full.story

McCain even lied on the Veterans.  A Kossack blogged about it here:  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/8/1 42125/0361/907/548283

And on and on the list goes to more and more and more lies.


Poll
So, Is John McCain a Serial Liar?
Yes
Not Sure
No

Votes: 5
Results : Vote Link : Polls

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Re: Is John McCain a Serial Liar? (none / 0)

ah..
But the media keeps pushing Obama as the flipper...
However..reminders such as this are helpful so we can integrate them when refuting BS..

rec'd


"harlequin speech of suicide, demanding instantaneous lobotomy"
by nogo postal on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 06:46:39 PM EST

Rec. this up! (2.00 / 1)

Let's get the "joke" of a diary off the wreck list.

If you were wondering why it's there.

From alegre's corner

Here's a quick myDD diary on it (4.00 / 2)
rec if you can. The bots will swarm and justify his behavior any minute now.
by: catfish @ Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 12:02:20 PM CDT

Thanks to Eli for the find.


We want to see Ivana [Trump] because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture. - Sarah Palin
by spacemanspiff on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 08:18:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Every politician (2.00 / 1)

is a liar.  The biggest lie on this list is his claim that he voted for the Kyl-Lieberman amendment.  When you miss such a major vote, you have to wonder if McCain was attempting some positioning.  Obama certainly was as he could plausibly hit Hillary for voting for it while at the same time, get away with looking "dovish" if the issue did arise by pointing out that him and Brownback offered an amendment branding the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

At the time of the vote, McCain probably had no idea that Barack Obama would be his eventual opponent.  Could his motivation behind missing the vote been that he would tried running leftward on every foreign policy issue except for Iraq?  There is really no excuse for missing major votes unless you are really sick (e.g. Byrd, Johnson, and Kennedy); to miss a vote seems to indicate to me that McCain was trying to maintain some plausible denability just in case he needed to run a little more leftward on foreign policy.


by Blazers Edge on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 07:05:19 PM EST

Re: Is John McCain a Serial Liar? (2.00 / 1)

came across this at Kos..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/12/ 41331/9692/770/550438
"harlequin speech of suicide, demanding instantaneous lobotomy"
by nogo postal on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 07:39:52 PM EST

Re: Is John McCain a Serial Liar? (2.00 / 1)

Is there any republican that you have seen who doesn't twist and lie? Or that could be expanded to most politicians.  But republicans seem to be the ones with the most dirty secrets to hide.  Seeing McCain backed up against the wall by reporters yesterday about viagra and birth control, or the day before, was unbelievable.  I have never seen anyone so obviously uncomfortable and speechless who was running for president.  Something tells me that he is not a very good liar when pressed. In fact he is a terrible one.  It ought to be an enjoyable time this fall if the press starts pressing him about his votes and his views.


by Scotch on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 09:08:48 PM EST

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire (none / 0)

Finally McCain seems to be getting some vetting.

He would be an absolutely frightening successor to Bush -- there was a time when I thought, hey I hope he will be the Republican nominee because at least he will offer more integrity and couldn't be any worse than Bush if he won -- but really, it is pretty clear now that this is one seriously deluded and self important peter pan man. Unfit? Almost....


I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at
by Iago on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 11:24:56 PM EST


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