Is John McCain a Conservative?
It was not my intention to have four of my first five posts focus on politics, but I guess it is the reason for the season. I decided to do some research and write a post on the question of McCain’s conservatism because one of my friends, actually the bestman in my upcoming wedding, wrote, “McCain isn’t a conservative. Save one or two issues, McCain just ain’t no friend of conservatives.” Vernacular aside, the question raised is pertinent. I always thought since 2000 that McCain was a “moderate,” though I hadn’t thoroughly researched McCain’s stance on issues beyond his support of immigration.
My friend’s case was built on a paucity of evidence. My impressions of McCain had been similar to his, but I had no hard data backing up my feelings. So, I just spent the last several hours reading up on his voting record and his public support for a host of issues. My conclusion is simple: McCain is a conservative. (more…)
