Is McCain a total hypocrite, or what?

Republicans have stood by Bush in denouncing a timetable on Iraq, although their opposition to setting an end date to an ongoing war hasn't always been the case. In 1993, Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) led an effort to cut off funds immediately for military operations in Somalia after a firefight in Mogadishu killed 18 U.S. troops. The former prisoner of war in Vietnam brought a hush to the chamber floor when he asked what would happen if Congress failed to act and more Americans died. "On whose hands rest the blood of American troops? Ask yourself this question," said McCain, R-Ariz. Congress ultimately agreed to back President Clinton's request to give him until March 1994 to get troops out, with funding denied after that date. In 1999, Congress passed similar legislation prohibiting money spent to keep U.S. troops in Haiti after May 2000. "When Americans are imperiled, ultimately the president has to bear that responsibility," Clinton said at the time of the Somalia vote. Now, McCain — a GOP presidential contender for 2008 — says setting a date certain on the war in Iraq is like sending a "memo to our enemies to let them know when they can operate again." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070501/ap_on_go_co/congress_wars

Public Comments

1. That's why is poll numbers plummeted at the beginning of the year.
2. good point, a side note, that situation in Somalia is why Clinton couldn't persue Al Qaeda more aggressively. The public wouldn't support it and he didn't have 9/11to justify it to the rest of the world. so lets end that arguement too.
3. I am basically a Democrat-and Vietnam Veteran-one of the few Repubs who don't fall into the catoagory of neo-con chickenhawks- -he fought for his country-the Repubs fear actual Vets.
4. A winner never quits a quitter never wins.
5. Mcain is a helluva lot better than bush. Because mccain has been to war, and knows what its like. If anybody has any better ideas, well?
6. McCain wanted to pull out US troops because Clinton refused the military requests for tanks - which is what ultimately resulted in the battle of Mogadishu (sp?). Also remember that McCain (and the Republicans and Bush Sr.) had developed a limited US involvement which resulted in all US combat troops being pulled out soon after Clinton took office. Clinton - then began sending troops back to the country without any sort of plan and in violation of our original mandate. Another difference is that the troops recommended that we leave those two countries - unlike Iraq where the troops recommend we stay. Why don't you tell the whole truth?
7. Fantastic, taking 2 different situations and trying to relate them. One was a humanitarian mission led by the UN that asked for assistance from the US SOF. The other is regarding the current situation in Iraq.
8. I've felt for some time now that McCain hasn't the intestinal fortitude to be the president . During the primaries of 2000 he was vilified and his family was unjustly kast into a cesspool by Karl Rove and the Bush team. What has McCain done, he goes out of his way to back Bush and often stands by him like a little puppy does to his master. Yea, I hear all the stories of him being a POW and all, but does getting caught make you a hero?! McCain is going out of his way to be that Senator from the right that the Christian Coalition can back and those that call themselves Conservatives ( Neocons) can support. No I'll never vote for McCain no matter what he's running for!!!