*** CORRECTED
For Immediate Release
November 10, 2006
Contact: Karen Finney

Washington, DC - The Democratic National Committee responded to news reports that John McCain is entering the 2008 presidential race today.

“If the reports are correct, we welcome John McCain to the race,” said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. “The question is, which McCain is running: the McCain who called right wing extremists like Jerry Falwell an evil influence, or the McCain who spoke at Liberty University as he attempted to cater to the far right in advance of a presidential run? Or the McCain who opposed overturning Roe vs. Wade or the McCain who said he would support South Dakota's ban? As an opportunist who supports the Bush Administration’s failed policy in Iraq and changed his mind on tax cuts, a woman's right to make her own decisions about her health care, and campaign finance reform, it's hard to tell which John McCain will enter the race."

For Immediate Release
November 12, 2006

Contact: Karen Finney
 
 

Washington, DC - This morning during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," a visibly irritated Senator John McCain once again insisted that he has been "steadfast" in his views while all evidence points to the contrary.

The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement:

"Once again we ask: which John McCain will show up to run for President? While he claims to be steadfast, the facts tell a different story. From his pandering to the far right wing of his party in preparation for a presidential campaign, Senator McCain has shown his true colors as a political opportunist who supports the Bush Administration's failed policy in Iraq and changed his mind on tax cuts, a woman's right to make her own decisions about health care, and campaign finance reform."
 
 

THEN:

McCain Voted Repeatedly Against Repealing The Estate Tax. [Vote #170, H.R. 1836, 5/26/01, 58-33; Vote #151, S. Amdt 3833 to H.R. 8, 6/12/02, 54-44; Vote #62, S.Amdt 288 to S.Con.Res. 23, 3/20/03, 51-48; Roll Call, 6/5/06]

NOW:

McCain Voted To Advance The Repeal Of The Estate Tax. [Vote #164, H.R. 8, 6/8/06, 57-41]
 
 

THEN:

McCain Opposed Overturning Roe: It Would Force Women To Seek Illegal Abortions. [San Francisco Chronicle, 8/20/99]

NOW:

McCain Wouldn't Be Bothered By Supreme Court Ban On Abortion, Would Sign South Dakota’s Abortion Ban. [CBS News, 1/25/06; ABC News, 3/29/06; ABC News, 2/26/06; NationalJournal.com, 2/28/06]
 
 

THEN:

McCain Called Falwell “Evil Influence” on GOP. [Kansas City Star, 5/28/05]
 

NOW:

McCain Met With Falwell To Lay Groundwork for 2008 Run And Agreed To Speak At Falwell’s Liberty University. [US News and World Report, 11/14/05; Lynchburg News & Advance, 3/28/06; NBC News, 4/2/06]
 
 

THEN:

McCain Opposed Bush Tax Cuts. [Baltimore Sun, 5/27/01; Statement, 3/18/03]
 

NOW:

McCain Voted For Bush Tax Cuts. [New York Times, 2/21/06]
 
 

THEN:

McCain Opposed Federal Gay Marriage Ban. [Los Angeles Times, 1/25/05]

NOW:

McCain Said He’s Willing To Support A Federal Marriage Amendment. [Meet the Press, 4/2/06]

McCain Voted Against Considering An Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage. [Vote #163, SJRes 1, 6/7/02]
 
 

THEN:

McCain: Local Schools Should Decide on Teaching Creationism. [Times Union, 8/28/99]

NOW:

McCain: “Young People Have the Right to Be Told” About Intelligent Design, Refused To Exclude It From Science Classes. [Courier Journal, 12/20/05; Arizona Daily Star, 8/28/05; NPR, 11/7/05]
 
 

THEN:

McCain Was A Champion For Campaign Finance Reform. [New York Times, 10/22/01]
 

NOW:

McCain Laying the Groundwork To Opt Out Of Campaign Finance System For '08. [National Journal, 12/17/05; Roll Call, 5/1/06; New York Times, 4/30/06]
 
 

THEN:

McCain Won’t Campaign For Candidates Who Don’t Agree With Him on Important Issues Like Campaign Finance Reform. [Roll Call, 7/11/2002]

NOW:

McCain Campaigns Against Candidates Who Agree With Him on Key Issues, Including Stabenow, Brown, Cantwell, and Menendez. [Bouchard Release, 10/10/06; McGavick Release, 3/21/06; Kean Release, 2/26/06; NJ GOP "Campaign Update," 10/10/06; The Chronicle Telegram, 8/22/06]
 
 

THEN:

McCain Called Ethanol “Not Worth It” And A Product With “Absolutely, Under No Circumstances, Any Value Whatsoever[.]” [Des Moines Register, 12/19/99; Aberdeen American News, 5/2/04]

NOW:

McCain Voiced Support For Ethanol In Iowa And Called For Increased Investment In Its Use. [Des Moines Register, 4/14/06; Arizona Republic, 5/9/06]
 
 

For Immediate Release
November 15, 2006
Contact: Stacie Paxton/Mark Paustenbach

Washington, DC – Today, news reports indicate that Senator John McCain “will file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday to create a presidential exploratory committee.” [AP, 11/15/06]

“Americans are wondering which issue John McCain will flip-flop on next,” said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. “In an attempt to burnish his conservative credentials, McCain has changed his position on the influence of the right-wing in the GOP, a woman’s right to make up her own mind about her health care and campaign finance reform, among other issues. McCain also firmly supports President Bush’s ‘stay-the-course’ strategy on Iraq. McCain is trying to be all things to all people in an effort to win the nomination. And the end result is that no one really knows who he is at all.

“Last week’s election shows that Americans are ready for a new direction in Iraq and real leadership here at home, not more of the same failed policies.”

See below for a new document from DNC Research:

Estate Tax
Then
McCain Voted Repeatedly Against Repealing The Estate Tax. [Vote #170, H.R. 1836, 5/26/01, 58-33; Vote #151, S. Amdt 3833 to H.R. 8, 6/12/02, 54-44; Vote #62, S.Amdt 288 to S.Con.Res. 23, 3/20/03, 51-48; Roll Call, 6/5/06]

Now
McCain Voted To Advance The Repeal Of The Estate Tax. [Vote #164, H.R. 8, 6/8/06, 57-41]
 

Abortion
Then
McCain Opposed Overturning Roe: It Would Force Women To Seek Illegal Abortions. [San Francisco Chronicle, 8/20/99]

Now
McCain Wouldn't Be Bothered By Supreme Court Ban On Abortion, Would Sign South Dakota’s Abortion Ban. [CBS News, 1/25/06; ABC News, 3/29/06; ABC News, 2/26/06; NationalJournal.com, 2/28/06]

Religious Right
Then
McCain Called Falwell “Evil Influence” on GOP. [Kansas City Star, 5/28/05]

Now
McCain Met With Falwell To Lay Groundwork for 2008 Run And Agreed To Speak At Falwell’s Liberty University. [US News and World Report, 11/14/05; Lynchburg News & Advance, 3/28/06]

Tax Cuts
Then
McCain Opposed Bush Tax Cuts. [Baltimore Sun, 5/27/01; Statement, 3/18/03]

Now
McCain Voted For Bush Tax Cuts. [New York Times, 2/21/06]

Gay Marriage
Then
McCain Opposed Federal Gay Marriage Ban. [Los Angeles Times, 1/25/05]

Now
McCain Said He’s Willing To Support A Federal Marriage Amendment. [Meet the Press, 4/2/06]

Then, McCain Voted Against Considering An Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage. [Vote #163, SJRes 1, 6/7/02]

Campaign Finance Reform
Then
McCain Was A Champion For Campaign Finance Reform. [New York Times, 10/22/01]

Now
McCain Laying the Groundwork To Opt Out Of Campaign Finance System For '08. [National Journal, 12/17/05; Roll Call, 5/1/06; New York Times, 4/30/06]