You are 100% right and 100% wrong

One debate that I’ve recently had with a family member “on the other side” is McCain’s voting record. I asked how they could possibly expect me to believe that McCain stands for change when he votes the same as Bush 90% of the time. Their response was that Obama voted along party lines just as often.

Fact of the matter is, I’m okay with that. Voting along party lines is not really the issue. Voting exactly the same as the current regime for years on end, then touting that you are a Maverick and a change agent… well, that’s where we start to fall into the liar, liar, pants on fire category.

Facts is, McCain voted that same as Bush 95% of the time in 2007 and 100% to date this year. [Source]

Teaching sex ed to kids

A McCain campaign ad claims Obama’s “one accomplishment” was a bill to teach sex ed to kindergarten kids. Don’t believe it. [FactCheck.org]

Obama, contrary to the ad’s insinuation, does not support explicit sex education for kindergarteners. And the bill, which would have allowed only “age appropriate” material and a no-questions-asked opt-out policy for parents, was not his accomplishment to claim in any case, since he was not even a cosponsor – and the bill never left the state Senate.

About that eBay bid

“You know what I enjoyed the most? She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay — made a profit,” McCain on Sarah Palin

Nope. Alaska sold it at a loss of half a million dollars – and not on eBay.

Flattery will get you everywhere

When John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, the campaign immediately began touting her experience–both foreign and domestic–as “commander-in-chief” of the Alaska National Guard.  But the reality of the situation–that Palin actually had little to do with the National Guard quickly became apparent.  In fact, the idea was undercut severely by comments made by the actual commander of the Alaska National Guard–its Adjutant General, Major General Craig Campbell.

Sunday, 31 August 2008: Major General Craig Campbell, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard, told the Associated Press that:

he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.

Three days later, on September 3rd, General Campbell said it again, in the Boston Globe:

The Alaskan governor is not in the site’s chain of command and has no authority over its operations, according to Maj. Gen. Craig E. Campbell, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard who commands the roughly 3,800 state militia members.

On September 5th General Campbell flip-flopped and began praising Palin’s duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Alaskan National Guard. What changed?

Monday 8 September: After the weekend–and after his complimentary remarks–Major General Campbell is promoted within the Alaska National Guard to the rank of Lieutenant General.  The promotion is not recognized outside the state of Alaska, but he is promoted with his third star, nonetheless.