John McCain: Sore Loser?
Sen. John McCain recently blasted President Obama for failing to cross party lines, but a look back shows that since the inauguration, McCain has been as combative toward the president as ever.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Phase One: Obama Gives Peace a Chance
Ah, the magnanimity made possible by victory. President Obama began post-inauguration relations on January 19 by profusely praising his former rival’s courage, devotion, and bipartisanship. It must have been unbearable.
Phase Two: McCain Manages to Sort of Agree With Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh only needed four little words to express his wish for the Obama administration: I hope he fails. On February 2, McCain needed a whole lot more than four words to hedge on whether or not he shared those hopes.
Phase Three: McCain Takes Direct Shot on Helicopter Funding
John McCain wants the president to address how much money is spent on the presidential helicopter program. McCain seems fair in his questioning, but how can he not be jealous of the presidential helicopter program?
Phase Four: McCain Opposes Release of Torture Memos
Not many people expected this one. On April 24, McCain came out swinging against the Obama administration’s release of torture memos.
Phase Five: McCain Gives Obama an ‘Incomplete’ on National Security
McCain surprised a few people on his June 21 appearance on Face the Nation when, asked about how Obama has done so far, said, “If you want to look at a legislative scorecard, he has achieved literally every one of his legislative accomplishments.” But with the good came the bad. McCain also said Obama’s accomplishments have “not been bipartisan,” and that when it comes to national security, Obama gets “an incomplete.”
Phase Six: McCain Says Obama Weak, Confused on Iran
On June 23, McCain claimed Obama didn’t “quite understand” the electoral chaos in Iran and that he needs to stand up to Ahmadinejad.
Phase Seven: You Said You’d Be Bipartisan. You Failed.
McCain’s most recent criticism of the president came on July 31, when he told John King that Obama hadn’t brought change to Washington. In fact, he’s run up the deficit! Oh, not that kind of change? Well, it’s still a pretty pointed critique.
Phase Eight: I Reject Your Supreme Court Nominee
McCain may have voted for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but apparently Sonia Sotomayor was too far out there to gain his support. On August 3, McCain explained that it was Sotomayor's "judicial activism" that kept him from voting for her.
