April 5, 2010 3:08 PM

John McCain: I'm not a Maverick

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Republicans

Sen. John McCain, who has long been identified in the media as a self-professed "maverick," says in a new interview that he never thought the word applied to him.

"I never considered myself a maverick," McCain told Newsweek. "I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities."

That's a striking comment in light of the number of times that the former Republican presidential candidate has embraced the term; at a town hall meeting in Michigan in September of 2008, he said, "Sarah [Palin] and I don't agree on every issue -- what do you expect of two mavericks? To agree on everything?"

The McCain campaign also ran an ad during the presidential campaign calling McCain "the original maverick." (check it out above.) There was also a spot in which McCain and Palin are identified as "the original mavericks," which you can see here. McCain even referred to himself a maverick on an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" shortly before the election.

At a campaign really for McCain on March 26th, Palin asked Arizona voters to "send the maverick back to the United States Senate" as McCain looked on. She told the crowd that McCain's "maverick" status hasn't won him friends from the "Washington D.C. elite machine."

One reason McCain may be shedding the "maverick" label is that it doesn't play well with Republican primary voters. McCain is facing a primary challenge from former congressman J.D. Hayworth, who has deemed McCain less than a true conservative.

His image as a maverick may play into Hayworth's hands because it suggests McCain has been willing to break with his party and work with Democrats on issues like immigration.


Add a Comment See all 23 Comments
by Repubforlife April 11, 2010 1:11 AM EDT
The biggest mistake AZ could make would be not voting for McCain. JD Hayworth is a complete mess. JD has a history of failure, a history of immorality, a history of earmarks and big spending in Washington....that guy is no good!
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by bassinapple April 6, 2010 5:22 PM EDT
If this more proof of media bias. McCain had was given the opportunity to walk away from the Hanoi Hilton. Stayed. And this is how our media treat a true American hero. If this is news so should Pres. Obama'a inability to name a single White Sox baseball player. We know our media will not allow Americans to see that video.
Here it is CBS, will you move it out of the comment section?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/06/obama_cant_name_a_white_sox_player.html
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by Ni_Hao April 6, 2010 1:23 PM EDT
More like "I am not a viable candidate. I am long past my prime. I am the one who can't remember yesterday." and the forever priceless "I am the one who foisted the moosemuncher on all of you!" Personally, I will never forgive him for that last act alone.
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by chitown639 April 6, 2010 1:18 PM EDT
John McCain forgot that he's a "Maverick"....well that's not so bad...I'd start worrying when he couldnt tell you how many houses he owns...that's when we should be alarmed and when it's time for him to step down......but until then........
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by liberalme April 6, 2010 12:37 PM EDT
McCain is a "washed up" OLD Maverick.

If I lived in AZ, I'd vote for anyone running against him.
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by actornaught April 6, 2010 12:32 PM EDT
The next bit of wackiness from this guy will be that he's never benefited from nepotism.

But he'll aways be Addled John...
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by Palin_for_Presidentess April 6, 2010 11:14 AM EDT
Oh, I see -- he's -not- a Maverick. I thought that he'd been saying all along that he -was- a Maverick. Good thing he's setting us straight on all of his Maverickiness.
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by MPHgrad April 6, 2010 10:55 AM EDT
Typical politician...going the way of the wind.
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by joedamico34 April 5, 2010 9:14 PM EDT
this is for vageorge,

"I personally have served in the military overseas, in combat,(as has McCain") I am guessing you do not lie like Mccain, and yes he has been cought many times lieing. Have you ever looked up what he did to his sick wife on returning from the military or for that matter what he has called his current wife in public. But then again I don't know you so have no idea how you are but sticking up for Mccain is one strike against you. Do your homework on Mccain. Then again maybe related to him, you sure got a bit testy. Oh and by the way I do respect our military men, in fact they get such little pay for putting their lives on the line while we pay ball players millions to play a game. I just don't trust Mccain, sorry you don't like that but that gut just can't be trusted. same goes for our police officers, such little pay when they too put their lives on the line everyday. They both should get more than entertainers and sports players.
Reply to this comment
by retm-w April 5, 2010 9:47 PM EDT
joedamico34


vageorge needs to look up McCains military record. If he was such a great military man why was he passed over for commands, and promotion to Admiral.
by bizaine April 5, 2010 8:28 PM EDT
This guy needs to retire, he's old and used up. He can't keep reinventing himself.

http://therealitycheckblog.wordpress.com/
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