John McCain’s “straight talk,” turns out, is bi-directional — right for “the birdy,” left for everyone else. But you can only lead a double life for so long. Wherever McCain is headed at the moment, Bob Novak has him in the crosshairs. Novak has confirmed a private conversation between McCain and two witnesses in which McCain expressed reservations about Justice Alito because he was too conservative:
. . . McCain said he recalled saying no such thing and added that Alito was a “magnificent” choice. In fact, multiple sources confirm that the senator made negative comments about Alito nine months ago.
McCain, as the “straight talk” candidate, says things off the cuff that he sometimes cannot remember exactly later. . .
[John] Fund wrote [the day before the Florida primary] that McCain “has told conservatives he would be happy to appoint the likes of Chief Justice Roberts to the Supreme Court. But he indicated he might draw the line on a Samuel Alito because ‘he wore his conservatism on his sleeve.’ ” In a conference call with bloggers that day, McCain said, “I don’t recall a conversation where I would have said that.” He was “astonished” by the Alito quote, he said, and he repeatedly says at town meetings, “We’re going to have justices like Roberts and Alito.”
I found what McCain could not remember: a private, informal chat with conservative Republican lawyers shortly after he announced his candidacy in April 2007. I talked to two lawyers who were present whom I have known for years and who have never misled me. One is neutral in the presidential race, and the other recently endorsed Mitt Romney. Both said they were not Fund’s source, and neither knew I was talking to the other. They gave me nearly identical accounts, as follows:
“Wouldn’t it be great if you get a chance to name somebody like Roberts and Alito?” one lawyer commented. McCain replied, “Well, certainly Roberts.” Jaws were described as dropping. My sources cannot remember exactly what McCain said next, but their recollection is that he described Alito as too conservative. . .
The more Hillary learns about John McCain, the more she’s like him. Clinton/McCain in ‘08? More at the Washington Post.
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