When the Maverick isn't a Maverick

Barack Obama continues to lead the race for the Presidency, but a deeply flawed John McCain remains close at his heals. It's kind of strange, really. The focus of late has been on Obama -- between coverage of his visit to the Middle East and to Europe and the constant McCain attack ads -- it has become clear that John McCain wants this to be a referendum on Obama and Obama is letting him do this.

I think that Jonathan Chait maybe right, it's time for Obama to start reminding the public that John McCain's reputation as a Maverick doesn't have deep roots. He's allowed us to believe he's a maverick, and the press has eaten up what he's served, but on most issues McCain stands close to George Bush. Indeed, in some ways he's even more hawkish than Bush. On many of the issues where he's either bucked Bush or the GOP he's moved away from those positions. On things like immigration, climate change, taxes, etc. He's either with Bush now or with the GOP. He'd like us to believe otherwise, but the fact is, in recent years he's been as strong a backer of the Bush administration as anyone in the GOP. He and GW may not like each other, but McCain has quietly made his bed with Bush.

It's time for Obama to make us understand that not only is McCain striking low blows (he calls them fun apparently), but clouding his own reputation for his own gain. Time to blow the whistle -- and if the press isn't going to do it, then Obama needs to start shining the light on his opponent!