McCain Throws a Bone to the Conservatives

John McCain is starting to feel the lack of love from conservatives, and yesterday made statements designed to try and win them back:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain, looking to improve his standing with the party's conservative voters, said Sunday the court decision that legalized abortion should be overturned.

"I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned," the Arizona senator told about 800 people in South Carolina, one of the early voting states.

McCain also vowed that if elected, he would appoint judges who "strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States and do not legislate from the bench."

Let's deal with the issue of judges first. I think that statement from McCain was not driven by his dislike of judicial activism, but by his dislike of the fact that Rudy Giuliani said it first. McCain the Senator has not acted like he actually believes what he just said, given his participation in the "Gang of 14" and the damage that did to some Bush nominees who would have done just what McCain says he now advocates. This conservative isn't buying it.

And regarding the overturning of Roe v. Wade, stating he supports such a move may warm the hearts of some conservatives who don't really understand what such an overturn would mean (it would not end abortion, but would simply push the issue back to the individual states), and it ignores the fact that the president is powerless to affect that judicial decision. Again, I can't help but believe he's just playing to a specific crowd by offering empty generalities. This statement from McCain in 1999 tends to support that:

"I'd love to see a point where it [Roe v. Wade] is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to (undergo) illegal and dangerous operations."

He was for Roe before he was against it. McCain has had plenty of years to establish his conservative bonafides, but instead he's often been found more interested in currying favorable press than upholding conservative principles. His day has passed.