I've been writing quite a bit over the last few week's about McCain's combined ignorance and lack of interest in public policy. Along the way, a number of you out there have written in suggesting that I'm either deliberately exaggerating or outright lying in an effort to help get Barack Obama elected. And although it is true that I do want to see Obama elected, that's got nothing whatsoever to do with my evaluation of McCain's policy chops. As much as I like Obama on his own merits, I don't like McCain on his. They're separate people, and I am evaluating them separately.
Anyway, as if on cue, Windy yesterday published an amazing Q and A with McCain that demonstrates perfectly what I've been trying to describe:
Q: Earlier this week, Carly Fiorina was meeting with a bunch of reporters and talked about it being unfair that insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control. And -
McCain: I certainly do not want to discuss that issue. (uneasy laughter)Q: But apparently you've voted against (McCain laughter continues)
McCain: I don't know what I voted -
Q: Voted against coverage of birth control, forcing health insurance companies to cover birth control in the past. Is that still your position?
McCain: I'll look at my voting record on it, but I have, uh, (5 second pause) I don't recall the vote right now. But I'll be glad to look at it and get back to you as to why, I don't -
Q: I guess her statement was that it was unfair that health-insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control. Do you have an opinion on that?
McCain: (after 8 second pause) I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer because I don't recall the vote, I've cast thousands of votes in the Senate. I will respond to - it's a, it's a (nervous)
Q: Delicate issue (McCain laughs).
McCain: It's something that I had not thought much about and I did hear about her response but I hadn't thought much. But I will get, I will get back to you today on it.
Q: OK.
McCain: I don't usually duck an issue, but I'm, I'll try to get back to you.
"I don't know what I voted... I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer because I don't recall the vote, I've cast thousands of votes in the Senate."
Here's the thing about this: the questioner wasn't asking McCain for a recitation of his voting record; they were asking him for a description of his position on an issue. Why does he need to go back and consult his staff on his voting record to determine where he stands on the issue unless he has no idea where he stands on the issue? It would be one thing if this were something unimportant, but of course it isn't. The nexus of contraception and health care policy is, important, controversial, and perhaps most importantly here, not all that complex. And yet despite that, McCain has no idea whatsoever where he stands on the issue. He'll get back to you, just as soon as he has time to look it up.
Hey Obama, you paying attention to this one? Because McCain just handed you one hell of a wedge, and if you're smart, you'll use it. McCain's record shows very, very clearly that he opposes requiring health insurance providers to cover contraception, a stand that places him at odds with a very large majority of women in the country. But it isn't a position he'll be able to run away from, because if he does that, he'll infuriate the religious right. He's painted himself into a corner here, and he's not even clued in enough to realize it.
UPDATE: Video...
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