It looks like John McCain's pandering to the Christian Right in Iowa started on August 3rd, 2007.
The screen shots I'm attaching below are from a survey John McCain filled out for the Iowa Christian Alliance. (page 1, page 2)
The Iowa Christian Alliance's leader is Steve Scheffler, and as the Politico's Johnathon Martin clearly states (and also expands upon), he "may be the most powerful political player that you've never heard of."
Before the documents, check out this "inspirational" quote from John McCain:
We embrace the fine members of the religious conservative community. But that does not mean that we will pander to their self-appointed leaders. [These leaders] are corrupting influences on religion and politics. They shame our faith, our party and our country.
Emphasis on "Overhauling the current tax code by enacting a flat tax or consumption tax"
First, look at John McCain's Website, in the section on taxes. Try and find one reference to a flat tax, or a consumption tax, and then ask yourself why he might have responded that way to a survey for Steve Scheffler, who used to be a top adviser to Steve Forbes.
From the Center for American Progress:
John McCain's views on taxes are either extremely mysterious or just totally unprincipled. As we have discussed before at length, he swung from a conservative position in the 1980s and 1990s to opposing tax cuts for the rich in the early part of George W. Bush's administration and now has swung back to the right with a plan that his own advisers admit would cause the deficit to grow.
Emphasis on "Curriculum to include both evolution and intelligent design."
McCain had previously been dancing around this issue for quite some time.
As his presidential bid got rolling in '05 and '06, John McCain expressed openness to "intelligent design" theory, a recent phenomenon that dresses creationism in a lab coat. While admitting, "I happen to believe in evolution," he insisted (incorrectly) that many scientists believe intelligent design deserves a fair hearing. While at first suggesting that all positions should be presented, in the same breath he concludes that the most extreme creationism should "probably not" be taught in science class.
THIS is the most revealing document. Emphasis on the Law of the Sea Treaty:
Take note that this survey was signed by McCain on August 3rd, 2007.... now look at this time line:
From the National Ledger:
* McCain joins liberal Republican Senators Susan Collins and John Chafee in a 1998 letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging immediate consideration and approval of the Law of the Sea.
* McCain declares to Senator Richard Lugar in 2003 that he wants to testify in support of ratification but a scheduling conflict prevented his appearance before the Foreign Relations Committee for this purpose.
* McCain submits written testimony in 2003 in support of the treaty to the Foreign Relations Committee.
* McCain tells conservative bloggers on October 25, 2007, that he would "probably" vote against it because it negatively affects U.S. sovereignty.
* McCain sends a letter to a constituent on November 14, 2007, declaring that the treaty is beneficial to the U.S. but that he will keep in mind the objections to it.
Put together, these documents reveal just where McCain's campaign was on August 3rd, 2007. And in case you were wondering...
"I'm John McCain and I approve this survey."