There has been a lot of concern trolling about the possibility of John McCain being the Republican nominee. (I doubt it happens, the GOP base hates him.) And although I think some candidates would do better than others against McCain, it won't matter. We will still have a Democratic President elected.
In a nutshell McCain is corrupt, out of touch, an insider, a flip flopper, a fraud, has an extremist voting record, and is unelectable. Follow the flip to see why.
First, look at John McCain the person. The words GET OFF MY LAWN come to mind whenever you see his face or watch him interact with people. Seriously, would you have a beer with this guy? Would you allow your child to be in a room with this guy for more than 5 seconds? I don't think so.
McCain the person is a fraud. For example, after being an Episcopalian his entire life, John McCain claimed in South Carolina that he was a Baptist. Also, aFter referring to Jerry Falwell as an agent of intolerance he later embraced Falwell. Would anybody respect that? This is why the GOP base AND moderates won't let this guy get their nomination.
John McCain is the king of crooked talk. There is no integrity in him for he is as corrupt as they come. As an original member of the Keating Five in which McCain helped Charles Keating defraud taxpayers of over 2 billion dollars. Once these instances of corruption and double talk are shown to the American people, they will tune McCain off just as fast as they tuned off Giuliani when Rudy's real record and real personality were exposed to the American people.
While I hate this site because it's an oversimplification based on biased framing and occasional soundbites, here is some of what you need to know with yours truly framing it more precisely.
John McCain supported Bush's decision to ignore Osama Bin Laden.
John McCain wants American troops in Iraq for 100 years.
John McCain wants to jail doctors who perform abortions.
John McCain voted against contraceptives.
John McCain has a 0% rating from NARAL.
John McCain has raised middle class taxes while cutting them for billionaires.
John McCain has no problem with the Confederate Flag.
John McCain opposed legislation for hate crimes based on sexual orientation.
John McCain had a 0% rating from the ACLU in 2002.
John McCain voted to allow corporations who move offshore to continue to have tax subsidies.
John McCain has voted to keep legitimate plaintiffs out of court by having govt bureaucrats arbitrarily cap damages.
John McCain thinks it's ok for school district to teach creationism in Science class.
John McCain favors destroying public education with home schooling and voucher schemes.
John McCain voted against smaller class sizes.
John McCain voted yes for abstinence only funding.
John McCain voted repeatedly for supply side economics.
John McCain voted against energy relief for Katrina victims.
John McCain wants to bring back nuclear energy.
John McCain blamed Columbine on Hollywood.
John McCain voted for NAFTA and CAFTA.
John McCAin voted with the Republicans on their Medicare Destruction Plan.
John MCCain voted to reauthorize the (UN)Patriot Act with the onerous provisions.
John McCain voted to screw workers out of overtime pay.
John McCain voted to raid Social Security fund to pay for tax cuts for millionaires.
John McCain voted yes to repeal the alternative minimum tax which would devastate the middle class if McCain had his way.
So here's John McCain, a man with an extremist voting record (about 90% of the time), a man who is the ultimate Washington insider, a man with a long history of corruption, a man who flip flops more than all dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean combined, a man who will say or do anything for power, a man who is grouchy and unlikable, a man hated by the Republican base and moderates alike for his persistent disingenuousness.
What would happen if McCain is the GOP nominee? First, I suspect that about 20% of the GOP base would stay home even if that meant President Clinton or President Obama. Second, he may be able to fool a few moderates but any principled moderate out there will not be voting Republican anytime again in the next 20 yrs. Third McCain, especially if he was contrasted with Obama, would come across as the corrupt, out of touch, insider that McCain truly is. If McCain ran against Clinton, she would be better able to tap into the base of independent women and young voters far better than McCain ever could.
So what kind of candidate would Republicans have in McCain? Answer - an unelectable one.