Sarah Palin: Against John McCain Before She Was For Him

by Senate Guru [courtesy of MyDD]

Most people hold positions on specific issues that stay true to their core, certain bedrock, unflinching principles.  

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin demonstrated one of her allegedly bedrock, unflinching principles a long, long time ago - well, um, almost seven months ago - when she refused to endorse Arizona's senior Senator for President:

Some Alaska Republicans are conflicted over McCain, including Gov. Sarah Palin. They like his maverick reputation and military background but not his opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"She said she'd like to support McCain but felt she couldn't at this particular time because of his stand on ANWR," said the governor's spokeswoman, Sharon Leighow.

And what is McCain's stand on ANWR?

First: the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. McCain has always been against oil drilling and exploration in ANWR.

So, as recently as less than seven months ago, Sarah Palin refused to even endorse McCain because of a position of McCain's that, in a relatively rare occurrence, has not changed.  That's how strongly principled she was (note the past tense) in support of drilling in ANWR.

But now she's willing to sell out her principle in the name of political opportunism, certainly going well beyond just endorsing McCain.

Maybe McCain is planning to trade in his old position for a newer model, which would also appease the "Drill Here, Drill Now!" crowd.  Of course, that would be yet another major league flip-flop on John McCain's end.

In short, until McCain is willing to flip-flop on ANWR, Palin will have to backpedal on her earlier refusal to support McCain over ANWR, lest she face accusations of political spinelessness, to go along with the thin resume, far-right-wing extremism, abuse of power scandal, and financial mismanagement.