John McCain, Expert

John McCain has a reputation (largely undeserved) for "straight talk" and, in fact, he has been honest in one area: his knowledge of economics. Here area few of his hits:

- In an article by Jonathan Chait of The New Republic, published on 1/21/00 and posted that date by the conservative freerepublic.com: "I didn't pay nearly the attention to those issues in the past. I was probably a `supply-sider' based on the fact that I really didn't jump into the issue..."

- In the 12/18/07 column "Political Intelligence" by Boston Globe writer Sasha Issenberg posted on boston.com: "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. I've got Greenspan's book."

- In the 11/26/05 online issue of The Wall Street Journal, from an interview by the paper's editorial board: "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."

And McCain's brilliance "about military and foreign policy issues?" In Jordan on 3/18/08, according to The Washington Post's blog "The Trail," McCain stated it was "common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran, that's well known. And it's unfortunate." Or at least, would be unfortunate if it were true, as McCain acknowledged seconds later after Joe Lieberman whispered into his ear. A careless error, or lack of knowledge? The Trail reports "he said several times that Iran, a predominately Shiite country, was supplying the mostly Sunni militant group, al-Qaeda. In fact, officials have said they believe Iran is helping Shiite extremists in Iraq." (And the day before he had told syndicated conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt "as you know, there are al Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they’re moving back into Iraq.")

Economics, foreign policy. How about culture? As this youtube video entitled "The Real McCain" indicates, on the Hardball College Tour, on October 18, 2007 Senator McCain told host Chris Matthews and the live student audience "gay marriage should be allowed." Eleven minutes later, after a commercial break, he stated "gay marriage should not be legal." Asked by George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week about civil unions, John McCain is seen as stumped for a few seconds.