John McCain employs the left's favorite tactic, then demands Ted Cruz apologize to Bob Dole

Back in 2008, John McCain ran what is unquestionably the weakest Republican Presidential campaign in modern American history. He was unfocused, indecisive, deathly afraid of criticizing his opponent, and unable to articulate any clear, concise policy opinions. In a word, it was disastrous. Since then he's spent most of his time trying to get in front of the cameras by voting against his own party, supporting opposition initiatives, and harassing any Republican Senator who actually dares to stand on principle.

This weekend, he was at it again. Thursday, during his keynote speech at CPAC, Senator Ted Cruz ran through the failed candidacies of Dole, McCain, and Romney. Like Conservatives everywhere, he 'gets' why they all lost:

"All of us remember President Dole, and President McCain, and President Romney. Now look, those are good men. They're decent men. But when you don't stand and draw a clear distinction - when you don't stand for principle - Democrats celebrate."

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The logic here is crystal clear. If you run these types of candidates, you'll get these types of results - every time. The crowd was smart enough to understand what Ted Cruz was saying. John McCain? Not so much. He spent the next couple of days demanding that Cruz apologize for besmirching Bob Dole's war record. McCain made the comments to a fawning Andrea Mitchell over on MSNBC. The fact that the so-called "news" network loves McCain so much should tell you pretty much everything you need to know.

"I spoke to Ted Cruz. He and I have a cordial relationship about this, and he can say anything he wants to about me and he can say anything he wants to about Mitt. Mitt's capable of taking it. But when he throws Bob Dole in there.... I wonder if he thinks that Bob Dole stood for principle on that hilltop in Italy when he was so gravely wounded and left part of his body there fighting for our country. Bob Dole is such a man of honor and integrity and principle. I hope that Ted Cruz will apologize to Bob Dole because that has crosses a line that - to me - leaves the realm of politics and discourse that we should have in America."

That has to be one of the phoniest, most self-serving, most intellectually dishonest diatribes ever to flop out of John McCain's mouth. First of all, everyone knows that McCain absolutely loathes "wacko-bird" Ted Cruz. The phrase "cordial relationship" is Washingtonian for "I hate that guy because he keeps making me look like a doddering old fool." More importantly, while he'd never admit it, John McCain is furious that Cruz publicly called out his flaccid, unprincipled, White House run. He may be using his "beloved" Bob Dole's war record as cover but, not-so-deep down, this is all about a personal insult. Pols like McCain care only about themselves. It's all about ego, TV time, and maintaining a 'properly respected' public image. If Cruz's speech had referenced only Romney and Dole, you never would have heard a peep out of the oh-so-incensed John McCain. Beyond all of that, it's a completely bogus argument. McCain knows full well that Cruz was talking about candidacies, not the moral merits of the men in question. It seems ridiculous to even have to say it, but pointing out the fact that Bob Dole was a weak candidate is in no way an indictment of his heroism overseas. McCain has embraced a favorite trick of left-wing progressives. He can't dispute the facts of what Cruz is saying, so he has to change the subject and try to pretend that the freshman Senator made a totally nonexistent argument. It's pathetic, but when you can't win an honest fight, you have to aim below the belt.