ON TALK AND ITS STRAIGHTNESS

Yeah, nothing but verbal straightitude here:

McCain Admits Hagee Endorsement Was A Mistake

ABC News' Mary Bruce Reports: Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., admitted this morning that it was a mistake to accept the endorsement of Evangelical pastor Rev. John Hagee. When asked in an exclusive "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos if it was "a mistake to solicit and accept his endorsement", McCain replied "oh, probably, sure." Despite admitting his error, McCain made clear he's still "glad to have his endorsement." ...

Follow that? It was a mistake to solicit it, it was a mistake to accept it, but he's glad to have it. Yeah, that makes sense.

I'm reminded of the time a McCain spokesman said that McCain would have signed a state law banning all abortions, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother -- but he would also "take the appropriate steps" to see that those exceptions were in place. (Even though, in the bill, they clearly weren't in place.)

Basically, on controversial subjects, either over time or in a single sentence, McCain just keeps talking until he says whatever it is every particular group of people wants him to say. Then everyone walks away and thinks he said only what they wanted to hear. Coming from other people, this is called "double talk." From McCain it's called -- well, you know.