JUKE BOX JOHN McCAIN? PUT IN A QUARTER AND HE WILL CHANGE HIS TUNE.

This blog rarely addresses partisan politics unless they relate directly to an economic issue. However, the endless stream of contradictory statements from John McCain must be highlighted. If only to provide context for his economic pronouncements and proposals.

Yesterday John McCain addressed an Hispanic group, The National Council of La Raza. In response to an audience member's question, he said that he would support the DREAM Act(Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act), which gives undocumented young people a chance to earn U.S. citizenship by going to college or enlisting in the military.

Sounds reasonable. And he said it on camera.

MEMORY LAPSE OR SERIAL MENDACITY? OR JUST A MEDIA PASS FOR A PREVARICATOR?

Yet on October 25, 2007, McCain told the National Review that he opposed the DREAM Act. Live, on audio tape.

THE SPURIOUS TALK EXPRESS. THE MAVERICK OF THE MADE-UP.

This from the liberal blog The Carpetbagger Report in response to the McCain on of at least 60 McCain "flip-flops":

The man is just shamelessly dishonest. McCain co-sponsored the Dream Act, then refused to vote for it, then promised to oppose it, then promised to support it. And just to add a little irony to the whole situation, McCain then concluded, “I do ask for your trust.”

Now, under normal circumstances, one might wonder whether McCain will be pressed to explain himself today, maybe with a clarifying press conference. But that’s almost certainly not going to happen.

Part of this, I suspect, is because the media just prefers to go easy on McCain. But the other part of the problem is, I have a hunch reporters aren’t following the race as closely as we are. That may sound silly — they are paid media professionals on the campaign beat — but I genuinely believe they’re not especially well informed.

When I heard McCain vow to support the Dream Act, I immediately knew he was abandoning a pledge he’d made during the primaries. When the reporters who travel with McCain heard it, did they notice the same problem? Do they even know what the Dream Act is?

It’s one reason, I believe, that McCain is so reckless with his rhetoric. He not only assumes the media has given up on holding him accountable, but he also assumes reporters aren’t quite sharp enough to keep track of minor policy details. On this, McCain is probably right.

And what if I’m wrong? What if campaign reporters really do know what the Dream Act is, and knew immediately that McCain is making completely contradictory promises to different groups at different times? That would speak to reporters’ competence — but it wouldn’t explain why not one of them thought to mention it in their reports on McCain’s La Raza appearance.

THE DESERT OF THE REAL REQUIRES RIGOROUS HONESTY!