“You know, I’ve been called a maverick; someone who marches to the beat of his own drum,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) boasted during his speech at the 2008 Republican convention. But for every instance of McCain bucking party orthodoxy or straddling the partisan divide, there’s one of him being an obstinate, angry jerk. (The current example of this being his attempt to turn the Benghazi controversy into a Watergate-sized scandal.) This duality recalls Goofus and Gallant, the twin brothers who have long entertained Highlights for Children readers with their contrasting antics:
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| Tells this joke: “Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.” | Later befriends Sen. Hillary Clinton and calls her “one of the guys.” |
| Unapologetically calls his Vietnamese captors “gooks”—in 2000. | Says that torture is “unworthy and injurious to our country.” |
| Freaks out over the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. | Says the Swift Boat ads about John Kerry’s war record were “dishonest and dishonorable.” |
| Votes against more disclosure for dark-money donors. | Bashes Citizens United as “one of the worst decisions” ever. |
| Praises “spectacular” running mate Sarah Palin’s “incredible résumé.” | Criticizes the “agents of intolerance” in the Christian right. |
| Says he’d be okay with US troops staying in Iraq for “maybe 100 years.” | Corrects a supporter who insists Obama is “an Arab.” |
| Goes from backing climate legislation to saying climate science may be “flawed.” | Criticizes congressional tea partiers for their “bizarro” debt ceiling demands. |
| Says Susan Rice is “not qualified” to be the next secretary of state due to “not being very bright” and her comments about the Benghazi attacks. | Defends Hillary Clinton adviser Huma Abedin from Rep. Michele Bachmann’s “specious and degrading attacks.” |
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