McCain: The Myth of a Maverick

by Matt Welch

John McCain is one of the most familiar, sympathetic, and overexposed figures in American politics, yet his concrete governing philosophy and actual track record have been left curiously unexamined, mostly because of the massive distractions in his official biography, but also because of his ingenious strategy of talking ad infinitum to each and every access-craving media person who happens by. The more he has spouted, the less journalists have bothered trying to see through the fog. McCain gives the voting public what it wants but can't find -- a flesh-and-bones political portrait of a man onto whom people are forever projecting their own ideological fantasies. It is a psychological key for decoding his allegedly ‘maverick' actions, and the first realistic assessment of what a John McCain presidency may look like. McCain will quickly lay out in overlapping detail the root cause of the senator's his personal transformation from underachieving punk to war hawk uber-patriot, in which he used the "higher power" of American nationalism to save his life and soul. As McCain wrenches himself inside-out in pursuit of the prize that eluded him in 2000, McCain will look behind the war hero, behind the maverick reformer. Journalist and pundit Matt Welch brings to this project an investigative eye and a coolly analytical mindset to provide Republicans, Democrats and Independents a picture of the man in full before they enter the voting booth in 2008.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2007

Reviews

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me like McCain more. I don't think that was the intent.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re like me and ever wondered how Meghan McCain is the daughter of the great John McCain, read this book. All suddenly becomes clear—and we are once again reminded that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Amy Silberman’s quote in The Phoenix Times (cited on page 55) sums it up: “John McCain—despite his status as a war hero—is a mean-spirited, hot-tempered, opportunistic, philandering, hypocritical political climber who married a comely beer heiress and used her daddy’s money to get elected to Congress in a state he can hardly call home.”

She leaves out McCain being a racist, but Welch covers that thoroughly. On page 146, he weirdly and wrongly claims “McCain is not a racist.” This proclamation comes after dozens of quotes and stories that prove otherwise. Equally bizarre is the claim on page 190: “I happen to be quite fond of McCain.” …Is that why I just read 11 chapters that each started with quotes putting McCain’s flip-flopping and lies on full display? Putting those two weird lines aside, McCain: The Myth of a Maverick was an insightful read.

[Paolo Aguas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book in itself is a good read do not get me wrong, the author is a great writer but like with anything to do with politics there is a lot of opinions and the way we explains things whether it is meant or not does have our opinions in them, so with the that this book only gets 3 stars because I feel the author may have certain biases towards the late great John McCain

[The American Conservative]

'The Arizona senator and Republican presidential nominee is “not a ‘Man of the People’,” Welch writes. “He’s third-generation Navy royalty, prepped in an elite boarding school, married (as his namesake father was before him) to an ambitious, moneyed millionairess of refined taste and regal bearing.” Nothing wrong with any of that, except for the inconvenient truth that McCain’s career hardly represents the banishment of money from politics. Welch describes McCain’s support for campaign finance reform as the “equivalent of an alcoholic using the federal government to lock up his own liquor cabinet.”'

Read the full review, "None of the Above," on our website:
http://www.theamericanconservative.co...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although containing many debatable interpretations, overall this work provides a unique prospective hardly touched on by the popular media. Further, numerous McCain quotes and policy positions (backed by references) are provided. Particularly illuminating are the sections on his entry to politics, views on U.S. military and foreign policy, Bush tax cuts, role of the government, and gay marriage & civil unions (i.e., McCain's recent pandering to the far right). Matt Welch's portrait of McCain is a nice contrast to the narrow portrayal given by Elizabeth Drew in "Citizen McCain" I read earlier this month.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welch's book shows Senator McCain’s proclivity towards an authoritarianism that is contrary to “the nation that made ‘the pursuit of happiness’ a foundational aspiration.” It’s a tendency that is still alive and well in the Republican Party. Whether the liberty movement can truly change the direction of the GOP remains to be seen.

Full review here.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly prescient book about McCain. Written at his nadir in the '08 race, the book predicts McCain will come back. Lots of disturbing anecdotes and patterns suggest McCain is, at heart, a psychopath.

[Seán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go Walnuts!/Van Palin '08!

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author provides a thorough analysis of McCain the politician in the period leading up to the 2008 election. Using the Senator's published works as some of his sources, Matt Welch details the many valid reasons why John McCain should not become President.