Politico's Simon claimed McCain is in "same mold" as Schwarzenegger, ignoring key differences

Summary: Writing about Sen. John McCain's chances of winning California in the general election, Politico chief political columnist Roger Simon asserted that McCain "is, broadly speaking, in the same mold as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger." But Simon did not mention the differences between Schwarzenegger and McCain on two key issues: a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and universal health care.

In an April 9 column on Politico.com about Sen. John McCain's general election chances in California, Politico chief political columnist Roger Simon claimed that McCain "retains a somewhat maverick image" and "is, broadly speaking, in the same mold as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican." However, while Simon noted that there is "one big difference between Schwarzenegger and McCain, and it has enormous political implications: Schwarzenegger supports abortion rights and McCain does not," Simon did not mention that McCain and Schwarzenegger disagree on at least two other major issues: a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq and universal health care.

Additionally, Simon claimed that McCain is "a relatively moderate Republican," a "moderate on immigration," and "strong on the environment." In fact, McCain has promised a "clearly conservative approach to governing," and highly respected vote studies of McCain's voting records have ranked him among the most conservative members of the Senate during the current and the two previous Congresses. Further, on immigration, as Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented, McCain has abandoned his previous support for comprehensive immigration legislation to more closely align himself with the base of the Republican Party, and conservatives have noted McCain's rightward shift on the issue with approval. Moreover, low ratings by environmental organizations such as the League of Conservation Voters and Defenders of Wildlife undermine Simon's claim that McCain is "strong on the environment."

While Simon asserted that McCain "is, broadly speaking, in the same mold" as Schwarzenegger, he did not note their differences on two key issues: Iraq and health care.

Iraq

A March 20 online summary of a KCBS report stated that while Schwarzenegger said "the war in Iraq was worth it," he "disagrees with the man he has endorsed for president, Republican John McCain, who says announcing a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq would be a grave mistake." KCBS quoted Schwarzenegger as saying: "We have to set a timeline and when to get our troops back. And I think that if we get out of there without a victory, but get out of there as quickly as possible, that I think is the key thing." Indeed, during a November 25, 2006, appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, when asked by host Tim Russert, "What advice would you give the president about Iraq today?" Schwarzenegger said, in part: "I think we got to get out of there. We have to have a time, a timeline. I totally believe that there has to be a timeline there."

Health care

In a January 9, 2007, article, The Washington Post noted that Schwarzenegger "proposed a system of universal health insurance for Californians that would ... guarantee medical coverage for all its residents." It quoted Schwarzenegger as stating: "My solution is that everyone in California must have insurance. If you can't afford it, the state will help you buy it, but you must be insured."

By contrast, McCain opposes legislatively imposed universal health care coverage and his health care proposal, the Post noted, "does not create universal health coverage." In a March 4 speech after clinching the Republican nomination for president, McCain stated: "I will leave it to my opponent to propose returning to the failed, big government mandates of the sixties and seventies to address problems such as the lack of health care insurance for some Americans."

From Simon's April 9 column:

Here are four things you need to know about John McCain and California:

[...]

2. Winning California is going to be very tough for McCain.

On the surface, McCain looks like a reasonably good match for California. He is a relatively moderate Republican, he is strong on the environment, he talks about low taxes and ending waste, he retains a somewhat maverick image, and he could be popular with independents. He is, broadly speaking, in the same mold as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, who will campaign vigorously for him.

But there is a one [sic] big difference between Schwarzenegger and McCain, and it has enormous political implications: Schwarzenegger supports abortion rights and McCain does not.

[...]

4. [Sen. Barack] Obama favors giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. McCain opposes it, and this could give McCain the state.

Giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants is unpopular in California. Schwarzenegger successfully exploited opposition to such driver's licenses in both of his elections, and McCain would have a shot at winning California by exploiting it also.

Yes, it would be ironic for McCain, a moderate on immigration, to take a hard line on this issue, but politics often make people do ironic things.

—E.H.H.