McCain tonight: “I’m the only one that said that Rumsfeld had to go.*”

Not quite true, though. McCain actually refused to fight for Rumsfeld’s Resignation …

2004:  McCain Refused To Call For Secretary Rumsfeld’s Resignation. McCain would not call for Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation, saying that the President “can have the team that he wants around him.”  McCain said that he respected Bush’s decision to keep Rumsfeld around.  McCain said, “I respect the president.  The president of the United States was re-elected by a majority of the American people, and I respect his right. And I will work with the president obviously and with the secretary of defense.” [MSNBC.com, 12/15/04; CNN.com, 12/5/04]

2006:  McCain Refused to Join Calls For Rumsfeld’s Resignation, Said He Would Work With Rumsfeld. “But the president has the right and earned the right as the president of the United States to appoint his team,” and he has confidence in Secretary Rumsfeld.  “I will continue to work with Secretary Rumsfeld as much as I can as long as he is secretary of Defense. We have to, because we need to win this war.”  [East Valley Tribune, 415/2006; http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/63311 ]

*Talking to yourself doesn’t count, Senator. You have to be all out loud and stuff. In public. You know, like that pretty building you “work” in.