McCain Ultra Conservative on Women's Issues

John McCain is far more conservative on abortion, sex education and other issues than most voters believe, writes Joe Conason in Salon. He says McCain's voting record and views—as opposed to his moderate image in the mainstream press—often infuriate women, especially because he wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, favors abstinence-only sex ed, and doesn't want insurers to pay for contraception.

What's more, McCain once held more moderate views but flip-flopped for political gain, Conason charges. Instead of thinking for himself, "he merely parrots the extremists of the far right." Meanwhile, Marc Ambinder notes in the Atlantic that McCain is dispatching Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak for him at a Log Cabin Republicans meeting; McCain rejects gay marriage but wants to extend some benefits to same-sex couples. (More John McCain stories.)