On John McCain's Willingness to Speak at Jerry Falwell's University

deadline Poet

By Calvin Trillin

This article appeared in the June 12, 2006 edition of The Nation.

May 25, 2006

McCain was his own man, that's what was thought--
A man who spoke his mind, a man who'd fought
A war and suffered mightily, in fact,
But toughed it out. His honor was intact.
On certain issues, he would hold his ground
No matter where the party line was found.
This man seemed strong and fiercely independent,
And that's what caused his star to be ascendant.
As was his way, McCain displayed no fears
Replying to those Carolina smears.
"An agent of intolerance" was what
He labeled Falwell, Karl Rove's favorite nut.
But now, discerning where his future lies,
He kowtows to this nut he must despise.
Yes, presidential fever's got him now.
To old McCain, alas, we must say ciao.
That independent man is gone for good.
What torture couldn't do ambition could.

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About Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation's "deadline poet." He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1963 and has written the syndicated weekly column "Uncivil Liberties" since 1986. He has authored many, many books, including Tepper's Not Going Out and Deadline Poet: My Life as a Doggerelist. more...
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