McCain puts right foot forward in giant step backward

Did McCain "play" independents?

(Blade, The (Toledo, OH) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Apr. 21--SAY IT ain't so, Johnny. Say all of us radical centrists out here weren't duped by your "Straight Talk Express."Say the whole maverick reputation you cultivated wasn't just for show.Say you didn't play independent voters, who saw you as their last best hope in 2000, for fools.I'd like to stay in denial about Sen. John McCain morphing into the radical conservative some say he has always been, but the Arizona Republican doesn't make it easy. The man is obviously positioning himself for a 2008 presidential run. He's on a mission to make friends and influence the GOP base.