McCain has been desperately trying to distance himself from his Fundraiser-in-Chief George W. Bush. He wants to be seen as a maverick, an independent, a reformer and someone who can carry the damaged Republican brand in a new direction. Well, this all sounds like a great strategy…right?

Thanks to the great work of bloggers and researchers who know how you use Google, McCain’s declaration of independence is slowly being debunked and his true colors are starting to shine through.

From the Huffington Post:

It has been observed that one of Sen. John McCain’s most foreboding obstacles in seeking the White House will likely be the lengthy paper trail that comes with a 25-year congressional career.

And so it is, perhaps, with the macro-theme of the general election: whether or not McCain is an extension of the George Bush presidency. The Senator has worked hard to dispel such a perception, pointing to various policy disagreements with the White House and lashing out against those who claim he would be Bush’s third term.

But McCain’s case is complicated by his own words from just three years ago. In a June 2005 appearance on Meet The Press, the Senator told moderator Tim Russert that, far from being at odds with the White House, he had “been totally in agreement and support of President Bush” on “the transcendent issues.”

Here is the transcript of his remarks. Video is here.

RUSSERT: The fact is you are different than George Bush.

SEN. McCAIN: No. No. I-the fact is that I’m different but the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I’ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.

This morning, Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) debated Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) on NBC’s Meet The Press moderated by Tim Russert.

I thought Brown did a great job taking on DeWine. He kept him on the defensive and painted him as ineffective. He also hammered the Senator on his negative campaign and there were times when DeWine couldn’t defend his own record. DeWine spent much of the debate ducking Russert’s questions.

Here is the transcript.

Below, you’ll also find transcripts to the other Meet The Press debates from the past couple weeks.

OHIO: Sherrod Brown v. Mike DeWine

VIRGINIA: Jim Webb v. George Allen

PENNSYLVANIA: Bob Casey v. Rick Santorum

BOB CASEY VS. RADICAL RICK SANTORUM

Sunday September 3, 2006

Find out what time Meet The Press airs in your neck of the woods.

Go BOB!

Below are the dates for numerous Senate debates on NBC’s Meet the Press. Tune in, y’all!

via First Read:

September 3:
Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) and Bob Casey (D)

September 13:
Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) vs. Jim Webb (D)

October 1:
Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine (R) vs. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D)

October 8:
Missouri Sen. Jim Talent (R) vs. Claire McCaskill (D)

October 15:
Minnesota candidates Amy Klobuchar (D) and Mark Kennedy (R)

October 29:
Maryland Senate nominees (still TBD)