A few years ago, Senator McCain seemed like a moderate Republican who did the rare thing: think for himself. Apparently, I didn’t do a good job checking his record before reaching that judgment because he his voting record is clear: he’s against abortion and birth control and he’s been that way for decades. More importantly, he is voting the party line. An interesting article on McCain at AlterNet digs into his record. It is rather disturbing, especially since his pandering to women voters seems to be working despite his appallingly anti-feminist, anti-science record. Some choice votes summarized in the article:

He opposed legislation requiring that abstinence-only programs be medically accurate and based in science. He voted to abolish funding for birth control and gynecological care for low-income women, and against funding for public education on emergency contraception.
[…]
McCain has an equally dismal record on other issues central to women’s lives — pay equity, fighting workplace discrimination, and supporting programs that help working mothers and their families.
[…]
On civil rights issues, his record, again, is poor. He has voted in favor of banning affirmative action hiring for jobs funded by the federal government, and says he’s against policies that might result in “quotas” — an oft-repeated conservative excuse for not supporting policies that rectify systemic inequities.
[…]
McCain voted at least six times to reduce, eliminate or restrict health insurance programs for low-income children and pregnant women. In August 2007, he again voted against a bill to expand coverage of SCHIP.

Let’s hope we can get the word out on his record and prevent President McSame!