If you watched the television coverage of John
McCain’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, you
might have noticed a delegate brandishing a hand-lettered sign proclaiming
McCain to be: “THE MAVRICK.”
Worse than the misspelling is the gross misapplication
of the label. Far from a maverick, McCain is a 26-year Washington insider
who is now the trusted candidate of America’s corporate
establishment.
The term itself comes from Samuel Augustus Maverick,
an early Texas land baron who helped win Texas’ independence from
Mexico in 1836. Somewhat of a quirky rancher, he steadfastly refused to
brand his cattle. As a result, any unbranded steers wandering the range
became known as “mavericks.” The term soon entered the
vernacular to describe independent-minded people who wore no one’s
brand — rebels, nonconformists and dissenters.
In the 1930s, this proud trait flowered in the boldly
progressive political life of Maury Maverick, grandson of the old rancher.
In 1934, Maury beat the monied establishment of San Antonio to become a
member of Congress. An ardent New Dealer, he was a spirited opponent of
both entrenched corporate interests and recalcitrant bureaucrats.
Then came Maury Jr., a feisty state representative in
the 1950s and a crusty lifelong fighter for civil liberties. He battled the
state’s oil and gas barons, and had the courage to stand against the
racists and red-baiters of the Joe McCarthy period. He died nearly broke in
2003 after decades as a brilliant ACLU lawyer, working for free to help win
a little justice for such outsiders and freethinkers as civil rights
protestors, conscientious objectors, communists and atheists.
That, my friends, is a
maverick.
McCain’s been branded again and again with
the logos of corporate powers. Call him what you will, but be honest
— he’s damned sure no maverick.
This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2008.
