To the chagrin of many Republicans, John McCain is a maverick after all. Many people doubted his mavericky ways after he voted with his fellow Republicans only three days ago to keep the Republican Obamacare repeal efforts alive.

Asked why he voted against the one piece of legislation that has formed the Republicans’ signature message since Obamacare was enacted seven years ago, McCain said, because “it was the right thing to do.” The bill was defeated 49-51.

After McCain stood with his party on Tuesday, casting the crucial vote to move ahead with debate on the bill that would kill Obamacare, both Republicans and Democrats couldn’t be certain what the 80 year-old Arizona senator would do when it came time to vote on a bill.

True to his unpredictable nature, McCain told his fellow senators after his Tuesday vote, “I voted for the motion to proceed to allow debate to continue. I will not vote for this bill as it is today. It’s a shell of a bill right now.”

Of course McCain’s dramatic vote would not have been possible but for the heroic votes of two female senators, Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

But should we really be surprised McCain did the honorable thing?

During his 2008 presidential campaign against Barack Obama, a woman at a town hall meeting in Minnesota told McCain she was afraid of Obama because she had read he was an Arab. Without any hesitation, McCain set the woman straight.

“No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign’s all about. He’s not [an Arab],” McCain told the supporter. “I have to tell you. Sen. Obama is a decent person and a person you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States.”

The crowd roundly booed McCain.

“Come on, John!” one audience member yelled out. Others added “liar,” and “terrorist,” referring to Obama.

Some pundits think McCain’s act of decency may have cost him the election.

After today’s crushing defeat, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell all but threw in the towel on trying to whack Obama’s signature piece of legislation. “It is time to move on,” he said.

Referring to his Democratic opponents who voted in lockstep against the bill, McConnell added, “I regret to say that they succeeded in that effort, so now I think it’s appropriate to ask, ‘What are their ideas?’ It will be interesting to see what they suggest as the way forward”.

Nice words by the Majority Leader but don’t hold your breath on any bipartisan efforts to fix our ailing healthcare system anytime soon.

Photo | Breitbart.com