McCain at the LSE?

The Times revealed on Saturday that the Republican presidential candidate John McCain had considered giving a speech at the LSE as a part of his European and Middle East tour later this month, although it said that aides have downplayed the likelihood of any visit taking place.

Given the LSE’s tendency to heckle this year, it probably is not a bad idea to forgo the speech, although McCain has a history of taking his generally conservative agenda to hostile left wing audiences. Arch-conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia also spoke at the LSE this term before a respectful audience of students who mostly disagreed entirely with him, so it can be done. Given that the visit will take place during the upcoming holiday, McCain might have a hard time getting an audience, although that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

[EDIT: If you were crestfallen to hear that Senator McCain was likely not going to bring his Republican credentials to the LSE, fear not! Care of the Houghton Street Review, we can tell you that you will be able to scream your derision at a bona fide intolerant right wing (former) senator, Rick "That's Latin for Asshole" Santorum at an upcoming LSESU Tocqueville Society lecture. Sure, he's no Presidential candidate, but he did inspire a new word to add to your lexicon. Email su.soc.tocquevilleisi@lse.ac.uk for tickets.]