Will the real McCain please stand up!
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Posted on 07/09/2008 9:25:38 PM PDT by Jean S
Last October, when John McCain’s presidential campaign was nearly dead, I went to Iowa to follow him around for a few days.
The story felt like a eulogy. Few observers believed McCain could come back from the twin disasters of his campaign nearly running out of money and his disastrous stand on comprehensive immigration reform.
Riding in a van from Sioux City to Sheldon, I asked McCain what had gone wrong.
“The biggest detriment to our campaign so far — by far — was the immigration issue, because it’s an emotional issue with our Republican base,” he told me.
“I can show you the polling numbers — that it really didn’t have anything to do with the financial situation, that as the immigration issue became hotter and hotter among Republicans, I started down.
“And it’s still out there.”
Boy, was that true. But McCain managed to survive. He won the nomination on the strength of his national security credentials, but he gave Republican base voters just enough reassurance on the immigration issue when he pledged to “secure the border first.”
McCain succeeded as a result of what might be called a legitimate flip-flop.
After supporting comprehensive immigration reform, McCain got the word from voters, in no uncertain terms, that they wanted the borders secured before anything else. So McCain adopted a new mantra.
When we got to Sheldon, for a talk to a (very) small crowd at a Pizza Ranch restaurant, somebody brought up immigration.
“We learned a message from the last debate,” McCain said. “The lesson is people want the border secure. They want the border secure. I got the message. The border has to be secure. And we have to do what’s necessary to secure our border, and then we can move on to other aspects of the problem.”
That was, or seemed like, straight talk. But that was the primary McCain.
Now we’re seeing the old McCain. He’s been talking about comprehensive immigration reform again lately, and he hasn’t been terribly careful about assuring audiences that the borders will be secured first, and only then will other aspects of reform go forward.
Take his appearance last week before the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. In prepared remarks, he spoke of securing the borders. But later, when asked whether comprehensive reform — not just border-securing enforcement — would be one of his top priorities in his first 100 days in office, McCain said: “It will be my top priority yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
That didn’t really sound like securing the borders first.
McCain also made a gaffe when he pledged that “someone who comes here legally cannot have priority over someone who comes here illegally.” His staff assured me later that he meant it the other way around.
A few days earlier, in an interview with The Las Vegas Sun, McCain also brought up immigration, saying, “I haven’t won on every issue. I didn’t win on immigration reform, but I’ll go back at it. And I’m glad I did it.”
Glad he did it! If you want to see McCain at his most incorrigible, there it is. He took a stand on an issue that deeply divided his party, a stand that almost cost him the nomination, and that still causes him trouble with voters whose support he desperately needs today.
And he’s glad he did it.
What was that about getting the message?
McCain was a bit more careful this week when he addressed the League of United Latin American Citizens.
“Many Americans, with good cause, did not believe us when we said we would secure our borders, and so we failed in our efforts,” he said. “We must prove to them that we can and will secure our borders first, while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal residents of the United States.”
That was better, but which McCain is the real McCain?
This is serious stuff. McCain made a promise to the voters who chose him over his rivals in the Republican primaries. If it appears that he is going back on that promise, or wobbling, or slipping into the old McCain who nearly lost the nomination, he’ll be in trouble.
And he won’t be glad he did it.
He’s lying about this issue. Obama is lying about being a moderate.
Will not vote for the man. Can’t make myself do it.
.. he gave Republican base voters just enough reassurance on the immigration issue when he pledged to “secure the border first.”
Oh yeah.
abused spouse syndrome (for clarification purposes, I am referring to the base, not his spouses)
Everyone knows their both lying with this latest posturing, but so what? They both know their respective crowds now have nowhere else to go. By the time November rolls around, Maverick John will have forgotten he ever said anything about “securing the borders” and the Messiah will be posing in a flight suit.
This dumb bastard has no intention of being president.Not one damn bit.
” but he gave Republican base voters just enough reassurance on the immigration issue when he pledged to “secure the border first.”
“
Which is proof of just how gullible and stupid the Republican base has become. Juan McAmnesty offers up a steaming load of dog poop and we believe him when he says it’s chocolate.
So what if McCain flip-flops?
After all, as his mindless drones would tell you, keeping your word is only a lousy “principle”.
I don’t know why anyone would believe a word McCain says on this issue. Well, except that he plans to go back at his ‘comprehensive’ immigration reform, more accurately called amnesty for all.
These border state politicians have some perverse guilt complex or something on this issue, and they’ve also deluded themselves into believing that if they pander enough that Republicans will win a majority of Hispanic votes into the future, when the opposite will be true for the poor and recently arrived Hispanic immigrants.
Bush, Rove and McCain have done tremendous damage to the party by pushing this issue over and over, and they still haven’t learned anything.
The worst of it is that McCain spun the real message from the electorate. Nobody said secure the borders first. John McCain said secure the borders first, so he could go through a sharade and then usher in tens of millions of illegals, naturalizing them all. The message to electorate voiced, was knock it off McCain you bastard. We don’t want no stinking naturalization. We don’t need no stinking naturalization.
WE NEED REPATRIATION you lying sack of - - - -!
That is such a good analogy. Love it.
Will the real McCain please stand up!
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“Which is proof of just how gullible and stupid the Republican base has become.”
Maybe not, at least not the base in the red states. McCain won the nomination primarily by winning blue states that he is very unlikely to win in November. Several red states went for Huckabee, and even in states McCain won many of them were won with 35% - 40% of the vote.
He’s sure not the choice of a majority of Republicans. This was a screwed up primary season with the votes being scattered among five or so viable candidates. And, it was decided so quickly on Super Tuesday (2/5), and McCain had won barely 40% of the vote to that point.
McCain=Politician (really can’t tell the truth)
Obama=Politician (really can’t tell the truth)
I fear Obama may be the best liar..therefore..I fear him most.
You want President Obama instead of McCain?
Call me a troll if you like, but how stupid is your effort?
Really stupid.
No.
Really, really, really stoopid.
Even worse.
If that is possible.
Gasp! I said "Mexicans", that's right, the hordes of criminals are not Canadians, not Germans or Greeks, they are Mexicans.
I said "just say no to Juan McCain." I never said "just say yes to Hussein Obama."
You are putting words in my mouth, which is something I too would be doing if I said that your defense of Mr. McCain is also a defense of his shamnesty for illegal Mexican aliens.
“Nobody but the left moonbats want our country going to hell in a hand basket due to the invasion of the criminal Mexicans.”
That’s where you err. There’s plenty of Republicans who are willing to accept an invasion of Mexican criminals if it means they get their amnesty for the other millions of illegals.
Well, actually, it's chihuahua poo, but I think we got the idea.
¡Yo quiero Juan McCain!
The blackmail effort doesn’t work anymore. At least not for those of us who live at ground zero of the immigration invasion.
Your hero has been the chief amnesty pusher in the Senate.
He’d go fine with a side of fries. And mango salsa.
question two....Sorry about this....Is Obama gonna make his Nascar appearance at Chicago Land?
Really.
But at least he will give us half of what we believe in. Plus he can be seriously pressured on the other half. Barry on the other hand will give us 0.
0
And he will change us beyond the possibility of return.
Now I hate this choice, I may have to get drunk to vote for the man, but when not voting for him gives us Barry....
And 3 more fuzzy Ginsburgs.......and a defeat in the war on terror.......plus spending increases and tax increase.....plus, plus, plus.....every bad thing you can think about, including an absolute loss on the border issue that you seem to be concerned about.
Man you are just stupid to continue the axe for McCain. Even Rush Limbaugh understands this.....oppose Obama with all you have, pressure McCain with all you have, bring conservatives to the house and senate.
But continuuing to axe mcCain simply brings you Barry, and you should know better what a disaster that will be.
? 1 - Gitmo is gone in 2009 and rendition.
? 2 - Oh I hope the heck not.. if he does, I would like to see him in a two seater car getting taken for a ride by Kyle or Kurt Busch.
If the Congress is controlled by Democrats, you may get similar results regardless of who's president. Remember, the capacity and responsibility of making the laws is vested in the Congress.
I have no bone to pick with Congress. I hope we win control of at least one house to ensure that the Democrats don't go on a Socialist stampede.
But, as for Mr. McCain, it's still open season on him.
So get over it.
But allowing Obama to win will give you less than ground zero, and you can take that to the bank. He is infinitely worse than McCain even on the issue you (and I do too, by the way) so stridently believe in.
But then you can get reaaaallly angry at the Republicans for losing, so maybe that's okay for you, yes?
That's a dumb excuse. It's no excuse at all.
LOL! What a statesman! I’m a Gibbs guy so lets put him in Kurt’s ride. Good luck.
And how exactly did Mr. McCain vote on the confirmations of Ginsberg and Breyer?
Just because you have a Republican or conservative president (the two do not always happen at the same time) does not guarantee that non-activist judges will be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Lord knows I don't like McCain, but at least McCain won't knowingly give us a Ginsberg or Breyer, it's not what he believes in, it never has been. Obama does.
Do you not understand this simple thing?
I’m already “realllllly angry” at “the Republicans”, especially the Bush-Rove-McCain La Raza cartel, for allowing my city to become an illegal alien slum with their approval.
So you get over it. I’ve spent enough time and money painting over graffiti from McCain’s amigos to where your bs doesn’t impress me at all.
There's always a first time for everything. Bush almost gave us Miers, after all.
**Will not vote for the man.**
So then you are willing to vote for Obama? Unbelievable!
No I won’t vote for Obama. I just won’t vote for McCain.
*Bangs head against monitor*
You can't really be this dumb can you?
so if you vote third party — you are inevitably giving the election to Obama. Unbelievable!
If Obama wins the election, it will be because the RINO-infested Republican leadership has, by sheer stupidity, created this electoral quagmire for itself.
I would have never guessed at your anger......
/sarcasm
Guess when Obama wins you can even get angrier at them.
Hope it makes you feel better when your city gets a lot worse. But not to worry, Obama will give you free anger management courses........
Yes, my dear, either vote McCain or...we're gonna be living la vida Obama!
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Wishing for another choice that might have been doesn't help.
Believe it. I’ve worked for or voted for EVERY GOP presidential candidate since I started out passing literature for Goldwater as a kid in Chicago. But the GOP has just gone too far this time with McCain as the nominee. I will not eat sh#t and vote for him.
*Will wait patiently for good answer*
50% is optimistic.
Tell the RINO-infested party leadership that you're sick and tired of scarfing on the crow they keep serving up. Refuse to vote McCain. Refuse to make campaign contributions. Vote for McCain anyways, but hold your nose, and loudly protest. Take your pick. Or, be creative and come up with your own way.
Good luck, it's a tough one. I can't stand McCain in lots of ways, will likely get drunk or induce vomiting before voting, but vote for him I will. I've never voted totally against someone, but this time I will.
I decided on Thomas Sowell's line, please forgive the butchered quote: John Mccain could never convince me to vote for him. Only Hillary or Obama can do that.
And yes, that was once again......just dumb.
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