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McCain Emphasizing His Conservative Bona Fides
New York Times ^

Posted on 04/08/2006 9:36:25 AM PDT by Sub-Driver

McCain Emphasizing His Conservative Bona Fides By ADAM NAGOURNEY

KEENE, N.H., April 8 — Senator John McCain began his week by embracing the Rev. Jerry Falwell, the conservative religious leader he once denounced as polarizing. He ended it by joining Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal Massachusetts icon, in a fight for an immigration bill opposed by many conservatives.

Mr. McCain has long sought to present himself as a singular sort of American politician — straight-talking, iconoclastic and hard to quantify. But as he began a campaign-style trip here that will take him through Florida, Ohio and Iowa, he faced an extraordinarily complex political challenge as he sought to appeal to an unusually diverse audience and cement his early standing in the emerging Republican presidential field.

Mr. McCain's alliance with Mr. Kennedy came as he has embarked on a campaign to repair strains with conservatives and a once-wary Bush White House. He is portraying himself as a lifelong conservative and a steadfast supporter of President Bush, once a political rival, courting his senior staff members and fund-raisers.

He has endorsed Bush tax cuts he once criticized as fiscally ruinous, and agreed to appear at a commencement at Liberty University, headed by Mr. Falwell, whom Mr. McCain once called an agent "of intolerance."

But a strategy designed to muscle him through the 2008 Republican primaries — should he ultimately run, which aides says is likely but not definite — risks diluting the independent image that has been central to his political appeal. Already, Mr. McCain is facing stiff questions from supporters and critics about how far he will go to win support from conservative leaders who have long been wary of him.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: falwell; mccain2008
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To: Meadow Muffin

"I would be torn between voting for him or another democrat"

Love that line. Two democratic choices on the ballot.


21 posted on 04/08/2006 10:05:39 AM PDT by tennmountainman
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To: Sub-Driver

mcpain/feingold


mcpain/kennedy


mcpain/marx


Who cares? He hasn't got a chance in GOP primaries. Maybe pmsnbc will give a job.


22 posted on 04/08/2006 10:05:41 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (John Spencer is the warrior we have been waiting for.We can trust him with our future.)
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To: Sub-Driver

"joining Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal Massachusetts icon, in a fight for an immigration bill opposed by many conservatives."

McCainiac is no conservative and his position on immigration is amnesty, just like his buddy Kennedy.

The same goes for McCainiac's understudy, Lindsay Graham. If McCainiac were to do a quick 90-degree pivot, it would break Graham's nose. I hope the good people of SC send Graham packing when he's up for reelection.

And I hope conservatives don't buy the snakeoil McCainiac will be selling in the next couple of years.


23 posted on 04/08/2006 10:06:05 AM PDT by reelfoot
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To: wvobiwan

Arizona Republicans can be thankful for Nebraska Republicans or otherwise they'd be the stupidest voters in the GOP.


24 posted on 04/08/2006 10:06:36 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: Sub-Driver

2008 isn't shaping up as an election. Instead, it is becoming contest to see which candidate can out-Christian the other: John McCain or Hillary Clinton.


25 posted on 04/08/2006 10:07:49 AM PDT by OkeyDokeyOkie
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To: Sub-Driver

Someone tell McNitWit he's got no chance.


26 posted on 04/08/2006 10:09:07 AM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.)
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To: Sub-Driver

I would NEVER vote for John McCain. If he gets the nomination, I'll 'waste' my vote on a write-in, or some third party canditate.


27 posted on 04/08/2006 10:09:40 AM PDT by Diverdogz
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To: kittymyrib

Ha! Good point, although there are some real winners voting in PA too - what the heck are we still doing with "Magic Bullet" Spector?


28 posted on 04/08/2006 10:13:03 AM PDT by wvobiwan (I lose track, is Russia the enemy again? Plus terrorists, France, and Hollywood of course.)
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To: reaganandme
I actually think we would be better off with a Democrat in the White House than McCain. With a Democrat, we can always snipe at him/her - It's all Hilliary's fault. It's all Kerry's fault.

With McCain it's a lose-lose situation.
29 posted on 04/08/2006 10:15:22 AM PDT by BW2221
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To: Sub-Driver

About 2 % of the time , McCain will occasionally say something positive about President Bush or the conservative agenda. But, it's usually half hearted and comes with qualifiers.
That cannot make up for the other 98% of the time when he is in full throated alliance with the slimiest of Democrats and their causes.
I don't know how it is possible to trust McCain.


30 posted on 04/08/2006 10:16:26 AM PDT by Wild Irish Rogue
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To: Sub-Driver
Hope I'm not too late - but before anyone touts this psycho jerks "Lifetime ACU rating of 83" be advised that that rating is utterly meaningless, it is a red herring, a smokescreen.

That rating comprises all 20 plus years of McInsane's senate career. The salient part of his record is RECENT HISTORY, which has been abhorhant. In 2000 in a show of vindictiveness for his trouncing it was a pathetic 69.

Furthermore, when you go to the ACU site and see exactly how this mope voted on individual bills, you will note that on every important 'conservative' issue, McAsshat has almost always voted with the Dems.

And let's not forget his latest 'triumph' - the "Terrorist Bill of Rights". Any 'republican' let alone a conservative, who would even consider voting for this maggot after that 'thing' should be beat like a rented mule (in a virtual sense of course).

I bring this up as a while back there were some comments to the effect of , "his ACU rating is good". Well I went to the ACU site, and almost went apoplectic. McInsane should switch parties to be with his buddies, Kennedy, Kerry and Feingold full time and end the charade!
31 posted on 04/08/2006 10:23:44 AM PDT by Condor51 (Better to fight for something than live for nothing - Gen. George S. Patton)
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To: Sub-Driver
McCain Emphasizing His Conservative Bona Fides

By going to cocktail parties and policy meetings with Ted Kennedy, Chuck Schumer, and every other high-profile DemonRat he can latch onto. Sure, makes sense to me.

32 posted on 04/08/2006 10:23:57 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity ("Sharpei diem - Seize the wrinkled dog.")
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To: Sub-Driver
"I think a lot of people don't exactly get where I'm at," he said.

Weren't we treated to similar comments about McsKerry during the last campaign? He was just too intelligent for us common folk to understand?

33 posted on 04/08/2006 10:25:36 AM PDT by DakotaRed
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To: Sub-Driver

John McCain, a Conservative?

Sure, yeah, right...

And I'm a diesel fired wood chipper.


34 posted on 04/08/2006 10:32:49 AM PDT by Dr.Zoidberg (The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT.)
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To: BW2221
I actually think we would be better off with a Democrat in the White House than McCain. With a Democrat, we can always snipe at him/her - It's all Hilliary's fault. It's all Kerry's fault. With McCain it's a lose-lose situation.

I completely agree with you. If McCain gets in the White House, any Republican with true conservative credintials (Reagan, Bush 43) would seem out of touch. Anyone that was pro-tax cuts or pro-drilling in ANWR would be more easily labeled an extremist. We already are labeled extremist, but it would be easier for the moonbat let and the MSM.

We worked 50 years to get control of the House, Senate and White House, only to see our agenda hurt by the likes of John McCain. And then he turns around and wants my vote? No thank you.

35 posted on 04/08/2006 10:33:26 AM PDT by reaganandme
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To: reaganandme

We don't have any but I will NEVER vote for him.


36 posted on 04/08/2006 10:38:05 AM PDT by bmwcyle (We got permits, yes we DO! We got permits, how 'bout YOU?;))
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To: G.Mason
" ... Besides, what guarantees do Republicans have that McCain won't split and form a third party if he doesn't get the nomination?"


Let him. What will he take ... the non rabid Democrats?


I strongly believe this may well me in the cards. IT is the only way we'll see a President Hillary.

37 posted on 04/08/2006 10:44:09 AM PDT by zeugma (Anybody who says XP is more secure than OS X or Linux has been licking toads.)
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To: G.Mason
Let him. What will he take ... the non rabid Democrats?

I completely disagree. There are many moderate Republicans that will vote for McCain if he runs as an independent. On the other hand, in '08 Democrats will be so sick of eight years of Bush and 14 years of Republican control of the house, that no Democrats will be voting for McCain.

They may find McCain useful when he hurts the GOP agenda, but they won't vote for him if they have a choice between him and Hiliary.

Just my two cents. Go Mason!

38 posted on 04/08/2006 10:44:56 AM PDT by reaganandme
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To: zeugma
I strongly believe this may well me in the cards. IT is the only way we'll see a President Hillary.

Agreed. If McCain runs as an Independent, Hiliary will be the next President.

39 posted on 04/08/2006 10:49:41 AM PDT by reaganandme
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To: Sub-Driver

Hey Johnny, emphasize THIS!!!


40 posted on 04/08/2006 11:08:53 AM PDT by OldFriend (AMERICA WOULD NOT BE THE LAND OF THE FREE IF IT WERE NOT ALSO THE HOME OF THE BRAVE)
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