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 ...
"I would be torn between voting for him or another democrat"
Love that line. Two democratic choices on the ballot.
mcpain/feingold
mcpain/kennedy
mcpain/marx
Who cares? He hasn't got a chance in GOP primaries. Maybe pmsnbc will give a job.
"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.
Arizona Republicans can be thankful for Nebraska Republicans or otherwise they'd be the stupidest voters in the GOP.
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.
Someone tell McNitWit he's got no chance.
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.
Ha! Good point, although there are some real winners voting in PA too - what the heck are we still doing with "Magic Bullet" Spector?
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.
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.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!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).
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.
Weren't we treated to similar comments about McsKerry during the last campaign? He was just too intelligent for us common folk to understand?
John McCain, a Conservative?
Sure, yeah, right...
And I'm a diesel fired wood chipper.
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.
We don't have any but I will NEVER vote for him.
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.
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!
Agreed. If McCain runs as an Independent, Hiliary will be the next President.
Hey Johnny, emphasize THIS!!!
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