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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: Sub-Driver

Another FAKE HEADLINE from the SLIMES.


41 posted on 04/08/2006 11:34:43 AM PDT by new yorker 77 (FAKE POLLS DO NOT TRANSLATE INTO REAL VOTERS!)
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To: Sub-Driver

he's hoping he'll get the nomination if he gets enough illegal aliens into the country.


42 posted on 04/08/2006 11:46:23 AM PDT by beekay
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To: DakotaRed
"I think a lot of people don't exactly get where I'm at," he said.

We KNOW where you are at. We also know where you belong.

43 posted on 04/08/2006 11:48:35 AM PDT by jonascord ("Republic. I like the sound of the word...")
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To: Sub-Driver

Anyone who'd vote against the Bush tax cuts, join as co-sponsor with Feingold on campaign finance reform, plot the McCain Insurrection, sponsor a bill to ban US "torture" of al Qaeda captives, and co-sponsor with Ted Kennedy a bill to provide citizenship for illegal immigrants, can hardly be called a "conservative."


44 posted on 04/08/2006 12:00:07 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: wvobiwan
"what the heck are we still doing with "Magic Bullet" Spector?"

We can thank the moron Republicans who listened to Jorge Bush and Ric Santorum for saving that s.o.b.

45 posted on 04/08/2006 12:12:37 PM PDT by penowa
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To: Sub-Driver

The New York Times assures me that McCain is leaning right in his run-up to the elections.

As it happens, I haven't seen any such thing, and simply asserting that its so, doesn't make it so.

I can't believe that the Republican Party is so bereft of talent that they have to run their worst enemy as their candidate. In terms of his devotion to the constitution, the party, and to mental stability, they may as well run Al Gore. I understand he's looking to run again.

Maybe thats the Dream Ticket. Gore-McCain, or maybe McCain-Gore. Their campaign slogan "Crazy, but available if no one else runs!".


46 posted on 04/08/2006 12:21:04 PM PDT by marron
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To: Sub-Driver

I'm a conservative and I don't care what McCain calls himself, I'm still not going to vote for him.


47 posted on 04/08/2006 12:30:44 PM PDT by Wheee The People
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To: G.Mason
"Let him. What will he take ... the non rabid Democrats?"

We have a winner!

48 posted on 04/08/2006 12:35:58 PM PDT by CowboyJay (Rough Riders! Tancredo '08)
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To: Meadow Muffin
I hope Mc Cain does not get the nomination, I would be torn between voting for him or another democrat. He has not inspired me, he is a self centered left leaning Republican trying to push himself off as a moderate.

I will write in my own name before I vote for McStain... he is a traitor & betrayer as far as I am concerned. Ref. McCain-Feingold assult on 1st amendment free speech with their campaign finance (un)reform act (unfortunately Pres Bush betrayed as well by signing it into law), plus his betrayal in supporting Dims on their right to filibuster, plus he is a close to the edge, unhinged lunatic. I can't wait for someone to push him hard and watch the fireworks begin.

49 posted on 04/08/2006 12:51:43 PM PDT by rcrngroup
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To: Sub-Driver
I found a lipstick kiss on my butt about a week ago and later found it came from McCain. Found another one this morning but now I know where it came from.

Someone tell McCain to kiss something else. He's giving me the creeps.

50 posted on 04/08/2006 12:52:07 PM PDT by manwiththehands (I will remember in November.)
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To: CowboyJay
LOL!

Be careful. I also have stated that Hillary can't get elected POTUS. ;)




51 posted on 04/08/2006 1:10:55 PM PDT by G.Mason (May God bless the United States of America and damn the Democrats)
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To: rcrngroup
" ... I can't wait for someone to push him hard and watch the fireworks begin."


Shouldn't be very hard to do. They just need to get Maria Shriver in front of him with a microphone.




52 posted on 04/08/2006 1:14:58 PM PDT by G.Mason (May God bless the United States of America and damn the Democrats)
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To: RKV

He truly thinks we are that stupid to buy his crap.

That's the worst thing about it.


53 posted on 04/08/2006 1:21:32 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: Sub-Driver
John McCain began his week by embracing the Rev. Jerry Falwell . . .

How Rev Falwell could support him is beyond me.

He is portraying himself as a lifelong conservative and a steadfast supporter of President Bush. . .

He can portray himself as the Easter Bunny if he wants to - that doesn't make it true.

I shall turn off the tv for the election season if he is the nominee, and for the ensuing 4 years whether he or the rat nominee wins in '08.

54 posted on 04/08/2006 1:27:26 PM PDT by mombonn (God is looking for spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.)
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To: RKV

He is a conservative and I am the queen of England. He is really totally out for himself and I cannot understand why he would think getting with Fat Teddy with illegal aliens would make him look good with the conservative base who vote in Republican primaries. He is toast !!


55 posted on 04/08/2006 1:30:31 PM PDT by Pedrobud (Wake up you liberal morons. Bush is not the enemy !!)
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To: Sub-Driver
McCain is in no shape to be running for president.

He'd be in his 81st year by the time his 2nd term was up.

56 posted on 04/08/2006 1:32:23 PM PDT by Gelato
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To: reaganandme
Besides, what guarentees do Republicans have that McCain won't split and form a third party if he doesn't get the nomination?

None. But I wonder if McEgo wouldn't siphon off more votes from the Democrat candidate than the Republican...

57 posted on 04/08/2006 1:43:34 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: G.Mason
"I also have stated that Hillary can't get elected POTUS. ;)"

I don't think it's impossible, but the chances are slim. There are only 2 ways she can get in, IMHO: 1) Find a way to register illegal aliens to vote (Bush seems to be advocating this for some odd reason). 2) The GOP nominates someone so repulsive that the base simply stays home. Rudy-Romney-McCain

58 posted on 04/08/2006 2:11:00 PM PDT by CowboyJay (Rough Riders! Tancredo '08)
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To: Sub-Driver

You can not make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.


59 posted on 04/08/2006 2:13:35 PM PDT by LK44-40
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To: BW2221
I actually think we would be better off with a Democrat in the White House than McCain.

We have been here before.

In 1964, we rejected a Northeastern RINO (Rockefeller) to go into the wilderness with a vision held out by Barry Goldwater, who could not win.

Those events prepared the ground for Ronald Wilson Reagan and the ascendancy of the GOP as the party of ideas.

We may have to go to the wilderness again.

60 posted on 04/08/2006 2:19:51 PM PDT by LK44-40
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