Posted on 04/23/2006 6:39:41 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Sen. John McCain raised eyebrows - and suggestions of opportunism - when he agreed to deliver a commencement address at the university founded by an old nemesis, the Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Now emerges an unlikely defender of McCain: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
"I think the idea that he's going down there is constructive and positive," Kennedy, D-Mass., said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."
McCain, a likely candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, is scheduled to speak May 13 at Liberty University, a Baptist institution founded in 1971 by Falwell. Kennedy described the appearance as an opportunity for the frank, straight-talking McCain to reach young people and others who listen to the conservative minister.
"The idea that they hear a different voice on a lot of the issues that John McCain's involved in, I think that's a good for the country," Kennedy said.
In the 2000 campaign for the Republican nomination, Falwell backed George W. Bush and opposed McCain. The Arizona Republican included the Baptist minister among the "agents of intolerance" he cited in a speech. But the two met recently and, while still disagreeing on some issues, buried the hatchet.
Kennedy said the content of McCain's speech at Liberty University will suggest whether he's there for political reasons.
"He's ambitious and he's political. What he's going to do in the future is anyone's guess, but I think most of us think that he's probably looking to the future with politics on his mind," Kennedy said.
Kennedy had kind words for another Republican, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, also a presidential hopeful.
Kennedy said Romney showed leadership in the state's passage of a plan for comprehensive medical coverage and called him "a tough contender" for president.
"I think he's underestimated by a number of Republicans," Kennedy said. "But I think the Democrat's going to be the better candidate. And that's the one I intend to support."
Just testing to see if I can post. Why can't I get into the Drudge Report Thread?
I can smell it clear out here in California.
You'll get a chance for a real good whiff when McCain comes back out to campaign for the Gub.. ;-)
Well that's two guys that will never see a or another vote of mine. Schwarzinegger got his chance.
Asta la vista babby...
Maybe Ted can come out and campaign for Arnold too. LOL
???
You better run a sweep and wash.
Maybe Ted can come out and campaign for Arnold too. LOL
I don't think there is a Gulfstream jet big enough to haul his fat Arse around without bankrupting the Kennedy fortune..
Now that's funny!
I bet he does, though!
I saw Kennedy on the Daily Show last Thursday pushing his book. What a lousy appearance. He couldn't stop rambling. Of course, I don't think he could ever have a good appearance.
To dang bad Clinton isn't in office. He would join Ted on Air Force One and be able to throw in a hair cut to boot.
You voting for Angelides then?
Nope. When the R.P. decides to support a conservative I'll be here.
Liberals keep saying this every chance they get, and it just shows how out of touch they are. It'll be a cold day in hades when any Republican I know of would vote for Ted Kennedy's sidekick John McCain.
You may be right about McCain's chances to obtain the nomination. But he is obviously running. In fact, based on his campaigning for the President's re-election in 2004, I'd say it's been obvious for some time now that McCain is planning another run. Some democrats fear him because, if nominated, he is very likely to eat into the moderate democratic votes. Still others think McCain could never win the nomination because conservatives distrust him. His attempts to reposition himself as a true conservative make him appear like a flip-flopper to conservatives.
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