Why are so many Republicans freaking out about John McCain’s primary success?

I’ve given quite a bit of thought to that question this week because I happen to be one of those freaking out over the prospect of a McCain nomination.

Some cite McCain’s positions and past votes and say he is on the wrong side of too many issues, but the same can be said of George Bush. Why does McCain seem to ignite such emotion and strong opposition in so many? There are a lot of positions McCain has taken that have angered conservatives, to be sure. Opposition to the Bush tax cuts, McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, Gang of 14, the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill, global warming and drilling in ANWR are just a few.

The strong negative reaction from conservatives is not solely because of his positions on issues, though. The reason so many conservatives are concerned about the prospect of a McCain nomination and a McCain presidency has almost as much to do with the way McCain has taken the positions he has, as the positions themselves.

As I often tell my children when they get in trouble for talking back or giving me attitude, sometimes it is not what you say, but rather how you say it.

I was not happy about McCain’s opposition to the Bush tax cuts. As disappointed as I was with his vote, though, what really angered me was the "tax cuts for the rich" rhetoric he used to explain his opposition. I think it is horrible when Democrats play that class warfare game, but realize that many of them actually believe it and even those who don’t believe it know they need to say it because that is what their base wants to hear. It was hard for me to imagine any reason a true conservative would want to say such things. I still can't.

For many years McCain has displayed what appears to be a need for the love and acceptance of the media and Democrats. He often seemed to go out of his way to find fault with those in his own party in order to further cultivate his maverick persona. Instead of being a representative of the Republican party, or even of conservatism, he often emphasized his differences with others in the party and the movement, or allowed those in the media to do so for him.

I suspect many of those “freaking out” about McCain being the standard bearer for the Republican party have gone through the same progression I have over the past year.

McCain has been working hard for a year or so now to assure conservatives that he is one of them. His strong support for the war effort and the surge went a long way in making that case. He also softened his rhetoric against those in his own party. Over the summer I forgot many of the reasons I had opposed McCain as a presidential candidate. When he was down in the polls and did not appear likely to have a shot at the nomination, it was easy to forgive and forget.

When McCain started winning primaries and took the lead in the national polls, though, some of those reasons for my original opposition starting seeping back into my memory.

One of my earliest recollections of a negative reaction to McCain was in 2000 over what appeared to me to be a meltdown in South Carolina over “dirty tricks.” In 2000, going into the South Carolina primary, McCain ran a television ad accusing George Bush of “twisting the truth like Clinton,” while at the same time complaining about negative campaign tactics. I couldn't help but wonder how he would react to criticism and dirty campaign tactics from Democrats in a general election.

Comparing a fellow Republican to Bill Clinton back in 2000, knowing there was a good possibility that candidate would end up being the nominee and Democrats could use those words to discredit him, did not sit well with me at all. It led me to believe I could not trust McCain to do what was in the best interest of the party.

In 2001, speculation that McCain might change his party affiliation to switch the balance of power in the Senate only fueled that mistrust.

In 2004, McCain made his "dishonest and dishonorable" comment regarding the Swift Boat Vets. He sided with John Kerry, rather than with 250 plus Vietnam vets, including some fellow POWs. He didn't just say that he would have to look into the claims of the Swifties, or that he didn't know the specifics. No. He called the actions of those men "dishonest and dishonorable." Not only did he not apologize for that comment, but he reportedly entertained the idea of running with John Kerry.

I had put much of that out of my mind though. It is now 2008 and my desire to see Republicans retain control of the White House, and particularly to see a Republican commander in chief, seemed most important and polls repeatedly showed McCain the candidate most likely to beat a Democrat in November. The performance of McCain in the most recent debate, characterized by some as angry and sneering, along with what appear to be unfair attacks on Mitt Romney over the issue of a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, brought it all back – the temper I saw in 2000, the repeated high profile breaks with Republicans on big issues and the flirtations with Democrats about switching parties. Unlike some conservatives I am hearing from, I will vote for McCain in November if he is the nominee. Even for all his faults, McCain has many strengths and is vastly superior to Hillary or Obama. He has impressed me on the conference calls he has held frequently with bloggers where he has patiently and candidly answered any question put to him. Foreign policy/defense is one of my top issues, and I think McCain will be strong there.

It will take a lot to convince me that he can be trusted on issues important to conservatives, though, or even that he can be trusted to positively represent the party. He has built his entire political persona on showing how much he differs from Republicans and conservatives. That does not bode well for those wanting a White House that is more conservative than the current one.

McCain is going to win CA and the other big liberal states, huge. So far he has also won every southern state. Between them, those are nearly all the delegates at stake on super Tuesday. Romney may take the west. That isn't remotely enough.

You don't get it do you. It's not even "conservative pretence". John McCain has not won one single Republican primary or caucus based on "Republican only" votes.

Republican-only votes are like counting only the votes of those who voted for your favorite candidate.

No, you don't get it.

This is a Republican primary. Counting Republican-only votes in a Republican primary, when ones logical point is specifically about Republican voters is NOT the same as your nonsequitur example.

As I said, Republicans are freaking out, because McCain hasn't won one primary or caucus amongst "Republican only" voters.

I think Huck believes if he can damage Mitt enough, he can overtake him for #2 in polling, making him the favorite for Juan's VP slot. He probably knows Romney wouldn't want it if offered.

All the butt-kissing and hugging last week aside, Rudy's campaign was so thoroughly screwed up he may have blown any chance to be McCain's running mate.

You win a primary when you win half or more of the votes legitimately and legally cast in that primary. Pretending that only two thirds of them count, and $3, will get you a cup of coffee at starbucks, but no delegates.

In other words, you remain in deep denial. Go to Tradesports and sell McCain nomination futures short. Don't bet your house, though.

McCain is going to win CA and the other big liberal states, huge

Mitt wins Mass. Mitt has an outside chance at California.

Romney may take the west. That isn't remotely enough

Mitt can do well in the Midwest.

Listen buddy. Why don you go back and read the question and then read the response and then quit putting words in my mouth. You're not smart enough.

I am smart enough for any purpose you can dream of, but you aren't realist enough to face facts plain as a pikestaff six inches in front of your nose. Pundits are not freaking out because McCain hasn't won anything nor because they think he can't win anything, but because he has won several meaningful somethings and threatens to win the whole ball of wax by Tuesday night. You can live in denial if you enjoy it there, but out here in the real world, what to do about that is the subject under discussion. With some saying "never McCain" and others saying "beggars can't be choosers, and this year conservatism is going begging".

You are very likely correct about what will happen on Tuesday - as I’ve said on other threads I don’t claim any political prognostication expertise and don’t follow polling and demographics enough to know what is likely to happen in any of the “Super Tuesday” states. All I’m saying is that I think McCain has been helped considerably by a supine media that loves a “maverick” RINO (at least until the general election when they will drag out all his flaws).

Also, I agree with you that FReepers should strive to be fact-based and reality-based and not engage in (too much) wishful thinking, beyond the occasional entertaining fantasy of how we wish the world could be...... on that note I wish (1) that we had a real Reagan conservative leading the pack or in the race at all, and (2) that McCain’s candidacy was already fading to oblivion, and (3) that Shrillary and Obama would so damage each other in the primaries that neither would emerge as electable..... but I think I do realize that all of the above are fantasies for this time around.

Thompson is the likely veep pick. There was never any chance for Rudy, he doesn't bring any voters McCain doesn't already have.

If you have been listening to Fred's words over the last six months and if you take Fred at his word, then your statement above is "delusional, silly, but funny as heck".

He needs to cover the south, he needs to cover conservatives, they are long time friends, Thompson studiously avoiding burning bridges with him throughout the campaign, and Thompson helped him materially in South Carolina. McCain is 72 years old. Do you think Thompson is going to say "no" and throw a Ann-like hissy fit, if he is asked?

Thank you. I like your fantasies, those would be nice (lol). I think the media likes McCain for the most obvious of reasons - he is somewhat to the left of the rest of the Republican party and he occasionally sides with Dems, helping them pass things. The media wants the whole spectrum to drift leftward and they see the Republican party becoming a party of McCain as a likely way to do that. They might be wrong about that - conservative defection and such might drag it back, etc. But that is why they like him and build him up compared to other republicans. Not complicated.

Find me any candidate for president who said while still running for the top spot that he would accept the second spot instead.

Now, name all the men asked to be veep for their party over the last 40 years who turned it down.

My Answer:Because Republicans as a group don't want John McCain. McCain hasn't won one primary or caucus amongst "Republican only" voters.

...but you aren't realist enough to face facts plain as a pikestaff six inches in front of your nose. Pundits are not freaking out because...

As I stated now two or three times, Republicans are "freaking out" because Republicans as a group are not choosing their own candidates. That is the track record now through 8 primaries and caucuses.

That is a simple fact. I've neither stated or denied anything else. If you think that trend will change over the final 42 states, that's your guess.

And if you take it as fact, that's your delusion.

Ted Kennedy is also gearing up to control Obama. He knows he’s a new comer and he can pull the strings easily.
Mc Cain suck , he’s a Dem all the way ..Obama or Klinton will take the White House. I hope we all learn something from this. The Republican party better learn to play hard ball and fight back or we will be in the trash heap of history in 8 years.

If you have been listening to Fred's words over the last six months and if you take Fred at his word, then your statement above is "delusional, silly, but funny as heck".

Find me any candidate for president who said while still running for the top spot that he would accept the second spot instead.

It goes way past Fred not saying while he is still running that he won't except the VP slot.

It goes to what Fred has said over the past six months.

Fred has campaigned on a very different platform compared to John McCain. Fred has said that he nolonger agrees much with John McCain.

As I said, if you have been listening to Fred's words over the last six months and if you take Fred at his word, then your statement that Fred will except a McCain VP slot is off-the-wall.

The MSM and multi-national corporations, and chamber of commerce types, do not expect McCain to be president. It is enough for McCain to get the nomination. That provides cover for all the other chicken-Shite politicians to vote for amnesty. He will have proven that he did not pay a price for pushing amnesty.

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