Posted on 02/02/2008 7:29:44 AM PST by Bubba_Leroy
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.
Other than that, this conservative thinks he’s a great guy.
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And the L.A. Times has endorsed him too!!! (sarc)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963707/posts
Hi arguement is total nonsense.
Conservatives absolutely must stop McCain even if it means enduring a Clinton 2 Administration. At least with a Leftist Administration the GOP Establishment would finally realize they must actually advance our agenda rather then be Democrat Lite if they want our votes. Right now the GOP Establishement holds Conservatives in contempt. They think "We can do anything we want and the sheep will show up and vote for us". At some point, Conservative are either going to have to make a stand or quit being Conservatives. The time is now. The way to stop it is to make sure McCain is never elected Presdient.
This is what the Party Uber Alles types have got to learn. At some point Conservatives are going to make a stand. Going to have to teach the Republican Establishment that there are lines they cannot cross. Politically Hillary and McCain are virtually the same. They may have minor difference on this issue or that but ideologically they have the same centralizing big Govt mindset.
In 2000 Conservatives were so desperate to control the Congress and the Presidency we grit our teeth and accepted Bush had to move Left. So since we were still getting about 70% of what we wanted we made peace with it.
Now, with McCain, the GOP Establishment are telling us "Hey if we want to win we got to more 35% father Left". If Conservatives accept that, then in 2010, they will tell us "Hey we got to move 15% father Left to win" and the same in 2012-2014 etc etc etc forever.
The Party Uber Alles types have got to be taught a lesson. The lesson is that we actually want our political agenda advanced. We are not willing to become Democrat Lite just to keep them in office. The time for that stand is now. The person who best represents this leftward drift in the GOP is McCain. He must be defeated either in the primary or in the General Election.
All of the above, plus he’s a beady-eyed bald-faced liar.
“I am PROUD of my conservative record...”
What conservative record would that be, Johnny? The one you just made up while those words left your lips?
Why on Earth would we want these leftist policies advanced by a (nominally) Republican President? Do we want to be forever known as the party of Global Warming, open borders, big government? I know that I don't, and there is no way I will support McCain. Let a Democrat take credit for those socialist issues.
McCain would be a terrible president. A McCain presidency would bring:
1. Massive tax increases
2. Huge government subsidy programs for illegal aliens
3. Huge carbon tax programs to combat supposed global warming
4. An end to the ability to interrogate terrorists.
5. An attack on business and the private sector.(except for corrupt people like Keating)
6. Ted Kennedy and other Democrats controlling the agenda.
Geez!
I'll certainly give him all the support he deserves.
Because he sucks...
That's the reason, right there!
We didn't know about how Bush would be, but we darn sure know how McCain is!
And we don't want any more!
A good article. I think the above excerpt from the article pretty much puts it in a nutshell. McCain, after years of poking his fingers in the Conservatives’ eyes, wants to be forgiven and to be treated as their prodigal son and be welcomed home with open arms. Well, I for one am not prepared to do so as I believe should he be elected to POTUS he would very shortly afterward revert to his old arrogant, condescending ways towards Conservatives. This guy, yes he is a war hero, but he is also mentally stuck in his post-adolesence/twenty something years. This is a 72 year old guy who never really matured, maybe we should label him as Peter Pan in Never Never Land....
Everything you say is true, but take that, and couple it with the fact he is a smug, arrogant, unlikeable person.
He may be likeable to Ted Kennedy, but that ain’t saying much.
I could have written this myself, unfortunately it would have come out mainly as expletives........
Good job Lorie.
If only Huckabee would get out of the race instead of staying in merely for the malice of being a spoiler for those who would otherwise go with Romney. Huckabee should have the same sense as Edwards and get out of the way, but his own ego would rather see the liberal candidate run away with the show than hand the torch to another conservative.
You shouldn’t insult Bob Dole like that.
Mitt!
Wow, she found the answer in the second sentence. Could have saved a lot of typing.
We are freaking out because the media and indys are picking the GOP guy...not exactly kosher.
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