Posted on 02/02/2008 8:53:10 AM PST by jdm
When Rudy Giuliani left the race and threw his support behind John McCain, people wondered whether it would have much effect on the race. After all, the Mayor had faded badly in the Republican primaries after utilizing a strategy that made him largely irrelevant in the national media. However, Rudy brought two other endorsements that could help build bridges with disaffected conservatives if McCain wins the nomination. First came Ted Olson to provide reassurance on judicial nominations, and today Steve Forbes endorsed McCain, perhaps addressing his self-professed weakness on economics:
U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that Steve Forbes has endorsed John McCain for president.
"More and more Americans will be impressed by John McCain's efforts to reform our convoluted, growth retarding, anti-opportunity tax code." said Mr. Forbes. "He understands that dollars and decisions are best left to hard-working Americans. John McCain's pro-growth plan to cut taxes, stop wasteful spending and reform our healthcare system will secure our nation's prosperity for generations to come. He is the best candidate to ensure our economic and national security. I look forward to working with him in the days ahead."
John McCain thanked Mr. Forbes, stating, "Steve has been a major contributor to the tax reform movement in our country. He is a successful business leader and an effective advocate for reducing the burden of a heavy-handed government. I appreciate Steve's advice and counsel on the important economic issues facing our nation, and I am grateful to have him on our team."
The same subtle difference exists with the Forbes endorsement as with the Olson endorsement two days ago. Rudy didn't just have their endorsements, but had them on advisory panels that implied much closer ties to the policies of the two experts. Olson would have recruited and suggested potential nominees to the bench, and Forbes would have been directly involved in economic policymaking in a Giuliani administration. So far, the McCain campaign has elevated either to that level in their organization, at least not that we've heard.
Still, the Forbes nomination may go a long way towards convincing at least the fiscal conservatives to go with McCain in the general election -- and that seems to be the contest on which McCain's focused. The bitterness between McCain and movement conservatives has to worry McCain for his prospects in a national election. Gaining Olson and Forbes, and agreeing to appear at CPAC next week, all seem very deliberate moves towards convincing the base that they have little to fear from a McCain presidency.
Will it work? It probably will have no effect on the primary. Conservatives who have felt his scorn in the past will not rally to his cause on Super Tuesday or in the primaries beyond. However, with Olson and Forbes on board in the event he wins the nomination, McCain can argue that he will fight for conservatives in the most important arenas -- foreign policy, fiscal discipline, free-market economics, and judicial nominations. In that sense, the Forbes endorsement could be pivotal to McCain.
UPDATE: CapQ reader Sandeep Dath informs me that Ted Olson has become McCain's co-chair on his advisory panel on judicial nominations. That's a smart move, again more for a potential general-election run than for any effect on the primaries.
I’d like to know why Olsen purposely did not endorse Romney.
I’d like to know why Forbes purposely did not endorse Romney.
There is a story there. And it doesn’t speak well of Romney.
“I’d like to know why Olsen purposely did not endorse Romney.
I’d like to know why Forbes purposely did not endorse Romney.
There is a story there. And it doesn’t speak well of Romney.”
The story is they think Romney is losing and McCain is winning, and they want to line up a job working for President McCain. Do you really think that Steve Forbes admires John McCain’s economic policies? lol!!
If that blowhard, Kudlow, is supporting him and I agree that he is, then that is another reason to oppose McCain.
Poor Willard!
Nobody likes him.
Steve Forbes support will help McCain as much as it helped Rudy. It will get McCain one vote, Steve Forbes vote.
Of course not! But It looks to me like the Repellican Party is being driven down to another Bob Dole defeat by these ridiculous notorious endorsements!!!
They're causing this party to live up to all those crude comments like circular firing squad, stupid party, etc., etc... ridicule, or self-destruction is getting to be the only stopper of this snowballing!!! (Frosty old John is "snowballing" the Republicans)(oh my that's "cold!")
To: sevenbak
McCain is the Democrats’ “Trojan Horse” in the Republican Party..
20 posted on 02/01/2008 7:58:32 PM PST by citizencon
Take a look:
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/166511.aspx
1994 Flyer Reveals Romney’s Conservative Positions
May 29, 2007
A lot has been made of Mitt Romney’s 1994 positions on gay rights and abortion. We’ve heard the flip flop charge before. But what hasn’t been well publicized is the following campaign flyer from 1994. Take a look below.
It’s all about CHEAP MEXICAN LABOR and the belief that the economy would fall without it.
Every political parasite in the country is now hitching his wagon to the McCain convoy, hoping for a job in the administration (or at least a favor or two). If just one of these embarrassing punks was sincere, he would have offered his endorsement a month or two ago. As these endorsements come forth now, I know who to respect and who to loathe.
Steve Forbes is a socially liberal, pro amnesty country club Republican. His sole concern is wealth, period. This isn’t going to sway conservatives one whit.
“And, like she says she will do, vote for H. Clinton if McCain is the Rublican nominee?”
I’m going to send a message by writing in Fred Thompson. When the GOP is defeated...and we will be....we at least need to send the message that only conservatives are acceptable, and we won’t support RINO’s no matter how much the establishment tries to shove them down our throats. This election seems a lot like 1976, when the popular conservative (Reagan) was shoved aside for the “moderate” establishment guy that tried to “reach out” to Democrats. That got us Jimmy Carter, and we’re about to get Barack Obama. Let us pray its only for four years.
While I appreciate the post and the flier presented, it dawns on me that he didn’t even adhere to what he said he believed in. For one, look at that government healthcare plan. Before you remind me that it is privately run, please tell me who pays for the hundreds of thousands who are poor. The state does, and it passes that fee on to the citizens of the state.
It forces a mandate on the state’s resident. It demands businesses provide certain healthcare programs and demands the private citizen comply or else.
This guy doesn’t even believe himself. Why should I?
There’s nothing like a little debate in a campaign for US Senate later in that same year, October, 1994, to bring out the liberal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI&feature=related
Forbes and Olsen both endorsed Rudy, so why wouldn’t they also go for McCain the RINO?
“...they want to line up a job working for President McCain. Do you really think that Steve Forbes admires John McCain’s economic policies? lol!!”
I could very well ask you the same exact question about
all the high profile endorsers of Mitt. They are lining up
for a job to be in his cabinet, right?
I do not know why Steve Forbes is endorsing McCain. I don’t
think he cares about the cabinet - he’s as rich as Romney
and can do what he wishes. But who knows? Here is his official
statement endorsing McCain:
““More and more Americans will be impressed by John McCain’s efforts to reform our convoluted, growth-retarding, anti-opportunity tax code,” Forbes said in a statement released by the McCain campaign.
“He understands that dollars and decisions are best left to hard-working Americans. John McCain’s pro-growth plan to cut taxes, stop wasteful spending and reform our health care system will secure our nation’s prosperity for generations to come,” Forbes added. “He is the best candidate to ensure our economic and national security.””
I take him at his word.
I voted for Romney this past week. Not because I think he's the greatest in every regard, but because he's closest to my views out of who's left to vote for! That's about all there is to it!!!
Yep.
McCain is the insider’s candidate, the anointed one. All must now pay respects and kiss his ring, or show themselves to be less than trustworthy team players.
Why is McCain, of all people, the insider’s candidate you ask? Because he stuck his neck out and put his name on the amnesty bill, something all big money Party men wanted, an insider’s wet dream.
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