Posted on 02/07/2008 1:51:28 PM PST by VU4G10
“I am proud to be a conservative,” John McCain declared, acknowledging that he cannot win the presidency without the support of conservatives.
McCain spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Thursday as he tried to mend fences with the Republican right, which views him as too liberal on a number of issues.
And he was greeted by the conference with surprising enthusiasm, with applause before his speech so lengthy that he had to say “thank you” more than a dozen times.
Speaking just hours after Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race, McCain acknowledged he had “the distinction of being the GOP front-runner,” and “intended to keep it.”
As such, he said he had the “responsibility to unite the party, and conceded: “I cannot prevail over the Democrats without conservatives…
“I have defended many positions we share. I am proud to be a conservative … My record is one of a mainstream conservative.”
As a candidate, he promised to “offer a clearly conservative approach to government, and to “stand by my conservative convictions.”
McCain vowed to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, abolish the Alternative Minimum Tax, and protect second-amendment rights. He boasted of his “24-year pro-life record,” and his support of the troop surge in Iraq.
He warned that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would raise taxes if elected, and vowed to lower taxes, in particular corporate taxes.
Clinton and Obama “want to increase the size of the federal government,” McCain stated. “I intend to reduce it.”
There were some scattered boos when he brought up the subject of illegal immigration, but he said he now pledged to make it “the highest priority to secure our borders first” before addressing other aspects of the illegal immigration problem.
But he was greeted with hearty applause when he vowed: “I will not sign a bill with earmarks in it — any earmarks.”
And on Iran, he said: “I will tell Iran that the United States will not permit a government that makes the destruction of Israel its fondest wish.”
Gag
It was a great conservative speech and some people need to get beyond “yeah but he’s a liar” and similar avoidances of his actual positions.
He said nada on immigration, THE biggest concern of conservatives.
Bob Dole redux.
Warm reciption?? yea from the people he had bussed in...
And therein lies the problem. Those convictions aren't conservative but he is convinced he is one.
The stubborn, arrogant McKeating cannot accept anything but his own convictions (Shamnesty, CFR, Global Warming, etc).
No harm in applauding a well-written speech. McCain is now in a position where he can afford the best speech writers.
Also, no point in booing the guy who is going to be nominated no matter what they do, unless he has a heart attack first.
Frankly the whole thing was meaningless at this point. It might have meant something if there was still someone else in the race.
But he is a liar, so how does a conservative get over that fact exactly? His actions tell us everything we need to know about him. He's a disaster for conservatives and the Republican party.
Soft peddle it all you want but that is the truth.
Good people are supporting McCain. Coburn of Oklahoma, Ted Olsen and others. Fact is McCain voted for Bork, Thomas, Alito, Janice Rogers Brown for the supreme court. He is against earmarks, pork spending and he served our country with honor.
Steele from Md said McCain hit a homerun ..I will proudly cast my vote for him in Nov 2008. Good luck with Hillary or Obama if that is your choice.
That is exactly what Tom Delay said on Cavuto....
Yep. One good thing about tough times - it weeds the weak whiners out of the party. Mac doesn't need them to win.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1966565/posts
Warmly? Sure- if you count the ones bussed in to cheer on demand.
Sorry- McCain hasn’t closed the deal yet.
“He said nada on immigration, THE biggest concern of conservatives.
Bob Dole redux.”
Yes, and he dodge conservatives pundits who will ask him the questions about his true feeling on that matter.
Compared to Romney’s reception I would have to say it was subdued.
There. Fixed it.
So all of us out here in the other 20 plus states that have yet to vote in the presidential primary have little say in the Republican nominee.
What a load of hooey this whole process has become.
In November, I’ll be writing in Duncan Hunter or Fred Thompson.
I didn’t hear it... I printed it out and will read it shortly. But my real question is: was there any conviction? Was there any graciousness? Was there any contrition? Did he lay out any commitments that might give us some hope (judges, taxes, his VP nominee)?
TIA
” some people need to get beyond “yeah but he’s a liar” and similar avoidances of his actual positions.”
That’s the same line they use on women to get them to stay with their abusive husbands. Denying what John McCain is, won’t change it. McCain’s ‘actual positions’ stink.
What about the issues that have been raised...oh say on his selection of his Hispanic Outreach Director....or were you aware of THAT choice?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.