Posted on 02/08/2008 1:58:52 AM PST by VU4G10
A good conservative speech, no matter how stirring, will not solve the problems that grass-roots conservatives have with Sen. John McCain, Richard A. Viguerie, America's leading conservative direct-mail guru, said Thursday.
Viguerie made his comments in response to John McCain’s address Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. Prior to McCain’s speech, various news reports suggested that the speech gave the Arizona senator a chance to make amends with conservatives and bring them on board his bandwagon.
“Rhetoric isn’t enough,” Viguerie said. “To get the enthusiastic support of conservatives – support he must have, to win – Senator McCain must make his case with deeds, not just words.”
That’s not just because of McCain’s recent record on important issues, Viguerie said. It’s also because of the record of the Republican Party itself.
“From Eisenhower to Nixon to both Bushes, conservatives have heard conservative rhetoric from Republican presidential candidates. Each time, they were disappointed – even betrayed – by the people and the party they had trusted.
“After the last eight or 10 years, in which Republican leaders were elected with conservative votes, but then betrayed conservative principles, grassroots conservatives are not so willing to take John McCain at his word. He is an honorable man, but, given the record of the Republican Party and given his own record, conservative rhetoric is not enough to convince people.
“Conservatives will not be so trusting this time.
“Senator McCain must surround himself with conservatives in policy positions, so that conservatives know what sort of people will make key decisions in a McCain Administration. He must have a number of Sister Souljah moments with the Washington establishment liberals who consider him their favorite Republican. He must make conservatives cheer for him every night when they watch the news on TV – not just when they hear him give a good speech.”
Viguerie said that McCain has “only a few weeks” to “bring conservatives up to a comfort level with him. If he is to do it, in the words of Macbeth, ‘’twere well it were done quickly.’
“In 1992, George H.W. Bush waited until the Republican Convention to reach out to conservatives, giving Pat Buchanan a major place on the program and so on. It didn’t work. The media savaged Bush for pandering to conservatives, and conservatives saw it as too little, too late.”
If McCain does not act soon, “conservatives will start writing off the presidential race,” Viguerie said. “Yes, most – not all – will vote for him, if he is the Republican nominee. But they will not make telephone calls, send out e-mails and postcards, go door to door, contribute money, and do all the hard work that makes victory possible in November.”
Make telephone calls, send out e-mails and postcards, go door to door, contribute money, and do all the hard work for what.. McInsane?
Never.
He can’t do it, my friend, he can’t do it.
Unless he becomes President rhetoric is just about all you are going to get. McCain has been missing many votes in the senate lately. Basically McCain’s job right now is rhetoric.
Make telephone calls, send out e-mails and postcards, go door to door, contribute money, and do all the hard work for what.. McInsane?
Never.
How can McCain gain the support of conservatives without alienating his base? I don’t think he can.
Excellent assessment
At least w McCain...we can now sort out the real conservatives from the liberals
The real conservatives will not vote for McCain for any reason. A donkey in elephant clothing is still a donkey.
The liberals will push the false-mantra “If we dont vote for him we get Hillary/Obama”....the same kind of crap that has the GOP in the position they are today....trying to sell liberals as conservatives
"Hey, just calm down..." - John McCain to conservatives
Unhg...the man is repellent. Uniting conservatives under McCain will go about as well as herding cats.
Being a powerful senator, McCain has about ten months to push through legislation that secures our borders. He can prove how well he “got the message” by making some serious “enforcement first” progress on illegal immigration well before the November vote.
Finally someone gets down to the nitty gritty.
Republicans must learn that bait and switch will never work again, and the lesson must be HARD.
Ed Wood, is that you? LOL!
He's making a big mistake if he goes that route. He isn't someone that listens to advice or can humble himself, so I think she may be right. I kept thinking that during the speech--he better not think this is enough to do the trick. There's some mighty cheesed off folks out here and one speech will not cut it. It's going to take some actions and even then it might not be enough.
No ‘RINO’s,,,,,,,,,,, We will regret the next four years. I hope and pray, we can survive(as a nation)...
No ‘RINO’s,,,,,,,,,,, We will regret the next four years. I hope and pray, we can survive(as a nation)...
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