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.”
That is when I turned of his show..forever..
Yeah, I saw it. Looked like a lot of manufactured outrage and a really weak example to support O’Reilly’s outrage. He only provided that one because Laura Ingraham pressed him for examples to back up his statements about the “vile” things he stated had been said about McCain. O’Reilly’s pontificating is a significant contribution to the alleged global warming IMO.
I saw that , he also said people question McCains stability after his p.o.w. time.....like that isn't a legitimate question?
I couldn't help but think, at what point will Laura Ingram walk away from the O'Reilley show, like Michelle Malkin.
What I found even more disgusting was the end of the show.....as I channel surfed by I caught O'Reilly telling Lori Dhue that McCain had never engaged in negative campaigning. LMAO!
That is how they keep us in line. Don't give us a viable candidate, just try to scare us. The senate and congress have done a horrible job. I think this election has shown many people what a good ole boy club it really is. It may not be so hard to remove the dead weight there. That is how we can really bring about change. I've given up on the Presidential campaign. Vote for McCain? Not just no but hell no!
Senator McCain has already made his case with deeds and words. That's why Conservatives won't support him. It's way late to be trying to make his case now.
Everybody better get ready for an Obama Presidency......and with that I would expect a large scale AQ attack by no later than March of '09....
Nasty McPain has stabbed Conservatives in the back for ever.NO McPain in 2008!
Ahhh, Mr. Compromise McCain. I love the talk of securing the borders, building the fence, hiring more BP Agents. It’s wonderful. Does anyone here know what the plan is once this goes into action? What is McCain’s plan for the millions here? My gut tells me AMNESTY. In his heart he is not one bit bothered by illegals. It will be the bait and switch.
That's pretty funny, considering recent polling here at Freeperland show that half of us are staying home this November. My guess is we (Strong Conservatives) make up at least 10%- 20% of the Republican base.
McLameo is going to have a long night on 05 November 2008.
Well said.
I love your pictures and link... I will borrow them for a good cause... Thank you :)
Feel free to borrow, "steal," use, distribute, sell, buy or reproduce in massive quantities!
Am I missing something? The conservatives never were trusting.
McCain is not the kind of Conservative or Republican I want as my president.
Fact is McCain is barely a conservative and he is a RINO not a Republican.
Hell, I can call myself a tall dark handsome young guy.
Not necessarily true either.
Of course it is amnesty. he has learned his lesson, we want the borders closed first.... then he grants amnesty.
I will never vote for anyone who called me racist/bigot/nativist, and that is mcpain and huck.
Yeah, I’ll make calls to people that didn’t get the time to know they voted for an A hole.
More big talk.
Where are the votes? This is POLITICS, not church. If trucons could have demonstrated, under very favorable conditions, that they were more than 10-15% of the GOP they could have expected more.
But if you don't bring the votes, you can't call the shots.
(Picture collage by Sir Francis Dashwood)
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.