Viguerie: McCain Has a Few Weeks "Conservatives will not be so trusting this time"

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[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.”

[Nextrush]

McCain is to America what Arlen Specter is to Pennsylvania.

A weaving liberal RINO who hogs the TV cameras to say politically correct things.

Anything he says now will be contradicted in the general election.

[TADSLOS]

If McCain does not act soon, “conservatives will start writing off the presidential race,”

Already have. McCain is designated roadkill.

[Travis McGee]

This is the traitor John McCain chose to be his "Hispanic Outreach Director." Hernandez is a verified traitor. Born in Dallas he decided as an adult to become a dual-national Mexican citizen. His last job was serving as Mexican President Vicente Fox's "American Reconquista Director."

Hernandez believes all Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the USA should become dual citizens and consider themselves Mexicans first, "to the 8th generation."

The "New American Pioneers" proclaimed in his book are the illegal alien invaders he urges to become settlers in the USA.

And this is the man McCain chose for his "Hispanic Outreach Director." In the past week he was asked about this choice, and he said he chose Hernandez because he agrees with his positions.

Yet out of the other side of his mouth he says "He has heard us" and he will "Secure the border first."

Juan Shamnesty McCain is precisely a treacherous liar.

[DustyMoment]

I saw that , he also said people question McCains stability after his p.o.w. time.....like that isn't a legitimate question?

It IS a legitimate question, but here's one that is even more legitimate - McCain is now 72 and, if elected, will be 73 and will be 77 by the end of his first term. He already shows signs of dementia, do we REALLY want this liberal senior citizen to take command of A merica on the world stage?

[AD from SpringBay]

Once bitten twice shy? What are we up to now, thrice bitten? Mangle? Mauled? McCain found his conservative roots because he needs them to win. That’s the only reason he gave the speech he did. Where was that speech even three weeks ago?

[LadyNavyVet]

I listened to the speech, and he said that he would pursue the rest of his immigration agenda after there was “consensus” that the border was closed. Not after it was actually closed, but after there was “consensus” it was closed. Kinda like there’s “consensus” on global warming.

He thinks we’re stupid.

[Travis McGee]

See reply 63.

He’ll ask Hernandez when the border has been closed, and that will be the “consensus.”

[LadyNavyVet]

“Mccain will make that up on Indy’s and Democrats that wont vote for Hillary or Obama and they are out there.”

Do you have any facts to back that up? The fact is that Dem turnout has been hugely larger than Rep turnout, and that INCLUDES the numbers of indies and moderates who went for McCain. Even if most of them show up for McCain in November, which is doubtful, and most of the conservatives show up, which is also doubtful, the number of Dem votes is on pace to completely outstrip the number of Pubbie votes.

The dems have been out of power for eight years, and they want the WH, badly, just as much or even more than we wanted it in 2000. They’ll show up.

Here are the turnout numbers for Super Tuesday:

“Democratic votes for Clinton and Obama: 14,622,822 (63.6%)
Republican votes for McCain, Romney and Huckabee: 8,370,022 (36.4%)

Put another way, the Clinton/Obama race drew 76% more voters than the McCain/Romney/Huckabee race.”

Of course that will narrow some by November, but it won’t narrow enough for McCain to win, especially after the media gets done with him.

[Be_Politically_Erect]

With Juan Hernandez on his staff as an advisor on immigration policy there will be no fence, just a huge neon “Welcome Aboard, Amigo” sign.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

“half of us are staying home this November”

Not me. I’ll write-in for POTUS but will vote for the solid conservatives in congress as well as state and local contests.

[isrul]

Vote for him or not, we get Hillary. He’s the MSM and dem’s dream candidate. Loser written all over him.

[Maceman]

McCain, Obama and Hillary = the Bad, the Worse and the Ugly.

I really think the best thing for America is for conservatives to avoid voting for McCain, but to vote for every Republican congressional candidate.

Here are my reasons:

1) I’d rather have Congressional Republicans united in opposing Hillary or Obama, than supporting McCain in his pursuit of equally wrong-headed policies.

2) Since not a one of the three knows anything about economics, or has any executive experience, I really think the odds are against whoever wins in 2008 winning a second term , and I’d rather see a real Republican running against a Democrat than trying to mount a primary challenge against a failed incumbent McCain in 2012.

3) McCain has a slim chance of victory at best in November, and no chance at all if the conservatives stay home. I think if conservative non-support is perceived as the reason for his failure to win, the Republican Party will be very wary about about shafting us in the future, which I think will bode well for a real conservative candidate in 2012, and for our party’s future.

4) I really believe that on the critical issues facing our nation — the WOT, the economy, immigration and taxes, all three of the candidates will be equally wrong-headed.

5) I think the advantages to our beloved nation of helping McCain lose far outweigh the disadvantages of helping him win. If he does win, that will be the end of conservatives in the Republican party for the next four election cycles, because it will show that Republicans don’t ever have to take conservatism seriously again. And I really do believe that conservatism is the only realistic hope that our nation has of surviving in the long run.

Don’t tell me I’m being petty. I am not even angry. But I really do believe it is best for our nation if conservatives ensure McCain’s loss in 08. (He’ll probably lose anyway, especially against Obama.)

Flame away.

[ketsu]

I don't know about you but I'm ordering popcorn by the case....it's going to be fun watching the media pull the wings off John Dole.

I don't really hate McCain. He reminds me of "Captain Dan" from Forrest Gump. Sort of pitiable. Yes, this year will be funny. Meh... Maybe I can get some pleasure from Obama dissecting Hilary and her subsequent implosion.

[JaneNC]

Obama dissecting Hillary?? Now that is a laugh.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

IMO McCain is oblivious to conservative angst. He’ll do what he wants to do, just as he always did.

Maybe with a democrat president, the media will take the war on terror seriously.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Sometime after mid-January ‘09, the full implementation of the Fairness Doctrine will make it an even WORSE year for both Free Republic and for “everything conservative”! Long-term socialism throughout the U.S. is truly on its way. It was nice knowing all of you.

[Just mythoughts]

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.

Excuse me... conservatives have brought the votes and nobody listened. Let us know how much McCain listens to your vote.

[brydic1]

Thinking optimistically, McCain is such a loose cannon that he just may explode himself between now and the GOP Convention. It is something to think about. If that happens the party will have no choice but to turn to someone else. Just a thought. And I have a feeling it is at least a 20% probability.

[Paul Ross]

For all intents and purposes, it appears that the bipartisan/globalist CFR/OBL has won this battle for POTUS, but we must NOT let up...we must win the war against their agenda. The sovereignty and security of our country depends on it.

Agreed.

[floriduh voter]

McCain missed 250 or more votes.