... and, may I just say: it's definitely a look that's you. ;)
Posted on 02/09/2008 2:24:52 AM PST by The Raven
Mike Huckabee this week picked up the endorsement of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, who reiterated his statement Tuesday that he could not vote for presumptive Republican Presidential nominee John McCain even in November against a Democrat. Speaking of Senator McCain, the Christian broadcaster said "His record on the institution of the family and other conservative issues makes his candidacy a matter of conscience and concern for me."
We haven't endorsed any candidate, and it's up to Mr. McCain to convince Mr. Dobson that he's worthy of his vote. But for the network of socially conservative activists who are now such a large part of the Republican Party, this is also an instructive moment. They have to decide if they care more about achieving their policy goals than they do about being kingmakers within the GOP.
Last year some of these same people said they could never vote for Rudy Giuliani, who was then leading in the GOP polls despite favoring abortion rights and civil unions for gay couples. We thought that was short-sighted, given Mr. Giuliani's pledge to appoint conservative Supreme Court Justices. But at least in the case of Mayor Giuliani, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and Mr. Dobson could point to a record on abortion at odds with their views.
[ snip ]
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
The WSJ seems to say "let it go" to the right. But can any of imagine what the world would be like today if the post-Reagan world did not have a Dobson or a Rush to rmeind us of where we are? Where we can be?
So if we hopscotch a couple of steps left with McCain....then where will the 2012 candidate be? Couple of more to the left?
... and, similarly, in the case of Juan "You're all a rotten bunch of nativists and bigots!" McCain: we likewise have a lengthy, well-documented and appalling (if not downright terrifying) record of shameless peddling his grey, wattled hinder for pesos, re: the America-destroying forced mass induction of 30,000,000+ illegal aliens, manifestly at odds with mainstream conservative views on THAT issue, as well.
So... there you go, then. By the WSJ's own fuddled, nakedly apologist standards: principled conservatives have every last bit as much intellectual justification for standing athwart the MSM-driven annointing of Saint Juan as we did in the earlier instance of Rudy Giuliani.
No hey problema, as the saying goes.
Exactly right. A couple of more steps to the left...
Those who do not support McCain are going to see a demonization campaign that will know few boundaries.
I would ask those who do support his candidacy to watch the nature of these attacks. I firmly believe any honest person will begin to realize how problematic McCain and his supporters (the elites, not other forum participants) actually are. It should unnerve some people, and cause them to re-evaluate their support for McCain.
We’ll see if it plays out that way.
Day late and a dollar short on that one, I'm afraid. ;)
If it was good enough for John to be a maverick and not vote with the party, then it’s good enough for me. Just following his example.
I’m not asking them to refrain from attacks, but to take note of the talking heads and party elites that will be trashing us. That’s going to be quite revealing, if it reaches the level I think it could.
Attacks by our McCain supporters are going to come. It’s human nature. They think it’s important that Obama and Hillary don’t get in. I’m not convinced.
I’m sure some of our folks will throw a few punches as well though.
Not me of course. ;-)
... and, may I just say: it's definitely a look that's you. ;)
Or something like that.
Which, of course, is not true ~ we Republicans do not "turn into" anything.
They are exceedingly dangerous lunatics.
However, we then make the mistake of thinking that the Republicans must be the antithesis of the Democrats. But they have amply shown that they're not. We mistakenly assume that the Republicans are for freedom, free-enterprise and the "American Way". But the Republicans have shown us time and again that they are as corrupt as the Rats (maybe, more so). Instead of giving the USA away to the socialists, the Republicans would give the USA away to big business.
I'm beginning to think that because a 3rd party movement isn't really an option, the only choice we really have is to let the Rats and the GOP take turns occupying the White House. In that way, they may be able to offset the damage that each party does in its own way.
Without Bill Clinton in office, would conservative Republicans have produced the election results of 1994? Of course, the rotten elements of the GOP quickly squandered the fruits of that election, but that election did produce a balance that we would not have otherwise had.
Another GOP presidency at this time could be disasterous for those of us who believe in conservative principles. Does anyone really not think that during his Presidency, McCain's top priority would be passing Shamnesty? And for what? Because he's bought and paid for by the big businesses who thrive off of illegal immigration -- just like Dubya.
I never thought I would ever say this, but Clinton or Obama might just be the best choice for conservatives at this time. A Clinton Presidency would be really tough to take, but a McCain Presidency might be worse.
Mr. McCain's harshest critics argue that his judicial picks could easily be as bad as anyone tapped by Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama. This is caricature, but even if it had merit, the likes of Mr. Dobson would be trading the risk that Mr. McCain picks moderates for the court for the certainty that his opponent would appoint liberals.
It's always possible Mr. McCain would make a bad Supreme Court nomination, just as Ronald Reagan picked Anthony Kennedy, who later affirmed Roe v. Wade. As we recall it, social conservatives at the time promoted Mr. Kennedy because he was Catholic and let it be known that he personally opposed abortion, while they frowned on Judge Laurence Silberman because he supported abortion rights as a personal matter even as he opposed Roe as a matter of law. Justice Kennedy has been a catastrophe for cultural conservatives, while Judge Silberman recently wrote the landmark appellate decision favoring gun rights now being heard by the Supremes.
The conservative coalition has learned a lot about picking judges since 1987, and especially since the nomination of David Souter by another Republican President. As the Harriet Myers interlude proved, another mystery pick by Mr. McCain or any other GOP President is far less likely than it used to be.
Mr. Dobson and other social conservatives may decide they can't vote for Mr. McCain for any number of reasons. What they can't do with any credibility is claim that helping to elect a liberal President will further the causes that these conservatives claim to believe most deeply in.
I’m sorry. If folks wanted my support, they should have considered those facts earlier.
It’s out of my hand now.
Thanks for that vital information though. I was thinking it was important when we had good men running at the first of the year. It evidently wasn’t then, and you know what, I guess it isn’t now.
You brought up some good points. I see no reason, not even in my wildest rationalizations, to reward John McCain for his disgusting behavior. He worked very hard to court the votes of others, so he can have them instead.
The neo-Stalinists have made pledges to drive this country into economic ruin; they’re not as stupid as their voters. They can’t provide health care while allowing lawyers to suck what blood is left in our economy after all the new taxes. And they don’t want to be in charge of a bankrupt government.
With the Neo-Stalinist controlling everything they won’t be able to hide or blame others.
The clarity will be refreshing.
You know, I think the problem is Rush and Dobson they are past their prime. They only speak to a certain generation of people and have lost those who are coming up and into the ranks. Their tactics and actions do not appeal to an ever growing portion of the conservative movement and the republican party.
I can't explain what happened with McCain. I can't say the media. They all reported that he was basically DOA. The coroner was ready to do the autopsy on his candidacy. I mean really, where he is today vs where he was the morning of the Iowa caucuses is simply quite amazing. I know I will be accused of heresy, but it's nothing short of a miracle.
The media has been too busy fawning over Obama. McCain is sloppy seconds. Even Hillary is a victim of their coverage.
I think many people who are conservative and more largely republican voters simply have had enough hearing from the talking heads of our side. I've referred to them as the Jaw Bone Media.
The kept telling us in the 90's wait til we get the executive office along with our control of the legislative.
Fact of the matter is, with that coming together, we not in as good of shape as we were during the late 90's.
Sure, President Bush has had to contend with the war on terror. But republicans are supposed to be the adults with the military. Well we screwed the pooch since the fall of Iraq until the troop surge.
But the Rush's and the Dobson's have lost their credibility. They kept telling us that what we were doing was prior to the surge was all part of the plan and the MSM was not reporting that the situation was well in hand. Fact was it wasn't and finally the President admitted that we needed to change a lot in order to win.
Rush on the day after the 2006 elections basically said he was no longer going to spin for the republicans. The Truth Detector was now admitting he wasn't the Truth Detector and had basically misled us. Anyone not drinking the koolaid probably could have told you that.
We've not had someone who tells us the truth, puts it into a message and seems to have the balls to swim against the tide, even their own party tide. Maybe that's what people saw in McCain.
People find fault in that he has worked with democrats. Well Reagan did too. I think there is an up and coming group of conservatives and republicans that are sick of split aisle politics. They don't want the dogma of either party. I think they see that in McCain.
John Gibson, on his radio show, tells the conservatives to get a grip, to thank the lucky stars we have a McCain to vote for.
That makes no sense. If socons drop support and McCain loses, they remain the kingmakers, and they remain faithful to their policy goals.
At least, until millions of illegals get their citizenship, which the WSJ is all for.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Personally, I’m waiting for the great FR McCain apologist purge.
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