Why many conservatives can't vote for McCain

The Everett Herald ^ | February 10, 2008 | Mona Charen

[2ndDivisionVet]

I posted a squib on the National Review Web site about a robo call I received from John McCain. (Virginia's primary is Tuesday.) The call stressed that he would, if elected, be a down-the-line limited government conservative who would never raise taxes, would defend life, would enforce immigration laws and would win the war on terror. The candidate is trying, I said, to meet conservatives "more than halfway." The response of readers was, shall we say, emphatic.

One lady wrote that she would never vote for him as "He is the most disloyal, ill-tempered man and he brings out the worse in all of us. ..." Several readers made the point that after decades of suffering abuse at McCain's hands, conservatives are not going to fall into line for him now, no matter what blandishments he offers.

I know how they feel. The problem with McCain is not just that he strays. George Bush has strayed from conservatism, too. So has Fred Thompson. Certainly Mitt Romney has as well. But Sen. McCain has a knack for saying things in just the tones and accents that liberals prefer. In 2000, he condemned the late Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson as "agents of intolerance." In 2004, when Sen. John Kerry was getting his comeuppance from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, vets who had known him during the war and couldn't remain silent as the Democratic nominee distorted his war record, McCain weighed in by calling the Swift Boaters "dishonorable and dishonest." When the Bush Administration was being vilified as a nest of Torquemadas for using waterboarding on three occasions, McCain came forward to condemn waterboarding as torture.

[22cal]

My husband (a veteran) says to vote for McCain in the general. We are both voting Fred Thompson as a protest in the Mississippi primary.

I am undecided about the general, mulling it over. So I may become part of the McCain Mutiny.

[supercat]

He was willing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah , only one Godly person was found.

Actually, per Genesis 18, Abraham only whittled him down to ten. But still, I would hope that there would be more than ten people in the U.S. worth saving.

[supercat]

Even McCain has admitted to his law's unintended consequences

I know Fred Thompson has admitted that, but McCain? When?

[supercat]

This isn't about my pride, it's about who I believe will do the most good for America. I don't see McCain as a lesser evil. I see him as an equal evil.

I believe, as a general rule, that anyone who says "Vote for me because I'm the lesser evil," isn't.

[Yaelle]

McCain weighed in by calling the Swift Boaters "dishonorable and dishonest."

I learn something new that I don't like about him daily.

This is the exact opposite of what happened when I started learning about Romney.

[supercat]

I'm no fan of his; but ...If he gets the nomination, people had better determine whether or not they want to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

If you're stuck on a raft at sea, should you stick to the principle of "seawater is bad" and avoid drinking it, or should you let your thirst dictate that you drink something--anything.

[Ratblaster]

“Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.”
Mae West, Klondike Annie (1936 film)

[A'elian' nation]

I am wondering if there is any way that he can mouth the words to woo conservatives

Words won’t do although I appreciate your sentiment.
Words imply that we have some undergirding trust in
McCain. We don’t nor have any reason to.

It takes an action LIKE repealing McCain-Feingold.
But I find it hard to believe that McCain’s ego could
ever admit he made a mistake.

[ScubieNuc]

I believe, as a general rule, that anyone who says "Vote for me because I'm the lesser evil," isn't.

Probably a good rule.

I'm wondering....why would it be ok to drink Kool-aid with 3/4 cyanide verses drinking Kool-aid with 5/8 cyanide? Is the one 'less poisonous' better for you? I'm thinking that when you step into the 'evil' arena, any amount is no good.

I didn't think GWB was evil when I voted for him, just wishy-washy. McCain's stances and views are evil IMO. Believing something to be evil and being for it, is different then thinking someone is less conservative, but willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

[supercat]

If I recall correctly, McCain has something like a 75% (middle of the road for Congress) rating with a major conservative watchdog. However, that’s a “per vote” rating, not an issue based one.

Another major problem with those ratings is that many politicians will vote with their supposed constituents when their vote won't matter, and only vote against them when it actually counts. I'm sure that there have been more than two issues since 2001 that came down to the last vote, but on the two that I know of (ANWR and G14) McCain was on the wrong side.

Frankly, I'd like to see the rules changed so that congresscritters' votes on an issue would remain confidential until after voting was done. That would require that any politician who wanted to back-stab his constituents would have to risk either (1) having the outcome his constituents would favor prevail when he could have had his own outcome prevail instead, or (2) having his vote against his constituents exposed even in cases where it didn't actually do him any good.

[gitmo]

Another major problem with those ratings is that many politicians will vote with their supposed constituents when their vote won't matter, and only vote against them when it actually counts. I'm sure that there have been more than two issues since 2001 that came down to the last vote, but on the two that I know of (ANWR and G14) McCain was on the wrong side.

Good point.

[supercat]

Waterboarding is torture. We shouldn't use it (and presently we don't).

My understanding is that the U.S. subjects some of its own men to waterboarding as part of their training. Someone may correct me if I'm wrong. I could understand a rule requiring that we not subject our enemies to interrogation techniques we'd be unwilling to inflict on our own people are part of training, but if our own people are willing to be subjected to such techniques I would consider them fair game.

[supercat]

I had been planning to write in Fred Thompson, until he pulled his stunt the other day by endorsing McCain. Now, I plan to vote in Ronald Reagon. Thanks for the idea!

Before you do such a thing, make sure you can do so legally without voiding the rest of your ballot. The last thing we should want would be to lose Congressional seats because Republican votes for congress were invalidated by protest votes for President.

[supercat]

I really don't understand why it would matter much who McCain would pick for VP. Besides being the tie breaker in a Senate deadlock and stepping in if McCain died in office, how much good does a VP really do?

If McCain were to die or become ineligible prior to the Electoral College vote, I would think a vote for McCain should be regarded as a vote for his VP. Things may get dicey if the President-Elect dies between the EC vote and inauguration day, but prior to that time the Electors should have no problem casting their ballots for the VP nominee.

[hosepipe]

McLaim CANNOT win... republican voter turnout is poor democrat voter turnout is as good as its ever been..

Republicans voting for Mclaim are throwing their vote away.. Better to wite in "somebody".. at least the/that statement will be registered "somewhere"..

Democrats are USED to candidates being forced down their throats, its the democrat way.. republicans are not.. Republicans will revolt.. John Mclaim is indeed being forced down our throats.. NOT ALL will swallow..

[RS]

So lets see ...

The choice is between someone who, if they are lying to you will screw you, versus someone who clearly says that they want to screw you.

Chance that we will get screwed on every turn by Hillary or Obama ... 100%

Chance that we will get screwed on every turn by McCain ... 20% ? 50%? 80%? 90%? - still better odds then letting a Dem get control of the White House.

[af_vet_rr]

The vote for Huck yesterday shows that my “Anyone But McCain” position has massive grassroots support.

Unfortunately Huck is no better (in fact he's probably worse). It's pathetic.

Hillary is about the only thing that can get me to vote for a Republican for the White House.

[supercat]

Unfortunately Huck is no better (in fact he's probably worse). It's pathetic.

That doesn't matter. Huck could win 75% of the delegates from here on out, stopping McCain from having a majority, and he probably still wouldn't get the nomination. Depending upon what his delegates do, though, we might conceivably come up with somebody decent. Unlikely, but if McCain wins we're guaranteed to fail.

[ScubieNuc]

If McCain were to die or become ineligible prior to the Electoral College vote, I would think a vote for McCain should be regarded as a vote for his VP.

The evil thoughts that passed through my mind when I read that should not be uttered or dwelt on. /sarc

Seriously though, I would prefer no candidate or VP nominee die now or in office. The uproar that would follow would probably bring on marshal law in some places. That would just make everything uglier.

[egginanest]

post 21 addresses the reality of the circumstances we now find ourselves in. Thanks Bill.

As for the remaining chronic whiners?

Well.....just keep dragging out quotes from founding fathers, making comparisons to days gone by and sharing fond memories of Ronald Reagan. Wring your teeny hankies dry, so you can continue indulging in breathless and useless pontification, at great length, about how you intend to resolve the current 3 ring circus.....all by your little lonesomes. I’m especially amused by those who insist our only salvation will be to drive home, once AGAIN, a ‘message’ with our missing votes. You know....like we did in ‘92, ‘96 and ‘06. Remember? Clinton, Clinton and minority. Boy.....we sure showed *them* a thing or two, eh?

What’s the definition of insanity? (everyone in unison here)

DOING THE SAME THING OVER & OVER, EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT

“It’s a matter of principle”, I’m told. Yet, recent history tells us that the lofty goal of making such a stand has proven to be futile. In fact, our persistence in that strategy has only caused the goal post to be moved further from our reach. In short.....a dismal failure. It’s resulted in political suicide and untold damage to our country that we are, to this day, cleaning up after. FUBAR

Please be aware that there is a fine line between ‘principled’ and ‘stupid’. Learn it. How long will we remain stuck on stupid before we conclude that we must *take responsibility* for locating, recruiting, grooming and supporting candidates of OUR choice? Bobby Jindah comes to mind...

This incessant compulsion to claim we are victims of our Party elites is the epitome of self-indulgent foolishness. Conservatives claiming to be victims?....apparently we *have* gotten the government we deserve.

Sweet Jesus weeping on the cross....what a shameful display of self-important, self-imposed pity. Fruitless. Pointless. Ineffective. Vain. Worthless. Vapid. Got it yet?

The best solution some of you big brained, puffed up, prissy, ‘Gold Club’ Conservatives can come up with, is to put a Socialist or Marxist at the helm of our troops? Why? So you can cross your arms and put your feet up until those you claim to be *incompetent* finally receive your ‘noble’ message and meet your ‘grandiose’ demands? How much more annul can you get?

Let me ask, did WE stop the Harriet Myers nomination? Did WE prevent McCain/Kennedy? Were WE victims? Are WE powerless?

For the remaining primaries.....if you can’t cross party lines, vote Huckster (for message’s sake).

If you CAN cross over.....vote Hillary. Osama must be stopped.

Focus on House & Senate seats. If this doesn’t apply to your State, find one that needs help & support elsewhere.

Quit WASTING time being pi$$ed off, crying in your soup or polishing your conservative badges so you can blind others in the sunshine with it. Nobody gives a crap.

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

(especially if the whole ‘good guy/bad guy’ thing is fuzzy for you)