Posted on 02/11/2008 8:42:59 PM PST by Dane
GOP goon squad can’t rattle McCain DL-Online Published Saturday, February 09, 2008 It’s been a kind of perverse pleasure to watch Sen. John McCain overcome the vitriol of talk radio’s conservative goon squad. Despite vicious daily broadsides from Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham (and their sycophants on regional and local talk radio), McCain emerged Tuesday as the front-runner among Republican candidates for president.
On Thursday, the senator’s only credible competition, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, suspended his campaign, effectively handing the nomination to McCain.
So much for the influence of the talkers with the base of Republican voters.
In responding to questions about the attacks from talk radio’s allegedly conservative voices, the senator was gracious and even extended an olive branch.
But why should he? Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Ingraham and small-fry talkers taking their agenda from the big-time four have been so unflinchingly critical of McCain that the senator owes them nothing. His campaign, which a few months ago seemed ready for last rites, has been a resurrection story for the political history books. After his multi-state win in every part of the nation on Tuesday, he all but secured the Republican nomination.
And he did it without the help of the right-wing talkers. Indeed, he accomplished his comeback while fighting the blowhards’ headwind.
The radio attacks on McCain were not merely disagreements about policy. They went after him personally and politically. They charged that his conservative credentials are phony, although a perusal of his long Senate record reveals McCain is one of the most consistently conservative senators ever to serve. They ripped him up and down because he’s had the courage to stake out his own positions on immigration and campaign finance reform. Because of those apostasies, and the fact that he has refused to kiss their rings, the talkers tried to do him in.
And failed.
Ingraham went so far as to say that if McCain is the Republican nominee, she will vote for the Democrat, even if it’s Hillary Clinton. Well, she apparently made a decision that’s akin to packing up her Barbie dolls and going home because she didn’t get her way.
What seems to be going on here is a serious nationwide repudiation of the far right — at least as it’s represented by talk radio’s bile. The righty bloviators can’t stomach a candidate who is independent of their dogma — who doesn’t dance when they play the tune. They can’t accept that maybe their time as high priests and priestesses of the conservative agenda is coming to an end.
Whether liberal Democrat, conservative Republican or independent thinker, one can admire McCain’s genuine maverick status. The Vietnam War hero has cultivated a streak of contrariness that has served him well in the U.S. Senate and now is serving him admirably as he seeks the presidency. The fact that he won’t be intimidated by the overblown, self-important egos on talk radio makes him all the more attractive to American voters. — The Forum
If McCain is what the Republican party represents today, then I want nothing to do with them.
I did not leave the Republican party, they left me!
Yeah, I wonder when it will finally occur to the geniuses on our side that by withholding our votes, we do exactly what the Republican establishment wants us to do. They want to shut out the Conservative voice and cuddle up to their buddies on the left. How accommodating of us to do their work for them.
You want to talk about self-inflicted injuries, look no further than the amnesty advocates in the GOP (Bush & McCain, most prominently). They appear to be deluded into believing that once the tens of millions of squatters get their citizenship they'll be registering as Republicans in droves. ...perhaps out of some sort of gratitude. Fact is, the GOP would be fortunate to get 30% of them, and the Donkeys' electoral advantage would be secure for the foreseeable future.
The reality check will be in November, as always, when Conservatives finally do get their say. I'll bet the "bloviators" as you call them are pretty close to dead on with their reaction.
November=*crickets*
Just a question: what Republican do you think could beat a Dem this Fall?
Just think how they would’ve ripped Mitt for the anti black stance of Mormonism.
Just think how they would’ve hit Mitt with facts about Mormonism — on being in a cult - which it is — and then they would’ve swooped down to win the Christian vote.
Huck? No chance. Paul? Please. Now.. Thompson as VP? Yes.
Nobody in the Republican party represents me anymore, so why should I support them?
Americans don’t want extremes whether extreme left or extreme right. They don’t want their president to serve the bidding of moveon.org or Rush.
Dane I just didn’t want to be in the same party as you anymore. I am hoping I get to hope for Hill.
But if McCain wins, you will claim credit for it. Maybe claim that Conservative VP brought Conservatives back......
Wasn't it “I hate gooks"?
I have a right not to vote. Aint nobody’s business but my own.
Besides, i don’t want to be a republican anymore.
Despite McCain's frequent departures from the philosophy of the right, and I wish he had never done those, I will vote for him for two reasons:
1. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Commander in Chief, Armed forces of the United States of America
2. Barak Hussein Obama, Commander in Chief, Armed forces of the United States of America
AHAH go ahead and believe the liberal pap.
And apparently the turd polishing drones can't handle those who are independent of them.
I will claim none of it. You may keep your RINOs, for all the good it will do.
i am sure i don’t know why you think mccain would get better judges through the senate than hill. Do you really think there is a dem that will kiss his butt anymore if he is the prez?
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