Posted on 02/22/2008 5:48:40 AM PST by Kaslin
Updated: 9:46 PM 02/21/08 Obama Scores, Clinton Flops on Copy Cat Spat Updated: 9:16 PM 02/21/08 Notes on Obama's Immigration Debate Talk Updated: 8:40 PM 02/21/08 <a href="http://ads.townhall.com/accipiter/adclick/CID=00014ba3d8d6daef00000000/site=TOWNHALL/area=TownHall.Web.Columnists.DouglasMacKinnon/POSITION=TOWN_SKY/AAMGEOIP=68.112.78.1"> <img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/creative/MortgageMinuteAdSkycalcsky.swf" alt="" width="160" height="600" border="0"> </a> GOP to Conservatives: Drop Dead By Douglas MacKinnon Friday, February 22, 2008
As with small children, many of the entrenched, beholden, or power-hungry hierarchy of the Republican party, simply wish conservatives could be seen, but never heard.
In a very telling headline, The Washington Times recently reported, “McCain Refuses to Pander.” In the first paragraph of the article, the paper said, “John McCain's campaign manager yesterday said the candidate will not pander for conservative support…” Yeah, we know. Message received.
For those conservatives or talk radio hosts who still don’t get it, or who are still not prepared to compromise their principles for the party, then some elder statesmen have some names they’d like to call you. Chase Untermeyer, the former high level official for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and the current president, said in a recent column, “At both the national and local levels, there are those who declare that certain Republican elected officials are insufficiently conservative and must be purged. Senator John McCain is getting the worst of these blasts right now, with some self-appointed tribunes of Reagan’s legacy saying they might even prefer Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – scarcely followers of the Gipper – to McCain.”
For those conservatives who admire President Reagan but would dare question the record of McCain, Mr. Untermeyer, labeled each a “SQUIRREL.” As in “Snarky Quibbler who Undermines and Ignores Ronald Reagan’s Enduring Legacy.”
“Snarky.” I guess if you went to Harvard, called yourself “Chase” instead of Charles, and mingled with the elites of the world, then “Snarky” is a name you might assign to conservatives who have an honest disagreement with John McCain. If you’re someone like me, who grew up in poverty, barely got an education, and never met an Ivory Tower elite worth a warm bucket of spit, then you might substitute the word “ethical” for snarky.
When I first came to Washington, I had the honor to work in the White House as a low-level writer for Ronald Reagan. While certainly lacking the pedigree of Mr. Untermeyer, I did share one or two special moments with that President. In a conversation that Peggy Noonan was kind enough to chronicle in her bestselling book entitled “When Character Was King,” President Reagan and I spoke in the Oval Office about the alcoholism of our fathers, poverty, and the cruelty of life. It was actually because of Ronald Reagan’s wisdom, kindness, and suggestion, that I was able to reach out to my estranged father.
Understanding that, I’m more than proud to plead guilty to using Ronald Reagan as the template for true conservatism. As such, I just don’t think there is any way that anyone can accurately equate Reagan’s conservative legacy with McCain’s moderate voting record. Does saying that make me a bad person? Am I now an Untermeyer “Squirrel?”
The thought of voting for Clinton or Obama makes me nauseous. We are a nation at war with Islamists who mean to exterminate us. To vote for Clinton or Obama is to vote for the authority to wave the flag of appeasement or surrender. I have no intention of voting for the next Neville Chamberlain.
John McCain is a good person. I do believe he has the best interests of our nation at heart. That said, as an American, it’s my right to disagree with him on substance. John McCain heroically fought and sacrificed to give me that right, and for that, I am forever grateful. On issues such as immigration, taxes, judges, global warming, drilling in Anwar, and the detention and prosecution of enemy combatants, I take issue with some of his past comments, votes, or current positions.
Unfortunately, the message I’m getting from the Republican establishment is that conservatives should bite their tongues, do their duty, and await the crumbs that may come their way in a McCain administration. Is that what it’s come to? Party loyalty before principle?
In endorsing McCain the other day, former President George H.W. Bush said, “…no one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Senator John McCain.” Really? No one? Does this incredibly decent former president truly believe that McCain is better prepared to lead this nation than say, his own son, Jeb? Or Mitt Romney?
In his endorsement, the former president also said, “…I believe now is the time for me to help John in his effort to start building the broad-based coalition it will take for our conservative values to carry the White House this fall.”
“Conservative values.” That’s all this election is about for millions of Americans who choose to put country before party. As such, they are entitled to have McCain further define or clarify his “conservative values.” He needs to earn their vote.
Like Untermeyer, former President Bush questioned those on the right who question McCain. He called such criticism “grossly unfair” and an “unfair attack.”
If some in the party succeed in quashing the conservative voice, then they will have silenced the conscience of America. Surely, John McCain will stand shoulder to shoulder with conservatives to prevent such an outcome.
Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of the forthcoming novel, The Apocalypse Directive.
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As with small children, many of the entrenched, beholden, or power-hungry hierarchy of the Republican party, simply wish conservatives could be seen, but never heard.
In a very telling headline, The Washington Times recently reported, “McCain Refuses to Pander.” In the first paragraph of the article, the paper said, “John McCain's campaign manager yesterday said the candidate will not pander for conservative support…” Yeah, we know. Message received.
For those conservatives or talk radio hosts who still don’t get it, or who are still not prepared to compromise their principles for the party, then some elder statesmen have some names they’d like to call you. Chase Untermeyer, the former high level official for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and the current president, said in a recent column, “At both the national and local levels, there are those who declare that certain Republican elected officials are insufficiently conservative and must be purged. Senator John McCain is getting the worst of these blasts right now, with some self-appointed tribunes of Reagan’s legacy saying they might even prefer Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – scarcely followers of the Gipper – to McCain.”
For those conservatives who admire President Reagan but would dare question the record of McCain, Mr. Untermeyer, labeled each a “SQUIRREL.” As in “Snarky Quibbler who Undermines and Ignores Ronald Reagan’s Enduring Legacy.”
“Snarky.” I guess if you went to Harvard, called yourself “Chase” instead of Charles, and mingled with the elites of the world, then “Snarky” is a name you might assign to conservatives who have an honest disagreement with John McCain. If you’re someone like me, who grew up in poverty, barely got an education, and never met an Ivory Tower elite worth a warm bucket of spit, then you might substitute the word “ethical” for snarky.
When I first came to Washington, I had the honor to work in the White House as a low-level writer for Ronald Reagan. While certainly lacking the pedigree of Mr. Untermeyer, I did share one or two special moments with that President. In a conversation that Peggy Noonan was kind enough to chronicle in her bestselling book entitled “When Character Was King,” President Reagan and I spoke in the Oval Office about the alcoholism of our fathers, poverty, and the cruelty of life. It was actually because of Ronald Reagan’s wisdom, kindness, and suggestion, that I was able to reach out to my estranged father.
Understanding that, I’m more than proud to plead guilty to using Ronald Reagan as the template for true conservatism. As such, I just don’t think there is any way that anyone can accurately equate Reagan’s conservative legacy with McCain’s moderate voting record. Does saying that make me a bad person? Am I now an Untermeyer “Squirrel?”
The thought of voting for Clinton or Obama makes me nauseous. We are a nation at war with Islamists who mean to exterminate us. To vote for Clinton or Obama is to vote for the authority to wave the flag of appeasement or surrender. I have no intention of voting for the next Neville Chamberlain.
ohn McCain is a good person. I do believe he has the best interests of our nation at heart. That said, as an American, it’s my right to disagree with him on substance. John McCain heroically fought and sacrificed to give me that right, and for that, I am forever grateful. On issues such as immigration, taxes, judges, global warming, drilling in Anwar, and the detention and prosecution of enemy combatants, I take issue with some of his past comments, votes, or current positions.
Unfortunately, the message I’m getting from the Republican establishment is that conservatives should bite their tongues, do their duty, and await the crumbs that may come their way in a McCain administration. Is that what it’s come to? Party loyalty before principle?
In endorsing McCain the other day, former President George H.W. Bush said, “…no one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Senator John McCain.” Really? No one? Does this incredibly decent former president truly believe that McCain is better prepared to lead this nation than say, his own son, Jeb? Or Mitt Romney?
In his endorsement, the former president also said, “…I believe now is the time for me to help John in his effort to start building the broad-based coalition it will take for our conservative values to carry the White House this fall.”
“Conservative values.” That’s all this election is about for millions of Americans who choose to put country before party. As such, they are entitled to have McCain further define or clarify his “conservative values.” He needs to earn their vote.
Like Untermeyer, former President Bush questioned those on the right who question McCain. He called such criticism “grossly unfair” and an “unfair attack.”
If some in the party succeed in quashing the conservative voice, then they will have silenced the conscience of America. Surely, John McCain will stand shoulder to shoulder with conservatives to prevent such an outcome.
“I “may” end up puking and voting for macnasty... but his ACU rating is 65% NOT 85%.”
True. He is no conservative, but nontheless, I can’t vote for Obama’s partial birth perversity. I have to do all that I can to stop that assault on the most innocent.
Just trying to gin up support for that Huckabee 3rd party run should Hillary beat Obama.
Ugh, I meant McCain. But they will pick Osama’s too.
“You can get yourself removed from their contact lists by asking. It seems to have worked for me so far.”
Not for me... I have received 14 dozen “FINAL NOTICE” letters begging me to donate.
LLS
This is your best statement. Go from this point.
McCain is a Fiscal conservative. —Id that why he opposed the Bush tax cuts until his candidacy almost tanked?
McCain economic team is proposing to stimulate econmic growth via tax rate cuts. — He could have voted for the original ones 7 years ago but didn’t.
McCain wants to fight the WOT. — Defend the Iraqi constitution while scribbling his own notes on ours?
McCain, unlike Ann Coulter, supported and voted for John Roberts and Sam Alito for the SCOTUS.-—Gang of 14 remember that?
McCain is pro life. — Until his pal Kennedy crosses the aisle in a bipartisan attempt to comprimise
McCain is pro second Amendment. — “Close the Gun Show Loop Hole” remember that little phrase?
McCain-Feingold is a problem with me. However, it wasn’t a problem with Bush, FR/Sean Hannity’s favorite dem Zell Miller, and FR favorite Fred Thompson. — It is a problem with me and it’s unconstitutional. Thompson at least had the honor and integrity to admit it was wrong and had bad unforseen consequences. McCain hasn’t admitted the error, he isn’t willing to admit his mistakes and try to fix them.
I am not saying he’s perfect, far from it. but those are pretty strong creditials. — On the surface yes but look a little more critically and you’ll see the emporer has no clothes.
I can’t believe the McCain campaign folks thought the MSM was going to be on their side. They also thought the Mindlesss Middle would rise up and sweep him to victory?
Without the broken glass, there is no victory for McCain.
Read my lips , no new taxes
I’d rather be waterboarded than vote for Juan McCain.
Those two are mighty important.
LLS
“True. He is no conservative, but nontheless, I can’t vote for Obama’s partial birth perversity”
Not to minimize the horrors of partial birth abortion, but just today someone tossed a live fetus into a hospital garbage can and it died. No President can stop this kind of horror with laws.
We need to think big picture - the damage either of these men will do to our country would be enormous. The difference, with Obama at least there will be some opposition.
He is old and arrogant!
I just went and put a quick spreadsheet together of the primaries. I only included states where primaries/caucuses have been held for both parties. Here are a couple of the results:
1) Democrats have pulled in 20.9% more votes than Republicans: 21,993,987 votes to 14,393,155 votes.
2) McCain has received 5,711,453 to date in the primaries.
3) Clinton has received 10,310,367 votes to date in the primaries.
4) Obama has received 10,533,027 votes to date in the primaries. (Note: Obama's total is artificially low since his name was not on the MI ballot and he didn't campaign in FL).
I think based on the sheer number of motivated Democrats showing up at the polls that the Republican candidate is going to get swamped in November.
America is a forgiving nation. If he had been able to come up with a read my lips I’m sorry but I could not have anticipated...and came across as sincere and funny he would have been ok. History shows that. Like it or not, personality counts.
That is true, very true.
This is exactly why I was able to support Thompson in spite of CFR - he admitted his mistake.
True. He is no conservative, but nontheless, I can’t vote for Obama’s partial birth perversity.
“We need to think big picture - the damage either of these men will do to our country would be enormous. The difference, with Obama at least there will be some opposition.”
If my grandmother of 94 is going to be beaten to a pulp by a 25 yr old boxer and a 70 yr old grey haired guy...I only have one bullet...I shoot the 35 yr old boxer and deal with the 71 yr old in other terms.
Perhaps it worked for me because I was on a first name basis with many for the time I put in working for past candidates.
Right. And Benedict Arnold was the hero of Saratoga.
age has nothing to do with it.
Everyone will rally behind a Mccain Presidency (amnesty, higher taxes on global warming). 50% the country (and most of the R’s in Congress) will oppose Obama
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