McCain Courts Skeptics in Conservative Alliance

The Washington Times ^ | March 8, 2008 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[kellynla]

NEW ORLEANS — Sen. John McCain yesterday got mixed reviews from some of the conservative movement's top donors and leaders after he addressed — and then took questions from — members of the secretive Council for National Policy.

"We didn't lose the 2006 [congressional] elections because of Iraq, but because of runaway spending," the putative Republican presidential nominee told the annual winter meeting of the CNP, some of whose members are skeptical at best of his claims to represent their views and goals in his bid for the presidency.

He drew cheers and applause when he said he would veto a spending bill that had earmarks and vowed to use the bully pulpit of the presidency to "make famous" the names of lawmakers who author such pork-barrel spending measures.

Speaking without notes and without hesitation, he strode energetically back and forth across the stage at the Ritz Carlton in the city's French Quarter, making his points and calling on people who had raised their hands, according to audience members reached afterward.

Generally, Mr. McCain, a strong supporter of the Iraq war, has no problems with the "war hawks" in the conservative movement and is considered at least acceptable by fiscal and anti-tax conservatives. He addressed these issues in his speech but didn't get around to social and religious subjects until they were raised by audience members in the question and answer session.

"He did a great job of addressing fiscal conservative issues and defense conservative issues," said Rep. Doug Lamborn, Colorado Republican. "What he needs to do is start talking about social issues."

Asked what would happen if Mr. McCain failed to do that, Mr. Lamborn said only that "he will become more comfortable doing it the more often he addresses social conservative groups."

[dforest]

I agree we didn’t lose seats in 2006 due to Iraq, we lost because of ethics issues like Foley, and weak responses by our House leadership.

Spending was also part of it.

There is a genreal disgust with the GOP and it is still there.

[farmer18th]

McCain Courts Skeptics

..kinda like Mike Tyson asking for your daughter's hand, isn't it?

[uncbob]

I agree we didn’t lose seats in 2006 due to Iraq, we lost because of ethics issues like Foley, and weak responses by our House leadership.

And as usual the MSM covering up the democrats dirt

[wastoute]

Foley was the symbol of hypocrisy that became iconic for Reps. Add that to the fact that Bush never championed Conservatism, he let the NYSlimes an the Com. News Network malign conservatives and Bush himself with impunity. He really failed to use the Bully Pulpit to take the MSM to the woodshed. Now we have a Lib Rep and 2 outright Marxists to choose from.

[G.Mason]

" ... There is a genreal disgust with the GOP and it is still there."

That's an understatement ... just as is the three POTUS pretenders that have been selected to continue the downslide of this country.

In fact these bums are so bad that they make GWB look decent.

[org.whodat]

He drew cheers and applause when he said he would veto a spending bill that had earmarks and vowed to use the bully pulpit of the presidency to "make famous" the names of lawmakers who author such pork-barrel spending measures.

What a crock, the man wants to spend hundreds of billions and hundreds of billions on illegals, while trying to say he is against more spending what a bald face lier.

[mirkwood]

[Bigun]

There is a genreal disgust with the GOP and it is still there.

And MY disgust relates more to the fact that none of them seem to comprehend the oath they take when sworn in.

Members of Congress take a sworn oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic" and "bear true faith and allegiance to the same."

I'm guessing that if Congressmen actually "bore true faith and allegiance" to the Constitution, we wouldn't have a federal budget of $2.6 trillion, not to mention those congressionally-mandated 1.6 gallon flush toilets. Just about everyone of the 535 members of Congress have contempt for or ignorance of our Constitution. What's worse is, if they knew they routinely violated their oaths of office, they wouldn't care. Getting elected and re-elected is what counts.

[uncbob]

In fact these bums are so bad that they make GWB look decent.

Sad isn't it

[uncbob]

And MY disgust relates more to the fact that none of them seem to comprehend the oath they take when sworn in.

And could care less

All politicians care about is power

TRUE Term Limits is the only solution

I am surprised the Founders with their distrust of government didn't guard against the problem

[southernerwithanattitude]

We may as well enroll in some Spanish classes. Its over for America as we have come to know it.

D__m I'm depressed

[Bigun]

And could care less

And for so long as we fail to properly supervise our employees in government that will remain the case.

[dforest]

And as usual the MSM covering up the democrats dirt

I would agree with that. I was speaking as to the problems with GOP voters and their party.

[dforest]

In fact these bums are so bad that they make GWB look decent.

Exactly.

[narses]

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[G.Mason]

" ... I am surprised the Founders with their distrust of government didn't guard against the problem"

They most certainly did.

Seems the girly boys we have become haven't the stomach to water the tree of Liberty ... yet.

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

[farmer18th]

D__m I'm depressed

I hear you, but I will say this: I do believe that all we really need is for alternative media, education, and political organizations to begin articulating a very clear, black-and-white message on conservative principles and the old guard will NOT be able to stop it.

Americans, at heart, still believe in private property, low taxes, low regulation, and the clear denunciation of our enemies.

When my Dad's generation saw Pearl Harbor bombed, we clearly defined Japanese feudalism and German socialism as the enemy. We need to begin telling the world that Islam is a gutter religion and that if we send our boys over again, it will be to take territory and civilize the savages, not do Condi-Rice, GWB hand-holding.

[E. Cartman]

..kinda like Mike Tyson asking for your daughter's hand, isn't it?

ROFLMAO

[isrul]

More scary.. At least Jorge last vestiges of intelligence managed to veto the waterboard thing. I'm waiting for McCain to repudiate him.