Posted on 05/15/2008 5:51:06 AM PDT by webschooner
Soul searching Republicans are turning to an unlikely savior, one-time party heretic and now presumptive White House nominee John McCain, as they try to stave off an electoral disaster. Stung by the Democratic seizure of three staunch conservative seats in Congress, Republican lawmakers fear a shellacking in November's general election, after losing control of both chambers of Congress in 2006.
The rise of McCain as their champion is not without irony, since the 71-year-old Arizona senator has quarreled with his own party for years on issues as diverse as immigration, campaign finance reform and global warming.
But it is precisely that independent streak that is drawing Republicans to his coattails, hoping he can cleanse them of the stain of gridlocked Washington.
Eric Cantor, Republican chief deputy whip in the House of Representatives, told reporters that the McCain brand was healthier than that of his party.
"John McCain is a demonstrated vote getter among independents, and his message and what he will be able to do in this election is extremely important."
House Republican minority leader John Boehner told Fox News that with McCain at the top of the ticket, his demoralized party might spring a surprise in November.
"I think that we're going to do a lot better than people think," Boehner said.
"John McCain appeals to almost all Republicans. He also appeals to a wide array of independents and conservative Democrats."
Democrat Travis Childers on Tuesday won Mississippi's first congressional district, one of the safest Republican seats in the country, following his party's recent special election wins in Illinois and Louisiana.
The win was another triumph for the strategy of matching socially conservative Democrats, who often oppose abortion and back gun rights, to conservative districts, where Republicans would normally ease to victory.
As they surveyed the damage Wednesday, Republican House leaders rolled out the first elements of a new agenda, dubbed "The Change You Deserve," pinpointing the struggles of working families.
Significantly, a key player in their press conference was Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief who is now one of McCain's most visible economic advisors.
Democrats see their win streak as a referendum on the unpopular president and dream of an electoral landslide after a Washington Post/ABC poll this week found eight in ten Americans think the country is on the wrong track.
Tom Cole, who heads Republican congressional campaign efforts, delivered an unusually stark warning, telling his party's candidates "to take stock of their campaigns and position themselves for challenging campaigns this fall."
But Adam Putnam, chairman of the House Republican conference, suggested Republicans could prosper without their president up for reelection.
"The President is not on the ballot," he said.
Top Democrats will not let them creep silently out of Bush's shadow.
"What happened in Mississippi was a day for reckoning for the failed policies of the Bush administration," said Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the House Democratic campaign committee.
And he said McCain, who recorded a message for the defeated Republican candidate in Mississippi, had failed to save his party.
"They thought he would be a life preserver, he wasn't -- he was an anchor."
Democratic House majority leader Steny Hoyer meanwhile mocked the new Republican slogan, "The Change You Deserve," saying it had already been used to market an anti-depressant medicine.
Democrats, who seized control of both chambers of Congress in 2006, are looking to expand their 37-seat majority in the House, and increase their tally in the 100-seat Senate from the current 51.
Republicans are particularly bracing for losses in the Senate, since in what was already shaping up as a bad year they have 23 seats up for reelection compared to only 12 for the Democrats.
AMEN
Repeat the lie enough......
Maybe they do.
How many conservatives are still “Republicans”?
I suspect the numbers are less today than they were last week...and so on.
If McCain becomes the ‘brand’ of the GOP, I’ll have to stop voting republican.
The GOP’s only hope is Obama - and we’re starting to rack up a string of losses to show Obama isn’t scary enough for most voters.
The GOP, just puttin’ out the fire with gasoline.
Someone needs to shake some sense into the shaken ones.
They really, really, truly don’t FReakin’ get it. Period.
That sound of hoofbeats you hear is that of a legion of ostriches that once was the Republican party running off a cliff.
McCain is more the second coming of Bob Dole than as Ronald Reagan.
Trooooooollllllll !
Unfortunately, the conservative GOP really let their brand get a very bad name. The reason McCain is doing well is that he has some separation from the GOP brand.
Thats sucks to say, but its the truth. The fault lies with Bush and the party leadership who let this happen - the GOP getting a bad name. Hell, the DEMOCRAT congress is in power and is getting blamed for nothing.
However, we need leaders to find the way ahead to sell conservatism and make the product good again.
All the Rats will need to do to keep McCain out of the White House will be to contantly repeat: “Voting for McCain means a third Bush term!”
AMEN TO THAT,,AND HANNITY AND RUSH HAVE BEEN SCREAMING THIS TO THE REPUBLICANS AT THE TOP OF THE LUNGS BUT NO ONE IS LISTENING TO THEM OR THE CALLERS WHO ARE SO FRUSTRATED WITH IT ALL..NOT ONLY WILL WE LOSE THE WH BUT THE HOUSE AND SENATE AS WELL AND THEN ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE. THE MARXISTS WILL INSTALL SOCIALISM WITHOUT A FIGHT..STANDBY..
Whoever came up with “The Change You Deserve” should tarred, feathered, and run out of town on a rail. “Have It Your Way” or “I Can’t Believe I Ate The Whole Thing” would be just as useful and make just as much sense.
"John McCain appeals to some almost all Republicans but few conservatives. He also appeals to a narrow wide array of independents and conservative Democrats."
BS. That's what the McCainiacs would like you to believe. By nominating McCain the Reps have taken a number of wedge issues off of the table in the general election, e.g., immigration, domestic oil exploration, debililtating global warming legislation, etc. Why? Because the party's standard bearer agrees with the Dem positions on these issues.
McCain became the presumptive nominee of the party with just 31% of the total primary vote. He couldn't even top 50% of the priary vote in his home state, the only top tier candidate of either party not to do so. McCain is going to depress Rep turnout and contributions. He is going to take a lot of Reps down with him.
And even if by some remote chance McCain wins, it will take the GOP further to the Left and fracture the party. John McCain is absolutely the worst person we could have nominated, which is why the MSM was pushing him so hard.
Then man the lifeboats.
"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
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