Posted on 01/27/2010 10:49:42 AM PST by Maelstorm
Former Arizona congressman-turned-talk-radio-host J.D. Hayworth has resigned his gab-festing gig in order to challenge Sen. John McCain in the 2010 Republican primary. (Although he has not officially launched his campaign, Hayworth recently told the AP, "We will formally announce at a later time, but we're moving forward to challenge John McCain.")
In these strange political times, such an extraordinary event -- McCain was the GOP presidential nominee just 15 months ago -- seems normal to the point of predictability. So, too, were the unsurprising responses within the political firmament. Democrats were delighted, movement conservatives were energized -- and not always in secret. Already, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) has endorsed Hayworth, and numerous conservative blogs and Web sites are giddy about his candidacy. I'm not sure they should be. Get the new PD toolbar!
Hayworth has a chance to catch fire for one simple reason: Conservatives, the people most likely to vote in a GOP primary election, have long been suspicious -- and in many cases, even contemptuous -- of McCain. (I have long been critical myself of his quixotic attempts to limit free speech via McCain/Feingold.)
The issue most likely to hurt McCain in Arizona, however, is his 2007 advocacy for the unpopular Kennedy-McCain immigration legislation -- a bill many conservatives still view as offering nearly unlimited "amnesty" for illegal aliens without doing anything to secure America's borders. In fact, McCain's support of this legislation nearly cost him the GOP's presidential nomination. Few issues arouse as much emotion as this one, and while the controversial co-founder of the Minuteman movement, Chris Simcox, is also in the race, he lacks the gravitas to pose a legitimate challenge to McCain. But Hayworth, a former member of Congress, seems well positioned to exploit this issue -- and even parlay it into national exposure and fundraising success.
The real issue for me, however, is that while John McCain has many problems, there's no reason to believe Hayworth is the solution. As conservatives look to young leaders with fresh ideas, Hayworth is a step backward. For starters, he was heavily involved with former "super-lobbyist" Jack Abramoff. Although he later cooperated with federal investigators and was never found to have done anything illegal, Hayworth was the largest recipient of campaign money from the now-convicted Abramoff.
Even more disquieting from a conservative philosophical point of view, Hayworth was supportive of the Bush era's big spending -- much more so than the fiscally prudent McCain.
Two things tainted the Republican brand: Corruption and spending -- and Hayworth is tied to both of them.
Hayworth's support of Bush's big-government polices included voting for the No Child Left Behind Act; the paperwork- and red-tape-friendly (and business-unfriendly) Sarbanes-Oxley Act; the pork-laden 2005 highway bill that included the infamous "bridge to nowhere"; and, most expensive of all, a Medicare drug benefit that created more than $7 trillion in unfunded liabilities. What is more, his support for a monstrosity known as the 527 Reform Act, which was intended to close "loopholes" in McCain/Feingold, and which was arguably worse for conservatives than the original article.
So Hayworth opposed McCain/Feingold, but supported the 527 Reform Act. This is telling, because the Republican leadership supported the latter. Hayworth's backing of it, therefore, shows his willingness to bend to the will of his party's establishment. This is hardly the record of a bold and independent conservative.
My take: As conservatives seek to remake the GOP, and simultaneously oppose President Obama's liberal policies, they should worry more about getting ahead and less about getting even. The truth is, we live in a world of limited resources. As such, conservatives must shepherd their political capital. There are numerous conservatives who deserve -- and need -- the support of grassroots activists and conservative donors. But every dollar donated to a J.D. Hayworth equals one dollar that does not go to a Marco Rubio, for example.
And let's be honest: John McCain most likely won't be running for re-election six years from now. Hayworth, on the other hand, would likely be in the Senate for the next 20 years. In other words, call me when Arizona congressmen Jeff Flake or John Shadegg decide to run statewide. Until then, I can certainly live with John McCain.
Do you guys have anything on the ball other than accusing people of working for McCain any time someone says he’s not the Anti-Christ? Really?
While I doubt that bridge was really worth the cost, the concept of a bridge connecting an airport to the nearest town hardly seems unreasonable (previously people flying into the airport would have had to use a ferry). I wonder why the media never mention the airport?
While it's possible that nothing McCain could have done would have prevented an Obama victory, he did a number of things that I would say did "allow" Obama to win. He said Obama would make a good President, and Americans should have nothing to fear about an Obama Presidency. To my ear, that sounds like McCain was throwing the election. Do you disagree?
Reelecting him would send precisely the wrong message to the GOP leadership.
They would see his reelection as evidence that RINO's are the way to go.
The GOP needs to get the message that if you screw over conservatives - you lose your seat.
See, this is the hysterical crap that's making you look silly. Where did MM say McCain was a great guy? Where did he say that McCain was justified in any of those things? You didn't even argue with his premise. I'm not sure he's correct, but shouldn't you, and expert on the Keating Five, be sure? You just immediately decided that saying McCain was screwed on that deal is the same as saying he's perfect and we should all kiss his butt. Talk about McCain Derangement Syndrome. Get. A. Grip.
I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Inigo. He'll make sense of your remark.
Bennett, a shameless Dem hack lawyer who you may recall from L'Affaire Lewinsky, told the ethics committee there was no evidence that justified investigating McCain, but they went forward anyway so that there would be a Republican on the hook. You are to the left of Bennett on this issue. Deal with it.
I NOES, RIGHT?
Look, you used the word dishonorable first and you used it wrongly. It was entirely misplaced. I wasn’t misinformed and stated so in no uncertain terms. The fact you ignored my original post in order to wrongly cast aspersions, in what can only be seen as a defense of McCain, remains the true dishonorable act.
McCain has always been a fool.
You said it, therefore it is true. Cool. I hope you're using that godlike power for good, and not evil.
I wasn’t misinformed and stated so in no uncertain terms.
I know. I stand by my statement.
Yes, I have read several accounts of McCain's ordeal as a POW. Yes, my comparison was very insensitive because I am so angry with him! He has disappointed me in so many areas, I could write a book listing them. I am hoping that if he does make a 180 degree change in his progressive political philosophy soon, that a candidate does emerge and does take him to task. A man so stubborn and blind to what he has caused needs to experience the consequences.
John McCain was a hero to his country as a POW. What has happened to him? Has he sold out or given up the fight? Why has he not shown that courage and backbone to fight for those principles that secure freedom for our future generations? Why I ask.
Is that the best you can do? LOL
What I am doing is exposing posters like YOU who defend McCain, for the dishonorable jackasses you all are.
I neglected to attribute the link from which the McCain POW info came.
Thanks to Socalpol for posting.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2437888/posts?page=379#379
As for your response, jonrick46, have we become so desensitized by film and TV drama and fake depictions of POWs that the real thing means nothing?
Would you have lasted even 5 days or 5 hours, let alone 5 1/2 YEARS under McCain’s conditions?
His honorable military experience should remain COMPLETELY SEPARATE from his political career, which is more than fair game.
You words are well taken. I’m sorry I misspoke. I got carried away. I still give John McCain my great honor for what he gave for our Nation.
Thank you and God bless you for that.
Is everyone who defends McCain a dishonorable jackass?
And before you hit the "Post" button, it would be nice if you would heed the message below it: Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.
Should everyone who points out flaws in an article be called dishonorable or misinformed? Some posters are lazy and get caught lying through their teeth. I'm not about to stand around and be disparaged by anyone.
Btw, McCain is no friend of FRee Republic.
I don't care about the details of your personal fight, but by posting it on the forum, you have made it everybody's business. What concerns me is that calling a fellow Freeper a jackass is the sort of personal attack that is frowned upon on this forum. Please confine your personal fights to Freepmail.
Obviously the facts mean nothing to you. You'd rather whine and cry and complain. LOL
>>>>>... but by posting it on the forum, you have made it everybody's business.
You can ignore posts you don't like and simply move along. Truth is, you chose to make it YOUR business.
Debating in FReepMail is for cowards.
Your one-man anti-Hayworth vendetta is very suspicious.
One most certainly does--the fact tht you called all McCain defenders dishonorable jackasses. That sort of comment is beneath the dignity of Free Republic.
You can ignore posts you don't like and simply move along. Truth is, you chose to make it YOUR business.
You've certainly made it the business of every McCain defender.
You'd rather whine and cry and complain. LOL
I would rather see civil discourse and rational arguments as opposed to name-calling and personal insults. FR used to pride itself on being above the flame wars found on other sites--or at least it did a few years ago when I first joined.
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