Tom McClintock - The conscience of a conservative?

MensNewsDaily.com ^ | September 19, 2003 | Bob Chandra

[Dave S]

Tom McClintock - The conscience of a conservative?

September 19, 2003

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Bob Chandra

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In recent days, Tom McClintock, the "other Republican" in California's recall race, has accepted a million dollars spent on his behalf by a left-wing special interest group. He has claimed that a Democrat victory in the recall election would be desirable, as it would better his chances in 2006. And he has joined with Democrat Cruz Bustamante in a boycott against fellow Republican, Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is the man we're supposed to believe represents the conscience of conservatism? At the end of the day, Tom McClintock's Faustian Pact with the Left has made one thing clear - it's all about Tom McClintock.

The $1 million to be spent on McClintock's behalf is by Indian gambling interests, a staunch Democratic special interest. I wrote about the possibility of left-wing special interests backing McClintock in order to divide Republicans several weeks back. Now it is a reality. The Sacramento Bee has announced that the Morongo tribe is spending $1 million to boost McClintock's candidacy and it's not because they want him to win. The money spent on McClintock is meant to split the Republican vote so their loyal servant, Democrat Cruz Bustamante, can emerge the winner. With enough left- wing money, McClintock can steal enough votes from Arnold to make that happen. Tom's win-at-any-cost mindset has him collaborating with leftist groups who want nothing more than a divided Right to throw the election to Bustamante. Does McClintock see that the Left is using him? Maybe there's a reason it's called "blind" ambition.

McClintock's partnership with the liberal special interests raises serious questions about his loyalty to the GOP. McClintock has said he puts his personal "principles" before the party. But there's a deeper reason McClintock doesn't care that his spoiler candidacy will doom Republicans in the recall race.

In a conversation with US Congressman Dan Burton, Tom McClintock said the following: he (McClintock) didn't mind it if Democrats win the gubernatorial race because it could improve his own chances in 2006. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Burton, one of the more conservative members of Congress, also said McClintock had seemed to suggest that it would be acceptable for a Democrat to hold the governor's office, because he might create a clamor for a Republican in 2006.". So that's what this is really about. If McClintock can't win, he can at least prevent the Republicans from winning so he has a better shot in 2006. Aren't we glad he's playing for our team?

McClintock is now collaborating with Cruz Bustamante to boycott the California Broadcasters Association's debate on the 24th as a means of showing up Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bustamante led the boycott charge on October 17th with McClintock soon followed his lead. When you see a Republican siding with a Democrat against a fellow Republican, you know something is wrong with the picture. Don't adjust your set- this is Tom McClintock, the self-styled conscience of conservatism.

As if things couldn't get any worse, McClintock is justifying his candidacy on a poll strategically conducted by the left-wing Los Angeles Times, which wants nothing more than to keep him in the race. That Times' poll has been debunked by Field and even invalidated by the Times' own reporting. It added 6% more self-identified conservatives than other polls and naturally gave McClintock an artificial 5% bump. But McClintock is clinging to this cooked poll, another leftist ploy, because it serves his interests.

What kind of a conservative lets left-wing interests drive his candidacy like this? The answer is a candidate who is so blind with ambition that he does not see how the Left is using him to their own ends. Thus far, McClintock has claimed he stands for principle, but it is obvious that his hopeless candidacy is based on personal ambition. It's no longer appropriate to view McClintock as merely a misguided crusader. He is a bigger threat to Republican victory on Election Day than Cruz Bustamante. Up until now, McClintock has responded to arguments for stepping aside with denial, delusion, and arrogance. Given his collaboration with the Left, Republicans must get serious with him. McClintock's "stalking horse" candidacy must come to an end.

Bob Chandra

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bob Chandra is a Bay Area Republican activist. He was involved as a strategist for Linda Rae Hermann's campaign against Mike Honda for California's 15th congressional district, and he currently serves as a commissioner for the Saratoga library. His email address is bobchandra(at)comcast.net.

[Drango]

... as it would better his chances in 2006.

I will NOT support someone in '06, if they destroy the Republican party today.

[DoughtyOne]

Califonia's Recall Election Vote is Underway

For a number of months the citizens of California toiled to obtain enough votes to force a recall election of Governor Gray Davis.  Along the way Daryl Issa jumped in to help, spending several million dollars of his own money to support the effort.  The drive to obtain enough signatures was successful.

The recall was certified, a date set for the election and candidates signed up.  Leading republican candidate Daryl Issa withdrew from the race.  Peter Ueberroth withdrew from the race.  Tom McClintock didn't.  Today we are two and one half weeks away from turning this state over to new leadership, Tom cannot win and now he's seems determined to make sure Schwarzenegger won't either.

This Recall effort was initiated to wrest control of the state away form the democrats.  Today the odds are that Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante will be the next governor of our state.  His leading challenger has been handicapped by the dogged refusal of his only meaningful party oppenent to withdraw from the race.  Yesterday republican Tom McClintock negotiated with democrat Cruz Bustamante to develop a strategy to hinder the chances of the leading republican party candidate from winning the election, by manipulating the process of a debate scheduled for Wednesday 09/24.  This may or may not work as planned.

Clearly, this type of activity could mean that Six months worth of effort would have been expended to do nothing more than turn the reigns of the state over to someone exponentially worse than Governor Gray Davis.

Today Tom Mc(I'm in it for myself) has been drawing votes through absentee ballot for thirteen days.  He has potentially locked up around 5% of the vote so far.  By election day he could have bound up 7 to 12% of the vote before 70% of the state's populace even goes to the polls.

[Young Rhino]

Yet another ideological prostitute. Reminds me of the '88 presidential race where I had more respect for Dukkakis holding wrong beliefs than for Lloyd Bentsen for prostituting his beliefs for the VP slot on the Dimwit ticket.

For all those Arnold bashers (a.k.a. Paleo Brigadiers), how do you justify your candidate whoring himself for money? Does this pass your 100% purity test?

[Registered]

Quite a few breathtaking statements and positions. This guy is unbelievable.

[DoughtyOne]

That sums it up for me. Mini-he is an idiot.

[Registered]

For all those Arnold bashers (a.k.a. Paleo Brigadiers), how do you justify your candidate whoring himself for money? Does this pass your 100% purity test?

Trust me when I say this; they will surely have some justification for Tom's actions here.

[nmh]

Accepting money from Indians is "left wing"? My, how hard up are we to denengrate this man. I say, so what. It's legal. It's not as though he is accepting mone from a bunch of homos.

Maybe this author prefers Arnold/s liberal stances with the homo crowd and enjoyed his racy interview with Playboy years ago. Maybe that's more "conservative" for em.

[steve50]

I will NOT support someone in '06, if they destroy the Republican party today.

So you will allow his democratic opposition to win in 06? Isn't that the same type of non alliance to the "party" the arnold supporters are attacking the Tom supporters for for?

[LisaAnne]

Ping, if you haven't already seen this one.

[DoughtyOne]

It has become clear that Tom is intent on taking down the party with him this election.

I guess the tip off should have been that he wouldn't work with the party before.

Look, we all admire a man standing on principle, there are times when you should, but a principled man is capable of dealing with reality. Tom is either out of control or a cold calculating sabatuer.

[veronica]

What kind of a conservative lets left-wing interests drive his candidacy like this?

The Jim Jeffords kind.

[DoughtyOne]

Last night they were saying that we were mischaracterizing his actions. Obviously Tom couldn't be expected to take responsibility for his actions.

Then they'd try to change the subject. It didn't work.

[rdb3]

Is this for real?

[Registered]

I honestly don't know how anyone can defend his actions.

[DoughtyOne]

Tom won't get anywhere near winning a primary in 2006.

His ability to draw statewide votes is finished.

[DoughtyOne]

There was an 800 plus thread last night where a number of people did their damndest. It was typical, and utterly pathetic in light of the reality.

[veronica]

If McClintock stays in and Busta wins, I'll cross over if I have to, to vote against McClintock next time he runs.

[DoughtyOne]

I think you may have seen this, but here's a link just in case.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/985257/posts

[DoughtyOne]

Well I wouldn't vote across the isle to stop him, but I'll do my best to make sure he doesn't represent us in the general election.