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Posted on 09/19/2003 6:11:30 AM PDT by 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.
Wonder what used car lot or telemarketer he plans to work for after that happens?
Absolutely. McProstitute is grabbing big wampum.
News for Schwarzenegger. Even if McClintock dropped out of the race - WHICH HE WON'T - and begged me to vote for Arnold, I WOULDN'T DO IT!!! I'll vote for the recall; then leave the name blank rather than vote for that RINO. Then I'll vote YES on Prop 54 even though Arnold says I'm a "right wing crazy" for doing so. Arnold has spit in my face one too many times. I'd rather have Bustamante as our governor. At least Bustamante will unite Republicans. Arnold will destroy this party.
How odd that you would say that. McClintock is the ONLY conservative in the race. In fact, he's the ONLY real Republican. He's been going after Davis and Boostyourtaxes like stink on sh-t
First of all, I'm not as stupid as you think. I'm voting for McClintock and my vote is precious to me. I read through all the stuff and don't buy it. McClintock is a good man. Those of us who have been speaking out against Arnold are speaking out because he's been spitting in our faces (conservatives). Go, McClintock!!
'Nough said. Go, McClintock! I'm getting tired of Schwarzenegger spitting in my face and crapping all over me. I can't take it anymore. I'm voting for McClintock come hell or high water. PERIOD!!
I don't enjoy it, believe me, but when you have a herd of RINO's spitting in your face, it kind of pisses you off. Go, McClintock!!
If Arnold would debate Tom (which he won't cuz he's chicken) BUT if he would, TOM MCCLINTOCK WOULD TEAR HIM LIMB FROM LIMB
But as for me, I'd much rather see Bustamante become governor than Schwarzenegger. Bustamante will UNITE Republicans; Schwarzenegger will DESTROY THE CA GOP.
I'd rather have Bustamante than Schwarzenegger because while Bustamante would serve to UNITE Republicans and we can regroup to fight another day, Arnold will undoubtedly DESTROY the Republican Party in California for decades!
You didn't ask me, but the answer is yes, I would still vote for McClintock. I would much rather have Bustamante than Schwarzenegger. McClintock is a conservative! (Duh!!) By the way, the last Republican governor DESTROYED the California Republican Party because he was a RINO just like Arnold.
McClintock is the ONLY pro life candidate. I'm embarrassed by all the so-called Republicans who are star-struck over Arnold. It's humiliating! McClintock is the ONLY conservative in the race and he's moving up in the polls while Schwarzenegger remains stagnant. Arnold should drop out NOW! GO, MCCLINTOCK!!!
And you show you what 'good' republicans these posters are.......Who is the RNC Chair, anyway? Not that it makes any difference.
Maintaining values are hard, but worth it.
Yankee Doodle Went to Town Riding on a Pony, Put Feather in his hat and called it Macaroni.
The RNC got star struck on this one and were sure the people would not look under the curtain. Well many of them have, so we call them traitors, RINOS(mystery to me how they get here)Hard right crazies, Relegious zeolets.
All the while crying "But he is the best we can do" Well the best they can do is just not good enough, and the theory that thirty holes in the bottom of the boat is much better than twenty eight just don't seem as apppealing to me as it does to them.
And the whole CA RNC dancing with a flaming liberal gives you no pause? Great perspective you have there.
The Party is already destroyed. A politically incompetent Republican like Schwarzenegger as governor, with the added minus of being a RINO, will only make things worse.
That's why I'm voting no on the recall.
Before reading this article, I did not have much respect for Tom. Now I do.
This recall is really bad political strategy for the GOP, especially with a politically incompetent front-runner like Arnold (to say nothing of his leftist politics). If Arnold wins, he becomes governor with no more than 30% of the vote, hardly a popular mandate, and has to face a hostile Democratic legislature sabotaging him every step of the way. Add to this his political tin ear, and it becomes clear he would be an utterly impotent governor. Come 2006, things will not get better, and maybe a little worse, and Arnold takes the blame. The GOP and the state are in even worse shape than before the recall.
Is it not far better to force the dems to sleep in the bed they made? That is the only way the voters of the state will learn what damage liberal policies do, and when they do learn, we will have a chance to do some real good in 2006.
Given his political incompetence (to say nothing of his leftist politics), Arnold can only damage the party by winning. Keeping him out can only help.
Of course, I'm not sure if keeping him out is better than letting a Mexican Klansman become governor. But I think people will see Bustamante for who he is and will vote no on the recall to keep him out.
Before reading this article, I was under the impression that McClintock was one of those idoit conservatives who fails to understand that principles do you no good if you can't get elected. This article has changed my mind. It seems that McClintock is mainly trying to defeat the recall, and the fact that he sees the strategic importance of doing so shows that he is a savvy politician, which the GOP needs more of. He has a future.
Given all his gaffs and the incompetence of his campaign, Arnold is about the worst we can do. Even if McClintock were not running, I doubt he would win.
You're right. The GOP just got star-struck. Arnold's campaign is living proof that name-recognition alone does not buy you much.
Not working with a party filled with incompetents and RINOs seems like a virtue to me.
If the California GOP really is filled with incompetents, then McClintock fits right in.
And his acceptance of support from entities that have already endorsed Bustamante does not burnish his "true conservative" credentials in the slightest.
If he really accepts the argument that the Indian tribes are "sovereign nations," then he's accepting campaign contributions from foreign nations. He's our very one Billy Jeff. The only difference is that he doesn't have a prayer of winning this election.
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