Issa: McClintock Promised, 'I Won't be a Spoiler'

NewsMax.com ^ | 9/24/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Before the California recall race got under way, gubernatorial candidate Tom McClintock made a private pledge to step aside if his campaign threatened to spoil Republican chances to take power in Sacramento.

That was the bombshell revelation yesterday from the driving force behind the recall movement, Rep. Darryl Issa, who described to nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity a conversation he had with the conservative favorite several months ago.

"When I talked to Tom even before he got in, he told me a couple of things that when you have these kind of conversations you never forget," Issa told Hannity.

"He said, 'Look, I'm not going to be in this race if it's not a crowded field. I know the numbers for a conservative. And I'm not going to stay in and be a spoiler.'"

"Those are two quotes that he told me directly over the phone," Issa claimed. He then pointed out, "It was a crowded field, it's no longer a crowded field. And he does have to make ... a tough decision."

The Republican congressman predicted that McClintock would ultimately keep his word.

"Tom McClintock, if the numbers stay where they are, has an opportunity to be the hero," Issa told Hannity. "He has the chance to be a real hero and I believe that he is a good man and he will take that chance at the right time."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
California Governor's Race

[CyberCowboy777]

Thankfully Arnold has decided that your brand of personal hatred of the Social Conservatives will not define his candidacy.

He may well pull this out for it.

Tom has a loyal vote of at least 14% and less than 1% of that is far far right. You have said yourself that "For the most part they are good and true and Christian and generally outstanding folks." - yet you disparage and run down their choice for Governor. Not a good idea, Arnold see this - why can't you?

Are you going to irritate and piss off 14% because of your fear of less 1% or less? A percentage that has no power - yet you work so hard???

[BibChr]

Arnold said one stupid thing about "right wing crazies." Otherwise, he has spoken very appreciatively of McClintock and his ideas, and works with many social conservatives.

Do you really want to discuss "bile" with me? Tell me something; have you ever, EVER seen a Schwarzenegger supporter tell a McClintock supporter that he can't really be a Christian if he votes for McClintock? Have you seen any of us mock McC supporters for their religious faith, tell them to stop calling themselves Christians, tell them to stop referring to the Bible?

I haven't.

Yet I have been on the receiving end particular form of vicious, hateful ignorance of that more times than I can count, despite a consistently Christian and pro-life presence here on FR for some FIVE YEARS plus.

Dan

[skeeter]

You omit to mention, of course, that Davis was hugely unpopular and could have been beaten handily by a diseased goat based on the numbers going into the race.

Whats your point? That Davis is more popular now?

[68 grunt]

Thank you for your polite response. I disagree that bile invites bile only amoungst the immature. My point was that the bile is mutual. I also have hope and faith that Arnie is going to clean house, and your's and my tax burden will be eased, businesses will return and California will once again become a powerhouse.

Arnie will be in a perfect position on the bully pulpit! He is candid and will be able to point and rail at the destroyers, the democrats. The people are finally becoming aware who the democrats are, and they are realizing that democrats only lie cheat and steal. Arnie represents for me, unity. I have only my faith and my hope that this is God's Will and that it will be for the best. Thank you for your service!

[68 grunt]

1%. That's it. McX only has 14% of his party, and you still think he is electable? If this 14% is so vindictive that they would prefer bustamecha, so be it. Again, time to play the cards!

[AMNZ]

Exactly!! Promoting each other while destroying the enemy. You can trench with me in this war my friend.

[aquino]

Check out Dan Burton's American Conservative Union ratings before you call him a RINO.

[CyberCowboy777]

I have been told that Social Conservatives are worse than Liberals.

Lets not pretend like one side is shrill free. I seen some fairly disgusting things from both sides.

[Mr Rogers]

Sir - if only we can convince supporters on both sides to stop shooting their would be allies and work towards a common goal. Getting rid of Davis & Busty would be a big step in the right direction. Hopefully, republicans on both side will think and vote accordingly.

[Tamzee]

Thanks for the ping, this article ties up McClintock's statements per Issa into one nice place.

I tried to find the transcript from Cavuto's interview with Issa and it wasn't available yet...

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I neglected my sarcasm tags.

;)

[CyberCowboy777]

I already said that in this election Tom will not be elected.

As for his 14% being vindictive - your choice. You push anyone hard enough and eventually they will push back.

[68 grunt]

Listen, Cowboy, please, not all social conservatives are being tarred, okay! Just about all of us here are social conservatives to one degree or another. The ones that I am truly peeved with are the same groups that brought us perot and the patsy brigade and every other divisive stand. Its there tantrums and empty threats which need be called.

[BibChr]

Never said either side is shill-free, nor bile-free.

Just said I don't think it's equal.

I'll add this. Many who support Schwarzenegger today supported McC at first, and have been progressively turned off by his behavior first, and his supporters' second.

But the people I am talking about hated Schwarzenegger, viscerally, from Day One.

Dan

[CyberCowboy777]

I hope we can sooth the wounds enough to get Arnold elected.

I am a McClintock supporter (I have spoken with my pocket book), but I said that I would go with Arnold if the numbers did not look good for Tom and Cruz had a chance.

Now here we are. If we can just get a cease fire for long enough we might get Arnolds number up above Cruz.

Pushing the Tom supporters now is not the way to do that. You back them up and there may be a price you do not want to pay.

We already have to come to grips with the fact that Tom can't win, that we may have to vote with our nose plugged (you know how we HATE that) and give the guys who have been hammering us for weeks a win (which they will not recognize or thank us for), we do not need to be dodging bullets at the same time.

[cake_crumb]

"Arnold will only lose if Arnold supporters cause it."

Can't imagine how Arnie supporters could cause him to lose. There are more of them than there are McClintock supporters. I LIKE McClintock, I still like his ideas. I LOVE that he's been fighting non-stop against Grey for years. I have PUSHED McClintock. I started pushing McClintock when the petitions were still going out. I am NOT using the FR poll. I don't know what the results are. Because I am not a CA resident, I have no right to participate in such a poll. I'm going by CA polls in the news: at the moment, McClintock does not have the numbers to win.

I wish it could be otherwise. I know you do wish it even more. He has a good week to change his numbers. Above all, we must keep in mind that the enemy is the Clintonoid candidate-contraction, Greystamente. Vote your conscience, by all means: vote for the Republican who's in front right before the election.

[Servant of the 9]

Yeah, because posing butt naked for a homosexual photographer just screams integrity.

Separated at Birth?

So9

[CyberCowboy777]

See my #35

You back them up and prick the pride and it is only human to lash out - Arnold does not need that.

Arnold will lose without at least some of Toms supporters. The more that he can get the better.

[zbigreddogz]

Yes, he has been a class act, the classiest of class acts.

Any chance he'll challenge Boxer? I'd sure like to see him kick her to the curb. That would be great.

[zbigreddogz]

If by some miricle he makes it through the primary, yes. I would support almost anyone else in the primary, however. McClintock has proven to me he doesn't have the character to be my candidate for higher office.

Like I already said, Issa for Senate!