Posted on 02/07/2008 3:48:59 PM PST by Laissez-faire capitalist
John McCain, the all-but presumptive Republican nominee, told conservative activists this afternoon that he cannot win the presidency without "dedicated conservatives."
"I know I have a responsibility to unite the party," he said.
He acknowledegd that he has had differences with many conservatives but said he hopes they will see that he has the record of a true conservative. "I am proud to be a conservative," McCain said.
... McCain spoke to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington just hours after Mitt Romney used the same venue to announce he is suspending his presidential bid...
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Well it would be pretty brazen on their part. I'm starting to get the feeling their game will be on the lines of "consider it an anti-Hillary vote".
Bump for later.
I agree. I am not a McCain fan by any stretch. But I am willing to listen--especially when it's beginning to look like he may well be the nominee. There was still a bit of the old McCain, but there was a humility there I had not sensed before. Plus, there was a specificity to his promises (except on McCain Feingold and some restraint on the immigration issue)that had the ring of truth to it. There's no wiggle room on most of what he said. I expected platitudes and was most surprised.
I'm as cynical as the next guy, but a deathbed conversion is still a conversion and this might be the real deal. Am I sure? Of course not. But I am not going to throw it back in his face until he's had a chance to demonstrate that the things he said come from honest reevaluation and underlying principle.
The people he surrounds himself with and the content of his off the cuff comments in the next days and weeks, especially in appearances before less conservative groups than CPAC, will go a long way to sorting it out for us.
ping
McCain,
Go back to Washington right now. You’ve got nine months. Introduce an immigration bill that enforces our current immigration laws, penalizes employers hiring illegals, build a fence, stop the welfare to illegals, end birthright citizenship, and put people in place to deal with enforcement.
Do it tomorrow, and I’ll think about supporting you.
Oh, but wait ...
“I believe my party has gone astray. I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy.“ - John McCain
“I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people, Amnesty has to be an important part…“ - John McCain 2003
“I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.“ - John McCain
“McCain sponsored and voted for a 282% tax increase on cigarettes in 1998?- McCain was one of only two Republican to vote against the $1.35 trillion tax cut in 2001?- McCain was one of only two Republicans to twice vote against permanent repeal of the death tax in 2002?- McCain was one of only three Republican to twice vote against the $350 billion tax cut in 2003”
“But, it turns out, McCain has accepted nearly $70,000 from the pharmaceutical and health products industries — behind only Romney (who received $260,000) and Rudy Giuliani ($140,000) among Republican candidates, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
McCain, in response to a question about making health care more affordable, said the attorneys general of Iowa and South Carolina have both sued pharmaceutical companies for overcharging Medicaid.
Romney began his answer to the question by warning McCain not to make pharmaceutical companies “the bad guy” in the discussion over health care costs.
“Well, they are,” shot back McCain.
The center’s analysis of FEC records found that through the end of September, McCain had received $69,300 from PACs representing the pharmaceutical and health products industries, as well as employees of companies in those fields and their families.”
I will have a hard time supporting you in November ... and I’m perfectly “calm,” when I say this.
“I’m starting to get the feeling their game will be on the lines of “consider it an anti-Hillary vote”.”
Frankly, it’s all they have.
Like you, I will have a hard time supporting McCain. But I will if he immediately takes meaningful action to reverse the most egregious points of his track record that are deal-breakers for conservatives. If he undertakes specific, multiple actions such as the one you offer, I for one, am not going to pick scabs for the rest of my life while Hillary or Obama destroy this country.
There was an unusual overabundance of cheers that greeted McLame. I didn't understand it until I read about the bussed-in McLame supporters, glad I have FR to get the inside scoop.
For those conservatives who don't read FR they're probably nauseated and perplexed about how conservatives could now be so enthusiastic about this walking contradiction, hopefully talkradio and other conservative media will report what really happened at CPAC today.
go out tomorrow and start working in all your spare time
(1)registering unregistered voters to the gop (often as many as the registered voters); (2)working for a us congressional candidate you can support; (3)working for a us senate candidate you can support - if either of your senate seats are up in november
do not retreat to the wilderness, just let mcpain fail or succeed without you
and vote for whoever in the hell you want for potus - it is now only the house and senate where you can make a difference
give mcpain or hillbama a real congressional opposition
I am so very tired of voting for these politicians that care about personal and party power more than the good of the country. The debate about securing the border is a perfect example of this.
I have not decided how I will vote in November, but it sure would be nice if someone dusted off the old Republican Contract with America for some ideas about moving forward. Remember term limits?
Point well taken. I'll change McCain's "Excellent" on the War on Terror to "Fair." His "Fair" still crushes Hillary/Obama's "Poor." There is not one area where either democrat would be preferable to McCain. He's no conservative, for sure. But, we are not choosing between McCain and Reagan. It is McCain vs. Hillary or Obama.
Frankly, it’s all they have.
And, truthfully--it's all they need.
“And, truthfully—it’s all they need.”
“Vote for us or the witch will be in charge”
Worked real well in 2006 didn’t it?
It was halting and bumbling. I listened to the first 7 or 8 mins. and he had numerous flubs. This wouldn't be all bad except for it made the speech sound poorly rehearsed and less than heartfelt.
Thanx. You got a link for that?
I would love to hang all the bastards upside down in my pool ‘til they crapped their pants or died or talked. And broadcast it on Cable. That would get all the information we need and dramatically reduce their recruiting efforts.
Evidently that doesn't bother Cornyn as much as the prospect of Hillary or Obama picking 3-4 supreme court justices.
"With the recent decision by a number of the other candidates to step aside, now is the time for the Republican Party to come together and stand behind Senator McCain. For these reasons, I am honored to endorse him for President of the United States today and will do whatever I can to support his candidacy.
Sincerely, John Cornyn"
McCain would pick liberal judges.
I assume that is the pre-release of the speech and not a transcription. He had more than few flubs and misstatements (especially in the front end of the speech).
I agree, McCain read his speech very well, the questions is, did he mean any of it?
McCain/Feingold is a total failure, why doesn't he lead the effort to repeal the damn thing?
We've all heard him claim that he will secure the borders first. How about the rest of the story, what kind of amnesty does he have in mind after that.
I'd like to see him pledge to pardon, on his first day as president, the border agents, Compean and Ramos, that Bush's open borders crony Johnny Sutton persecuted.
McCain has a lot to do besides saying that he's not Hillary or Barack.
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