Posted on 02/22/2008 5:48:40 AM PST by Kaslin
Updated: 9:46 PM 02/21/08 Obama Scores, Clinton Flops on Copy Cat Spat Updated: 9:16 PM 02/21/08 Notes on Obama's Immigration Debate Talk Updated: 8:40 PM 02/21/08 <a href="http://ads.townhall.com/accipiter/adclick/CID=00014ba3d8d6daef00000000/site=TOWNHALL/area=TownHall.Web.Columnists.DouglasMacKinnon/POSITION=TOWN_SKY/AAMGEOIP=68.112.78.1"> <img src="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/creative/MortgageMinuteAdSkycalcsky.swf" alt="" width="160" height="600" border="0"> </a> GOP to Conservatives: Drop Dead By Douglas MacKinnon Friday, February 22, 2008
As with small children, many of the entrenched, beholden, or power-hungry hierarchy of the Republican party, simply wish conservatives could be seen, but never heard.
In a very telling headline, The Washington Times recently reported, “McCain Refuses to Pander.” In the first paragraph of the article, the paper said, “John McCain's campaign manager yesterday said the candidate will not pander for conservative support…” Yeah, we know. Message received.
For those conservatives or talk radio hosts who still don’t get it, or who are still not prepared to compromise their principles for the party, then some elder statesmen have some names they’d like to call you. Chase Untermeyer, the former high level official for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and the current president, said in a recent column, “At both the national and local levels, there are those who declare that certain Republican elected officials are insufficiently conservative and must be purged. Senator John McCain is getting the worst of these blasts right now, with some self-appointed tribunes of Reagan’s legacy saying they might even prefer Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – scarcely followers of the Gipper – to McCain.”
For those conservatives who admire President Reagan but would dare question the record of McCain, Mr. Untermeyer, labeled each a “SQUIRREL.” As in “Snarky Quibbler who Undermines and Ignores Ronald Reagan’s Enduring Legacy.”
“Snarky.” I guess if you went to Harvard, called yourself “Chase” instead of Charles, and mingled with the elites of the world, then “Snarky” is a name you might assign to conservatives who have an honest disagreement with John McCain. If you’re someone like me, who grew up in poverty, barely got an education, and never met an Ivory Tower elite worth a warm bucket of spit, then you might substitute the word “ethical” for snarky.
When I first came to Washington, I had the honor to work in the White House as a low-level writer for Ronald Reagan. While certainly lacking the pedigree of Mr. Untermeyer, I did share one or two special moments with that President. In a conversation that Peggy Noonan was kind enough to chronicle in her bestselling book entitled “When Character Was King,” President Reagan and I spoke in the Oval Office about the alcoholism of our fathers, poverty, and the cruelty of life. It was actually because of Ronald Reagan’s wisdom, kindness, and suggestion, that I was able to reach out to my estranged father.
Understanding that, I’m more than proud to plead guilty to using Ronald Reagan as the template for true conservatism. As such, I just don’t think there is any way that anyone can accurately equate Reagan’s conservative legacy with McCain’s moderate voting record. Does saying that make me a bad person? Am I now an Untermeyer “Squirrel?”
The thought of voting for Clinton or Obama makes me nauseous. We are a nation at war with Islamists who mean to exterminate us. To vote for Clinton or Obama is to vote for the authority to wave the flag of appeasement or surrender. I have no intention of voting for the next Neville Chamberlain.
John McCain is a good person. I do believe he has the best interests of our nation at heart. That said, as an American, it’s my right to disagree with him on substance. John McCain heroically fought and sacrificed to give me that right, and for that, I am forever grateful. On issues such as immigration, taxes, judges, global warming, drilling in Anwar, and the detention and prosecution of enemy combatants, I take issue with some of his past comments, votes, or current positions.
Unfortunately, the message I’m getting from the Republican establishment is that conservatives should bite their tongues, do their duty, and await the crumbs that may come their way in a McCain administration. Is that what it’s come to? Party loyalty before principle?
In endorsing McCain the other day, former President George H.W. Bush said, “…no one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Senator John McCain.” Really? No one? Does this incredibly decent former president truly believe that McCain is better prepared to lead this nation than say, his own son, Jeb? Or Mitt Romney?
In his endorsement, the former president also said, “…I believe now is the time for me to help John in his effort to start building the broad-based coalition it will take for our conservative values to carry the White House this fall.”
“Conservative values.” That’s all this election is about for millions of Americans who choose to put country before party. As such, they are entitled to have McCain further define or clarify his “conservative values.” He needs to earn their vote.
Like Untermeyer, former President Bush questioned those on the right who question McCain. He called such criticism “grossly unfair” and an “unfair attack.”
If some in the party succeed in quashing the conservative voice, then they will have silenced the conscience of America. Surely, John McCain will stand shoulder to shoulder with conservatives to prevent such an outcome.
Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of the forthcoming novel, The Apocalypse Directive.
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As with small children, many of the entrenched, beholden, or power-hungry hierarchy of the Republican party, simply wish conservatives could be seen, but never heard.
In a very telling headline, The Washington Times recently reported, “McCain Refuses to Pander.” In the first paragraph of the article, the paper said, “John McCain's campaign manager yesterday said the candidate will not pander for conservative support…” Yeah, we know. Message received.
For those conservatives or talk radio hosts who still don’t get it, or who are still not prepared to compromise their principles for the party, then some elder statesmen have some names they’d like to call you. Chase Untermeyer, the former high level official for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and the current president, said in a recent column, “At both the national and local levels, there are those who declare that certain Republican elected officials are insufficiently conservative and must be purged. Senator John McCain is getting the worst of these blasts right now, with some self-appointed tribunes of Reagan’s legacy saying they might even prefer Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – scarcely followers of the Gipper – to McCain.”
For those conservatives who admire President Reagan but would dare question the record of McCain, Mr. Untermeyer, labeled each a “SQUIRREL.” As in “Snarky Quibbler who Undermines and Ignores Ronald Reagan’s Enduring Legacy.”
“Snarky.” I guess if you went to Harvard, called yourself “Chase” instead of Charles, and mingled with the elites of the world, then “Snarky” is a name you might assign to conservatives who have an honest disagreement with John McCain. If you’re someone like me, who grew up in poverty, barely got an education, and never met an Ivory Tower elite worth a warm bucket of spit, then you might substitute the word “ethical” for snarky.
When I first came to Washington, I had the honor to work in the White House as a low-level writer for Ronald Reagan. While certainly lacking the pedigree of Mr. Untermeyer, I did share one or two special moments with that President. In a conversation that Peggy Noonan was kind enough to chronicle in her bestselling book entitled “When Character Was King,” President Reagan and I spoke in the Oval Office about the alcoholism of our fathers, poverty, and the cruelty of life. It was actually because of Ronald Reagan’s wisdom, kindness, and suggestion, that I was able to reach out to my estranged father.
Understanding that, I’m more than proud to plead guilty to using Ronald Reagan as the template for true conservatism. As such, I just don’t think there is any way that anyone can accurately equate Reagan’s conservative legacy with McCain’s moderate voting record. Does saying that make me a bad person? Am I now an Untermeyer “Squirrel?”
The thought of voting for Clinton or Obama makes me nauseous. We are a nation at war with Islamists who mean to exterminate us. To vote for Clinton or Obama is to vote for the authority to wave the flag of appeasement or surrender. I have no intention of voting for the next Neville Chamberlain.
ohn McCain is a good person. I do believe he has the best interests of our nation at heart. That said, as an American, it’s my right to disagree with him on substance. John McCain heroically fought and sacrificed to give me that right, and for that, I am forever grateful. On issues such as immigration, taxes, judges, global warming, drilling in Anwar, and the detention and prosecution of enemy combatants, I take issue with some of his past comments, votes, or current positions.
Unfortunately, the message I’m getting from the Republican establishment is that conservatives should bite their tongues, do their duty, and await the crumbs that may come their way in a McCain administration. Is that what it’s come to? Party loyalty before principle?
In endorsing McCain the other day, former President George H.W. Bush said, “…no one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Senator John McCain.” Really? No one? Does this incredibly decent former president truly believe that McCain is better prepared to lead this nation than say, his own son, Jeb? Or Mitt Romney?
In his endorsement, the former president also said, “…I believe now is the time for me to help John in his effort to start building the broad-based coalition it will take for our conservative values to carry the White House this fall.”
“Conservative values.” That’s all this election is about for millions of Americans who choose to put country before party. As such, they are entitled to have McCain further define or clarify his “conservative values.” He needs to earn their vote.
Like Untermeyer, former President Bush questioned those on the right who question McCain. He called such criticism “grossly unfair” and an “unfair attack.”
If some in the party succeed in quashing the conservative voice, then they will have silenced the conscience of America. Surely, John McCain will stand shoulder to shoulder with conservatives to prevent such an outcome.
Well , soon , I’m voting for Huckabee. After that...shrug
[Catchy. But I think it’s religious conservatives they view that way. Because the Religious Right will keep on being ridiculous in their backing of someone just because he’s a Christian. Did we learn nothing from Jimmy Carter?]
Cute, but wrong anyway. I as a conservative Christian who despises McCain and Huckabee as both are liberals, McCain a typical secular humanist liberal and Huckabee a typical Christian liberal of the Carter persuasion.
I know that the only true conservatives were men like Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo, but the rinos are joining the liberal marxist democrats with politicians like McCain and Huckabee as their front runners.
May the Lord be with those of us conservative Bible believing Christians who have known for some years now that the rinos are fools, secualar humanism is destroying you and your childrens futures and you are so blind you can not see it.
Let God be true and every man a liar.
It isn't. But the question that you are (conveniently) failing to ask is the converse: Explain to me, in name of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, how getting Sen. McCain elected President is in the best interest in this country?
The answer is the same. It isn't.
"We have choices in life, it’s not always easy to decide. McCain was NOT my first 5 choices, but that’s being a grown up. But saying that electing Hilabam president is in tune with consevrative principles is insane."
Of course we have choices in life. One of the more important of which is whether or not we will try to live by our beliefs and principles or forsake them for temporary expediency.
“The GOP is and will remain a plantation for conservatives.”
Yes, they’ll be the only ones trapped on a plantation without a candidate who they can relate to, now that the Blacks on the neighboring Democrat plantation have managed to run one of their own for President.
Poor battered GOP “conservatives”...scared into submission one more time by their elitist masters in Fortune 500 board rooms and on K Street.
“I’d rather have a country to pick up the pieces from, than to just surrender to the One World crowd.”
If you watched last night’s debate (i know i know) one of the moderators was a mexican/american reporter (i think).
He asked a question “what would be so bad about a bilingual USA with 120 million+ mexicans” This is clearly the agenda of many...and the agenda of John Mccain.
I know all three are for Amnesty, but with Mccain the policy will be rubber-stamped with full congressional support.
At least with Obama/Hillary, the RINO hacks will rally against them , not because the care so much about the policy, but because they are in it for Party Power and regaining power.
WE can not afford a Mccain Presidency.
[President Bush questioned those on the right who question McCain. He called such criticism “grossly unfair” and an “unfair attack.”]
Who cares what that rino says, he has poven himself unwise by being but another rino of the moderate disaster the GOP now is.
Who cares what that rino says, he has proven himself unwise by being but another rino of the moderate disaster the GOP now is.
If Hillary gets the nomination...maybe blacks and Christians can form a party together. The “free man’s” party:’)
Am I wrong or wasn’t Geo. Bush the 1st turned out because the base left him.
Oh Yeah!...I WANT a President that PANDERS to you whinny spoiled brats! NOT!
I WANT A PRESIDENT THAT THAT WILL KICK ALKIADA’S ASS........
What wisdom, defend the Iraqi constitution and wipe your scared a$$ with the US constitution.
I think he lost because the Dems whipped him. Clinton looked good in the debates. Mr. Bush came across as tired and old and kept looking at Barbara. I felt really bad for him. I’m glad to see that he looks like he is having fun and happy now.
I think he lost because the Dems whipped him. Clinton looked good in the debates. Mr. Bush came across as tired and old and kept looking at Barbara. I felt really bad for him. I’m glad to see that he looks like he is having fun and happy now.
However, this was interesting as it is a view of McCain from the Left.
I agree. The RNC better see this, and soon. Talking down conservatives will not bring them to the voting booth. If McCain really wants my conservative vote then he needs to introduce legislation ...now. He's a sitting Senator. Take a day or two off the campaign trail and author bills to repeal McCain-Feingold and make the Bush tax cuts permanent for starters.
I'm waiting.
Virtually everything on your list is either right or wrong depending on which version of McCain you’re talking about. Who knows what the next McCain will believe or do, so if you think you can depend upon that list, you’re going to be very disappointed.
McCain is a Fiscal conservative = voted against the Bush tax cuts, plays into class warfare
McCain economic team is proposing to stimulate econmic growth via tax rate cuts = Not to marginal rate
McCain wants to fight the WOT = by closing Gitmo, not-waterboarding terrorists, and giving them constituional protections
McCain, unlike Ann Coulter, supported and voted for John Roberts and Sam Alito for the SCOTUS = initially did not support Alito, Gang of 14
McCain is pro life = pro-empbryonic stem cell research.
McCain is pro second Amendment= whoop-di-doo. It in the friggin Constitution
McCain-Feingold is a problem with me. However, it wasn’t a problem with Bush, FR/Sean Hannity’s favorite dem Zell Miller, and FR favorite Fred Thompson = anti-free specch, fairness doctrine is next
I am not saying he’s perfect, far from it. but those are pretty strong creditials.
McCain can NOT beat Obama or Klinton .no how..no way ....so all of this is a moot point. The Great American Socialism Experiment is about to begin folks. History will see this election as the turning point in the final decline of the USA
Careful, you just told us that you would take a promise from McQueeg at face value.
I'm sure that your heart's in the right place, but....
He lost because he compromised with the dims and raised taxes. A fact that they gleefully used against him in the election calling him a liar for breaking his “Read my lips” promise. He lost us conservatives because we rightfully did not trust him after that.
You are the only person who will support McCain that has given a rational and logical reason why you’ll hold your nose.
All the rest just cry out in fear and emotion.
I respect YOUR reasoning and decision even if I don’t totally agree with it.
Thank you for posting this.
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