Real Conservatives Don’t Like John McCain
Posted on January 23, 2008
Cross-posted from Right on the Right:
John McCain has two primary wins, and some people think it’s because the Republican Party is past that “conservatism thing” and is aiming at concensus. Michael Medved basically called one of his mediums, talk radio, impotent in a blog entry he wrote:
The big loser in South Carolina was, in fact, talk radio: a medium that has unmistakably collapsed in terms of impact, influence and credibility because of its hysterical and one-dimensional involvement in the GOP nomination fight…
McCain and Huckabee are both decent and principled conservatives –and so, for that matter, are Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and Duncan Hunter… Isn’t it about time for the nation’s other high profile talkers to join me in acknowledging that we’ve got a group of outstanding candidates each of whom, in his own way, represents different aspects of the Reagan legacy?
No, I won’t join you in saying they each represent different aspects of the Reagan legacy, because that’s not enough. We need a full spectrum Conservative, and that man left the race. Now we need to rally behind the next best candidate. John McCain, the media-anointed frontrunner, has way too many faults to be our nominee. On Medved’s point, didn’t Rush’s constant attacks on Huckabee render him ineffective in Michigan and South Carolina, to a point? Now Rush is just getting started on McCain. Here’s Rush’s take on his apparent irrelevence.
Now, I want to point out that real Conservatives are assaulting McCain on all fronts, as he deserves to be assailed. Michelle Malkin said the following about John McCain:
The hothead has succeeded in intimidating voters and eluding tough questions from the press by playing his rhetorical violin. There is a reason so many liberals in the media and the Democratic party want John McCain to be the GOP presidential nominee. He gives them cover to continue smearing grassroots conservatives.
In Michigan, the illegal-alien parent-of-a-soldier story was met with boos. McCain’s cheerleaders at the New York Times and other press outlets attempted to depict the detractors as insensitive and racist boors — just as they did during last year’s ill-fated shamnesty campaign.
McCain has learned nothing. What about us?
When leading Conservative voices on immigration come out against a leading Republican candidate, we know we have a problem. Immigration is one issue where the Republican party has a huge advantage over the liberal wing of the Democrat party. Ingraham is also slamming McCain on a free speech / pro-life issue. The assault on McCain has just begun, and we’ll see the fruits of the Conservative uprising in Florida.
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, Elections, News, Politics As Usual
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“When leading Conservative voices on immigration come out against a leading Republican candidate, we know we have a problem.”
Yep. But it’s the “leading Conservative voices” who have the problem: fewer and fewer Americans are listening. Heck, if Limbaugh and his ilk didn’t have the immigration bugaboo to flog, who would even tune in? His rants are increasingly irrelevant, and his ideology no longer resonates with the realities of shrinking incomes, diminishing net worth, and insecure futures.
The majority of Americans in 2008 perceive that a conservative administration has demolished our economy, wasted 4,000 young lives, and trashed our international image with its penchant for war, rendition, and torture. After eight disastrous years, it should come as no surprise that conservative thinking is seen as the problem, not the solution, and it’s equally unsurprising that many voters would be looking elsewhere for leadership. The Reagan coalition of corporate suits and working stiffs is dead, and you can thank George W. Bush for killing it.
McCain’s Immigration Insanity
McCain has been campaigning in South Carolina telling everyone that he never really supported amnesty. Previously, McCain and Lieberman were on a PR campaign together in NH and lying through their teeth on McCain’s immigration record. At a recent town hall meeting, McCain speaks for a while uttering his gibberish about illegal immigration and the illegal’s are god’s children (he obviously believes that they are a special type of god’s children and deserve some kind of extra compassion), etc. Lieberman takes the mike and says…”To say John McCain ever supported amnesty for illegal immigrants is a lie…” This is extremely disturbing that both of these Senators would try to deceive and directly lie to people for the express purpose of garnering votes. You can view this for yourself in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er3gSPhNSEM
McCain is trying to run from his actions and record. He is intentionally distorting (I call it lying) the irrefutable fact that he was a supporter of amnesty by claiming he was never for amnesty. He was a main architect, contributor and proponent of the Comphrensive Immigration Reform bills (s. 1348 and s. 1639) of 2007 that were written in order to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. McCain was so deep into the content and language of these bills that they were often referred to as the Kennedy-McCain Immigration Reform bills.
McCain has consistently supported amnesty for illegal aliens since at least 2003 as reported by hotair.com from a Tuscon Citizen article…“McCain Pushes Amnesty, Guest-Worker Program,†reported the Tucson Citizen of May 29, 2003. The senator is quoted as saying: “Amnesty has to be an important part because there are people who have lived in this country for 20, 30 or 40 years, who have raised children here and pay taxes here and are not citizens. That has to be a component of it.†The newspaper also quoted McCain as saying: “I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible and at the same time make sure that we have some control over people who come in and out of this country.â€
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/01/05/video-liebs-says-mccain-did-not-support-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens/
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2007/06/017540.php
An in-depth interview in June 2007 conducted with WBT radio Charlotte, NC illustrates McCain’s lack of knowledge of the details in his own Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. His arrogance and condescending attitude to those who disagreed with him on the amnesty issue can also be heard: http://jeffkatz.wbt.com/audio.cfm;jsessionid=2e30fbce04aa6e53e62082817536929611f5TR?ID=7
During the ABC News presidential debate on January 5, 2008 McCain said: “Let me just say I’ve never supported amnesty. A few nights ago, Joe Lieberman and I had a town hall meeting together. It was a rather unusual event. The issue came up. Joe Lieberman said John McCain has never supported amnesty, and anybody says he does is a liar, he’s lying.†http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/us/politics/05text-rdebate.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1199721737-2vqWJVFzkwWyQwnxeL9Sew
One day later at the Fox News presidential forum, McCain said, “I have never, ever supported amnesty, and never willâ€.
During the Fox News presidential debate on January 10, 2008 McCain said: “I know how to secure the borders. I come from a border state where our borders are broken. More people come across our border illegally every year than most any other state. And I will secure the borders first…The remaining 12 million…we must then, in my view, address it in as humane and compassionate way as possible. The three GIs who were missing last year in action, one of them was still missing in action, his wife was about to be deported from this country. I’m not going to deport the wife of a fighting serviceman who’s missing in action. I’m going to handle it in a humane, compassionate fashion.†EARTH to McMARS; if you know how to secure the borders, why is your home state’s border still unsecured (McCain has been in Congress for 26 years, the last 22 as a Senator), so much so that more illegals come across your border than anywhere else? What have you been waiting for? Amnesty (again)? Furthermore, what does a GI wife’s situation have to do with the 20 to 36 million illegal aliens here, many of which came across those borders you know how to secure but have done nothing to secure?
http://www.thestate.com/presidential-politics/story/281821.html
His win in the SC Primary further illustrated McCain hasn’t changed his views on illegal immigration. “Actually, I didn’t change my position…†McCain told Sean Hannity on January 19 right after he was declared the winner of the SC Primary. McCain is constantly saying that conservatives opposed his plan because they didn’t trust the federal government. But that’s only partially true. They opposed the amnesty plan because they disagreed with forgiving the crimes of 20 plus million illegal aliens crashing through our borders by giving them amnesty and putting them on a special path to citizenship. Watch the video below carefully regarding the interview Sean Hannity conducted with McCain right after he was declared the winner in the SC Primary. When Hannity brings up the ‘Kennedy-McCain Comp. Immig. Reform’ bill, McCain’s arrogance flares as he starts laughing, dismisses the question with the “actually I’ve never changed my position”, babbles about he’s from a border state so he knows how to secure the borders (remember he has been in Congress for 26 years and has done nothing); then he quickly moves in another direction to avoid addressing Hannity’s question any further.
http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=07767d08-f30d-4183-9834-1be8e37b45fb
Lest we forget or if anyone is unsure as to what the definition of amnesty is, I will provide it below:
AMNESTY, in relation to immigration matters, is legislation to forgive the breaking of immigration laws and to make it possible for illegal aliens to live permanently in the United States. Amnesty represents a system of federal rewards and assistance for illegal aliens, and they entice an even greater number of foreign nationals to illegally enter a country.
AMNESTY:
1. A general pardon for offenses against a government
2. An act of forgiveness for past offenses, esp. to a class of persons as a whole
3. Forgetting or overlooking any past offense
Not only is McCain a supporter of amnesty, he is not fond of any fencing for immigration control or for security reasons. McCain said, “By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I’ll build the goddamned fence if they want it.â€[Prisoner of Conscience – Vanity Fair, February 2007: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/02/mccain200702
â€We are not going to erect barriers and fences†(June 5, 2007 CNN Republican Presidential Candidates Debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5G3kH1PvvU )
I suppose McCain has never heard of the 14-mile double-layer fence between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. Its benefits in stopping illegal entry into the U.S. were immediate and long lasting. According to a 2005 Congressional Research Service report illegal alien apprehensions along the fence region dropped from 202,000 in 1992 to 9,000 in 2004, a reduction greater than 95% ( http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200712/NAT20071219b.html )
Particularly galling is that December’s omnibus spending bill did not include the appropriations for construction of the double layer 700-mile border fence, which was passed into law just a few months earlier. Additionally, the requirement of a double-layer fence mandated by the Secure Fence Act of 2006 was removed, so if funding is ever restored, a truly effective fence being constructed is unlikely.
I’m sure if McCain was somehow elected President; one of his first official acts would be to take down the fence surrounding the White House…right John?
I think this is a timely article to share:
January 23, 2008
Why they Hate Mitt Romney
By Amy D. Goldstein
Have you noticed how all of the Republican candidates can barely conceal their contempt for Governor Mitt Romney? It goes way beyond the typical good-natured competition that usually is the hallmark of Republican contests. Senator McCain has snarled at Governor Romney in debates and Gov. Huckabee has tried to paint Romney as cold and uncaring, while Sen. Fred Thompson attacked Governor Romney right out of the box. This display of hatred usually is the hallmark of the Democrats.
So, why do the other candidates hate Mitt Romney? Several reasons:
1. He can win. Governor Romney appeals to economic conservatives and could appeal to foreign policy conservatives based upon his understanding of the issues. Most non-partisan foreign policy wonks who have briefed the major candidates tell me that Romney “gets it” better than any other candidate — even better than those who have held high profile office for decades. Moreover, he is the candidate that the Democrats most fear.
2. Jealousy — from his hair to his appearance to his family to his money – these are all reasons for deep seeded, if unseemly, jealousy. This green-eyed monster makes its appearance in almost every speech or presentation, in the form of a joke, a jab or a veiled reference.
3. He isn’t beholden to interest groups. Governor Romney’s wealth frees him from any influence that interest groups could apply to others – especially those who lack funds or who are Washington insiders. He doesn’t need them, and that scares the interest groups and their allies. He is not of the game and wants to change it – and his personal wealth allows him to do so. He really can change Washington.
4. His brains – not only is he one of the smartest people ever to seek the presidency (having earned a Harvard MBA and JD simultaneously), but he understands the complexities of the issues that America faces and is able to devise workable solutions. Just look at his proposal for an economic stimulus and compare it to what the other candidates are proposing. Romney clearly can lead this country through economic challenges.
5. His wealth — again. While he has raised more than any other candidate, Governor Romney doesn’t need to raise the money in order to continue. Nevertheless, he understands that successful candidates must have people invested in their candidacy in order to succeed. He has learned the lessons of past wealthy businessmen who make vanity runs for the White House. The other candidates have to constantly raise money in order to continue their campaigns.
6. His experience. The rest of the Republican field has been in politics in one form or another for most of their adult lives. Governor Romney came to public service after having a successful career in which he directly created jobs, saved jobs, invested in new companies and turned around failed businesses. He even fixed both the Olympics and the failing state of Massachusetts. More than any other candidate, Governor Romney’s experience is most directly applicable to the average American’s situation.
7. He believes that America’s best days are ahead of it, and not a memory. Governor Romney is a man of the future, not of the past. He sees America as a beacon of freedom for the entire world, and not a country limping toward its last days. His infectious optimism is informed by his business experience, his love of country and his family values. His can-do spirit is the antidote to defeatism masked as “straight talk” or “reality.”
8. His beliefs. When all else fails, Governor Romney’s opponents attack his religion in the hopes of sowing fear and loathing. Not only is this unseemly, but it is dangerous. We have seen this type of rhetoric before – in the 1920’s and 1930’s – from the likes of Henry Ford and Father Caughlin and others who sought to disenfranchise whole segments of the American population. Governor Romney believes in the common American faith of democracy and religious freedom, as he so eloquently stated in his speech “Faith in America.” These are the values our Founding Fathers codified in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Why do the Republican candidates hate him? Because they don’t have any answers to his challenges. They seek to undermine him by using personal attacks more worthy of a middle school playground than a presidential contest. This is politics and Washington as usual, and choosing any candidate that employs these tactics will only get us more of the same. One would hope that Americans could see beyond these base attacks and choose the candidate who is best for the country – Governor Mitt Romney.
Amy D. Goldstein is an occasional contributor to American Thinker.
Just go read Medvid he nailed it with six lies about McCain.
Finally some truth.
Conservative backlash in FL? We here in FL just selected McCain despite the predictions. I was at the debate at FAU (Boca Raton) the week before, and heard many there openly changing their minds about supporting Gov. Romney in part because of his perceived arrogance toward the other candidates, refusal to answer questions about how much money he’s poured into the campaign, etc. As to the idea that the Democrats only fear Gov. Romney, look at the poll numbers. Sen McCain is the only Republican who consistently beats both Clinton and Obama in head-to-head matchups. We could literally hand the Presidency to someone no one in the Republican Party, no matter how moderate, would want if we continue to bicker over this. Third, the idea that Gov. Romney has ‘real world’ work experience while Sen. McCain has ‘only been a politician’ is ludicrous. A career in the military is a real job, performed by those willing to sacrifice everything for their country. Gov. Romney’s ‘real’ jobs were consulting positions. He certainly did very well at them, and pulled in large fees for his work, but they are no more or less real than any other professional position. It never ceases to amaze me that a certain segment of conservatives can claim to be pro-security and pro-military, while themselves avoiding service and not promoting it in their children. I come from a long line of service members, have spent 15 years in myself, and will encourage my daughter to consider it when the time comes, as Sen. McCain has with his sons. If he’s elected, we’ll have (for the first time in 16 years) a president who actually knows what it means to be the Commander-In-Chief. Finally, I simply can not understand the vitriol over the immigration issue. Much of our economic growth and the strength of our agricultural sector depends on immigrant labor. No U.S. born citizen will take some of these positions at the wages that are affordable (picking fruit is never going to pay much no matter what). How many of those who scream about illegal immigrants depend on them in some way? It’s hypocritcal to bash McCain on this issue, and yet never propose any rational, workable solution other then send them home and build a fence.