Bob Dole, that most hated of Republicans by Republicans because he lost to the hated Clinton, came out today with the reasonable fact that McCain’s voting record is actually VERY conservative.
He showed, for example, that McCain’s voting record is a near mirror image of ex-Senator Jesse Helms. Of course, neither Limbaugh nor ABM Syndrome sufferers will address any of this.
On Monday’s show, Limbaugh asserted that McCain has “lied about his reason for opposing the Bush tax cuts,” and added: “I think McCain has an animus toward the Republican Party. I think ever since South Carolina 2000 he’s had it in for the Republican Party, and one of his objectives is to destroy it and change it.”
McCain, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has always had a shaky relationship with the party’s conservative base.
In a letter released Monday evening by McCain’s campaign, Dole strongly defended the senator’s conservative credentials, noting that his voting record is opposed to abortion and supportive of gun-owner rights.
As McCain’s campaign gained steam, Limbaugh has used the airwaves to remind listeners daily that he does not consider the senator to be a conservative.
Limbaugh has even suggested he might not vote Republican if McCain were the nominee.
A day ahead of the potentially decisive Super Tuesday primaries, Limbaugh launched new attacks on the senator during Monday’s broadcast, declaring: “John McCain has stabbed his own party in the back, I can’t tell you how many times.”
Dole wrote that as the former Senate Republican leader, he could vouch for the fact that McCain supported the party on all “critical votes.”
In a bill of particulars numbered 1 through 8, Dole wrote that McCain has a “Consistent pro-life record,” was a “Strong advocate for strict constructionist judges,” “Supported voluntary school prayer,” supported a balanced-budget amendment, was a strong advocate for cutting spending, consistently defended Second Amendment (gun-owner) rights, “opposed ‘Hillary Care,’ ” and was “Probably the Senate’s strongest advocate for strong national defense.”
Of course, unhinged McCain bashers immediately jump all over Dole (the post was edited and he took out most of the unhinged bashing of Dole, as it reads now):
Worst GOP Prez Candidate In History Supports McCain
So, with all due respect, it’s fair to say McCain looks to be attracting some real losers in terms of endorsements. I heard the letter read on the air – it re-capped many but not all of the problems people have with McCain. I see no reason to ignore those things.
Look, just because he lost the election doesn’t make him a bad person, or even a bad politician. Clinton was so scared of Dole beating him that he pulled out all the stops to get as much money in his campaign chest as possible to keep Dole from unseating him. And Clinton still was not able to get a majority vote, forced to settle for a plurality.
Would Dole have won with a level playing field and without Clinton’s dirty tricks? Who knows. But Dole, in my eyes, may be the most honorable and honest politician living to day. There’s no shame in losing an election. It certainly does absolutely nothing to damage your credibility or the worth of your opinions. There can be shame in winning, however, as the Clintons proved.
Jeez, I just wish ABMers would try to be nominally fair in their ‘pull out all the stops – smear McCain at every chance’ crusade.
Denigrating Bob Dole, who is still respected as a decent human being, was never involved in any hint of scandal, who lost use of one of his arms in the war, who served the party selflessly for many decades, but who just wasn’t up to the task of defeating one of the most venal politicians in history, is just ridiculous and unfair.
I guess, since they are default against anyone who speaks well of McCain (witness the wild attacks on Crist) and 100% behind anyone who speaks ill of him, theyd be on the side of the Weaver guy, who claims McCain is unhinged. Today’s post gave me quite a bit more respect for the Capt and actually makes me give him more credit for his backing of Romney as something more than just ABM syndrome. These posts do nothing to show the same about Riehl and his ilk.
Interestingly, Riehl immediately jumped on Crist with both feel, accusing him of only backing McCain for underhanded reasons.
Well, I guess Crist felt McCain was going to win in the end. By endorsing him, that would make him a king maker and likely VP. Apparently that was the price for his promised endorsement of Rudy. He betrayed conservatives and a friend for potential personal benefit.
Hopefully McCain loses and it also damages Crist’s in-state Tax Initiative. Crist will now be in the cross-hairs of Florida’s anti-McCain voters and pols.
Back McCain and you’ve made an enemy of Dan Riehl! Plus you’re a bad person and you look like a chimp.
Why is every political decision necessarily so devious and steeped in calculation and skullduggery? The main people carping about it seem to be the people who don’t like who Crist supported. If he had said he liked Romney for President I don’t think Dan would have dreamed up underhanded motives and subterfuge as his motivation.
Is it at all possible Crist believes McCain is the best candidate?
The big twin complaints of most conservatives about McCain, immigration and finance reform, don’t bother me, I support a fair and quick route to citizenship for anyone who wants it. I don’t see where McCain/Feingold destroyed political discourse or expression. And I’m willing to bet those 2 things won’t matter much to most independents, and the same to Democrats who just can’t stomach Hillary. Which is why, if McCain is nominated, he’ll win. Now that Rudy is gone, he’s the only Republican who can win. Knock yourself out, purist, doctrinaire conservatives backing the guy from the cult of Mormon. Romney would lose if the Democrats nominated Kuchinich, he’s that despicable to anyone who isn’t a lockstep, hard right conservative.
For every disgruntled conservative who “sits it out rather than vote for McCain” to send a message, 2 independents and a Democrat will probably vote for McCain. I don’t see many Republicans crossing the other way.