John McCain and the less-than-excited Republican base

Nearly five months after John McCain effectively locked down the Republican presidential nomination, many leaders of the religious right remain underwhelmed. A new Newsweek article asserts that McCain's candidacy has "tamped down" enthusiasm among these conservatives, "exposing fractures that make a rallying of the troops in the pews unlikely."

The recent L.A. Times/Bloomberg national poll spotlighted a pronounced "passion gap" in the presidential race, with fully 81% of Barack Obama supporters declaring themselves fired up about his candidacy and only 45% of the McCain backers feeling likewise about their man.

And here's an even more concrete sign of the difficulty McCain has been having rallying core Republicans, courtesy of a Gannett News Service story published Monday:

"Of the more than 900 Hoosiers who contributed at least $2,000 to President Bush's re-election campaign, only about 50 had contributed to the Arizona senator by the end of [May], according to a review of campaign disclosure reports...."

McCain headlines a fundraiser in Indiana today, so he'll no doubt reel in some of those heretofore reticent givers. He then heads off on a short jaunt to Colombia and Mexico (a trip that The Times' Mark Barabak, in a Sunday story, termed part of the "unusual path" McCain is pursuing in his White House bid).

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Edward Holman]

Nationally, does the rejection of neo-conservatism necessarily begat the acceptance of progressivism? What choice has John Q.? In the Right corner our choice has been of the righteous “John Brown” fundamentalists of the modern era, or the not-so-unseen hand of Neoconservatives who rely upon the “opiate of the people” as an insincere tool of governance. In the Left corner sits a toweled Progressive by default.

As the conservative, and hijacked, “Pelham 1-2-3” system train hurtles down the track, so what if the ticket puncher is a progressive? He just happens to be along for the ride, NOT the messiah of the next movement. His is merely the closest hand to the unattended deadman switch. The Republican hi-speed train is presently an unguided missile, and so is the country.

Obama will be the next President however, some guy who just fell to earth does not translate into embracement as the common good Great Society legislation, and all the collateral damage it has inflicted upon the family unit, the demobilization of the workforce, and the tribalism resulting from the abandonment of the equal protection clause.

Republicans are just paying a bitter price for acting like Democrats. What the rest of us have to suffer through is the faulty conclusion that there exists a silent, Progressive Majority. Yeah right.

[Randy Orgeron]

I am a Democrat who--prior to the primaries--would have been comfortable w/ John McCain as President because he always seemed to speak to rationality & not partisanship. I even felt that if he ran, the Democrats would have a tough time getting one of their own in office. However, the Presidential nominee John McCain is someone that I simply don't recognize. No longer a "maverick" but more like a puppet "conformist," babbling whatever tripe will please whatever group he happens to be in front of. It has become pathetic to watch him.

[Wm Tate]

Of course there's a "passion gap." Just look at the coverage Big Media is giving Obama and compare it to the coverage being given to McCain. Look at almost any news outlet, and you will see a preponderance in coverage favoring Obama by at least a 2:1 ratio.

In addition, Democrats are being told that Obama is the second coming and Republicans are being told that they have no chance in November.

A "passion gap"? What else would you expect?

-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimelikethis.us/

[Andrew Benjamin]

Perhaps the trip to Central America is part of McCain's biography tour. Will he stop by his birthplace in Panama to discuss how it is that he can be a "natural born" citizen? There are thousands of foreign born citizens who've served our country with distinction but that does not exempt them from the requirement that a citizen be "natural born." The act of Congress that allows for McCain's type of citizenship was not a constitutional amendment and therefore McCain is
American "by law" rather than "by birth."

[Rabo]

>

What makes anyone think McCain stands any real chance of getting to the White House?

The Republicans nominated McCain so they could handily lose the election. The Bush/Cheney legacy is simply a mountain of insurmountable problems for the next administration. No matter who inherits this mess, they will be faced with a Sisyphean task, attempting to repair the economic damage of the last eight years. The Democrats are being set up to lose in the long run, because the focus of blame for the hardship that is to come (put into motion by the present administration) will be shifted in four years to the sitting President. After that, the Republicans will win back the White house, and continue on their merry way, dismantling the middle class, squandering life and treasure in unjustified foreign wars - (Iraq, anyone?) - all with the goal of assuring that the country's wealth is funneled into the hands of the chosen few.

[Starryperdun]

It should not come as a surprise that many conservative are, underwhelmed with John McCain. Consider a few possible problems with this candidate:
- McCain-Finegold, one of the most unconstitutional pieces of legislation passed by Congress in recent history, most of it now overturned by the Supreme Court. But it does spotlight the mindset of McCain toward civil rights and freedom of speech. McCain would restrict both.
- Speaking of freedom of speech, witness his dealings with his supporters. At a rally in Ohio a comedian used BHO's full name....McCain, under the bus.
In North Carolina, the RNC compared the Democratic candidate to BHO's, Rev. Wright's anti-American views in an ad..... under the bus. Any Republican supporter not towing the line.....under the bus.
- On immigration, McCain's solution is to just, "LET IT BE", "don't rock the boat" and "we don't need borders". As to border patrol doing their jobs and then prosecuted for it, McCain's response, ....under the bus.
So it should come as no surprise that many consider him a less then desirable candidate and thus not worthy of support.

[keith]

I'm a lifelong GOP voter, but McCain's an idiot. If I have only have a choice between two liberals, I guess I'll vote for the one that clearly runs as a liberal. No more Swarzeneggar Republicans please.

[Robert Lewis]

The proper permits were not pulled when the McCains converted this condo into one from two condos (1105 &1106) for the roof top zero edge pool, sun deck, spa, fire pit, gas barbeque, men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, steam rooms, massage room

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