For John McCain, praise from well-known conservative proves fleeting

Pity poor John McCain.

Just when he has good reason to think he's finally made progress getting staunch conservatives to warm to him, along comes someone like Richard Viguerie to throw cold water on such notions.

Indeed, often Viguerie is precisely the conservative who tries to take McCain down a notch or two -- as happened after Tuesday night's debate.

Viguerie, a godfather of the modern conservative movement largely because he helped perfect the art of direct-mail fundraising years ago, likes to hold forth in periodic missives. Here's what he sent out after McCain squared off with Barack Obama at that town-hall forum in Nashville:

In order to win, any Republican presidential candidate must 'nationalize' the election -- make it a stark choice between liberals and conservatives, between two competing visions of government.

John McCain did not do what he needed to do. Too much of the debate was about John McCain, about his record and his service to the country. That's important, but we've heard that before.  He should have focused on a clear theme, explaining what a victory by liberal Democrats would mean in terms of weaker defense, activist judges, higher taxes, and a greater government burden on average Americans.

For John McCain, the opportunities to win this election are dwindling down to a precious few.  This was an opportunity squandered.

McCain can be excused if Viguerie's words left him nonplussed. Here's part of what the 75-year-old activist had to say in a statement on that memorable day in late August when McCain unveiled Sarah Palin as his running mate:

Congratulations to John McCain for hearing and responding to conservatives.  Conservatives, the base of the party, have been listless. But, now, nearly all will work enthusiastically for the McCain-Palin ticket. In fact, this is the most enthusiastic conservatives have been since the era for Ronald Reagan.

This is a grand-slam home run. Conservatives' feet haven't touched the ground since this announcement.

Obviously, gravity is back in play for Viguerie.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[sam hall kaplan]

Your TOP OF THE TICKET perspective is from the bottom of the barrel, the sour pickle barrel.

[JusDaFax]

John McCain is no conservative. Add his idiotic "house giveaway" ad lib in the last debate to the long list of ideas that expose Yoda (fka Luke Skywalker) as a complete whack-job.

Great House Giveaway of 2008 (crazy)
McCain-Kennedy (totally undermines legal immigration)
McCain-Feingold (incumbent protection as reform)

This Goldwater Conservative voted for Bob Barr. Wasted Vote? No way! If you want my vote you actually have to be a social liberal / fiscal conservative (fka FREEDOM).

No more compromises!

[Mike]

It is sad to consider than John McCain did not cave-in to 5 1/2 years of torture as a POW in Vietnam, but caved-in to the "agents of intolerance" like Viguerie he once had the courage to call out. Palin was chosen to win the favor of these far-right extremists whom McCain does not really agree with but has been forced to kiss their behinds. If McCain should win, it would cement the absolute power of the radical right in the Republican party and be a very sad day for our country. Moderate Republicans need to fight to bring some balance back to their party.

[John Johnson]

Viguerie is as out of touch with the electorate as his candidate. People have grown weary of ideologues spouting partisan philosophy, which only conveys a sense of inflexibility and reliance on dogma in solving complex problems that frequently involve shades of gray. One of the reasons that Obama is so popular is that he comes across as an intelligent pragmatist who has a layered understanding of the issues and no pat answers which come off as patronizing to most voters. Most people have figured out that ideology equates to polarization and, ultimately, gridlock. Time to move forward.

[James Reynolds]

Honestly, if you remove surface rhetoric they, Obama, and McCain are the same. They both support Israel, why? They both support the Federal Reserve System, why? The list goes on and on, and I am sure that if the comment is posted there are will be others that will agree. I am sure they each believe truly they are on opposite sites of a spectrum, but they are not. In fact, that is part of the joke on the peoples, and the congressman are victims as well. Ya know, they both work for the same employer, they both get paid in Federal Reserve Notes.

[olivio]

the great conservative leader richard viguerie must have been locked in a time capsule the past 8 years. he is trotting out the old party mantras built on a failed ideology of government is evil, liberals are bad. we have had katrina. we now have this economic meltdown. its a different world. while he may be right that maccains arguments and approach were weak, what he proposes would have fared even worse.

[steeve]

McCain is a hypocrite .... On Fox McCain ask for Obama to reveal his relationship with Aires so the AMERICAN PUBLIC can decide, meanwhile he spends millions covering up TROOPERGATE. He says TROOPERGATE is politically motivated. Hell, what is their motive for trying to connect Obama to Aires?

We should be asking, who is this woman who could be a heart beat away from the Presidency.

Come on McHypocrite, why not let Palin testify so the American public can decide. Hypocrite with a capital H

[SBC]

I respectfully disagree with V. in his suggeston that McCain needs to paint himself as a conservative. The fact of this race and the main reason McCain is losing is that Obama and the democrats have lead the American Public to believe that Obama is a middle of the road Moderate. They are painting McCain as being out of touch and too far right. McCain is probably the most moderate presidential candidate we have had in 50 years (maybe ever). However, the McCain campaign and the RNC... have really blown it at driving that point home.
The Perception of conservatives has been diminshed over the past 8 years. No point in going into the causes now... However, many of our ideas are the very basis of this Country's greatness.
Obama has proven to be a Master at claiming many of them despite his "most liberal" record.
Rhetoric, when used properly, can be an inspiring thing. Obama, unfortunately is a master of it... Remember Bill Clinton?
Unless we conservatives start doing a better job at explaining who we are and what we believe to the American People, we can mark this as the begining of the end.

[brkdckdwg]

MY FRIENDS WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOIN ON first i read that the national debt clock has run out of digits{are you freaking kidding me} MY FRIENDS now dont get me wrong i 'm already po" so a real down home grapes of wrath event like my great great grandpappy and grandmammy had back in the dazes MY FRIENDS would only cause me and mine a slight discomfort but MY FRIENDS just as i was about to google up the hobos guide to canning garbage bin fruits and vegetables and roadkill meals quick n ez for down on their luck dummies..WHEN MY FRIENDS THERE staring me in the face the godfather of modern day conservatism MY FRIENDS was quoted saying that which most americans who chooses to see beyond the rhetoric and misleading talking points MY FRIENDS that the mccasanova mccoconutscampaign isnt about country first MY FRIENDS{or he wouldnt have picked sara palin a woman who considers being able to see russia from her front porch as foreign policy expertise} its not about having good judgement MY FRIENDS{ if it was he wouldnt have to cover up his many mistakes by claiming he was being a maverick or his surrogates saying thats just mccasanova being a mccoconut} its not about honor MY FRIENDS {or he would have at least demonstrated that he had some or that he even knew what the word meant in his first n second debate} it's not caring about or advocating in favor of healthcare,child care or veteran issues MY FRIENDS{because after being in THE senate for over a quarter of a century his voting record would be reflective of it} and its not about experience MY FRIENDS{ because if it was he would have learned from the deregulation/ savings n loans scandals that he was apart of} and its damn sure ain't about national security or catching bin laden MY FRIENDS{ because if it was he wouldnt tell us that he knows where one of the threats to americas security is and that he and only he knows how to get him and that he'll get him but he wont tell us unless we elect him president} MY FRIENDS mccasanova mccoconut is alot of things { the vast majority of them despicable} but MY FRIENDS a one man action hero wrecking machine,IN the vein of a stallone arnold,lee,snipes or chan he's not.but MY FRIENDS it would appear that the other sides beginning to see thru the mccasanova mccoconuts facade MY FRIENDS which is why i held off my aforementioned google searches i read that the godfather of conservatism richard vig.....something or nother said that this campaign is all about mccasanova mccoconut,and his inflated ego and feeling of entitlement and MY FRIENDS that he will use any means neccesary sacrifice whatever and whoever to get elected self respect& country included MY FRIENDS at least thats how it came across to me NOW MY FRIENDS i know there are those who would ask "brk dck what does conservatives finally seeing mccasanova mccoconut as the selfish self serving self centered self righteous blowhard have to do with recesssions,grapes of wraths etc etc etc,,to which i say....MY FRIENDS wait on it wait on it wait..........on it BY GEORGE I THINK YOU'VE GOT IT

[Joe Bachofen]

Mr. Viguerie thinks Mr. McCain
"should have focused on a clear theme, explaining what a victory by liberal Democrats would mean in terms of weaker defense, activist judges, higher taxes, and a greater government burden on average Americans."

Hasn't George W. Bush already given us "weaker defense, activist judges, higher taxes, and a greater government burden on average Americans"?

OK so instead of higher taxes we got 3 trillion dollars more debt and a collapse of the global economy. That's better?

Forget Conservative, forget Liberal, just give me someone who can actually balance a budget and who actually gives a damn about the middle class.

Maybe John McCain does but all he offers is a rehash of George W. Bush policies and politics. Maybe that's what he has to do to earn the votes of his base, but it won't earn him my vote.

I'm quite happy to vote for Mr. Obama, thank you.

[roarks, Cleveland, Ohio]

Voters, beneath the surface of the controversial charges and very effective diversion of media attention, GOP voter suppression and voter caging efforts are very much underway here in Ohio and across all the swing states. There is now a genuine threat of people not being able to vote come election day with thousands of registrations thrown out, mostly from Obama's side (new registrants). We ALL need to make sure that we have our paperwork right and help ensure in our communities that people are careful with their paperwork and NOT respond to any unsolicited absentee ballots from the McCain campaign. You could lose eligibility to vote. BE WARNED...They could steal it again.

[Nicolas Martin]

Viguerie isn't all that principled himself. His blog of Sept. 24 (at conservativehq.com) was titled, "No consideration of bailout until AFTER full investigation." So, he wasn't against the bailout on principle from the get-go. Only after the public rebelled did Viguerie take a firm stand against the bailout. And in the end he's more Republican than conservative. He always comes around to supporting the Republican candidates.

[Web Smith]

It's hard to imagine that we will be able to borrow all of the money that these guys want to spend, let alone have the dollar be worth a penny if we do.

Both of these guys are offering major tax cuts. Tax cuts cost money and neither one of them has said how they're going to pay for them. Obama's tax increases on people making over $250K per year is not going to do it. This will lead to more borrowing and an increase in the national debt that will soon be $11 trillion, which will lead to inflation, which means we will all pay for the tax cuts. It doesn't matter if the tax cuts are for business or Citizens. We will pay.

This is business as usual at a time when our economy is collapsing. "Look", "my friends", this is total madness.

It's past time to stop doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results each time.

http://ewebsmith.com/self/StandUp.html