McCain in the Lion's Den
John McCain holds a conversation in the Capitol after a luncheon with fellow Republicans in Washington today. (Reuters.)
By Jonathan Weisman
At the request of his campaign, GOP nominee-to-be John McCain will be paying a visit tomorrow to the House Republican Conference, whose members include some who have in the past said they felt physically ill at the prospects of the Arizona senator heading the ticket. McCain has done battle with the House GOP over tax cuts, embryonic stem cells, campaign finance laws, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and torture, among other issues.
The contentious relationship reached its apex in 2004 when then-House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert questioned McCain's credentials as a Republican. After McCain questioned whether Congress was asking a nation at war to sacrifice when it was cutting taxes, Hastert retorted with a bit of a non sequitur. "If you want to see the sacrifice, John McCain ought to visit our young men and women at Walter Reed and Bethesda. There's the sacrifice in this country. We're trying to make sure they have the ability to fight this war, that they have the wherewithal to be able to do it. And, at the same time, we have to react to keep this country strong."
If McCain is looking for a wet kiss from the Republican leadership when he and GOP leaders go before the cameras at the Capitol Hill Club, he might think again. House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) will not endorse him, citing his role as chairman of the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), whose rural district went heavily for former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on Feb. 5, will also decline to endorse, as will House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), who has stayed neutral since his horse, Fred Thompson, pulled up lame and limped from the track. Only the chief deputy whip, Eric Cantor of Virginia, is on the McCain team.
Boehner did offer this endorsement of sorts on CNN Sunday: "It's not that I have agreed with him on every position he's taken over the years, but when you look at his record on fiscal responsibility, you look at his record on getting rid of wasteful Washington spending, look at his record on a strong national defense and leading forward in the fight on terrorism, he's a solid conservative. But clearly he has some work to do to consolidate conservatives around the country."
Posted at 4:20 PM ET on Feb 12, 2008
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Posted by: waxtraxs | February 13, 2008 7:59 AM
After years of Bush's would-be and as-if leadership, American voters are choosing authenticity, albeit with a 24-year age gap and a world of difference in personal history and mindset.
Of all the accusations that could, and likely will, be made against John McCain and Barack Obama, the least plausible will involve calculation and deceit.
This contest of new vs. old promises to feature civility and positive attitude from both candidates, although there will certainly be Rovian low blows from third-party fringes on both sides.
Things are looking up,
http://ajliebling.blogspot.com/2008/02/mccain-obama-generation-chasm.html
Posted by: connectdots | February 13, 2008 7:49 AM
RE: "But clearly he has some work to do to consolidate conservatives around the country."
Perhaps conservatives should be consolidated into a party of their own so the republican party can represent the moderate republican majority.
I'm up to the keister with conservatives running/trying to run the Republican party.
Posted by: waltonr | February 13, 2008 7:40 AM
House Republican Conference, whose members include some who have in the past said they felt physically ill at the prospects of the Arizona senator heading the ticket.
**************** now isn't that a mature, thoughtful comment! This falls to the same level of booing someone who is speaking: Sure easier than having an intelligent discussion of the issues!
Follow these callow behaviors with blondie's profound description "that loser, drug abuseing liar Obama!" this from someone who can't even spell and you wonder why the GOP, conservatives, evangelicals and all, will be in the minority for the next few years.
Anyone out there voting for the best person to clean up the mess that will be left by Bush? Someone who will put America first and party second?
Posted by: waterbirds | February 13, 2008 6:29 AM
Regarding three major issues, I agree with Senator McCain:
If you cut (tax) income, Economics 101 says you must cut expenses (spending).
(Hence vote against tax cut that did not include spending cuts.)
A conservative believes in States rights over Federal rights wherever possible (hence no Constitutional ban on same sex marriage. This is not the same thing as endorsement of same sex marriage).
Immigration Bill: This was an attempt to have a pragmatic approach to a huge problem (and the only position on which I disagreed with the Senator, slightly). He is now on track by saying secure the borders first and then figure out what to do with the millions of illegals and their American children to bring everyone into line with the law.
Posted by: Georgetowner1 | February 13, 2008 6:09 AM
If the former speaker was serious when he said "If you want to see the sacrifice, John McCain ought to visit our young men and women at Walter Reed and Bethesda. There's the sacrifice in this country. We're trying to make sure they have the ability to fight this war, that they have the wherewithal to be able to do it. And, at the same time, we have to react to keep this country strong." I would think that Mc Cain knows a great deal more about sacrifice than Dennis Hastert, who should hang his head in shame for having made a comment like that to a genuine war hero like Mc Cain
Posted by: peter.buchanan | February 13, 2008 5:32 AM
McCain.... IF you want those with conservative values to vote for you, it is time to come clean. Please accept that you have made wrong decisions when you cast your vote in the direction of the liberal agenda. Accepting the truth and truly being sorry for errors in judgment can help at least some of us support you. You have waffled unfortunately some in your voting record. Has not the time come to waffle no more.
Posted by: jontheturtle | February 12, 2008 11:50 PM
The right wing of the Republican party has lost in the Republican primaries to the electorate that is the most receptive to them. McCain will lose to a less receptive elecorate in the general election if he adopts their extreme positions.
Posted by: esch | February 12, 2008 11:30 PM
If Obama wins the dem. nominee, I will cast my vote to McCain.
I'd rather have McCain in the White House then that loser, drug abuseing liar Obama!
Posted by: luv2Bblonde | February 12, 2008 7:56 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
luv2Bblonde: let me guess... You are a racist and another dumb blond. I bet you voted for that drug abusing lying Bush 2x.....