RICHARDSON, Texas - Republican candidate John McCain has had trouble winning over some of his party’s conservatives, who suspect that deep down he’s not one of them. On Thursday, McCain may have confirmed their suspicions with a slip of the tongue.
“I’m a proud conservative, liberal Republic…,” McCain said before catching himself.
“Conservative Republican,” he said deliberately, as the crowd at a brand-new Texas Instruments manufacturing plant laughed. “Hello, easy there. Let me say this: I am a proud conservative Republican, and both of my likely opponents today are liberal Democrats.”
The Arizona senator had another gaffe later on when he described how he will take on the eventual Democratic nominee.
“It’ll be dispirited,” he said. “It’ll be spirited. Because there are stark differences.”
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage
Photo credit: REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (McCain takes a question at Texas Instruments on Thursday)
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I think the funny thing is that there are actually people who believe that Republicans and Democrats are polar opposites. Really people, are you naive enough to think there will be a significant difference depending on whether McCain or Obama is elected?
Welcome to the soup lines, my friends.
- Posted by JerretMcCain is another of those “say what they want to hear” fellows. Who can trust that?
I am ABSOLUTELY voting for Huckabee. If Huckabee runs as an independent, I am voting for him. If Huckabee is on any ticket, I am voting there.
- Posted by Robert AvilaI am a tagless voter.
I will vote for Ron Paul as a Republican in my state’s primary. If Ron Paul secures the Republican nomination, I will vote for Ron Paul as a Republican president.
If McCain gets the Republican nomination, I will vote for Obama as a democrat, to keep McCain out of the Oval Office.
- Posted by dom youngrossActually, I think McCain got it right the first, on both counts.
- Posted by marybMcCain, the Straight Talk Turtle said we should be in Iraq for 100 years, long after his own great grandchildren would be dead.
And why? Because there is Al Queda in Iraq. And he would plan to go Al Queda them wherever they are.
Then why has he not mentioned Algeria, the birthplace of terrorism? They have Al Queda in the Maghreb in Algeria now in addition to the GIA and GSPC. Yes, the same Al Queda who bombed NYC and the Pentagon.
Is he confirming we are in Iraq, getting Americans killed and maimed just for oil? Seems to be the same reason we keep threatening Iran. Is his cowardly side showing in not mentioning the DPRK with its nukes and missiles?
- Posted by C. JosefovichI’m not too surprised by these gaffes. McCain has done it before in debates earlier this year. Its nothing to worry about. He’s just showing his age.
- Posted by BruceHay all you “Republicans” out there, I think it Was 1980 when Fascist started calling themselves Republicans and neo-con’s- try reading Lou Dobbs’s WAR ON THE MIDDLE CLASS, to see what a REAL Republican has to say, so stop calling yourselves one thing, when you, and your “values” are CLEARLY Showing something else, and that something else, is being a Fascist.
Other then that, the REAL reason you Fascist don’t like John Mcain , is bacause he’s not right wing enough, you people wont be happy till you get somebody like Mussolini in office, and the closest you ever got to that S.O.B, was with that other S.O.B Fascist, Reagan.
Before last week,I used to think that ALL Republicans (with the exception of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt) were evil, not so, bacause after reading the above mentioned book, after seeing what a good person he was, and having my faith in humanaty restored, (I diden’t even know that Mr. Dobbs was a Republican)I now see what a large part of the probelm is, many people (in the media and other wise) running around calling themselves Republicans and or conservatives when in fact, due to there so called “values” they are not. I now belive that Republicans of old- like Theodre Roosevelt- would have called people like Ronald Reagan, and anybody else with the same “values” what they really are, a Fascist.
And if we EVER get a Republican with “values” like Lou Dobbs, to run for office hell I might even vote for them.
And voting for a republican, was something I thought I’de never say.
- Posted by SteveWell,
- Posted by JGWe know that that the Democrats are Gun-grabbers by nature, and now the so called Republican Conservitive???? Nominee is a Gun-Grabber..
None of these candidate’s oath to the Constitution means anything to them.
All are liberals, what ever they want to call themselves, NeoCon, Progressive..Same animal, just Wolves in Sheeps clothing undermining the American way of life.
I am going to go support the Ron Paul Revolutionaries..I want my country back.
True conservatives vote with the Libertarian Party.
Why? Republicans have never been fiscally conservative — they only tout themselves to be so. Deficit spending, to me, is NOT a “Conservative Value”. Moreover, the Republican administrations that have continued to steer tax breaks to their rich friends (against free market principles) rather than giving fair tax breaks to ALL Americans — all while increasing federal bureaucracy, which makes future tax reductions impossible. This reckless fiscal policy runs directly opposite to true conservative principles.
Change is drastically needed, and since the Republicans are lacking a Theodore Roosevelt to cut through the mire of their own making, it is time to give 3rd party candidates serious consideration. Or, as some friends of mine have already admitted, support a Washington outsider like Obama or Nader who at least are minimally influenced by corrupt lobbyists. Send an honest man to the White House for once.
- Posted by AnthonyI agree with Wayne. McCain is showing his age. Getting tired. Can’t keep his rational mind in control. His feelings and unconscious beliefs come out.
- Posted by David WelshDave
McCain is a Gun-Grabber
SPRINGFIELD, Va., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being issued by the Gun Owners of America:
“John McCain has actively worked against the Second Amendment and self-defense during his time in Congress. He also has been a spokesman for gun grabbers during state initiative campaigns,” said the three top officers of Gun Owners of America - Founder and Chairman Sen. H. L. Richardson (ret.), Vice-Chairman Tim Macy and Executive Director Larry Pratt.
“John McCain’s so-called ‘Straight Talk Express’ will derail if he attempts to con gun owners into thinking that he is really their man. If he had wanted the support of gun owners, and conservatives in general, McCain should have thought about that before chalking up his long string of unacceptable votes and initiatives.
“Gun Owners of America urge the conservatives gathering this week in Washington, D.C. for the CPAC 2008 to remember that John McCain is no conservative. He worked with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) for amnesty for illegal aliens. He worked with Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) for protecting incumbents by gagging political speech. He voted against President Bush’s tax cuts, although now Senator ‘Straight Talk’ says that he is for making them permanent. He supported Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) when his presidential bid was beached by the Swift Boat Veterans. He even explored running with Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.
“He appeared in radio and TV ads in Colorado and Oregon on the behalf of an anti-gun group, in an attempt to cripple gun shows and register gun buyers.
“Conservatives should not support John McCain for president. It is for sure that gun owners will remember who has burned them and undermined the Second Amendment,” concluded the GOA officers.
Gun Owners of America
- Posted by JGI find it humorous when liberal Republicans (especially politicians) add the ‘conservative tag’ to themselves when they describe what party they belong to, as if it raises themselves to a higher rank within the party.
Then they go out and ‘out-liberal’ the liberal Democrats. This, I find sad.
And to think that there are different degrees of a conservative (He’s an ultra conservative. He’s a moderate conservative. He’s less conservative than the other guy.)
OK, so: ‘If you don’t agree on the legalization of abortion and you also don’t support the rule-of-law, then you are a brown belt conservative’. ‘If you don’t agree on the legalization of abortion and you believe in lower taxes and less government, then you are a black belt conservative’. NO, you are either conservative or you are NOT conservative. There are no levels or belts.
If a Republican enjoys adding the ‘conservative tag’ to their party identification, then they should also be ‘walking the walk’ at the same time.
Or, are we saying If you are a Republican - you are a conservative, and if you are a Democrat - you are a liberal? If so, I feel a draft Michael, so close your door, unless you are leaving.
- Posted by LexMcCain is a war monger that supports liberal domestic policies. He is George Bush on steroids.
- Posted by truthseekerThe use of the term Ultra-conservative indicates a Left biased mindset. Just as the media characterizes Leftist-Socialists as Moderates and Conservatives as Ultra-conservative and Neo-Cons.
McCain is the pending nominee of the GOP. He is a true Conservative when it comes to Defense policy, and well versed in that area. However he has a very mixed record for economics and social issues. On illegal immigration he is totally out of sync with the Party’s and the Country’s rank and file.
Bottom line, he is all too often a RINO, but he’s still world’s better than Hillary or Barack. The party needs to get behind him to prevent a far Left take over that will leave this nation weaker than ever in recent history and extremely vulnerable economically, militarily and socially.
Obama has the #1 most liberal voting record in Congress — that should qualify him as a member of the extreme Left; by comparison McCain is a Moderate Conservative.
- Posted by Right is right…and, I might add …. never before in our Great History of American Democracy has a political party turned, cannabalized and censored one of it’s own as they did 10 term Republican Congressman Ron Paul, our Greatest Statesmen since Thomas Jefferson, and then decide for all America the message we would hear and the messenger we would be allowed to vote for. This has been the most deliberate, orchestrated, and pre-ordained circus parade of all time & quite frankly, smells to high heaven. Hopefully, what remains of our “Party” will, once and forall, cave in on itself so that “We The People” can once again, come out of the ashes to re-claim what was once … the “Cream of the Crop”, the “Best of the Best”, the “Grand Old Party”. May the rest of you rest in peace!
- Posted by ricknhouston“Michael” wrote:
“It’s time for our Ultra conservative brethren to clearly understand that they are not and never have been the only elephant under the REPUBLICAN tent. If they can’t get on-board the Straight Talk Express at the convention, then perhaps it is time they find another tent…”
My thoughts exactly Michael — very well said, and a very eloquent post throughout. Personally I am a registered republican, but for full disclosure I was a republican-leaning independent my entire life, and only registered republican in 2000 out of frustration, so I could vote for McCain in the NY primary. In my opinion, the two party system, particularly the primary process, is laughably inadequate as a representative democracy.
The following article, which I will quote from, provides a brilliant analysis of the true political positions of the majority of Americans: http://www.independentnation.org/moderat e_majority.htm
“Fifty percent of the electorate defines itself as moderate. 66 percent of American voters “favor solutions that come from the political center,” rather than the political right (13%) or left (8%)…”
“…the will of the majority of the American public is divided, and thus diluted, as more partisan voices devote themselves to the maintenance of their party’s apparatus. As a result, partisan political professionals have more than their share of influence over the selection of their party’s candidates and platform despite the fact that they are out of touch with mainstream American opinion…”
I think it’s high time the extreme wings of both parties are prevented from dominating the election process. I am thrilled that enough republicans have come to their senses and allowed McCain to get the Republican nomination. I believe he will win the general election with or without the extreme right wing, on the strength of his appeal to the sensible majority of Americans.
- Posted by Danielhe’s a good man, and an independent THINK/er and if he wins he will sternly EDUCATE the Republican Party… and after so many years of the Party letting the likes of James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Limbaugh and Hannity and Bortz and Dr. Laura and Michael Medved do their framework thinking for them, it’s about time!
- Posted by mattthe Repulican Party will NEVER, EVER be the same outmoded jackboot-wearing machine it’s been under the thumbs of these armchair politicos.
Michael: Spoken like a true Democrat. Remember what Ronald Regan said when asked why he switched parties, “I didn’t leave the Democratic party, they left me”. John McCain could care less about the Republican party. In fact he has consistantly shown distain for it and it’s consertive base. I am not as you call it an Ultra Consertive. I think people should have to work for their money and get to keep most of it. I think that we should decide who comes to this country and if you break the rules, you should go to the back of the line and not the front. I believe that in several more years if things keep going the way they are, that there will be a vote on our national language but it won’t be English. If you want a vision into the future, take a look at France and the problems they are having because they didn’t control their borders and their creation of a welfare state. We really have no choices in this election.
- Posted by Eric“patriots of American Democracy”…
How about Patriots of the American Republic?
It’s sad when citizens don’t even know what form of government we are supposed to have. And then sanctimoniously pontificate upon their error.
I believe a LOL is in order
One may want to quote the framers of the constitution and founders of our REPUBLIC… they knew a little more about OUR form of Government than Reagan or the Ultra Liberal, “I proudly co-sponsor Constitution destroying bills with Ted (the drunken Murderer) Kennedy” John McShame!
bedrock fundamentals of our Democracy?
How about the bedrock fundamentals of Russia’s Democracy? Yeah… That fits better!
Rockwell
- Posted by GeorgeRepublicans need to wake up to the fact that McCain is not a Republican, he is a RINO.
- Posted by PeteThe only difference between him and the Democrats who he usually sides with, is War, War, and more War.
The most important issue is the Economy, and he is clueless.
I doubt he hs any chance of beating the Democrat in the General Election. The man is an Idiot, and they will chew him up in debate.
Sadly he has been pushed on us despite his record.