Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP

The Hill ^ | 03/28/2007 | Bob Cusack

[Hoodat]

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.

In interviews with The Hill this month, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist.

Democrats had contacted Jeffords and then-Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) in the early months of 2001 about switching parties, but in McCain’s case, they said, it was McCain’s top strategist who came to them.

At the end of their March 31, 2001 lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Bethesda, Md., Downey said Weaver asked why Democrats hadn’t asked McCain to switch parties.

Downey, a well-connected lobbyist, said he was stunned.

“You’re really wondering?” Downey said he told Weaver. “What do you mean you’re wondering?”

“Well, if the right people asked him,” Weaver said, according to Downey, adding that he responded, “The calls will be made. Who do you want?” Weaver this week said he did have lunch with Downey that spring, pointing out that he and Downey “are very good friends.”

[Hoodat]

I cannot for the live of me understand why this enemy of the GOP is actually leading the delegate race for the GOP nomination. I will be on the Convention floor in Minneapolis this summer demanding how our party could have sold us out to the dark side.

[elizabetty]

NEARLY????

I guess he stayed because he realized he could do more damage from the inside.

[tsowellfan]

No surprise

[Mr. Brightside]

And where was Romney during the Reagan years? Or during the Republican Revolution?

What has Romney done for us?

[Clintonfatigued]

Are Tom Daschle and Thomas Downey giants of credibility?

[kbennkc]

He would have lost his whole game by switching parties .

[Hoodat]

Romney? He was actually out in the business world saving companies along with their jobs. Perhaps you should take the time to read up on his past. There are hundreds of business that are alive today because of the hard work of Mitt Romney.

btw, how many people do you provide a paycheck for?

[okie01]

What has Romney done for us?

And when, exactly, did Romeny torpedo us?

[fieldmarshaldj]

"What has Romney done for us?"

Absolutely nothing !

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Judging him based upon his sponsored legislation, I find this somewhat plausible.

[elizabetty]

What does this have to do with John McCain and his hatred of Conservatives?

If Mitt Romney were never born John McCain would still have spent the last eight years PUNISHING the GOP for rejecting him in 2000.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Which is STILL better than what McCain has done for us.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Do you not hear of his murdering the MA GOP ?

[elizabetty]

Judging him based upon his sponsored legislation, I find this somewhat plausible.

John McCain has his name on more legislation with DEMOCRATS than do the two DEMOCRATS senators currently running for President.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Romney is the worst of the bunch, hands down.

[elizabetty]

And when, exactly, did Romeny torpedo us?

No point in engaging the haters. They just hate, they are incapable of rational thought.

[Vision Thing]

And where was Romney during the Reagan years? Or during the Republican Revolution?

You're far off from the topic of this thread, but if you must ask, I'll give you an answer that will bring you back in line: During the Reagan years or any other year, Romney made no deals to switch from the Republicans to your guy's democrat party. This thread is about how McCain was in serious negotiations to make such a deal.

[Mr. Brightside]

I didn’t start with all of the financial advantages of Mitt Romney, but I did employ about a dozen people this past year.

I have to make payroll every other week. How about you?

[Vision Thing]

Do you not hear of his murdering the MA GOP ?

If that's all you can hear, then I guess you cannot see mccain's murdering of the national GOP.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

I’ve worked for McCain. I disagree.