Posted on 02/06/2008 10:46:00 AM PST by Froufrou
Republican John McCain, buoyed by Super Tuesday wins that pushed him closer to the nomination, told his conservative critics Wednesday to dial back the animosity and focus on issues where they agree.
"I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there's areas we can agree on," McCain said at a news conference in a Phoenix airport hangar.
Reinforced by Tuesday's returns as the front-runner in the Republican race for president, the Arizona senator took a break from campaigning to return to Washington, where he planned to speak to a gathering of conservatives Thursday.
"I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there's areas we can agree on," McCain said.
He was talking about well-known talk radio figures and commentators, such as Rush Limbaugh, some of whom are talking about boycotting McCain's candidacy if he captures the nomination.
"I think they've made their case against me pretty eloquently, and I think the majority of Republicans across the board have stated their view," McCain said.
He said he has no plans to reach out personally to Limbaugh, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson or others but would let his message speak for him
"Our message will be that we all share common principles, common conservative principles, and we should coalesce around those issues in which we are in agreement and I hope respectfully disagree on a few specific issues there's disagreement on," McCain said.
Dobson released a statement Tuesday saying: "I am convinced Senator McCain is not a conservative, and in fact has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are." Conservative author and commentator Ann Coulter has said she'd vote and campaign for Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton if McCain is the GOP nominee. Limbaugh has said a McCain nomination would destroy the Republican party.
Some conservatives object to McCain's positions on immigration and campaign finance reform, among other issues. They consider his immigration proposals equivalent to amnesty and his efforts to limit money in politics a violation of free speech. On those issues, McCain joined with liberal Democratic Sens. Edward Kennedy and Russell Feingold, respectively.
McCain defended his efforts to reach beyond the Republican party.
"One thing I'm convinced of, without a doubt, is that conservatives are glad when Joe Lieberman and I worked together in establishing the 9/11 Commission and then moved and got many of their recommendations into law," McCain said.
Sen. Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic presidential nominee who now is an independent from Connecticut, has been campaigning with McCain and appeared with him at the news conference.
McCain said he would return to campaigning Thursday, because "I think we've got to try to wrap this thing up as quickly as possible." There are GOP contests Saturday in Louisiana and Kansas and Tuesday in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
He took a break from campaigning to return Wednesday to Congress, where the Senate was voting on a $200 billion economic aid package aimed at avoiding a recession.
Democratic presidential rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, still locked in a tight struggle, also were returning to the Senate.
On the campaign trail, McCain has promised he will offer specific proposals to help the economy recover.
The issue is important for McCain, because rival Mitt Romney has attacked his economic qualifications. But on Tuesday, McCain had an advantage among voters who said the economy was their top concern.
"I think every day that goes by and Congress does not act on a stimulus package, I think is not helpful," McCain said. "If I had written that package, it would've been somewhat different, but we need to send a signal to the markets and the American economy that we're trying to do some things in their behalf."
McCain has won more than twice as many delegates as either Romney or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. But after victories in the West for Romney and in the South for Huckabee, the two rivals insisted they would stay in the race.
Mcnut:Have you ever heard of a third party vote,if not you hear it now.
McCain’s comments towards conservatives continues to make me even MORE ANGRY at John McCain!
That picture hiredhand posted is the best! The one showing him arguing with himself about Roe V. Wade. Against, but relying on the SCOTUS to defy their stare decisis stance?!
Incredible. Just as he is. In [sert word here] credible!
Not one dime, not one phone call in support of McCain.
Will I “vote for” him in November? Probably, in hopes of avoiding HillObama’s SCOTUS picks.
But I know lots of other conservatives will be staying home or voting 3d party, making the likelihood of HillObama much worse.
ya beat me by 22 seconds...22 seconds...
Not me.
I'm one of those who's prepared to vote for McCain if I have to, but he has to understand that his position on "climate change" is a disaster for America and will directly and adversely affect my life, along with everyone else's. I can't be "respectful" of politically-motivated pseudoscience.
Hey McQueeg! I've never been more at ease, more calm, in my life, knowing there's no way in Hades that you're getting my vote.
Hope your presentation at CPAC is well-received.
I’m just never voting for McCain.
PS It’s interesting how my vote for someone other than McCain is deemed by some a vote for Hillary or Obama. That would be true, mathematically and logically, only if the Republican party takes the votes of me and many like me for granted - that I’ll vote for anything as long as it has an R next to the name.
Suffice it to say that that assumption is not true.
Wonderfully stated. Many thanks!
I am a strong conservative. I am an Arizona resident who wants to end illegal immigration, reduce taxes and limit government spending. I am less passionate about the legislative side of social conservatism but believe very strongly that the courts must not promote liberal social policy. If the choices in November come down to McCain, Clinton, or Obama, I would prefer that it be a Democrat who undermines my values and convictions. There is however, one personal reason why I would have to vote for McCain. My youngest son has four years left to serve in the United States Air Force. Although I believe McCain is erratic and unpredictable, I know what the Clinton/Obama/Liberal view of the military is.
That's rich, coming from 'ol "Twitch."
Let’s see who endorsed McCain:
Arnold
The NYT
Republicans for Choice
Feingold
Kennedy
Bob Dole
LA Times
Barbara Streisand
Tim Robbins
Vladimir Putin
Rudy Giuliani
I rest my case.
“I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there’s areas we can agree on,” McCain said.”
Like what area of our back is most sensitive to the McCain dagger???
Coulter is right - he will never change.
Captain McQueeg telling me to “calm down” is like Curly Howard telling me to “smarten up”.
I know what you mean. but on top of that, I just do not think he is qualified, character-wise, to be president.
It’s not just that he’s not my first choice, or liberal on some issues.
I think it would be harmful to the country to have this man as president.
The MSM will go into overdrive to make this case also, as soon as McCain has the nomination and it’s too late to do anything about it.
What a condescending sob.
A lot of issues we can agree on? LOL. It will be bitter sweet but nice to watch your presidential aspirations go down in flames come November.
Powder..patch..ball FIRE!
I can’t post my response to mr. McInsane. I’d get banned.
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