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.
Memo To The RNC, John S. McCain, and Others Concerned.
Not one more red cent to the RNC, not one vote for John S. McCain.
AR
“McCain to Critics on Right: Calm Down”
Invisible American to McCain: BITE ME!
Bush has tried this for nearly eight years and got his ass handed to him, except when he actually goes socialist on his activities, then they let him kiss their asses. McCain will simple, if elected, after the swearing in, announce he switches party to the dimocrats.
I like that argument. Thank you.
OK Senatorm here’s my last offer; I’ll calm down when you step down.
Always a good one, and classy too! ;o)
CALM:
Can’t
Allow
Lame
McCain
Is that calm enough for you, McNasty?
Right, like we should just ignore that he supports giving amnesty to illegal immigrants who will then turn around and vote for the ‘rats who promise them all the entitlements they can grab, on the taxpayer’s dime. Great way to ensure ‘rat control in perpetuity. As Free Bird so eloquently put it, “Bite me”, McCain.
Sad to say, but isn’t that the “logic” of the RINOs? That they can screw us and we have to like it, ‘cause they’re the only game in town?
Someone’s in for a big surprise, I think . . .
McCain: Shut up, bend down and smile.
*chirp, chirp*
Frankly, I don't care how many Democrats cross-over to vote for this guy in a primary ~ they sure won't do that on election day.
He knows that.
We are screwed. I can’t believe this RINO p.o.s. is going to win the Republican nomination.
I can’t wait to see if Rush will call the number McLame is said to have given him!
How does not going near the polling place truly help all of the other truly conservative candidates who are also running for political office? A truly conservative majority in the next Congress can successfully prevent long-term socialism from really happening no matter who is the next POTUS! Staying at home will only help the political left at every political level become even more powerful throughout the U.S.!
The hatred of McCain is silly. And I have a strong suspicion that those posting here about how they will do nothing for McCain, never joined a campaign and never did anything for anybody.
How many of you worked for the Thompson campaign, or even sent him any money? Because it sure didn't show in the result. Now you post silly stuff about McCain giving his delegates to Thompson. Or McCain didn't get 50%. Well didn't Thompson top out at 13% in the most conservative state?
IMHO it is time to start a dialogue with McCain so that conservatives will have a serious voice in his administration.
SCREW YOU MCCAIN
Agreed. If he thinks the recommendations of Jamie Gorelick were something Conservatives supported he’s seriously mentally ill and should self-commit.
You know, "little things" like:
Energy Independence,
National Sovereignty,
Border Security,
the First Amendment,
and defeating Democrats.
Just sit back and take it, conservatives. 'Cause McLame is gonna ram it in deep.
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