Posted on 02/18/2008 9:31:33 AM PST by meandog
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former President George H.W. Bush urged disgruntled conservatives on Monday to rally around John McCain, calling their criticism of the Republican presidential front-runner "grossly unfair."
The father of President George W. Bush said he was annoyed by attacks within the conservative wing of the Republican Party against the Arizona senator, the all-but-certain Republican nominee to face Democrats in November election.
Many conservatives distrust McCain because of his moderate views on illegal immigration and campaign finance reform and for having originally voted against President Bush's tax cuts. Persuading them all to vote for McCain in November will be a central challenge.
"His character was forged in the crucible of war. His commitment to America is beyond any doubt," the 41st U.S. president, flanked by his wife Barbara, told a joint news conference with McCain in a Houston airport hanger.
"You know, if you've been around the track you hear these criticisms and I think they are grossly unfair. He's got a ... sound conservative record but he's not above reaching out to the other side," he said.
"So I hear these criticisms and Barbara knows I get a little bit annoyed about them frankly," he said, calling them "absurd."
The elder Bush said even former President Ronald Reagan, an icon of the conservative movement, faced attacks from the right wing of the party, citing several quotations from diaries written by Reagan in his early years in office.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Pardon me, Mr. President, but you are one of the people who has been seriously embarrassed again and again by the likes of this IDIOTIC MAN.
And George W. Bush would now what a conservative is...how?
And the one-term lipreader whines "not fair".
It is the obligation of the voter to QUESTION, AGREE or DISAGREE with the nominee. That is FAIR.
GROW UP, BUSH!
meandog - you stole my joke - UNFAIR! - UNFAIR! - Read my lips, meandog - UNFAIR!
“now” = “know”. Another senior moment...sigh.
They are unfair only if McCain would describe himself accurately as a moderate Democrat, then of course they would be unfair because that in truth, is what he is.
However, he tries to convince the right that he is a Republican and at times —gag— a conservative. On THAT basis, no Mr. Bush, criticism of McCain is most definitely NOT unfair.
Since when does disagreeing with someone equate to being “unfair”? What utter tripe!
Like father, like son... like father. Birds of a feather. Guess he does not like us conservatives throwing a monkey wrench into his New World Order Plans. This is the same George HW Bush that is pals with the Billy Clinton & co. Hey, George, read my lips: NO MORE RINOs!
Old 41 wasn’t above stabbing a few conservative principles himself, if there was anything to gain from it.
Does the Republican party have a death wish?
Also, the quote is by George H. W. Bush, not George W. Bush.
I guess the operation to take the McCain knives out of his back went ok then.
This is George H.W. Bush (41), not George W. Bush (43).
The Bush’s defending McCain makes things worse for him, not better.
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