GOP Foes Mobilize Against McCain

Washington Post: Some Members Of Republican Establishment Are Trying To Keep Arizona Senator From Getting The Nomination

(Washingtonpost.com) 
His work on behalf of mandating background checks on gun buyers at gun shows -- both in Senate legislation and for referendums in Oregon and Colorado -- won him enemies in the gun rights community.

His advocacy of legislation to combat climate change angered some business groups that not only argue against such mandates but also maintain there is no global warming.

And most recently, his support of legislation that would grant most illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship has earned him enmity from some of the staunchest conservatives in the country.

"I can tell you every single immigration activist and organization is terrified by the New Hampshire results," said Roy Beck, executive director of the self-described "immigration reduction" group NumbersUSA. "My day starts in the morning with a call from a talk radio station, and that's how the day ends. We're getting our message across, and I am taking McCain to task. It's no holds barred."

Perhaps most devastatingly, McCain's Abramoff investigation ensnared influential Republicans, uncovering e-mails that put Reed and Norquist under a harsh light.

"Call Ralph re Grover doing pass through," Abramoff wrote in an e-mail reminder to himself in 1999, a year in which Norquist moved more than $1 million in Abramoff client money to Reed and Christian anti-gambling groups.

Neither Reed nor Norquist would speak on the record for this story. Their defenders say such e-mails were taken out of context and deliberately leaked by McCain aides as revenge for their efforts to secure Bush the nomination in 2000. But the damage was done. Reed was trounced in 2006 in his bid to become the lieutenant governor of Georgia after his primary opponent hammered him on his Abramoff ties.

Now, the McCain camp expects payback. Already, Keene says, his organization is examining a loan McCain took out to keep his campaign afloat, trying to determine if it can be fodder for an attack. Immigration groups are mobilizing on talk radio and the Internet.

Other ideological foes have made their positions clear. Gun Owners of America, a smaller rival of the National Rifle Association, has gone after McCain on the Internet over his efforts to close the gun show background-check loophole.

"This year it appears he is seeking to 'come home' to the pro-gun community, but the wounds are deep and memories long," the group warns on its Web site.

Keene said, "That latent hostility is there, and if these groups have a chance to ignite it, it's not going to go away."

But the NRA has held its fire. "Some people have renaissance periods. He had his maverick period," NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said of McCain's gun-control activity. "When we make any determination, we look at a candidate's record in full, what they've done in the past, what they're saying now, what they'll do in the future."

McCain advisers do not appear worried. Unlike 2000, when surreptitious efforts to undermine the senator helped derail his insurgent campaign, 2008 lacks an establishment Republican candidate around whom McCain's adversaries can rally.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, has attacked McCain over his battles with the GOP establishment. Recently, the Romney campaign released what it called a "Top Ten List" of off-color tirades that McCain launched against Republicans, including then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Sens. John Cornyn (Tex.), Charles E. Grassley (Iowa) and Pete V. Domenici (N.M.).

Scott Reed, a Republican strategist not aligned in the 2008 presidential race, said he advised McCain not to "waste an ounce of time on these self-appointed leaders," since he has far bigger worries from his Republican opponents and from a strong Democratic field that lies in wait.

"No doubt some of the old archenemies are waiting in the weeds in South Carolina," Reed said. "But Republicans understand this election has some big stakes involved, and beating either Hillary or Obama is not going to be easy. The Republicans need someone with experience and judgment, and that's McCain's trump card."

Staff writer Paul Kane contributed to this report.

[mudrose-2009]

LOL.. Thank God is right. Either one of those goof balls would be easier for the Democrats to beat than McCain.

Posted by kansas1946

The Gutless Hag and the Loose Changer are beatable without McCain. Really.

[ov442]

President Bush''s deathstar - that would make him the Emperor and Cheney would be Darth Vader.

The rebellion would consist of the Democrats.
lol

the fact that these evil forces mobilize against mcCain a popular man, will pry antagonize more independants that would lean conservative into voting for him.

[samsel3]

We can all talk about the past, but what about now and the future ? Presently the CNP Council for National Policy is planning your future. This secretive organisation of several hundred of the richest men in the USA put Bush & Cheney in office to accomplish their global agenda. In September 2007 they met again in Salt Lake City. Cheney & Mitt Romney were keynote speakers. Romney wants their backing. The CNP wants to continue their agenda in global market control for BIG OIL & allied industry in the next election. National media outlets are owned by their members. Who will expose them? Who will stop their insanity and destruction of constitutional freedom ? Who will stop their misuse of the military to promote their global agenda ?

[kansas1946]

How people can be so blind. Thank God Thompson is surging in South Carolina (up 7 points over the weekend for a tie for second) and Romney is moving up in Michigan.
****************************************************

LOL.. Thank God is right. Either one of those goof balls would be easier for the Democrats to beat than McCain.

[abbe91]

Mccain booed in Michigan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-nVJGsTdKU

[abbe91]

"dontb1,,,,, It was our own American industrialists & Banks who supported Hitler & probably the sole reason that Auschwitz wasn''''t bombed.
Posted by j-whitman at 06:06 PM : Jan 14, 2008"

Auschwitz was too useful for making the fortune of Prescott Bush. Finally, his grandson is where he is thanks to the poor guys who died over there.

[realpatriot1]

The Republican and democratic campaigns are mirror images; as the insurgents gain on the establishment the establishment pulls out the sleaze.

Rather than taking advantage of the self-inflicted wounds of the Democrats the incompetent Republicans
will follow suit and eat their own young(or in this case old).

[Netterz]

I hope either McCain or Ron Paul wins, and takes the other as his vice all the way to the White House, and they go in an clean house, shake out the creeps and criminals, bring this country back to a great Nation, and back to basic principles it was founded on. Every time I see any of the other candidates, I see a snake in the grass, rearing its head to strike. We need leaders who are going to go in, shake it all up, stop the insanity and spending, our leadership has spun way out of control, stealing our $ and freedom more every day, to line there own pockets, and live there luxurious lives, while the rest of us are losing our jobs,homes, and lives.

[staycalm]

It seems McCain has angered all the people I can''t stand. He''s moving up on my list.

[merge98fm]

Well, speaking of age. Ron Paul is 72 now, one year older than McCain is. You think he might have the same cognitive problems as McCain would presumably suffer if he were President, or does he have more brain cells than our friend from Arizona?

[idlepugilist]

almanojodo, at least McCain would keep a focus and not be ADD like Bush. As for being divisive, I have to disagree - McCain works across the aisle, but doesn''t kiss the feet of many PAC''s. If he''s divisive with PAC''s, I''d like to see more. No matter, he''ll still lose in Nov if he''s the candidate.

[idlepugilist]

fuzzy, we understand your concern; but I believe it''s misplaced. A Republican will only win the White House this time around if there''s a deal with Satan, much like 7 years ago when Sweet and Innocent George slandered and libled McCain.

[almanojodo]

Huckabee''s fair tax system is HOGWASH! Anyone who has passed Econ 101 knows better than to fall for such "snake oil"!

[almanojodo]

Senator McCain is TOO ANGRY, TOO OLD, AND TOO DIVISIVE! The senator has some good ideas, but he is too hot tempered to trust in the oval office. I Fear McCain would lead us into WW III. His "I''ll Chase Osama to Hell" rhetoric scares me! If McCain''s ego need to "get Osama Bin Laden" takes control of the White House, we can expect another war to break out before the current one is over. But then McCain said it was fine with him if we keep troops in Iraq for fifty years, didn''t he. How would he do that? Start the draft again?? For the safety and sanity of the world, DON''T VOTE for McCain!

[idlepugilist]

God forbid the God-fearing mongers of God misinterpretations should allow John McCain to upset their crusading, Swift-boating drive to prevent all abortions/conduct all wars deemed prudent/allow the sacrifice of all indigenous people as a tangent benefit of these wars/execute all prisoners deemed unworthy by those who strive to be most God-like.
At least McCain will tell it like it is, and be willing to work across the aisle instead of being a stubborn, blinded, self-righteous, pompous toad that so many politicians de-evolve into.

[kansas1946]

So if you want to become poorer then vote for McCain, Romney, Thompson, Guiliani, Paul, Clinton, Obama, Edwards..... but if you want to become richer vote for Huckabee!
*****************************

LOL How many times have I heard that over the last forty years!

[kansas1946]

Gee, McCain is sounding better all of the time. I supported him in 2000 but lost my taste for him because he kept his nose up GWB rear for the last seven years. Also I disagree with him on Iraq. But if he is hacking off the neo-cons and the far-right whackos, then I am going to take another look.

[hypnotoad72]

That first paragraph has had me re-thinking some of my previous thoughts. The fact he''d annoy the NRA and Mr Norquist -- wow. That takes chutzpah.

Thanks for posting this article, CBS.

As for "FairTax", if the US didn''t have $9 trillion in debt, such a scheme might work. Sadly, the here and now is a bit different. Unless the gibber about the "Amero" and all that is actually for real, but if the Dollar was ditched, what would happen to countries holding our currency? As usual, I''m short on details, but Huckabee''s plan just doesn''t make sense. And I otherwise truly like the guy as a candidate.

[excoachken]

He is so old and weak, he probably won''t be able to make it all the way to November if the republicans nominate him. He is an embarrassment every time he talks. It is like the Uncle you really don''t want to have talk at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

[tibu987]

Voting for McCain or any of the other Republicans with the exception of Huckabee means business as usual. Keeping the good ole boys in power and nothing changing.
McCain, et al, are part of the Bush legacy and will continue the arrogant, self-aggrandizing, inept, porkmeisters, bottom feeders that have been in Washington too long.
Vote for change.
Vote for term limits.(2 max.)
And, Huckabee with his direct line to god is scary.
What does the Constitution say, there should be a separation of church and state.