A Third Party Alternative To McCain?

Some Conservative Christian Activists Revisit Idea Of Supporting Minor Party As Alternative To GOP Front-Runner

(AP)  The same conservative Christian activist who called a meeting last fall to discuss backing a third-party candidate to counter a possible Rudy Giuliani candidacy is revisiting the idea as Sen. John McCain closes in on the Republican presidential nomination.

Bob Fischer, a South Dakota businessman and anti-abortion activist, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while he could back the Arizona senator over either Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama, he made clear that he and others in the evangelical movement are not content with those choices.

"I'll be working in other ways to see that we have additional choices as conservatives," Fischer said.

He declined to elaborate, but held out hope that Mike Huckabee might mount an improbable comeback, or that another "good conservative, Godly, Christian pro-life" GOP candidate somehow emerge to supplant McCain. The Arizona lawmaker has opposed abortion during his four terms in the Senate.

Fischer also volunteered an alternative scenario: supporting the nominee of the fledgling Constitution Party.

Although some conservative Christian activists are warming to McCain, Huckabee's success with that voting bloc in recent primaries and caucuses shows that much work remains for McCain.

Several Christian conservative leaders dismiss renewed talk of a third-party strategy, but any significant loss of conservative Christian voters could spell trouble for McCain in a close general election.

"Some of these folks might be trying to send a signal to McCain," said Mark Rozell, a political scientist at George Mason University. "There are also some people in that movement who believe McCain is hopeless. And they're not bluffing."

McCain already faces danger if conservative Christians are not energized about his candidacy, and the prospect of a third-party candidate siphoning off even a half-percentage point of McCain support could be a difference-maker, Rozell said.

Last fall, Fischer called a meeting in Salt Lake City as Christian conservative leaders attended a separate gathering of the ultra-secretive Council for National Policy, an umbrella group for the movement.

Most attendees of Fischer's meeting, including Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, agreed to support a minor-party candidate if Giuliani emerged as the Republican nominee, according to Dobson and others in attendance. Another group suggested creating a new party, but no consensus emerged, Dobson wrote in an op-ed in The New York Times.

Several Christian conservative leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Fischer has invited them to a follow-up meeting next month in New Orleans coinciding with another Council for National Policy meeting.

Fischer would not confirm nor deny a meeting, but said, "If I told you we were, I think the success of that meeting would be greatly compromised."

Mat Staver, who heads the conservative Christian legal group Liberty Counsel, said blunting McCain with a minor-party candidate has scant support because McCain is much closer to social conservatives on issues than Giuliani.

Former GOP presidential candidate and conservative Christian Gary Bauer, who endorsed McCain this week, also was dismissive: "I think the third-party idea has effectively gone the way of all bad ideas," Bauer said.

Fischer said that for large numbers of social conservatives to entertain backing McCain, he would need to reverse himself on several positions, including his support for relaxing restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. Fischer said if McCain prevails short of doing that, he and many other conservatives "will not work as hard as we could" to elect him.

He then raised the possibility of Christian conservatives lining up behind the Constitution Party, citing its conservative moral stances and ability to get on state ballots, a steeper challenge for an entirely new party.

The Constitution Party, which calls itself "completely pro-life, pro-gun, pro-American sovereignty and independence," has secured spots on about 16 state ballots and hopes to exceed 40, national field director Gary Odom said. The party has nominated founder Howard Phillips as its presidential candidate in the past and will select its candidate in April.

Said Fischer: "The Republican Party needs to remember that (the Constitution Party) will nominate a conservative. If the Republican Party wants to avoid defeat in November, they need to do the same. There are no votes to waste in this election."

[pakaal]

"the possibility of Christian conservatives lining up behind the Constitution Party"

I wonder if Christians in general would be comfortable with a party that wants the US to end all foreign relations with other countries, create a tariff system on imports that would drive prices up, get rid of the Dept. of Health and Dept. of Education, and - my personal favorite - the right of states to secede from the "united states". "We had to destroy the US in order to support the Constitution!"

Interesting political platform, but would most Christians really feel that sort of extremism is worth voting for? Maybe. Most Americans in general? Very doubtful.

[pakaal]

The Theocons can align themselves with whomever they want, it''s a free country. But if they think there''s a magic "good conservative, Godly, Christian pro-life" candidate just waiting somewhere to be found and who could then get the momentum up to first beat Huckabee (who I''d argue is the most Charismatic far-Right Evangelical out there, and the Theocon''s best chance), then McCain, followed by Obama or Hillary, have been watching too much American Idol.

Unfortunately, the Southern Baptist and Evangelical sectors on the Right sold their "silent majority" talking point too well, it encouraged folks to think that was actually true.

The fact is most folks are not in-your-face Christians here in the US, and don''t really want to force their views on everyone else. They''re probably as nervous about a "Christian first, American second" candidate as the rest of us Americans. Faith can play a part in our lives as a set of core moral beliefs, but only those at the very fringe think they''re right and everyone else is wrong and are going to Hell. The rest of us would just rather not turn America into another Theocratic government like Iran or Saudi Arabia.

[ov442]

At least the 3rd party conservatives are not hippocritically jumping on the bandwagon like so many others to support a candidate they dont want just because hes a republican.
The wagon jumpers are all about Power and greed, they dont care about their own principles because they dont mean anything.
McCain has flip flopped just as much as Romney has just to gain power and be the nominee.
Pathetic.
Voting for huckabee or ron paul shows more character.

[infidel_us]

I''m going to write in Ronald Reagan.

[taddles-2009]

I always thought Ron Paul''s views were more libertarian than Republican. Perhaps that''s what we need, a strong Libertarian party.

[david1737]

I would vote Ron Paul on third party ticket.

[taddles-2009]

"left that institutes policies that range from socialism to fascism.

Posted by mvanbiljon at 06:05 PM : Feb 14, 2008"

Based on the evidence of the past 8 years of "conservative" government that is an incredibly stupid comment. It is the right wing conservatives who have debased our Constitution by trampling on habeas corpus and the 4th amendment right of freedom from illegal search and seizure.

If you want espouse the "conservative" concepts of small government, fiscal responsibility and individual responsibility than you must by definition reject everything the Bush administration, and by extension a MccCain administration, stands for. To do otherwise labels you a hypocrite in the most strenuous way.

If you think the Bush administration has done anything but USE the Christian right and the true conservatives in this country for their own vile ends than you are a myopic fool.

[quetzal0666]

A Right Wing Evangelical Party.....
so sweet, for now, but be forewarned nothing
good ever comes out of nominating preachers to high office, eventually they will want to dictate
morality to the rest of us and the world,
they will turn this country into a Religious intolerant society,.....
they will opress free speech, trample on the Bill of Rights, and do it all in the name of God....

[Syndicate]

I would like for McCain to win this. A third party on the right would garuntee a Democratic victory. I think that if the conservatives do this they screw them selfs. Their will be a lot of people that will stop putting up with their bull$hit. We have tolerated their right wing nominations for awhile. Now its our turn. If they don''t get in line with the party then they can go to hell. However I fully support their right to commit political suicide. I kinda like Obama too.

[kansas1946]

Yea!! A third party. That is a great idea.

[natron717]

When it comes to a candidate that respects and follows the constitution, Republicans need to look no further than Ron Paul. Our worst fears may be true though: the Republican Party is turning more socialist and a lot like the Democrats.

[giantrobot2]

Mike Huckabee and Abraham Lincoln are great role models for society.

Both our courageous and caring men. Both do what is right for the country not what is right for party politics.

Lincoln wanted to abolish the atrocity of slavery. The "establishments" and "me too crowd" back then also didnt want to relinquish power.

If Lincoln was running today, the "me too crowd", "establishments" and the "media" would be giving the same cold sholder to him too as they are doing to Mike Huckabee now.

It''s a shame that American''s havent learned a lessson from that experience. We are giving a cold sholder to a man who deeply cares about all Americans like Abraham Lincoln did in 1860''s.

Romney delegates: you were let down by Mitt. He took your money $100 million and then he just gave up, he wasted your money and hard effort. Did he ever say he was sorry? He used you!!!

It''s going to come down to you, dont vote for the establishments of McCain, instead listen to what Lincoln is saying and vote for individuals who care like Mike Huckabee.

You can bring Lincoln principles back or you can allow the establishments to continue to rule you with their money and power.

Just remember, a true leader is one that "shares" his power, not "shows" his power.

[chuckie2u]

America deserves better than what has been placed on the VOTING plate. To hell with the Democrat and Republican elites, bring on a third party that will listen. Just because it has never happened does not mean it it won''t given time.

[liberalvet]

Then, I take it that you and other ''''Liberal Veterans'''' are against American sovereignty and independence? against the Second Amendment? and anti-Life?...
Posted by Prinzowhales at 12:54 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Prinz...I am all for protecting this nation and it''s sovereignty, but I am not for using that statement to wage war against other nations and people for false pretenses. As far as the second ammendment, I support it with limitations. Firearms should be controlled and registered, we are not the wild west any longer. The right to life issue is not yours to make, it is the person''s that has to make it.

[mvanbiljon]

Nikosk1, you show such ignorance when you make the statement you made earlier. If you have ever read the 25 point platform of the Nazi party you will see that they were liberal policies. If you understood fascism you would know that fascism is a left wing philosophy NOT a right wing philosophy. Go back and do your homework on Mussolini and Hitler.

It is the Christian in this country who understands freedom and it is the left that institutes policies that range from socialism to fascism. Having said that the republican party is fast becoming a socialist party as they move rapidly to the left. Oh, for a true constitutionalist such as Ron Paul to be president rather than the idiots running for office today.

[realpatriot1]

lochlan,

I''m not the political expert on the south that you are, I just live here.

The south is being "infiltrated" by Yankees, I''m one of them. One thing I''ve learned though that mauy surprize you is that the bulk of the yankees moving down here are republicans fleeing the blue states for what they think will be more conservative ground.

Most of the democrats where I live in North Carolina are locals who aren''t particularly pleased pleased with all these new Republicans.

People change and ignorant people don''t and that doesn''t just apply to consevatives and racists. The problem we have in the Democratic party today is primarily liberals who think the intolerance resides elsewhere when they are the ones who are living in the past and professing that the country won''t change when all the evidence points to the contrary.

[prinzowhales]

lochlan--I agree totally with you on McCain--he''s married into the Arizona mob...he made 32 propaganda films for the North Vietnamese as a POW--how can the Republicans abuse Jane Fonda when they have McCain as their front runner? He''s a Keating-Fiver...he said he''d be willing to keep us in Iraq for a hundred years....and his crazy "Bombbombbomb, bombbomb Iran," flippancy shows that he has no problem extending the war.

Edwards was probably best of a bad lot--I was P-O''ed at him for his failure to do due diligence on the cooked intel that came through the Senate Intelligence Committee on which he served and for my troubles got a response from his office which just gave me the standard Regime line regurgitating the Bush position as to the ''evidence''. He was either in Big Pharma''s pocket on bringing supplements further under the purview of the FDA...the same clowns who approved Vioxx which killed some 60,000 people.

[lochlan-2009]

"I don''''t look to get anything from government...and I don''''t want it getting anything from me. That is why I object to all four candidates in the Demopublican mainstream. They want me to fight, support a big government to tell me what I can do and can''''t do, be treated in a health care system of their choosing and be taxed to pay for it all...while they give the money creating powers of our government to a handful of men and manipulate the value of the unit of exchange to send jobs abroad...." I completly agree with that. Edwards was my choice as the best candidate for America but that''s not an option anymore. Obama, I think is going to have a hard time getting southern republicans to vote for him. Hillary will get them a little more easily, but I am terrified of her. She is typical power hungry D.C.. McCain is better set to pull Dems to the GOP side but I don''t like how his strings were pulled in 2004 when he was rightly talking against Bush and his policies then all of a sudden he''s endorsing him and standing on stage next to him after they racked his fingers. If they could whip him into shape then, then they can do it while he''s president.

[prinzowhales]

If anyone is interested in some political rap, I''m listening to a fellow named "Paris" doing "Sheep to the Slaughter" on the Alex Jones Show. He lays it out like it is...Just like Willie Nelson who was on in the previous segment in this replay of a show.
Go to ''guerillafunk'' and check out Paris. Some fine musicians are coming together to fight the fascism...

[prinzowhales]

lorinkundert- I will be voting for Ron Paul in the primary election in North Carolina. As Paul has decided to opt out after the primaries, I will be voting for a Third Party Candidate in November who will stand against the Demopublican Corporatists and War Pigs.