Former President Bush Backs McCain
Former President George H.W. Bush endorsed John McCain on Monday, a nod of approval from the Republican political dynasty's patriarch that sends a strong signal to a GOP establishment wary of the Arizona senator.
"No one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Sen. John McCain," Mr. Bush said, standing alongside the Republican nominee-in-waiting in an airport hanger. "His character was forged in the crucible of war. His commitment to America is beyond any doubt. But most importantly, he has the right values and experience to guide our nation forward at this historic moment."
McCain, in turn, said he was deeply honored by Mr. Bush's support. "I think that our effort to continue to unite the party will be enhanced dramatically by President Bush's words," he added.
Since effectively sealing the nomination when chief rival Mitt Romney dropped out, McCain has been working to convince the fickle and influential conservative base of the Republican Party to get behind his candidacy.
He's seen some progress, with several high profile Republicans from the party's establishment endorsing McCain in an effort to unite the party while Democrats continue to fight for a nominee. Still, McCain has much work to do to energize the party behind his candidacy to ensure that its people turn out this fall.
President Bush has spoken warmly of McCain, calling him a "true conservative." But he also has said that McCain might have to work harder to win over the support of the GOP's more conservative wing. Protocol demands that he not swing explicitly behind the candidate with a race still technically - and only technically - in progress.
His father's endorsement, which follows one from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is George W. Bush's brother, is a further nudge by GOP chieftains for conservative activists to get over their distaste for McCain and for rival Mike Huckabee to get out.
Without mentioning McCain's chief standing rival by name, the elder Bush suggested that he wasn't sending a signal to Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor. "I had not come here to tell any other candidate what to do," Mr. Bush said.
Still, he recalled his own defeat in the 1980 presidential race, and said: "It can take a while for any candidate to read the handwriting on the wall, and that certainly was true of me."
Mr. Bush also called criticism by the right flank that McCain is not conservative enough absurd and grossly unfair.
"He's got ... a sound conservative record, and yet he's not above reaching out to the other side," Mr. Bush said.
McCain has drawn the ire of some high-profile conservative pundits and others for what they call infractions against the party. McCain twice voted against Bush's tax cuts. He pushed a campaign finance overhaul that critics said restricted their free speech rights. And, he has worked across the aisle with Democrats on issues like an eventual path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants - heresy in the eyes of many hard-core Republicans.
As he makes the transition into a general election candidate, McCain not only must rally the party but also must try to determine how to deploy the current president, whose job approval rating is at a low point.
While still popular among Republicans, many moderates and independents have turned from the president, and Democrats already have started casting McCain's candidacy as a continuation of Bush's eight years in office.
But McCain shows little willingness to distance himself, saying: "I'd be honored to have President George Bush's support, his endorsement. And I'd be honored to be anywhere with him under any circumstances."
However, he added: "Obviously, ... any president who follows one has different views on particularly specific issues."
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "No one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Sen. John McCain," Mr. Bush said, standing alongside the Republican nominee-in-waiting in an airport hanger. "His character was forged in the crucible of war. His commitment to America is beyond any doubt. But most importantly, he has the right values and experience to guide our nation forward at this historic moment."
McCain, in turn, said he was deeply honored by Mr. Bush's support. "I think that our effort to continue to unite the party will be enhanced dramatically by President Bush's words," he added.
Since effectively sealing the nomination when chief rival Mitt Romney dropped out, McCain has been working to convince the fickle and influential conservative base of the Republican Party to get behind his candidacy.
He's seen some progress, with several high profile Republicans from the party's establishment endorsing McCain in an effort to unite the party while Democrats continue to fight for a nominee. Still, McCain has much work to do to energize the party behind his candidacy to ensure that its people turn out this fall.
President Bush has spoken warmly of McCain, calling him a "true conservative." But he also has said that McCain might have to work harder to win over the support of the GOP's more conservative wing. Protocol demands that he not swing explicitly behind the candidate with a race still technically - and only technically - in progress.
His father's endorsement, which follows one from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is George W. Bush's brother, is a further nudge by GOP chieftains for conservative activists to get over their distaste for McCain and for rival Mike Huckabee to get out.
Without mentioning McCain's chief standing rival by name, the elder Bush suggested that he wasn't sending a signal to Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor. "I had not come here to tell any other candidate what to do," Mr. Bush said.
Still, he recalled his own defeat in the 1980 presidential race, and said: "It can take a while for any candidate to read the handwriting on the wall, and that certainly was true of me."
Mr. Bush also called criticism by the right flank that McCain is not conservative enough absurd and grossly unfair.
"He's got ... a sound conservative record, and yet he's not above reaching out to the other side," Mr. Bush said.
McCain has drawn the ire of some high-profile conservative pundits and others for what they call infractions against the party. McCain twice voted against Bush's tax cuts. He pushed a campaign finance overhaul that critics said restricted their free speech rights. And, he has worked across the aisle with Democrats on issues like an eventual path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants - heresy in the eyes of many hard-core Republicans.
As he makes the transition into a general election candidate, McCain not only must rally the party but also must try to determine how to deploy the current president, whose job approval rating is at a low point.
While still popular among Republicans, many moderates and independents have turned from the president, and Democrats already have started casting McCain's candidacy as a continuation of Bush's eight years in office.
But McCain shows little willingness to distance himself, saying: "I'd be honored to have President George Bush's support, his endorsement. And I'd be honored to be anywhere with him under any circumstances."
However, he added: "Obviously, ... any president who follows one has different views on particularly specific issues."
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?pagewanted=4&hp
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol. Old tradions of Honor, Respect, Humility should not be forgotten just for the hype of change.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol. Old tradions of Honor, Respect, Humility should not be forgotten just for the hype of change.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.
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