McCain's Not A Conservative, But That's OK

National Review Online: Despite The Senator's Policies, He Is Better Than Democratic Alternative

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Daniel Oliver.

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John McCain is not a conservative, but I will vote for him anyway.

After all, in 1952, conservatives, grumbling that Ohio senator Robert “Mr. Republican” Taft had not been nominated, voted for Eisenhower because he was clearly the better alternative to Adlai Stevenson. And they voted for Ike again over Stevenson in 1956.

In 1971, a Who’s Who of conservatives, including the senior editors of National Review, suspended their support of President Nixon because of both his domestic-policy failures and his tendencies in foreign policy.

In 1972, however, National Review endorsed the reelection of Nixon, describing the Democratic candidate, George McGovern, as “not something with which a grown-up superpower can play.”

Was Eisenhower a conservative? No. Nixon? No. Bush (either one)? No. McCain? No. Republicans, yes - it’s a famously big tent - and with some conservative positions. But having conservative positions is not the same as being a conservative.

What is a conservative? Essentially, someone who is temperamentally suspicious of government. That’s why conservatives argue for limited government, economic freedom, low taxes, and fewer regulations. The bumper-sticker version might be: “If in doubt, keep government out.” That demonstrates a healthy skepticism of both government’s competence (think Katrina clean-up) and its fuzzy benevolence, which generally involves toying with any activity that begins with the letters A through Z, scolding people for their behavior (and, er, persuading them to change it), or redistributing their wealth.

The skeptical view of the redistributionist function of government can be described, with apologies to William Graham Sumner, as A and B deciding how much C should give to D.

The behavior-modification efforts of government can be seen in innumerable campaigns and diktats like anti-smoking and anti-obesity crusades and campaign-financing laws.

A useful rule of thumb is: No one who voted for, or signed, the McCain-Feingold Act can be considered a conservative. Unless he recants and repents.

John McCain also opposed Bush’s tax cuts (though his vote may have been less an anti-tax-cut vote than an intemperate anti-Bush vote - but that is not good either) and he favors global-warming programs that most conservatives think are foolish and harmful (if in doubt, keep government out). And - sigh! - he favors importing prescription drugs from Canada, which is not just economic nonsense of the first order but suggests college-level economic illiteracy.

Nevertheless, McCain is clearly a Republican, with some conservative positions. He has promised to appoint judges who will interpret the law, not make it. He has promised to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. And he has promised to fight government spending, to veto any bill with earmarks, and to roll back entitlement programs-positions that, these days, it is an act of nostalgia to describe as “Republican.”

Meanwhile, Senator Barack Obama has been named the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate by National Journal. Senator Hillary Clinton can’t be far behind. Against them, Senator McCain would seem the obvious choice for conservatives. But some of them think a term or two in the political wilderness would be beneficial.

Conservatives have been here before. As National Review said in 1972, “There are those, including some of our colleagues, who believe that four years of McGovern would catalyze a recrudescent conservatism. We disagree that the chance is worth taking. McGovern is the erector set of big-think intellectuals, otherworldly dreamers, and children. Belloc warned that dangerous toys should not be given to little boys.”

Senator McCain might help his cause with conservatives if he stopped calling himself a conservative. He is damaging their brand name. And conservatives should stop, now, demanding that he be a conservative: that is not a condition precedent for being the better choice for president. Conservatives should remember that the fault McCain is not a conservative is partly their own: They have not succeeded in making conservatism the iPod in the marketplace of political philosophies.

To conservatives, John McCain sounds like the Devil. That is his fault, not theirs. He has dissed them and enjoyed it. That is not presidential, and if he does not stop he will not be president. He should make-and is making-amends, and not for his own sake, or for the conservatives’, but for the country’s.

It is time for conservatives to accept reality (accepting reality is another conservative trait); and the reality is (1) John McCain will be the Republican nominee for president and (2) he will make a far better president than the Democratic alternative.

Dangerous toys should not be given to little boys.

Or to little girls.

[doctorfixit-2009]

McCain is an economic illiterate, as is Obama. I think Hillary knows enough about economics to know that her socialist proposals are founded on cynicism. They will transfer wealth from "the rich", but not enough to really hurt,whereas the lion''s share will be carried by the not-so-rich, without them becoming suspicious. Better to let young Mr. Obama fil the role played so well by Jimmy Carter - a powerful reason for conservatives to get organized and re-take the party, or form a new one.

[guysdigdirt]

I don''''t think so, John.
Posted by quatrops

Typical lib, complain constantly about what is wrong but not a clue in he(( about what to do other than complain. Life is so terrible isn''t it richard.

[guysdigdirt]

Scolding like the snake-handling "religous right"? Fixated on gay marriage? Obsessed that someone, somewhere, might be having a good time? And speaking of redistributing wealth - check out who actually benefits from the infamous tax cuts.

***, what a bunch of lying hypocrites.
Posted by Quatermass2

It looks like you are the only moron fixated on these issues and if you really look into them you might find you are mistaken in your assumptions.

[t_paine]

I am a Conservative Candidate

When you hear this phrase, many Americans think:

Someone who has my best interests in mind.
Someone who will make sure to control government spending.
Someone who will put forth my values, about working, taking care of family, being independent.
Someone who will not tax me to spend money on people who do not deserve it.
Someone who will stay out of my personal life.
Someone who does not believe the Federal government should be involved in Big Business.

Step into 2008.When you hear that phrase, You should realize this is not 1965.

Today''s so-called %u201CNeo-conservatives%u201Dare nothing of the sort. They approach you with so-called American values, get your vote and then support values that are not American. They have destroyed our constitution and the Bill of Rights. As Americans, and you who want to be Americans, you should know that those documents are all we have that separates us from tyranny.

Listen carefully to what is being said by candidates about what they want for Americans as a society. Vote to protect your country and community from the so-called Conservatives that have betrayed your trust and do not speak for the soul and heart of this country. Life as we have known it in America is so close to disappearing from the affects of their influence. Our future will be irrevocably compromised unless there is consideration of the essence of American values in this election.

[quatermass2]

"That demonstrates a healthy skepticism of both government%u2019s competence (think Katrina clean-up)

Uh, no. Think "Invade and ocupy Iraq and Afghanistan", dimbulbs. How''s THAT working out for ya?

and its fuzzy benevolence, which generally involves toying with any activity that begins with the letters A through Z, scolding people for their behavior (and, er, persuading them to change it), or redistributing their wealth."

Scolding like the snake-handling "religous right"? Fixated on gay marriage? Obsessed that someone, somewhere, might be having a good time? And speaking of redistributing wealth - check out who actually benefits from the infamous tax cuts.

***, what a bunch of lying hypocrites.

[quatrops]

McCain said yesterday he wants an America that is "free, safe, prosperous, and proud"!

Hello ?

FREE? The "Patriot Act"? Even the lunch menu is classified by the neocons, so how can we know if we''re free or not?

SAFE? With the growth in #s of terrorists as a result of our absurd Iraq farce of a "war"?

PROSPEROUS? A recession looms and we''re "prosperous"?

PROUD? Of what? We''re the despised laughing stock of the international community. Tamzania seems to be the only country that thinks Bush and America are "just great".

I don''t think so, John.

[grumpas]

Until the Republican''s unload the fascist element in their party I will not vote for them! They are some of the most vile, self-righteous, obnoxious, hypocritical people on the planet! McCain isn''t a gram better than the nut job we have as President. It''s the same tired old policies the Republican''s have been pushing for years. I am a conservative who learned a long time ago not to vote conservative! Because one slits their own throat when they do!

[jjp735i]

John McCain is a conservative. John McCain is not a Social Conservative. There is a big differance and one that people are starting to notice.

Bush is a Social Conservative and we don''t want another morals police President. We don''t want to live under the thumb of the Social Conservative any longer. These are the same people always in the news for gay s*x, chasing after little boys, taking bribes, drug abuse, paying for male & female hookers and so on. These are the very same people who demand that you don''t.

As long as McCain is courting the Social Conservatives, he does not get my vote. No matter what type of conservative he is.

[kevboom]

Thought some of you folks interested in McCain not being a "conservative" might also be interested in this article on changes needed in the GOP:
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A176339

[skyk-2009]

I listened to McCain last night after he was given the win in Wisconsin. I couldn''t believe my ears. This sad old man was standing there just going over, line by line, the same tired old trash we''ve been hearing now for 30 years. You all know the lines.. we will cut the taxes for the rich, they will then create all those great paying jobs that we will train you to do. We will fix Social Security AND we''ll make Health Care more accessable to the few who don''t have it. The ONLY exception was he would continue the War against Islam... NO mention as to how he would pay for that either. John, you need to visit us in the NOW and TODAY. Those Jobs? They were a LIE, the Rich guys EXPORTED alright, EXPORTED AMERICAN JOBS! The ONLY growth we''ve had to speak of has been that. Social Security has been totally consumned by the debt and DEFICIT which are at RECORD levels. Balance the Budget? He never even MENTIONED the fact that they HAD a balanced budget when they took over 7 years ago, but he''s going to balance it? LOL Folks anyone who votes for people like this deserve to continue to slide into third world status.