GOP Campaign Shifts Focus To Social Issues

CBS Evening News: Social Conservatives Find New Champion In Sarah Palin

(CBS)  Remember when the war and the economy were supposed to be the "big issues" in the presidential race? Not so fast.

CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts spoke with three Republican women this week. He asked, "Raise your hand if you consider yourself a 'values voter.'"

All three raised a hand.

The three women, all delegates from key swing state Colorado, like countless social conservatives across the country see a new champion in Sarah Palin.

"Show of hands if you were excited about John McCain before he picked Gov. Palin," Pitts asked.

Only one woman raised her hand slightly.

"And now?"

All raised a hand.

"People that were moderately interested before and wanted to vote against Obama are now rock solid," said Kendal Unruh, a socially conservative Republican.

For McCain, that enthusiasm could be vital.

According to the latest CBS News poll, 67 percent of Sen. Barack Obama's supporters say they're enthusiastic about their candidate, versus 25 percent of Sen. John McCain voters.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says the selection of Palin could be a game-changer.

"The social conservative base is energized now as I don't think it has been since Ronald Reagan," Gingrich said.

With Republicans pushing "values issues," the Obama campaign is pushing back, escalating the battle in a new radio ad claiming: "As president, John McCain will make abortion illegal. We can't let John McCain take away our right to choose."

While a poll of RNC delegates shows more than 70 percent think abortion should not be allowed, except in cases of incest, rape or to save a woman's life, many in the party say they will not win on that issue alone.

"What I'm uncomfortable with is something I think America is uncomfortable with is how divisive things have gotten," said moderate Republican Kellie Ferguson.

But there are some in the party who welcome that with Gov. Palin?

"I know and I think it's a small faction, and I think trying to win on that issue alone and trying to win through divisive tactics is gonna ultimately hurt us," Ferguson said.

[morris61]

Shifting their focus to Social Issues??Does the writer of this article know anymore good jokes??In case you run out of jokes to tell,lets try infrastructure and Social Security jokes next week.

[starleo146]

How dare she say the media is riding her pretty hard, If she can''t take the heat get out of the kitchen. Look what they are doing today on the news, any thing asked 2 republicans to answer to 1 democrat guess how much voice the democrat has? This country has gone absolutely MAD

[starleo146]

Did you notice what was going on outside the RNC that is only a taste of what the American people will do I am afraid, if they pander with the voting machines, and they get elected, it would be a disaster to this country, and I think the American people will say ENOUGH. YOU SEE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SUNK SO LOW TO GET ALL THEY WANT WITH NO THOUGHT TO THE MIDDLE CLASS BUT IT IS OUR POCKET BOOKS NOW AND WE DO NOT LIKE BEING BROKE. We fought hard to get these rights only to watch them go one by one all for the love of oil. We know why you got the oil and gas commissioner for VP for sure now.

[starleo146]

What about 10 billion a month in Iraq, I didn''t hear a thing about that, when Iraq has billions in the bank. Yea just skip over all the things that mean something. When Mc Bush sings his song tonight, watch the rhetoric on keep it the same as Bush. You will not hear Bush''s name once in his speech you watch even though he continues on his path

[armydog2]

we have bigger problems to solve like our f@cked up economy bin laden still out there a huge debt created by "conservatives" billions being spent on a war based on lies and greed. and the gop soccer mom palin full of hatred and her so called christian values wants to be the vp of our country. This woman says hell no to that.

[misha128-2009]

GOP Campaign Shifts Focus To Social Issues

Where they can tiptoe through the minefield they chose to create with years of politic agendas that trespassed into private lives, while claiming those that point out their transgressions are either sexist or uncaring arrogant brutes. There is a saying about those who live by the sword; die by the sword. I believe the Republicans either have a choice to renounce their policies that trespass into personal lives or to feel the rath of their own creation. In this I hope the children are spared the brunt of the assault that their hypocritical parents and associates so richly deserve. As they were so arrogantly and self-righteously willing to cast upon others in the past.

[misha128-2009]

What is worse is even President Bush finds coordination with Senator McCain unnecessary; how many times has Senator McCain been the last man out when it comes to policy changes in the US War effort.

Let''s see there was his being the last to call for additional troops in Afghanistan. Despite two attempts his sources for new troops either do not exist (US) or are not offered for use (NATO). Recently compounded by rumors at least that General David Petraeus want''s to suspend the Iraqi withdrawals temporarily. There is McCain celebrating his birthday eating cake with Bush all over again, while the generals in Afghanistan await troop increases just like the victims of New Orleans awaited assistance after Katrina.

Then there is Bush negotiating the time line of failure while McCain continued to hold the line against time lines.

Bush is now attacking into Pakistan while McCain is only willing to chase Bin Laden to the Gates of Hell provided Pakistan is not on the route.

[misha128-2009]

War and trespass into others personal lives are those the only two things the Republicans feel safe and qualified to address.

Did they ever consider the ugliest attacks against Gov Palin come from their own attempts to trespass into the personal lives of US citizens? These same attacks Republicans have made campaign issues and public rallying cries for years are now the reasons they cry sexism.

Cindy McCain claims she was insulted because John was asked how many houses he owned. Where was she and John four years ago when the same was asked of Senator Kerry?

John McCain was outraged by false references about his children in 2000, yet he is willing to hire one of the creators of that attack this year to perpetuate the underhanded politics he condemned only 8 years ago. He has hired numerous other members of the Bush election team that were part of the mechanism that issued those previously disreputable attacks according to the 2000 Senator McCain.

The Bush tactics are will continue into another Bush Presidency where John McCain is being lead around by President Bush and Sara Palin is being scripted by President Bush.

[callurfears]

If you want a fundamentalist preacher for V.P. - vote Palin.

[kansas1946]

GOP Campaign Shifts Focus To Social Issues
********************************************

Good. Now the Republicans can get back to bashing g a y s, and telling everyone else what to do with their bodies, their families, and their education, while having affairs, lying, cheating, and supporting GWB''s evil administration. Quite a group.

[calman5]

GOP said they like to give you a OWNER SOCIETY.
NO ISSUES at all here -- That is your own problem if you have no health care, no food, no home, etc... but we will give you anti-abortion and other stuffs from radical conservative... for your own good.

[calman5]

GOPers predicted Doomday for McCain--
He didn%u2019t choose the best woman for GOP Veep __
Hot Mic in St Paul ---ABC News_It seems that Republicans Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy were caught in a bit of unguarded conversation today and someone posted the moment to YouTube.___
((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG8w4bb3kg))
---Noonan, a former speechwriter to Ronald Reagan and a Wall Street Journal columnist, and Murphy, a longtime GOP campaign strategist, had been guests on MSNBC when host Chuck Todd breaks for a commercial. The camera cuts to a wideshot, but the audio continues for another couple of minutes, as the GOPers debate the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain%u2019s running mate, including:
Murphy: It''s not going to work.
Noonan: It''s over.
Murphy: But still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.
Todd: I think this was insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson... She%u2019s never looked comfortable with this.
Murphy: they%u2019re all bummed out
Todd: I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?
Noonan: The most qualified? No. I would think they went for the, excuse me, political bulls**t about narratives...
Noonan: Every time Republicans do that, because that''s not where they live and it''s not what they''re good at, they blow it.
Murphy: You know what''s really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism and this is cynical

[armydog2]

we have bigger problems in this Country like our economy that is in the pooper a war that has cost us dearly in lives and revenue, bin laden who will attack us again cause bush focused his attention on Iraq, our infrastructure is falling apart, unemployment is high, foreclosures are rampant. Lot more serious issues than abortion and homose-uality.they still have no chance to win.

[warmonger247]

GOP Campaign Shifts Focus To Social Issues

OH LIKE PREGNANT TEENS?

[apostasyusa]

A man with her limited biography would clearly never have been considered. I think it will be difficult for Republicans to make any substantial arguments against affirmative action after this pick. Affirmative action not for individual uplift but as desperate political maneuvering is a cynical betrayal of principals to gain power.

One question - and please answer honestly:

Were Palin a man, would McCain have picked her?

Point made. McCain''s desperate selection just solidifies my original prediction... Obama by a landslide.

Not that I have anything against Palin, whoever she is, but, rather, McCain knows he is on the downslide, and had to gamble. I would have more respect for McCain if he selected Tom Ridge (I thought FOR SURE he would have picked him). Yes, McCain would have had a slight problem because Ridge ran as a pro-choice Republican candidate for Governor of PA (which he won). But Ridge would have at least given McCain a chance in PA, a key battleground state. Plus Ridge was the first Secretary of Homeland Security.

Congratulations President Obama!

This is as good a pick as Harriet Meirs was...

[mandaric-2009]

I said immediately when Palin was announced that the Republicans were going to turn this election into a referendum on abortion. Otherwise, they had no chance.