The battle between John McCain and conservative “pundits” in talk radio and other media rages on. Now Bob Dole has written Rush Limbaugh to argue that McCain is, well, conservative. Dole laid it out for Limbaugh thusly:
In a bill of particulars numbered 1 through 8, Dole wrote that McCain has a “Consistent pro-life record,” was a “Strong advocate for strict constructionist judges,” “Supported voluntary school prayer,” supported a balanced-budget amendment, was a strong advocate for cutting spending, consistently defended Second Amendment (gun-owner) rights, “opposed ‘Hillary Care,’ ” and was “Probably the Senate’s strongest advocate for strong national defense.”
Dole, who revealed he wore McCain’s P.O.W. bracelet (??), used this comparison to sway Limbaugh:
Dole adds a table from the Senate Library showing that McCain’s voting record — as measured by support for the president — mirrored that of the ultra- conservative former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.).
As most of you probably know by now, Limbaugh has been on the warpath against McCain, hoping to derail this McCain Train to the nomination. Limbaugh has said McCain “lied” and “stabbed” the GOP in the back repeatedly. He went so far as to suggested that, if McCain was the nominee, he would rather the Democrats win the Presidency than Republicans suffer the consequences of a McCain tenure.
Mitt Romney has apparently become the default choice of many conservative Republicans. Limbaugh has made his position clear:
After McCain won the New Hampshire primary last month, Limbaugh served notice that if either McCain or former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee got the nomination, “it’s going to destroy the Republican Party. It’s going to change it forever.”
Others also have staked out an anti-McCain position:
Laura Ingraham endorsed Mitt Romney last week, saying, “There is no way in hell I could pull the lever for John McCain.” Sean Hannity, who also endorsed the former Massachusetts governor, regularly rips McCain. Hugh Hewitt is urging the audience for his syndicated radio show to fight for Romney against what he calls a media-generated “McCain resurrection.”
(Hewitt’s voice is unconvincing, as he his a long-time and shameless shill for Romney, having become a virtual full-time spin machine.)
Others, like Bill Bennett (who said it took nearly 2 hours for him to get a supportive call on his radio show after he defended McCain, adding that he has taken a lot of “flak”), have remained neutral in the race, though he has seemingly been suggesting his audience do what was required to support the GOP nominee, whoever he is. Dole, invoking the “C” word, told Limbaugh the same thing:
“Whoever wins the Republican nomination will need your enthusiastic support,” Dole concludes. “Two terms for the Clintons are enough.”
Still others, like Fred Barnes and Michael Medved have voiced outright support for McCain. Barnes is too much of an insider, quite comfortable with McCain, and Medved sometimes seems too enamored of his own cleverness and intellect for his arguments in favor of McCain as a conservative to make much sense.
Nonetheless, this represents a fascinating power struggle within the GOP. There are now three camps: (1) No McCain under any circumstance; (2) We prefer another, but will vote for any Republican candidate to keep the Democrats out of office; and (3) Go John McCain, Conservative!
Neither Dole nor the other McCainiacs are likely to change Limbaugh’s mind, especially when you consider recent Rushisms like these:
On Monday’s broadcast, Limbaugh said in an audio clip posted at “The Page” on TIME.com: “He stabbed his own president in the back on legislation, a number of times. He doesn’t support his party or his president when the chips are down. He called people who want to protect the border racists, nativists, protectionists, and worse. And what kind of character is it that tries to slide all that through under cover of darkness, in a back room.”
During a broadcast last week that is transcribed on Limbaugh’s Web site, he said McCain enjoys the affection of the left and the media: “I think one of the reasons they’re able to embrace candidates like Senator McCain is that he’s been so willing to cast conservative principles aside when it makes sense for him politically, socially, or what have you.”
Surprisingly, the volatile McCain has not blown up and suggested Limbaugh take a trip to a hot place. In fact, his spokesman appears intent on not burning that bridge:
“We don’t expect Rush to fall in line. We know he’s an independent guy, just like McCain. And we know he and McCain will continue to have differences, and we respect those differences.”
But McKinnon said he hopes “a respectful relationship can be established” if McCain wins the nomination.
McCain, meanwhile, seems to be keeping his sense of humor about the dust-up. When asked what he thought of Limbaugh’s on-air remarks, McCain said, “I don’t listen to him. There’s a certain trace of masochism in my family, but not that deep.”
ADDENDUM:
Perhaps Dole was spurred to action because his “preferred” candidate McCain has had a political resurrection this campaign season. Just last summer, Dole said that though ”my heart has always been with my good friend John McCain,” he saw Big John’s campaign fading (because it was), and predicted Fred Thompson would pick up McCain’s supporters. See the story here. So much for Bob Dole’s prognostication skills.
ADDENDUM:
Here is the complete text of Dole’s letter to Limbaugh.
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Rush is currently clarifying the Dole letter incident. It was not an endorsement of McCain. And it sure looks like McCain operatives are taking advantage of Sen. Dole’s letter for McCain’s advantage.
Dirty tricks are no strangers at the McCain campaign door.
I cross-post from the OCT:
Man, Rush is ripping McCain a new one right now.
Why don’t we all send rolls of toilet paper to McCain? He started out as an ahole of rather ginormous size, now he has a second one?
Isn’t anyone interested in Bob Dole wearing John McCain’s bracelet?
I’m listening to Rush at this very moment and he very much denies the allegation of being ’scolded’ by Dole or that Dole is endorsing McCain. McCain is such a POS, and is absolutely no different in his dirty tactics. Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.
3: I WAS interested to know why you added the ??? after mention of the bracelet. For a minute I thought perhaps you didn’t know about the POW bracelets at all, but now I suspect you’re fishing for comments on Dole wearing a bracelet at all. If so…gee, I can hardly t wait for the snickering to begin…
I left my bracelet at the Memorial wall, under the “my” guy’s name. Cried like a baby as I did it, too.
at all…..at all…sorry about the repetition… I can barely type AT ALL, and it doesn’t help AT ALL when my eyes are tearing-up…and this isn’t on topic AT ALLl, either…sheesh…SOmebody hand me a Kleenix, would’cha?
4. Observer
Last summer, Dole said his “heart” was with McCain but that it didn’t look like it was going to work out for McCain. I don’t think, based on Dole’s own past statements (see the ADDENDUM to the post) that it is unfair to characterize Dole as having endorsed McCain. When someone says, “My heart has always been with my good friend John McCain,” it sounds pretty close to an endorsement to me.
I am convinced that a McCain Presidency would be no different in substance than that of a Democrat. For that reason I cannot believe it makes any difference if he wins the nomination. I don’t believe he has a chance to defeat the Democrat candidate. I will not vote for a Democrat, nor will I offer an endorsement of McCain by voting for him either. If McCain wins the nomination I simply will not place a vote for the office of President. The outcome will be the same.
5. Shiner
No offense intended. I wasn’t trying to elicit snickers, I was unaware of the reason why Dole would be wearing McCain’s bracelet. So your first impression was correct. I did not know the practice behind this.
#7: Dole said “he has no dog in this fight”. That to me sounds like NO endorsement.
Bob Dole has been a complete idiot for years. What else is new?
@11: 10-4 on that!
McCain is the Bob Dole of 2008. Now we know why; they have super-sekrit club bracelets, and the sign on their clubhouse says “Conservative Winners Keep Out!”.
10. Observer
Then I guess he’s sounding like Mitt Romney. :0)
It’s going to all boil down to whether the Republicans (all its different wings) can join together to defeat the Dimwit nomination, whether it be HELLary or Obama. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Anybody on the Republican side is definitely better any Dimwit. Our country is in a point in history where I don’t think we can let a Dimwit reverse everything and then we have to try to fix it again.
The real question is do we want a “tax and spend” liberal Dimwit or a maybe “tax and spend” RINO. That’s not a great choice but that’s what it has come down to.
…oh and no disrespect intended as #5 has potentially pointed out; I’m just trying to make a little levity of a not no great situation.
Would this be a bad time to remind everyone that McCain is not all that different from Hillary Clinton. Why, even the good and honorable Bill Clinton…excuse me for a moment……….okay, I’m back, now; little bit of a “tummy problem”; Bill Clinton stated that if McCain and Hillary were to be the candidates, it would the most civilized election in history.
– Ken
16.
Of course no one is “disrespecting” our POWs. It does seem a little odd, though, for Dole to mention that in a letter sent presumably to tout McCain’s “conservative” credentials. If McCain were Godfather to Dole’s kid, it wouldn’t make him any more conservative. Maybe he was just pointing out how close he is to McCain.
15 and 17
We are repeatedly told that McCain can attract Democrats and independents. I don’t know if that’s true or not. However, if it is, then the question becomes: Can McCain attract enough Dems and independents to offset losses from Republicans who stay home?
We can question both Dole and McCain’s conservative credentials but there’s no questioning that both men sacrificed above and beyond the call of duty in the name of our country. I am humbled by their service and won’t make light of “the bracelet”.
That doesn’t mean either one should be president.
#14: “Then I guess he’s sounding like Mitt Romney. :0)”
It is what it is - without any spin. “No dog in this fight”
20.
I don’t make light of the bracelet. I just don’t know what its point was in reference to the subject matter of the letter.
I am not fond of John McCain, but he does not deserve the abuse el-blimpbase is serving up these days. The Republican Party deserves more loyalty than his “I’ll take my marbles elsewhere” childish attitude.
Moderates and Independents have stuck by the party during days when the Conservatives ran the show and now when there is a slight and likely temporary shift he is ready to bail. Yep…that is leadership!!
Blimpo is representative of fat, cigar smoking, drug addicted lying pompous windbags, but not the finer elements of the conservative movement.
Simple
#20: I concur. I respect the service of any person that served our country. However. This does not equate to being capable of leading this country; any more than having been married to the president does. Giulani is gone because, it is said, people were tired of hearing about 9/11. Similarly, when asked about leading the countries economy, McCain went into a rant about his service record. Well, granted, but that does not suffice.
23. Simple
“el-blimpbase”
Good one.
24.
I agree. Touting your service - even your heroic service - in the military only goes so far in campaigns these days. It didn’t help Dole much against Clinton. (And I am one of the few, apparently, who think Dole would have been a good president.)
Just what has the “fat, cigar smoking, drug addicted lying pompous windbags” said that is untrue? If you have no answer, just call him more vitriolic names. That will be very mature of you.
27.
But it is kinda funny when done right.
Moral superiority is so McCain.
He has made reference that he wore McCain’s bracelet since before he (Dole) ran for president, I thought it was ‘what a coincidence the man whose bracelet I wore is now my colleague in the senate’, they’ve always been buddies. Birds of a feather, except that Bob has grace and a since of humor.
First round of W. Virginia, RP is O U T,
_ _ _ R O M N E Y is #1 !!!!!!
…round 2 is in process
I have a lot of respect for Bob Dole, but he was to the left also and that is what doomed his presidential aspirations.
Rick, thanks so much for posting this truth. I was hoping one of you guys would. Isn’t it funny how information changes in a 24 hour period. Yesterday the big news was McCain gets Dole’s endorsement and Dole writes Rush a slap-down letter. Today , the letter is published. The truth comes out and McCain’s camp is shown to be using standard political games as the election gets tighter. Makes one want to vomit.
#23 Simple
John McCain and Rush Limbaugh have had long running dispute going back for years. As far as Rush and the “I’ll take my marbles elsewhere” comment, the Republican Party owes at least as much consideration to Limbaugh as he owes tot he GOP. I have no idea what you mean by bail, but if you are referring to his comments considering not voting for a Republican in the primary, I find it an easy statement to sympathize with.
But my real question is this:
When exactly did “the Conservatives run the show” ?
I must have been out of the country that week.
The left has celebrities endorsing. The right has talk show hosts. Any wonder why this land is going down the tubes.
I’ll bite (being new here & all) why are you Carbon-credit? Are you a tree?