You’re right on every account, John. I don’t know how McCain will do it. He needs not only our votes and money, but our enthusiasm. He needs our voices in the workplace defending the principles of conservatism.
The problem is that we can defend principled conservatism, but that isn’t the same thing as defending McCain. On many instances, it is the opposite (McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Lieberman).
Then when he attempts to woo the conservatives, he screws up again. His stance on immigration is precisely the opposite of what the party faithfuls want. His most recent speeches spew the mantra of “securing the border FIRST.” First before what? We all know, because it is the same open borders policy he has pursued for his entire career. The party faithfuls want to secure the borders and imprison CEOs who hire illegals, McCain wants to secure the borders “FIRST” and then open the doors to continue the flood.
This changes nothing. It continues the policies of repairing Mexico’s crime and poverty problem on the backs of the American middle class taxpayer. McCain doesn’t care since he is an open-borders socialist.
So therein lies the problem. You have stated it well. He needs the very people he has enraged, and more than just for votes.
More than likely he won’t get them. No true conservative I know is going to vote for McCain, and we certainly aren’t going to defend his views in the marketplace of ideas.
My vote is precious to me. I am not for sale and not a political hack. I will not cast a vote for continuing to break the backs of the middle class with immigration. As for who will be President … well, the party should have thought about that before they cast their collective votes for McCain.
I see this preparing the way for four years from now. Will the GOP’s heart be softened to return to her roots, or will she die from trying to please everyone?
