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A Conservative Candidate
Mitt Romney is working hard to position himself as the “conservative GOP presidential hopeful”, reports the Examiner. He is already attacking Rudi Giuliani and, especially, John McCain for not being – in his eyes – conservative enough. The issue – of course – gay marriage:
Romney was less charitable to McCain, who on Sunday told ABC News: “I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states.� McCain also said, “I believe that gay marriage should not be legal.�Romney seized on the remarks.
“That’s his position, and in my opinion, it’s disingenuous,� he said. “Look, if somebody says they’re in favor of gay marriage, I respect that view. If someone says — like I do — that I oppose same–sex marriage, I respect that view. But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous.�
Yeah, yeah.
Now we have dealt with that…
Where are the Goldwater Conservatives?
10 Responses to “A Conservative Candidate”
The big three contenders for the Republican nomination all have problems with the base:
Romney – He’s a Mormon. As if that isn’t enough he’s also from Massachusetts and the Southern Baptist base just does not vote for people from Massachusetts or Mormons.
Rudy – He’s pro-gay, pro-abortion and anti-gun and he’s from New York. Jeez.
McCain – He ripped Falwell and Robertson, and Bush, in 2000 and the base has long memories. His “get big” position might not hurt him with the base but it will kill him everywhere else and the base is not really enthusiastic.
I’m looking for the former governor of Colorado or somebody solid with the base to make a run.
Romney moves to gay-bashing and McCain did ads for anti-gay amendments during this last election. Can we expect to learn soon that Rudy Giuliani has switched sides and joined the anti-gay bigots?
I have a modest suggestion: maybe rather than requiring “conservatives” to attack gays as a group in order to pacify the hate-mongering religious right, we could choose a single gay man at random and all prospective GOP presidential candidates could arm themselves with baseball bats and beat the sacrificial lamb bloody.
Takhallus, I nominate Ted Haggard.
I suggest whips and chains instead of bats. Both sides may enjoy the beatings more.
so being a conservative in today’s America boils down to being against homosexuals. How sad.
You ask where the goldwater conservatives are: they got thrown out for not being conservative enough.
by the time these guys get through sucking up to the right we’ll need name plates to know who they are.
Of course the question is whether or not the GOP will still be thinking by 2008 that steering hard right is a winning strategy. My bet is that they won’t be able to help themselves. And my guess is that even Kerry could win it against their cadre of hard right candidates. I think giving Gore another shot could work in that scenario better, though.
I’m thinking that with that scenario, only Kerry could blow the ’08 election, given his track record. He represents the eastern seaboard liberal elite, that keeps the Democrats’ losing streak going for presidential elections. He should do his patriotic duty, and take himself out of the race early, to make room for those with an actual chance at winning it!
I certainly agree with that sentiment about Kerry, Kim.