McCain rep to Jewish crowd: the Christian right is 'serious problem'

[Xenia]

The whole article is interesting but the following really perked me! I think Christians are the biggest supporters Israel has... what a stupid thing to say. I think McCain better kick this guy to the curb!

But more importantly, he did not mince his words. In a response to a question about the religious right, an important component of the Republican coalition, he said that it was, indeed "a serious problem," and reminded his listeners that he now lives in Charlottesville, surrounded by such people that he needs to fight.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/965556.html

[ProfessorAlan]

"Christian" and "Religious Right" is not necessarily the same thing .... and this seems to be how McCain feels, too.

[righter1]

Unfortunately, McCain and others like him tend to look down on the so-called 'base' of the Republican party, which is typically people like you or me. Despite the fact that we're usually the ones that get out and will do the grassroots stuff for these candidates, they'll talk down to us, yet still expect us to do the work for them. McCain, if this is also his feeling, is going to find out in short order that this won't be the case. The folks I've talked with in my political circles--all 'Christian/Religious Right' people--agree that we'll vote for the idiot--excuse me, candidate--but we won't work our butts off like we would for some of the other people that were nominees this year.

If McCain wants to endear himself to his 'base', he'd be doing himself a service by kicking this idiot out of his campaign and listening to more conservative, Christian types.

But, that's just my extremely biased opinion.

[ProfessorAlan]

The Religious Right is a base of the party, not the base of the party. Business types, libertarian types -- these are folks who also need to be part of the coalition to win, and they don't exactly fit lock-step with the current "christian" view of priorities.

[Tamera]

That may be true, but is McCain helping himself by openly alienating a large segment of the Republican Party - I prefer to call the Christian Conservative Base.

[ProfessorAlan]

He is absolutely helping himself with the 20%-30% of moderates/independents who swing elections in key states: Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Colorado ...

Especially if Hillary is the nominee -- despite misgivings w/ McCain, the right will come out in droves to vote against her. If McCain gets those in the middle, he can actually win this thing.

But the whole deck is stacked against the Republicans -- economy, war, Bush fatigue. If the Dems can't win it this year, they are in serious trouble as a national party.

[Ransom v. Unman]

He is absolutely helping himself with the 20%-30% of moderates/independents who swing elections in key states: Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Colorado ...

Especially if Hillary is the nominee -- despite misgivings w/ McCain, the right will come out in droves to vote against her. If McCain gets those in the middle, he can actually win this thing.

But the whole deck is stacked against the Republicans -- economy, war, Bush fatigue. If the Dems can't win it this year, they are in serious trouble as a national party.
And considering they're the only opposition... >_<

[righter1]

Especially if Hillary is the nominee -- despite misgivings w/ McCain, the right will come out in droves to vote against her. If McCain gets those in the middle, he can actually win this thing.

But the whole deck is stacked against the Republicans -- economy, war, Bush fatigue. If the Dems can't win it this year, they are in serious trouble as a national party.

A good political/church buddy of mine and I had this conversation last night... You summed it up. Hillary has a negative approval rating of around 49%. That's awful high to think you even have a possibility at winning if you get the nod.

And have you been following Rush Limbaugh? He's been wreaking havoc on the Dems lately. Operation: Chaos (http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/) is in full effect right now... (check this link after 5 or 6 Eastern tonight...)

And considering they're the only opposition... >_<

Yeah... couldn't agree more.

[ProfessorAlan]

The stars are aligned like '96 -- a Democrat year, no matter who the two candidates are. But it looks like the Dems are trying really rally ahrd to mess election up.

[righter1]

The stars are aligned like '96 -- a Democrat year, no matter who the two candidates are. But it looks like the Dems are trying really rally ahrd to mess election up.

'96 was my first 'real' election... I was 14 at the time, and remember it fairly well... My mother was a delegate to the San Diego GOP convention too, so I was following it even more closely than if she hadn't gone.

The thing with '96 is that you had an incumbent DEMOCRAT president, and the Congress was controlled by the GOP. The economy was relatively good (as opposed to now where the press has been talking us into a recession for the last few years.) Our president now is a lame duck, and the Democrats are running against him and themselves more than they are against McCain. The Democrats control the Congress now, and have a lower approval rating than the President, which, though I didn't follow polls closely in '96, I don't think was so much the case. Clinton was a phenomenally (sp?) popular president at that time, whereas Bush's approval ratings right now are hovering between 30 & 35%. The Congress in '96 had far better approval numbers than they do now--come on, 19 - 21% is absolute crap--that would be the hard-core of the hard-core liberals saying they approve.

If you're saying that the candidates themselves draw parallels to '96, perhaps. But, I still think that it's flipped where the parties are concerned. Clinton is one of the most hated people to ever seriously be considered for the presidency, Obama doesn't say jack when he's making speeches (and do you really know what he stands for?) McCain, though not my favorite on policy, at least he stands for something. I'm not saying McCain has a better chance at this because I'm a GOP-toadie, but of all three candidates, he's the strongest, and probably the most respected. I don't LIKE him--not in the least--but I'll vote for him if I have to. At least, that's what I've decided in the last few weeks following the Kansas Caucuses. It doesn't make sense to go third party and end up with Obama or Clinton as the head of state.

Anyway, sorry to get so fired up about this. I've had more than one conversation this week about this topic--and that's not including the ongoing one here.

And, now that I think about it, I think we've gotten way off topic... Oh well.