Does the MSM have the vaguest clue about what makes Republicans tick? For months the liberal media has been propounding the absurd notion that John McCain's quest to obtain the Republican presidential nomination has been undermined by his support for the Iraq war. The Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart seems a good guy, but he has now added a clueless coda to that misperception, suggesting that McCain's efforts to repair his relations with the religious right has done him in.
Capehart was part of a panel on this afternoon's "Hardball." Mike Barnicle guest hosted for Chris Matthews, and asked the question "is John McCain gone?"
Opined Capehart:
WASHINGTON POST EDITORIALIST JONATHAN CAPEHART: At least for me, as a member of the press, when John McCain . . . called Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance," I thought now there's straight talk, that's someone standing on his own two feet. But then, when he walked away from that recently, I thought wait a minute, what happened to straight talk?
Fortunately, the Weekly Standard's Matt Continetti was there to set him straight.
CONTINETTI: Jonathan may be disappointed, but the press doesn't decide the Republican nominee for president. Republicans do.CAPEHART: But it does talk about character. How can someone go from "agents of intolerance" to suddenly being hey, OK, let's sit down and . . .
CONTINETTI: I'm not sure that that's the argument that John McCain needs to worry about [with Republicans]. McCain's maverick problem is his support for Bush on immigration, and that's costing him Republican votes.
Bingo.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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CONTINETTI: Jonathan may be
July 30, 2007 - 20:53 ET by bigtimerCONTINETTI: Jonathan may be disappointed, but the press doesn't decide the Republican nominee for president. Republicans do.
That is a big perfect Bulls-Eye!
'nuff said.
Clueless is the Key
July 30, 2007 - 21:38 ET by VT Con ManBigtimer, they are so acustomed to deciding the Dim candidates, they got confused.
Clueless is the key word in this report. They are just that, so left of reality that they cannot figuire out why a conservative would be turned off by Mr McCain.
I praise and thank him for his service and incredible sacrifice, but he is a RINO, and has slipped into professional politician territory. His failings as a conservative outweigh his military credentials to be anywhere near the big white house. Except, maybe for lunch with Fred?
Evening VT... Lunch with
July 30, 2007 - 21:43 ET by bigtimerEvening VT...
Lunch with Fred sounds like a perfect plan to me!
I have never and will never forget the votes and amendments the Maverick McCain has imposed on this country over the years...ever.
I too thank him for his service, and his support of this war...that is about it.
Conservatives like me do not forget.
Thompson/Hunter '08!
Lunch with Fred ?!
July 30, 2007 - 21:56 ET by VT Con ManHey Bigtimer, lets go for it, we can get a gazillion MRC'ers and go fot it. Biggest Conservative lunch since...well you know, really really big time!
Where does Fred live, and who's driving? Dibs on the front seat!
Seriously, I notice the MSM even "forgets" the Maverick's transgressions from his fellow Senators. I have a Liberal friend (brother in law) who thinks he is great because he is a "moderate". Moderate, code word for backstabber as someone said earlier. He will get no traction in the primary, as much as the liberals love him, most of them are dems. So, he does not stand a chance. You know you are in trouble as a republican, when a liberal senator (kerry) rumors you may be his VP running mate. Dooms day.
Fred, lets do lunch.
Ya know VT... You
July 30, 2007 - 22:02 ET by bigtimerYa know VT...
You couldn't of put it better concerning the so-called Maverick when you posted this...
You know you are in trouble as a republican, when a liberal senator (kerry) rumors you may be his VP running mate. Dooms day.
I remember that well, like you said that says it all.
Fred, lets do lunch indeed! Big Time!
John McCain's insistence on
July 30, 2007 - 21:39 ET by BlazerJohn McCain's insistence on being a RINO Republican, and a "Maverick" (backstabber), is why the Conservative base want's nothing to do with him.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
Primary? It's all about
July 30, 2007 - 21:39 ET by dahliatraversPrimary? It's all about me! Me me ME!
As the Gipper would say: "Well, there you go again."
July 31, 2007 - 00:04 ET by GalvanicWASHINGTON POST EDITORIALIST JONATHAN CAPEHART: At least for me, as a member of the press, . . .
Wait! Stop right there! Like all liberal journalists, he should have learned long ago that when it comes to assessing a Republican candidate's appeal or fall from grace, automatically reject the idea that pops in his head, because it's how a lib things. Whatever appeals to libs is what turns off conservatives, and vice versa.
If Capeheart wanted to get straight to the answer, all he had to do was ask McCain, who had already conceded publicly that his campaign ran into a wall the minute he openly supported of Bush and the Democrats on the Senate's so-called immigration reform bill.
McCain's maverick problem
July 31, 2007 - 02:57 ET by motherbeltMcCain's maverick problem is his support for Bush on immigration, and that's costing him Republican votes.---Continetti
That is true, but I don't think it started with immigration; remember McCain/Feingold?
McCain started bleeding support from Republicans when he started to suck up to the Democrats. And the press loved him and built him up. Not because he was a "maverick", but because the things he was a "maverick" about put him on their side.
They will continue to ignore the elephant in the room (no pun intended)...that McCain is unpopular with Republicans for the same reasons that he is popular with the MSM.....that he's too much like the Democrats. And so they must create other reasons.
Well, guys, whatever gets you through the night....
}}}----> McCain/Kennedy
July 31, 2007 - 03:12 ET by Cool ArrowThe most ginormous albatross ever worn.