John McCain stood before a mixed crowd of rabid supporters and skeptical activists and promised to be a good boy. Whether his words were enough for the conservatives present to put away the strap and forgo punishing the senator for his past apostasies by staying home on election day is unknown at this point.
One first has to admire McCain’s courage in going to CPAC in the first place. His excuse for missing last year’s confab – that he was busy running for president – fell pretty flat and no one believed him anyway. Every other candidate found time to speak before conference goers last year and McCain’s absence was largely seen as a snub.
Not so this year. After an overly defensive introduction by Senator Tom Coburn (he almost seemed whiny at times) McCain strode to the podium to a thunderous ovation generated by his numerous supporters who were present and the polite if restrained applause of the rest. McCain seemed a little nervous at the beginning, trying to rush into his remarks – as if he could forestall any booing that might erupt when the applause died down. But attendees seemed on their best behavior, holding their fire for later.
McCain then launched into a spirited if somewhat disjointed defense of his conservative credentials. He didn’t say anything everyone hadn’t heard before. He repeated himself a couple of times, perhaps hammering home the point that he shared the basic values and principles that conference goers believed. He reminded listeners a couple of times of his pro-life beliefs. He hit his opposition to pork time and again, going so far as to say he would never sign a bill that had any earmarks in it. That very well may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater – some earmarks like Charlie Wilson’s add ons for Afghan rebels are useful – but perhaps when the baby is so infected with the earmark virus, it needs to be tossed just so the disease can be arrested.
Although his speech was interrupted several times by applause, there were an awful lot of CPAC’ers sitting on their hands. They were polite. They listened carefully to what McCain had to say. But they were in no mood for unity and good will. This became evident when McCain talked about his differences with the base over illegal immigration. The cascade of cat calls and boos that greeted his mention of that issue showed McCain that he has a long way to go until people believe his pledge to secure the borders first.
Raising the issue took some courage and McCain should be praised for taking his critics head on. But nothing he said would have changed anyone’s mind on the issue. And the senator said precious little about campaign finance reform which almost certainly would have produced an even sterner outcry by CPAC attendees.
There’s “courage” and then there’s political courage, I guess.
All in all, McCain did a fine job. He said what he had to without being overbearing or condescending. He was jovial. His eyes twinkled when he mentioned immigration, almost relishing the clash with his detractors. And he was suitably solemn about his commitment to “conservative principles.”
But besides the fact his appearance made good political theater, I doubt whether McCain made any progress in convincing conservatives that they should get behind his candidacy with enthusiasm. It was pretty much the same case we’ve heard made at the debates. And since those performances didn’t convince the base of his sincerity, this appearance at CPAC didn’t either.
Perhaps if he named a few high profile conservatives as his campaign advisors, that would help the base to rally to his cause. As it stands now, his stature may have been elevated just enough to encourage him to continue to reach out to conservatives and bring them into his campaign for what promises to be a bruising general election race.
5:20 pm
john mccain? I want georgie, or jeb.
6:48 pm
Alternatively, he could dump his Reform Institute cronies. Addition by subtraction.
6:55 pm
First he needs to get rid of the open boarders people he has advising him on his campaign then I will think about voting for him otherwise I will write in Fred’s name instead
7:07 pm
He can reach out all he wants, I’ll never vote for him. I don’t like his policies, I don’t like his past legislation (everything he has been involved with has been a disaster..), I don’t trust him, I don’t like his attitude towards those of us conservatives who disagree with him.The only thing he has going for him is his stand on GWOT and I don’t trust him not to cave to the liberals on that.
Vote for him to keep Hillary or Obama out?......that’s just piss poor situation.
7:23 pm
I’m not a conservative—and after watching CPAC today, I’m not sure I’d ever want to be one—but you and I obviously watched and listened to two totally different speeches. You make a few good points—he was rushing through it at first and misspoke a few times—but it was definitely the speech of his political life. He is no Reagan, but it was like he was channeling Reagan at times he connected so well. The audience was largely moved by the speech, and I didn’t see many—if any—people ‘sitting on their hands’ by the end.
Like it or not, McCain showed himself willing to be taken to the woodshed today—and to reach out to conservatives at the same time. Your reaction is precisely the sort of narcissistic sourness that will permanently marginalize the rightwing blogosphere if you all keep it up and help get a Dem elected.
9:00 pm
“a few high profile conservatives” these would be suspect also!
This is not taking one for the Gipper, this is the “good ole boys” pulling together against us “no nothings, loud people” who have to shut us us”! They protect their own.
Now we just might have a major problem on our hands. Think about it, if Hildabeast gets the nomination I don’t believe that Obama supporters will stay home, nope, they will vote for McCain (McClinton) to get even with their party.
Damn if McClinton backs into the White House and we suffer four years of this insufferable liar. Our Conservative Party gets re-defined by a Moderate, dry heaves starting. This nasty, vindictive, foul mouth, (I shouldn’t talk)senator will ruin our party.
As for me going out and voting for McClinton, “not goin’ to do it”! Will however go vote for the rest of the ticket, maybe we can get the Congress back. Yeah, I know….........
Now if I am wrong and Hildabeast gets the White House, can you imagine four years of the Vagina Monologes? Where’s my barf-bag!
8:15 am
The bright side of this election is that the next President will only serve one term; there is not enough support for any of the leading candidates in this election for either party’s nomination to guarantee a second.
Hope Muntz
The problem in this election is that moderate/independent voter fears a Clinton or Obama nominate as much as Conservatives.
So it you don’t want a Clinton or an Obama the best thing you can do is to not isolate those who are being asked to abandon all their principles so that you can have a Liberal War Hawk in the White House.
I hope Hope understands this before blowing it.
6:55 pm
Guess the folks in Kansas didn’t take McCain at his word. My guess is neither will the base.
Looks like its going to be an interesting election. One party running Elmer Gantry and the other running a Bob Dole without the integrity or charm.