Posted by
Magnum, J.D. on Friday, March 14, 2008 10:15:06 AM
Last night (Thursday, March 13), Senator John McCain appeared on Colmes-less night of "Hannity and Colmes." The entire one-hour show was an interview of Senator McCain by Sean Hannity. I had heard about this interview as I was driving home a few days ago and I was looking forward to the Senator answering some hard questions about his candidacy for the presidency.
I was sorely disappointed.
The interview was only one or two softball questions short of a fluff piece. I expected Hannity to grill the Senator on McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and the "Gang of 14," but he did not even come close to forcing Senator McCain to answer the tough questions. I was optimistic that this interview would be a turning point for Senator McCain that would allow me to vote for him in good conscience. However, it was the same old same old from the Senator and I still am dead set against voting for him come November.
Senator McCain has a real problem when it comes to true conservatives. He has repeatedly demonstrated that his time in the Senate has forced him to be accomodating to "his colleagues on the other side of the aisle." He sees that as a badge of honor; conservatives see it as an unacceptable compromise of principles. I think most conservatives would be willing to forgive that compromise, but Senator McCain is simply not willing to do what it takes to get that forgiveness. Senator McCain has reassured the conservative base that he is a conservative and that he will stand up for them.
Senator McCain, conservatives don't want reassurances, we want repentance.
I was hopeful that I would turn on the Hannity interview and that Senator McCain would say, "You know what Sean, I've done some deep thinking, and I've decided that the McCain-Kennedy bill was wrong. When the conservatives in this country bombarded Washington with their opposition to the bill, I should have realized that this bill was bad for the country. I regret sponsoring the bill and I would never be a part to that kind of legislation again." But that's not what he said.
When asked whether he would, as President, sign the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill if it came across his desk, Senator McCain refused to answer the question. Instead, he said that that would never happen. He never said that he was wrong for supporting the bill, he simply said that the people didn't want it and that he was there to represent the people. True, he represents the people, but is it that hard to say "I was wrong."? How does Senator McCain expect conservatives to trust him on an issue as important to them as immigration if he is unwilling to admit that the position he supported was not a conservative position and that he was wrong to do so.
I was hopeful that I would turn on the Hannity interview and that Senator McCain would say, "You know what Sean, I've done some deep thinking, and I've decided that the McCain-Feingold bill was wrong. When the Supreme Court held that parts of the bill were unconstitutional, I should have realized that the bill is, in fact, an impermissible restriction on free speech. I regret sponsoring the bill and I would never be a part to that kind of legislation again." But that's not what he said.
Senator McCain, instead, went into a long spiel about how he had personally seen how soft money had a corrupting influence in Washington. He never addressed how that concern should override the constitional right of free speech that individuals enjoy through the Constitution.
Finally, I was hopeful that I would turn on the Hannity interview and that Senator McCain would say, "You know what Sean, I've done some deep thinking, and I've decided that my participation in the 'Gang of 14' was wrong. It was wrong to allow Democrats to take the unprecedented and obstructionist step of filibustering judicial nominees that enjoyed majority support in the full Senate. Despite the fact that the compromise allowed a few nominees to be confirmed, it was a mistake to allow the others to be defeated without so much as an up or down vote. I began to realize that the day after the compromise went through when Senator Reid expressed his opinion that the minority had already been using the filibuster in extraordinary circumstances. That 'Gang of 14' compromise set a terrible precedent. I regret my part in it and I would never be a party to that kind of political game again." But that's not what he said.
This was, for me, the most disappointing response of all from Senator McCain. He brushed off the issue by "reminding" us that the compromise resulted in the confirmation of three judges that had previously been held up by filibusters. He failed to even adress the concern of many conservatives, including myself, that believe that the Gang of 14 debacle is a true picture of what kind of nominees we would get from a President McCain. If Senator McCain is unwilling to go the mats against the Democrats for judicial nominees that have majority support, what will he do if the Senate is still dominated by the Democrats when he becomes the President? Does he really think that Majority Leader Reid is going to let any more Justice Roberts's or Justice Alitos through? What about the numerous judicial nominees that were either filibustered or not even nominated for fear of a filibuster because of this so-called compromise?
For me, this interview was very telling, but unfortunately, it was not for the reasons I hoped it would be. I hoped to tune in and find myself finally comfortable with voting for Senator McCain come November. That didn't happen.
I never expected to agree with Senator McCain on everything; I don't think there has ever been a candidate with whom I totally agreed. What I did expect was for Senator McCain to make his peace with the true conservative base by admitting his faults on these critical issues. He fell far, far short of that. For that reason, he is extremely likely to fall far short of earning my vote in the general election.
Everyone admires the "bulldog," independent qualities fo Senator McCain. I'm sure those qualities are a source of personal pride for Senator McCain. What he needs to realize is that there is an independent streak in the conservative base as well.
Sometimes being an obnoxious bulldog only gets you chained to the tree outside in the cold. If Senator McCain doesn't offer some repentance to conservatives, he too will be left out in the cold of those first days of November.