McCain is a better conservative than most
By mschuyler Posted in Archived — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I'm not understanding how any of these super conservatives can claim McCain is not a conservative. All you have to do is look at the numbers. The American Conservative Union, for example, rates the candidates with a score from 0 to 100 with 100 being the most conservative. Look:
McCain: 82.3
Paul: 82.26
Thompson: 86
Clinton: 9
Edwards: 10
Obama: 8
Huckabee, Rudy, and Mitt are not on there because they weren't in Congress, but can you tell me with a straight face that tax hikers like Huck and Mitt and pro-Choice Rudy would have higher scores? I don't think so. With McCain less than 4 points from Thompson, statistically irrelevant, but 70 points from the dems, the conclusion is obvious.
It doesn't end there. The National Taxpayers Union give an "A" grade to all the Republicans above, and an "F" grade to all the Democrats. The Americans for Tax Reform gives the following scores:
McCain: 82.7
Paul: 71.9
Thompson: 83.7
Clinton: 6.7
Edwards: 5.8
Obama: 7.5
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste:
McCain: 95%
Paul: 95%
Clinton: 14%
Obama: 30%
The Eagle Forum, a family values group gives McCain a 70 and Paul an 80. Clinton gets a 25.
These groups take all votes into consideration. Some have lifetime scores, which were used where available; some use only the current year, hence the absence of those no longer serving. Clearly no one is significantly more conservative than John McCain. If you throw in the tax records and social positions of the candidates not listed, Huckabee may do okay on social issues, but his tax and spend record is abysmal in Arkansas. With Mitt "a fee is not a tax" Romney, he's had all positions, such as on abortion, and Rudy is an admittedly liberal Republican.
Given these numbers from these groups, how can you claim that McCain isn't a real conservative? The numbers prove differently. Sorry they don't match your opinion.
The great majority of involved folks here can't be snookered into believing he's the big kahuna conservative. It simply doesn't match up with the facts. Cap and trade, what would that do to our economy? Tax cuts, where would America be right now without those? Illegals having access to Social Security, what would happen if that ever became reality? As Newt said about Hillary being fatally flawed with personal issues, McCain is with policy. There's no getting around it. I've been called annoying and irritating for pointing out these obvious facts. I respect Senator McCain for his military service to this country, but just as I'd never vote for Murtha even though he served honorably, I'd never vote for McCain. In his case, military service is simply not enough.
Tim Schieferecke
The numbers tell the story. For someone who has been as active in the Senate for so long, numbers in the mid to high 80's from groups like The American Conservative Union are hard to refute.
Unfortunately, there are several emotional topics that have proven fertile ground for talk radio. These issues have become the new measure for conservatism, and people who think differently will be marginalized.
Today, Glenn Beck aired a commercial insinuating that McCain supporters are muddled simps with no grasp of the issues. That couldn't be further from the truth, but that is the new reality.
"The most dangerous form in which oppression can overshadow a community is that of popular sway" -James Fenimore Cooper
Their Chairman David Keene, endorsed Mitt Romney.
Here's his statement:http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Keene
If you go back to 1996, McCain had an 89% ACU Ratings. Since the 1995-96, McCain has not had a single Congress where he's averaged an 80% score.
McCain's career has two halves. The first half, he was a fairly good conservative from 1983-96 with an 89% average and then from 1997 on, he has about a 75%
Perhaps a review of the history of pennpatriot is in order?
Yes. Better than most. 51% of the Senate is Democrat Percent of the House is a little heavier on the Dem side.
Probably more conservative than Specter. Graham. Warner.
that's not such a convincing comparison. Try post part III.