By Dan Kennedy • The press, politics, technology, culture and other passions

McCain’s conservative record

Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby, as conservative as they come, states the obvious: “McCain was never an agenda-driven movement conservative, but he ‘entered public life as a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution,’ as he puts it, and on the whole his record has been that of a robust and committed conservative.” It’s interesting that the talk-show wing of the Republican Party can’t seem to acknowledge that.

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13 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    I love it when liberals defend McCain. I think I’ll trust Rush, Hannity and Senator Santorum’s judgement on how conservative John McCain is. Liberals just don’t understand what is important to conservatives – the many times you’ve called immigration a ‘phony issue’ demonstrate that.

  2. Dan Kennedy

    Care to grapple with Jeff Jacoby? Is he a liberal in your view? Why don’t you respond to what I actually wrote?

  3. Anonymous

    Dan, you’re obviously no Rick Santorum! Who is probably not even the least popular Pennsylania politician in Patriots coutnry this week.Rumor is Spector finally found the second shooter – with a videcam behind the press box!Bob in Peabody

  4. Anonymous

    Jacoby can have his opinion but just remember this . The NY Times and The LA Times endorsed McCain. That tells you something about who democrats prefer to see running against their candidate. He would be better in my opinion than any Democrat but does anyone believe they are endorsing the republican they think will win or the one they think will lose.

  5. Steve

    It’s interesting that the talk-show wing of the Republican Party can’t seem to acknowledge that.I can’t understand that either, and I wish someone, anonymous or not, could explain it to me. Severin seems to do nothing but call McCain a Democrat for as long as I can bear to listen to him. My conservative friends think McCain is pro-choice, anti-tax-cut, and say he’s certain to face a third party challenge from the right if he’s nominated.It’s as fascinating to me as the McCain support among independents and even some anti-Hillary Democrats.I’m confused.

  6. Dan Kennedy

    Anon 3:16: Did you actually read the New York Times’ endorsement of McCain? It is as backhanded a recommendation as you will find. Here’s how it begins:”We have strong disagreements with all the Republicans running for president. The leading candidates have no plan for getting American troops out of Iraq. They are too wedded to discredited economic theories and unwilling even now to break with the legacy of President Bush. We disagree with them strongly on what makes a good Supreme Court justice.”From the Times’ point of view, McCain is quite clearly a “least bad” choice for which the editors have no enthusiasm. Of course, Romney tried to portray it as a big, wet kiss at the last debate, but what do you expect?

  7. Anonymous

    Yes I actually read it.

  8. Peter Porcupine

    DK – it they hate them all so much, why didn’t they do an ANTI-endorsement, like the liberal Concord Monitor did of Mitt?Liberals and Democrats want McCain. They salivate over the mental image of the crotchety old man debating the smooth young senator about 21st century issues. Even if Hillary is nominated, the whole ‘not a dime’s worth of difference’ issue will come to the fore, and depress conservative turnout. Did you SEE those two fawning about their mutual respce on Fox News Sunday today? (well, probably not…)That is at the center of a lot of conservative disgust about McCain.

  9. Tony

    Oh yeah, Jeff Jacoby is a liberal commie pinko, don’tcha know …

  10. Anonymous

    “Of course, Romney tried to portray it as a big, wet kiss at the last debate, but what do you expect?”Of course, McCain called the Herald “very conservative.” Mitt’s closer to the truth.

  11. Dan Kennedy

    PP: You’re hallucinating. When McCain is on his game, he’s the most compelling Republican candidate in a general election since Reagan. Check out Talking Points Memo, where Josh and the gang have been openly rooting for Romney or Huckabee on the theory that neither one would have a chance. I’ve heard the same thing from liberal friends. In fact, if McCain were to choose Colin Powell as his running mate, I’d bet on a Republican victory this fall.

  12. raccoonradio

    McCain almost became Kerry’s running mate. He’s John McCainand he’s…reporting for duty!

  13. Right Winger

    I’ve been implored by many to research John McCain’s record. In doing so I would find his conservative record. Two words…..still looking. I’m having a hard time reconciling the possibilities of voting for McCain. Our conservative values are being watered down by the likes of McCain. This is an outrageous possibility but I would rather vote for Obama than vote for McCain. At least when the country goes down the tubes for 4 years, the right party gets the credit. The underlying problem to that is that there are possibly 2 lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court at stake. The thought of two more Bader Ginsburg’s in the S.C. is enough to make me sick.

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