David Freddoso from the "The Corner" on National Review Online posted this today. I had to share it, because California is so incredibly impacted by the immigration debate, and this letter makes an important point about McCain’s stance on immigration:
From a reader in the active-duty military:
Put me in the camp of those who have reluctantly come to believe that McCain is the candidate to support in the Republican primary. If I could annoint a candidate, it would be The Fred. I actually care passionately about immigration and free speech, and I really didn’t think I could forgive McCain for his positions on those issues, but here is my reasoning:
1) McCain-Feingold: while it seems like it should be unconstitutional, in practice, it has proven to be pretty easy to work around. Even a poorly financed candidate like Huckabee has been able to get his message out.
2) Immigration: for all his faults, I think McCain will be a man of his word in this respect: he has agreed to "certifying" that the border is secure. This is a bigger concession than most seem willing to credit him for. It moves the goalpost substantially in favor of the enforcement side of the equation, an on an issue that has already proven to be susceptible to grass roots activism. To the extent he has a defining principle, it would be keeping his word. I think we can hold his straight talking feet to the fire on this promise.
3) Gang of 14: Mehhh, seems like, if not an I-told-you-so moment, then at least the the minority has preserved some rights against the emerging Democratic majority that Republicans might need sooner than they thought possible at the time of the deal.
4) Judges: I think any replacements he picked for Stevens or Ginsberg would move the court to the right. Exactly how far right is hard to say. I’d predict an O’Connor, not a Thomas, but that is still an improvement over a Justice Bill Clinton. While there is no predicting court changes, it seems like there is a good chance he will be a net plus.
5) National Security: He is one of a few whom I could see sitting down across a table from Vlad Putin and not be worried for our side. Sadly, Mitt and Huck fail this test in my book (I could see Rudy and Fred here as well, but no others). I also think that he is just crazy enough that the Chinese would think twice before messing with our computer systems.
6) Spending: He has the best small government street cred by far. At this point, I rate lower spending as a higher priority than lower taxes.
7) Coattails: Because of #6, I think he is best situated to nationalize the House elections. By recruiting and campaigning for smaller government Republicans, he could re-brand the party like nobody since Gingrich.
8) The half-a-loaf theory: Our search should not be for the purest embodiment of our ideals, but for the person most likely to get the majority of our agenda accomplished. McCain is in the best position to win if nominated, and that has to be factored into anyone’s thinking.
9) Finally, lets face it, the country needs some healing. Realistically, only McCain or Obama have a hope of doing this, since both transcend their party to a degree. Of the two, I’d much prefer McCain.
I also think that the worst outcome is for McCain to win but feel that he owes conservatives nothing. Hopefully, if he starts to pull out to an insurmountable lead, conservatives can rally to the flag for the general election.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am
Great post, Jill! It underscores how conservatives are coming home to John McCain and recognizing that he is the consistent conservative. This election is a pivotal one–maybe more so than in 2000 and 2004. We must win the war on terror and reign in spending. John McCain is that candidate.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
McCain is a tank in a schoolbus disguise. :-)
McCain isn’t afraid to do what’s best for America–even if special interest groups demand his loyalty. He has always run under his own conscience, and this race is about democracy and not theocracy.
No one candidate is complete in this election. What McCain brings to this race is that he draws less fire and more respect than the other party. He also won’t require any ‘getting to know the candidate’ time as his record is legendary. He can hit the ground running while the Democrats cannibalize themselves over that whole HillOrama fiasco they have.
That will come in handy when he faces the likes of Hillary or Obama. Obama is inspiring to his base and many of those unaffiliated with a party. Each year, elections are won based not upon our locked in base, but by those folks whom are unaffiliated with a party. McCain possesses that broad appeal.
If we’re going to unite, let’s do it quickly while the Dems are still fighting over every last morsel.