McCain Alarms Base With Abortion Comment

Politico:

Top social conservative leaders in key battleground states are urging John McCain not to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights, warning of dire consequences from a Republican base already unenthused about their nominee.

McCain's comments Wednesday to the Weekly Standard's Stephen Hayes that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge's pro-abortion rights views wouldn't necessarily rule him out quickly found their way into the in-boxes of Christian conservatives. For those who have been anxiously awaiting McCain's pick as a signal of his ideological intentions, there was deep concern that their worst fears about the Arizona senator may be realized.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[Geoffreys]

It's the beginning of the end for religious conservatives' power hold over the Republican party. (Or maybe it's the middle of the end ...) They've pushed hard enough to freak a lot of people out and we're getting too far from the millennium for the eschatological fear of big round numbers to keep the masses in line.

Now they're beginning to flounder around impotently demanding to be heard. their power now is less than it was before the 06 elections and it will be smaller still - maybe gone - after this one. Perhaps the true moderates in the GOP will rise to dominance.

[Egalitare]

I think that Movement Conservatives are at the beginning of generational change. Christian Coalition and Moral Majority gave them access and influence, but a newer generation is wondering if the focus needs to be on a narrow segment of moral issues.

What has the fight against reproductive freedom really gained for them spiritually or organizationally as people of faith? Bush's "Culture of Life" rhetoric plays well, but by most accounts there have been more abortions during his Administration than during Clinton's. So are they really saving "innocent life" or are they simply being used as giant human bumperstickers in positional politics? In insisting that "choosing life is always best" have they followed up with minimal safeguards for children after they are born? Is it really better for members of the LGTB community to not be able to adopt children as opposed to an entire lifetime in an underfunded foster care system? Those are just some questions that this new generation of the faithful are wrestling with mentally and spiritually, and I haven't mentioned the stewardship of the planet and income disparity issues that really make them uneasy.

The majority of the faithful will stay the course, but the number of "Movement Evangelicals" who question the righteousness of their historic course will grow. Some will abandon activist politics altogether, some will become true swing voters, some might even decide that Social Justice issues outweigh the issues on which they formally based political support.

[PumaAnn]

That base of the Republicans needs to be challenged. The entire issue needs to go away.

[doctorwang]

Agreed.

[CindyM2008]

Who (besides the press) is Mc cain's "base"?

[Kenji]

And he's losing them fast.

[dadw5boys]

Mc Cain does not care about anything but getting elected.

He cares for only one thing and thats John Mc Cain.

His whole past tells the story.

Other POW's make statement and films for the Veitcong got discharged he did not.

He dumps crippled wife for rich one.

He changes his votes to support who ever has the most money.

Ethics ????? Sure ! Want to buy a bridge?

[chitown8]

This might be a great ad one day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBfngOsvmA0

[j.gold]

He is flip flopping again. He already said he would not have a pro-choice VP and now . . . I wonder what he will flip flop on tomorrow?

[Boboday555]

Well judging from his previous jaw dropping flip-flops, his next one will likely be that he himself endorses Senator Obama!

[thegreatgiginthesky]

This is what happens when you field a candidate who does not know what he said yesterday.

[Xenopus]

John McCain doesn't know where he stands on the issues. As one of campaign people said, "the candidate doesn't speak for the campaign." Which would sound foolish until you listen to McCain.
This guy literally wakes up in a new world everyday.

[Citizen08]

Saturday Night on CNN they are having a Faith Forum

I hope they ask McCain about this, infidelity, and his adulteress affairs and watch him wiggle and squirm like he did over that question about insurance companies paying for Viagra and not Birth Control!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2y8dYwq01g

[bogues]

You and I both hope but don't hold your breath. They will be very gentle with McCain and they will go after Obama nonstop on things like Rev. Wright. We will be lucky if anything is exposed about McCain. The reason McCain is making the change in his stance on VP and pro-choice, is because he is going to be on this program saturday and he wants to appeal to all people.

[Brillig]

While we are ranting about Edwards, can any one say if any woman who slept with McCain had an abortion?

[tbirdalum]

He is an abortion.

[personalpolitical]

Haha, ohhh McCain, will you flip or flop? Decisions, decisions.

Hell, just follow your heart John. And yes, by "heart" I mean whichever lobbyists pay you the most to support their position.

[ViciousKitty]

His base already knows that they've got a loser, no matter who he picks. If he goes with somebody they view as "too liberal" they can point to that as reason for their failure when they try again in 2012.

[DoTheMath]

Good. It's about time for McStraddle to get off the fence. On this and several other issues, he's not just flip-flopping but trying to have it both ways at the same time. He wants to pick off all the disaffected feminists while hanging on to the religious right. The MSM has been supporting that effort, but, seriously, how long can he keep one group from hearing what he's saying to the other group? How long can he keep from talking about certain issues?

[MissingAmerica]

If their worst fear is that he would pick a veep who believes in a woman's right to choose, they have a lot more to worry about!

[MargaretO]

No kidding. Ugh!

[speedingpullet]

I'm just sick and tired of all these old white-haired guys telling me what I can do with my body.

Though, I can't say 'm surprised - isn't this the guy who blushed and stammered like a a schoolgirl a few weeks back when his own aide asked him why Viagra is available on Medicare, and birth control wasn't?

[Heavenhelpusall]

The Gay hook up guy gives him the maximum donation and he's considering a pro-choice VP - McMaverick is on a roll.