From the Mouths of Republicans II
A couple of weeks ago I posted a series of comments made by Republican commentators and politicians questioning John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin for his running mate. While both Republicans and non-Repulbicans have been questioning Palin’s qualifications, when it comes to McCain they are primarily concerned about his volatile temper and his lack of impulse control, as the comments below (all made by conservatives) verify.
“His temper would place this country at risk in international affairs, and the world perhaps in danger. In my mind, it should disqualify him.” Former New Hampshire Republican Senator Bob Smith.
“John has made a pact with the devil,” says Lincoln Chafee, the former GOP senator, who has been appalled at his one-time colleague’s readiness to sacrifice principle for power. Chafee and McCain were the only Republicans to vote against the Bush tax cuts. They locked arms in opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And they worked together in the “Gang of 14,” which blocked some of Bush’s worst judges from the federal bench. “On all three — sadly, sadly, sadly — McCain has flip-flopped,” Chafee says. And forget all the “Country First” sloganeering, he adds. “McCain is putting himself first. He’s putting himself first in blinking neon lights.”
“I think the straight talk is gone. I think he’s pandering to the Christian right. That’s some straight talk from me.” ~ Bob Eleveld, former Kent County Republican chairman who led McCain’s West Michigan campaign in 2000.
“The thought of his being President sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper, and he worries me.” ~ Senator Thad Cochran, shortly before endorsing McCain.
“He is not the McCain I endorsed. He keeps saying, ‘Who is Barack Obama?’ I would ask the question, ‘Who is John McCain?’ because his campaign has become rather disappointing to me. I’m disappointed in the tenor and the personal attacks on the part of the McCain campaign, when he ought to be talking about the issues.” ~ Former Republican Governor William Milliken
“He will make Cheney look like Gandhi.” ~ Conservative Pat Robertson
“He is a vicious person. Nearly all the Republican senators endorsed Bush because they knew McCain from serving with him in the Senate. They so disliked him that they wouldn’t support him. They have been on the hard end of his behavior. I think he is not fit to be president.” ~ Former Republican Congressman John LeBoutillier.
“It’s been a very difficult thing for me because I’ve never endorsed a Democrat before…but sometimes in life you come to a juncture where it’s very clear the national interest trumps party discipline.” ~ Former Iowa Republican Congressman Jim Leach
Post Notes: Take a look at this disturbing video on John McCain’s rage as reported by Democrats and Republicans HERE and THIS one where conservative columnist David Brooks says that Sarah Palin represents a fatal cancer to the Republican Party and explains why.
October 12th, 2008 10:49 pm
It is very sad, but true.
October 12th, 2008 11:11 pm
I saw that video yesterday and it scares me almost as much as Palin does.
October 13th, 2008 7:42 am
I too have seen that video…very telling…as are your quotes. Jeez…between his temper and Palin’s wackiness, heaven help us if they get elected.
October 13th, 2008 12:02 pm
sort of takes your breath away, doesn’t it?
as i commented earlier here, there is no “country first.” yes, he has sold out in his desperation to win. it has to be an addiction to power; what else could turn you on a dime? perhaps it is fueled by his days as a POW when he had no power at all…that could be the source of his rage as well. a very expensive a pricetag for this country to pay for a leader who could drag us down the wrong path in order to soothe old wrongs. i think we are in iraq because of another’s misguided effort to avenge his father. we can’t afford such distorted guidelines for foreign policy or leaders whose motivation is perhaps cloaked in old pain.
the united states and the world need and deserve more.
October 13th, 2008 12:51 pm
I wonder if McCain feels the need to prove something because he was broken as a POW and succumbed to be used by the enemy. I suspect he is also dealing with PTSD after his horrific experiences in Vietnam. Like you, Sky, I do not see a cool collected and healthy leader in John McCain. My respect for him has dwindled to the point where I now view him as someone with a Napoleon Complex.
October 13th, 2008 4:31 pm
It still boggles my mind that if McCain truly wanted a female VP, why did he pass up all the qualified Republican women for this very dangerous and not-to-smart woman? This very important decision of his is scary.
October 13th, 2008 8:00 pm
I do think that the themes of emotional instability and anti-intellectualism are important to recognize, as David Brooks did. Unfortunately, these two themes are either unrecognized or dismissed as unimportant by the True Believers of McCain/Palin. Truthfully, there is not a smidgen of difference between the Taliban and the rabid supporters of McCain/Palin. The True Believers are engaged in a Holy War against Obama/Biden and will stop at nothing to win that war. There is an interesting article in the latest Rolling Stone that I’m sure upsets the True Believers to no end. I’ll post the links shortly ….
October 16th, 2008 11:00 am
Have you seen this YouTube video?
He rudely and deliberately passes right by this female reporter who was trying to ask a question. How childish is that?
October 22nd, 2008 8:23 pm
I noticed that my comment listing just some of the Democrats, including Obama’s running mate, criticizing Obama’s policies. Leiberman called his defense record “dangerous”. Hillary Clinton called Obama’s association with Ayers suspect and worthy of more investigation. And Biden revealed Obama’s obvious lack of experience.
Palin recently noted that Obama has served only 300 days in the Senate, and Americans deserve more experience given our economic situation along with our military engagements in the Middle East. Do you believe with-holding information helps people make informed decisions?
October 23rd, 2008 10:19 am
How long Palin has served as governor is not the reason she is not qualified. It’s because she doesn’t have a clue about anything beyond that. Several interviews have shown that.
Connecting Obama with Ayers is a desperate attempt at character assassination, a dirty tactic that Republicans have used to try to win elections. It plays on divisiveness and fear as Colin Powell recently pointed out.
If Ayers is going to be drug up from the mud, how about McCain’s close association with convicted felon Gordon Liddy, who was convicted for his connection to the Watergate break-in and who has admitted to plotting murder, firebombing, and kidnapping. Or the scandal of the Keating 5?
Jim, your comment was deleted because it got personal, was passive aggressive and insulting.