By Scott Tibbs, March 30, 2010
Before John McCain can ask Arizona voters to send him back to Washington for another 6 years, he will need to fend off a credible conservative challenge in the Republican Party primary. He brought in Sarah Palin, who is popular with the conservative base and Tea Party activists, to stump for him. Arizona Republicans should dump him.
John McCain is weak on abortion, supports amnesty for illegal aliens, has opposed tax cuts, and was the leader of an anti-American attack on free speech in the U.S. Senate. Because of McCain's record, I voted against the Republican nominee for President for the first time in my life. (I supported Bill Clinton in 1992, but did not vote in that election.) I voted for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr. For more, see articles here, here, here, and here.
When Barack Obama was elected, some "conservative" intellectuals were claiming that "the era of Reagan is over." As the American people increasingly oppose Barack Obama's agenda and the Republican Party finally found the backbone to oppose and obstruct Obama's agenda, it is true that an era is over. The era of McCain is over.
If McCain is thrown out by Arizona Republicans, it would be an important victory for the conservative movement. It would be a shot across the bow to the Republican Party, letting the GOP establishment know we will not support someone simply because that candidate has an "R" next to his or her name. Instead, we want someone who will stand firm for limited government and individual liberty, two principles that McCain has actively opposed.
While I am disappointed that Palin is supporting McCain instead of his more conservative opponent, I can see why she is doing it and I do not hold that against her. No one would know who Palin is had McCain not picked her in 2008, and it is proper to be loyal to him. It would also make Palin look like a hypocrite to oppose McCain now.
Other Republicans, such as Mitt Romney, do not get a pass for supporting McCain. After a slugfest of a primary campaign in 2008, Romney owes McCain no loyalty now. Romney is attempting to position himself for 2012 as a solid conservative, but he is doing himself no favors with the conservative base by endorsing exactly the kind of RINO who led the GOP to historic losses in 2006 and 2008.
McCain needs to go. He has openly opposed conservative principles, attacked the Constitution, and seems to enjoy giving the finger to the conservative movement. Like I said before, a McCain loss would be a huge development politically. Derailing Leftist RINO Dede Scozzafava in New York's 23rd District last year was one thing, but that can be brushed aside due to some special circumstances. A McCain loss could not be brushed aside. Removing the GOP's 2008 nominee for President would send a message that is badly needed.
