MyDD :: GOP "Gang of 14" says it won't back McCain

GOP "Gang of 14" says it won't back McCain

by ragekage, Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:07:41 AM EST

In the wake of hearing from our good friend, Congressman Dan Boren (D-Okla), we have interesting news from The Hill this morning:

At least 14 Republican members of Congress have refused to endorse or publicly support Sen. John McCain for president, and more than a dozen others declined to answer whether they back the Arizona senator.

Just wait- it gets better.

It is not unusual for certain factions of the Democratic and Republican parties not to embrace their respective candidates for president. McCain's campaign seized on some Democrats' reticence about Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), issuing a release on Tuesday that highlighted that Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.) is not endorsing the presumptive nominee. While some conservative Democrats have yet to endorse Obama and didn't back Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004, there are both centrist and conservative Republicans representing various parts of the country who are not embracing McCain.

Ahh, but don't worry Senator McCain- they said they'd hold their nose and vote for you anyway. Besides, it's just jerks like Ron Paul, Chuck Hagel, Randy Forbes, Wayne Gilchrest, Tim Murphy, Ted Poe, Todd Tiahrt, Dave Weldon, and Frank Wolf (among many others!) mean anything, especially not coming from congressmen from battleground states like Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania.

Certainly this isn't indicative of a larger problem with the Republican party indicative of a large split in their party, or a trashing of public opinion against the Republicans. Right?

Teacherken over at Kos does an excellent writeup on this very point, also- you can see it at The Orange Satan, of course.

And just for your amusement:

Tags: Republican party, split, McCain, support, Obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 17 Comments :: Post a Comment

15% Tips are Customary (2.00 / 9)

Hooray for John McCain!

by ragekage on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:09:23 AM EST

Re: 15% Tips are Customary (none / 0)

What? Just mojo?

Eh, alright, I can live with that.

Hooray for John McCain!

by ragekage on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:18:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Republican apathy and fear (2.00 / 1)

The fact that Republicans are apathetic and fearful of losing their seats is a stronger weapon than any speech made by Obama.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:20:39 AM EST

Well... (2.00 / 2)

I thought it was 18% personally, but I also tip around 20% at least...

This could go either way - it rallies support from independents or just alienates the base. Now, in the ideal scenario, this helps McCain and a conservative VP rallies the base. There's lots of ifs in that scenario though.

Interestingly, one of these dear Congressmen and Senators is Larry Craig - would McCain want his endorsement anyway?

by ejintx on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:23:36 AM EST

Re: Well... (none / 0)

Correction: I meant the ideal scenario for McCain.

by ejintx on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:24:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Well... (none / 0)

You're right, and Teacherken points out pretty well there's a bunch of people like that- but fourteen who come out and say it, and another dozen or two who refuse to comment. This is mostly because of McCain trying to make a case out of Dan Boren.

Hooray for John McCain!

by ragekage on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:32:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Look in the mirror repugs (2.00 / 1)

and the say the dems are divided

PUMA: Particularly Undeveloped Mental Ability

by wellinformed on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 11:28:58 AM EST

Re: Look in the mirror repugs (none / 0)

You should say "look in the mirror MSM, the Republicans are divided"
On second though, that's probabaly the same thing.

by spirowasright on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:34:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hey, be nice to Ron Paul. (2.00 / 1)

After all, he got 16% in PA, and we'd be very grateful to him if he endorsed Barr. So be kind. The poor thing seems insecure.

Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.

by sricki on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:20:36 PM EST

I like Ron Paul (2.00 / 1)

Yes, he's a bit of a loon, but he's a far cry better than McCain, and anyone willing to hijack the Republican National Convention is a good guy in my book.

Plus: Zeppelins.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:32:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Poor McCain. He just can't get no respect.... (none / 0)

Obama supporter working to defeat McCain.

by Rumarhazzit on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:34:40 PM EST

Re: Poor McCain. He just can't get no respect.... (2.00 / 1)

And John Stewart slaughtered him on the Daily Show last night. Yikes.

Hooray for John McCain!

by ragekage on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:40:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Poor McCain. He just can't get no respect.... (2.00 / 1)

I'll be so happy when McCain loses and he can rail on the conservatives that ruined his campaign twice.

If you're being chased by an angry bull and then you notice you're also being chased by a swarm of bees, it doesn't really change things. Just keep on running.

by vcalzone on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:53:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

STarting to feel sorry for McCain. (2.00 / 2)

He should be the perfect candidate for a year like this; Lord knows we were worried when we first realized he won. But the Republicans pushed him so far to the right, so now he's damned any way he goes. If he spurns those guys to go with his old platforms because he'd lose the conservative base that he needs. If he goes with those guys and runs conservative, he loses moderates and even some of those insane former Hillary supporters (because they're not supporting Hillary now, are they?).

What the hell is he to do? Republicans are determined to lose this election by a landslide.

If you're being chased by an angry bull and then you notice you're also being chased by a swarm of bees, it doesn't really change things. Just keep on running.

by vcalzone on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 12:51:08 PM EST

Re: STarting to feel sorry for McCain. (1.00 / 1)