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Title: Conservatives Revisit Third Party
Source:
Associated Press
URL Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic ... /02/13/politics/p145633S83.DTL
Published: Feb 13, 2008
Author: Associated Press
Post Date: 2008-02-13 20:44:29 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 312
Comments: 17
(02-13) 14:56 PST (AP) -- The same conservative Christian activist who called a meeting last fall to discuss backing a third-party candidate to counter a possible Rudy Giuliani candidacy is revisiting the idea as Sen. John McCain closes in on the Republican presidential nomination. Bob Fischer, a South Dakota businessman and anti-abortion activist, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while he could back the Arizona senator over either Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama, he made clear that he and others in the evangelical movement are not content with those choices. "I'll be working in other ways to see that we have additional choices as conservatives," Fischer said. He declined to elaborate, but held out hope that Mike Huckabee might mount an improbable comeback, or that another "good conservative, Godly, Christian pro-life" GOP candidate somehow emerge to supplant McCain. The Arizona lawmaker has opposed abortion during his four terms in the Senate. Fischer also volunteered an alternative scenario: supporting the nominee of the fledgling Constitution Party. Although some conservative Christian activists are warming to McCain, Huckabee's success with that voting bloc in recent primaries and caucuses shows that much work remains for McCain. Several Christian conservative leaders dismiss renewed talk of a third-party strategy, but any significant loss of conservative Christian voters could spell trouble for McCain in a close general election. "Some of these folks might be trying to send a signal to McCain," said Mark Rozell, a political scientist at George Mason University. "There are also some people in that movement who believe McCain is hopeless. And they're not bluffing." McCain already faces danger if conservative Christians are not energized about his candidacy, and the prospect of a third-party candidate siphoning off even a half-percentage point of McCain support could be a difference-maker, Rozell said. Last fall, Fischer called a meeting in Salt Lake City as Christian conservative leaders attended a separate gathering of the ultra-secretive Council for National Policy, an umbrella group for the movement. Most attendees of Fischer's meeting, including Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, agreed to support a minor-party candidate if Giuliani emerged as the Republican nominee, according to Dobson and others in attendance. Another group suggested creating a new party, but no consensus emerged, Dobson wrote in an op-ed in The New York Times. Several Christian conservative leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Fischer has invited them to a follow-up meeting next month in New Orleans coinciding with another Council for National Policy meeting. Fischer would not confirm nor deny a meeting, but said, "If I told you we were, I think the success of that meeting would be greatly compromised." Mat Staver, who heads the conservative Christian legal group Liberty Counsel, said blunting McCain with a minor-party candidate has scant support because McCain is much closer to social conservatives on issues than Giuliani. Former GOP presidential candidate and conservative Christian Gary Bauer, who endorsed McCain this week, also was dismissive: "I think the third-party idea has effectively gone the way of all bad ideas," Bauer said. Fischer said that for large numbers of social conservatives to entertain backing McCain, he would need to reverse himself on several positions, including his support for relaxing restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. Fischer said if McCain prevails short of doing that, he and many other conservatives "will not work as hard as we could" to elect him. He then raised the possibility of Christian conservatives lining up behind the Constitution Party, citing its conservative moral stances and ability to get on state ballots, a steeper challenge for an entirely new party. The Constitution Party, which calls itself "completely pro-life, pro-gun, pro-American sovereignty and independence," has secured spots on about 16 state ballots and hopes to exceed 40, national field director Gary Odom said. The party has nominated founder Howard Phillips as its presidential candidate in the past and will select its candidate in April. Said Fischer: "The Republican Party needs to remember that (the Constitution Party) will nominate a conservative. If the Republican Party wants to avoid defeat in November, they need to do the same. There are no votes to waste in this election."
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
where were these christian conservatives for Ron Paul???
The only solution to this mess is to dig a hole big enough to nudge them all in and cover quickly
that's where my vote will go.
Starting a Constitution Party Ping list.
Bad idea for a reason, because Paul in a third party effort would have guaranteed McCain would lose, and PTB would not stand for that.
Party above policy at all costs. Maintain power by maintaining the status quo.
McCain calls for party unity and two days later Paul gets political religion.
Shades of McClintock.
It's a sad deal. Really, really sad.
Our last hope for peace You're a LIAR Gary Bauer. You're no "christian" if you support McCrazy.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition "Corporation: An entity created for the legal protection of its human parasites, whose sole purpose is profit and self-perpetuation." © IndieTx These traitors are a dead party walking ... save your energy and enthusiasm for after November. If after a year of Republican campaigning by the "front-runners" with no sign of rejection of the last eight horrible years who'd believe them if they did a 180 now?
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
The little asshat Bauer comes in at about 3 mins :)
Keyes would have been a great VP with Ron Paul...and ununbeatable team against Hitlery/Obama and McCain/Liberman in a 3 way race....but so much for RP winning now...lost cause..completely. He blew his chance to win by placing party over country. He did great to USE the GOP for exposure and money it provided...however remaining in now is...foolish. And I hear people saying he's playing it right hoping McCain will have a heart attack or something...LMFAO!!! That's like a team with 1 minute to go in the Super Bowl, behind 20- 14..kicking a field goal instead of going for it on 4th down. Totally impotent. /rant over for now
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition "Corporation: An entity created for the legal protection of its human parasites, whose sole purpose is profit and self-perpetuation." © IndieTx When there's not another vehicle, you stay with the one that got you to where you're at. I don't think Keyes would be a good VP. He's a good speaker however.
We demand our United States Constitution be restored.
There IS another vehicle. He's already refused the CP's request and they have ballot access. There are plenty of unbeatable combinations with Ron Paul...PAt Buchanan, Keyes, heck even maybe Nader...my point is that a 3 way split would result in RP winning. He will NOT win by remaining in his vehicle on the RR tracks with the train coming.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition "Corporation: An entity created for the legal protection of its human parasites, whose sole purpose is profit and self-perpetuation." © IndieTx If this Fischer guy is 'holding out hope for huckabee' and he's indicative of what the constitution party has become, they're a lost cause too. huckabee, alan keyes and jerome corsi are the prospects for the CP?? Yeeek!! In that case time for libertarian party or anarchy.
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" keyes said he supports implementing the draft and supports these wars. he's a good speaker, until you listen to him long enough, at which time it becomes obvious he's another zionist neocon KOOK.
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him" Speaking of Third Parties, Jeremy Corsi and Alan Keyes, both neoconservatives, are running for Constitution Party nominee. If either of them make it, the Constitution Party won't even be good for a protest vote anymore.
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
Fischer also volunteered an alternative scenario: supporting the nominee of the fledgling Constitution Party.
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles,
and the letters get in the wrong places. -- Winnie the Pooh
#3. To: Cynicom, _______, Original_Intent, Dakmar, lodwick, wudidiz, buckeye, Axenolith, christine, James Deffenbach, Artisan, richard9151, iconoclast, IndieTX, catcher, Critter, who knows what evil, Sodie Pop, freepatriot32 (#1)
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles,
and the letters get in the wrong places. -- Winnie the Pooh
#4. To: farmfriend (#3)
Former GOP presidential candidate and conservative Christian Gary Bauer, who endorsed McCain this week, also was dismissive: "I think the third-party idea has effectively gone the way of all bad ideas," Bauer said.
#5. To: Cynicom (#4)
and PTB would not stand for that.
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles,
and the letters get in the wrong places. -- Winnie the Pooh
#6. To: farmfriend (#5)
Party above policy at all costs. Maintain power by maintaining the status quo.
#7. To: Cynicom (#6)
McCain calls for party unity and two days later Paul gets political religion.
My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles,
and the letters get in the wrong places. -- Winnie the Pooh
#8. To: Cynicom (#6)
What North American Union? ~~~~~ Have you seen THIS yet? Pass it around...
#9. To: Cynicom (#4)
Former GOP presidential candidate and conservative Christian Gary Bauer, who endorsed McCain
"There is no 'legitimate' Corporation by virtue of it's very legal definition and purpose."
-- IndieTx
#10. To: Brian S (#0)
If the Republican Party wants to avoid defeat in November, they need to do the same. There are no votes to waste in this election."
#11. To: IndieTX (#9)
#12. To: Jethro Tull, christine (#11)
"There is no 'legitimate' Corporation by virtue of it's very legal definition and purpose."
-- IndieTx
#13. To: IndieTX (#12)
He did great to USE the GOP for exposure and money it provided...however remaining in now is...
#14. To: angle, jethro tull (#13)
"There is no 'legitimate' Corporation by virtue of it's very legal definition and purpose."
-- IndieTx
#15. To: Brian S (#0)
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
#16. To: IndieTX (#12)
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
#17. To: Brian S (#0)
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