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Title: McCain found a tool with which to woo conservative Republicans: Israel
Source:
Haaretz
URL Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ ... &listSrc=Y&art=2#article952529
Published: Mar 18, 2008
Author: Shmuel Rosner
Post Date: 2008-03-18 15:13:28 by Hagee
Keywords: None
Views: 173
Comments: 12
McCain found a tool with which to woo conservative Republicans: Israel There's been a lot of talk lately about John McCain's problem with the more conservative (and religious) right wing of the Republican Party. In Super Tuesday McCain won among self-identified conservatives in only three of the nine states that were covered by the exit polls I looked at. His real strength is among moderates. The dominant narrative for the rest of the Republican race could be McCain's uneasy relationship with the right, writes Michael Grunwald in Time. The candidate is making an effort to win over this important constituency: "I promise you," McCain assured conservatives in his victory speech, "if I am so fortunate to win your nomination, I will work hard to ensure that the conservative philosophy and principles of our great party ... will again win the votes of a majority of the American people." The problem he has is clear: How does one win over the more radical wing of his party without alienating the more centrist voters on which one relies to help him win not just the nomination but also the general election. McCain is using a couple of tools as to try and achieve this goal. One of them, and not a marginal one, is the State of Israel. Senator Joe Lieberman is playing a role here. The staunchest Jewish supporter McCain has, Lieberman can promise both Jews and Evangelical voters that McCain is the candidate who will not abandon Israel (no wonder some people still think Lieberman is McCain's top pick for Vice President). Lieberman also says that McCain understands how significant the establishment of the state of Israel was. He is an avid reader of history and also has "a sense of history." He is familiar with the story of the country. He will not do anything that will "compromise Israel's security." Lieberman has real confidence in McCain, a "total comfort level" because "I know this man." "In his potential outreach to evangelical Christians, Lieberman could trade on a relationship rooted in a shared concern for the safety of Israel, as well the respect many evangelicals have for Lieberman's Orthodox Jewish background and for his activism on values issues like violence in the media", wrote Jennifer Siegel of the Forward, and rightly so. But who needs Lieberman when it is so clear that the candidate himself is using the Israel tool with his most problematic constituency? Two weeks ago I reported that "it is not only the Jews who McCain is courting" with gestures and statements concerning Israel: Asked about his chances of winning the Republican nomination despite his poor relations with evangelical Christians, he noted that an influential segment of this community is very committed to Israel, and "obviously I have been a very strong proponent to the State of Israel." And here is a statement he made earlier, in the summer: "The State of Israel has never needed your support and your hopes and your prayers they way they need it today," McCain said. "And God bless you for your commitment." The occasion: the annual Christians United for Israel Summit in Washington. McCain's speech Thursday, at the Conservative Political Action Conference here in Washington, was designed to hammer this point home in an even more forceful way: "Those [Democratic] senators won't recognize and seriously address the threat posed by an Iran with nuclear ambitions to our ally Israel in the region", McCain said. Meaning: If you conservatives really care about Israel as you often say you do - I'm you're man. Here?s some more: "I intend to make unmistakably clear to Iran we will not permit a government that espouses the destruction of the State of Israel as its fondest wish and pledges undying enmity to the United States to possess the weapons to advance their malevolent ambitions". His speech, wrote Stephen Hayes "was surprisingly well-received". After the speech, Hayes reports: [Tom] DeLay told a few reporters that a speech at CPAC could not make up for McCain's record, but he would not rule out voting for him. That might not seem like a big deal unless we recall that DeLay had previously said that McCain "has done more to hurt the Republican Party than any elected official I know of." And he'd still consider voting for him? DeLay is definitely one of those people to which a positive message concerning Israel is of great importance, and might help McCain do the trick.
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#1. To: Hagee (#0)
"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men." -- Samuel Adams (1722-1803)‡
uh huh
Lieberman also says that McCain understands how significant the establishment of the state of Israel was. He is an avid reader of history and also has "a sense of history." He is familiar with the story of the country. He will not do anything that will "compromise Israel's security." Lieberman has real confidence in McCain, a "total comfort level" because "I know this man." 100 Years of War brought to you by McCain and his friends.
'Individuals should not take responsibility for their own defense. That’s what the police are for. ... If I oppose individuals defending themselves, I have to support police defending them. I have to support a police state.”' Alan Dershowitz
Meet out next president!
Id call that a dream ticket, unless you like one of the two baby killers running as Democrats. And if it takes another 100 years, so be it. You might have noticed we haven't been attacked since 9-11.
The general public is not given an honest accounting of what the US does in the ME, so how anyone can support any action against anyone in the ME is beyond me except to the extent that I will naturally argue against it, owing to its fundamental dishonesty.
I think protecting Israel from annihilation by Muslim hordes is reason enough to support McCain.
McCain is going to save Israel from destruction by Muslim hordes? With someone else's money, I hope.
Why is it any of our damn business if the Muslim hordes annihilate Israel? It’s not like they haven’t been “asking for it” since day one.
Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war. The Likud party cheers you on. Go get em tiger - kill for Christ. Attaboy. All that programming has really paid off. Die and claim your reward, is it 72 virgins or a castle of gold? Kill some faggots while your at it. Jesus loves you. The Prince of Peace. Amen.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" There are countless quotes from early zionist leadership to the effect that it has always been "us (zionists) vs. them (muslims)" from the very beginning for Israel, along with a recognition of the need to show the world a different face than that. If these abundant quotes are faked, then they are par for the course and merely typical smoke around the fire, IMO.
Someone needs to ask McStain, the war lobby's best friend, if it's possible to do more for Israel than it is in the US's best interest to do, and on what basis could a call be made on that matter, if it is possible.
#2. To: Hagee (#0)
Senator Joe Lieberman is playing a role here. The staunchest Jewish supporter McCain has, Lieberman can promise both Jews and Evangelical voters that McCain is the candidate who will not abandon Israel (no wonder some people still think Lieberman is McCain's top pick for Vice President).
#3. To: Hagee (#0)
Senator Joe Lieberman is playing a role here. The staunchest Jewish supporter McCain has, Lieberman can promise both Jews and Evangelical voters that McCain is the candidate who will not abandon Israel (no wonder some people still think Lieberman is McCain's top pick for Vice President).
#4. To: ghostdogtxn (#1)
#5. To: christine, robin (#2)
Lieberman is McCain's top pick for Vice President).
#6. To: Hagee (#0)
#7. To: nobody (#6)
#8. To: Hagee (#7)
#9. To: Hagee (#7)
I think protecting Israel from annihilation by Muslim hordes is reason enough to support McCain.
#10. To: Hagee (#5)
#11. To: karelian (#9)
It’s not like they haven’t been “asking for it” since day one.
#12. To: tom007 (#10)
(Edited)
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