I understand the frustration of many Republicans who just can’t understand how some conservatives just can’t bring themselves to support John McCain even though Barack Obama would likely be an even worse president than Jimmy Carter. I really do feel your pain. However…
It’s still a long, long way to election day. Many conservatives who are saying today that they can’t vote for McCain will come around and vote for McCain in November. Heck, I might even be one of them. But let me warn partisan Republicans that you’ll catch more wayward conservatives with honey than you will with vinegar.
For example, here’s what NOT to do if you want to persuade disgruntled (legitimately so) conservatives to vote for McCain in the fall rather than push them further away and force them to dig in their heels. This came to me recently in an email from an unknown McCain supporter:
“John McCain is THE Republican nominee, and though you may think he’s not ‘this,’ or ‘that’ enough for you, he is 10,000% better than the alternative. SO, enough of the ‘He’s not my first choice…’ crappola. McCain is your choice, period. Got it? Because, if you can’t suffer your personal political problems in silence, we don’t want to freaking HEAR from you. This ain’t the Whining Party, this is the Republican Party. Get over yourself, and get with the program.”
It is impossible to overstate exactly how stupid something like this is.
Conservatives, by definition, are independent thinkers. Liberals embody the herd mentality, where being told to “get with the program” actually works. But when you tell a conservative to “get with the program,” there’s a very good chance the conservative will go the other way just for spite. We are, at our core, anti-authoritarians. We don’t like being told what to do. By anybody.
And while John McCain might be the Republican nominee, he wasn’t MY choice…or the choice of a great number of Republicans. In fact, John McCain won the nomination by winning a lot of states in which NON-Republicans were allowed to vote for the Republican nominee.
It is not MY obligation to vote for John McCain just because he’s the Republican nominee. It is John McCain’s obligation to earn my vote. So far, he hasn’t. Doesn’t mean he can’t. He just hasn’t yet. But I can tell you this: Telling me to suffer the McCain nomination in silence and get with the program ain’t gonna cut it. That dog won’t hunt.
Posted on July 6th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: National
[…] Chuck Muth’s latest op/ed (they’re called “Muth’s Truths”) is a welcome reminder of why I like him so darn much. There might not be another pundit I more frequently agree with. Enjoy his latest on the GOP’s efforts to ram the McCain nomination down conservatives’ throats. How Not to Win Votes and Influence Conservatives […]
I will not vote for John McCain ever!!!! His voting record makes me sick. The Republican Party has left me. I want to here how great our country is and I want to hear no Anmesty and no to bigger government. I want a stronger dollar and I want the so-called free trade to end. I want my America back!!!!! To date my vote will go to Bob Barr and I will encourage any like minded to vote all the incumbents out of office we need a government for, by and of the people not of , by and for big $$$$$!!!!
I will not vote for the Democratic far left of Barack Obama or the Republican middle-left of John McCain. Anything they have to say now is merely political posturing.
Bob Barr comes closest to my beliefs. So, he will get my vote.
[…] Muth’s Truths reminds us that the Republican presidential nominee captured the GOP nomination by winning a lot of states in which NON-Republicans were allowed to cast ballots for the Republican nominee. […]
[…] Chuck Muth ran an article he titled “How Not to Win Votes and Influence Conservatives,” that I thought hit the nail on the head. You should read the entire article, which isn’t very long - but to tide you over, here’s a few paragraphs: For example, here’s what NOT to do if you want to persuade disgruntled (legitimately so) conservatives to vote for McCain in the fall rather than push them further away and force them to dig in their heels. This came to me recently in an email from an unknown McCain supporter: […]
The arrogance of the so-called leadership of the Republicans is unbelievable! This rank and filer, will never give them another dime until they follow the basic principles of what used to be the GOP.
I may vote for McCain but I will not contribute to McCain.
Perhaps if the Republican Party followed It’s Principles
They wouldn’t be in the mess they are in today
Republican Principles
I’m a Republican Because…
I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity; freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.
I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.
I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.
I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.
I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.
FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.
http://www.gop.com/About/AboutRead.aspx?AboutType=3&Section=19
So how’s the tax pledge thing going, Chuck? Looks like NOT ONE of the major GOP assembly challengers has signed it (based on the list at COPAC’s site). Your buddy Ozark signed it for AD10, where he ran two years ago before losing and carpetbagging into Henderson where he HASN’T signed it for AD21 (but his website http://jonozark.com/issues.htm falsely claims he has - is he a flip flopper? A liar? Doesn’t matter - Chuck still hearts him even though incumbent Assemblyman Beers HAS signed it). So Chuck, when are you going to call Jonny O on it? HYPOCRITE!
“Eddie,” don’t be such a jackass. Ozark signed the Pledge and faxed it to me at 10:11 a.m. on June 18, 2008. You should learn to check your facts before making yourself look like such an idiot.
COPAC’s website didn’t have Ozark on it until AFTER my post, Chuck.
Nice to know the carpetbagger at least isn’t flip flopping.
That doesn’t mean he didn’t sign it. You should have verified your facts before making an ass of yourself in public.
I agree with Muth that its going to be tough to convince a lot of people that McCain is the way to go. There is no doubting that. However, keep in mind the complete and utter destruction that an Obama presidency will cause.
I am in no way a huge McCain supporter, and like most people say, he was not my first choice. But, the dangers our nation faces at the hands of an Obama presidency frighten me deeply.
I understand that all the RP supporters want 2 things: whats best for their country, and whats best for our party. I want the same thing. I understand that the best thing for our country is to keep Obama out of the white house. We all need to agree on that first, put aside what mccain is or isnt and keep in mind the goal of keeping Obama out of the white house because that is truly the best thing we can do for our country.
The pain the Republican party feels from its primary is large and its noticed by ALL true conservatives, whether they turned to Ron Paul or not. We ALL feel like we could have gotten a more conservative candidate on our platform and the thing that we needed to keep in mind is that handing the white house to the democrats alongside giving them both houses of congress is not going to solve that problem. We, as conservatives, as the base of our party, have 4 years to fix the problems we face this year. By the year 2012, we can change state party laws to not allow non-partisans to vote in our primaries, thus greatly decreasing the chance of a moderate republican being elected. Also, I highly doubt that McCain will be able to run for re-election, so we will have ourselves an open primary in 2012 and we can select a candidate that stands more closely to our party platform and the believes of it’s party members.
With the country continuing to move left of center ( it has for quite a while ) a vote for McCain will show the elitists we all work for, that left is where we want to go. If he wins, and to me, that is a big if at present, the trend will still be left. If he loses, and the Obama becomes President, the next PUB squirrel in the cage will be even farther left to appeal to the leftists. A vote for McCain, in my opinion, is a lose-lose proposition for conservatives.
I’ve been blessed in my lifetime of having two Old Right Conservatives try to turn this country around. The first was Barry Goldwater and the second, Ron Paul. None of the others, including Reagan, have come close. I will have voted for both of those fine conservatives. I do not figure I’ll ever get a third chance.
I do not vote based on a party. The reason I have voted Republican in the past, is that the Republican party embodied the principles that I believe in. Not the other way around. The GOP no longer agrees with the principles that I believe in, and I will not sacrifice those principles in the name of party loyalty. If the GOP wants me to vote for their candidate, then they should be loyal to me and select a candidate who is a principled conservative.