Flashback: McCain Labels Bush a "Pat Robertson Republican"

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

<snip>

McCain was careful to not distance himself from his party's religious conservatives, taking to task only "a few of their self-appointed leaders." He accused the Bush campaign of misrepresenting his stand on abortion "because I don't pander to them." He also labeled Bush a "Pat Robertson Republican" who could not defeat Al Gore if the vice president succeeds in becoming the Democratic nominee.

"Neither party should be defined as pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Lewis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton, on the left, or Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell on the right," McCain told the campaign rally.

¶ McCain was specifically responding to a last-minute telephone campaign conducted by Pat Robertson's supporters in Michigan. Voters were warned that McCain's campaign cochairman, former Sen. Warren Rudman, had made disparaging remarks about Christian conservatives and was a "vicious bigot." In a political autobiography, Rudman had warned against "antiabortion zealots, would-be censors, homophobes, bigots and latter-day Elmer Gantrys to discredit any party that is unwise enough to embrace such a group."

Robertson's Christian Coalition issued a statement demanding that McCain repudiate Rudman, calling the statements "a direct assault on people of faith."

<snip>

More: http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/elec8.htm

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Not that I like McCain, but this is a good thing to spread around

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. Ka-ching!

Divide and conquer.

[Mikimouse]

2. Flashforward: History will label McCain...

a spineless, self interested coward who put party politics ahead of the needs of his nation in a time of national crisi, by aiding and abetting the reappointment of a man he knew to be unqualified for the job of potus.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. I believe he was bought off in a Rovian coup of sorts...

The Bush campaign will live in infamy.

[gumby]

8. Threatened off is more likely.

On the other hand, McCain has always been a wack-nut loyalist.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. You have to wonder "threatened with what?"

I put nothing past the machine that put Dim Son in office.

[blm]

3. Warren Rudman is the ONLY Republican you could even trust to care for this

nation with any respect for its citizens, laws, and security.

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. And he was right - Bush DIDN'T defeat Al Gore. Re Robertson's fatwa

on Chavez --anybody know if McCain has dared to open his mouth on it?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

7. I haven't heard anything yet.