Eight years ago, it wasn’t this difficult.
In 2000, fiscal and social conservatives alike had their ideal candidate in George W. Bush. A successful two-term governor with a record of cutting taxes, reducing crime and improving education, Bush was the Republican Party’s choice for the nomination and went on to handily defeat Arizona Sen. John McCain in the primaries.
This time around, it’s McCain who is the GOP front runner, although his lack of a consistent conservative record has left many in the party discouraged with the process.
Many prominent conservatives, including Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham, have been highly critical of McCain and his record while in the Senate.
Ingraham, who has endorsed Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, recently went as far as to say, “There is no way in hell I could pull the lever for John McCain.”
Limbaugh has been similarly outraged at McCain’s recent electoral success, claiming that his nomination would severely damage the Republican Party.
McCain has come under fire for various positions he has taken over the years. For example, he co-sponsored a controversial campaign finance reform bill with liberal Democrat Russ Feingold in 1999, opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 before voting to extend them in 2005, and last year cosponsored a bill with Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy which would give illegal immigrants a pathway to American citizenship. McCain’s reputation as a “maverick” that will often cross party lines on certain issues has left many in the GOP frustrated and distrustful of the senator.
With such heated criticism from some of the most influential members of the conservative movement, how has McCain been able to win several primaries and position himself as the odds-on favorite for the Republican presidential nomination? The answer, in my opinion, is two fold.
First of all, there is no appealing, true conservative candidate in the Republican field this year. Mitt Romney may be the most conservative candidate still in the race, but his record on social issues has been alarmingly inconsistent over the years, and his conservative credentials are interpreted by many as an act of political expediency rather than an indication of his actual ideology.
And while Mike Huckabee may be the favorite of many social conservatives, his fiscal record as governor of Arkansas of increased spending and benefits for illegal immigrants has similarly put him under scrutiny by many on the right.
The second reason for McCain’s recent success is his perceived electability in the November general election. A former naval fighter pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam, McCain’s “war hero” label would undeniably benefit him in November. He is also one of the Senate’s most experienced and recognizable members, and his lack of an extreme conservative record has led to broad appeal with many independents as well.
In general election polls pitting Republican candidates against Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, McCain fares much better than either Romney or Huckabee. Considering the public’s growing disdain for the Bush Administration, the best-case scenario for the Republicans this year may be to run a more moderate candidate who will appeal to independent voters who have been turned off by Bush’s tenure in office.
Although it is seemingly said every four years, the 2008 election may be one of the most important races in American history. We are at a crossroads in terms of our foreign policy in the Middle East, our health care system is in dire need of reform and there are several aging Supreme Court justices who may have to be replaced during the next four years. The next president will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the American political landscape for years to come, and for this reason conservatives such as Limbaugh and Ingraham would be ill advised not to support the Republican nominee.
John McCain may not have the most impressive or consistent conservative record, but considering the alternatives on the Democratic side, he is the most logical choice for the White House in November.
About the writer:
Joseph Goddard is a junior political science major. He can be reached for contact at [email protected].
