Focus on the Family founder James Dobson spelled out on Super Tuesday why social conservatives don’t accept McCain: “I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems poised to select a nominee who did not support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, voted for embryonic stem-cell research to kill nascent human beings, opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, has little regard for freedom of speech, organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters in judicial hearings, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language.â€
Dobson went on to say that if McCain is the nominee, he’ll sit out a presidential election for the first time in his life.
It’s unclear whether Dobson still has much clout. Can McCain overcome this level of hostility from social conservatives?
Meanwhile, columnist Kathleen Parker writes on today’s Opinion Page that Dobson, Rush Limbaugh and other “Kamikaze Republicans†are irrational and arrogant in opposing McCain and arguing that there’s no difference between him and Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. “Principles shouldn’t be so inflexible that strict adherence elevates a worse alternative,†she said.
A bill in the Legislature to support the Holcomb coal plant expansion hit a roadblock Friday when House Utilities Committee Chairman Carl Holmes, R-Liberal, unexpectedly pulled the bill. “I’ve been ordered not to work this bill,†Holmes said. “I will make no comment. We are adjourned.â€
The “order†apparently came from House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, who echoed Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in commenting, “With an issue of this statewide importance, we must take our time, do this right and not rush it.â€
Clearly, though, it wasn’t the arguments of Sebelius or scientists or environmental groups that moved Neufeld but rather the criticism of conservative anti-tax activists such as Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, who demanded Thursday that a meager carbon tax be stripped from the bill.
Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, said Norquist’s testimony appeared decisive. “It seems more than coincidence that he is here one day and they pulled the bill the next,†she told the Topeka Capital-Journal.
It’s an ironic twist that conservatives pulled the plug on this Holcomb relief bill.
Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, didn’t offer an official explanation last week of why he was the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote against the $168 billion economic stimulus package. But his spokeswoman confirmed that his vote reflected his recent comments on the bill, including that “we can’t sacrifice the long-term economy and ignore the reality that money we would spend on a stimulus package is being borrowed.†He also recently said: “I worry this has less to do with stimulating the economy and more to do with the November election.†Kansans shouldn’t let their gratitude for the cash they’ll soon get blind them to the fact that this is fiscal funny money.
Some anti-candidate bumper stickers to remember this primary campaign season by:
“Monica Lewinsky’s Ex-Boyfriend’s Wife for Presidentâ€
“GOPee on Hillaryâ€
“Run Hillary Run: If Republican Place on Front Bumper, if Democrat Place on Backâ€
“Audacity of Inexperienceâ€
“Giuliani for Fuehrerâ€
“Lemmings for Giulianiâ€
“He puts the ‘ass’ in Massachusettsâ€
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson spelled out on Super Tuesday why social conservatives don’t accept McCain: “I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems poised to select a nominee who did not support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage, voted for embryonic stem-cell research to kill nascent human beings, opposed tax cuts that ended the marriage penalty, has little regard for freedom of speech, organized the Gang of 14 to preserve filibusters in judicial hearings, and has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language.â€
