Conservative Coloradans not in McCain's corner

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 09:40 p.m., March 4, 2008
Updated 07:00 a.m., March 4, 2008

Liz Cates is John McCain's problem.

"He has been inconsistent on the fundamental issues of life — like his support for stem-cell research," said Cates, a member of The Harvest church in Colorado Springs. "He needs to know every life is precious in the eyes of God."

Susan Brooks is McCain's problem, too — spitting out her disgust over his agreement to campaign finance reform under the McCain-Feingold bill.

"I think we'll lose the presidency if McCain is the nominee," said Brooks, also of Colorado Springs .

The level of mistrust among evangelical Christians and conservative Republicans is palpable. As he secured the GOP presidential nomination Tuesday night, those groups must make their peace with who McCain is or sit out the election.

How easy that will be depends on who is talking.

Jeff Crank, a Republican running for the 5th Congressional District, said it boils down to this; would Republicans rather see Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton in the White House?

"Despite our differences — and I have many with John McCain — if he is the nominee, they need to vote for him in record numbers because the stakes are so high," he said. "Not pulling the lever for the Republican nominee means you are really electing Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama — and they certainly aren't with you on those issues."

But that's not how James Dobson, influential founder of Focus on the Family, sees it at all.

Speaking as a private citizen, he endorsed Mike Huckabee long after the candidate was a long-shot for the nomination.

Perhaps more damning, however, was an e-mail Dobson wrote in early February: "I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience."

And in a race between McCain and either Obama or Clinton, he said he would not cast a ballot for the first time in his life.

VP pick could be key

Katy Atkinson, a political consultant for Republicans, acknowledges McCain has some repairs to do with that segment of the party. She thinks some of that could be done with the right vice presidential selection.

"He needs a vice president they'll feel good about and he needs some people working for him that are solid spokespeople within the social conservative community," she said. "Some people who can say, 'I'm working for him and here's why' and that will give McCain some credibility."

McCain fared poorly in the Colorado caucuses, getting clobbered by Mitt Romney, who subsequently dropped out of the race.

But Ken Bickers, chairman of the political science department at the University of Colorado, said it's important not to read too much into the caucus results.

He said fewer than 7 percent of registered Republicans participated and that unaffiliated voters — the second-largest contingent in the state — couldn't participate because it's a closed caucus system.

"Caucuses tend to bring out people who are strongly committed to particular candidates," he said. "So it's not a huge surprise that someone who is viewed more independent and maverick didn't reflect the high support that Romney or Huckabee had."

McCain has already started to work on his image, getting former Romney backers Sen. Wayne Allard, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and former Gov. Bill Owens to publicly back him.

Suthers said it's a matter of practicality to support McCain, acknowledging the conflicts conservatives have with him. For Suthers, it's bigger than the man.

"It's about available choices, not ideal choices," he said. "I'm a party guy. I believe in the two-party system. I believe parties stand for something and when you elect the president, you elect the party."

He also expects the general election to be competitive in Colorado because unaffiliated voters will make a big difference.

Colorado has 2.9 million registered voters, 34.4 percent of whom are unaffiliated. Only 34.8 percent are Republicans and 30.4 percent Democrats.

Bickers says the election will turn on how McCain's campaigning on national security issues plays with independents and how the economy is doing.

He also said there is one thing that won't help either party's nominee at all — the selection of a running mate.

"The vice presidential search will get a lot of attention and in November," he said. "When the studies are done afterwards, however, about how people made up their minds, the one bet I would make where I would be able to bet with certainty is that the vice presidential picks won't make one whit of difference."

Intraparty conflicts

Here are some areas where Sen. John McCain has conflicts with conservative Republicans

Campaign finance reform through a bill co-sponsored by Russell Feingold, D-Wis.

McCain supported a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, though he's struck a harder tone recently.

McCain did not support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

McCain supported relaxing restrictions on federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research.

Member of the Gang of 14. Joined Sen. Ken Salazar as a part of the group that avoided a Senate fight over filibusters used for judicial nominees made by President Bush.

Voted twice against President Bush's tax cuts, though he now says he wants to extend them.

monterod@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5236

• March 5, 2008

  12:24 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  politwriter writes:

  McCain could make things a lot easier for himself by renouncing his support for the illegal alien amnesty proposal that he co-sponsored with Teddy Kennedy.

  As it stands, McCain's position is indistinguishable from that of Clinton or Obama --- or La Raza for that matter.

  I am a Reagan Conservative going back to his '76 campaign.

  I did not cast a Presidential general election vote in '96 and can abstain again. For me it all hinges on serious immigration control.

• March 5, 2008

  7:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  ColetteDD2 writes:

  I'm thrilled to hear Colorado Christian Conservatives aren't backing McCain. This group was a key part of the king making of GW's presidential run and administration. See how well that went? Candidates/Nominees who cater to extremists are showing thier unfitness for public office. Effective, successful leadership begins with speaking and demonstrating respect of the oppposition and recognizing the wisdom of compromise.

• March 5, 2008

  8:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Michael writes:

  Sen. McCain is not my ideal candidate. I cringed over McCain-Fiengold, The Gang of 14, his not supporting the tax rate cuts, and his stance on illegal immigration/amnesty. But, on the other hand, he is a defense hawk, a decorated combat vet, a Navy man, believes in a strong and "forward presence" American foreign policy, is a patriot and believes America is more often right than wrong, believes in free trade and capitalism, and he is a true consensus builder and is willing to reach across the aisle to get things done. At this time that is more important than a hard line conservative or any single issue - if we as the GOP want to win. This is NOT the time of Reagan when the country was ready to go to the right. McCain can capture the moderates and independents in the middle better then anyone. He has the track record of playing in that arena and his scars are deep - from the left and the right. If you want to be a one issue voter or be content to be an idealogue over this, then you will have at least 4 years of Clinton and/or Obama. If you want to be practical and pragmatic about it (and you want to win), then get behind McCain now and support him. You cannot govern unless you WIN first.

• March 5, 2008

  9:10 a.m.

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  Trythinking writes:

  ColetteDD2,
  Does that apply to Dems as well. The Dems have just as many far left whackos as the Reps have far right whackos. I say McCain should pick Lieberman as VP and take the Jewish vote, the national security vote and the anyone but Hillary or BHO vote. Let the dems keep the mindless hope & change vote, the cut & run vote and blame America first vote.

• March 5, 2008

  9:35 a.m.

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  JohnSWren writes:

  What do you think? Join us this Friday for the Denver Grassroots Rally. More info and optional RSVP at http://cocacop.meetup.com/2

• March 5, 2008

  10:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Awal writes:

  Dear Right Wingers,

  Feel free to withhold your support from McCain. I'm sure you'll be very pleased about the "statement" you made when it comes time for President Obama to appoint 3 retiring Supreme Court Justices. Not unlike the "statement" that ostensible Democrats made in 2000 when they voted for Ralph Nader.

• March 5, 2008

  10:15 a.m.

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  unitethegop writes:

  Great article. The GOP needs to wake up and realize the party is still split. Conservatives are happy with McCain as our only choice. His Choice of VP will be critical! Everyone I know in CO voted for Romney here in our caucuses. We need Romney on the ticket. Romney would unite the party and give us chance in Nov against the democrats. I've started a grass roots organization to promote a McCain-Romney ticket and more importantly keep conservatives leaders and principles in office.
  www.unitethegop.com

• March 5, 2008

  10:21 a.m.

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  Horribilis writes:

  I agree with Michael hole heartedly. There will never be a single perfect candidate for either party, or even for moderates. There will always be issues on which they deviate from every single person in their party. To refrain from casting a vote for "your party's" candidate is IN-FACT the same thing as casting a vote for the other party. PERIOD! It is ridiculous to believe that one is making any valuable point by withholding their vote for their party's candidate. It is akin to throwing a temper tantrum as a child and holding your breath....you really don't accomplish anything and only risk harming yourself. Is McCain my ideal candidate? Heck no. but is he better than the alternative...Clinton or Obama? HECK YES!!! Is there really anymore you need to know? Those are your choices...our next President will be one of those 3, like it or not, so get with the program. It is fine to make a point and to try to influence policy, but to do so by being absent on voting day quite frankly is idiocy...cutting off one's nose to spite their face. [stepping down off soap box]

• March 5, 2008

  11:11 a.m.

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  ezekiel777 writes:

  an e-mail Dobson wrote in early February: "I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience."

  Now that's a statement of pure stupidity.

  I have been a Republican for all of my adult life. My first vote was cast for Nixon in 1972. Until about 2 years ago I considered myself a conservative. However the racist element of conservatism became quite clear to me with their reaction to the illegal migrant's walkout almost 3 years ago this May. I could not go along with the conservative's display of hatred, anger and venom spued against a people who just want to improve their lives... achieve what conservatives want to achieve...build businesses... raise families... become self-sufficient. They would have made good Republicans when they become established. I call this a grand lost opportunity.

  The immigration laws have been unenforced for over 60 years....12 million plus are here as a testament to these toothless laws... this tells me that there is no real law in the first place and these people are not here illegally if the gov't won't or can't enforce a law prohibiting their entry. However this only fans the hatred, prejudice and anger conservatives hold against theses people...

  If Dobson were a real man of God and not a modern day Pharisee, he would see the opportunity for evangelism placed right on his doorstep. However, he and most other "religious" hypocrites throw rocks at the people who God wants to save and help. Woe to you, James Dobson.

  I like McCain.... but a Democrat may be the right answer.

• March 5, 2008

  11:52 a.m.

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  politwriter writes:

  Liberal Republicans and the Chamber of Commerce Republicans had better understand that the votes of social conservatives are not a given.

  We've been down this road once too many times. I'll take 4 disasterous years of Barack Obama and a conservative renaissance in 2012 over a GOP President who would put my party's seal of approval on an amnesty of 20 million foreign invaders and appointments of left of center Supreme Ct. judges, as McCain would surely do. Four years of Jimmy Carter was the best thing that ever happened to the conservative movement.

  I repeat, McCain had better assuage the conservative movement and fast or he will be joining Gerry Ford and President Dole in the also rans hall of fame.

• March 5, 2008

  5:15 p.m.

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  AngelontheSidelines writes:

  I have never seen a bleeding heart conservative, ever. Thanks Zeke7 there is always a first:)

  I'm hardly a conservative, yet I must ask why life is so bad in Mexico that the people must flee?

  The problem is not the masses flooding our borders, it is why these people feel they must abandon their country. Amnesty for illegals is merely enabling the oligarchy and corrupt state that makes life so miserable that Mexicans leave home for greener pastures.

  But then again, I may wind up fleeing to Mexico to avoid our own troubles as our nascent police state becomes ever more intrusive in our lives.