GOP base less than pleased with pro-choice talk

[babylonsister]

GOP base less than pleased with pro-choice talk
Posted August 15th, 2008


A few months ago, Chris Matthews asked John McCain if he would consider a pro-choice running mate, such as former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. “I don’t know if {his position on the issue} would stop him, but it would be difficult,” McCain said. This week, McCain reversed course a bit, saying he might consider a pro-choice running mate, just so long as he or she doesn’t also support gay rights.

The Republican base is paying close attention, and it’s not especially pleased with McCain’s latest remarks.

Top social conservative leaders in key battleground states are urging John McCain not to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights, warning of dire consequences from a Republican base already unenthused about their nominee.

McCain’s comments Wednesday to the Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge’s pro-abortion rights views wouldn’t necessarily rule him out quickly found their way into the in-boxes of Christian conservatives. For those who have been anxiously awaiting McCain’s pick as a signal of his ideological intentions, there was deep concern that their worst fears about the Arizona senator may be realized.

“It absolutely floored me,” said Phil Burress, head of the Ohio-based Citizens for Community Values. “It would doom him in Ohio.”

In an email Burren wrote to leading evangelical activists and McCain aides tasked with Christian conservative outreach, he added that a pro-choice running mate “will end his bid for the presidency and spell defeat for other Republican candidates.”

McCain almost certainly shouldn’t have said anything at all. He was unlikely to pick a pro-choice running mate anyway, but probably wanted to score some points by appearing open-minded on the subject.

But now, when he picks a running mate who opposes abortion rights, McCain will look like he caved to pressure from the religious right, especially after they claim “victory” for having “forced McCain’s hand.”

more...:nopity:

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16567.html#more-16567

[Binka]

1. Fundies Of All Stripes Are Fucking Nuts

I loathe these human maggots.

[LibDemAlways]

2. McCain has to pick somebody the fundie fringe

is going to support. He can't give single-issue voters a reason to stay home in Nov. He needs them.