Lott to South Carolina for McCain

Now that Trent Lott has retired from the Senate, he looks to help his friend John McCain out in South Carolina.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Lott said he'll campaign in South Carolina next month for fellow Republican John McCain. Lott has been supporting the Arizona senator's presidential bid for more than a year.

"When I called him to tell him I was going to retire from the Senate, he was not real happy about that," Lott said by phone from his Washington office. "I said, 'Well, John, look at it this way: Now I'm free to campaign for you in South Carolina, where I speak the language."'

The South Carolina Republican primary, on Jan. 19, is among the first in the nation.

The McCain Comeback

Matthew Continetti writes for the Weekly Standard that after last night's debate, the GOP08 campaign is a new race - the McCain comeback and the Thompson entry: Wednesday night's Fox News Channel debate saw McCain reassert his place in the top tier of Republican contenders. And it was his answers on critical foreign policy questions involving Gen. David Petraeus's "surge" strategy in Iraq, the interrogation techniques deployed on enemy detainees, and the use of military force against Iran that established his strong position. It increasingly seems clear that illegal immigration, the issue which dominated the Republican race throughout the spring and summer, and an issue on which McCain stands directly opposed to many in his party, will not be the issue on which the nomination is decided. To put it another way: Foreign policy has come home to roost.

Fred Barnes, also with the Weekly Standard, agrees: No Presidential nomination or election has ever been won on the basis of a performance in a debate. But candidates can help or hurt themselves. Last night in New Hampshire, John McCain helped himself and Mitt Romney hurt himself. And while Rudy Giuliani was no slouch, he became tedious by droning on about his accomplishments as mayor of New York. The five other Republican presidential candidates didn't matter much. Fred Thompson, who announced his candidacy last night on TV, was a no-show.

McCain was ready and eager to stress his muscular position in favor of the "surge" in Iraq, and he had plenty of opportunity to do so. The key moment came after Romney said the surge was "apparently working," and McCain challenged him. "No, not apparently, it's working," McCain responded sharply....The alacrity with which McCain went after Romney on Iraq reflected the Arizona senator's view that Romney shades or modifies his position on the war, depending on his audience. After the debate, McCain aides accused Romney of having three different positions on Iraq in four days....That Romney may be vulnerable on Iraq--at least McCain thinks so--is new. And McCain is now certain to prolong his quarrel with Romney as he embarks on what his campaign has dubbed the "No Surrender" tour....By the way, a focus group of 29 New Hampshire Republicans conducted during the debate by pollster Frank Luntz found McCain to be the winner. He exceeded the expectations of the group, while Giuliani disappointed them.

For what more people are saying about McCain's debate performance, read here.

John McCain: Courageous Service

The Comeback Campaign Plan

Politico.com's Jonathan Martin describes the McCain campaign's comeback plan to win the nomination. The story also provides links to the campaign's talking points on the matter as well as a one-pager comparing this to Reagan's 1980 campaign.

Coburn on McCain's Courage

Senator Tom Coburn writes this piece in National Review: McCain’s Courage - A rare American politician

As the American people, elected officials, and commentators reflect on the heated immigration debate that came to a temporary close in the Senate this week many will ask, and have asked, why U.S. Senator John McCain (R., Ariz.) staked out a position that may, in retrospect, be seen as devastating to his presidential ambitions. I hope the American people, at least, step back from the obsessive play-by-play pre-season election analysis and reflect on Senator McCain’s actions for what I believe they were: One of the purest examples of political courage seen in Washington in a very, very long time....

I opposed Senator McCain in this immigration debate. I believed the policies he advocated were wrong for America and I used every tool at my disposal to defeat his position. However, the way Senator McCain conducted himself represented the essential qualities of leadership the American people deserve.

Senator McCain didn’t speak in generalities. He spoke in specific terms. He didn’t take a position and change his position when he came under withering fire. He didn’t pander. He didn’t equivocate. He didn’t demean his opponents in the Senate or insinuate we harbored base motives or secret prejudices. He was motivated by principle. He believed he was serving his country. He was not inspired by political strategists who foolishly believed they could use this bill to grow the Republican party, and did not lecture his colleagues about why those strategists were smarter and wiser than 80 percent of Americans....

Whether you agree with him or not, Senator McCain’s actions demonstrated the qualities we rarely see in Washington — courage, character, honor, and dignity.

It saddens me that so many commentators will judge Senator McCain’s actions by how his role in this debate will impact the next poll or fundraising report. Survival is not the highest virtue in politics. Sacrifice is the highest virtue. In battle we don’t ask which soldier was a success — the one who charged the hill and lives a long life or his friend beside him who falls and leaves a widow and children behind. Whether this week helps or hurts Senator McCain politically is not the point. What matters is that without courage, we all lose.

Most politicians possess, in abundance, the skill of making promises that will appeal to a majority of voters. Very few politicians, however, ever demonstrate the kind of political courage Senator McCain demonstrated in this debate. Many qualities, of course, matter when selecting our elected leaders — political philosophy, judgment, specific plans, etc. — but the most important quality upon which all others depend is courage. On that count, Senator McCain has given all of us in the Senate an example to be followed.

Read the full article here.

Primary

Bobby Harrison writes about McCain's recent visit but laments that Mississippi is "likely to play only minor role in nominations"

Thursday Fundraiser

The Associated Press and WLBT covered McCain's fundraiser in Jackson last night.

McCain in Jackson

Senator John McCain will be in Jackson today for a pair of fundraisers. At 5PM he will be a the Country Club of Jackson for a $500 a person event, to be followed by an event at 6PM at the home of Jim and Donna Barksdale at $2300 a person. Jim Barksdale is McCain's Mississippi Finance Chairman and between the events and donor commitments the campaign expects to raise over $200,000. McCain 08's Mississippi Chairman and Southern Regional Co-Chairman Congressman Chip Pickering will accompany Senator McCain.

Tonight's Debate

During tonight's GOP Presidential debate in South Carolina, Senator JOhn McCain will be the only top-tier candidate with a strong and consistent record as an anti-pork barrel spending, pro-gun, pro-life Republican. McCain is the only Republican candidate with the experience to lead and the conservative record to trust.

Chip Pickering shared the qualifications of Senator McCain with folks in South Carolina this morning on WLMA 1350-AM, Greenwood S.C. He will be in S.C. during and after the debate meeting with voters and those in the press in support of McCain08.

McCain Up In Early Polls

New poll numbers from the American Research Group have John McCain leading in the three early primary states. Senator McCain is up by 7% over Giuliani in Iowa, 5% over Romney in New Hampshire, and 13% over Giuliani in South Carolina.

Boston Herald: GOP hopeful McCain surges in early-primary states

Pickering on MSNBC

Congressman Chip Pickering will appear on MSNBC's Tucker with Tucker Carlson tomorrow (Wed 4/25) at 3:11pm (central time) to discuss John McCain's Presidential announcement.

Fundraising and Jim Barksdale

Sunday's (4/22) Clarion Ledger reported that John McCain had raised more money from Mississippi than any other Republican candidate for President, although he trailed Democratic candidate John Edwards. McCain raised $43,625 from Mississippi during the first three months of this year.

Congressman Chip Pickering and Senator Trent Lott will be hosting a fundraiser for McCain in May, along with McCain's Mississippi Finance Chairman Jim Barksdale. They hope to raise $200,000.

Pickering: McCain and the Enduring Judiciary

Congressman Chip Pickering writes in "McCain and the Enduring Judiciary" at Townhall.com that as President, John McCain has both the conservative ideology to pick solid judicial nominees and the politics of results to see those nominees confirmed by the Senate. Pickering frames the column in context of the Supreme Court's ruling upholding the national federal ban on partial birth abortion. Read it here.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban

"Cherish The Sanctity Of Life:"
Statement By Senator McCain

ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released the following statement: "Today's Supreme Court ruling is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life and integrity of the judiciary. The ruling ensures that an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice will not be carried out on our innocent children. It also clearly speaks to the importance of nominating and confirming strict constructionist judges who interpret the law as it is written, and do not usurp the authority of Congress and state legislatures. As we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life."

04.25.07 - Coming Soon

Watch the new McCain announcement teaser video here.

McCain shines on fiscal issues

Robert Robb writes in the Arizona Republic, "While John McCain's speech on Iraq got all the attention, his fiscal policy speech Monday was actually more central to his case to be the Republican nominee for president....McCain has been a ceaseless and useful public scold on pork, corporate welfare and spending not related to truly national priorities. 'Give me the pen,' McCain said in his speech to The Economic Club of Memphis, 'and I'll veto every single pork barrel bill Congress sends me.' There's reason to believe he means it." Read the full article here.

Economic Policy Speech in Memphis

Yesterday, John McCain spoke in Memphis on his vision of economic policy.

You can watch excerpts of the speech here and also view a video on McCain's Straight Talk on Wasteful Government Spending.

Here is a summary of John McCain's economic policy:

Veto Every Wasteful Spending Bill That Comes Across His Desk

Reform Our Nation's Broken Budget Process and Balance the Budget

Tax Policy Should Support Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Investment And Growth
Taxes Should Be Low, Simple, And Fair

A Dynamic Economy Is The Best Hope For Workers Today And Tomorrow

Worker-Assistance Programs Must Be Modernized to Support Greater Opportunities For American Workers

Read the full Fact Sheet here.

McCain looks to Pickering, Lott

In today's Roll Call, Erin Billings writes under "McCain Turns to Hill Backers" that McCain08 is looking to Representatives and Senators to help with message and fundraising. Here are excerpts, you can read the whole article here (subscription only).

Looking to inject fresh energy into his 2008 White House bid, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is asking his Congressional supporters to take their endorsements to a new level by more aggressively tapping into their respective fundraising and political networks on his behalf....

Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.), one of McCain’s top House supporters, said lawmakers are becoming an increasingly more influential piece of the campaign, which he said entered a new phase beginning last week when McCain delivered a major Iraq speech at the Virginia Military Institute. Money aside, McCain also has been looking to regain his political footing on the driving issue of his campaign — support for a successful conclusion to the war.

“They are accelerating and aggressively moving the campaign forward, both on the policy side and in the organizational and fundraising components,” Pickering said. “We are an aggressive part of that.”

Along with other lawmakers, Pickering said his McCain efforts are multifaceted, including helping put together meetings to attract additional Congressional supporters, increasing his fundraising calls, especially to the technology community, and lining up new appearances for McCain in the South.

Also, Pickering is playing host to a major McCain fundraising event with Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) in the two lawmakers’ home state on May 31. Lott, one of McCain’s closest Senate allies, is participating in several more upcoming events for his Arizona colleague, including traveling on his behalf to Alabama on May 12 for an annual GOP dinner.

“I think Sen. McCain will be better positioned for the long race than some of the newcomers who may have had an initial burst of support,” Pickering said.

...McCain also is turning to his Congressional team to write to news outlets to help make his case as the strongest conservative candidate. In recent weeks, Pickering, Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) have all authored letters to local and national media outlets to tout McCain’s record.

A McCain Surge?

Fred Barnes writes in the Weekly Standard: "A McCain Surge? Defending the Iraq war is his best shot"

He says, "We know what a full-blown McCain moment looks like. We saw it in New Hampshire in 2000 when he drew large and adoring crowds, gained more than 20 percentage points in a matter of days, and roared past George W. Bush to win the New Hampshire primary. Nothing like that is happening now. But McCain has steadied his campaign at a time when his foes are stumbling. And his future in the Republican race looks brighter than it has in months."

Read the full article here.

The Incredible Shrinking Candidates

Peggy Noonan asks, "Why is there so little dignity in the presidential campaign?" but provides a contrast to other candidates with the 'seriousness' of John McCain. She writes:

On Wednesday John McCain distinguished himself with a closely argued and eloquent address in which he spoke seriously and at length of his position on Iraq. He said America faces "an historic choice" with "ramifications for Americans not yet even born."

"Many Democrats," he said, view the war as "a political opportunity," while Republicans view it as "a political burden." But it is neither, he said. It is not a political question to be poll-tested but a challenge that bears on our continuance as a great nation. We must stay and fight and win.

"It may be standard-setting," the Hotline said of the remarks the next day, "perhaps the most powerful plea a war supporter has . . . sent to the American people since the troop surge began. Has any other presidential candidate written a speech to persuade--importune--an audience to change their minds?"

You can agree or disagree with Mr. McCain, but where he stands is clear--and clarity these days, from our candidates, feels like a gift. As does certitude. He isn't running from the war but owning it. A political rival might say, "He has no choice." But there's always a choice.

My larger point, however, is that he sounded like a serious man addressing a serious issue in a serious way. This makes him at the moment stand out.

Read the full article here.

Veterans for McCain

Retired Captain Lou Marchetti from Mississippi is serving on the Veterans' For McCain Leadership team. He joins more than 200 veterans from around the country in announcing their support for McCain today. Read more details here.

Media Roundup on Iraq Speech

JohnMcCain.com has compiled a summary of the responses from around the country on McCain's Iraq address yesterday. You can read it here.

McCain's Churchillian address

The Washington Times editorial today discusses "McCain's Churchillian address." They write: "In Washington, nothing comes easier to some political pundits than mindless cynicism. But some politicians advocate certain policies because they believe them to be the right thing for the country, even if they don't play tremendously well with the focus groups. In his address yesterday to cadets at the Virginia Military Institute, Sen. John McCain demonstrated that kind of genuine statesmanship -- a willingness to tell unpleasant truths regardless of the political consequences. In many ways, Mr. McCain delivered the speech on the war that President Bush should have given months ago, challenging congressional Democrats to do the right thing and approve adequate funding for the war effort without imposing conditions that will likely result in an American defeat." Read the whole editorial here.

The McCain Divorce

National Review Online has this piece about the mainstream media falling out of love with John McCain and portraying him as the Tokyo Rose of Iraq hawks. Their editorial says in part: "We have had many differences with Senator McCain over the years, but can only brim with admiration for the clarion voice he has sounded at this critical juncture in the war. The media are almost ready to pronounce his presidential candidacy dead. It has indeed been sagging (for many reasons), but there is an element of malice in the media’s predictions. Surely Republican primary voters won’t find McCain’s leadership on Iraq as strange and irksome as the press does. How often do media hand-wringers lament that politicians’ won’t buck the polls and make unpopular stands on principle? Sen. John McCain is doing just that, and all the press can bring itself to do is carp." Read the whole thing here.

VMI Speech on Iraq

John McCain will be speaking at the Virginia Military Institute today at 10:30am (central). You can watch the speech live at JohnMcCain.com as well as read other resources on McCain's vision on Iraq.

Kissinger, Haig, Eagleburger, Shultz

Former United States Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, General Alexander Haig, Lawrence Eagleburger and George Shultz have endorsed Senator John McCain for President. These distinguished leaders served the last five Republican presidents.

McCain vs Giuliani

Jonah Goldberg writes that whether its conservative principles or leadership ability on the war on terror, McCain trumps Giuliani.

McCain on Iraq

McCain writes about "The War You're Not Reading About" in Sunday's Washington Post. He recently returned from his most recent visit to Iraq.

Policy Speeches and Kick-Off Tour

U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that John McCain, during the month of April, will deliver three major policy speeches and make his presidential candidacy official with a tour through early primary states, ending in his home state of Arizona.

John McCain's first major policy speech on his commitment to winning the war in Iraq will be delivered April 11th at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington. His second speech on economic policy in Memphis, Tennessee on April 16 th will focus on taxes, trade, and curtailing government spending. The third policy speech will be delivered on April 23rd and focus on his domestic policy agenda.

The campaign also made public that John McCain will officially announce his candidacy for President with a tour beginning April 25th in New Hampshire and concluding April 27 th in Arizona, with stops in South Carolina on the 26th and Iowa on the 27th.

McCain on Hannity

John McCain will be on the Sean Hannity radio program on Thursday. He will speak with and answer questions from Hannity for thirty minutes and then respond to callers' questions for thirty minutes.

Mississippi stations carrying Sean Hannity's program:

Columbia - WCJU 1450 AM
Columbus - WMBC FM 103.1
Jackson - WJNT 1180 AM
Gulfport - 1640 AM
Hattiesburg - WMXI FM 98.1
McComb - WHNY 1250 AM
Meridian - WALT 910 AM
Tupelo - WKMQ 1060 AM

Tune in for straight talk...

He Fits The Times

Tom Ridge writes in The Philadelphia Inquirer: McCain, why now? He fits the times

He writes in part:

...As we begin to ask hard questions of those who put forward their credentials for the presidency, it's critically important that those credentials are equal to the challenges and opportunities before us. We need a leader who fits the times, not merely a candidate who thinks it's his or her time to lead....The challenge of our time, however, is not simply to change, but also to leave nothing to chance. That is particularly true when electing the next president of the United States....In my view, the times are calling John McCain forward. They are calling for the man who understands the demands of war, the leader who has long advocated a new strategy in Iraq and repeatedly called for more troops to stabilize the region. They are calling for the senator with the long view, who understands what the consequences of failure in Iraq could mean to us all. The times call for a leader who has fought in the relentless way that only John has fought, to ensure that America has the best equipped and supported military in the world, to ensure that the men and women of our armed forces have the resources and reinforcements they need....there is no better time for me, than now, to ask my fellow citizens to call John McCain forward once again - to serve as president and commander-in-chief.

Read the full piece here

March 14, 1974

Thirty-four years ago today, hundreds of prisoners of war including John McCain, were released from Hanoi. JohnMcCain.com has a video and commentary about that time and release from the "Hanoi Hilton" and how John feels that God had then and still today has a purpose for his life.

Lott and McCain

Yesterday's Roll Call (a newspaper in Washington DC that covers Capitol Hill) had an article discussing Trent Lott and John McCain's close connections.

To read it online, you have to subscribe, but here are some excerpts...

For Whip or 2008, It’s a Lott/McCain Ticket (March 7, 2007) By Erin P. Billings (Roll Call)

Following crushing setbacks that could have sidelined their respective careers, Republican Sens. Trent Lott (Miss.) and John McCain (Ariz.) have put aside long-standing differences and become leading architects of each other’s political resurrections. In the process, Lott and McCain have created an influential network of Senate Republican allies who by circumstance or design are loyal to them both. In fact, many of Lott’s strongest devotees also are backers of McCain’s 2008 presidential bid, and vice versa.

When Lott plotted a return to the GOP leadership as Minority Whip in the fall, McCain served as one of his most eager promoters and helped count votes in the Mississippian’s campaign. And it was Lott who more than a year ago became one of the first Senators to back McCain’s bid for the presidential nomination and has since become one of the Arizonan’s top Senate surrogates.

“They are sort of like ham and eggs,” observed Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

But it wasn’t always that way. Lott, the consummate leadership deal-maker, and McCain, long the meddlesome maverick, have engaged in bitter legislative battles over the years about high-profile issues such as campaign finance and earmark reform.

The two parted ways for a time after Lott successfully campaigned for GOP Whip in 1994 and moved for the first time into the Senate leadership. And in 2000, Lott opted to back then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the presidency over his Arizona Senate colleague.

“I didn’t think the time was right for John then,” Lott explained recently. “I thought that George W. Bush was the right man for the job at that time. But [McCain] has come back, better and stronger.”

McCain doesn’t dispute Lott’s assessment, admitting he may not have been the best candidate during his earlier White House run: “First, I certainly didn’t have the experience that I have now. And secondly, America was at peace in the 2000 campaign. [The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks] changed everything.”

Certainly, times have changed. Lott has spent months helping court Congressional and build national support for McCain’s 2008 White House bid. He has advised McCain, spoken on his behalf and helped him set his campaign priorities.

Similarly, it was McCain who helped persuade Lott to not only run for a fourth term in 2006, but to make another play for the Republican leadership by seeking the No. 2 Whip job. McCain was a key whip in that race for Lott, who eked out a one-vote win over Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)....

....McCain’s and Lott’s backgrounds have much in common. They share a Scottish heritage, and both families’ genealogy and political connections trace back to the 1800s in Carroll County, Miss.

They are both creatures of Congress — Lott began in the House in 1973 and moved to the Senate in 1989, while McCain started his brief House tenure in 1983 and was elected to the Senate in 1986.

“Even when we’ve fought like cats and dogs, we’ve always kept our relationship — and let me tell you, it was testy at times,” Lott said.

“We’ve had some of the best fights in the United States Senate,” McCain offered....

....“There’s something about people who were dealt a bad hand and overcome adversity and come back from that,” added Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). “It’s quite a bond that’s been built.”

Thune counts himself among those Senators in both the Lott and McCain political camps. The conservative South Dakotan is not only Lott’s chief deputy whip, he also is a newly announced backer of McCain for President.

McCain has yet to announce all of his Republican Senate endorsements, but among those already publicly in his camp are several GOP Members who aided Lott’s quest for the Minority Whip post. They include Thune, Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and Virginia Sen. John Warner.

More close Lott allies are expected to declare their support for McCain in the coming weeks....

Immigration

John McCain writes a column in today's New Hampshire Union Leader on immigration. He says in part:

"Among the federal government's most important obligations is to secure America's borders and enforce sensible immigration laws that will keep our nation strong and safe. For far too long, Washington has failed miserably in this vital responsibility....As a country devoted to the rule of law, fairness and opportunity, the status quo is simply unacceptable....The truth is that our nation's porous borders and failed immigration policies are a national disgrace, adversely affecting both our economic prospects and national security. A comprehensive immigration control plan that works is long overdue.

To achieve our objectives, America needs the strong reform I've proposed that will:

Vastly improve our border surveillance and enforcement capabilities;

Increase the manpower, infrastructure and capabilities necessary to block, apprehend, detain and return those who try to enter the country illegally;

Strengthen the laws and penalties against those who hire illegal aliens and violate immigration law;

Achieve and maintain the integrity of official documents to stop fraud, verify immigration status and employment, and enforce immigration law;

....The need to bring illegal immigrants out of hiding and end the defacto amnesty that is the status quo is more important than ever in this post-9/11 era of terrorist threat. But this effort must never entail giving away citizenship to those who have broken our laws. Rather it should require those who voluntarily come forward to undertake the hard work of reparation and assimilation that we expect. Legitimate status must be earned by paying stiff fines and back taxes, undergoing criminal and security checks, passing English and civics tests, remaining employed for six years before going to the back of the line to achieve legal permanent residence status, and adhering to other strict requirements...."

Read the full article here: On immigration, Washington is failing the American people

Peggy Noonan

Peggy Noonan writes about McCain at OpinionJournal.com.

"....Everyone knows his bio, but when you stop and look at it again, you realize it's even more impressive, more moving, than you remember....In all, as he came up, he would have been an organic conservative, schooled in the old American rigors of duty and honor, shaped in a world that was competitive, aware of the existence of evil. A world in which not to be a conservative was like announcing, "I don't understand life." His patriotism, the patriotism of his family, was acted out and lived, as opposed to put on like a hat, or merely claimed. No one in modern national-level politics has a better life story than his...." Read more here.

Full National Review Interview

National Review posts the full interview transcript between Ponnuru and McCain. It is interesting to note that in one of his responses, McCain points to Toyota coming to Mississippi as an example of successful insourcing and free trade.

National Review

This week, John McCain is the cover story for National Review, the journal of American conservative thought.

The Case for McCain by Ramesh Ponnuru - The Coming McCain Moment: Taking a second look

Here are some excerpts:

"I got some encouraging news this morning in the USA Today,” says Sen. John McCain, holding a copy of the paper with his picture on the front page. “McCain firm on Iraq war,” it says above the fold. He flips it over to show the rest of the headline: “despite cost to candidacy.” “I can’t worry about it,” he says. “With something like this, you just can’t let it concern you. The issue is too important.”

###

“I think the important thing is you look at people’s voting record,” says McCain, “because sometimes rhetoric can be a little misleading.” Over the course of his career, McCain has compiled a pretty conservative voting record. Neither Giuliani nor Romney, as McCain implied, has a record to match. An objective observer looking at Bush and McCain in 1999 would have had to conclude that, based on their histories, McCain was the more conservative of the two.

###

McCain was one of a few Republicans to vote against Bush’s tax cuts. He said that the tax cuts were fiscally reckless and too skewed to the rich. But he now accepts those tax cuts as a done deal. Reversing them now, or allowing them to expire, would constitute a tax increase, and McCain has never voted for a general tax increase. When I ask him whether there were any circumstances in which he would accept a tax increase, for example to get the Democrats to agree to spending cuts, he says, “No. None. None.” It seems pretty clear that a President McCain would seek spending cuts before tax cuts. But if you take him at his word — and he is a man who takes honor seriously — he won’t raise taxes.

###

McCain gets a bad rap from social conservatives. He opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment on the theory that states should set their own marriage policies. But he opposes same-sex marriage, too, and says that he would support a constitutional amendment if the federal courts ever tried to impose it on reluctant states. As a practical matter, it is hard to see how any president could get such an amendment enacted without that type of provocation.

The senator has been rock-solid on abortion. Unlike anyone else in the race, he has a pro-life record stretching back to the early 1980s. Like President Bush, he says that the Supreme Court made a mistake in Roe; he goes further than Bush when he adds that the Court should overturn it. He voted to confirm all of the sitting conservative justices, plus Robert Bork.

McCain muddied the waters with one foolish remark in 1999. He was trying to make the point that the country is not ready for abortion to be prohibited, but in the course of trying to say that he said that the country wasn’t ready for Roe to go. He corrected himself quickly, but that lone remark has been used to portray him as a secret pro-choicer or a flip-flopper.

He really has broken ranks with pro-lifers twice. In the early 1990s, he voted to fund research using tissue from aborted fetuses, and he now supports federal funding for research on embryos taken from fertility clinics. But he draws the line at stem-cell research involving cloned human embryos. He says that he would prohibit that, even mistakenly claiming that he has co-sponsored legislation to that effect.

Social conservatives think that Republicans have repeatedly betrayed them. At the highest levels of national politics, that’s not true. The reason that social conservatives haven’t achieved many of their objectives even though they have helped to elect a lot of Republicans over the last generation is that those objectives are hard to achieve. It has been slow work to fight the pervasive liberalism of the elite legal culture. But when President Reagan appointed Anthony Kennedy and the first President Bush appointed David Souter, they weren’t trying to betray conservatives; they didn’t know how those justices would turn out. McCain thinks that type of mistake can be avoided if presidents pick nominees who don’t just say the right things, but have track records of judging soundly. He’s right. Conservatives’ reception of McCain shouldn’t be colored by historical mythology.

###

But McCain’s merits are considerable as well. He has been tough on spending, and been willing to ally with the most conservative members of the Senate to fight earmarks. He has been a stalwart free trader: “Since Phil Gramm left, there’s no greater free-trader in the Senate than I am.” (McCain supported Gramm’s presidential campaign in 1996, and Gramm is supporting his now.) Curbing the growth of entitlements, he says, will be one of his top priorities as president. He has long supported personal accounts.

Leave all of that aside for a moment. For a lot of conservatives, the War on Terror is paramount. That’s why some of them are willing to overlook Giuliani’s faults. But if toughness on terrorism trumps everything else, with toughness defined as competent execution of the administration’s basic strategy — and that’s the way it has to be defined for this argument to work for Giuliani at all — then McCain is hands down the best candidate. He has better national-security credentials than Giuliani, having been involved in foreign policymaking for more than two decades while the latter has barely been involved at all. More than any other candidate, he has shown a commitment to winning in Iraq. He has supported it, indeed, more vigorously than Bush has waged it, and he has put his career on the line.

McCain has the moral authority to get a country that has grown tired of the war to listen to him, an authority President Bush has seen slip away. That isn’t just because he is a former prisoner of war with one son serving in the Marines and another in the Naval Academy — although that helps. It is because he is not seen as playing politics with the war, as most Democrats and Republicans are, and he never will be.

Conservatives may need to reach some understandings with McCain before throwing their support to him: on the vice-presidential nominee, on immigration, maybe even on the number of terms McCain will serve as president. (He is 70.) But he can win both the nomination and the election. He is plenty conservative. And he deserves a long second look.

###

Until you read the whole thing, here is a piece from National Review Online by Senator Jon Kyl you might also find interesting: "Right on McCain: John McCain's conservative record is excellent"

abcNEWS.com

Congressman Chip Pickering has an op-ed at abcNEWS.com today titled, "John McCain Should Be the Next Commander in Chief: These Are Critical Moments in our History."

Pickering writes in part:

America faces an enduring battle for security and freedom. We require leadership with resolve and experience with wisdom. Our next president must have the ability and experience to direct a global war on terror, manage and complete a war in Iraq and command the respect of our troops and allies. The safety of Americans at home and abroad, and the security and prosperity of our nation and families is the preeminent issue for the 2008 campaign. John McCain's experience and national defense credentials make him the most qualified person to serve as our next commander in chief....

....Republicans looking for the best qualified candidate to lead us against the forces of terror and lead us to peace in the Middle East should look to this patriot of conservative values. His integrity and strength of character, his sound and deliberate judgment, will move our country forward.

Throughout the history of our nation, there are critical moments, decisive times when choices turn our country and world. Washington and the Revolution; our founders and the Constitution; Jackson and New Orleans; Lincoln and the Union; Roosevelt and the Depression; Truman and the bomb; Nixon and China; Reagan and the Soviet Union; Bush and 9/11.

When essential decisions of foreign and domestic policy are made, it is at that moment that the character and integrity of a leader is measured by history. In our global struggle against the adversaries of freedom and the enemies of America, we will face these moments. It is for those sobering moments, that I choose John McCain.

You can read the full article here.

3 Reasons for McCain

Congressman Chip Pickering shares with his colleagues "Why I Chose John McCain" at The Hill's Congress Blog, he says: "I chose Senator John McCain for three primary reasons. 1) He is the conservative candidate I believe to be best qualified to handle the preeminent issue of our day: national defense and homeland security. 2) I believe he has a passion and commitment to reform our failing government bureaucracies. 3) He will seek the politics of results." Read more at blog.thehill.com...

Townhall.com

Chip Pickering writes at Townhall.com why he chose to endorse John McCain for President in 2008:

I believe the preeminent issue facing America today is our global War on Terror, and opposing the adversaries of freedom and enemies of peace. I measured our candidates on their ability and experience to direct a global War on Terror, manage and complete a war in Iraq, and command the respect of our troops and allies. John McCain's experience and national defense credentials make him the most qualified person to serve as our next Commander-in-Chief.

The President of the United States must serve in many capacities besides the leader of our Armed Forces. Fortunately, the best man for the job is also a champion of conservatism who will advance our philosophy in all aspects of the office, not just the military.

more at Townhall.com

Pro-Life McCain

McCain, Consistently Pro-Life

“McCain Has A Long Record Of Opposition To Abortion Rights …” (Dan Balz, and Shailagh Murray, “Mass. Governor's Rightward Shift Raises Questions,” The Washington Post, 12/21/06)

“As A Senator, He Consistently Votes The Antiabortion-Rights Position …” (Linda Feldmann, “McCain Earns Goodwill With Evangelicals,” Christian Science Monitor, 5/15/06)

Sen. McCain Has 0% Ratings From NARAL Pro-Choice America And Planned Parenthood. (NARAL Website, www.prochoiceamerica.org, Accessed 1/19/07; Planned Parenthood Website, www.ppaction.org, Accessed 1/19/07)

Sen. McCain Believes Life Begins At Conception:

Sen. McCain In 2000: “‘I have a 17-year pro-life record’ based on ‘my moral belief that life begins at conception.’” (Ann E. Marimow, “To McCain, The Record Is Right,” Concord [NH] Monitor, 1/16/00)

Sen. McCain Supports Reversal Of Roe V. Wade:

Sen. McCain: “I do believe that it's very likely, or possible, that a Supreme Court should – could overturn Roe V Wade which would then return these decisions to the states which I support.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 11/19/06)

Sen. McCain Voted Against A Sense Of Senate Amendment Stating “The Supreme Court’s Decision Legalizing Abortion In Roe V. Wade Was Correct And Should Not Be Overturned.” (S. 3, CQ Vote #48: Adopted 52-46: R 9-41; D 42-5; I 1-0, 3/12/03, McCain Voted Nay)

Sen. McCain Has Repeatedly Voted Against Abortion:

Sen. McCain Voted At Least Eight Times To Ban Partial Birth Abortions, Including Voting Twice To Overturn President Clinton’s Veto Of The Partial Birth Abortion Ban. (H.R. 1833, CQ Vote #596: Passed 54-44: R 45-8; D 9-36, 12/7/95, McCain Voted Yea; H.R. 1833, CQ Vote #301: Motion Rejected 57-41: R 45-6; D 12-35, 9/26/96, McCain Voted Yea; H.R. 1122, CQ Vote #71: Passed 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 5/20/97, McCain Voted Yea; H.R. 1122, CQ Vote #277: Rejected 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 9/18/98, McCain Voted Yea; S. 1692, CQ Vote #340: Passed 63-34: R 48-3; D 14-31, I 1-0, 10/21/99, McCain Voted Yea; S. 3, CQ Vote #402: Adopted 64-34: R 47-3; D 17-30; I 0-1, 10/21/03, McCain Voted Yea; S. 3, CQ Vote #51: Passed 64-33: R 48-3; D 16-29; I 0-1, 3/13/03, McCain Voted Yea; S. 3, CQ Vote #351: Motion Agreed To 93-0, 9/17/03, McCain Voted Yea)

Sen. McCain Voted For “Unborn Victims Of Violence Act,” Also Known As Laci’s Law, Which Punishes Individuals Who Commit Violent Crimes That Cause The Death Or Bodily Injury Of An Unborn Child. (H.R. 1997, CQ Vote #63: Passed 61-38: R 48-2; D 13-35; I 0-1, 3/25/04, McCain Voted Yea)

Sen. McCain Voted At Least Two Times To Require Parental Notification For A Minor’s Abortion. (S. 323, CQ Vote #131, Adopted 52-47: R 38-5; D 14-42, 7/16/91, McCain Voted Yea; H.R. 2707, CQ Vote #185: Rejected 45-55: R 31-12; D 14-43, 9/11/91, McCain Voted Yea)

Sen. McCain Voted Against Using Federal Money To Distribute Morning-After Abortion Pill In Schools. (H.R. 4577, CQ Vote #169: Motion Rejected 41-54: R 6-48; D 35-6, 6/30/00, McCain Voted Nay)

News around Mississippi

Congressman Chip Pickering will be on The Matt Friedeman Show on Mississippi American Family Radio this afternoon to discuss his role with McCain 2008. The show is on from 5-6pm (est).

The word of Pickering's endorsement of McCain is moving in Mississippi.

The Associated Press: Chip Pickering to head McCain campaign in Mississippi

WDAM-TV: Pickering named state chair of McCain '08 campaign

Clarion Ledger: Pickering to serve on McCain's presidential campaign

Pickering for McCain

In the release from Pickering for Congress, Chip Pickering says: ""Senator John McCain is a proven leader in national security, he has demonstrated a commitment to promoting conservative values, and he has extensive experience as a fiscally responsible policy advocate. I know Senator McCain's will shoot straight with Mississippians and I am honored to chair his Mississippi campaign and help spread his message of smart, reasonable, responsible reforms across the South and across our country."

Pickering was on Supertalk Mississippi this morning to discuss his new role with McCain 2008.

McCain Announces Pickering Support

Congressman Chip Pickering will serve as Mississippi Chairman for McCain 2008. Pickering will co-chair McCain's Southern Region efforts with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. Pickering will also serve on McCain's U.S. House whip team. McCain 2008 made the announcement this morning.

The Hotline: McCain Scores A Big Conservative

National Journal's "The Hotline" reports: "Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS) will serve as MS Chair, Southern Co-Chair, and member of the U.S. House Whip Team for Sen. John McCain." More on this later today...

McCain for the Mississippi GOP

John McCain visited Mississippi in June to help the Mississippi Republican Party with their annual United Republican Fund (URF) fundraiser, and get advice from Senator Trent Lott and Governor Haley Barbour. The URF dinner is the major fundraising event for the MSGOP each year and Senator McCain brought out hundreds of folks to support the Republican team.

McCain's Mississippi Roots

On his June 2006 visit to Mississippi, the Commercial Dispatch noted McCain's Mississippi roots: "McCain has family roots in Mississippi. A great-grandfather moved to Carroll County in the 1800s. His grandfather attended the University of Mississippi before going to the U.S. Naval Academy. Camp McCain - a National Guard base in Grenada County - is named after a great-uncle."

This Salon Politics piece from the 2000 election discusses the McCain connection to Mississippi even more, explaining in part why some call McCain "Mississippi's Third Senator."

Senator Trent Lott has been a vocal supporter of Senator McCain in recent years. They don't always agree, but who does? Lott is on board big-time with Team McCain for 2008. It isn't the first time their families have been political allies. The Greenwood Commonwealth notes: In 1899, Lott's great-great-great uncle was running for state treasurer. He was endorsed by John S. McCain, then-sheriff of Carroll County and the Arizona senator's great-great-great-uncle.Lott said he brought the information to the attention of his GOP colleague."'You know, John,'" Lott said he joked to his fellow senator, "'the McCains have been supporting the Lotts since 1899. What the hell's your problem?'" No problem anymore, Lott and McCain have become close and effective allies, and that's good news for Mississippi.