Barbour touts McCain to Washington Times

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour recently discussed Senator John McCain's prospects with the Washington Times editorial board. (Read The Full Story Here)

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour yesterday said that he is too conservative to be John McCain's running mate but that the Arizona senator's maverick reputation will help him in an election in which moderates and independents will be more important than in recent years.

Mr. Barbour also urged Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, not to name his pick for vice president until after the Democrats' convention, when he can draw the sharpest distinction between the parties.

Mr. McCain will depend on "persuasion" to snare independents and disgruntled Democrats on Nov. 4, unlike George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections when victory depended on maximizing the turnout of each party's hard-core partisans, said Mr. Barbour, a former Republican National Committee chairman.

"I am a lot more conservative than John McCain," Mr. Barbour told The Washington Times at a luncheon meeting with the newspaper's editors and reporters. "It may help him that he is not as conservative as I am."

More Democrats than before are going to be unhappy with their party's nominee, whether it's current Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton loyalists. Such Democrats may be ripe for the picking by Mr. McCain, a maverick Republican admired by many Democrats and independents for his own occasional and unpredictable independence. But Republicans are also poised for defections.

The Washington Times also provides four videos of the interview:

TWT Video: Barbour on being a potential running mate for McCain

TWT Video: Barbour: Why McCain is a strong candidate

TWT Video: Barbour on race in the 2008 presidential campaign

TWT Video: Barbour compares Bush to Truman

Proud Caroll County

Another response to the George Lambus race card.

Criticisms of McCain, Carroll County unfounded
The Clarion-Ledger • April 24, 2008

I was born and reared in Carroll County. When I read George O. Lambus' comments about Carroll County and Sen. John McCain's family ("Should McCain be proud of heritage in Carroll County?" April 9), I was appalled. That statement was the first time that I had ever heard about any Klan activity anywhere other than on the TV news. Maybe there has been an individual or so that was involved in the Klan from Carroll County, I do not know. I have neither known anyone involved myself nor did I ever hear my parents or granddad speak of such and they, too, were born and reared in Carroll County.

As far as Sen. McCain is concerned, he can be proud of heritage in Carroll County, because as far as I've ever heard, the McCain family were well respected, law abiding, and honorable people.

I looked up information about the Klan from World Book Encyclopedia, which says the KKK had four major periods: 1) mid-1860s to early 1870s; 2) 1915 to 1944; 3) late 1940s to early 1970s; 4) since the mid-1970s. Sen. McCain's great grandfather, J.S. McCain, became sheriff of Carroll County in January 1891 and served through 1895. In January 1896, J.S. McCain took over as Carroll County Beat 2 supervisor. The last two years, he served as board of supervisors president. J.S. McCain was not sheriff during the active period of the Klan.

I have never judged a person by who their relatives are. People need to be judged on their own merit. Sen. McCain has merit of his own. He has served his country well, with honor and integrity. People of Carroll County are proud of Sen. McCain and proud to be from Carroll County. Maybe Mr. Lambus has been around too many crooked law enforcement officers and dishonest people lately to be making such unfounded statements.

Linda Grantham Lehman, West

Speaking of family tradition, the Daily Mississippian discusses McCain's roots in Mississippi: McCain's family lineage traces back to Mississippi

While presidential nominee John McCain may be a senator from Arizona, his roots are grounded deeply in Mississippi. Marvin King, assistant professor of political science, said McCain's heritage will certainly help him win votes in Mississippi. "Having roots in a state is usually seen as a plus by campaign teams," he said.

Unlike King, John Winburn, assistant professor of political science, said he does not think McCain's Mississippi heritage will affect the amount of votes he receives in the state. While having a family connection in Mississippi will not hurt McCain, it will probably not provide a lot of votes either, Winburn said. "He personally does not have a real close tie with the state," Winburn said. "In any event, the state's conservative and Republican leanings are much more important than his family background for picking up support throughout Mississippi."

McCain paid tribute to his southern ancestors when he began his "Service to America" tour in Meridian a few weeks ago. "The family I was born into, the family I am blessed with now, made me the man I am," McCain said. "By all accounts, the McCains of Carroll County were devoted to one another and their traditions; a lively, proud and happy family on the Mississippi Delta."

In his book "Faith of our Fathers," McCain tells of his ancestor William McCain who moved to Carroll County in 1848 from North Carolina. William, the senator's great-great grandfather, became the sheriff in Carroll County. He was a plantation owner who died in the Civil War fighting for the Confederacy.

McCain's grandfather, John Sidney McCain, Sr., was born in 1884 in Teoc, Miss. He attended the University of Mississippi for one year in 1901 and left the South in 1902 to enter the U.S. Naval Academy, according to the Arlington National Cemetery Web site. He was an admiral in the U.S. Navy and a notable commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force in World War II, according to the Web site.

McCains have been great military leaders

Herman Smith responds in Friday's Clarion Ledger to the George Lambus letter-to-the-editor.

3 McCains have served as great U.S. military leaders
The Clarion-Ledger • April 18, 2008

George Lambus should join the present century and quit living in the past ("Should McCain be proud of heritage in Carroll County," April 9 letter). How dare he slam three of the great military leaders of our country - the McCains. He can have Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Herman Smith, Houston

Mississippi Dr. heads national McCain group

Dr Sampat Shivangi of Jackson, Mississippi helps create and leads "Indian American Physicians for Senator McCain."

Indian physicians panel to support McCain

NEW YORK: A national committee named "Indian American Physicians for Sen. McCain" has been formed to bring a united front of like minded Indian physicians under one umbrella to work towards electing Republican Presidential candidate Sen.

John McCain as President in the coming elections.

Dr Sampat Shivangi of Jackson, MS, Co Chair of Indian American Republican Council and past delegate at the National Republican convention had an opportunity to have a luncheon meeting with Sen. McCain last week in Jackson, which was attended by prominent Republican party leaders in the state that included Gov. Haley Barbour, his wife, US Senator Thad Cochran, US Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Trent Lott (Ret), Congressman Chip Pickering and Mrs. Cindy McCain and Mrs. McCain Senator McCain's mother).According to Dr Shivangi, Sen. McCain appreciated the contributions of Indian American Community especially the Indian American Physician community.

The discussion included the formation of a Committee to support the Senator for his Presidential bid. "Sen. McCain has stood by India as a friend and has supported the majority of bills in the US Senate including US-India Civil Nuclear treaty," Dr Shivangi says.

"He is a national hero and a strong supporter against terrorism and fundamentalists needs our support in the forthcoming elections."The National Committee would work along the lines of a similar committee that was formed to elect President George Bush in the past, according to Dr Shivangi.

Tolerance

While some who oppose McCain (Matt Stoller or George Lambus) bring in race or hate to this debate and want to make it personal about black or woman or old, Senator McCain urges us to remember we can disagree and argue - in fact, we should disagree about matters so important to our future - but we should do it on the issues.

Another lefty throws race at McCain

The left knows Senator McCain can defeat either Obama or Clinton and they will throw anything they can at him. In today's Clarion Ledger, they try to make a race issue again.

Should McCain be proud of heritage in Carroll County?
The Clarion-Ledger • April 9, 2008

Carroll County in Mississippi has been from its inception a hotbed of Klan activity, now if Sen. John McCain's great-grandfather was once a sheriff there, what does that say? Apples don't fall far from the tree!

George O. Lambus
Jackson

It's true that apples don't fall far from the tree, which is the point of Senator McCain's "Service to America Tour." His father and grandfather (both distinguished admirals), his teachers and coaches, the Annapolis Naval Academy, these people and institutions shaped John McCain. His headstrong, stubborn, maverick nature pursues not glory for himself, but something greater than self, service to his country.

Mr. Lambus is a Jackson activist. Here are tastes of his other letters-to-the-editor.

Al Gore wouldn't take terrorist bait
The Clarion-Ledger • Nov 30, 2003

Real presidents of the United States of America wouldn't have taken the bait the terrorists dangled on Sept. 11, 2001. Bill Clinton or Al Gore would have assessed the impact on the American economy and the cost in lives. One can't fight terrorism conventionally; it has to be covert. Al Gore is the real president. One can now see what a usurper can cause!

George Lambus
Jackson

And to the Jackson Free Press (includes graphic language):

Strange Fruit
Jackson Free Press • July 5, 2006

Frank Melton isn’t making Jackson look bad. Jackson is looking bad because of the actions of a bunch of worthless, young black males committing crimes. You and your Jackson Free Press need to stop wasting ink on a damn n----r who wants to sue Melton. Why waste thousands of dollars worth of ink on a damn n----r who ain’t worth 50 cents?

Attorney General Jim Hood knows he needs the black vote to attain his political aspirations so he had better lay off Frank. I don’t understand how you could be against a man trying to clean up and rescue a city from the grips of a bunch of worthless, no good, drain-on-society black males.

If I were mayor, I’d have their asses hanging from every tree limb on the lawn at City Hall. I am 59 years old, and like the majority of older black citizens of Jackson and across this country, I hate young black males because they do not appreciate what has been done (the civil rights struggle) for them. All black people should exhibit dignity because God has truly been on our side.

They (young blacks) look like fools cursing and creeping across concert stages performing that damn rap music, and the kids cannot read but can recall the stupid lyrics of the so-called music or song(s).

Jackson needs Frank Melton. We can do without Faye Peterson, Kamikaze, David Banner, the majority of City Council, and you, if you persist in criticizing a good man.

George Lambus, Jackson

It’s good to be home again

Greg Snowden writes about Senator McCain's visit at his Clarion Ledger blog.

"It’s good to be home again." Those are the words Senator John McCain spoke to me as he deplaned at the Meridian Regional Airport last Sunday afternoon.

I understand, of course, that John McCain is an Arizonan, not a Mississippian, and that as he has often observed, no military man himself born into a military family has ever had any permanent address for very long during his formative years or through the active service career which follows. Furthermore, the man IS running for President, and the one address which most holds his interest and attention these days is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. That’s "DC," not "MS."

Still, there was a palpable warmth, a subtle sincerity, if you will, which I detected in McCain’s characterization of Mississippi as "home." I witnessed McCain repeatedly and, very comfortably, I must say, gratefully embrace the entire gamut of his Mississippi roots, ranging from his rural Carroll County forebears to his early flying career at the Meridian naval airfield named for his grandfather.

I believe John McCain when he says he is at "home" in Mississippi. No doubt he feels that way about several other places too, but the Magnolia State is on his radar screen, we clearly claim a special piece of his heart, and Mississippians definitely will not be strangers when McCain sits in the Oval Office.

Mrs. Roberta McCain, the mother of the man all the McCain ladies believe (as do I) is destined to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States at high noon next January 20. It was my great honor, along with my wife, Renee, to serve as this very special lady’s driver, escort, and dinner companion. Although supposedly 96 years of age (it must be true, through I still can’t believe it!), Roberta McCain has the classic looks of a beautiful 70-year old, and the mind of a bright, engaging and articulate 50-year old. She is a true joy to behold and to converse with.

As I opened the door to the vehicle when we arrived back at her Meridian hotel Sunday night, a still energetic, passionate and ever thoughtful Mrs. McCain thanked me for driving her and for helping her son, and then took my hand in hers, looked deeply into my eyes, and said to me in the most touching, earnest and heartfelt manner imaginable: "You know, I just believe America needs this man now . . . ."

Mississippi believes that too, Mrs. Roberta.

(Read the Full Story Here)

Service to America Tour Videos

Inspirational videos about how America shaped John McCain's commitment to public service, and his response.

Character Forged by Family


Heroes


Service


Sacrifice

Wicker touts McCain's conservative creds

OneNewsNow.com is reporting Senator Roger Wicker's support of McCain.

GOP senator touts McCain's credentials to conservatives
Jim Brown - OneNewsNow - 4/4/2008 9:30:00 AM

Senator Roger Wicker is urging fellow conservatives to put aside their differences with John McCain on issues such as embryonic stem-cell research, the federal marriage amendment, and immigration, and stop questioning their support for the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

Senator McCain (R-Arizona) kicked off his biography bus tour earlier this week in Mississippi, where he was accompanied for two days by Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). McCain's campaign has dubbed the week a "Service to America Tour." Wicker says as a practical matter, McCain is trying to stay in the news headlines while the Democratic contest rages on between Senators Barack Obama (D-Illinois) and Hillary Clinton (D-New York).

Some high-profile conservatives such as Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family and commentator Ann Coulter have vowed they will not vote for McCain in the general election. But Wicker, a former member of the House and now one of the newest members of the U.S. Senate, is encouraging social conservatives who are wary of McCain to take into consideration that he has staked out a "strong" position on judicial nominees.

Wicker says the Arizona senator reaffirmed to him and others in Mississippi Monday that a major part of his platform is confirming federal judges who strictly interpret the Constitution.

"Senator McCain went out of his way to point out how unjustly Judge [Charles] Pickering [of Mississippi] was treated in his confirmation for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals," Wicker shares, "and [he] made it clear that he would appoint people much like Judge Pickering to the appellate courts and to the Supreme Court."

The new Senate member predicts there could be as many as two or three Supreme Court vacancies during the next presidential term. "I think John McCain will pick the right kind of people, much in the mold of Justice [John] Roberts and Justice [Samuel] Alito," he says.

Wicker says McCain should also be appealing to conservatives because he would keep the Bush tax cuts in place, unlike the two Democratic presidential hopefuls, who he argues would increase the tax burden on families. In addition, Wicker contends McCain will keep the country on the right side of the political spectrum -- and more importantly, keep the nation safe and secure.

Liberals Respond to McCain's Meridian Visit

This is hard to believe, but look at this from the left of the blogosphere. Their prejudice against Mississippi is clear, as is their desperation against McCain...also for more on the Reagan speech in Philadelphia, go here.

John McCain's Racist Dogwhistle in Meridian, Mississippi
by: Matt Stoller
Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 17:07

Oh, this is some dogwhistling. John McCain is kicking off his 'Service to America Tour' in Meridian, Mississippi on Monday, the tour designed to introduce America to his biography.

Meridian, MS, is 40 miles from Philadelphia, MS, the place where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964 and the city where Ronald Reagan kicked off his Presidential campaign in 1980 with a speech on states' rights largely seen as the political springboard for the emerging civil rights backlash. Meridian itself is significant because one of the civil rights workers was actually from the town. McCain also has some military history in the town, but there's a reason this is the first stop on the tour, and I don't think it's just because he was stationed there.

Now, McCain of course won't distance himself from Reagan's famous racist kick-off speech, and this clearly looks like a dogwhistle to racists within the Republican Party. I'm just wondering whether the press is going to cover the fact that McCain is kicking off his bio tour in the town where a famous civil right martyr was born and the place where the racist civil rights backlash kicked into high gear.

Michael Scherer, I'm waiting.

UPDATE: McCain's speech is here. I was probably wrong on this incident, it doesn't look like a dogwhistle.

Thanks to James Taranto for pointing this out and discussing over at WSJ. As usual, he dispatches the left's ravings with logic and wit.

BEST OF THE WEB TODAY
The Wall Street Journal Online
Dog-Whistling Dixie
By JAMES TARANTO
April 3, 2008

Stoller suggests that it is invidious for a politician to give a speech within a 40-mile radius of Philadelphia, where the three civil rights workers were murdered; and that it is also invidious for a politician to give a speech in Meridian, because one of the murdered activists, James Chaney, was born there. By this logic, it would also be invidious for a politician to give a speech in any of the following places:

• New York City, where the other two murdered civil rights workers, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, were born. (In fact, as David Brooks noted in November, that racist devil Reagan followed up his 1980 Philadelphia speech by flying to New York, where he addressed the Urban League.)

• Within 40 miles of Memphis, Tenn., where Martin Luther King was assassinated 40 years ago tomorrow.

• Atlanta, where Dr. King was born.

Actually, a politician would probably be well advised to steer clear of Mississippi altogether, since Memphis is right on the state line and Medgar Evers, another civil rights activist, was both born and assassinated in the Magnolia State.

Once McCain gave the speech, Stoller sheepishly updated his post: "I was probably wrong on this incident, it doesn't look like a dogwhistle." (Presumably he means it doesn't sound like one.)

Some commentators have given Stoller credit for his honesty, but we'd like to dwell on the metaphor instead. A dog whistle is also known as a silent whistle, because it emits a tone at a frequency too high for humans to hear, although it is within the audible range for canines. A racist dog whistle, then, is a speech that sounds innocuous to the normal human ear but that racist "dogs" are able to recognize as an appeal to them.

What does it tell us about Matt Stoller that he is able to detect whether the "racist dog whistle" has been blown?

Sometimes you just have to laugh at the liberals. They would rather concoct conspiracy theories about race than recognize the real truth of John McCain's public service. What is the reason? They are afraid of McCain (see below).

Video from McCain's Speech in Meridian

The Meridina Star has some great video excerpts from Senator McCain's speech in Meridian.

Behind the Scenes in Meridian

The McCain Campaign has posted this behind the scenes look at John McCain in Meridian. Senator Roger Wicker and Governor Haley Barbour join McCain in some of the shots.

Audio of McCain's Speech

Mississippi Public Broadcasting has the audio of Senator John McCain's speech in Meridian.
MPB News also did a segment on the McCain Tour (audio clip).

Hope is Alive in Meridian

Meghan McCain blogs more about Meridian and the Hope Village, and has pictures of the tour as well as some shots of the trip back which included Trent Lott and Roger Wicker, and Trent and Tricia Lott.

McCain Visit Slideshow

The Clarion Ledger has a slideshow of pictures from the McCain visit.

McCain on Purpose, Welfare, Education while in Mississippi

Hundreds of Mississippians and elected officials joined John McCain on his visit to Meridian and Jackson. The Meridian Star reported that the Democrats were not as successful: Few turned out in Meridian for the Democratic rally. Party spokesman Terry Cassreino blamed the low turn-out the weather of overcast skies and occasional light rain. In Meridian, McCain received a positive response from the 600 hundred plus in attendance, drawing copious applause. In his speech, McCain tied the parenting theme in with the recession and the welfare and unemployment insurance programs, calling those programs "antiquated" in their current state. "The mother or father who has lost hope along with their job can unintentionally impart that hopelessness to their children," he said. "A welfare check can't give a parent a sense of purpose." McCain concluded his speech by talking of the lessons he'd learned from his family, including the "sense of purpose" that he spoke of earlier. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, sens. Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran, Rep. Chip Pickering, local officials, and members of the Mississippi Legislature, attended McCain's speech. After leaving the MSU Riley Center, McCain visited Hope Village for Children in Meridian, a home for abused and neglected children. He spoke with the board of directors and key staff and took a tour of the facility, according to Hope Village staff. (Read the Full Story Here)

WLBT asked John McCain about education issues: Arizona Senator John McCain made a brief stop though the capital city for a fundraising luncheon. McCain was greeted by supporters as he left the plane and again as he entered the Regions Bank building in downtown Jackson. He was joined by Governor Haley Barbour, Senator Roger Wicker, Representative Chip Pickering and former Senator Trent Lott. All touted McCain's record on national defense and the war on terror.

But we asked the senator his plans for reducing the drop out rate here in Mississippi. To which McCain responded, "In my state of Arizona, we have a lot more charter schools. They provided competition. We're going to have to fully fund special education programs. I understand the challenge here in the state and it's a lot of help that's needed, but I do think the governor and the legislature are working hard on that issue." He also wants to fix the federal "No Child Left Behind" program and to help fund autism programs. (Read the Full Story Here, With Video)