Wednesday, November 07, 2007
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Which Endorsement Wins Rank-and-File Social Conservatives?
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
1:24 PM
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A few days ago, I proclaimed that Mitt Romney had finally become the official "social conservative alternative."
That lasted for about two days. ... And then today Pat Robertson endorsed Rudy Giuliani ... and Sen. Sam Brownback endorsed John McCain.
Clearly, the other candidates are not willing to concede the social conservative vote to Romney. And they were wise to haul out these endorsements now ... before it got away from them.
The Fix put it this way:
The endorsement will definitely slow Romney's momentum with social conservatives. Romney had recently secured the backing of conservative stalwarts Paul Weyrich and Bob Jones III -- endorsements that seemed to strengthen his bid to become the electable conservative alternative to Giuliani. Romney had made no secret of his desire for Robertson's endorsement and has to be disappointed this morning.
Still, I can't help but believe there are extenuating circumstances behind today's two endorsements.
Sam Brownback's endorsement of John McCain isn't quite so surprising when you consider they are both Senators, and that McCain has the most solid pro-Life record of any candidate still in the race. Additionally, it's no secret that Brownback and Romney were rivals.
But regardless of why Brownback endorsed McCain, his endorsement could help McCain with social conservatives in places like Iowa -- and also help provide an actual Iowa organization for him to use. If McCain finishes second or third in Iowa, and then first in New Hampshire (which is not beyond the realm of possibility), who knows what happens?
Pat Robertson's endorsement of Rudy Giuliani was also huge because it essentially says you can be an Evangelical -- and still, in good faith -- support Rudy Giuliani.
While this endorsement isn't likely to spark a chain of other high-level endorsements (in recent years, Robertson has become more of a maverick, and less of a movement leader), Robertson's endorsement probably has more weight at the grassroots level than at the leader level.
So I guess I still stand by my point that Paul Weyrich's endorsement of Romney is the most likely to create a domino effect of top-down social conservative support. The question is whether or not Romney's leaders still have a real constituency ...
In my view, the most important endorsements don't just win you the support of other inside-the-beltway "leaders". The best endorsments win over rank-and-file conservative voters. Nationally, it could be Robertson who wins the most regular social conservatives. But Brownback's supporters are targeted near Iowa, and you could argue that that's more important ...
On a slightly different note, it is truly surprising how fractured the conservative movement has become. Anyone who still believes there is a "vast right-wing conspiracy" is surely not paying attention ...
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How much credibility does Robertson actually have with social cons? I've always thought he was kind of a joke, and he's said some pretty nutty things if you remember.
It's hard not speculate that Robertson just could not get over Romney's Mormonism. How can a man who professes to stand for moral issues endorse a man in direct conflict with those morals? I think he has lost his credibility as a Christian Conservaitve leader today. |
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Most evangelicals don't care who Pat Robertson, Sam Brownback or anyone else endorses.
You seem to be confusing us with those who listen to the reverends *cough* Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. How insulting. |
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We will either elect a President who will uphold the laws or one who will change them to accomodate the illegal aliens. If we do the latter, we are voluntarily committing national suicide.
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There are millions of us who usually vote GOP who WILL NOT vote for Rudy, for a variety of reasons. For me it's the amnesty issue, for others it's life, still others, homosexuality or gun rights. Whatever the issue is, it is a bright line we will not cross. No amount of Hillaryscare, intimidation, name-calling or cajoling will get us to vote for Rudy. He's in the wrong party. He is a liberal. I don't vote for liberals. When he loses, don't blame us, we tried to warn you. Flipping off half your voters is not a winning strategy.
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Robertson has a lot of credibility with social conservatives. This endorsement shows there are more important issues than abortion. One should also remember, Giuliani said he would nominate conservative judges, which all the President can really do to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Giuliani is a proven tax cutter and crime fighter. He also supports the war on terrorism and cut the welfare rolls as mayor of NYC. |
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Matt Lewis writes;
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But regardless of why Brownback endorsed McCain, his endorsement could help McCain with social conservatives in places like Iowa -- and also help provide an actual Iowa organization for him to use...Brownback's supporters are targeted near Iowa, and you could argue that that's more important..."
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Yet, just a couple weeks ago, when New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg endorsed Mitt Romney, Matt Lewis wrote;
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"Judd Gregg's endorsement of Mitt Romney may be a coup, but do endorsements really ever make that big a difference?"
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Matt doesn't like Romney, so he was trying to downplay the influence of Senator Gregg's endorsement of Romney on the New Hampshire primary.
Yet when Matt's favored candidate John McCain gets an endorsement from a Senator from a NEIGHBORING state to Iowa, Matt is so optimistic about its potential influence for McCain in the Iowa Caucuses, that he's doing the moonwalk in the Townhall break room.
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Pretty much the same as Hillary and GWB. Lip service to border security and "Comprehensive Immigration Reform", amnesty. We tried that once in 1986 and Reagan thought it the worst mistake of his terms. We now have 10 times the number of illegal aliens. We will either elect a President who will uphold the laws or one who will change them to accomodate the illegal aliens. If we do the latter, we are voluntarily committing national suicide.
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He's pro-abortion and pro-gun control. Do you honestly think, if he becomes president, he'll nominate someone who will help overturn Roe v. Wade? Do you think he'll defend the Second Amendment?
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Here is why:
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/13508.html |
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contrary to popular belief, really aren't. In fact we are some of the most fiercely independent folks you will run across.
Who Pat Roberston or Paul Weyrich endorses is absolutely meaningless except to call to attention to how utterly craven they are.
Put simply, I would trust Giuliani or Romney with my car, sorry my SUV, about as far as either one of them could throw it. |
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"There are millions of us who usually vote GOP who WILL NOT vote for Rudy, for a variety of reasons. For me it's the amnesty issue, for others it's life, still others, homosexuality or gun rights. Whatever the issue is, it is a bright line we will not cross. No amount of Hillaryscare, intimidation, name-calling or cajoling will get us to vote for Rudy. He's in the wrong party. He is a liberal. I don't vote for liberals. When he loses, don't blame us, we tried to warn you. Flipping off half your voters is not a winning strategy."
I was talking to a colleague about this very thing at the office this morning and I couldn't have said it better myself.
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Robertson said that:
- we deserved to be attacked on 9-11,
- he wishes terrorists would attack the State Dept.,
- the federal judiciary is more dangerous than terrorists,
- mainline protestants are the spirit if the anti-Christ.
It was no mistake that he was not invited to the Values Voters Conference last month.
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Pat Robertson's influence has been waning for years. This about Robertson craving the lime light and wanting to be relevant.
My apologies to people of good faith still following this charlatan.
Anybody that knows Robertson's business dealing here in America and over in Africa (mining interests) knows he puts power and money above religious faith.
This is a marriage of two like-minded men: Both peddling fear to gain power.
This match was definitely not made in Heaven! |
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I always thought the primary election was about supporting your choice for the general election. I'm sick and tired of elites on both sides telling everybody else who to vote for. America needs to choose canidates on the grass roots level and the elites need to shut-up and keep their elitist opinions to themselves.
I want this election to be about Americans at the local level backing their candidate, and getting that candidate nominated in the convention.
Don't listen to the drive-by media, the Washington insiders, the elitists, the polsters, and the power hungry.
Talk amoungst yourselves, and then VOTE! in the primaries. |
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Rudy has promised to give the thumpers ALL the federal Judges THEY want, so maybe the ends justifies the means. Sounds to me like Robertson is one Christian, ironically willing to make a "Deal with The Devil" in order to further "Gods Will" on earth.
Just remember. Rudy doesn't have any fundie friends or family. When it comes time for him to nominate any judge, he'll have the advice of many close friends in NYC, like the gay couple he lived with for several months during his divorce, when he was kicked out of Gracie Mansion. I'm sure he'll appoint Republicans. Republicans just like him. |
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Conservatives should not cast their primary vote out of fear. Don't let anyone tell you that if you don't vote for their guy in the primary, it will be all over. I agree with you that we should talk it out, think it out, pray it out, and make up your mind. Each has a mind that is as capable as any other. It is in the generals that we can be pragmatic, but not before.
I am a Romney guy. To me, he is the most electable and capable Republican who is conservative. And although I naturally want every one to vote for him, I still respect those who support second tier candidates out of principle. I don't want anybody to feel that they can't stand their ground in the primaries. I believe that there is an effect, even if they lose.
However, those I don't respect are those who threaten to sit out the generals if their man doesn't get in. If you won't vote in the generals, your constituency doesn't matter in the primaries either. The pointing finger of those who would sit out the generals has 4 fingers pointing in the reverse direction. |
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What a joke of an endorsement. Robertson just motivated what was left of his blue-haired following to realize that "aborting babies is ok if you just kill an Arab for each one!"......He now has the credability of Jimmy Swaggart....."When the preacher eats at the King's table to often, he simply becomes another servant of the King!"......Rudy very well may become President, but NO sane human will ever accuse him of being a conservative. |
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I guess Robertson hates mormons more than he does adulterers. |
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How in the world can Pat Robertson have any credibility left? As mentioned above he has said some pretty nutty things and now he endorses Rudy Giuliani. Hopefully Robertson's endorsement is the kiss of death to Giuliani's campaign. |
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No endorsement should win the rank and file social conservative vote. I think we all can think for ourselves just fine. Without your help!
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Rudy is a scumbag traitor working for the destruction of our country and the creation of the North American Union.
Pat Robertson is a fool.
The base will not show up for Rudy. |
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National voters are just tuning in. MSM has shouted Rudy's positions. MSM attacked Rudy like it is the general. I think they forgot it is the primary.Mitt's poll numbers will rise because of the backfire.Thank God. |
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That's what Robertson's endorsement means...nothing. Of course, if he had endorsed Romney, I would say it meant a lot and that he had good sense. The truth is, Romney has a much better pro-life record. He's been successful in every phase of his life. Rudy hasn't. If you can't be faithful to your wife, what more sacred oath do you take? Answer... None.
I don't trust Rudy. But if he's the nominiee, I trust him more than Hillary. |
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Rudy's endorsement of Kerik may be the most important endorsement of all. It may actually change perceptions of Rudy and a lot of votes. |
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Stop pretending Huckabee does not exist when he is nationally polling ahead of both McCain and Romney for the last two days in most respected Rasmussen polling, and is 2nd in Iowa.
Furthermore, McCain has said repeatedly in running for the last election he would not support overturning Roe v. Wade, see article here based first on printed interview in San Francisco Chronicle:
"In an August 19 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, McCain said: "I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even-the long-term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations." (see here http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_199909/ai_ n8855062
and here
http://www.nrlc.org/news/1999/NRL999/mccain.html
and even after getting in political trouble for making that comment continued to say
"But just two days after McCain was interviewed by the Chronicle, World magazine (in its Aug. 21, 1999, issue) reported on a recent McCain stump speech: "Though [McCain] insists he, personally, is `morally pro-life,' he said he would work to ensure that no voter felt 'excluded' from the GOP 'I would not seek to overturn Roe v. Wade tomorrow,' he continued, because doing so would endanger the lives of women. He promised not to screen Supreme Court nominees for their opinion on Roe."
McCain made yet another similar statement on CNN's "Late Edition" on August 22. "We all know, and it's obvious;' he said, "that if we repeal Roe v. Wade tomorrow, thousands of young American women would be performing illegal and dangerous operations."
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what u guys said are reasonable…
but, being a black woman, who shows so much interests in interracial relationship, and trying to find her prince, but,i wanna say in the past 2 weeks I have been to several forum sites about interracial relationship etc and to my surprise, I find that many people say horrible things about me for date outside of their race! such as something on http://www.interracialsingleonline.com/. I would like to know what's driving all of this hatred still?
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As a church-going Baptist Conservative, let me tell you what the Baptists I know think of Pat Robertson.
Slime-ball.
Cheesy, slick, televangelist that creates the stereo-type of big haired, weepy, emotional Christians.
The fact he endorsed Rudy hurts him, not helps.
Latest polling shows Romney ahead by 15 in NH and 16 in Iowa.
It's ova! |
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Liberal? Have you no idea how he governed in Manhattan? He's a fiscal conservative, law and order proponent and small government advocate. He managed to do this in liberal New Yorkm City.
He's a proven leader. It is Romney who governed like a liberal. |
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Who cares? One is able to decide for one's self. Still, in certain circles, Pat or Paul's or Brownback's endorsement might keep some voters open to look at the ups and downs of the candidate's views. All this nonsence about Rudy being the anti-Christ compared to the Hildabeast is just inane. Any Pub who stays home or goes 3rd Party is a political dolt. No Dem is worth the cutting off one's nose ......just because that voter THINKS he knows what Rudy or Mitt or Fred or Mike will do. Any Dem will get us all killed. And foreign policy is the no. 1 issue. Without our national security protected and in fact moving forward to the offense, no other issue will matter if our nation is in turmoil and ashes. |
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Matt, but he's not going to be the nominee brother.
He.
Will.
Not.
So get over it, and pick someone else. McCain has about as much chance of winning Iowa as I do...
It's Rudy or Mitt. Two choices. And if you're socially conservative, well there's really only one choice at this point in the campaign who has a chance against the Clinton machine. |
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I actually think that John McCain has the best chance against the Clinton machine.
The Robertson endorsement carries no weight whatsover for independent/swing voters. It just solidifies the right-right base. There are many in this country, Christians included, who really do not appreciate the fundamentalist evangelizers. |
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He's for gun control, not conservative.
He's for abortion, not conservative.
He's for gay rights, not conservative.
He's for amnesty, not conservative.
The last one is the deal breaker for me. I will not vote for ANYONE who will not uphold the laws. |
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Virginia Patriot,
Rudy is in favor of aggressively fighting against Islamo-fascism, and that is the most transcendent issue.
Go ahead and support Duncan Hunter or Ron Paul in the primaries, but if you sit home on election day 2008, enabling Hillary to win, you will see that those issues which are so dear to your precious heart---guns, gays, abortion, and immigration---will be subverted for the next 30 or 40 years by a Hillary Supreme Court.
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Does fighting the jihad include making those who snuck into the country citizens? We made citizens of some of those who bombed the WTC in '93 with the last amnesty in '86. What will we be fighting for once we have given our country away? |
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Virginia Patriot,
By the way, I live in Los Angeles, and thus believe it is fair to say I probably see MORE of the consequences of illegal immigration than you do.
Fighting Jihad is the most important issue.
You and Ron Paul may not think my life is worth fighting Jihad for, but I think your lives are worth fighting Jihad for.
Obviously, you disagree.
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Ron Paul is wrong on the jihad. As wrong as Rudy is on the Reconquista. Do you really want to see the rest of the country go the way of L.A.? |
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Pat Robertson has made so many rediculous or offensive statements in recent years that he has lost credibility with me and I'm sure many evangelicals. As far as I'm concerned, he has as much credibility as Jimmy Carter. Neither Guiliani, McCain, or Romney are true conservatives, but are trying to masquerade as one. Guiliani will not get the conservative vote because he is on the wrong side of the issues of illegal immigration, abortion, gun control and amnesty. If the Republican party doesn't get back to it's base, the 2008 election will make the 2006 fiasco look insignificant in comparison. We want our country back and we want it back NOW! Scrap NAFTA, CAFTA, the North American Union, take back the UN controlled territories in the USA and kick the UN off Shore.
GOD Bless America!!! |
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Are we really conservatives or not? We have a candidate that is moving up on the pols with not money but with conviction that cames from his
heart, a passion that is uncommun ammong the candidates, yet Robertson gives up on Huckabee
let me tell you as long as people dont give up on Huckabee that is what matters!! so if you are a Huckabee's supporter do not give up! you are not betraying the republicans you are standing up for the best not settling for the least of both evils!! think about it |
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Are we really conservatives or not? We have a candidate that is moving up on the pols with not money but with conviction that cames from his
heart, a passion that is uncommun ammong the candidates, yet Robertson gives up on Huckabee
let me tell you as long as people dont give up on Huckabee that is what matters!! so if you are a Huckabee's supporter do not give up! you are not betraying the republicans you are standing up for the best not settling for the least of both evils!! think about it |
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THIS IS ONE ROUGH VIDEO!
WATCH
http://controlcongress.com/uncategorized/can-rudy-win-in-08
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... AND TODAY ITS REPORTED he's going to strongly endorse... HUCKABEE!!
American Spectator breaks the news today on what is planned behind the scenes at
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12292
Excerpt:
" Dr. James Dobson, who has largely been made irrelevant to the 2008 Republican presidential race, has apparently found his man, and according to an adviser, is ready to change the landscape of the Republican nomination race. "He is the leader of the evangelical and social conservative movement in America, and he's going to reassert that position and leave no doubt that he's in charge," says the adviser based in Colorado.
Sources close to Dobson say that within the next ten days he is coordinating an endorsement plan with the presidential campaign of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. According to a Huckabee insider in Iowa, the event would be staged in that state at a rally, followed by a bus tour across the state, and an appearance by Huckabee on Dobson's radio show, which is heard nationally.
Dobson's endorsement, according to the Huckabee source, could mean millions in fundraising to the campaign, allowing it to compete at the same level with the top tier candidates Huckabee has been inching toward in the polls after a series of strong debate and campaign appearances..."
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Rudy will nominate liberals to the supreme court. Nothing that these frozen with fear former conservatives say will change that. Except for the fact that Rudy will not nominate anyone because Rudy will not win. While mayor Rudy nominated over 100 judges and most of them were liberals. You ought to learn from history. Check this out.
Here are some red state results for 2004.
Texas:Bush 61.09% Kerry 38.22%
Arkansas:Bush 54.31% Kerry 44.55%
Louisiana:Bush 56.72% Kerry 42.22%
Tennessee:Bush 56.80% Kerry 42.53%
Now here are some results for Dole in 1996.
Texas:Dole 48.76% Clinton 43.83% Perot 6.75%
Arkansas:Dole 36.80% Clinton 53.74% Perot 7.90%
Louisiana:Dole 39.94% Clinton 52.01% Perot 6.91%
Tennessee:Dole 45.59% Clinton 48.00% Perot 5.59%
And that is just with Dole! Rudy is even more of a slap in the face than he was! Rudy will be a complete Hillary Clinton victory! Get on board a stop Rudy effort before it is too late! Please stop this nonsense! |
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