Did McCain make peace with conservatives?

The Associated Press

Can McCain save his relationship with the base?

Featured Topic | Posted 41 weeks 1 day ago

Did McCain make peace with conservatives?

John McCain walked into the lion's den Thursday. He spoke at theConservative Political Action Conference, a gathering of the kinds of activists who have staunchly opposed to his candidacy for president. (And where our own Ben Boychuk is holding down the fort.)

So did he make his case? Or will conservatives abandon McCain in November?

Ben likes: McCain at CPAC -- not quite the uniter yet

Michelle Malkin

I don’t think a CPAC speaker has ever stressed his differences so many times before the conservative base–not even Sam Donaldson!

I respect his decision to stand in the lion’s den, and I agreed with much of the speech. I found myself nodding as he touted his opposition to ethanol subsidies, national catastrophic insurance, and the Medicare prescription drug benefit. But I don’t for a minute buy his claim that he “respects the opposition” of his staunchest opponents, especially the anti-amnesty crowd. These are folks he has cursed and likened to Bull Connor-style bigots. He has done nothing to rid his campaign staff and finance board of the most extreme open-borders zealots.

I said he needed to do more than mouth the Right platitudes. Still waiting.

Joel likes: McCain vs. the right

David Corn/Mother Jones

If McCain believes he can make nice with the rightwing talkers, he's kidding himself. This group--especially Limbaugh, Hannity, and Coulter--have no incentive to be pragmatic. They each earn much money by being provocative. Their first loyalty is to their audience, which expects hard-edged ideological warfare from them. They go soft--or reasonable--and they risk their reputations. It's possible McCain could engage in an act of self-flagellation so extreme, his right-wing critics could claim victory and boast that he kissed their rings. But in the absence of such a move, they will keep pounding him. It makes good TV and radio.