In the National Review Online this morning, editor Kathryn Jean Lopez gave Completely unsolicited advice for John McCain from a Tuesday Romney voter. She started out by reminding him of his own words:
“I urge my friends who complain about the influence of the religious Right, get out there and get busy. That’s what they do!”
That, of course, is a quote from one John McCain. I recycle it because primary season is not over yet, and the “religious Right” in 24 states has a voice Tuesday — feel free to get busy. But I also recycle it now by way of a caution to the McCain campaign.
Last week on Bill Bennett’s radio program, right after he won the Florida primary, John McCain said that it was “foolishness” to question an answer he gave Tim Russert on immigration on Meet the Press earlier that week. The senator had said he’d sign the McCain-Kennedy amnesty plan of last year if it wound up on his Oval Office desk. That was not a great start toward mending fences.
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Mitt Romney is fighting today and tomorrow for the three legs of the stool — keeping the Republican party conservative on foreign policy, economics, and social issues. I hope he succeeds. With close races in some Super Tuesday states and with what we’ve seen so far (few would have put their money on McCain being anything close to a front-runner a few months ago), it’s possible. But if he doesn’t succeed and steps aside, John McCain would be wise not to pretend to be the guy that Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney supporters have been dreaming would be their nominee. He’s not the man of conservatives’ dreams, nor does he want to be. So, play it straight, Senator. Take some advice from someone who wants you defeated tomorrow (me), but who also wants the good guys to win in November.
