Where’s McCain?

by Sean Hackbarth

A group of rabid, anti-military protesters have caused quite a ruckus in Berkeley, CA. Code Pink and the gang aren’t just protesting the Iraq War, they’re protesting the existence of the U.S. Marine Corps from peacefully finding new recruits to defend our nation. The protesters’ obnoxious behavior have riled up online conservatives and Republican Congressmen.

All except for Sen. John McCain.

Right before our eyes there’s a news event McCain could use to rally conservative critics behind him. Being a former Navy man he has kinship with those Marines. He could not only play off his supporter for the Iraq War surge, but could try to label the protesters as cut-and-runners like Sens. Clinton and Obama.

I did a quick news search and haven’t found a statement from McCain. I went to his website and found zilch there.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee made this good web video:

McCain’s team could do the same. They could even make a commercial with the Senator speaking out against such incivility. Such a message would ring true with conservatives and independents who may not approve of the Iraq War but oppose the tactics of the far Left.

Along with at sustained message to control a news cycle or two McCain could back Sen. DeMint’s effort to take away Berkeley’s earmarks.

McCain has plenty of tools available to use the Marine protests to his advantage in building up his conservative base while not alienating independents. He’s practically sown up the GOP nomination. The opportunity is there.

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This entry was posted on Friday, February 15th, 2008 at 7:58 pm and is filed under War, 2008 Presidential Race. You can trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “Where’s McCain?”

“Cut and run” really lacks the rhetorical punch it used to have, back in the days before a vast majority of Americans supported a pull-out from a war of adventure launched on objectively false premises.

Just a thought.

Posted by Chet on February 15th, 2008

I do not purport to know McCain’s mind pertaining to Berkeley; however I have a pretty good guess.

It’s politics.

If know one asks him he does not have to take a stand that Conservative voters would love and the center Right/Left would connect with Bush. I am guessing McCain is not willing to gamble on the mind of the Center electorate quite yet.

Thus McCain option: keep mouth shut.

Posted by John on February 16th, 2008

[…] Why bother with an issue that will gain him little advantage when there’s an issue sitting right in front of him begging for a strong, passionate approach? For the life of me I can’t understand why McCain hasn’t taken up the Berkeley-Marines issue. Some straight talk in defense of U.S. Marines would galvanize conservatives and create a wedge between the anti-war/military Left and independents and law-and-order types Sens. Clinton and Obama want in November. […]

Posted by McCain Wants to Run on Campaign Finance » The American Mind on February 16th, 2008

[…] Story Published: Feb 16, 2008 Hat tip Sean Hackbarth…. I agree this would be a good issue for John McCain to unload on. Liberal extremists on the City Council of Berkeley, California recently passed a resolution labeling brave United States Marines as unwelcome and uninvited visitors within the city’s boundaries. According to the Sacramento Bee, "… City Council … labeled military recruiters stationed [in Berkeley] as ‘intruders’ and pronounced them a ‘violent influence’ on the city’s youth" Additionally, the Sacramento Bee reported, "It [the Berkeley City Council] also gave the anti-war group Code Pink a permanent parking space in front of the recruiting office, from which it could stage its frequent protests." (Sacramento Bee, 2/12/0 Senate Democrats are blocking the Senate from saying anything official about this situation and allowing this outrageous insult by the city of Berkeley to go unanswered. YouTube - Democrats’ Extreme Friends: US Marines "Unwelcome Intruders" LINK __________________ […]

Posted by The Assault on The Marines on February 16th, 2008

[…] Conservative blogger Sean Hackbarth argued a couple of days ago that John McCain is missing a good opportunity to rally conservatives. In Berkeley, CA, the City Council and antiwar protesters like Code Pink have been resisting the local Marine recruiting office — and Hackbarth points out that McCain, unlike many fellow Republicans, has failed to speak out about it: Right before our eyes there’s a news event McCain could use to rally conservative critics behind him. Being a former Navy man he has kinship with those Marines. He could not only play off his supporter for the Iraq War surge, but could try to label the protesters as cut-and-runners like Sens. Clinton and Obama. […]

Posted by BallotVox » Blog Archive » Suggestion for John McCain on February 22nd, 2008