Richard Viguerie Says Ball Is in McCain's Court

...offers ways McCain can reach out to conservatives before it's too late

MANASSAS, Va., Feb 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released
today by Richard Viguerie of ConservativesBetrayed.com:
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has a short time to reach
out to conservatives -- to "stop the bleeding before it's too late," Richard
A. Viguerie said.
"It's not enough for him to make a speech at a conservative meeting, or
declare himself a conservative, or get a member of the Washington
establishment like Bob Dole to vouch for his credentials," Viguerie said. "He
must take immediate steps to show conservatives that they have a real stake in
his election.
"The ball is in Senator McCain's court. For years, he has made himself
the adversary of conservatives. Now he must take the initiative in reaching
out.
"Rush Limbaugh has declared that McCain's nomination would destroy the
Republican Party, and Dr. James Dobson says he will not, under any
circumstances, vote for Senator McCain," Viguerie noted. "But it's not just
famous conservatives who feel this way. It's grassroots conservatives, who
remember what the Senator did on taxes, immigration, freedom of speech, the
'gay marriage' amendment, 'global warming,' and a score of other issues."
Viguerie noted that, "To get conservatives on board, Senator McCain
doesn't need to repudiate long-held positions, or appear to kowtow. He would
diminish himself if he did that.
"What he can and must do is to reach out to conservatives with concrete
proposals to bring real change to Washington -- to go beyond even what Reagan
was able to do. He must pledge not just to get rid of earmarks, but also to
dismantle entire programs, agencies, and Cabinet positions.
"And he must answer this question: What kind of people would he surround
himself with, if he became president? Would he recruit from Wall Street and K
Street, or will he bring a new generation of conservative leaders to
Washington? What kind of people would he pick as judges, as Cabinet members,
and, most importantly, as vice president?
"He must show conservatives that his presidency would be an extension of
what was started with Ronald Reagan."
If McCain is the GOP nominee, many conservatives will hold their noses and
vote for him, Viguerie said. "But that's not enough. If he is to be elected
in November, he must have the enthusiastic support of nearly all
conservatives, not just the grudging support of a plurality. He must have
conservatives excited about his campaign, going door to door, making telephone
calls, and sending out postcards and e-mails -- all the things that require
them to sacrifice time they could spend with their families. They won't do
that if the only reason they're supporting McCain is that the Democrat is even
worse."
If McCain reaches out to conservatives in the right way, Viguerie said,
"conservatives will reach out to him. For John McCain, there is a pathway to
citizenship in the conservative movement -- if only he will take it."
NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered ideological and political
direct mail and has been called "the funding father of the conservative
movement" for his role in helping build dozens of conservative organizations.
He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed-How George W. Bush and Other Big-
Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause (Bonus Books, 2006).
Contact: Bob Sturm (703) 396-6974
After 6 PM Eastern time, contact:
Vi Shields (703) 906-6542 or
Bob Sturm (703) 307-8176

SOURCE ConservativesBetrayed.com

Bob Sturm, +1-703-396-6974, or after 6 PM Eastern time, contact Vi Shields,
+1-703-906-6542 or Bob Sturm, +1-703-307-8176, both for
ConservativesBetrayed.com