John McCain is not considered a conservative’s conservative according to David Keene, the chairman of the American Conservative Union.
“There’s this personal animosity he has towards people over issues,” Keene said. So far, Keene has endorsed US Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Keene adds: “Most conservatives see that he would like to remake the party without them.”
However, McCain’s voting record gives the suggestion that he should be in the good graces of conservatives. McCain already has an 82.3 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. However, McCain’s strongest critics come from the conservative establishment of Washington.
Critics include Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Former Senator Rick Santorum, and Rush Limbaugh who leads a host of conservative talk radio hosts. Rick Santorum said he would support any Republican but John McCain. Rush Limbaugh has said that a nomination of John McCain would devastate the Republican Party.
Their disenchantment of John McCain steps to his positions he has staked on hot issues.
Tom Tancredo, McCain’s onetime rival considered him to be one of the most dangerous threats due to his moderation on immigration.
Conservative advocacy groups were enraged at McCain’s sponsoring legislation of campaign finance reform.
Much anger from the right has been generated due to McCain’s longtime opposition to Bush’s tax cuts, characterization of conservative religious leaders as agents that preach intolerance, partnering with Joe Lieberman on legislation to deal with global warming, and bipartisan Senate compromise when it comes to judicial nominees.
However, the anger directed at McCain could go beyond his stances on several issues.
For many conservatives, the problem with McCain is his style. Not only does break away from the conservative orthodoxy on issues, he tends to alienate them while doing so.
“He’s tough to deal with, there’s no doubt about it,” said Arizona Republican Party chairman, Randy Pullen. Pullen adds: “He believes what he believes in, and he wants other people to support him in those beliefs.”
“Some of his battles are so intense and loud that it sort of increases the animosity,” according to Greg Mueller, GOP strategist. He adds: “You’ve got these intense issues where a lot of rhetoric gets tossed around and it breeds resentment.
Keene says that those who worked with John McCain get the aura that he does not like conservatives.
“In his world, it’s very difficult to have a simply policy disagreement,” Keene explains. He adds: “Everything becomes personal. His position is right, and everyone else’s is basically evil.”
Those that defend McCain say that the skepticism is attributed from his unwillingness to defer to them.
“McCain has never kowtowed to them or anybody else,” said Charlie Black, a McCain strategist.
However, some of the anger towards John McCain could be personal. The Jack Abramoff investigation that damaged Tom DeLay was launched by John McCain.
“John McCain couldn’t win a popularity contest in the Senate if he tried,” according to Senator John Warner, who supports McCain. He added: “Why? Because he cuts too much government spending.”