McCain Targets Romney with Anti-Gay Robo-calls in Florida
Did John McCain learn his lesson on the power of push polls, robocalls and smear tactics in the South Carolina primary of 2000? No, not really. In the past 24 hours, the McCain campaign has aggressively bombarded Florida voters with a deceptive robo-call that attacks "Multiple Choice" Mitt Romney's formerly gay-friendly positions—and ignores his own flip-flopping on gay rights and marriage equality.
"We care deeply about traditional values and protecting families. And we need someone who will not waver in the White House: Ending abortion, preserving the sanctity of marriage, stopping the trash on the airwaves and attempts to ban God from every corner of society. These issues are core to our being.
"Mitt Romney thinks he can fool us. He supported abortion on demand, even allowed a law mandating taxpayer-funding for abortion. He says he changed his mind, but he still hasn’t changed the law. He told gay organizers in Massachusetts he would be a stronger advocate for special rights than even Ted Kennedy.Now, it’s something different.
"Unfortunately, on issue after issue Mitt Romney has treated social issues voters as fools, thinking we won’t catch on. Sorry, Mitt, we know you aren’t trustworthy on the most important issue and you aren’t a conservative. Paid for by John McCain 2008."
The timing of the automated calls and the references to "gays" and "special rights" make it obvious McCain hopes gay panic will turn out the social conservative vote. Perhaps he heard that Romney would be "tougher" on the "militant gay agenda"?
"It's ironic that Sen. John McCain is using the same tactics that George Bush used against him in 2000; surreptitiously trying to exploit anti-gay prejudice for votes," Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese tells Sam Stein at the Huffington Post. "So much for John McCain being above that."
That automated message refers to Romney's unsuccessful 1994 run for the Senate, when he boasted that he would be more pro-gay rights than Ted Kennedy. Since then, Romney has flipped back and forth on gay rights, and, at least for today, he is against it. The call—which apparently was pulled tonight, after the damage was done—totally glosses over McCain's records on the "sanctity of marriage." (=Second mariage and cheate don first wife.) The Arizona senator opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment but starred in several commercials for the proposed amendment that ultimately lost.
McCain ran a series of anti-Mormon push calls in New Hampshire. This must be his new strategy.
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Is anyone REALLY surprised by the conduct of anyone from the Republican Party? I know I am not. It's too bad that they have to rely on this cut-throat, stray-from-the-issues rhetoric. Perhaps it is because the "conservative" members of the party cannot rely on their congressional records and scandals, or the two lame duck terms of the current war monger Republican President to get them elected. Can you imagine the tactics they will use against Hillary or Barack? I need to get my umbrella to prepare for the shitstorm . . . . .
Posted by: Blah! | 29 January 2008 at 21:10
Mud will be thrown... (putting on my rain slicker)
And yes, while we're at it, let's remind the Log Cabin Republicans getting all wet for Grampa McCain--he might have said he was against a Federal ban on marriage equality... but supports bans on the state level.
"States rights" sound familiar to anyone?
Posted by: Andy Niable | 30 January 2008 at 00:07