Sen. John McCain, who has struggled to win the trust of evangelical voters, met privately Thursday in Ohio with several influential social conservatives who have been critical of him -- and impressed them, while telling them only some of what they wanted to hear.
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, told the small assembly that he was open to learning more about their opposition to embryonic stem cell research despite his past disagreements with them on the issue.
And, according to participants, he indicated that he would take seriously their requests that he choose an anti-abortion running mate and would talk more openly about his opposition to gay marriage -- a pledge he carried out later in the day by endorsing a ballot measure in California to ban gay marriage.
"It was obvious there were a lot of changed hearts in the room," said Phil Burress, who led Ohio's anti-gay-marriage ballot measure in 2004. "We realized that he's with us on the majority of the issues we care about."
McCain's campaign sought the meeting after recent comments from Burress and others that the conservative movement would not be as energized for the Arizona senator as it was for President Bush in 2004, when a GOP voter mobilization effort spurred the party's decisive victory in Ohio.
Thursday's gathering reflected an increasingly aggressive push by McCain to try to corral a party base that, for the most part, backed his rivals for the Republican nomination and have long viewed him with suspicion. McCain's outreach is part of a careful political balancing act as he also tries to appeal to independent voters and moderate Democrats who could be turned off if he closely embraces social conservatives.
The session followed a larger but less-talked-about gathering last weekend in which McCain's top two aides responsible for evangelical outreach laid out the candidate's record on key policy issues.
Many conservatives have been upset that McCain opposed a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a position he said he took because he believes states should decide the issue. At the meeting, McCain sought to reassure conservatives by emphasizing his work on behalf of an anti-gay-marriage measure in his home state.
He referred to that in his endorsement of the California initiative, lauding efforts to "recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman, just as we did in my home state of Arizona. I do not believe judges should be making these decisions."
McCain is scheduled to fly Sunday to Asheville, N.C., to meet privately with the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. The younger Graham met this month with McCain's rival, presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama, who has launched his own effort to court skeptical evangelical leaders.
McCain told the activists Thursday that he also hoped to meet with James C. Dobson, founder of the influential group Focus on the Family, who has said he would not vote for McCain. "The senator spoke fondly of him, but believes there's probably room for some bridge-building," said Mike Gonidakis, head of Ohio Right to Life.
Participants said McCain took detailed notes and listened intently. McCain's aides said they were satisfied with the meeting, and one called it "successful."
Lori Viars, who heads the Family First political action committee, expressed her strong desire that McCain name a "consistent conservative" to be his running mate.
Gonidakis said McCain "agreed that having a conservative running mate was important, having a pro-life running mate was important."
McCain listened as one of the country's leading opponents of using embryonic stem cells, Dr. John Willke, made the case for relying on adult cells. Some scientists have reported finding ways to manipulate human skin cells to have properties similar to embryonic stem cells.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-mccain27-2008jun27...
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@FatGuyInLitlCoat: Your trolling skills are admirable, sir. Did you receive your training on 4chan?
EddieTheFishReturns 11 months ago
Thank you Senator McCain for banning gay marriage in my state, Arizona. :)
FatGuyInLitlCoat 1 year ago
You obviously did not read mine thoroughly, I was referring to those "other" marriages, that you assume are so prominent in our society. You say "moral"? Yet, its no place for government to decide what is moral for me or you! that is why they are morals, not laws! If age is an apparent factor to my ideology then click on my name (it takes you to a page, and low and behold there it is)
FuhkTheSystem 3 years ago
Did you not read my answer?If Gay Marriage is made legal and other kinds of marriage will have to be legalized because there would be no moral difference.How old are you anyway?
CBALLEN 3 years ago
If they are consenting adults why do you feel that it is your place to control it in anyway? How does it affect your straight marriage? If they are not christians, it shouldnt bother you.
Since christians are against gay marrige, etc, etc maybe they should have a law that prohibits gay marrige for christians!
As for insurance, that's a whole other topic, because i feel that all humans deserve equal healthcare as an inalienable right!
FuhkTheSystem 3 years ago
"If this is a secular nation (as it should be), there is no secular reason to appose gay marriage"
If gay Marriage is approved,then all type of marriage would be.Incest,polygamy,mix and match ect.A mother could marry all her children to keep them on her insurance.We will open Pandora's box in a big way.
CBALLEN 3 years ago
McSame hasn't even bothered to show up for a VOTE in the Senate since APRIL!!
He is not doing his job as Senator, has 7 corporate LOBBYISTS running his campaign, and made the cynical choice of Palin as his VP, who less than 2 years ago was the mayor of the METH CAPITAL of Alaska, where RAPE VICTIMS were charged for their rape kits!
Thanks, but no thanks, McSame!
OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!
OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!
PhilNeighbors 3 years ago
its sad that he accepts their disagreement yet supports laws that only protect his side, as apposed to everyone's.
If this is a secular nation (as it should be), there is no secular reason to appose gay marriage.
Iv heard alot of christians say "Can i marry my horse, or dog, where will it end?" NO U CANNOT U STUPID FUCK, if your horse can speak and give consent, then marry it because it will make you rich! other than that, u are simply comparing rape and bestiality to marriage!
FuhkTheSystem 3 years ago
He'll give up stem cell research ban. He's backed off just about every core policy issue he's supported like that torture.
I thought a lot less of him over that reversal. He spent all those years in a POW camp and was forced to sign a confession. How can he support confessions from torture sessions now? Sorry for the digression.
By comparison, stem cells is just a minor thing. When he's done with getting their vote he'll run out on them like he did with the Confederate flag supporters.
beornborg 3 years ago