Many Arizona Republicans are upset with McCain because they feel that he is not sufficiently conservative. This is particularly true about McCain's statements and positions regarding illegal immigration and illegal immigrants.
Bob Haney, the Republican state committee chairman in Arizona's 11th District, has described the situation to Max Blumenthal this way:
"People would be calling in to [state committee] headquarters every week, absolutely enraged, threatening to leave the party because of some comments McCain made," Haney told me. "The guy has no core, his only principle is winning the presidency. He likes to call his campaign the 'straight talk express.' Well, down here we call it the 'forked tongue express.'"
In response to complaints by Republicans in his district, Haney introduced a resolution to censure Mccain for "dereliction of his duties and responsibilities as a representative of the citizens of Arizona." The resolution easily passed in the 11th District and was then brought before the county GOP. What was McCain's response to this?
Not content to let the purely symbolic resolution stand, McCain recruited a slate of candidates to oust Haney and his allies in last November's state committee elections. McCain supporters formed a political action committee, Grassroots Arizona PAC, to bankroll this effort. Forty percent of Grassroots Arizona's funds were provided by two Democratic donors from San Francisco apparently enraptured with McCain and his "maverick" image, Gregory and Lisa Wendt, which added fuel to the flames of Haney's revolt. McCain's slate was formidable, including Fife Symington, a former Arizona governor coaxed out of retirement to come to the rescue of his old friend. So worried was McCain about being rebuked by his own party that he threw his own hat into the race, announcing that he would run for state committeeman. When the votes were counted, McCain and his entire slate were resoundingly defeated.
What do Arizona Republicans think of how McCain handled this situation? According to
Max Blumenthal:
McCain's botched revenge has solidified his reputation in Arizona's Republican circles as a divisive, untrustworthy and even dangerous figure. Haney hopes the general public meets this side of McCain before his penchant for angry reprisals is invested with the powers of the presidency. "This just shows that McCain is mentally unstable and out of control and vindictive," Haney told me. "If he is determined to go through that much trouble to attack a district committee chairman, what does that say about his ability to handle real political problems?"
Points well taken, Mr. Haney! Now let's see if we can make the entire electorate of this nation aware of how Senator McCain has operated in his home state of Arizona!
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Update: Thank you, one and all, for the rec list. First time! I feel good that I diaried something which you feel is of value and I hope that we can put this information to good use in debunking the McCain myth!
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