PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by Chris Freind
McCain's Statewide Chairman Speaks
Part Two of a Three-Part Series
TB: You are the statewide chairman of the John McCain campaign. What does your role entail?
BA: My role is helping to put together the Victory '08 program, along with GOP state chairman Rob Gleason. It's helping to raise money. And just like any other campaign, it's as simple as delivering literature and brochures. When the Senator came to Wilkes Barre two weeks ago, we delivered the literature, organized a great rally, and raised a quarter million dollars, then opened a headquarters in Allentown and had a great hit there. So the answer is whatever it takes.
I've been doing this for sixty years now---I started when I was eleven. This is my sixtieth straight year without ever missing a fall election for the Republican party, regardless of who the candidates were, because I'm a Republican. I support the Party. I've supported everybody from Barry Goldwater to Ronald Reagan, and from Arlen Specter to Tom Ridge. Whoever the eventual nominee is, Bob Asher supports him.
TB: What is your outlook for the presidential election, and Pennsylvania's results in particular?
What does McCain need to do to win in this climate?
BA: I think that if John McCain carries the Commonwealth, he will be President, and his campaign believe that, too. The polls have us down by less than 6% in the state, and our internal polls show it closer. Look at the nationwide polls, where there was an alleged "bounce" for our opponent after he returned from Europe. Yet the Gallup USA poll shows that among "likely voters", McCain is ahead! In Pennsylvania, we're running a lot stronger in the southwest, northwest and northeast than before. The Lehigh Valley and the southeast are about the same. We're not running as strongly in the central region yet because we've not gotten some people back (in our camp) who are of a more conservative bent.
But we'll get them back --- and I have a two word campaign to do that: "Roberts and Alito". If you want the next President to appoint people like that, it's John McCain. If you want more of (liberal Supreme Court Justices Stevens and Ginsburg), then it's Obama. It's very simple. There's nothing more important in our nation today than our courts, particularly the Supreme Court. It's critical, so that's why we'll get most of that vote back.
The state is in play, and we're finding that we are doing better than expected in some communities---for example, we certainly have support out of the Jewish community. So winning is doable.
TB: Let's follow up on your reference to the Court. One of the biggest issues for conservatives is the judiciary, specifically the Supreme Court and the federal bench. Do you believe McCain will nominate strict constructionists?
BA: On every occasion in which I've heard him speak, John McCain has said he believes in upholding the constitution. I don't know what else the man can say in that regard. I don't agree with McCain-Feingold (a campaign finance law), and I don't agree with a few of the other things he has done, but there's very few political people who I've ever agreed with 100%. But on judges, yes. He's absolutely someone who has said that he's going to uphold the constitution.
This is a very different kind of person running for President. I was Rudy Giuliani's state chairman (in the primary election), but after that, (former Governor) Tom Ridge told me I should get to know John McCain, and I did. And now I'm like a disciple---a "McCainiac". To know the man is to know his sacrifice...and yet he never talks about it himself. I sat across from him at a restaurant, and he could hardly break his roll because his shoulders were smashed in captivity (during his time as a POW in Vietnam). How many of us would have chosen to spend an extra four years in prison because we wouldn't leave unless our compatriots went with us? I truly admire the man.
TB: What is the message to the conservatives who may not be enthralled with Senator McCain's record and are contemplating voting third party?
BA: Some of these people call anybody who doesn't agree with them RINO's (Republican In Name Only). My message would be very simple, like I said: Roberts and Alito. More importantly, you can't have candidates all the time whom you are in total agreement. Some folks want to get (conservative activist) Alan Keyes on the ballot. What that accomplishes is beyond me. I couldn't tell you. Do they they really want to elect Barack Obama and watch their personal taxes and capital gains taxes raised? And who knows what will happen to the medical system since Obama's a socialist (on that issue). Since Obama's policies scare them, why would they give him an opportunity to be in office for 8 years with a friendly Congress (for Obama) and the opportunity to name federal judges and Supreme Court justices? It boggles my mind.
Chris Freind can be reached at CF@TheBulletin.us
(The final part of Bob Asher's interview will discuss his outlook for the GOP in 2008, the 2010 governor's race, and the economy.)
