To the editor:

The recent repudiation by John McCain of talk show host Bill Cunningham illustrates more clearly than anything McCain has said that he will not be a conservative president in the mold of Ronald Reagan. In fact, McCain is simply another moderate Republican utilizing the old strategy of Richard Nixon to run to the right but govern from center-left.

Cunningham, who committed the unpardonable sin of referring to Barack Obama by his full name of Barack Hussein Obama at a McCain rally, has now repudiated McCain and has adopted the strategy of Ann Coulter, America’s foremost conservative commentator, in declaring his support for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

William Loeb, the late archconservative publisher of New Hampshire’s only statewide paper, the Union Leader, once counseled conservatives to “hold their nose and vote for Jerry Ford.” Millions of conservatives did. However, millions also stayed home. This ultimately will be John McCain’s undoing. In crucial states (Ohio comes to mind), if just a couple of thousand stay home, McCain will lose to the Democrat nominee.

He deserves to lose. The crucial element for Republicans in every general election remains the right wing of the party. From immigration to taxes to affirmative action to abortion, McCain forms the antithesis of conservatism.

Let him join Gerald Ford as another of history’s losers, hoisted on their own petard. Conservatives should remember, Ford’s dismal 1976 performance was followed by the ascendancy of Ronald Wilson Reagan and conservatism triumphant.

Let hope and freedom ring!

Don’t vote.

Matthew M. O’Connell,
Lawrence