Viguerie: McCain campaign depresses conservatives

The McCain campaign has not only failed to enthuse Republicans, but left many conservatives depressed and ready for a November defeat, said Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com.

"Senator McCain has never been a conservative, is not one now, and will not govern as one. From McCain-Feingold to cap-and-trade, he is a supporter of one Big Government scheme after another. History shows that, in the Oval Office, where almost all the political pressure comes from supporters of Big Government, he would only get worse."

In a speech at Freedom Fest, a gatherigng of free market advocates, Viguerie harshly criticized Senator McCain's past history and said he would not represent conservative values if elected president, reported Christian News Wire.

"You even have some conservatives who are considering voting for Barack Obama, because they fear McCain as president would destroy what's left of the Republican brand and would finish off the conservative movement," Viguerie said. "Their mood is that of the fatally ill patient who says 'Let's get this over with'."

The Washington Post called Viguerie the "conservatives' Voice of America," according to PBS' NOW with Bill Moyers.

McCain faced opposition from the far right long before he clinched the Republican nomination.

In a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., McCain was booed by the crowd when he attempted to explain his position on immigration.

He went on to acknowledge that conservatives were concerned over his Senate voting record.

"Surely, I have held ... positions that have not met with widespread agreement from conservatives. I won't pretend otherwise, nor would you permit me to forget it."

In July 2006, a conservative site launched an aggressive attack on McCain for his 'explosive' temper, Raw Story reported.

Former Senate staff members told the site that McCain cursed at congressmen who proclaimed support for Bush and not McCain during the 2000 presidential election.

The full story of Viguerie's criticisms of John McCain can be found here.