John McCain and the Conservatives - One Independent Moderate's View

Conservative columnist Ann Coulter recently stated
that if John McCain won the Republican nomination, she
would actively campaign for Hillary Clinton. Rush
Limbaugh, the dean of conservative talk radio, has
expressed similar sentiments. Others, like Sean
Hannity and Laura Ingraham regularly rip McCain's
apparent lack of conservative-ness. Why are
conservatives up in arms about McCain's candidacy to
the point of pledging to endorse Democrats in his
stead? I think there are several reasons.

1. McCain is nobody's "boy." Having cultivated a
reputation as a "maverick," McCain has proven himself
to be his own man. He makes up his own mind about
things based on his own sense of judgment and his own
good sense. Sometimes, he comes out smelling like a
rose, sometimes he stinks up the place. But, he does
so on his own terms. Nobody holds his hand and guides
him along. Apparently an independent thought process
and the ability to make up one's own mind are not
traits valued by the aforementioned talking heads.
2. McCain has the audacity to admit when he screws up.
When John McCain danced around the Confederate flag
issue in 2000, he came back after the election was
over and admitted that he wasn't straight with people
on how he really felt regarding the issue. In doing
that, he had nothing to gain, and a host of Deep South
support to lose. Seeing as how South Carolina made
him the winner of their primary, apparently they can
appreciate that trait. Among the pundits, admitting
that one is not infallible is apparently an
unforgivable sin.
3. McCain realizes that there is another side of the
aisle. From time to time, in order to get a bill
passed, it is necessary for members of the two parties
to *gasp* work together. McCain realizes this and has
realized it for sometime. He is one of the few
politicians from either party who does understand this
fact and occasionally does what he has to do to get
things done. As bitter as the partisan divide has
been lately, thanks in large part to pundits and
radicals on both sides, it is refreshing to see
someone who realizes that another party exists and
shows a willingness to work with them.
4. McCain will call "bull___t" on his own party.
While most politicians and pundits serve as
mouthpieces for their parties, McCain is not above
criticizing his own party. I must be in the minority,
but I find it refreshing to see someone who is not
Communistic with regards to party criticism.
5. McCain stuck to his guns. When popular support for
the war plummeted, McCain held firm in his support of
the war. He knew what being attached to an unpopular
war can do to one's political ambitions, but he stuck
with it anyway. Now that the surge is showing some
dividends, he is reaping the fruit of that
steadfastness. I may not see eye to eye with him on
the war, but in my eyes, he has a little more
credibility over someone who knows nothing about
fighting one. I also believe that he would not do
something without listening to sound advice from
knowledgeable sources. I cannot say the same about
other candidates on either side of the party line.