Just when it looked like Sen. John McCain had the Republican presidential nomination sewn up, the religious right may be about to make that victory hollow by ripping the party in two.
The new Texans For Conservative Principles PAC is holding four organized press conference around the state on Monday, including one in Austin. In a press release called “Key Conservative Leaders To Stand With Huckabee,” they say they will “challenge assertions by Governor Rick Perry and “Republican Aristrocracy” that Texans’ vote does not count and will also respond to reports that former President George H.W. Bush will endorse Senator John McCain.”
Who exactly is in this new PAC is unclear, but there’s some familiar names. People associated with the Free Market Foundation, the Justice Foundation (which made its rep suing school districts and abortion providers), the Houston Area Pastor Council, and “Kingdom Activists” TakeUp.org are all cited in the media advisory, but it has yet to be seen whether they will be representing those groups or there in an independent capacity. However, one name is big enough that he doesn’t need a PAC behind him: Dr. Rick Scarborough, chair of the Judeo-Christian Council for Constitutional Restoration and someone Tom Delay has called a friend. Where Scarborough leads, many on the religious right follow, and he’s been busy painting McCain as a friend of George Soros and a covert operative for MoveOn.org.
This article appears in February 15 • 2008.
