Anyone but McCain?

While I wouldn't go far as Rob, and describe Hugh Hewitt as "America's least intellectually honest pundit" (only because there are so many others vying for that title), I have always found Hewitt to be as predictably partisan as anyone in the business. Hugh believes whatever the GOP believes; and any time a Republican and Democrat disagree on something -- even if it's only what to have for breakfast -- in Hugh's mind, the Republican is right, the Democrat is wrong. Hugh seems to have replaced his political and moral compass with sheer party calculation.

And that makes interesting this presidential primary season, where Hewitt now has to choose between Republicans. Naturally, he chooses the party establishment's candidate, Mitt Romney. And naturally, he turns his outwardly cordial, but ruthless-nonetheless attacks against other Republicans. His top target these days is John McCain, who may be leading the GOP primaries, but is decidedly not the party establishment's candidate.

So Hugh cheerleads about the "ABM Treaty" -- which stands for "Anyone But McCain." But this exposes how little his convictions matter compared to his partisan loyalties.

In fairness, I have my concerns about McCain, too -- any conservative would -- which is why I tend to prefer Huckabee. But are McCain's deviations from conservative orthodoxy really worse than Rudy Giuliani's affinity for abortion? Or Ron Paul's racist affiliations? Is it really in the party's interest to get anyone but McCain when such noxious characters are still in the race?

Hugh's ABM crowd gets downright loopy in its hatred for McCain, the skunk at the GOP lawn party. The other day, Hugh's show had on as a guest Rick Santorum leading the "ABM" chorus. Santorum says McCain is "very, very dangerous for Republicans..... There’s nothing worse than having a Democratic Congress and a Republican president who would act like a Democrat in matters that are important to conservatives.”

This, by the way, comes from the guy who went around Pennsylvania campaigning for Arlen Specter.

But this is how things work for Hugh and the ABM crowd. The Party comes first -- even before the ideals that supposedly animate it.

On second thought, maybe Rob's right about Hugh after all ...