Phil Burress is one of the mover and shakers in the conservative Evangelical movement.
He's one of the key guys in the room when James Dobson, Tony Perkins and others gather to discuss key social issues. A month ago, he had this to say about John McCain:
'"We don't like him and he doesn't like us."
Well, the influential Burress who heads the Citizens for Community Values has changed his tune.
That's important because he's a guy that works at the national AND grassroots level and has some sway when it comes to mobilizing "the conservative base". He's a guy the McCain camp must get on board.
He met with McCain recently and that has been reported. Read that here.
What hasn't been reported and can be read below only on The Brody File is a memo he sent out to conservative Family Councils across the country explaining why he's now on board with McCain.
Check it out:
To: Friends of CCV (Citizens for Community Values)
From: Phil
As a result of 40 Ohio Pro-Family Forum leaders meeting with two McCain Campaign staffers last Saturday, six of us were asked to meet privately with him yesterday afternoon.
There was a lot of media coverage, but the attached story does the best job of explaining the meeting. However, it does leave out the fact the Ohio Pro-Family Leaders have decided to move forward and start working to educate Ohio Values Voters about the vast differences between McCain and Obama. Personally, I can't wait any longer and can't take the chance that Obama will be our next president. I spent an hour sitting next to McCain, questioning him and listening as the group took him to task on issues like embryonic stem cell research.
Dr. Willke, Founder of National Right to Life, gave him every reason to reverse himself on that issue. For me this election is primarily about the next Supreme Court appointments, even though McCain is with us on many other issues as well. Watching him, looking at his broken body and thinking about the price he paid as a POW was overwhelming. When he reached to scratch his eyebrow he had to take his right hand to lift his left to do so. I understand the difference between respecting this man as a war veteran, and working for him as candidate for president of the United States.
But I must say that it is men like this that guarantee us our freedom. I also understand those who say they will not vote for him and I respect their principled position.
Yesterday, though, I saw and listened to a man who likewise is principled. John McCain, unlike most politicians, will not be bullied, threatened, paid off or pressured into changing his position. That was refreshing. I was once one of those people who said "no way" to Senator John McCain as President. No longer. The stakes are too high. And if Obama wins I need to able to get up on November 5th, look at myself in the mirror, and when I pray, say, "Lord, I did all that I could."
Blessings
This is the type of buzz John McCain needs.
He needs conservative activists fighting in his corner. Clearly Burress was impressed by McCain. Will other grassroots leaders follow suit? If they do it could improve McCain's chances significantly in November.