Message to McCain: Pick a Pro-Choicer
Liza Porteus Viana
Contributor
Posted:
08/19/08
Politico.com is reporting today that John McCain is seriously considering choosing a pro-abortion-rights running mate and is soliciting feedback from Republicans on the potential fallout from dropping such a bomb on pro-lifers.
McCain advisers say that despite vocal resistance from conservatives, Democrat-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is very much in the mix. But there be some legal issue involving the fact that since he is not a Republican, Lieberman may have a hard time being certified on some state ballots.
Former Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Ridge is also a strong contender.
UPDATE: As I'm writing this, CNN is reporting that sources say McCain has chosen his running mate.
Both men are pro-choice, which might help McCain with the women's vote (NARAL says 'no,' though), which the Obama campaign this week argued the Republican candidate has no chance in winning. Also many people under 40, particularly college-educated professionals, consider themselves, whether they realize it or not, liberal Republicans - favoring the smaller government, stronger defense, and economic policies of the GOP, but leaning far more to the left on social issues.
Politico.com says party officials in the states and Washington is being instructed to prepare for different candidate prototypes. (Even though many other corners are saying no way will a pro-choicer be chosen, one can hope.) Now here's a little sign of that independent streak we've been missing.
Of course those like Rush Limbaugh are blasting the idea. He said on his radio show today that, "if he picks a pro-choice running mate, it's not going to be pretty, and the drive-bys [mainstream media] know it."
"The question is how to get the message to McCain," he said. "You don't get in McCain's face and say, 'Don't do it.' That's a dumb thing to do. [You have to say something like] 'Sen. McCain, we know you're smart ... and we know you don't want to lose.'"
Whether you support McCain or Obama - abortion rights or not - having a vice president and other staffers who disagree with the president on certain issues is good for the country. We've all witnessed what happens when a president (Bush) is surrounded by people who think like him, or do his thinking for him, and when those who disagree (i.s. Colin Powell) get such a cold shoulder they exit the Cabinet, thereby reducing the number of counterbalancing voices in the president's ear.
Whether it be abortion, or national defense, foreign affairs, energy policy, etc... McCain should choose a running mate that brings a different perspective to the White House, and the party - whether it's a name already out there or someone new.
On CNN today, when asked how much influence he, or another pro-choice veep would have, Ridge replied: "It's an interesting situation. Everybody would be proud to serve as vice president but at the end of the day ... publicly, you echo the president's position and I think everybody's vice president understands that. That's the rule."
Ridge's point was, no matter what your personal position is as the No. 2, you can only give your advice and opinion to the president, who, in the end, is - as Bush puts it - "the decider."
But it's still an opinion - and a differing one at that.
McCain advisers say that despite vocal resistance from conservatives, Democrat-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is very much in the mix. But there be some legal issue involving the fact that since he is not a Republican, Lieberman may have a hard time being certified on some state ballots.
Former Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Ridge is also a strong contender.
UPDATE: As I'm writing this, CNN is reporting that sources say McCain has chosen his running mate.
Both men are pro-choice, which might help McCain with the women's vote (NARAL says 'no,' though), which the Obama campaign this week argued the Republican candidate has no chance in winning. Also many people under 40, particularly college-educated professionals, consider themselves, whether they realize it or not, liberal Republicans - favoring the smaller government, stronger defense, and economic policies of the GOP, but leaning far more to the left on social issues.
Politico.com says party officials in the states and Washington is being instructed to prepare for different candidate prototypes. (Even though many other corners are saying no way will a pro-choicer be chosen, one can hope.) Now here's a little sign of that independent streak we've been missing.
Of course those like Rush Limbaugh are blasting the idea. He said on his radio show today that, "if he picks a pro-choice running mate, it's not going to be pretty, and the drive-bys [mainstream media] know it."
"The question is how to get the message to McCain," he said. "You don't get in McCain's face and say, 'Don't do it.' That's a dumb thing to do. [You have to say something like] 'Sen. McCain, we know you're smart ... and we know you don't want to lose.'"
Whether you support McCain or Obama - abortion rights or not - having a vice president and other staffers who disagree with the president on certain issues is good for the country. We've all witnessed what happens when a president (Bush) is surrounded by people who think like him, or do his thinking for him, and when those who disagree (i.s. Colin Powell) get such a cold shoulder they exit the Cabinet, thereby reducing the number of counterbalancing voices in the president's ear.
Whether it be abortion, or national defense, foreign affairs, energy policy, etc... McCain should choose a running mate that brings a different perspective to the White House, and the party - whether it's a name already out there or someone new.
On CNN today, when asked how much influence he, or another pro-choice veep would have, Ridge replied: "It's an interesting situation. Everybody would be proud to serve as vice president but at the end of the day ... publicly, you echo the president's position and I think everybody's vice president understands that. That's the rule."
Ridge's point was, no matter what your personal position is as the No. 2, you can only give your advice and opinion to the president, who, in the end, is - as Bush puts it - "the decider."
But it's still an opinion - and a differing one at that.