Posted on 08/04/2008 7:36:30 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan
First came speculation that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was on Barack Obama's short list for the Democrats' vice presidential nod.
Today, the Associated Press is reporting that John McCain's campaign has asked another son of the Old Dominion, Rep. Eric Cantor, for personal documents -- a pretty good indication that he is under scrutiny as a running mate for the presumptive Republican nominee.
Cantor, 45, has racked up overwhelming victory margins from his Richmond district since he first ran for Congress in 2000. He serves on the powerful Ways & Means Committee and, as chief deputy minority whip, is a member of the House GOP leadership. As the only Jewish Republican in the House, according to the Almanac of American Politics, he has been in a position to reach out both to Jewish voters and, through his strong support of Israel, to his party's Christian conservative base.
Why else might McCain like him? Well, ...
Cantor is a prodigious fundraiser and serves as finance chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. His voting record in the House is solidly conservative -- more so than McCain's, according to several national ratings. And given that the veep nominee is often called on to take more pointed positions than the person at the top of the ticket, it probably doesn't hurt one bit that Cantor was labeled a "Bush attack dog" by the chairman of Virginia's Democratic Party during the 2004 presidential campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
of course picking Cantor would go against the "popular wisdom" that he needs to pick a female or black, but I think McCain may be enough of a maverick to actually go for it...
and I think (hope) that the American people will recognize, maybe for the first and only time, that this time, the stakes are too important to play around with affirmative action for picking a President.
Cantor would definately bring in some Jewish people who are leery of Obama’s radicalness on Israel/Pali outlook, plus he is a conservative.
I still think Palin looks much more attractive with a larger demographic vote, women, which will help in the real swing states of Ohio, Mich, Col,Ind etc.
“of course picking Cantor would go against the “popular wisdom” that he needs to pick a female or black, but I think McCain may be enough of a maverick to actually go for it.”
Tokenism is for Democrats.
Anyway, it’s not like the general black populace considers conservative black citizens “black” — look at the hate poured onto Condi Rice and Justice Thomas, for example.
That said (including my own tokenism comment), I predict the traditionally strong Democratic Jewish vote will be weak this year because of Obama’s ties with/support of palestinian terrorists and other anti-semites. I mean the man sat in the Church of Kill the Jews and Other Whiteys for 20 years.
Having an observant Jewish man like Cantor out front could do a lot to ease the fears of Jewish voters who fear Republicans because of anti-semites like James Baker and Pat Buchanon.
Forget Virginia, look to ALASKA for our vice president.
Most of the names being floated for now (by both Dems and Reps) are designed to delay the planning of the other side.
I can hope, however.
I would vote and give money to a McCain ticket with Cantor. Fly people around on the company plane, that sort of thing.
If it’s Romney -— I’d give money and time third party. The lesser of two evils is not sufficiently lesser to prevent me from hoping to get a third party going.
(And no, not worried about judges. Anyone dumb enough to be fooled by Romney is dumb enough to put another Souter on the Supreme Court.)
McCain going for a “nobody knows” candidate???? Why?
“Why?”
A small group of friends from Richmond, VA, New York and Washington recently began an online dialogue to decide who among the many names being discussed as John McCain’s running mate would be the best. Who would make the best vice presidential candidate for the Republican ticket this fall?
After some time, they realized that the best name was not one of the traditional candidates already being touted by the national news media. While acknowledging that they would be supporting a dark horse, the group was unanimous in their belief that by far, Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor would be the best candidate that John McCain could choose as his vice presidential running mate. This website represents the grassroots effort to share this belief with the country.
If voters think about the “checklist” of critical points that John McCain and the Republican party really need in a vice presidential choice this year, several of the names previously bandied about check a few, but not all of the boxes. Eric Cantor checks them all.
Why do thousands of Americans think Eric Cantor is the best person whom John McCain should choose as his running mate?
Conservative
From a key battleground state
Young
A great communicator
Trusted by true conservative voters
Strongly Pro-Israel
Respected by independent and moderate voters
A proven tax cutter
A small business owner
Has always opposed wasteful congressional earmarks
A leader in the US House of Representatives
A 20-year record of fighting to control the size of government
Southern
A proven fundraiser
A different kind of choice for a truly different leader like John McCain
A reformer
Ready to help lead the nation
Eric is a true conservative, known and trusted by the nation’s most preeminent conservative leaders. He has a voting record that real conservatives expect. Eric’s lifetime vote ratings from the nation’s leading conservative organizations - the one’s conservative voters trust - are at or near 100% (see details here).
Congressman Cantor is a southerner who knows how to speak to southern voters. He represents the city of Richmond in the critical state of Virginia, a solidly red state that has recently turned purple. Virginia hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president in over 40 years, but is at risk of doing so this year. Since 2001, after years of Republican leadership, the governorship, several statewide offices, a U.S. Senate seat and the legislature has slipped into Democratic hands. Virginia’s other U.S. Senate seat is open this year, and popular former governor Mark Warner is a heavy favorite this year, likely to turn out droves of Democratic voters in liberal northern Virginia. John McCain cannot win the presidency without winning Virginia. Having Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor on the ticket helps offset that concern.
Rep. Cantor is experienced. Having served nearly of 20 years is the U.S. Congress and Virginia’s state legislator. As Chief Deputy Whip for the U.S. House’s Republicans, he is one of the party’s highest ranking leaders, yet he is only 45-years-old. He is a young, articulate leader, who is one of the Republican Party’s most effective communicators. He appears frequently on national television to advocate for conservative policies, but does so in that rare way that makes moderate and independent voters comfortable. John McCain could not find someone more ready than Eric Cantor to help lead this nation.
Eric Cantor is also one of the strongest voices in the U.S. Congress on national defense and homeland security. The only Jewish Republican member of the House of Representatives, Congressman Cantor is staunchly pro-Israel. As someone who has always been a strong supporter of Israel, Cantor has been working against the forces of radical Islam most of his adult life. Cantor is Chairman of the House Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare Taskforce. John McCain is an American hero and no one has better national security credentials. McCain needs a #2 who shares his commitment to victory in Iraq, to a well-funded military and to a strong national defense.
Congressman Cantor is a well-known and deeply respected leader among Jewish voters. Having him on the ticket will help move voters to the Republican ticket in the key swing states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin and possibly even New Jersey, all of which have large Jewish populations. He is also an unparalleled fund raiser, which will be critical to the McCain campaign’s success.
Eric is a lifelong Richmond, Virginia resident, and his wife Diana until recently ran the state’s 529 program that helps Virginia families save for their children’s college education. They have three children.
Two things, in particular stand out:
1. Cantor is Chairman of the House Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare Taskforce.
2. A family member was murdered by terrorists.
In other words, he’s on the right side of the biggest issue we face, and has knowledge to back it up.
Having Barack Obama as “the other guy” will shore up his base enough, IMO.
It helps, but having a conservative to vote for would get a lot of us motivated.
A RINO/RINO ticket? Bleech.
His votes and beliefs are what we want. But just are his accomplishments??
However,as a leader he falls short. Take a look at the performance of this Congress, it has been a abject failure on both sides of the aisle. And this Congressman is part and parcel of the failure.
Please do not take anyone from Congress. They are all tainted, including the designated presidential candidates.
I think those are good things, but wasn’t Dan Quail all those things and ended up being the most disasterous pick ever in history? They were just discussing that on the news today as a matter of fact. I think picking a person that nobody knows and able to see him in action against the media is not a good idea regardless of how conservative he or she is. Of course McCain will do as he wants anyway...I am sure he has some big picture thing that I don’t see...lol.
Of course, I would like to see Obama spending as much time campaigning in the Dakotas as possible because the people in flyover country are less likely to stay on script and ask him only the screened questions.
In a former life, I was asked to prep our Japanese CEO for what later turned out to be a far less hostile media interview than we expected. Of course, we didn't know that at the time, so I gave him hostile questions and coached him on answers which we felt there was even a remote chance of being asked. The guy was OK, but did not have a great command of the English language (he was Japanese, after all), but came out looking really, really good on the 30 minute interview thanks, in some measure, with our two hours of preparation.
And I was (and am) no professional handler-- just a guy on staff with a journalism degree who happened to be available. So my question is that if I could do that for a man with limited command of English, why can't Obama's handlers allow a real interview for their guy who supposedly has superb command?
I totally agree with you. Let’s get real here for just one minute. McCain would be 72 if he’s elected. He is being treated for high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. He has a history of melanoma, a serious cancer that can reoccur. He has the after effects of serious injuries from his five years of torture. He’d be taking on the toughest job in the world that calls for incredible stamina and cool judgment.
There’s a very real possibility this guy could become incapacitated while in office. This will be a major concern for voters in November, particularly if McCain has some senior moments before the election. How does he offset this concern? By selecting someone with gravitas; someone the voters can easily assume would be able to immediately step in and take over. This is not some junior, unknown, unvetted, untested congressman nobody’s ever heard of. Political considerations should play only a minor role here. Otherwise, McCain is showing poor judgment and isn’t suited for the job.
Let the Democrats and Obama make the loony choices. Republicans should offer a clear alternative. We’re the party that knows this is a dangerous world with enormous challenges facing this country. We’re the adults here. Trust us and we won’t let you down. Cantor is a moronic choice, another Dan Quayle debacle in the making. Forget it, McCain.
Republicans
Why is it a RINO just because it’s a minority or woman?
You can’t get behind a conservative woman or minority?
Two differences:
1. Cantor has much more experience than Obama. Attacking experience would be difficult for Obama.
2. Dan QualyE was a poor choice because he permitted himself to get labeled as “stupid” pretty boy. That’s just not going to happen with Cantor -— because -— and this is bigoted —— he’s Jewish and Jews are sterotyped by the MSM as eggheads. Turn that negative into a positive.
The MSM hates Cantor and calls him a “Bush Attack Dog” all the time. That’s good enough for me.
Never said that, or anything close.
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