Posted on 08/06/2008 1:11:12 PM PDT by Ziva
The news that Rep Eric Cantor (R-VA), the House chief deputy minority whip, has been asked for his family, health, and financial documents by the presumptive Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain, with an eye towards vetting him as a possible running mate, has excited not only some in the Jewish community. Many right-wing Evangelicals, sometimes referred to as the Republican core or base, say the Jewish Mr. Cantor may be the only possible running mate Mr. McCain can choose that will get them to the polling stations in November rather than spend Election Day fishing.
"He would energize the Republican base," said another member of the Virginia Congressional delegation, Rep Virgil Goode (R-VA). Like many Republicans, Mr. Goode has advised Mr. McCain to "look right and not left" when he picks a running mate.
Mr. Goode said that by choosing Mr. Cantor, Mr. McCain could staunch the flow of conservatives deciding either to support Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr, or not to vote at all.
"We need some enthusiasm with the conservative base," said Mr. Goode.
Hawkish on Israel
A stalwart conservative who happens to be the only Jewish Republican in the House of Representatives, Mr. Cantor, a fourth-term Congressman, represents Virginia’s seventh district, a mixture of state capital and western Virginia conservatism.
Reputed on Capitol Hill to be "squeaky clean," he has a nearly 100 percent rating by the National Conservative Union, but is still reported to do well with the more moderate wing of the Republican party as well with Democrats.
His views on Israel and its struggle against Palestinian terror are among the most hawkish in Congress. He has sponsored legislation that would cut off all US taxpayer aid to the PA until they put a halt to unauthorized excavations on the Temple Mount.
Sole Undivided Jerusalem
He also supports keeping Jerusalem as the sole, undivided capital of Israel. In a recent talk for a program called "One Jerusalem," called as a protest against the Annapolis summit last fall at which the Olmert government indicated its willingness to divide the city, Mr. Cantor characterized Jerusalem as "not merely the capital of Israel, but the spiritual capital of Jews and Christians everywhere."
"It is the site of the First and Second Temples, which housed the Holy of Holies, and it’s the direction in which we Jews face when we pray. This glorious City of David is bound to the Jewish people by an undeniable 3,000-year historical link," he said, adding that Jerusalem "is Israel’s lifeblood."
"No one understands this better than Israel’s enemies. That is precisely why they still engage in a systematic campaign to erase the historical link of the Jews to this great city. For if Israel were severed from Jerusalem, the Jewish state would lose its sense of legitimacy and its will to fight. Only then could Israel be destroyed," he said.
Victim of Terror
When he discusses victims of terror, his sympathy is not just theoretical. In April 2006, his cousin, Daniel Cantor Wultz, a 16-year-old student at the David Posnack Hebrew Day School in Plantation, FL, was the victim of an Islamic Jihad suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.
Daniel was in Israel with his family for Passover. He was hospitalized for almost a month after the bombing, while thousands of Jews throughout the world prayed for him and 46 of his classmates traveled to be at his bedside. He died of his injuries on May 15.
Conservatives say there is no denying that Mr. Cantor’s faith and passionate defense of Israel have played a major role in winning their admiration.
Not McCain
In many ways, Mr. Cantor is everything Mr. McCain is not. Those who worry that Mr. McCain, at 72, seems old, especially when compared to 47-year-old Barack Obama, see the good looking Mr. Cantor, who is only 45, as a spark of fresh air.
Those who are concerned because Mr. McCain’s record on immigration and free speech during political campaigns (masquerading as campaign reform), have made conservatives wary, say Mr. Cantor’s record could make up for a multitude of Mr. McCain’s "maverick sins."
On a political website discussing possible Republican candidates for vice president, one blogger summer it up this way: "Cantor is a real conservative who is a star. He is amazing. He would fire me up to have him on the ticket." Continued...
ping
Beat me to it ping!
ping
LOL..GMTA!
What’s not to like, eh?
does anyone have a picture?
Hmmm ... AO ... Anti-Obama, Alpha-Omega ..... could be a sign?
Maybe .... but then you can read anything into anything if you look long enough.
Does this paint a picture for ya (Cantor's voting record from OnTheIssues.org)
Eric Cantor
ping
Why is it most of us have never heard of this guy till recently?
I can hear the rancor now. “Is America ready for a Jewish VP?”
Please sign Congressman Eric Cantor’s petition to demand the Democrats come back to the House
http://www.callbackcongress.com/
22,000 signatures so far
Hawkish on Israel
Nana, Thanks for your diligence on posting this link! You are doing a great service!!
:)
No executive experience, no accomplishments, nobody has ever heard of him. He may have a future, but is not ready now.
He may be a fine representative, but McCain needs a VP who has a substantial resume, someone who is/was governor of some state, at the very least and has other domestic/economy related accomplishments. (And no, I don’t think Huckabee qualifies)
Ping Nothing! I’ve warned you before. McCain stands a good chance of dying during his term. He’d better pick someone with HEAVY Gravitas. Merely picking some unknown because he super clean or may help swing his state is NUTS! He’d better be a statesman, smart as whip and have plenty of executive leadership on his resume. Let the dems pick some ahole.
I really like Cantor- I’ve heard him a couple of times on Cspan and his voting record is hard to beat.
This makes me wonder why McCain is considering him- he’s conservative. And how will this work? Remember- Lieberman had to choke on some of his more centrist ideas when he ran with Gore. I’d hate to see that happen with Cantor.
Meanwhile- I don’t really have a favorite for this- only ones I hope he doesn’t pick- Huckabee, Crist and Kaisich.
I like Mitt ok- but people have SUCH strong reactions to him and while I think they’re disgraceful -being based on his religion- it’s still an issue.
Jindal is not ready- Pawlenty...blah..Sanford...blah.
The problem with Cantor- we’d lose a really good man in the House.
Sounds like a winner!
Eric Cantor's cousin Daniel Cantor Wultz murdered by Islamic Jihad in 2006 at the age of 16 years in a restaurant bombing in Tel Aviv, Israel. Rest in Peace. (Photos by Israeli Foreign Ministry/Crownheights.info)
With Eric Cantor the War against Jihad will also get a personal aspect from the highest spot. Cantor advocates withdrawing all dollars to Palestine! No more hypocrisy ala StateDepartment! We will win the war against barbarism.
“Why is it most of us have never heard of this guy till recently?”
‘cause Cantor actually does work.
I can only hope the media would start that.
ditto
As I said, Cantor may be a fine man, but McCain doesn’t need to shore up his anti-terror credentials, he needs to shore up his domestic/economy related credentials with someone who has executive experience. Picking someone as green as Obama will not help anything.
He'd be president of the Senate ... I can see it now.
"Why's everybody shouting? Come, have a sandwich and a glass tea."
Right on, the more we hear, the better he gets..
Cantor is one of the good guys, but IMO would be a poor choice for veep.
He’s good looking in a CPA sort of way, but he doesn’t really look presidential. The speaking and interview clips I’ve seen of him don’t show any great ability to communicate.
I’m not sure he’s exceptional enough or experienced enough to make him ready to be president (same is true of Obama of course, but that’s beside the point).
I’m not dissing the guy ... I just happen to think he would be a poor choice.
Eric Cantor IS a solid conservative. With ACU ratings of 100% in 2007 and a 96% lifetime rating, Cantor would bring the credentials of a real conservative to the general election campaign and that can only improve McCain’s chances of winning.
Nice looking fellow in person and on paper. Thnx.
“no accomplishments”
To repeat a post:
Well, he’s a 97% ACU conservative. That’s probably more conservative than you.
He lost his cousin to arab terrorists, and is personally motivated against terrorists — been on lots of Congressional Committees re: unconventional warfare and terrorism. Be a natural fit on that issue in an administration.
He’s articulate, young, and is leading the revolt against Pelosi on oil drilling.
He’s not afraid to mix it up, and the Dims call him an “attack dog” -— they don’t like Jews who leave the plantation.
The Club for Growth just endorsed the man.
Here are some ratings:
2007 In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Representative Cantor a grade of 0.
2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2006.
2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 0 percent in 2006.
2005-2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 100 percent in 2005-2006.
2007 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 100 percent in 2007.
2004 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the Christian Action Network 97 percent during their legislative career up until 2004.
2005-2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the National Education Association 0 percent in 2005-2006.
2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the American Land Rights Association 100 percent in 2006.
2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation’s position, Representative Cantor received a rating of -2.
2003 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel -3 percent in 2003.
2007 In 2007 Gun Owners of America gave Representative Cantor a rating of A-.
2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 100 percent in 2006.
2006 Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates in 2006, the National Rifle Association assigned Representative Cantor a grade of A (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).
2007 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the English First 100 percent in 2007.
2007 In 2007 U.S. English gave Representative Cantor a grade of A.
2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the American Immigration Lawyers Association 0 percent in 2006.
2006 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the English First 100 percent in 2006.
2007 Representative Cantor supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 4 percent in 2007.
Etc.
I’m a great Nana !!!!!!
:)
” Picking someone as green as Obama”
Unlike the half-termer Obama, Cantor has a 20 year legislative record.
And unlike Myth, it’s a 20 year conservative legislative record.
Point is that Cantor not only adds to (the already good) stance of McCain on Foreign Policy / Defense, but also on every other issue. Cantor is through and through conservative. Immigration, borders, family values, constitutional rights, economy... you name it. He adds to McCain strengths and balances McCain’s left prone stances with his staunch right-wing position.
This guy would definately garner the support of all Christians that have an understanding of prophecy.
I don't see the invective decreasing, and I do see it overflowing, especially considering ObaHamas' friends ....
More ready than we are for the Arab terrorist running under the Dummacrap ticket....
Oh, what a shame..
Cantor’s cousin was only 16 when he was murdered by terrorists in a suicide bombing......
I like this guy alot more than a few of the names I’ve seen floating around...at least he’s got strong credentials!
Are Evangelicals more accepting of a Jewish candidate as opposed to a Mormon?
What is the answer on that?
As I said, no accomplishments. Having a conservative voting record is nice, but that and 50 cents won’t get you a single vote on election day.
I didn’t say he wasn’t a good guy, or that he isn’t a conservative, but that he has no executive experience, no accomplishments, and as such does not qualify to be a VP, or possibly suddenly president.
Trying to push Cantor for McCain’s VP is just plain silly.
The negative opinions that you see posted here are from RINO trolls, and do not represent any significant voting block.
“Picking someone as green as Obama will not help anything.”
A four term congressman is LOADS more experience than a 143-day old Senator.........
Wow, thanks for the info! Talk about shoring up the conservative base. Wouldn’t it be great to set up somone with this record as the presumptive nominee in 2012?
This Evangelical supports Cantor and I am 100% sure I am not alone.
I’d love to see him as the VEEP on the GOP Ticket.
The only problem is B. Hussein Obama’s age is starting to be a factor. Cantor is a year younger than B. Hussein’s.
Idealistically it would be great. Realistically, it would be continuing the road to defeat IMO.
“Are Evangelicals more accepting of a Jewish candidate as opposed to a Mormon?”
Evangelicals and Haredi differ on pretty much one theological issue: who is/was that carpenter from Bethlehem?
Most evangelicals would covert to Orthodox Judaism (or at least some sort of Noahacide relgion, if they changed their belief in that regard).
That said, Romney’s problem ia nor that he’s a mormon. His problem is he is a lifetime liberal who is now clearly lying about being a conservative.
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