Posted on 08/13/2008 9:41:49 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan
John McCain’s vice president may be a Jewish member of the House, a prospect that has sparked excitement, but also debate over the political experience of a relatively young and unknown and young politician.
The AP reported that the McCain campaign has asked Rep. Eric Cantor, a 45-year-old fourth term representative from Virginia, for personal documents, indicating him as a possible running-mate. A representative from Cantor’s office refused to comment, but that has not stopped the intense speculation about the possibility, especially within the Jewish community.
Suzanne Kurtz, a spokesperson for the Republican Jewish Coalition, said Cantor would be a good choice because his values are aligned with McCain’s. “It’s not surprising that Sen. McCain would recognize Cantor’s appeal as a potential vice president,” said Kurtz. “On issues from taxes and energy to Israel’s security and the threat of Iran, Cantor has been a consistent and effective leader.”
Kurtz said there was no way to predict McCain’s decision, but Cantor has a bright future in politics no matter what the outcome.
“He is an appealing and articulate leader for Jewish Republicans and all Republicans,” said Kurtz. “It is a wonderful moment to introduce this rising star to a wider audience.”
Rep. Jason Bedrick, a Republican and the first Orthodox Jew to become a New Hampshire state representative, said he would be happy to see a Jewish vice president. “As a matter of ethnic pride, certainly it’s exciting,” said Bedrick. “But I’m committed to McCain whether he has a Jewish VP or not.”
Bedrick said Cantor is an interesting prospect because he brings specific skills to the campaign.
“He was the chair of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare,” said Bedrick. “He does have the foreign policy credentials that we’re looking for.”
Bedrick said since Cantor is Jewish, McCain could also be looking at him as a way to combat the appealing idea of the first black president by offering the second Jewish vice presidential candidate.
“This is a year where people are going to be talking about historical prospects for the presidency,” said Bedrick. “It’s possible that McCain feels he needs to look for something fresh and new.”
But Bedrick said he doubts that Cantor will be chosen for the position, despite his qualifications. “I don’t think he has a lot of name recognition, but he would be a good choice as far as confidence,” said Bedrick.
Michael Goldman, a local Democratic political consultant with the Government Insights Group, said the idea of most Jews voting for a Republican because of Cantor is a joke.
“One of America’s most prominent Jewish Republicans?” said Goldman, referring to Cantor. “That’s like saying one of the Wizard of Oz’s tallest munchkins.” Goldman said that McCain knows he can’t win the Jewish vote and has chosen Cantor for reasons other than his religion.
“I don’t think he’s being considered because he’s Jewish,” said Goldman. “He’s being considered because he, like McCain, is pro-life, pro-gun, anti-gay, anti-environment, pro-Iraq War and pro-Bush’s fiscal policies.”
Goldman said Cantor is more conservative than McCain and will help him win over more southern conservative voters. “I think he’s trying to find someone who ideologically is acceptable to conservatives,” said Goldman. “He’s young and articulate and perhaps even more conservative than the president and Cheney on certain issues.” According to an April 2008 Gallup poll, Obama is still expected to win over the majority of Jewish voters, with 61 percent for Obama and 32 percent for McCain. Goldman said most Jews will still vote Democrat, even if Cantor is chosen.
“I hardly think there are many Jews in Massachusetts who find themselves aligned with McCain and Cantor in perpetuating a third term of George Bush,” said Goldman. “The Republicans found a Clarence Thomas so they could say they put a black in the court, but it’s not how the majority of surveys show that black Americans think,” Goldman continued. “I don’t believe that a survey of Jewish Americans across the country would fit the profile of Rep. Cantor either.”
Cantor Ping. Bit of a deeper article, some interviews.
There was also this letter to the editor today in the Free-Lance Star, which, while excellent, not sure deserves it’s own post:
Cantor’s experience far exceeds Obama’s
I was somewhat surprised by University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato’s review of Rep. Eric Cantor’s qualifications (or lack thereof) to be John McCain’s vice presidential candidate [”Cantor mum, but reaction is mixed,” Aug. 5].
Rep. Cantor has been a member of Congress for 10 years, more than twice as long as Sen. Obama.
During that time, he has been in a leadership role for more than four years and certainly has gained much more foreign-policy experience than freshman Sen. Obama, who has spent almost as much time on the campaign trail as in his Washington office.
I believe it is time for Mr. Sabato and others to look behind the glitter and oration and view the facts, which are that the junior senator from Illinois is long on talk and short on experience of any kind.
So who has the best qualifications—Rep. Cantor or Sen. Obama?
John Bangs
Orange, VA
It’s always about race with the Rats.
Wholly appropriate for McCain to vet these personal documents. Wholly appropriate for McCain's own personal documents to be vetted too, and McCain should make any such vetting public as a contrast to what other political parties practices WRT personal document vetting.
Some day the left will find their slave minority classes absent from their political plantation. There is a great divide especially among blacks and what they believe and how they vote. As for Jews, those that are orthodox should have no difficultly seeing that the Democrat party no matter the failings of the Republican one is one aligned against Israel and orthodox Judaism. Cantor would be a great choice. I just pray that none of the others on the made up list the media is bantering about get on the McCain ticket. McCain should make a pick of conscience. VPs do not lead to state pick ups so falling pray to that kind of silliness is self deception. However McCain especially could destroy his campaign with a wrong pick.
Ping & Howdy.
I havent done a cartwheel in years but I will manage one...
:)
Cantor, unlike most Republicans, is a conservative.
McCain + any white male = defeat in November. Plain and simple, that’s how it’s going to play out.
“I hardly think there are many Jews in Massachusetts who find themselves aligned with McCain and Cantor in perpetuating a third term of George Bush,” said Goldman. “The Republicans found a Clarence Thomas so they could say they put a black in the court, but it’s not how the majority of surveys show that black Americans think...”
That’s one of the most bigoted things I’ve read in a long time.
Wait until one of the grandkids leaves a skateboard on the back step.
Absolute nonsense.
McCain gains nothing tyring to out-token the Dhims. Obama has the bigot/tokenism vote all wrapped up.
Old white guys have done a fine job of governing this country for 234ish years. It’s a stable, prosperous democracy where even the poor get fat and watch color TVs in airconditioned rooms.
McCain should embrace what he is -— an old white guy who happens to have spent more time in a Vietnam prison camp than Obama has in the Senate.
“That’s one of the most bigoted things I’ve read in a long time.”
Yes, it is. And arguably wrong.
As noted in another thread, McCain-for-president-kippahs have been outselling Obama-for-president kippahs 55ish to 45ish. This indicates to me that moderately observant Jew, at least, are leaning McCain -— a phenoma not seen since Jimmah Carter.
To use my family as my barometer, Cantor on the ticket might be just the thing to keep my grandmother from voting for FDR one more time.
We'll see in November.
Oh, McCain may lose, but it will be by losing the base as he tries to grasp the middle.
We need to clue in Rush, Hannity, Levin and others. Hannity keeps putting up pictures of Jindal, Pawlenty, Mittwit and others.....no Cantor!
Well, heck, isn’t FR partially owned by Mr. Snurdly?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.