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Conservatives Warn McCain: Don't Pick Pro-Choice VP
newsmax.com ^ | August 15, 2008 | Phil Brennan

Posted on 08/16/2008 7:54:52 AM PDT by kellynla

Top conservative activist and leader of the Eagle Forum, Phyllis Schlafly — a legendary militant pro-lifer — reacted to John McCain's remark that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge's pro-choice position would not rule him out as a vice presidential running mate by telling Newsmax, "I think [McCain] would be making a mistake."

Schlafly was not alone in warning McCain against picking Ridge or any other pro-choice advocate as his running mate. Other top conservative leaders chimed in, showing that McCain, already getting only grudging support from the GOP’s right wing, might drive conservatives to desert his cause and torpedo his chances of winning in November.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said, “I think McCain has to have a running mate that clearly connects with social conservatives in the party. That is where he is lacking. So if he picks a pro-choice running mate, I don't see how he can win this race."

When asked if social and religious conservatives would walk away from Sen. McCain if he chooses Ridge or some other pro-choice running mate, Perkins explained, "I'm not going to say people will stay home, but there is a core of voters whose level of enthusiasm influences people further from the core. So if McCain picks a pro-choice running mate, the strength of turnout on election day is not going to be there for him."

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum told LancasterOnline.com that McCain cannot anger conservatives, as choosing a pro-choice running mate would do.

“Obama’s got to lose,” Santorum said. “It doesn’t matter. I’m a believer that John McCain can’t win the race, but that Obama has to lose it. This is not a knock on McCain. I don’t know of any Republican candidate who can overcome the Democrats in this environment without the Democrat disqualifying himself.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008veep; abortion; conservativevote; election; mcbama; mccain; mccainlist; mccaintruthfile; mcinsane; mcliberal; mcnasty; mcqueeg; mcrino; prolife; rinodisasters; rinowars; schlafly; theoriginalmaverick
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To: mylife

“{This is just crap designed to rattle the base since McCain has been performing VERY well for weeks now.”

It is McCain who made the statements about Ridge! And it’s his campaign (and maybe him, also) who’s been floating Lieberman’s name.

Maybe what really needs to happen is, McCain needs to stop behaving like a child and floating names just to irritate and needle part of the base. That serves no purpose whatsoever, even if he plans to pick one of those two. He needs to stop playing the silly maverick game day-after-day and present a coherent set of issues to the voters.

And, it is McCain floating Ridge’s name, not the press. This will be a campaign decided by whether McCain acting like a kid puts the more independent voters off enough to drown out their many questions about Obama, or not.


21 posted on 08/16/2008 8:29:43 AM PDT by Will88 (.)
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To: Cicero

Ditto. I have gone a long way from Hunter and Thompson to support McCain. I can’t stomach the thought of Obama as President. I plan to vote for McCain, but if he has someone like Ridge on the ticket he can blow it. I will NOT vote for Ridge or any other pro-Abortionist.


22 posted on 08/16/2008 8:30:33 AM PDT by SolidWood (God Bless Georgia and grant them victory over Russia!)
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To: gitmogrunt
John McCain's remark that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge's pro-choice position would not rule him out as a vice presidential running mate In no way is an endorsement of prochoice positions. It is just McCain being pragmatic.
23 posted on 08/16/2008 8:31:39 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: indylindy; calcowgirl; djsherin; Sunnyflorida; SoConPubbie; Sybeck1; Ricebug; ...

The Just Say No to Juan McCain Ping List.

"It's like traveling around with a circus."
—Lindsey Graham, on McCain's campaign

To join: FReepmail rabscuttle385 to subscribe or to unsubscribe from this ping list.

This can be a very high-volume ping list at times.

This list is pinged by rabscuttle385 and AmericanInTokyo.

Take care to check the "mccainlist", "mccaintruthfile", "mcbama", "mcqueeg", and "mccain" keyword search links for related threads, since we can not possibly ping you to every relevant article that is posted. To flag a relevant thread, please add the keywords "mccainlist" and "mccaintruthfile".


Republican Commissar’s Warning: By joining this ping list, you may be subjected to the irrational rants and ramblings of McCainiacs, of "moderate" Republicans, of deeply confused conservatives resigned to voting for the lesser of two Democrats, and of countless trolls who simply want to meet a new overlord.

Per FR posting guidelines, we kindly ask that you be civil and polite in your comings and goings. Bonus points for being optimistic and in good cheer.


24 posted on 08/16/2008 8:31:58 AM PDT by rabscuttle385 ("When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat." Ronald Reagan)
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To: Will88

BS it is the Press reading into McCains words


25 posted on 08/16/2008 8:32:37 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

“Ler Obama choose first. There is no rush to pick a VP.”

When the pick is made is not the point. McCain needs to stop this silly and childish behavior of constantly playing the maverick and throwing out ideas he knows will create controversy in his own part.

And, I bet the decision has already been made, which would make all this doubly ridiculous.


26 posted on 08/16/2008 8:33:20 AM PDT by Will88 (.)
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Keep it up folks. We’ll get Obama and a Dem house and senate as well as 2 more socialist supreme court justices.

And out kids will be screwed, and their kids and the next generation


27 posted on 08/16/2008 8:35:09 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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Out=our


28 posted on 08/16/2008 8:35:49 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: whitedog57

Your numbers are wrong. 50 to 70 percent are prolife “except in cases of rape and incest”


29 posted on 08/16/2008 8:36:06 AM PDT by hocndoc (http://www.LifeEthics.org (I have a mustard seed and I'm not afraid to use it.))
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To: Will88

Such hand wringing.

If McCain picks a social moderate it will be Tim Pawlenty


30 posted on 08/16/2008 8:37:22 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: kellynla
Phyllis Schlafly at 84 is sharp, articulate, persevering, has deep convictions, unwavering fortitude and can debate rings around John McCain...

At 71 he belongs in her shadow....

..but he would be wise to listen (doubt that he will)

I am thankful for Phyllis Schlafly's excellent record of defending life, family and the Constitution.

31 posted on 08/16/2008 8:39:50 AM PDT by Guenevere
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To: hunter112

Not at all.

Although the field does bear slim pickings


32 posted on 08/16/2008 8:39:55 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

“BS it is the Press reading into McCains words”

Oh, really? From USA Today:

“Republican John McCain says he has not ruled out choosing Pennsylvania’s popular former Gov. Tom Ridge as a running mate despite his support for abortion rights, a hot-button issue that could inflame some voters among the party’s conservative base.”

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-14-mccain-ridge_N.htm

So, are you saying McCain never actually mentioned Ridge? And, I believe I saw video of him making those remarks. More:

“And also I feel that — and I’m not trying to equivocate here — that Americans want us to work together,” McCain added. “You know, Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don’t think that that would necessarily would rule Tom Ridge out.”

Yeah, that great and inspiring leader, Tom Ridge, renowned from sea to shining sea.


33 posted on 08/16/2008 8:39:58 AM PDT by Will88 (.)
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To: tanknetter

Great reply! You nailed the issue.


34 posted on 08/16/2008 8:41:27 AM PDT by WellyP
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To: Will88

USA today? L0L!!!

A bastion of journalism!


35 posted on 08/16/2008 8:41:40 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Will88

Mentioning Ridge is hardly sanctioning abortion.

This is just spin to knock McCain down. He has shown in past weeks that he IS the only choice worthy of consideration.

Lets apply the sane standards to Obama. The choice is clear


36 posted on 08/16/2008 8:45:10 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: SolidWood

Yes. I feel very unhappy saying it, but I didn’t make this mess. The RNC did, by front-loading the primary process with liberal states and crossover states. It was basically liberals and crossover Democrats who nominated McCain in the early states.

I can hold my nose and vote for McCain if I see some future hope for the party down the line, but not otherwise. McCain-Ridge or McCain-Feingold would basically remove any future options to vote the liberals out. How would you throw them out? Vote Democrat?


37 posted on 08/16/2008 8:45:12 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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Lets Hold Johns feet to the fire AFTER he is elected


38 posted on 08/16/2008 8:45:56 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2008/01/28/john-mccain-prisoner-of-war-a-first-person-account.html


39 posted on 08/16/2008 8:52:46 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of the Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: whitedog57
I really wish they would just ban forever partial-birth abortion and stop making every election about abortion.

Yes, they did outlaw partial birth infanticide - and Obama promises to repeal that ban (and any state restrictions on abortion)as his first act in office.

It's the left that has made elections be about abortion via judicial activism - getting its way through unelected courts. We, the mere citizens and voters, have had to battle back tediously for decades to try to respond to the impact of these rulings. Same sex marriage is just another example of the same thing.

McCain picking a pro-abortion VP would be a serious error.

40 posted on 08/16/2008 8:53:24 AM PDT by Tirian
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