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McCain (And Lindsey Graham!) weighs a Lieberman surprise
Politico ^ | 8/19/08 | MIKE ALLEN & JONATHAN MARTIN & ALEXANDER BURNS

Posted on 08/19/2008 12:17:41 PM PDT by GOPGuide

John McCain is seriously considering choosing a pro-abortion-rights running mate despite vocal resistance from conservatives, with former Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) very much in the mix, close McCain advisers say.

Under strong consideration: former Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Ridge, and Lieberman, who was Al Gore’s running mate in 2000.

Multiple GOP sources say that party officials in Washington and in the states have been contacted by the McCain campaign in the past two weeks and asked about the fallout from such a choice. One person familiar with the calls said the party was being instructed to prepare for different candidate prototypes — including one in the mold of Lieberman, who is an independent but still caucuses with the Democrats.

One obstacle for Lieberman may be legal. A GOP official said that since he is not a Republican, Lieberman may have a challenge being certified on some state ballots.

But GOP sources say McCain and his close friend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) still haven’t given up hope on making what some believe would be a game-changing decision by tapping Lieberman.

Lieberman’s office declined to discuss the topic. “Those questions are best left to the McCain campaign at this time,” said Erika Masonhall, Lieberman’s Senate press secretary.

Ridge also appears to still be on the short list, GOP sources say. McCain likes the fact that Ridge is a Vietnam War hero with a working-class background. Ridge worked in the White House as Bush’s homeland security adviser before becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, and could help McCain with his further reform of the nation’s intelligence apparatus.

“He’s McCain’s kind of guy,” said a close friend of the candidate.

McCain, who in the past had said it would be hard to choose a supporter of abortion rights, told Steve Hayes of The Weekly Standard last week that he would not rule it out.

One source close to the campaign who is sympathetic to such a plan sketched out a scenario in which Lieberman was the choice.

“First, if your instinct is to run on experience, it doesn’t hurt to have a vice president who’s got it, too,” said this source, a conservative.

But more than that, according to this source, picking Lieberman would dramatically support McCain’s theme that he puts “country first” above all else.

“It would fit well into the narrative of his not having any politics in the White House,” said the source. “No more Dick Morris, no more Karl Rove — we’re governing here. It’s an easy, natural message for McCain and it implies a one-term pledge without actually saying it.”

As for the inevitable blowback from the right, this person acknowledged the convention would be “a messy week,” representing a “shock to the system of a pro-life party.”

But would it be worth it? “The question is: On Sept. 15 or 25, is he in better shape or not?” the source asked.

McCain allies are hopeful that the candidate’s strong statement on abortion Saturday night at Rick Warren’s California church could assuage any concerns from the right-to-life community about what a supporter of abortion rights on the ticket would mean.

“I will be a pro-life president and this presidency will have pro-life policies,” McCain said at Saddleback. “That's my commitment; that's my commitment to you.”

Others in the party — including several veterans of President Bush’s past campaigns — say such a choice would be untenable and are dreading the prospect of what Lieberman, or perhaps even Ridge,would mean to a base that is already less than enthusiastic about McCain.

“Lieberman would blow things up,” said the American Conservative Union’s David Keene. “That would be like Obama picking some right-winger that agrees with him on one thing.”

As for the convention, Keene said Lieberman’s selection would set off some sort of “protest” among the party’s rank and file. Tapping Ridge, Keene said, wouldn’t be as bad, but would still “overshadow” St. Paul.

Already, one website has begun a petition aimed at dissuading McCain from tapping a supporter of abortion rights.

“Please keep Senator McCain and his key advisers in your prayers as he nears a decision on his VP pick, and please sign the petition and pass on to like-minded pro-lifers,” Billy Valentine, a young Republican and former supporter of Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback’s presidential bid, writes above the petition on “Catholics for McCain.”

Other Republican regulars, speaking anonymously so as not to anger the party’s nominee, warn of the consequences.

Another well-placed Republican official who is in regular contact with McCain’s campaign predicted a contentious gathering in St. Paul.

“You will not have a unanimous vote at the convention, that much I can tell you,” said this source. “There will be some blowback.”

Many leading conservatives have strongly pushed back on McCain’s suggestion that he might choose a pro-choice running mate.

For the third day in a row, talk radio guru Rush Limbaugh castigated the idea Tuesday on his radio show, saying the mainstream media — “the drive-by media,” in his parlance — is enthralled by the idea.

“The drive-bys are just hoping for it, because they know the base will totally turn on McCain if this is the case,” Limbaugh said. “If he picks a pro-choice running mate, it’s not going to be pretty, and the drive-bys 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.’”

The answer to what McCain is thinking could come soon. Republicans were told that barring a change, McCain plans to appear with his pick at an arena in Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 29 — a week from Friday, and the day after Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination in a Denver stadium.

Campaign advisers said Obama’s performance is likely to be so strong they think it will “scare” Republicans, and they’re eager to change the conversation to their own No. 2 the next morning.

Obama is likely to make his pick this Friday, Saturday or Sunday, according to advisers. But they warned it could come any time.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008veep; baseless; election; elections; fearmongering; hysteria; lieberman; mccain; mccainlist; rumors
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To: SierraWasp
I still predict it’ll be lousy lapdog Lindsey Graham!!! A real NOTHING!!!

Ugh!

101 posted on 08/19/2008 1:30:33 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: seekthetruth

Disagree. With good reason, McCain has decided that he count on conservatives to support him no matter what he does. He figures that Iraq (and disdain for Obama) will trump everything else with conservatives. I suspect that a Lieberman pick will anger some folks here but the majority will rally around the nominee (as they always do).


102 posted on 08/19/2008 1:32:23 PM PDT by Captain Kirk
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To: tobyhill

Totally agree...and so many fall for it hook, line and sinker!


103 posted on 08/19/2008 1:37:00 PM PDT by top 2 toe red ("Cackling hillary...makes her sound like she is mentally-illary." Jimmy Kimmel. "Uh...she is!" Me)
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To: RexBeach

I guess if a liberal VP is what you are looking for...she loves, loves bill clinton and thinks he was/is the greatest president to ever live.


104 posted on 08/19/2008 1:40:06 PM PDT by top 2 toe red ("Cackling hillary...makes her sound like she is mentally-illary." Jimmy Kimmel. "Uh...she is!" Me)
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To: LadyNavyVet
Honestly, would it kill the guy to bite the bullet and just pick a conservative, instead of going through these Machiavellian manipulations to make the RINO du jour seem minimally palatable?

It shouldn't--but apparently it would. :-(

105 posted on 08/19/2008 1:40:47 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: Tallguy
Inaccurate, as of about 5 minutes ago. They are saying Tom Ridge is out of the running.

After watching him for, lo, these many decades, the rational person never presumes to know McCain's mind until after he's actually done something. In fact, with his state of mental deterioration, McCain doesn't know what he stands for from moment to moment.

106 posted on 08/19/2008 1:46:19 PM PDT by E. Cartman (Why take from your party's nominee betrayal you'd never take from your spouse?)
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To: bcsco

Good one


107 posted on 08/19/2008 2:02:19 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: GOPGuide

Rat mis-information. Fox is reporting that mcqueeg won’t choose a pro-abort VP.


108 posted on 08/19/2008 2:05:27 PM PDT by Mogollon ($5/gal Gas....Kick the Jacka$$es Out!)
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To: Mogollon
Rat mis-information.

Is it? Really? Sure about that, huh? Willing to bet the farm?

109 posted on 08/19/2008 2:11:58 PM PDT by bcsco (Contact McCain today. NO to pro-choice VP!)
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To: imahawk

My guess is the answer in this case would be no. It’s doubtful one would hear a whimper or a sigh from within the woods...


110 posted on 08/19/2008 2:14:09 PM PDT by bcsco (Contact McCain today. NO to pro-choice VP!)
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To: GOPGuide

The second to last paragraph is correct in all aspects. Conservatives will “settle” this time. The problem is, it won’t help. Who cares what the VP’s positions are, seriously. Lieberman represents a Pax Judeo-Christiandom that should play well with the electorate. He’s a great champion for keeping our guard up with both arms. He’s an interesting person.


111 posted on 08/19/2008 2:22:56 PM PDT by kinghorse
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To: JennysCool

It would be the Grumpy Old Men Ticket.


112 posted on 08/19/2008 2:23:01 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: E. Cartman

That’s the scary thing about McCain—he’s all over the map. I like steady and predictable.


113 posted on 08/19/2008 2:25:04 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: Elle Bee

Every person that surrounds McCain makes me scrunch up my nose. Heck McCain makes me scrunch up my nose.


114 posted on 08/19/2008 2:27:15 PM PDT by beaversmom
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To: kalee

LOL! Mordy! I guess that’s why she thinks bill clinton is the greatest president that ever lived...’cause compared to Jimmy Carter, anyone/anything would look the ‘greatest’ whatever.


115 posted on 08/19/2008 2:28:59 PM PDT by top 2 toe red ("Cackling hillary...makes her sound like she is mentally-illary." Jimmy Kimmel. "Uh...she is!" Me)
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To: E. Cartman

I take it you did NOT see the Saddleback debate Saturday.


116 posted on 08/19/2008 2:31:08 PM PDT by top 2 toe red ("Cackling hillary...makes her sound like she is mentally-illary." Jimmy Kimmel. "Uh...she is!" Me)
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To: GOPGuide

It seems Lindsey Graham gets up every morning and asks himself what he could do today to weaken conservatives and Republicans . Then he does whatever that is.


117 posted on 08/19/2008 2:36:48 PM PDT by Minn (Here is a realistic picture of the prophet: ----> ([: {()
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To: GOPGuide
Not surprising if true. Republicans have to have a “big tent” because conservatives are so narrow minded. Libs don't cause they're open minded. Hope this choice comes soon. I've already sucked it up and sent him money. I need to know if I can stomach the next double cross before I flush any more cash. Bad thing about big tents is they're real tough to get out of when they blow down./p>
118 posted on 08/19/2008 2:37:18 PM PDT by throwback
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To: Sans-Culotte

I have been posting for quite some time about how I find it so difficult to hold my nose and vote for McCain - yet the Libertarian candidate opened his fat mouth and reminded me why I cannot vote for that bunch...

Which leave Chuck Baldwin who hasn’t opened his mouth much at all. Then again, he doesn’t have much money either, and may not even be on several ballots...

And we somehow need to keep Obama from the office...

I really don’t know what to do. And the idea of McCain having either Dem-Lieberman, or Ridge as VP concretes my inability to vote for McCain.

At least if McCain were to pick a good solid conservative as VP, it MIGHT make a vote for him more palatable.

What to do????


119 posted on 08/19/2008 2:40:03 PM PDT by TheBattman (Vote your conscience, or don't complain about RINOs!)
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To: GOPGuide

Seems someone on the McCain team is talking out their ass “off the record”. Either that or the source is not nearly as high up as they think they are. Total BS


120 posted on 08/19/2008 2:45:53 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com ---- Get involved, make a difference.)
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