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.
When you read news like this it makes you wonder if McCain really does want to be President of the United States.
He and everyone connected to him has to already understand that McCains previous immigration stance and attack on free speech with McCain /Feingold seriously weakens any possibility of him winning an election. Only the fact that Obama is a wannbe Communist gives McCain a fighting chance. If he adds to his negatives with a staunch pro-choicer or semi-democrat running mate he might as well go ahead and stick his head in the oven because he is DONE.........
Here we go again...
Who still believe the Dem party propaganda being spit out by these washed up Wash Compost /Time magazine leftists? This website is a non stop Obama fan club and this crap is just another spin piece cooked up by the Barry fan club and fed to the masses as a fact.
Joe L. would be a BIG problem.
Mr. Ridge? I can’t say I’d be too enthusiastic about him, but I have to vote for McCain.
I seriously doubt this.
I just heard a FOX News break on the radio that said that Tom Ridge is NOT on the list for VP. Then I hear Hannity repear Tom Ridge’s name in the next segment as a possible VP pick. Talk about conflicting messages. :^/
I still call “bull” on this. It doesn’t make any sense after Saturday, and the promise McCain made to pro-life conservatives. It doesn’t mamke sense at all. McCain may be a stubborn old codger, but he is not stupid.
Someone needs to run an article about Obama vetting Bay Buchanan.
But she makes great cookies!
OK, how about Sandra Lee? She GOTTA be a Republican.
Same here. If he picks a lib dem like Lieberman, I'm gonna pull the emergency cord on the "Straight Talk Express" and say "this is my stop-I'm getting off here"..
Lindsey Graham the John Edwards in the Pub party. Knows he has no future and cannot re take the Senate. May as well ‘run’ for A.G. or some other post. A most despicable McCain toady.
Here’s why I think Lieberman’s name keeps coming up:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2064096/posts?q=1&;page=1#1
Well, let me say I will be beyond disappointed.
in the last 36 hours, senior McCain advisers and aides have told RNC officials that McCain “got the message” last week that choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights would not be helpful.
No, but Rush said Carly Fiorino was one of the ones calling delegates saying it was Lieberman, and delegates who had been called were contacting him. Hannity’s basically freaking out.
I can believe the MSM would stir the pot, but I can’t believe Rush would unless he had it on good authority.
Yes, here: FREEPER CALL TO ACTION- Just say NO to Pro-Choice VP!. Check out post #56 to see where I got the information.
Nice typos, babe. :^/
Spellchecker is my friend.
Good point. The Republican voter may have to decide to let the RATS have it and come back strong later or just go along with the status quo.
Unfortunately most of the Republican senators are in the Lindsey Graham mode.
Tough choices for all of us.
Politico i.e. the 3 stooges, plus Lindsey dip.
Lieberman isn’t too bad but it’s terrible to have too old guys on the ticket. McCain needs someone young good looking energetic who will take Obama to task (surrogate attacks)
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