Posted on 08/20/2008 2:14:04 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan
In a year that has seemed so bleak for Republicans, John McCain not only can upset Barack Obama and win the White House, he can change the voting dynamic of American Jews. With the Democratic and Republican national conventions scheduled over the next three weeks, both presumptive nominees could announce their running mates at any moment. Among a field of imperfect potential options, U.S. Representative Eric Cantor (R – Virginia) may be McCain's best option, and he is a good choice indeed.
Several vice-presidential contenders continue to be discussed in McCain's circles, from the obvious (Mitt Romney) to the slightly more obscure (Tim Pawlenty and Tom Ridge) to the dark horses (Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal, and Joe Lieberman). While Romney would make a solid VP nominee, particularly given his fundraising prowess and expertise on financial affairs, he continues to be hurt by, among other things, his Mormon identity, which some evangelical Christians seem loathe to embrace. As unfair as that may be to Romney, this is a reality that McCain must confront.
Eric Cantor, however, who was largely unknown until his name recently appeared on McCain's veep short-list, could have a profound, long-lasting effect on party politics. Cantor also satisfies more of the vice-presidential considerations than any other candidate. He is young (45), but not inexperienced (seven years in Congress). Simultaneously, he is somewhat anonymous and thus avoids the trapped-in-the-Beltway image that has tainted many of his longer-serving colleagues. Cantor is from Virginia, which has become an important swing state this year that could go Democratic, especially if Obama chooses its governor, Tim Kaine, as his running mate.
Cantor has private-sector experience as a real-estate developer and has served on the House's committees on Financial Services, International Relations, and Ways and Means. These three posts strengthen his credentials on this election's two most important issues: foreign policy and the economy.
As a practicing Jew, Cantor would boost McCain's prospects in Florida due to its large Jewish population, much of which rightfully distrusts Obama. Cantor is solidly, unquestionably conservative and earned a 100 percent rating from the American Conservative Union in 2007. He scores very well on the major litmus tests important to the Republican “base,” including conservative views on abortion, global warming, immigration, and gun control. As a candidate, he is a prolific fundraiser and once was called a “Bush attack dog,” meaning he will not hesitate to criticize the Obama campaign while preserving John McCain’s image as dignified and presidential. Most important, however, Cantor could bolster Republican prospects beyond just this year by attracting Jewish voters into the GOP.
Ironically, Cantor's Judaism could prove more appealing to Evangelical Christians, who represent the most ardent supporters of Israel, than to religious Jews, who are often skeptical of Jews in power. This caution has its roots in the Mishna (transcription of Jewish oral law), specifically, Ethics of the Fathers, which warns against close affiliations with government authority that sever loyalties to the Jewish community. However, religious Jews already vote overwhelmingly Republican. It is the large swath of moderate Jews, who tend to vote Democratic, who would be most swayed by Cantor on the ticket, along with conservative Christians. Thus, Cantor could serve the delicate, dual role of attracting both moderates and the conservative base.
Although historically, Jews have leaned heavily Democratic, the time could be ideal for a political realignment. President Bush garnered an estimated 25 percent of the Jewish vote in 2004, a significantly higher percentage than he received in 2000, although not quite the nearly 40 percent that Ronald Reagan attracted in 1980. The Democratic Party virtually expelled its most prominent Jewish face, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-D – Connecticut), who vocally has endorsed and campaigned for McCain. The Republican Party and self-identified conservatives maintain a far more consistently and visibly pro-Israel stance than do their Democratic and liberal counterparts.
Obama has been, at best, inconsistent on Israel. Attempting to refute critics' claims that he harbored pro-Palestinian sympathies, Obama told a June 4 American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference that Jerusalem would remain Israel's capital. He later backtracked and said Jerusalem's status would be open to negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. The Republican Jewish Coalition's website notes that Obama's national campaign co-chairman and military advisor, Gen. Merrill “Tony” McPeak, seemed to identify Jewish voters when asked to name the biggest obstacles to Middle East peace. “New York City. Miami. We have a large vote…here in favor of Israel. And no politician wants to run against it,” McPeak said.
Of course, Obama also has stated that he would meet, without preconditions, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who keeps threatening to destroy Israel. In May, he called Israel “a stinking corpse…on its way to annihilation.” The Democratic Party platform soon will call on Obama to fulfill his promise of condition-free direct diplomacy with Iran.
An ideal vice-president not only brings something to the ticket but can highlight something the opposition lacks. Eric Cantor can do both, while potentially transforming traditional Jewish voting patterns. A McCain-Cantor ticket could demonstrate to Jewish voters that the Republican Party, in fact, cherishes the values they embrace, including individual responsibility; education policies that benefit children, not teacher's unions; strong, unconditional support for Israel; and toughness in the War on Terror. In a less-than-ideal year for Republicans, Eric Cantor could help ensure an ideal ending.
Very true. He’s my first choice.
Cantor Ping.
Cantor would be a ‘fresh face’, someone conservative, fairly young and not all that well-known, but with decent experience (tons more than Obama himself!). He is pretty ‘quick on his feet’ in speaking situations and expressses himself well. McCain could do a whole lot worse than picking Cantor.
i don’t think so.
i have a jewish friend who’s firmly in hillary’s camp,
voting obama.
what about israel? no answer.
Cantor is my Guy. He can rasie millions and bring the jewish vote and maybe Va.
Obama has a glaring weakness on terrorism and Israel and has been surrounded by anti-semites most of his political career (not to mention sitting in the Church of Kill the Jews and Whitey for 20 years).
Obama has shown no judgment at all inviting Carter to speak.
It’s a real opportunity to start pealing off the weak edges of Jewish voters who KNOW BETTER, but vote Dhim without thinking.
Indeed, Cantor will bait the lefties into vitriolic anti-semetic attacks, which will accellerate the process of Jews leaving the plantation.
Not this crap again.
Well, that’s a sample of 1.
It’s like if I asked my sisters (Jewesses all) who they were voting for — John McCain, but only because Ronald Reagan is dead and served two terms — and concluded we had the Jewish vote all wrapped up.
The article makes some very good points.
Yeah, Cantor’s terrible:
Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules. (May 2001)
Rated 100% by FAIR, indicating a voting record restricting immigration. (Dec 2003)
Rated 92% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance. (Dec 2006)
Declare English as the official language of the US. (Feb 2007)
Eric Cantor Op-Ed on the attempted immigration “reform”:
“If your village is situated on the banks of a river and the levee bursts, causing severe damage, would it make sense to rebuild the town before you fix the breach in the levee?
Ask the same of the resuscitated Senate immigration bill. Should the legislation become law in its current form, we would fail to address the open borders and unchecked illegal immigration that have become the Achilles heel of our national security.
Presently, the bill fails to add enough fencing and security features to establish control over the border. As a result, immigration officials will have to continue to ‘catch and release’ the tens of thousands of border-crossers they apprehend because we lack the detention space and resources to hold them.”
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion/oped.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-06-27-0004.html
The really big mystery of Judaeism is the question of why any Jew would ever vote for a demoKKKrat. Last time that ever made sense even in theory was probably 1932.
There are 43 Jewish Congressman. 40 are Dems, three are Reps. Only 1 is a conservative: Eric Cantor. The idea that Reps can make much of a dent in the Jewish vote is quixotic and certainly not a reason to nominate a Jew as VP. Cantor is a virtual unknown even in VA. He gets a B minus [2005-2008] on immigration
Cantor's spoken out frequently on the issue. He's to the right of me on Israel.
The question is: Where does Cantor best fit into that scenario? As an heir-apparent or leader of a resurgent wing of the party? I can accept and support either, but I'm afraid that the Vice Presidency would be a self limiting move. He has the potential to take the whole thing on his own.
Bless your heart.
The reason to vote for Cantor is he is a nigh perfect rating conservative, smart, articulate, good looking (according to the female freepers), and not afraid to mix it up.
The fact that he is a Jewish guy with a Southern accent — why, that’s icing on the cake.
good!
yes, anecdotal info, from 1!
Rep. Cantor voted against the Marshall Amendment to H.R. 5441, the fiscal year 2007 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill. The Marshall Amendment would increase funding for USCIS' employment verification program by $20 million. This program , which is currently voluntary, allows employers to electronically check the eligibility of new employees to work in the United States. However, in December, 2005, the House passed H.R. 4437 which makes the program mandatory. The Marshall Amendment would fund this program. The Marshall Amendment passed by a vote of 358-63.
Voted against amendment to fund program to deny driver's licenses to illegal aliens in 2005. Rep. Cantor voted against the Obey amendment (H. Amdt. 144) to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The Obey amendment provided $100 million to fund grants under the REAL ID Act to assist States in conforming with minimum drivers’ license standards. The Obey amendment passed by a vote of 226-198.
Rep. Cantor voted against the Hayworth Amendment (H. AMDT 745) to H.R. 5006, the Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations bill. The amendment would have prohibited any funding in the bill from being used to pay Social Security Administration (SSA) employees to administer any benefits that would not be payable but for a totalization agreement with Mexico. The effect of this would be to prevent the U.S.-Mexico totalization agreement from taking effect -- at least during FY 2005 -- since SSA employees could not be paid for any work they do to determine or pay benefits under the agreement. The U.S.-Mexico totalization agreement would allow both legal AND illegal aliens working in the United States to qualify for Social Security benefits. The amendment failed by a vote of 178-225.
I haven’t heard Cantor’s name mentioned the past week or so...hmm...
oh, i know that!
i apologize. i was speaking about my friend.
she’s much older than me and i don’t argue with her out of respect for her age.
besides, she rewards me with food!
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