Posted on 08/27/2008 7:43:18 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan
OK, SO HE'S only one of five Virginians mentioned as possibilities for a national ticket in this year's presidential election. But it's still a kick for Rep. Eric Cantor to be on John McCain's VP list--at least until Friday.
Indeed, his three teenage children "think it's cool," Cantor acknowledged last week during a stop at The Free Lance-Star.
A fourth-term congressman from the Richmond area whose district includes Culpeper, Orange and Louisa counties and parts of Spotsylvania and Caroline counties, Cantor would bring undeniable strengths to the ticket. A conservative from a swing state in the South (and the only Jewish Republican in the House), Cantor has climbed the leadership ladder to chief deputy whip.
But though he may be a whip, he's not even a blip on the national radar screen. That's why some are questioning his readiness for prime time. In fact, renowned political pundit Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia called the possible pick of Cantor "strange."
Still, based on his grasp of the political trends this year, Cantor seems ready to roll. He makes as persuasive a case as you can for why McCain might end up winning in a year when the electorate is "in the mood for change."
How could a 72-year-old veteran of Washington like McCain compete for the "change vote" against someone as precedent-setting as Barack Obama? By burnishing his maverick credentials, says Cantor, and by encouraging voters to "look under the hood" of Obama's career. If they do, says the Richmond-born congressman, they will find liberal, party-line orthodoxy, not a track record of change.
But how does McCain distinguish himself from an incumbent president of the same party who, to many voters, represents what they want to change?
Check the record, says Cantor, and you'll find that a McCain administration would not amount to a third Bush term. As the congressman notes, McCain "was for the surge [in Iraq] before Bush was."
The prospect of a Vice President Cantor may be unlikely for 2009. But it's clear that this 45-year-old up-and-comer, who manages to combine a party-line voting record with open-minded rhetoric, already has managed to break into the national spotlight. His prestige in the House will only grow.
Well-groomed to a T, with thick black hair and a trim physique, Cantor makes a good impression on the campaign trail. He has a knack for articulate answers and a talent for gauging the political winds. While hardly a barnstormer, this lawyer/developer is a good fit for the TV-style campaigns of the 21st century.
Who knows? Before long, voters in Fredericksburg, and maybe even L.A. and New York, will not have to ask: "Eric who?"
A final note: Who were the other Virginians mentioned as possibilities for a national ticket this year? Tim Kaine, Mark Warner and Jim Webb as VP for the Democrats, and Jim Gilmore, who ran an abbreviated campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.
More interesting is that, alone among the "vetted" possibilities for VP is the fact that Cantor has no slated speaking date.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/08/26/Cantor_absent_from_RNC_speaking_list/UPI-87051219792621/
Cantor ping.
I am on board. Cantor delivers unbelievable assets to McCain.
Vice President Eric Cantor...
What’s not to like ??????????
:)
If you’re going to go the congressman route, I still like John Boehner......Ohio anyone????? ( AND....a pitbull when needed ).....
Someone needs to tell the author, Mr. Jones, that this argument has been relegated to the ashbin with Obama's selection of 65-year old Joe Biden, who has been serving in the Senate longer than Sen. McCain.
None of those tickets have any chance of winning. This one does.
Jack Kemp with Bob Dole in 1996.
Geraldine Ferrarro with Walter Mondale in 1984.
William Miller with Barry Goldwater in 1964.
You forgot one -- Dick Cheney with George W. Bush in 2000.
And none of those three had anything to do with their ticket losing.
Only Miller and Ferrarro were in congress when nominated as VP.
Cantor could be the one who breaks the mold.
Romney is so talented. But two very rich guy Republicans do present problems.
Lieberman is a dear man, but would be a disaster. His support for the war in Iraq and for a muscular defense makes him seem moderate. But on everything else he is an orthodox liberal. He has voted against all our good judges, for taxes, and even for partial-birth abortion. That puts him to the left of Joe Biden!
John Kyl would be a great pick – a hero to conservatives — except that he’s from Arizona.
Sarah Palin is appealing but too inexperienced. Vitiates the argument that Obama is unready.
Tim Pawlenty is nice but dull and lacks foreign policy knowledge and experience.
Jim DeMint, see above.
What to do?
Pick Eric Cantor. Very conservative Va congressman. Chief Deputy Whip. Smart. Articulate. Pro-life. Here’s the bio:
Eric Cantor is a fourth-term Congressman representing Virginia's seventh district including the Richmond-metro area. At the beginning of his second term in 2002, Eric was selected to serve as Chief Deputy Majority Whip, the highest appointed position in the House of Representatives.
In the 110th Congress, Eric continues to serve as Chief Deputy Republican Whip where he is an integral part of the House Republican leadership team. He also serves as Finance Chairman for the National Republican Congressional Committee where he leads the effort to raise money for House Republican in the 2008 election cycle.
In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Eric holds a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has direct jurisdiction over taxes, trade, Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs for seniors, health care and welfare reform.
Eric also serves as Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare. The task force is a coalition of Members of Congress studying the threats international terrorism poses to the U.S. and developing policy proposals and legislative recommendations regarding the fight against terrorism.
Eric Cantor grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He attended George Washington University, and he got his political start interning for the Honorable Tom Bliley and served as his driver on his first re-election campaign. He received his law degree from The College of William and Mary and went on to get his Masters at Columbia University in New York.
While in New York, Eric met his wife Diana and brought her back to Virginia where they are raising their three children: Evan, Jenna and Michael.
We could do woyse.
Wow. That is deserving of its own post, no?
Do you mind?
(With apologies to my dear wife) I just love Mona Charen.
A Friday announcement would be tricky for Cantor. The Sabbath runs from sundown Friday until just after sundown on Saturday. Cantor can’t campaign on the Sabbath.
Sen Jim DeMint was a Representative from January 1999 until January 2005, when he became a Senator. He has more experience than Cantor.
Argggg.
I am Jewish and didn’t even think of that. Makes my heart sink.
That said, it could be used to keep the new cycle “live” -— awaiting speaking on Sunday news shows.
Mona Charen is just pulling for another Jewish conservative Columbia Grad. There are about a dozen of us so having one as VP would be nice.
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.