Posted on 06/27/2011 1:36:00 PM PDT by presidio9
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., a five-term congressman who isn't well known on the national stage, is mulling a possible presidential run. "A decision hasn't been made, but it will be made soon.... I’m not going to put a timeline on it," he told the Daily Caller.
McCotter has been working his way into the inner circle of the Republican leadership since his early support of John Boehner, R-Ohio, for majority leader in 2006. As Cook Political Report's David Wasserman writes, McCotter has few options if he wants to continue to climb: "Republicans haven't broken through at the Senate level in Michigan. There is a Republican governor there at the moment ... there are very few options beside floating a candidacy for president."
If McCotter enters the race he faces an uphill battle from the start. He'll have to break through a field of well-known faces and catch up in fundraising—a feat that would be a "small miracle in and of itself." Here are eight things that will help you get to know this possible presidential candidate:
1. Not much of a challenge.
McCotter was elected to Congress in 2002 in a tight race against Redford Township Supervisor Kevin Kelley, a centrist Democrat who supported the Bush tax cuts. Since then McCotter has has faced weak opposition. He won reelection four times by unimpressive margins against under-financed opponents.
2. Plays a star-spangled guitar.
McCotter is the proud owner of a star-spangled Telecaster that he plays as lead guitar for the Second Amendments, a bipartisan rock band of House members that performs for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. McCotter has also been known to quote rock lyrics while on the House floor. 3. Wants to repeal health care reform.
McCotter voted against Obama's health care reform bill twice and even issued a statement with Boehner saying it would lead to, "government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law." McCotter made repealing health care reform, "one of his key stumping points," for his 2010 reelection bid.
4. Tried to disassemble the Republican Policy Committee.
In 2006, McCotter defeated Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., for chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. But in 2010, he provoked an internal GOP struggle by proposing to shut down the committee and use its $360,000 budget to reduce the deficit. Then-GOP Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., stopped the plan and Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., took over the committee.
5. Proposed a tax break for pet owners.
McCotter asked fellow members of Congress to join him in supporting H. R. 3501, the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act. The bill proposes to allow pet owners a $3,500 annual tax deduction for "qualified pet-care expenses."
6. Tough on trade.
McCotter opposes the Republican party's free-trade consensus. Currently every other presidential candidate in the field seems to agree with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's declaration that "we should not restrict trade."
7. Supports labor.
The union presence in McCotter's district has led him to sometimes support labor-related bills. He was one of 13 Republicans to vote for passage of an organized-labor bill to expedite union organization and was in favor of government intervention for General Motors and Chrysler.
8. Nudged to run by Fox News.
One of the first to encourage McCotter to enter the race was Fox News’s Red Eye host Greg Gutfeld. On his program Gutfeld asked McCotter to consider throwing his hat in the race, saying McCotter was one of the few politicians, "who seem less interested in impressing celebrities," than preserving freedoms.
Actually I’m hoping that he’s working on raising his profile for a run against Debbie Stabenow.
I don’t see #3.
I don’t see #3.
All the Palin fans who are immediately attacking McCotter as a "union guy" and otherwise are too dense to notice that this is exactly what's happing here. McCotter maintains no illusions of actually winning the party's nomination. He doesn't have the hair for it, for one thing.
The guy *looks* like an economist.
Just sayin’, you know?
I'm guessing his mad guitar skills and his rejection of Obamacare are not part of the same point. I could be wrong though.
McCotter is great, but he’s nowhere near running for the presidency. I think he would make a fine president, frankly, but I don’t at all see it happening.
Looks can be deceiving. Check out some of his floor speeches on Youtube. McCotter has the best sense of humor in Congress.
But if he runs, he cannot appear on Red Eye due to equal time issues. He is my favorite guest!
He’s a product of his district. Its him or a Dingell clone there.
RTFT (and pay special attention to post 5)
It’s tacked on to the end of #2.
I have a great congressman but have no illusions about him ever becoming president. For that matter I doubt he’ll ever run for the senate .
He’s not a speechmaker or an attention getter. He’s just a good solid conservative who really cares about the district.
Maybe if you read the article you would see it. Try reading number 2 closely and slowly. If that fails seach the page for “3.”
I like McCotter if for no other reason than he gave me my tagline.
that’d be awesome. He could hook her husband up with a hooker
This is the smartest guy in the room. Would destroy ANY Republican or Democrat in a debate. Is a policy wonk with a sense of humor. Doesn’t have to be and won’t be packaged.
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