Larson Joins Kennedy Townsend's Ticket in Md. (McCain Tie-in)

The Washington Post ^ | June 27, 2002 | Daniel LeDuc

[beckett]

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend today named former Naval Academy Superintendent Charles R. Larson as her running mate on the Democratic ticket for Maryland governor.

Townsend announced her choice at a morning press conference in Annapolis at which she called Larson "one of our great leaders." Her selection had remained a closely guarded secret among her top advisers.

Until two weeks ago, Larson was a Republican. He is a close friend of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.); the two attended the Naval Academy together. Larson changed his voter registration to Democrat on June 11, according to Anne Arundel County voter records.

[beckett]

A McCain stalking horse for a party switch?

[marron]

I'm no McCain fan. He is not a Repub, after all, but a centrist Democrat, of which there aren't many left in public life. With the Democratic party behind him, he could give Bush a run for his money. Anyone running against a wartime president is going to have to deal with that, but it may be easier for a bona fide war hero. That list is limited to Kerry and McCain, if he goes for it.

The Demos can not win unless they can trot out some war heros for president. The problem is, Gore, Gephardt, Daschle, Kerry, are not going to sit still for McCain. McCain would have to beat them, and that would not be easy or pretty.

I hope he does it. It would likely finish him in public life.

[goody2shooz]

I'm beginning to suspect that more and more Republican crossovers to the Democrats is driven by the behavior of some, not all, Evangelical Christian Republicans towards their fellow Republicans of other faiths.

A few years back when I still lived in Oregon, I went to a Republican precinct meeting and was told by several others attending that once the Republicans finally got complete control of the Houses of Congress and White House, they anticipated an establishment of a theocracy!

None of them, as it turned out, had voted before and all attended the same Baptist Church. When I told them I was a Roman Catholic and a life-long Republican, Lordy! It was like the Ice Age had returned.

It is unfortunate that religion is being mixed with politics. I've always despised RCs who are liberal Democrats. They mix religion with politics in pseudo socialist-peacenik-Catholic agendas but philosophize away the wholesale murder of the unborn.

I suspect the number of Republicans who are not evangelicals are feeling the heat from those who are.

Fortunately I don't see it happening openly among the Republican leadership in Congress. Does anyone else have information?

[fieldmarshaldj]

"It is unfortunate that religion is being mixed with politics."

There's nothing wrong with mixing the two, it's a matter of how far you take it. The 'theocracy' bit sounds like someone was pulling your leg.

[goody2shooz]

Nope. These people were and are so serious about a theocracy, today the Republican Party in Oregon is pretty much moribound. Dead.

Meanwhile the ranks of those voters who are neither registered Democrat nor Republican have swelled, not only in Oregon, but throughout the country.

I want to clarify what I meant about religion in politics being unfortunate. For me, it is like someone who says, "I'm a Native American", "an Afro-American", or a "Polish American". It creates a delineation between Americans. Though this may give the individual making that statement a feeling of cultural identity, it serves to seperate Americans in general. Religion in politics does that when it is blatant.

There is a dreadful lack of morality in this nation of ours. Religion as the unifying force for honor, morality and decency in our political process is all important. But there are some Christians who hate other Christians. They know who they are and their hate is contributing to our nation's problems.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Horse Feathers! Go to sleep!

[maica]

For the bias in reporting files -- last paragraph of the Washington Post article:

Rep. Robert Ehrlich, Townsend's likely Republican opponent, is not expected to name his running mate until Monday.

This writer could just as easily have said: "Rep. Robert Ehrlich, is planning to make the announcement of his running mate at a ceremony in Annapolis Monday morning at 10 am." The media have been notified of this event!

However the more extreme omission from this article is the fact that MS Townsend introduced her choice for Lt Gov as " Admiral LAWSON." Ask yourself if this would have been mentioned by the media if any Republican had made such a flub?

[GaConfed]

This Southerner could not agree with you more. As someone who knows Southern Baptists up close and personal, it is my impression that the vast majority don't harbor theocratic fantasys. However, the activist few, who don't have a life of their own, and are the ones that make it to all the conferences and conventions to vote for the leadership and policy of the church, have the same mindset of the Islamists. These are the same ones who go around in my community saying the other Protestant denominations represented here are not true Christians. They are truly warped.

[Lil'freeper]

She introduced him as Lawson at their little coming-out ceremony. Brilliant choice, Kathy. Always pick a runningmate whose name you can pronounce. KKT makes Albert Gore look like Albert Einstein as Gore could actually pronounce Lieberman's name.

I saw a cute bumpersticker the other day it stated "YOU are more qualified than KKT!"

[maica]

A Dem operative on local radio yesterday said she had a name recognition of about 99%. I maintain if they dropped the Kennedy part of the name she would have 10% name recognition.

So I always refer to her as Ms Townsend.

[maica]

Check the title of this Post piece carefully.

Larson Joins Kennedy Townsend's Ticket in Md.

[Wait4Truth]

mccain strikes again. This character has gone mad. I think we should rename him john clinton-mccain.

[beckett]

Whoever told you that Republicans have now or have ever had any intention of establishing a "theocracy" is either a political babe-in-the-woods or a practical joker.

[Lil'freeper]

So I always refer to her as Ms Townsend.

Who is Ms. Townsend???????!!!!!! ;)

[Itzlzha]

I'm beginning to suspect that more and more Republican crossovers to the Democrats is driven by the behavior of some, not all, Evangelical Christian Republicans towards their fellow Republicans of other faiths.

Nice try, religious-baiter.

I'm not "Evangelical", and I WILL NOT support RINO'S, or the Gay Agenda-driven Repubs...so where do I fit in your skewed liitle vision of the (R) Party.

I quote Reagan on his leaving the DEMONRAT Party..."I didn't leave the party, they left ME!"

Seems to me folks like yourself, that have a screwed-up vision of what a TRUE Conservative is, are the real problem.

Real Conservatives have been taking it in the shorts for YEARS, being told to support the likes of Chaffee, Jeffords, Snowe, ect...the "I'm not REALLY a (R) crowd" that dominates the media, and is more concerned about their social calendar, and the pork they can bring home to keep the power and prestige they have...rather than advancing a CONSERVATIVE agenda.

That is the true test...Conservatives have held their noses, and gone with "the Conventional Wisdom" MANY times...why won't the "Moderates" or "RINO'S" do it when it comes to advancing a "Conservative" agenda?

I think the answer is apparent in your screed against " some Evangelical Christains" as you put it.

We've TRIED your way...arer you willing to try OURS? (Ours meaning Conservatives interested in doing what's right)

[Freee-dame]

However the more extreme omission from this article is the fact that MS Townsend introduced her choice for Lt Gov as " Admiral LAWSON."

At least the Washington Times mentioned it. Deep in the article, where it belonged, but it did belong.

[seoseo]

I think KKT really scored a football with this choice!

[fhillary2]

Excellently put! I too grow weary of these "fiscal" conservatives and their attacks on us "extremist", "far right" conservatives.

These SOBS always stab us in the back after we've defeated them and their moral relativism in the primaries!

[fhillary2]

Spare me the McCain war hero garbage. He got shot down and he did his time admirably; the war heros didn't come home or they didn't come home in one piece.

[Twodees]

When did The Manchurian Candidate get to be a "war hero"? I think that the media practice of referring to politicians as "war heroes" if they had a combat record is a little overblown.