McCain-Cantor? That's the Winning Ticket

The Richmond Times Dispatch ^ | Apr 23, 2008 | Bob Raynor

[Clintonfatigued]

ONE LOCAL pol whose name has not been mentioned could make the perfect running mate -- for Republican John McCain.

Rep. Eric Cantor is 44. McCain is 71.

As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Cantor brings the clout and experience on economic and tax issues that many believe McCain lacks. He was a businessman before being elected to the House in 2000 and has been an eloquent spokesman for pro-growth policies ever since.

Cantor would energize economic conservatives in a way that McCain has not, and he possesses the skill and expertise to attack the Democrats' high tax, anti-trade, big government platform as precisely the wrong medicine for a struggling economy. (His wife, Diana, also plays in the financial major leagues, serving for more than a decade as executive director of the Virginia College Savings Plan. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Media General, which owns this newspaper.)

As the Republican chief deputy whip in the House, Cantor is one of the youngest members of the congressional leadership. And in this year of group firsts, Cantor would be the first Jewish nominee on a national Republican ticket.

His consistent, staunch defense of Israel's interests could strengthen McCain's already respectable standing among traditionally Democratic Jewish voters, many of whom are growing nervous about Obama's pastor's embrace of the anti-Semitic Louis Farrakhan. Jimmy Carter's get-together with Hamas terrorists offered another reminder that left-wing Democrats often lend tepid support to Israel.

The congressman from Richmond would keep Virginia and Florida in the GOP column and could help McCain in Northeastern states, such as New Jersey, where the Arizona senator appears to be running better than recent Republican presidential candidates.

[EternalVigilance]

There are millions and millions and millions alone in Utah waiting to be tapped in such a ticket (and I don’t mean to sound opportunist).

Too late.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Bring the dough, sell your soul. Sorry, Norm. McCain needs to shore up his base, and picking a sleazy rich liberal with a honesty problem AIN’T gonna get it done. The media will be more than happy to remind the base just how liberal this guy is.

[Salvation]

I don’t think so. Look at the mess in Mass. And it all started with Romney.

[EternalVigilance]

New tagline...

[Norman Bates]

Too late? Baloney.

[EternalVigilance]

Go ahead and focus on Romney's money then. I don't care. I hope he spends every last nickel of his kid's trust funds. Because in the end none of it will matter a bit.

"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul." - Jesus Christ

[Norman Bates]

No one's selling their soul. I just see in terms of money, debate/campaign skills, Michigan, Colorado, Nevada, NH, executive and private experience, he bring a lot to the table. Look you aren't going to get an argument from me over Massachusetts. But, DJ, it's Massachusetts for crying out loud. It was going down the tubes long before Romney or even Weld (but I want no argument there either). Romney campaigned as a liberal in 1994 and 2002, yes. He was wrong. But he governed as I'd say right of center, and considering it's Massachusetts that's good enough for me. There is a 'slick' element to Romney, I admit it. But it's not going to override my reason telling me he brings something to the ticket. At the very least he governed right of center (excepting Romneycare) and he campaigned in 2007-08 as right of center (conservative on most issues).

[fieldmarshaldj]

That’s gonna leave a mark.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Norm, I’ve got this same discussion going in several threads simultaneously. You know where I stand on this. That money is dirty and comes with the kind of strings that will end up choking the party. If McCain is smart, he’ll tell *omney to go as far away from him as humanly possible. Slick Willard is TOXIC.

[Norman Bates]

No, silly, not Romney's money. It's Romney's talent at raising money that I find helpful. But it's much more than that. In fact he brings both executive and private sector experience, relative youth, good looks (yes I know - but it cannot be downplayed in this sad age), and play in Michigan, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, N.H., and (uselessly albeit) Massachusetts. Plus he's a good debater/campaigner and has a dormant base ready to donate and volunteer.

[txhurl]

So who ARE you OK with for VP?

[fieldmarshaldj]

It’s all tainted.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Post #10.

[EternalVigilance]

But he governed as I'd say right of center

Balderdash. He implemented gay "marriage," completely homosexualized state government and the public schools, passed socialized medicine complete with taxpayer-funded abortions, and signed a permanent "assault" weapons ban, saying, "Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts. These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."

If you think that's "right of center," in my opinion you need to run a check on your political/moral compass. Something's gone seriously awry.

[EternalVigilance]

I could care less who y’all pick. A hundred tons of ballast dumped on the deck of the Titantic makes little difference after the iceberg has already been struck.

[txhurl]

I’m terrified we’re gonna get Crist. Did you see he just got ‘engaged’ to a pretty latina?

[Norman Bates]

Ok, fair enough. We both know where we stand but what do you mean by this: “That money is dirty and comes with the kind of strings that will end up choking the party.”?

Like any candidate Romney got most of his support from regular folk. I don’t see any special strings. Granted he will get much more from fellow Mormons than any other candidate but I see that as good because it’s bringing more Republicans into the process who normally incline to sit out.

[Norman Bates]

I know we disagree on this. Just ignore me here. ;-)

[EternalVigilance]

Did you see he just got ‘engaged’ to a pretty latina?

[Norman Bates]

Unless I'm mistaken that was the courts that pushed for homosexual marriage. I've already said I disagreed with his health care but at the same time it is not government run care, it is simply (and wrongly) mandated private care. Yes, there were abortions in it and that was wrong too but that was inserted by the veto-proof Massachusetts legislature. As for the last thing, that was no different than what Mr. Bush, the senior, said. Yes, it again was wrong, I disagree with it.