Chatter over Hutchison as possible VP pick gets louder

Houston Chronicle ^

[Bulwinkle]

CRAWFORD — Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's long-shot prospect for vice president is getting a push from conservative and other pundits in the lead-up to next week's Republican National Convention.

The latest flurry of speculation online and on cable television constitutes at least a third or fourth wave of chatter about Hutchison, whose name surfaces occasionally as a possible Republican vice-presidential candidate...

[TommyDale]

I agree. If he picks a pro-abortion VP candidate, he will lose the millions of evangelicals. McCain doesn’t care, he is blinded by the current polls.

[savedbygrace]

Kay Baily Hutchinson leans toward pro choice.

She does more than lean - she IS pro choice, by her own words. There is no doubt or middle ground.

If McCain picks her, he will lose a lot of conservative votes.

[silverleaf]

the snow on the roof crowd is already a lock for McCain (except those in AARP who epitomize BDS)

People will look at McCain’s VP as the person who can and will run this country if aged Senator Mccain sadly becomes incapacitated or dies. With a candidate this old and with his health history, we cannot tolerate a tokenism selection, especially an old one. Would anyone even mention KBH if she was a man?

[pgkdan]

We don’t need two Senators and we especially don’t need two old Senators. McCain is 72 years old...he needs a bona fide conservative who’s young and ready to step in if needed. I don’t see Kay Bailet Hutchison in that light...at all. Nice lady, I’m sure but not what we need right now.

[Coldwater Creek]

Hutchinson is pro-abort. She has no governing experience, and she's old. Not to mention a woman.

[tobyhill]

I'm not a big Hutchison fan but as a VP pick it would be smart. She's a slightly right moderate who has no baggage and did I mention, she's a woman.

[puroresu]

Add Hutchinson to the list of candidates who would add nothing to the McCain campaign, and might even hurt a bit. That list also includes Romney, Powell, Rice, Huckabee, and Lieberman.

McCain needs a bold, younger choice. Cantor, Palin, Steele, or Sanford. Not the guy who came in number two, or a bunch of “moderates” and liberals.

[dennisw]

bs... no hair dye..... I think

[mnehring]

“The Hutchison amendment gives DHS virtually total discretion over how and where the fence is built,” says Grassfire.org President Steve Elliott. “In fact, DHS would not be required to build fencing in any particular location -- and the double-layer mandate is totally gone.”

Not sure I understand this bill. From what I am reading, this would give Homeland Security jurisdiction over the fence. Grassfire says this 'may' allow them to choose not to build it, but that is a 'what-if' game, not actually written in the bill. Wouldn't it be better to have this in the hands of Homeland Secuirty than under the jurisdiction of congressmen whose allegiances change at a whim? Isn't this a Homeland Security issue? Maybe I am reading this wrong, but what Grassfire is saying isn't actually in the bill, they are just saying 'what if'.

[Dysart]

She’s a decent enough lady but doesn’t strike me as the sharpest knife in the chandelier. An obvious consequence of that is she could really drag team McCain down in debates, I’m afraid.

I’d much rather he select a rising star VP candidate. It’s doubtful there is too much to this rumor because McCain’s team has been making all the right moves up to this pt and surely wouldn’t slip up now with this looming critical decision.

[TommyDale]

If McCain wins, it will be because people voted against Obama.

[jagusafr]

Hutchison’s pro-choice. Otherwise, I like most of her positions on the issues of concern and she’s got both legislative and executive experience.

Colonel, USAFR

[Coldwater Creek]

For someone that ALWAYS has so much common sense, you have really missed it this time.

[mnehring]

Kay isn’t pro-abortion, see #32.

[TomGuy]

persuade him that HIS BASE IS NOT SHORED-UP.

Those after-Biden/after-Convention polls showing McCain even or slightly ahead do bode well for Conservatives.

They give McCain the impression that he can still win without playing to the Conservatives. Where else are they going to go anyway?

[I still expect McCain to pick a VP who is an obvious finger-in-the-eye to Conservatives.]

[trisham]

Kay Bailey Hutchison's voting record on Abortion

Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)

Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)

Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)

Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)

Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)

Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)

Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)

Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)

Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)

Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)

Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)

Rated 7% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 75% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)

[poindexter]

Palin would be better.

Good in the future, but too green.

Palin for Sec. of Interior.

[Cyclone59]

Thanks mn, that is what I was going to post.

I do feel that if Mac were to pick a woman he would have this election won!

[Bulwinkle]

cowboyway:”Would definitely get all those pissed off Hillary supporters.”

Would definitely pissed off Hillary!!!!!!!

[9YearLurker]

If McCain wins it will be because he has kept himself acceptable for those who want to vote against Obama—among both our base and moderates.