McCain Could Lose Conservatives Over VP Pick
By Don | August 14, 2008
John McCain who has struggled to lure conservatives to his campaign may be about to put the final nail in the coffin after saying that he wouldn't be averse to a pro-choice running mate. From the Politico. In some of his most expansive comments on selecting a running mate, John McCain told the Weekly Standard's Steve Hayes in an interview today that he was open to the prospect of a vice presidential candidate who supports abortion rights, specifically mentioning former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. "I think that the pro-life position is one of the important aspects or fundamentals of the Republican Party," McCain said. "And I also feel that — and I'm not trying to equivocate here — that Americans want us to work together. You know, Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don't think that that would necessarily rule Tom Ridge out." You would think that McCain would realize that he needs to shore up his support among the conservatives and not give them another reason to stay home or vote for a third-party candidate. But maybe he doesn't really care.
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I’d have to agree. There would probably be a lot of conservatives that vote for a 3rd Party or not at all and they will loose the election and the MUST make a good VP choice.
Further infuriating the already-seething Republican right-wing base, John McCain is has been dropping the name of Tom Ridge as his vice presidential running mate. Tom Ridge? The abortion-rights supporting former ex-governor of reliably Democratic and blue collar Pennsylvania?
Let’s get a rundown on the guy who might inadvertently tip the scales for Barack Obama: http://www.236.com/news/2008/08/14/i_want_to_be_number_two_tom_ri_8288.php
This would be the deathknell for McCains’ presidential aspirations. He will lose the evangelical and hard right vote and that will give Obama enough impetus to gain the White House in November.
Why doesn’t ScienceDada like Romney? He’s pro life, just as his denomination is strongly pro life. The only reason he was ever pro choice was because he knew he could’t win in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts unless he was. It’s a change of position, but all the candidates have changed positions on lots of things. I think pro-life and a real conservative agenda is the real Mitt Romney. I’m not a Mormon, by the way, but I do support Mitt.
I believe Gov. Romney will be one of America’s truer Conservative on the social as well as the fiscal issues, and our GOP needs another true Conservative since Ronald Reagan. Matt Romney will support “all” pro life issues, the marriage legislation of one man with one wife, along with “all” other social issues. Additionally, Romney will work to rebuild our manufacturing structure.
This would be a maverick move that would just destroy any shred of hopes that McCain has to become the president. He needs to be careful about making comments such as he just did. Indeed, his pick of a VP who supports abortion will make his numbers plunging way, way down within one week. Don’t lose it, Mac. Your best chance is to get somebody like Romney. All polls the past two months show him to be the overwhelming VP choice. He will make you a winner.
I hate to say it but far too many Americans have a less than positive opinion of the Mormon faith. That is unfortunate, but a fact none the less. I think Romney would be a great president but for the fact that he has and would trade his convictions for votes. Sorry, but that is also a fact. Would his business accumen help with fiscal policy? I would have said yes until I saw the abysmal healthcare policy he enacted, and the devastating results of that mistake. Again, he traded conviction for votes.
When Mitt Romney says that he supports Judeo-Christian values, I as a born-again Christian, certainly believe him in every respect. Romney will be a true Conservative Republicans will learn to totally trust and love. What a win for us as practicing Christians to win with Mitt Romney! What I fail to understand is how and why anyone of the Jewish Faith can consider supporting Obama whom definitely support the more radical Islamic Arab world.
I believe Oscar and Old Blue 64 above have it right about Mitt Romney. If McCain is to be successful in stopping the bleeding among the Republican party and among conservatives, the top name among the recent field of high-profile possibilities has to be Romney. Every one of the choices has some kind of baggage that can be nitpicked out. Every one of them has had a policy choice or change that is objectionable to someone. However, Romney emerges as the clear choice to put a new bandage on the wounds fragmenting the Republican Party and the conservative base. He has the chief executive experience, the fiscal sharpness desperately needed, the true conservative values and vision, the youth and vigor for campaigning, and he can easily be seen as the next President following McCain.
The main goal, which sometimes seems to be lost on the conservatives that so blindly dig in on a particular issue (to their own detriment in the end), is to defeat BHO in the election. I understand the sentiment of making the statement of voting for a third party. I understand conservatives’ dissatisfaction with McCain. However, do conservatives actually want to win elections, or do they want to keep losing by infighting and resting on disunified statements until they no longer have a prayer? It’s thoroughly irritating!
Also, someone explain to me the logic and the benefit of not voting…please! I am astounded when I hear all the obvious reasons to not vote for BHO on one hand, then hear on the other hand that people won’t vote at all because they don’t like McCain or his choice of VP. You’d think anyone older than a fifth grader could understand the flaws in that logic! Conservatives don’t want BHO elected, but they will yell and scream and then not vote at all because of the VP choice, giving the opposition that much more of an advantage. It’s absolutely unbelievable that some people think that way, and it plays right into the hands of those that claim that this is becoming a nation of apathetic morons! Such a nation is ripe for the picking for the socialists and special interest tyranny.
It’s time to get (it) together, people. Flood McCain’s e-mail and phone lines, and tell his campaign to choose Romney as running mate. He must hear the people’s voice loud and clear! If you have to hold your nose while you vote in November because you have some ill-founded and uninformed hangup about Mormonism or something else, that’s your problem. Romeny is a Christian with true Christian values. How is that not good enough? Romney’s positives far, far outweigh any collection of negatives that could be mentioned. His popularity seemed to rise even more just after his concession speech in the primaries. Maybe conservatives woke up then and realized they messed up by not voting for him in large enough numbers. We must demand that McCain repair the damage by choosing Romney.
McCain/Romney ‘08!
I think McCain is on a loosing roller coaster headed down fast if he picks Ridge, Guliani, or Romney. He just doesn’t get it.
ScienceDada has it right. Being Pro-Life is a lot more than a choice it’s a core value. I couldn’t vote for a pro-abortion person and face God.
As for Romney, he has changed his position on so many things I’m getting dizzy trying to keep up. He truly is an example of a politician who sticks his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing.
However he did take one disturbing stand as for as I’m concerned. He said he would help to re-instate the so call assault weapons ban (the Clinton Gun Ban) the same as Ms. Clinton and Obama./
What none of you have mentioned is “the elephant in the room”: the Invasion by Mexico, otherwise known as illegal immigration. Many anti-Invasion conservatives will not be voting for McCain and those leaning towards McCain will stay home or vote for Pastor Chuck Baldwin if McCain picks Ridge. No one here mentioned it, but Ridge was a complete and utter failure as DHS Secretary. He presided over our security while the biggest wave of illegals broke into the U.S. Don’t believe the bogus left-wing Pew figure of 12 million—there are 35-40 million in the U.S., half of them in California and they’re bankrupting that state and will others. 5,000 to 10,000 continue to break into the U.S. for our jobs and for freebies—freebies to them, not to the U.S. taxpayer (Most illegals don’t pay taxes, live on WIC and other welfare and are thus a monumental drain on the economy). At least 25 Americans are killed (accidents caused by illegals) or murdered by illegals every day. Think about it! Do YOU want President Ridge in 2012? I didn’t think so.
If McCain passes up Romney who is the only choice other than Gov. Jindal (who has withdrawn his name, supposedly) that would be acceptable to conservatives, he is committing political suicide. And don’t forget—Ridge was unable to carry PA for Bush in 2004.
August 14 at 9:49 am | #1 | Link
Many that I know didn’t want to vote for McCain to begin with, but we would vote against Obama. While McCain may not have a litmus test, many voters do… and the litmus test is the abortion stand.
If McCain and Co. do not make a good VP pick, they are throwing away the election. This includes Ridge, Guliani, or Romney.