Veepwatch: Cantor gets vetted
posted at 9:00 am on August 3, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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John McCain’s running mate vetting committee has begun working on readying Rep. Eric Cantor, according to multiple reports out of Washington last night. The Virginia Congressman could energize conservatives and reinforce McCain’s reform message, as well as provide a backstop for a key Republican state that has drifted Democratic of late:
John McCain’s campaign has asked Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor for personal documents as the Republican presidential candidate steps up his search for a running mate, The Associated Press has learned.
Cantor, 45, the chief deputy minority whip in the House, has been mentioned among several Republicans as a possible running mate for McCain. A Republican familiar with the conversations between Cantor and the McCain campaign said Cantor has been asked to turn over documents, but did not know specifically what records were sought. …
Cantor has been a visible McCain surrogate for weeks, appearing frequently on cable news outlets chiefly to promote McCain’s positions on domestic and economic issues. He has been a forceful critic of Democrat Barack Obama’s resistance to lifting the federal ban on oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Cantor could boost McCain on a number of fronts. Cantor has rock-solid conservative credentials and is a favorite of the Republican base. He would also provide a little history as the nation’s second Jewish candidate on a major-party ticket, after Joe Lieberman in 2000, and the first Republican. McCain could hope to make major gains in the Jewish vote, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Barack Obama and his long association with Jeremiah Wright and Trinity United, with their pro-Palestinian rhetoric. Cantor is also young, just 45 years old, and an energetic campaigner.
Cantor also has some drawbacks. McCain would want him to help hold Virginia, but Cantor passed on a shot at John Warner’s Senate seat this year. Some believed that Cantor could not win a statewide election, as Virginia had become too moderate overall for Cantor to compete against Mark Warner. Cantor has never held executive office either, which apparently matters less this cycle than it usually does for presidential elections. He’s been in Congress longer than Obama by four years, but that’s usually not considered enough seasoning for a running mate, again at least until this cycle.
One other drawback exists. Cantor would have to give up his re-election bid for his Congressional seat, and the GOP may not have a candidate ready to replace him. If McCain loses, the House GOP loses an important voice in national politics for at least two years and an important seat in the House, too.
Of course, at this point, all of these little leaks could be nothing more than a smoke screen. McCain (and Obama, for that matter) may want people to believe that he’s searching across a wide spectrum for the best candidate. Cantor could be a game-changer, though. He would be a very good selection to strengthen McCain’s position coming into the convention.
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McCain should soon make a decision on his VP, and say that he’ll run for, and serve, one term only.
Entelechy on August 3, 2008 at 11:03 PM
An even better choice than Flair.
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/481970.html
Ric can serve as Secretary of Stylin’ and Profilin’.
Mr. Wednesday Night on August 4, 2008 at 2:10 AM
Who?
Seixon on August 4, 2008 at 3:08 AM
Palin! But, this guy is better that the other white guys mentioned. Seems like this whole election is about picking the one that is “not as bad as ___”. Alas.
Dingbat63 on August 4, 2008 at 8:30 AM
McCain still has the same problem that has haunted him from the beginning- The liberal who is at the top of the GOP ticket.
Throwing out names of unknown conservatives is supposed to reassure those of us who distrust McCain that he isn’t the same guy who was calling us racist last year for standing up to his amnesty scheme. This strategy isn’t going to get the right wing of the party in line when the candidate himself is out there refusing to consider drilling in ANWR, calling for implementation of the business crushing provisions of Kyoto, his insistence on amnesty in some form, and all the rest of McCain’s liberal agenda.
Senator, you lost the trust of the right wing of the GOP and throwing out names isn’t going to get that trust back. You are a liberal with a liberal agenda. You should have bolted the party in 2004 when you had the chance. You may get conservatives to vote for you as the less evil of two very bad choices but you will never again enjoy the support of those you have betrayed countless times with your left-of-center agenda. No conservative VP running mate is going to get that support back. You squandered it.
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 8:34 AM
You forgot “clean.”
fossten on August 4, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Yup.
Lawrence on August 4, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Before I moved to where I am now, I lived in Rep. Cantor’s district. I had the opportunity to review his record in the VA legislature, and later in Congress
I took that opportunity to not vote for him when the elections came. I chose to not vote for any candidate, “None of the above” not being a positive option, unfortunately.
He is a bit too much of a far-right, robotic, wing nut.
new2wnc on August 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM
“highhopes”
Speak for yourself. You don’t speak for real conservatives.
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 10:46 AM
It’s clear that I was only voicing my own opinion. Sorry I’m not one of you McCain Default Syndrome lackeys. Jerk!
That being said, why is it that you “friends of John” are so damned cranky? Could it be that you resent having to defend McCain’s liberal record? Could it be that you well know that McCain isn’t a conservative and will enact his liberal agenda if elected? I think there’s a lot of truth in this idea. Perhaps you’d be happier if you stopped defending the record of a political traitor! In any case stop being an arrogant jerk.
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 11:12 AM
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 10:46 AM-I’m a real conservative, and highhopes echos my sentiments. As for your dismissive “Speak for yourself.”—who are you? How many people do you imagine you speak for?
Doug on August 4, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I’m a real conservative who doesn’t want to see Barack Obama in the White House with a Democrat Congress.
As opposed to the so-called “conservatives” who want Barack Obama in the White House with a Democrat Congress.
You helped give us a Democrat Congress in 2006 to punish the GOP. The GOP lost a good amount of close races, in part to so-called “conservatives” sitting at home.
How’s that working out?
“Conservatives” who work to put Democrats into the White House and Congress are no better than actual Democrats, in my book.
If you can’t tell there is a huge difference between a patriot and a good man like John McCain and a lying, unaccomplished, far left circus clown like Barack Obama, I’m not wasting my time explaining the difference to you.
But I won’t refrain from berating you for being a key part of the Obama campaign.
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 11:46 AM
–
No, it’s not clear that you were only voicing your own opinion.
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 11:56 AM
It’s not my problem that you have a third-grade level of reading comprehension. Jerk!
I guess thats why you use all that tortured logic to rationalize your unquestioning support of a liberal Democrat like McCain instead of standing up for conservative values.
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Real conservatives wouldn’t prop up McCain by all the lies and propaganda you spew. McCain served honorably in the Navy and should be commended for that but to call him a patriot and good man dismisses all the crap that McWeasel has done in his public career in Congress. He is a untrustworthy political traitor who is unfit for office. His only saving grace is that the other guy is even more unfit for office. That doesn’t mean McCain should get the pass you demand.
It certainly doesn’t give you the right to turn into a snarling jerk whenever anybody has a different opinion about McCain. The fact of the matter is that real conservatives don’t let conservatives vote for McCain!
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 1:28 PM
“Senator, you lost the trust of the right wing of the GOP and throwing out names isn’t going to get that trust back.”
Let’s see, highhopes, you use the above phrase and then write that you were only speaking for yourself.
So do you consider yourself to be the only member of the “right wing of the GOP”?
“It’s not my problem that you have a third-grade level of reading comprehension.”
You are correct and if I had achieved a first-grade level of reading comprehension, I’m sure I would understand why conservatives should want Barack Obama to win the next election.
“It certainly doesn’t give you the right to turn into a snarling jerk whenever anybody has a different opinion about McCain.”
You’re the one who’s snarling. I just pointed out that you don’t speak for the “right wing of the GOP”.
John McCain is an economic conservative and is the national defense candidate. This election is too important to allow anyone from within or without to denigrate the best candidate in the race by far, without response.
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 1:51 PM
It is crystal clear that I was addressing my (singlular) opinion to Senator McCain. You are the idiot who is attempting to turn it into something that it isn’t because I refuse to let you get away with all the lies you spew in defense of McCain. I, unlike you, am a member of the right-wing of the party and I have every right to voice my dissatisfaction with the loser candidate people of your ilk have foisted on the GOP. I will not be silenced in voicing my (singluar) dissastifaction just because people like you are snarling jerks.
There are more issues than the economy and national security. Just because those are the top two in your bitter little world doesn’t mean that they are my priorities. That certainly doesn’t give you the right to attempt to shout down anybody that doesn’t agree with you.
I’ll make this clear. I have every right to voice my opinion and I will not cede that right just because a myopic jerk disagrees! Clear enough for ya? Agree to disagree or shut up but stop telling others that they are not entitled to voice their opinions for no reason than it doesn’t jibe with the fake McCain is a conservative propaganda you continually and uncritically spew.
I can not respect your opinion because you find McCain’s positions without fault. No candidate is that pure. It shows a remarkable lack of intellect to so unquestioningly and rabidly defend McCain as if he were Christ returned to earth.
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 2:16 PM
“It is crystal clear that I was addressing my (singlular) opinion to Senator McCain.”
To you, perhaps. To sane people? Nuance.
“I, unlike you, am a member of the right-wing of the party”
So the right-wing of the party thinks it’s a good idea to lose elections to Democrats. What would we do without you guys?
“I have every right to voice my dissatisfaction”
By writing posts on a website. Who said you don’t, by the way?
“I will not be silenced in voicing my (singluar) dissastifaction just because people like you are snarling jerks.”
Sayeth the snarling jerk.
“That certainly doesn’t give you the right to attempt to shout down anybody that doesn’t agree with you.”
Does this website have audio capabilities? Because apparently my computer is not configured properly.
“Agree to disagree or shut up but stop telling others that they are not entitled to voice their opinions”
Please cite where I have told ANYONE they have no right to post. You are like the liberals who claim the chilling effect when anyone has the audacity to dispute what they are saying.
“I can not respect your opinion because you find McCain’s positions without fault.”
When have I ever said that? He wasn’t my first or second choice, but he’s the best candidate currently in the race. Pining for candidates who had negligible support in the primary is unrealistic. I have no illusions about politicians, they are not infallible and they are not perfect. None of them are. Sometimes, the best you can do is to keep the worst of them out of office.
I will never see the logic behind deliberately trying to lose elections in the vague hope that it will lead to “better” candidates in the future. Losing leads to more losing.
To me, your attitude is what led to the Republicans losing Congress to the Democrats in 2006. At least Democrats who vote for Democrats are consistent. People like you know that Democrats are atrocious candidates and that they are a corrupt party of abject incompetence, how can think that losing another election to them, might not be a bad thing?
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Enough of the lies you snarling jerk! I have never been one of the crowd who wants Obama to win to clear the decks for a real conservative (redux of Carter being necessary to launch Reagan). I have serious objections to McCain which you constantly infer are not valid since we should all be out there supporting McCain. My objections to McCain are deep enough that I am up in the air if I can actually vote for the political traitor but that doesn’t equate into supporting Obama- no matter how much you throw out that bogus reasoning. Again, you are a liar and it’s time you just stop with the lies, propaganda, and arrogance.
In your opinion. Fine, but you are completely uncritical of McCain. Assuming you are telling the truth for a change(iffy assumption), if McCain was your third choice, why is there no issue on which you don’t rabidly defend McCain as the best pick? For you, it all boils down to not electing Obama and you dismiss all the unsavory bits about McCain in the name of electability. If that’s your standard fine but stop telling the rest of us to shut up and support McCain because he isn’t Obama.
I’m not pining for a third choice but I refuse to follow you down the path of pretending that McCain is a conservative Republican and decent human being. He is the least objectionable Democrat running for office. He has betrayed conservative values countless times and his personal vendettas against social conservatives, evangelicals, and individuals like Rumsfeld make him unfit for office no matter how much you act like a jerk in his defense. We might as well be realistic that we are getting a liberal in GOP clothing instead of your fantasy that McCain is a conservative.
A little honesty isn’t out of line from you considering you are demanding we drop all our standards and and values to vote without hesitation for miserable candidate. After all, you’re already demanding we prostitute ourselves and elect an unfit candidate in the name of electability. Acknowledging that people are being asked to act against what is right is far more honorable than your pretense that McCain is without flaws.
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 3:42 PM
“After all, you’re already demanding we prostitute ourselves”
Huh?
There’s a little more drama here than I am comfortable with.
It’s really simple.
A far left President with a far left Congress would be a disaster for this country.
I really don’t want another disaster for this country.
So I dispute anyone who depresses the moral of conservatives.
That’s all. This is a discussion forum.
You can do what you want with your vote. But I’m all about turning out the Republican vote this fall and as long as I’m in this forum, I’ll challenge anyone who I see as working to depress it.
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 3:59 PM
“Again, McCain is the only Republican candidate this strange year who could have won, and a green Obama may be the only Democratic who could have lost.”
Victor David Hanson in the National Review today
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 4:12 PM
You probably mean morale. You are the one depressing the morality of conservatives by your constant demands we shut up and vote for McCain because he isn’t Obama. We get it. You think McCain is the only hope for America. Now stop telling the rest of us that we can’t disagree.
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Given that the Americans have somehow slipped into allowing women to vote, it won’t hurt that Representative Cantor is better-looking than that weird, skeletal thing the Democrats have put up for the Presidency.
Kralizec on August 4, 2008 at 9:30 PM
“You think McCain is the only hope for America. Now stop telling the rest of us that we can’t disagree.”
Never said you can’t disagree. Just dispute you when you run down the only hope of keeping Obama out of the White House this fall.
Or do you see another way of keeping Obama out? Or do you even care that a far-left, anti-American, corrupt incompetent may soon be in the Oval Office?
NoDonkey on August 4, 2008 at 9:43 PM
I stand on conservative principle, not on keeping certain candidates out of office. This may be hard for an amoral jerk like you to understand but, in the long run, standing on principle is far more effective than attacking Obama by propping up an equally unfit candidate like McCain. There is virtually no difference between the two losers on social issues which have far more an effect on society than national security issues. Does it really matter if McCain or Obama delivers amnesty? Does it really matter which of the two liberals nominate SCOTUS justices? NO!
You talking about Obama or McCain because your description could fit either.
highhopes on August 4, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Bolton. Let the left fear the Power of the ‘Stache.
cthulhu on August 5, 2008 at 12:16 AM
“an amoral jerk like you to understand”
As if you know anything at all about me.
I’m glad you’re not on McCain’s side. Or my side.
Miserable cranks we can do without. Please, follow your heart and become a Democrat. We’ll all be happier.
NoDonkey on August 5, 2008 at 8:16 AM
Well, since the real Paul backers would NEVER vote for McCain it is irrelevant who his VP pick is.
Govgirl on August 5, 2008 at 9:26 AM
I think that Cantor was wise not to run against Warner as he is perceived as unbeatable and is known statewide, while Cantor is not. However, there was something else going on here which was avoiding a fight at the convention. Jim Gilmore has made it clear from the beginning he wanted to run and worked to secure a convention over a primary to force out any more moderate candidates (not that Cantor was one of them). A Cantor candidacy would have meant a nasty fight at the state convention and I think the party was trying to avoid that if at all possible this year – they could not afford a split vote amongst the base.
Govgirl on August 5, 2008 at 9:35 AM
You really are a miserable human being. You may have good intentions but your willingness to sacrifice principle for expediency makes you no better than political traitors like Quisling and McCain.
highhopes on August 5, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Just as in 2004, there is only one issue in this election: the physical security of the United States of America. I will therefore stand up for conservative values by voting for John McCain.
However, a prediction: Obama, his supporters,
and the MSM[sorry, that was redundant] will soon attempt to take the national-security issue off the table by declaring that the war in Iraq has been won. I’m already hearing the first rumblings. Mark my words.glendower on August 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM
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