Limbaugh to McCain: A pro-choice VP guarantees defeat; Update: Lieberman “very much in the mix,” say McCain advisors; Update: McCain “got the message,” says RNC; Update: It’s Ridge, says (unreliable?) CNN source
posted at 3:21 pm on August 19, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Assorted quotes from today’s show via Halperin, the choicest of which is this:
The drive-bys are just hoping for this. They are just hoping for it because they know it’s not just a few loud mouths in the base. They know the base will totally turn on McCain if this is the case… it’s about trying to persuade McCain to make a decision that will ensure his defeat…
What is this about picking a liberal Democrat or a liberal Republican? McCain has already seen to it that he can walk across the aisle that he’s the top of the ticket. If anybody is going to attract moderates it’s going to be the top of the ticket guy. He’s not going to help himself any additional way, he’s going to hurt himself by putting a liberal or a liberal Republican on this ticket, particularly pro-choice.
Call this “DefCon 2.” If not for Lowry claiming last night that McCain’s sounding people out about a pro-choicer, I’d never have believed he’s considering it. As it is, K-Lo’s now hearing that Ridge is out and, as I said earlier, Rudy’s been off the radar for so long and brings so little to the ticket that I have to believe he’s out too. That leaves Lieberman, who’s (a) part of Maverick’s inner circle, (b) only yesterday made some noise about reversing his opinion on Sam Alito, (c) has been featured in McCain web ads that look oddly like what you’d expect an ad for a ticket to look like, (d) has been teasing the media for weeks about attending the GOP convention, (e) given his hawkishness, is the very best McCain could do if he’s aiming — futilely — to build a fusion ticket that might be acceptable both to centrists and the base, and (f) would be the most self-consciously, ostentatiously Maverick-y choice McCain could make, which doubtless holds enormous appeal for him for precisely that reason. I have to say, I’m a little worried. Follow the link to Halperin and you’ll see Limbaugh’s worried too.
Other VP odds and ends: An ad agency snooping around through domain names finds an interesting detail about obamasebelius.com; my own domain snooping about mccainpalin.com reveals a mystery registrant as well, but it’s probably just a Palin fan unconnected to the campaign since the site was reserved in late January; and finally, Barry O’s likely first appearance with his VP will be in Springfield, Illinois. His home state, of course — and the home state of Her Majesty, too. Hmmm.
Update: Just across at Politico. Gulp.
John McCain is seriously considering choosing a pro-abortion-rights running mate despite vocal resistance from conservatives, with former Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) very much in the mix, close McCain advisers say…
Multiple GOP sources say that party officials in Washington and in the states have been contacted by the McCain campaign in the past two weeks and asked about the fallout from such a choice. One person familiar with the calls said the party was being instructed to prepare for different candidate prototypes — including one in the mold of Lieberman, who is an independent but still caucuses with the Democrats…
GOP sources say McCain and his close friend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) still haven’t given up hope on making what some believe would be a game-changing decision by tapping Lieberman…
“It would fit well into the narrative of his not having any politics in the White House,” said the source. “No more Dick Morris, no more Karl Rove — we’re governing here. It’s an easy, natural message for McCain and it implies a one-term pledge without actually saying it.”
As for the inevitable blowback from the right, this person acknowledged the convention would be “a messy week,” representing a “shock to the system of a pro-life party.”
Follow the link for dire assessments galore from social cons. Exit quotation from ACU President David Keene: “Lieberman would blow things up.”
Update: Reassurance from the RNC by way of Fox News: “Several sources at the RNC told FOX News that in the last 36 hours, senior McCain advisers and aides have told RNC officials that McCain ‘got the message’ last week that choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights would not be helpful.”
Update: Into the hall of mirrors we go! Now this from CNN: “Several campaign officials say they do not believe a final decision has been made – though two sources say McCain may have already decided, and told only Davis. One party insider tells CNN that Davis has called several state party chairs indicating Ridge will be the Republican vice presidential pick this cycle – although it is possible that Christian conservatives may be playing up the former governor’s chances in an effort to raise alarm and prematurely kill off his candidacy.”
Update: I should have mentioned in the Politico update that they’re hearing Ridge is still in the mix, too. What to make of all the back and forth here? I can only guess that McCain is considering him and Lieberman, that social cons in the know are nervous about it and trying to scare McCain straight by raising the alarm now, and that the RNC’s in damage control mode publicly while privately they’re staging an intervention. Alternate theories?
Update: No, wait — it’s Meg Whitman! (Who?)
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Wow what insight! Joe Lieberman is still very liberal on social issues including abortion. He may be a good friend of McCain and his liberal agenda, he may be a good guy, but McCain needs friends in his own party. Picking Lieberman isn’t the way to do that. You’d understand that if you weren’t so in the tank for McCain you could look at this rationally.
highhopes on August 19, 2008 at 9:06 PM
I am so looking forward to the day when the person who won the republican primary, John McCain wins over Barack Obama. And the mighty hopandchange democrat will have to go back to his day job. I know there will be a lot of hearts broken, but none so much more as the little blackened hearts as the poor, poor disgruntled worms such as highhopes, who will cry in their beers for 4 years - wishing and dreaming of “what-if’s”. I hope they seek medical help for their impending nervous breakdown at teh evil traitor McCain at the total devastation that he will bring to the republican party and the ultimate destruction of the conservative movement …. that will never happen.
It’s going to be epic.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Either this is one brilliant headfake and it’s the least-mentioned candidate (Palin!), or McCain is so far up his own vanity (or Graham’s) that he thinks the Lieberman insanity makes sense.
I know what I’m betting on.
someone on August 19, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Wow so I’m a poor disgruntled worm? You are so wrong it isn’t even funny but why waste my time? You really need to get perspective and stop being a mindless drone for McCain. If he wins in November, you will have to spend the next four years defending every little action he takes that conservatives disagree with because you are his champion now. Looking forward to your spirited defense of amnesty, lack of action on abortion, increasing federal spending on embryonic stem cells and all the other stuff the GOP is nominally against. Rest assured I will nail you to the wall if you ever EVER express criticism of McCain then when you refuse to do so now. You bought this candidate. You bear some responsiblity for anything he does because by your unquestioning and uncritical support even to the point of defending the idea of selecting a pro-murder running mate! Wake up and smell the reality!
highhopes on August 19, 2008 at 9:23 PM
I became very stoked about a McCain presidency and have been surfing his website for t-shirts and bumper stickers, but if he chooses a pro-choice candidate, I’m cancelling the order. This a no brainer. He needs a Mitt Romney. Let’s face it, we’ll vote for him no matter what but the magnitude of disappointment many of us will feel if he chooses Lieberman or some other pro-choicer.
I hope his camp really has gotten the message. He is so strong on issues like national defense and foreign policy that he can draw in independents and won’t compromise their support.
Amy Proctor on August 19, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Naw, we didn’t… the mainstream media did it.
electric-rascal on August 19, 2008 at 9:39 PM
I didn’t vote for McCain when the primary came to my state. I’m just supporting the guy who won with the most votes and will now face a democrat in a two man race where one is guaranteed to win, and the other loose.
Who are you going to be supporting? Or, in other words, who (knowing that one has to win) will you hope to loose? You can answer that question be simply replying “Obama” or “McCain.” Should be easy enough of a question for you.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Yep. An independent liberal Democrat. Who strays from the party line on exactly one issue: America’s continued survival.
There’s no way McCain would consider a liberal Democrat running mate, just like there’s no way he’d consider switching to the Democrat Party, just like there’s no way he’d consider being the running mate of John Effing Kerry.
Right?
This is a perfect example of your nuanced thinking, _man: “He’s an independent. See the I after his name? And John McCain is a Republican. See the R after his name?”
misterpeasea on August 19, 2008 at 10:13 PM
How did I overlook this gem:“even to the point of defending the idea of selecting a pro-murder running mate! Wake up and smell the reality!”You do know that Obama, You know, the other guy running for office in this two man race, voted twice to defend infanticide? But by all means, let’s talk about McCain’s “pro-murder running mate” who hasn’t even been announced yet.
.. something about wake up and logic are in order, I think.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 10:14 PM
After such a strong statement at Saddleback, a pro-choice vp pick would demonstrate a greater ability to compromise than Obama’s pick will. Anyways, the only things the President contributes to abortion policy are judicial nominations, and with Ted Olson and Fred Thompson on McCain’s judicial advisary committee, his veep’s position is irrelevant. Of course, I was a Giuliani fan before, so I’d support him as veep too. But that probably won’t happen. I think Leiberman would be fine, probably better than Pawlenty. I supported Palin until her intrade numbers fell beyond recovery. I don’t think Romney or Ridge contributes anything meaningful to the ticket, so it’ll probably be Pawlenty.
JohnJ on August 19, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Oh, you are so right, misterpeasea!
I heard that he was Kerry’s VP three times. Is that right? Maybe it was you who told me, as a matter of fact. I don’t know how that Edwards guy got in between them and broke up the romance between Kerry and McCain. It was quite the three-way before McCain was kicked to the curb.
What a heartbreaker that Edwards is!/
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 10:19 PM
If he chooses a liberal, he will be making the same mistake that Bush has been making since Day 1: spend like a liberal, make war like a liberal, then watch your budget and your war and your legacy die.
The base stuck by him only by a hair in 2004. Meanwhile, has he won the liberals over? Do you know any moderate or liberal who voted for him? Does the NYT like him now?
I wouldn’t count on the base sticking by the GOP. I’m a moderate and I would have to consider sitting this one out. Obama would win anyway, and we would be sending a message to the GOP that we go along with this sellout of basic principles if we voted for a liberal VP ticket.
PattyJ on August 19, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Yup. Much better to let Obama win and try again in 4 years. Sounds like a plan. Besides, By not supporting this liberal McCain, and letting the more liberal Obama win, then we are all but guaranteed to get a more conservative president in 4 years!/
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 10:46 PM
I thought his choice for VP was almost assuredly going to be Biden.
Oooops, sorry…..
…that was the other idiot.
seanrobins on August 19, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Does he really need to “get the message”? He should just know this stuff. It’s common sense!
This is truly worrisome. Is this how McCain’s going to act as president?
amkun on August 20, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Don’t like it. It’s like taking a field goal off the scoreboard to try for a touchdown. Let’s not take points off the scoreboard. McCain is teachable.
Mojave Mark on August 20, 2008 at 1:45 AM
Just like he got the message on amnesty right? Where’s Juan Hernandez again? Backdoor John is just running the numbers; if he thinks he can do it without the right, the middle fingers will come out.
Are you really this stupid or are you trying the Napoleon Dynamite thing? He can call himself mashed potatoes; look at his voting record. He is a liberal. He does not have anything in common with the Republican Party beyond his support for the war. Nothing wrong with him other than that; he’s a stand up guy. But he’s not a Republican and he doesn’t deserve to be considered for our VP nominee. Not to mention how easy it would be to belittle our entire party if he was chosen over so many qualified people. It plays right into the media narrative that our party is corrupt and intellectually bankrupt.
You’ve heard the expression ‘blind loyalty’ whizzman? Open your eyes and start using your brain for something besides John McCain’s theraputic seat cushion.
austinnelly on August 20, 2008 at 1:48 AM
You don’t honestly believe that do you? He took a beating on amnesty in 2007 and turned around and hired an open borders guy to work on his campaign. We have $4.00 a gallon gas, and he’s only offered verbal support to drilling; he hasn’t backed off ANWR; and this is during the election season where he should be trying to cultivate good feelings. He’s offered virtually nothing to reassure his critics on those issues; what do you think he’s going to do when he’s safe in office? Why do you think he’s campaigning so heavily to the left? We are going to have no control over him once he’s in office. Why do you think so many people are resisting voting for him? The only thing McCain has ‘learned’ from his voters is that he was able to screw and betray his own party for 8 years, and for that we promoted him. Expect more of the same.
austinnelly on August 20, 2008 at 1:53 AM
It looks like McCain is looking for a reason to not to win.
Johan Klaus on August 20, 2008 at 2:45 AM
And you can call a steaming pile of horse manure rose food too, but it doesnt change the fact it’s a steaming pile of horse manure.
Lieberman is a liberal, pro-abortion democrat, period. Keep this stuff up, McCain, and you’ll be congratulating President Obama and pledging him your support in your concession speech election night.
abcurtis on August 20, 2008 at 7:47 AM
I pretty much think the same thing.
abcurtis on August 20, 2008 at 7:47 AM
Wow, that’ll get his attention. I hope he takes that seriously.
abcurtis on August 20, 2008 at 7:56 AM
No WE wont.
Having said that, I dont have a mouse in my pocket and I cant speak for anybody here. I’m not committed to McCain, and this isnt helping. Maybe this country needs four years of Obama so maybe a real conservative Republican will come out of the ashes of this country and get it back on track. As long as RNC keeps putting up “reach across the aisle” mavericks, they will continue to loose. I dont want bipartisanship, I want a true conservative that will protect this country against the socialist democrats. I dont see McCain doing that.
abcurtis on August 20, 2008 at 8:19 AM
Hmmm… Lieberman was pro-life wasn’t he? Before he ran as Gore’s VP and there was insistence that he promote a pro-choice position?
Not saying that Lieberman is a good idea, but there is a strong probability that he is actually pro-life.
Granted I want more than probabilities- I’m just pointing out the Lieberman will probably be more friendly to the pro-life position then an adamant pro-choice Republican.
Sackett on August 20, 2008 at 9:10 AM
If McCain picks a pro-choice VP running mate, it will prove he did not mean what he said at the Saddleback Conference, and I’d question his resolve in picking judges.
One of the best debates we could have had a few years ago was Lieberman as Gore’s VP nominee vs. Lieberman’s record prior to becoming his running mate.
Bob Barr is starting to look really good right now.
golfer1 on August 20, 2008 at 9:51 AM
He also stands a really great chance of winning, too.
wise_man on August 20, 2008 at 10:35 AM
I am so glad I called a NO VOTE for McCain early on. I don’t look so wrong after all.
Sensei Ern on August 20, 2008 at 10:36 AM
If he picks pro-life, the roof may cave in on Obama.
The wind has gone from the sails of the Obamatons this morning.
drjohn on August 20, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Watch out for (not in the least) wise_man. He’s going to call you an Obama supporter. He’s going to question your patriotism. He’s essentially going to proclaim that you are the scum of the earth for not shutting up and supporting McCain with every fiber of your being.
highhopes on August 20, 2008 at 11:04 AM
From The CarpetBaggerReport
August 11th, 2008
Joe Lieberman, whose recent partisan conduct has been wearing on the nerves of congressional Democrats, no doubt realizes that he’s burnt some bridges with his former party. Lieberman is also no doubt aware of the fact that if the Senate Democratic caucus grows next year, which is likely, the chances of him remaining as a committee chairman are exceedingly small.
So, for the first time in a long while, he’s trying to increase some Democratic goodwill — by buying it.
Money can’t buy him love, but John McCain-backing Joe Lieberman is hoping a little cash will diffuse Democrats’ anger towards him — and help him keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Public Works Committee.
After forking over $100,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee last year, the Connecticut Democrat-turned-independent has written a second $100,000 check to DSCC Chairman Chuck Schumer in recent days, according to a people familiar with the situation.
“Basically, he doesn’t want everybody to hate him,” one Lieberman-friendly Democrat said. “Plus he wants to keep his committee.”
~~~
How could McCain possibly pick a man who had done this?
Akzed on August 20, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Good question. Likewise, why is this man speaking at the RNC convention?
highhopes on August 20, 2008 at 12:08 PM
I am a strong supporter of McCain but what you just wrote and how you addressed high hopes - a regular poster - is just plain nasty and really inappropriate.
I have been slandered here for supporting John McCain time and again while being called an Obama supporter, Rush_baby came to my aid on one nasty occassion.
I will now return that good will and karma and come to another regular poster’s defense who has been called a poor disgruntled worm with a blackened heart.
Stop the silly name calling, please do not emulate the bad behavior of the Far Right Fringe, that’s all they have is nasty name calling and the need to humiliate someone, the GOP is better than this.
John Mccain will win based on the issues despite what the Far Right and Far Left want and need.
AprilOrit on August 20, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Being a partial pro-lifer (to clarify - no late 2nd/3rd trimester abortions unless the mother’s life is at risk, no partial birth, etc), I am somewhat concerned about having a totally pro-choice candidate on the ticket.
Having an utterly liberal Democrat (except for one issue) and Algore’s former veep candidate on the ticket REALLY bugs me.
If McCain picks a slightly pro-choice candidate but he is a conservative in every other way, I am a lot more at ease with that. If something were to happen to McCain, in all likelihood extending abortion rights wouldn’t be his number 1 priority; with a very liberal guy in the veep slot, there’s all sorts of damage he can do, but hey, we’ll stay in Iraq! That’s great, but not good enough. There’s no dearth of great guys who can be put in the veep slot who are solid on more than one issue.
linlithgow on August 20, 2008 at 2:29 PM
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