Rudy: McCain Thinks Experience, Not Abortion Views, Should Be Most Important Criterion In Veep Pick
Oh, it's just so great to have Rudy back!
On a conference call with reporters just now set up to attack Obama over his foreign policy adviser's trip to Syria, the pro-choice Rudy basically said that as a "matter of conscience" McCain should choose his Veep not based on his views of abortion but on his national security readiness.
Even more interestingly, Rudy seemed to suggest that he was speaking for McCain on the Veep question.
Rudy said: "I know from talking to John McCain about this" that "our main criteria would be a person that would allow us to sleep at night knowing he could immediately be president."
Asked about the relevance of his pro-choice views to the Veep selection process, Rudy added that a presidential candidate is bound to pick someone as Veep who would "be able to handle" whatever "could happen in the age we live in."
Rudy also seemed to suggest that the Republican Party wouldn't really mind that much if McCain picked someone who is pro-choice.
"It would see to me that the Republican Party is not, as far as I can tell, a one-issue party," Rudy opined, adding that whatever happened, "I believe that the party will support Senator McCain's choice."
No doubt the folks in McCain campaign headquarters really appreciate Rudy's willingness to share McCain's views on these pressing questions.
Late Update: Also, Ben Smith points out that a reporter asking tough questions on the call seemed to have been cut off mid-sentence by the call's organizers.
Go Rudy!
August 20, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is actually a very clever way to rub it in for Obama, reassure the base and still get Lieberman on the ticket to win some swing voters. All rolled into one comment.
August 20, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
trust me it wont work.
New Obama Ad: McCain-Reed-Abramoff
August 20, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
The idiot Malkin held a poll on her site re: McCain choosing a pro-choice candidate. While some of the commenters said that would cause them to stay home in November, most said they'd still vote for McCain because the alternative - Obama - is worse. One and maybe even two commenters actually called McCain a socialist - but still said they would vote for him. With McCain taking the "socialist" title, that turned Obama into the "communist" candidate.
That's the other side - they hate and don't trust McCain but 90+% of them will vote for him. Our side? Obama struggles to break 75%, mostly because of the Hillary deadenders who would be fine with having 2-3 more Sam Alitos appointed to the court just so they can say, "Take that, Obama! Take that, Howard Dean!"
August 20, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the perfect summary of the major difference between the Republican and Democratic party bases. Republicans keep their eyes on the prize, holding the White House, while Democrats pummel each other over who is the better candidate, and forget the longterm implications.
Or, worse, argue that if the country doesn't get the distinction between Republicans and Democrats, it's the Democratic candidate's responsibility.
I tend to think that Hillary Clinton's presidential career is kaput at this point, what with family members meeting with McCain advisors, and Bill Clinton arguing that John McCain is just as good as Obama on the environment.
Can you even imagine a prominent Republican arguing that the Democratic candidate was just as good as the Republican candidate on ANYTHING?
Unfreakingbelievable.
August 20, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess they must be really really hurt then, those deadenders.
But who cares, I'm sure you remember at least several examples when a Republican upstart with no record broke up his own party and everything worked out fine in the end.
August 20, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Clinton supporters who are reaching out to McCain are "breaking up the party", not the candidate.
August 20, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't you see it's YOUR fault that they are having to break up the party. If you had just dumped that empty suit back in November like the Clinton supporters wanted, we'd be ahead by 96 points.
Or that's how I imagine a Clinton deadender would respond.
August 20, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet you see no irony in this exchange we're having here.
Could I remind you that McCain was ridiculed on live TV at this first appearance in front of his base since winning the nomination?
And that he actually worked to win back their support? The comments just on this thread alone are about the care he takes to ensure the support of his base...
Just for the mental comparison, contrast that with the Obama approach to the Clinton supporters.
The sense of entitlement you are displaying is that irony I meant.Amusing that so many things Obama supporters hurled at Clinton during the primaries are creeping back at worst possible time, isn't it.
August 20, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean the dedicated outreach (see website), or incorporating several key members of Clinton's team as part of his team, or bringing Clinton out on the campaign trail, or speaking highly of her and her accomplishments, or you mean giving her the prime speaking spot at the Convention and her husband a spot the next night?
Yeah, I can see your point.
August 20, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lalo, this will no doubt seem rather brusque, but I have no idea what you're talking about when you refer to a "sense of entitlement", or, my missing the irony of the exchange we're having.
I simply don't remember what you're written about in the past--and when I've asked, your responses have been "check the archives", or, more perplexing "I'm not going to take the bait".
As for the Obama approach to Clinton supporters? He's helping to pay off Clinton's debt, although, of course, not fast enough for Clinton supporters. Clinton supporters, on the other hand, are going on Fox News and speaking to major media outlets about the problems that Obama is facing. Again: show me when that has ever happened for Republicans, once the nominee was decided.
You want to turn around and blame Obama for Hillary Clinton's brother meeting with McCain? Go ahead. It's just further proof that Democrats enjoy circular firing squads.
August 20, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
And one other thing: could you be a little more precise when you talk about all the things Obama supporters supposedly hurled at Clinton during the primary?
I was respectful towards Clinton and have defended her repeatedly on this site, so you can just respectfully shut up about the invective I've supposedly been hurling.
August 20, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
To you and to Pubicola:
no, I'm not talking about Clinton herself or her former staff or her husband, ex-President or her family.
I'm talking about her supporters, the actual voters.
Some of them are the biter gun-clinging working class deadenders without Internet access to get the latest talking points.
Back to you.
August 20, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know that he isn't reaching out to those supporters, Lalo--how do you know he isn't? He's holdling town halls for women voters, does that count?
Or is he supposed to call up those Clinton supporters who go on Fox news? Or are Obama supporters just not supposed to mention that Clinton "supporters" are out there publicly agitating for the Republican nominee? Huh?
I guess I have no idea what the point is that you're trying to make.
Because it sure seems to me that you really can't speak for those bitter supporters out there who have no internet connections, know what I mean?
August 20, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are ~ 20% of registered Democrats out there who say they are not sure or will not vote for Obama.
Perhaps there is a difference between reaching out and winning them over?
I don't know how McCain reached out to his base, but he seems to be doing something right. He seems to want the support of his base and to be working to get it.
August 20, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess. McCain still isn't generating much enthusiasm in Republican voters, though, so I'm not sure how successful he's actually been in reaching out to his base, whatever that is.
August 20, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the Republican party is a one-issue party, or at least a party which holds several positions so fervently that if you come out for marriage equality or abortion, you're kicked out.
So let McCain choose a pro-choice running mate, and see if the Evangelical voters come out to vote. I doubt it.
~~~~~~~~~
http://phelpssaveschildren.blogspot.com
August 20, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
A one-issue party? C'mon. Everyone knows it's a three-issue party:
guns
god
gays
August 20, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The 3 g-spots.
August 20, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain camp is just walking back from the statements made at the Saddleback Forum. There is republican pro-choicers afterall, and McCain alienated them in a big way with his response there.
August 20, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republican pro-choicers don't mind their party's pro-life rhetoric. They are still going to vote Republican.
August 20, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seeing this as a positive for McCain just exudes desperation..
August 20, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
And what if Obama picks a pro-life candidate? Will it be like Costanza and world's will collide?
August 20, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kaine is pro-life by faith, but pro-choice when it comes to governing.
August 20, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes - for Republicans it's about how much they fear Obama. They don't even know who McCain is or what he'll do.
August 20, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
And McCain has to keep it that way as long as possible, because when he stops being everything to everybody he'll start bleeding support from one group or another. As long as he's the "Not Obama" candidate he can play is vague pander games with everybody believing he's with them on the issues because he never talks specifics.
August 20, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is no way McCain could get away with picking a pro-choice running mate, least of all Lieberman. The Base would storm St. Paul with pitchforks.
I suspect they're dropping comments like Rudy's so evangelicals feel relieved when McCain announces a typical, conservative, pro-life veep.
August 20, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think McCain wants Ridge actually.
August 20, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would too, if I were McCain, and I'd be tempted to risk the backlash. But McCain has trouble enough with his right flank and can't afford to have a divisive convention or to depress evangelical turnout which, if the race remains tight, could well determine the outcome.
August 20, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Evangelicals were Bush's ground game.
August 20, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Obama's ground game will be impressive:
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=JMS2008081401
August 20, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd risk it too. I think the media would hoist this mega-manly ticket onto its shoulders and carry it to victory.
August 20, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wouldn't it be great if McCain picked Rudy?
Can you just hear the convention speeches now?
McCain - Surge, Surge, Surge
Rudy - 9/11, 9/11, 911
...sounds like a karma sutra aerobics class!
August 20, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the bigger story here is that Guiliani did not mention 9/11....
August 20, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe this a game by mcFuddle to steal away attention from Obama and his VP pick and be in the current news cycle. His base would be lost w/ a pro-choice VP and he isn't going there. No way! ..
August 20, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh I think Republicans know exactly who McCain is. Despite his streaks of maverickiness he's a "go along to get along" party stooge who, as president would basically let his staff run the coutry while he luxuriates in the prestige of being President of the United States.
In other words, just like Reagan and Bush II, a clueless dolt who can be talked into anything.
August 20, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. He just wants to be President. He'll sell his soul, his wife and his children to obtain the White House.
August 20, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain has adopted all of Bushes policies and I'm sure if he were elected, would adopt all of his personnel too. Attack of the Neo-cons, Part II. He really is 4 more years of George Bush!
August 20, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
'the senator wanted the list of speakers to showcase the "diversity" of the Republican Party.
this is from Rick Davis...of the McFuddle campaign!
August 20, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess with the feint that Obama's advisor went to Syria, they are trying to innocculate against the Saakashvili-Schuenmann-McCain blowback that is hopefully on the way. I am convinced that this was a wag the dog military adventure for the benefit of Saakashvili (who was in desperate shape) and McCain. They are just now starting to throw Saakashvili under the bus (see Mike Gerson's piece in the Washington Post today), as they must.
August 20, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
why do Republicans have to pick an anti-choice candidate?
why do Republicans have to pick an anti-choice candidate?
isn't the only way to win elections is to move to the center?
don't you have to upset your base for the all important move to the center?
Or is that only democrats?
August 20, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would argue that until 2000, the general electorate (not the country, but those who vote) was right of center. Largely because of the political gains made by the Reagan administration. George Bush did run to the center in efforts to get elected (remember the compassionate conservatism.)2004 saw a new strategy of forget the electorate at large and just win 51%. So we saw the Karl Rove strategy of gay marriage amendments and Ward Connolly push back on affirmative action amendments on the ballots, to drive out the hard right, 51%. McCain is trying to run this same type of campaign, but in his Mcfuddled mind gets in confused once in a while and does centerist things like identifying John Lewis as 1 of 3 people he would go to for advice.
August 20, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heads up:
This is a huge head fake, folks.
Lieberman is never going to be VP and McCain knows it. It's just a way that McCain can pretend he considered him and is thinking outside the box.
His pick is a orthodox rightwing GOP-appointed Bushie, I'm sure.
August 20, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink