Ramesh Ponnuru on McCain’s Veep choice
Not about who, but how McCain needs to handle differences of position between himself and a potential more conservative running mate. His advice is very wise, I think.
In 2000, Joe Lieberman had to move left on school choice, Social Security, and affirmative action to get on the Democratic ticket. After his shift in positions, he was aligned both with Al Gore, the presidential nominee, and with his party. McCain’s choice is going to be trickier, since on several issues he himself is not in alignment with his party. If he picks a vice-presidential nominee from the conservative end of the party, should he make that nominee profess agreement with him on global warming, immigration, stem cells, and the like?
I think the answer to that question is a clear “no.” For one thing, there would be no point in picking someone conservatives like while forcing him to abandon the positions that made conservatives like him in the first place. It might even make conservatives less supportive of a McCain candidacy if they think he is trying to remake the party in his image. It would, in addition, make it hard for McCain to continue running as a man who values integrity and conviction. It would make it harder for McCain to attract a running mate to begin with. A conservative politician is not going to want to tack left to win McCain’s favor and then, if the ticket loses, move back right to realign himself with the Republican base for future elections. It could even, somewhat paradoxically, undercut McCain’s case that he is a maverick Republican if he insists on making other Republicans conform to his views.
By far the better course, if McCain picks a running mate who is to his right on these issues, would be for that vice-presidential nominee to emphasize those issues where they agree but forthrightly admit to their disagreements. The veep nominee could say that he understands that President McCain will call the shots in his administration but that he will feel free to offer the president his own views in private.
Click here to read it all.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Thanks, David. Mr. Ponnuru makes some great points.
Regarding the second to last paragraph of this article.
[Immigration is an intensely divisive issue among Republicans. But it should not be all that difficult for a McCain running mate to handle. There are scores of Republicans who could say something like the following while doing no violence to their records: “Like Senator McCain, I support getting control of our borders, meeting our economic needs, and treating all people humanely. I did not think that the bill he promoted got the balance exactly right, but I salute him for showing leadership on this issue and I trust his judgment on it more than I do that of Senator Obama, who says that illegal immigrants should have driver’s licenses.”]
IMHO, if ROMNEY is McCain’s VP choice: Mitt would have to tweak this paragraph. The line “… treating all people humanely” is often interpreted to mean that anyone who supports deporting illegals is inhumane. If Romney spoke those words, he would be open to more “flip-flop” flap. Romney is a kind and caring man who believes in the rule of law. His position of deporting illegals IS humane to American citizens who are here legally and to those who want to enter our borders through the legal process. Also, instead of saying “…I trust his (McCain’s) judgment on it more than I do that of Senator Obama…” Romney could say “I like the build-a-fence McCain stance more than I do that of Senator Obama, who says that illegal immigrants should have driver’s licenses.”
Look who’s on top of the list on today’s CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/18/politics/horserace/entry4189219.shtml
Romney! Romney! Romney!
June 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Romney! Romney! Romney! I couldn’t agree more. Thats because Karl Rove and New Gingrich have encouraged Romney for the VP spot. I am sure President Bush has even talked to McCain Privately about his choice (though no one is going to mention that) and we all know that the Bush’s like The Romney’s.
I am hopeful, but cautiously so. I have learned never to take anything for granted in a campaign.
June 21st, 2008 at 7:09 am
2thepoint & Sarah:
I’m with ya!!! It’s so hard to watch this process. All the while, we know that The Romney’s are First Class. We need moral fiber, a sense of stability, and hope in this next election. Will our hearts be broken again??? Let’s hope for our countries sake, NO!