Aug 19 2008
Wild Card McCain VP Candidates
If John McCain wants to neutralize Barrack Obama’s appeal and reach out to social conservatives the best selection out there is former Oklahoma Congressman JC Watts.
JC Watts is one of the most articulate members of the conservative coalition, and he is a stalwart social conservative. He reminds me a lot of George W Bush. He is a strong family man, is not abashed about his religious beliefs, has a cool head and speaks to America’s finest qualities.
My other wild card selection is Micheal Steele, former Lt. Governor of MD. Â
Steele would put the stalwart democrat state of MD in play, and appeal to a lot of voters here in nearby VA. Steele is also a darling of the social conservatives, and ran some of the finest political ads I have ever seen when he ran for Governor of MD.
And yes, both gentlemen are African Americans. One thing America needs to recognize is the desire of African Americans to achieve another milestone in integrating into America. These two men create waves of admiration on the right because of their sheer talent and accomplishments. The now tattered Obama would pale in comparison, because they are men of conviction – not of polls.
Anyway, I toss these two wild cards out as people John McCain should strongly consider for his VP selection. It is time conservatives. It is not bad for conservatives to tap into their conservative African American leaders in this nation to demonstrate that we too appreciate that key element of our society and recognize what they bring to the table of ideas.
I like both of these guys, especially Michael. The Dems have called them every derogatory name in the book. It would be interesting to see how that would work out, the name calling running against Obama. I also have to believe Pulin is a real contender. McCain doesn’t need a heavy weight, a softer image may be a plus.
Interesting choices, but I really feel it’s going to be Tom Ridge.
I also like both of them, but I don’t think either would be a good pick. For one thing, J.C. Watts has told reporters that he’s probably going to vote for Obama, and has offered no support for McCain. That puts him far behind someone like Liebermann, who strongly and personally supports McCain. This points up the problem with either of these picks. I hate to focus on identity politics but the nomination of Obama has made that a necessity.
Obama is going to get 95% of the black vote no matter what McCain does. That’s why even JC Watts is going to vote for him. Every poll shows that, and to believe anything else is delusion. It is simply a bad, bad strategy to waste an important strategic pick on a group from which you will get absolutely zero support. Did Clarence Thomas get Bush 1 any black voting support? Did Condaleeza Rice? You know the answer to that. Steele and Watts sound good, but they will do nothing for McCain. I know that black republicans complain of the Republican party writing that group off, but it’s a logical, if hard choice to make when you lose 90% of a groups votes no matter what you do. Efforts need to be made in areas where those efforts will pay off.
McCain needs a strong VP who can help carry 1 or 2 battleground states. (That’s also what Obama needs, and is why Biden would be a very poor pick for him)
My money is on Tim Pawlenty. Similar to Ridge, without the pro-choice baggage.
Michael Steele. On principal… Every time I see him speak, I end up wondering what the voters of Maryland could have been thinking when they failed to elect him to the Senate. Strategy WWS? … I believe Mr. Steele would tend to draw votes away from Sen. O in every category based on comparisons between the two men. I’d bet you that Sen. O will NEVER dare to be photographed in the same picture with Michael Steele.
While I personally think both would be great picks, I was concerned when I recently read an interview of JC when he said he would likely vote for Obama. It makes you question his strict social conservativism that he would vote for the most liberal leftist available. but I’m voting for McCain, regardless of his vp selection.
Point is, no matter how good Steele sounded and how much you liked him black voters wouldn’t vote for him. Not even against a white guy! That’s what the Maryland voters were thinking – black republicans do not get votes. Not now, not ever. Blacks vote for a white dem grudgingly or a black dem overwhelmingly, but they do not vote republican. (show me a single recent election that has ever violated this rule) In the Maryland senate race, there was a brilliant, articulate black Republican running against a boring, generic, white Democrat – the Dem won by 10 points. Would Steele carry his home state of Maryland for McCain? You know the answer is no. That’s what a veep needs to do or else the pick has been wasted. Remember how Alan Keyes did in his senate race? It was embarrasing. Veep picks need to be someone who has a record of winning, not a recycle pick out of yesterday’s loser bin.
Also, I think McCain could get the same amount of mileage out of Steele by pre-announcing that Steele will take an important cabinet post. I believe Steele’s not doing anything at the moment.
First I don’t think o is going to get as many black votes as is expected. Conservative blacks are not for him.
However, i don’t think they will automatically vote for McCain.
McCain needs to pick whomever HE is comfortable with, not a political choice, imho. Someone HE feels would be good to lead the country should something happen to him and who will follow his lead…
I would support Mr. Steele without hesitation. I have listened to the man speak on many occasions and believe he would be great for this country in any capacity in which he might be called upon to serve. I am not familiar with Mr. Watts so I can not speak with any degree of personal knowledge.
Sorry, AJ, but you’re tactically wrong. Obama has the African-American vote locked up…both because of his party and his race. McCain’s best bet is to pick a woman VP, capitalizing on the resentment many Clinton supporters harbor toward Obama. Personally, I favor Gov. Palin of Alaska. Her conservative credentials are impeccable, and she has a solid record as a reformer – a perfect fit for McCain.
Steele? I look forward to making him Governor of Maryland in two years time…and President in 2016 or 2020.
Mike M.
Obama doesn’t have the AA vote locked up if he has an AA VP.
I can careless what color they are. I think Steele would be a great pick. Everytime I hear him I am wondering whyhedid not run for President himself.
J.C. Watts would have been a great pick before his statement about votingfor Obama. I reallydo not what he is doing there.
He is something else to ponder. McCain is going to reveal his pick on the 29 and it will be in Ohio. Kasich might be the pick. And I think he would be an excelllent choice also.
Dear AJ,
Excellent suggestion. I prefer Steele. This race is shaping up a I thought it would. I feel very confident that McCain will win handily. He really doesn’t need a VP pick to please any particular constituency.
One of my fondest dreams is that this election, which is the pinnacle of control by the left, will vanquish those demons so that the Democratic Party has a chance to return to its former greatness. We need them for a healthy democracy.
My fear is that we will see a refrain of 2000 – the stolen election. The left will say, and say, and say that they only lost because of racism. Not true, but it is a poisonous mantra.
Regards,
Roy