RNC: McCain Won’t Choose Abortion-Supporting Running Mate

FOXNEWS.com ^ | 8/19/08

[LdSentinal]

As speculation grows around who John McCain will select as his vice presidential running mate next week, Republican National Committee officials said Tuesday that McCain is no longer considering former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

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.

GOP pundits had been vocal in urging the presumptive presidential nominee not to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights. Ridge, the first homeland security secretary, was said to be on McCain’s short list, and the only candidate who explicitly supports abortion rights.

The National Review reported Monday that the McCain campaign has been calling key state Republican officials around the country in recent days to weigh the consequences of picking a candidate who backs abortion rights. The conservative magazine interpreted that as a sign that the McCain campaign is seriously considering Ridge or another abortion rights defender.

“I think it’s a hard sell and I don’t see much upside to Tom Ridge except for John McCain likes him a lot,” National Review Editor Rich Lowry told Fox News Tuesday.

“I don’t think he’s going to be a big benefit in Pennsylvania and even if he is, I think the downside is the rest of the country among conservatives are going to be upset about this, just at the moment they’re beginning to work up being excited about John McCain. ”

Conservative commentator David Limbaugh went even further Tuesday, labeling a McCain-Ridge ticket “political suicide.”

[AuH2ORepublican]

“After that statement, a pro-life VP . . . .”

---

You mistyped there; you meant “a pro-abortion (or pro-choice) VP.”

[LYSandra]

I called the RNC today and said I am holding the letter asking for money for McCain campaign but I am only sending it in if McCain picks a prolife conservative - after I had listened to Rush say they were floating Lieberman’s name. The lady who answered said she would pass message along and took my name. Any one else?

[Beagle8U]

“I think the rumor is that Alaksa takes 75% of the value of a barrel of oil. Don't take my word on it. I am not sure.”

Wrong. Alaska get 75% of the “Royalties” on the oil and the US gov get the other 25%.

Its no more than oil companies pay for drilling on private land.

[airborne]

Has Duncan been vetted?

I honestly don't know.

[avacado]

Thanks for the correction. Are you saying that Alaska out maneuvered the US government in getting a bigger share of the royalties?

[SoConPubbie]

The MSM is taking single quotes and trying to make mountains out of mole hills. NRO probably heard one McCain Adviser say that no one is out of the running until it's announced and then they follow up with something like, “Lieberman?” then the response was “no one”.

OK, well here is John McCain basically saying the same thing as quoted by another conservative web-site, the Weekly Standard:

"I think that the pro-life position is one of the important aspects or fundamentals of the Republican Party," McCain said. "And I also feel that--and I'm not trying to equivocate here--that Americans want us to work together. You know, Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don't think that that would necessarily rule Tom Ridge out."


Research, Research, Research.

And given John McCain's "Maverick" and "Reach-across the aisle" past, why anyone would question the veracity of this type of behavior on the the part of the RINO McCain is beyond me.

[mnehring]

Ping

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

It was a great big town, pop. 6000. She was the freakin’ MAYOR! And she is sooooo hot!

Do I really need to /s it?

[Beagle8U]

Yes, they get a larger share of royalties. They may also get more it taxes but that is a state matter.

[Andy from Chapel Hill]

If Obama picks a male, McCain will run the table if he picks Meg Whitman.

[mnehring]

According to Hannity, the domain name “McCain - Palin 08” has been purchased.

Hannity failed to mention that all the McCain-xx 08 domains have been purchased. Cyber Squatters have been sitting on them for months hoping to cash in.

[seekthetruth]

“You mistyped there; you meant “a pro-abortion (or pro-choice) VP.”

Thank you for pointing that out! Of course I did! Thanks again.

Now hoping for a McCain/Romney ticket and would not mind a McCain/Steel ticket either! Just think Romney would be better at this time. Looking for Michael Steel to be more well known by 2012.

[mnehring]

FREEPER CALL TO ACTION- Just say NO to Pro-Choice VP!
Now is not the time to stop the pressure.

[Texas Songwriter]

Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich.....one of these guys would fire up the base.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Walter Williams is also too old, and having “two old guys” would truly hurt McCain’s chances, IMHO. Like it or not, McCain truly needs to pick somebody younger than him to be his VP, and the majority of people would agree with this.

[LYSandra]

Woo-woo! I did it! Icalled and told them no donation if he picks a pro choice candidate!

[Norman Bates]

The McCain List.

This ought to be welcome news to the base!

[bcsco]

Thanks for the ping. I was here earlier. There’s a couple of these threads now.

From what I can see the RNC is saying the McCain campaign was floating this for awhile; before his remarks at Saddlebrook, certainly. So does this reflect an attempt to test the waters but his remarks indicate he’s decided against such a move? Or does this reflect a continued testing the waters regardless of what he said? Who knows?

At this point I don’t trust anything or anybody. McCain has not shown fidelity to his conservative base on other issues and I see no reason to blindly accept anything now. I am, however, inclined to believe the first option I outlined is the correct one. But I’m not going to run with it. My inclination has well defined limits.

[OB1kNOb]

!! McCAIN/HUNTER 2008 !!

If I'm forced to vote for McCainiac to prevent a socialist president from taking office, then from your lips to GOD's ears.

[tobyhill]

As much as I don't particularly like the choices we have I also don't believe McCain wants to commit political suicide. To not rule someone out doesn't mean they are going to be picked.
The MSM played this “Who Do We Want?” game for two years and now we're stuck with McLame so it ain't going to fly with us anymore and McLame has to know it unless he's mentally challenged.