Posted on 08/06/2008 1:11:12 PM PDT by Ziva
The news that Rep Eric Cantor (R-VA), the House chief deputy minority whip, has been asked for his family, health, and financial documents by the presumptive Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain, with an eye towards vetting him as a possible running mate, has excited not only some in the Jewish community. Many right-wing Evangelicals, sometimes referred to as the Republican core or base, say the Jewish Mr. Cantor may be the only possible running mate Mr. McCain can choose that will get them to the polling stations in November rather than spend Election Day fishing.
"He would energize the Republican base," said another member of the Virginia Congressional delegation, Rep Virgil Goode (R-VA). Like many Republicans, Mr. Goode has advised Mr. McCain to "look right and not left" when he picks a running mate.
Mr. Goode said that by choosing Mr. Cantor, Mr. McCain could staunch the flow of conservatives deciding either to support Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr, or not to vote at all.
"We need some enthusiasm with the conservative base," said Mr. Goode.
Hawkish on Israel
A stalwart conservative who happens to be the only Jewish Republican in the House of Representatives, Mr. Cantor, a fourth-term Congressman, represents Virginia’s seventh district, a mixture of state capital and western Virginia conservatism.
Reputed on Capitol Hill to be "squeaky clean," he has a nearly 100 percent rating by the National Conservative Union, but is still reported to do well with the more moderate wing of the Republican party as well with Democrats.
His views on Israel and its struggle against Palestinian terror are among the most hawkish in Congress. He has sponsored legislation that would cut off all US taxpayer aid to the PA until they put a halt to unauthorized excavations on the Temple Mount.
Sole Undivided Jerusalem
He also supports keeping Jerusalem as the sole, undivided capital of Israel. In a recent talk for a program called "One Jerusalem," called as a protest against the Annapolis summit last fall at which the Olmert government indicated its willingness to divide the city, Mr. Cantor characterized Jerusalem as "not merely the capital of Israel, but the spiritual capital of Jews and Christians everywhere."
"It is the site of the First and Second Temples, which housed the Holy of Holies, and it’s the direction in which we Jews face when we pray. This glorious City of David is bound to the Jewish people by an undeniable 3,000-year historical link," he said, adding that Jerusalem "is Israel’s lifeblood."
"No one understands this better than Israel’s enemies. That is precisely why they still engage in a systematic campaign to erase the historical link of the Jews to this great city. For if Israel were severed from Jerusalem, the Jewish state would lose its sense of legitimacy and its will to fight. Only then could Israel be destroyed," he said.
Victim of Terror
When he discusses victims of terror, his sympathy is not just theoretical. In April 2006, his cousin, Daniel Cantor Wultz, a 16-year-old student at the David Posnack Hebrew Day School in Plantation, FL, was the victim of an Islamic Jihad suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.
Daniel was in Israel with his family for Passover. He was hospitalized for almost a month after the bombing, while thousands of Jews throughout the world prayed for him and 46 of his classmates traveled to be at his bedside. He died of his injuries on May 15.
Conservatives say there is no denying that Mr. Cantor’s faith and passionate defense of Israel have played a major role in winning their admiration.
Not McCain
In many ways, Mr. Cantor is everything Mr. McCain is not. Those who worry that Mr. McCain, at 72, seems old, especially when compared to 47-year-old Barack Obama, see the good looking Mr. Cantor, who is only 45, as a spark of fresh air.
Those who are concerned because Mr. McCain’s record on immigration and free speech during political campaigns (masquerading as campaign reform), have made conservatives wary, say Mr. Cantor’s record could make up for a multitude of Mr. McCain’s "maverick sins."
On a political website discussing possible Republican candidates for vice president, one blogger summer it up this way: "Cantor is a real conservative who is a star. He is amazing. He would fire me up to have him on the ticket." Continued...
well to be blunt, he will carry mccains water for a term, that way he is damaged goods.
If a 97% ACU conservative is not pure enough for you, I think, maybe, just maybe, you should stop following politics.
I am not questioning Cantor, I hope its a moot point and turns mccain down. Mccain wont listen to his conservative VP. You wont hear stories of mccains conservative VP disagreeing with mccains policies.Now that would be nice and if that is the situation I will change my mind.
I see Cantor being put in charge of ME policy.
Wishful thinking, I guess, but he’s been very involved from everything to the presevation of the Temple from the arabs to task forces on “unconventional warfare.”
I could see that being very useful in a McCain administration.
(And yes, McCain makes me gag. I probably won’t vote for him unless I get Cantor. With Cantor — money, time, I’ll fly people around on the company plane, you name it.)
he’s a leader in a Congress that has done a lousy job.
I am against any member of Congress be chosen as VP.
Sounds good to me. I don’t see a downside to it. Like Jindal, he seems to be a competent young conservative who few Republicans have any reason to dislike. I think that’s really the kind of person McCain needs to choose.
A vice president only has as much power as a president is willing to give him, true.
But there’s two things McCain can’t control. One is that he’s an old man with health problems. No one but God knows how long he will live.
Second, a V.P. gets a lot of exposure. Not many people have heard of Cantor, but if he is McCain’s VP, that will change.
I’m not just worried about what happens if we elect a liberal Republican like McCain. I’m also worried that the Country Clubbers will be riding high and will select someone even worse as the next Republican candidate. That fear will be lessened if we have a conservative in the VP slot, who will be groomed for the future whether the RINOs like it or not.
Well said. For the first time in my life, I will be basing my decision to support a presidential candidate on his VP choice. At least based on what I know now, Cantor, Sanford, Palin or Thune would be enough for me to consider holding my nose for McQueeg. The other names that have been bandied about would be enough to solidify my third-party vote.
BTTT!
We need a Ghostbuster to get rid of Dem spooks in DC. Interesting that Spengler has an anti-Byrd badge on his sleeve...
It would be good if a conservative like Cantor were in a position to succeed McCain (due to death or in the next election).
how does being mccains vp help him out, yeah that raises him in the eyes of (r) at any cost people, those that dont care if someone is conservative as long as they have their little (r) Now I am hoping mccain loses with a rino vp. I am hoping the gop gets purged of the rinos in the house and senate in 08 and 10. Candor can be on the short list for 2012, I’d support him.
“how does being mccains vp help him out,”
VP > Congressman. No one runs against the VP.
Wishisg for Osama to win is foolish.
That is certainly a valid point. I understand, and to some degree agree with, your thoughts on this..
However, there are a few “good-guys” in Congress. Some of them VERY good (as far as conservatives go).
Cantor has “only” been there for eight years. Maybe the best thing is to get him out of there and put him in position where he can continue to develop further in preparation for doing some REAL good in a few years.
Ping!
Cantor is from my state, but not my district within VA. He’d be enough to make me vote for McCain. If he was running for President, I’d vote for him in a heartbeat.
Unlike the half-termer Obama, Cantor has a 20 year legislative record.
And unlike Myth, it’s a 20 year conservative legislative record.”]
AMEN
It’s not like this guy has no idea of how Washington works, (which I’m not certain is a positive). Much more importantly, this is a man of principle who would move this ticket to the right and with a 72 yo prez candidate that’s important.
Bottom line is McCain has to energize the base, and Cantor does that better than any vp possibility out there. Things will go much better for McCain not only pre but post election as well if he’s got the base in his camp.
I’ve been stone cold towards McCain only voting for him due to the anti-BHO inclination. Cantor would change that for me and I’m convinced for many other conservatives as well. Mitt and some of the other possibilities do nothing for the conservative base. AS I mentioned yesterday, this would be a great coming out party for Cantor, we need good young conservative leaders stepping onto the national platform.
considering some of the scribblings of the low-lifes that inhabit the DalaiBama’s website, and treat visitors to a constant stream of anti-Jewish invective, might just explode if Cantor is selected as McCain’s Veep”]
That’s a very interesting point. Cantor would be a very polarizing figure for the moonbats not only for his conservative positions but also because he’s jewish. Running against a muslim/marxist such a contrast would more clearly reveal the BHO camp and followers for who they really are. They would not be able to hide their anti-semitic bias and that ugly underside would be more clearly exposed.
Thanks C from E.
Singing Cantor’s Praises
New York Times | August 7, 2008 | Sarah Wheaton
Posted on 08/07/2008 8:39:51 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058044/posts
About ten to one.
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