TheGraphicOnline

It seems only fair that since I told Obama last week how to choose his vice-president, it should be McCain’s turn this time.

We are now witnessing the traditional shadow dance as Republican Presidential Candidate McCain bows in solemn courtesy toward a gaggle of regional fair-haired boys, factional front-runners and favorite sons for his vice-presidential running mate. Regardless of his personal fancies, it should become clear that what McCain must have is someone who will assure his right-wing support. He needs to secure his base for the same reason that Obama needs blue collar workers.

That’s why McCain needs Mitt Romney. Mitt has other talents, too, but the essential one is that conservatives like him. His road to this favored position didn’t come easily, and the path he took shows both his strength and shortcomings. How so?

Well, as a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts he once claimed liberal or moderate views, like supporting gun control and more legal immigration. As a Morman he would be expected to oppose gay marriages, but he once participated in a Planned Parenthood fund raising but he “acknowledged my error” and is now staunchly “Pro Life.” When he declared his candidacy for President in 2007, it was almost as if he knew he didn’t stand a chance for the nomination unless he moved to the right. So he did.

Supreme Court Helps His Case

Even though a strong supporter of gun control and a backer of the Brady Bill, he has followed the core belief of the National Rifle Association that the Second Amendment guarantees gun possession as a personal right. And happily, that is in line with the more conservative U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision.

Mitt has been sharp enough to qualify his almost-liberal positions and make no sharp breaks with most of them but to follow more of a metamorphosis so that he is now more in line with the party’s current social issues.

So why should Mitt be McCain’s Veep?

McCain could choose Mike Huckabee to secure his base, but that would be going too far. Romney has moved far enough so that conservatives know he’s going to stay put on the “right” side of the ledger. That counters McCain’s big question mark on whether he is always and forever a reliable conservative. He usually is, but then he does something sensible like sponsor limits on campaign financing or a broad-based immigration reform — and they’re not sure they can trust him to follow the party line. George W. Bush learned from his father. He found that you can’t deviate from the party line and choose reason instead — as his father Jimmy Carter did — and get re-elected. Mitt is McCain’s anchor to windward.

Mitt’s Other Virtues

Now, let’s say something nice about Mitt.

For one thing, he comes from a good Republican family (not like Wendell Willkie). He is the son of George Romney, auto industry executive and governor of Michigan, who was a candidate for President until he visited Vietnam and came back saying the military had “brain-washed” him (which was true) but that one remark killed his chances.

For many generations his family have been member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known as Mormons), and he served as a missionary in France, as all good young, male Mormons do.

His record of accomplishments is really impressive, starting with education, such as earning a perfect SAT score in high school, then graduating from Brigham Young University where he was valedictorian of his class and awarded a degree summa cum laude(highest honors). (Coincidentally, another Massacusetts governor and candidate for President by name of Mike Dukakis graduated with highest honors from his alma mater, Swarthmore College — probably the only two such candidates who showed such academic brilliance in the history of American politics.)

Made His Mark at Olympics

Romney’s stint as CEO of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City is fairly well known — where he took charge as the event was running $379 million short of revenue, forced corrupt top officials to resign and ended with a profit of $100 million. Less well known is his career during the 14 years he headed the Bain Cappital investment firm, ending with a personal net worth of between 250 and 500 million. Some might deprecate that big money, but he earned it himself; he didn’t inherit it. As governor, he entered office facing a $3 billion deficit, but his business-like approach turned that, by 2006, into a $700 million surplus. A health reform law, despite strenuous legislative opposition, passed in 2006 and has been generally applauded as an innovative solution for getting everyone covered with insurance.

After his “Massachusetts Miracle” he entered the presidential race and was doing well until he ran into the resurgent McCain roadblock on “Super Sunday” last February, where his lackluster performance convinced him that McCain was The Man. One week later, he endorsed McCain. Even so, he had proved to be a strong campaigner and fund raiser, bringing in more than $88 million, spending $86 million, which leaves him something more than $2 million, which should give him enough to ante-up in the Veep race.

Thus, this clever chameleon entered the Veepstakes (without saying so, of course). After Mitt’s endorsement, McCain returned the favor by declaring:
“There’s nobody who represents me better today than Mitt Romney.” So now we have two Tipping Points toward Mitt as Veep: First, he supplies McCain’s missing link because he’s trusted by the hard-core conservative factions. And secondly, he has been a governor. McCain and Obama, both being Senators, need a governor on their tickets to broaden their appeal and project the expertise of management (which both lack) and a “can do” record.

Religion Should Be Non-Issue

Mitt’s religious background remains a worry to some. A few wild hairs have popped up saying Romney is a Mormon and therefore not a Christian. A televangelist, Bill Keller, even went so far as to say in one broadcast that a vote for Romney is a vote for Satan. This flam is on a par with the low-lifes who try to make Obama a Muslim. The two charges roughly cancel each other out. Romney wisely declines to discuss details of his religion (as he U.S. Constitution mandates). The issue will probably die out as the election nears.

So those are the reasons (you didn’t ask for) that may explain why John needs Mitt. His essential value is his trust by the right-wingers. His more important but lesser known qualifications are his intelligence and history of solid accomplishments.

Vic Jose :: Jul.05.2008 :: Uncategorized ::

Trackback URI | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed