Legalities
Life, Politics and the Law From ABC News Correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg
Jan Crawford Greenburg is a correspondent for ABC News' bureau in Washington DC. She covers politics, the Supreme Court and provides legal analysis for ABC News. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago's law school and is a member of the New York bar.
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McCain's VP: An Early Pick?
July 22, 2008 11:28 AM
I said the other day that covering the run-up to the VP announcement reminded me of the good ol’ days of summer 2005, when we all were trying to figure out who President Bush would pick for the Supreme Court. Alito? Luttig? Wilkinson? Roberts?
The names were obscure to most Americans outside DC and their respective hometowns. The rumors were fast and furious. And you could always tell who had absolutely no idea when their lists contained names that, for whatever reason, were firmly off it (Garza, Corrigan, Jones).
Fast forward three years, and it’s the same chase for the VP (though arguably with lower stakes, since “Justice” is a better title in every way—power, job security, wardrobe—than “Vice President”).
For Obama, is it Bayh or Kaine? And what about Biden? For McCain, is Pawlenty the guy? Or Thune? Everyone talks up Romney, but isn’t he really the “Edith Brown Clement” candidate—you have his name out there to satisfy a constituency, but there’s no way he’ll be the pick? And after all this chasing and analyzing, what if there’s a dark horse---a surprise nominee who completely tanks? (Let’s call that pick the “Harriet Miers” VP candidate.)
And now, just to complete our parallels, enter Robert Novak, who reported last night that John McCain is announcing his VP pick this week, while Obama is overseas. The thinking is McCain needs to steal some thunder from the Obama’s roadshow, and what better way to do it?
Now Novak, as we all know, has great sources—and breaks lots of stories with his great sources. That’s why a Novak story commands instant attention—like his stories did back in early July 2005, when he wrote that “Court sources” told him William Rehnquist would be announcing his retirement less than a week after Justice O’Connor. It was so specific—down to the actual time—people thought it surely had to be true. And when the time for an announcement came and went, Novak wrote that Rehnquist would deliver the news when President Bush landed on American soil after his overseas trip to the G8 summit.
All this reporting ultimately led to Rehnquist’s famous quip—after reporters staking out his house asked if he would be stepping down: “That’s for me to know, and you to find out.”
Well, we soon found out the answer was “no.” Rehnquist told the world in a letter he did not plan to retire. And he didn’t. He died later in the summer.
Last night, we were getting waved off the rumor announcement pretty firmly. Apparently, McCain will have a surprise announcement in New Orleans, but it won’t be the VP—which of course seems to make sense. Why in the world—I was asked over and over last night by sources close to the campaign—would McCain do this now? He’ll need that arrow in his quiver later, they said, so he can use it to counter Obama’s own announcement or any post-Democratic convention Obama bounce.
I know, I know. What if there's a Republican VP candidate who could do both? Maybe, just maybe, there's someone so dazzling, so high in stature, so stunningly charismatic he/she would completely change the media narrative this week and, then, sustain that changed narrative throughout the month of August and all of the pomp and circumstance of the Democratic National Convention. In other words, someone other than Pawlenty, Thune, Romney, etc.
Someone truly spectacular—like a fireworks show on the Mall.
Ok. Let’s go with that for a minute. If there’s an announcement this week, that means we’ll have to scrap our carefully thought-out list of McCain’s possible VP picks. We need that spectacular, story-changing nominee. (We could probably keep that firecracker Giuliani on it, but everyone else—gone.) And that means: celebrity pick. Yep. If McCain’s announcing this week, he’s already signaling desperation, so he really should just run with it. Embrace it. A celebrity. After all, they’re “just like us!”
Granted, there aren’t a whole lot of Republican celebrities. Here's a list. There’s 90210’s Shannen Doherty, but she’s really not like us. If McCain’s aiming for the base and women, I’m thinking Everybody Loves Raymond’s Patricia Heaton. Definitely.
Then again, maybe he should go in a different direction—tap a kick-butt guy who could counter all that foreign policy coverage Obama is drumming up. Chuck Norris? Bruce Willis? Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson? Those guys could really help keep the press in line, too, which could be kind of interesting.
Then again, maybe he should just hold off.
Though I have to say, McCain/The Rock does have a certain ring to it.
July 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (25)
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wow is the Mccain campaign playing you.
Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 11:45:17 AM
And well they should. Obama, The Pretend President is playing statesman this week with the taxpayer paying for the show.
Posted by: len | Jul 22, 2008 12:00:00 PM
Len Mccain took a couple of similar trips that the taxpayers paid for.
why is Obama's worse than Mccains...oh because you need to spin the truth.
lol...again
He's picking Hillary.
Posted by: dl | Jul 22, 2008 12:11:26 PM
I will vote republican regardless who's
on the ticket.....
Posted by: ROBERT | Jul 22, 2008 12:58:02 PM
McBush thinks Jeb Bush, would just be fine as a VP..That way he can keep all the war criminals in the Bush family employed..And he can go lay down for his nap.
Posted by: Repubsout | Jul 22, 2008 1:06:42 PM
I will vote for Obama regardless who's on his ticket....
McCain is the biggest two faced lier that has walked, besides Bush. He will say and do anything for a vote, then watch out, if he gets in office we are done as a nation.
Posted by: becky | Jul 22, 2008 1:07:15 PM
Slow news day eh......Aren't you just the perfect image of a carefully picked and subsequently cultivated politico of the Chicago style democratic political machine? Course you are.
Posted by: Hook | Jul 22, 2008 1:12:16 PM
Making a VP choise now is just McPopeye trying desperatly to get the news spot light off of Obama, nice try McPopeye but it won't matter. Your message is as old and tired as you are old and wrinkled.
Posted by: M H | Jul 22, 2008 1:17:52 PM
Vinnie: How can you win a war that was based on lies to begin with? That is like cheating at a game and declaring victory...What is really sad about this whole thing is the life's that have been lost and the families destroyed because of lies, lies from our government. Bush, McCain, Rove, Chaney... need I say more.
Posted by: becky | Jul 22, 2008 1:19:31 PM
Vinnie & becky what part of victory don't you two understand the Iraq army under command of Sadam was defeated back in 2003 we had victory then Bush let our troops become involved in a war with foreign insurgents because he didn't listen to his top generals who told him it would take a lot more troops to do the job right. That meant keeping intruders out of Iraq so it could be rebuilt, the rest is history as the village idiot the great decider made the wrong decision as he usualy does.
Posted by: M H | Jul 22, 2008 1:27:57 PM
I would say the Iraqi's won the war. They are paying 49 cents for a gallon of gas. We are rebuilding their homes and schools with our money. How could they not have won?
End the war! Obama 08!
Posted by: Hippemom | Jul 22, 2008 1:38:22 PM
End AFFRIMATIVE ACTION....NOW!!!!!
Posted by: Scott Baines | Jul 22, 2008 2:34:10 PM
I know I have said this before but I keep looking at the polls, scientific and straw and I see the scientific polls showing BO up by 6 points and the aol straw poll shows today McCain leading, with 42,000 votes cast, 69% to 31%. I think all of this media lovefest with Bo may be hurting him. Seems the people are fed up with the media praising him all the time and not telling the real story that he is a empty suit trying to run on JFK's history. Sorry Bo it will be McCain 08
Posted by: mich mike | Jul 22, 2008 2:37:34 PM
Who cares? I wouldn't vote for McCain if he was running with Abe Lincoln as his VEEP. The Republicans have disgraced themselves under Bush and need a time out.
Posted by: mandy | Jul 22, 2008 3:05:54 PM
McSame = Bush. No thanks.
Posted by: kate ashland | Jul 22, 2008 3:11:59 PM
And after all this chasing and analyzing, what if there's a dark horse --- a surprise nominee who completely tanks? (Let's call that pick the "Harriet Miers" VP candidate.)
Or the Mike Huckabee VP candidate.
Posted by: Xrlq | Jul 22, 2008 3:34:52 PM
I already made up my mind. Mccain it is.
Posted by: al4mcattack | Jul 22, 2008 5:17:03 PM
VP Chuck Norris
Posted by: Jason | Jul 22, 2008 5:21:02 PM
McCain Clinton 2008
Posted by: Aristotle 2008 | Jul 22, 2008 7:27:23 PM
I am voting for Obama here in Ohio. No way I would vote for a 72 old man.
Posted by: Alex Johnston | Jul 22, 2008 8:20:35 PM
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