Tom Ridge Ruse: CEO Meg Whitman as Veep?

Meg Whitman wasnt even a republican 8 months ago!

She changed her party registration from decline to state so she could vote, for the first time in 20 years i might add, in the february 2008 california primaries. She is pro-abortion, anti-2nd amendment when she banned all gun and accessories sales on ebay, and is pro-illegal immigration, and word is that she is a gay.

What does McCain get for this pick as his VP?

I advised Senator McCain against this.

Steve Schmidt of CA @ Aug 19, 2008 18:14:18 PM

Hmm...

Is this the same Sarah Palin who has about a year of experience running one of the least populous states in the country, or is there another one with experience and without the threat of scandal hanging over her head, potential nude photos circulating? Compared to her Obama's got Biden levels of experience. I'm from Sacramento, a city that has a population comparable to Alaska, but if Barack Obama were to consider our mayor, Heather Fargo, as a running mate he'd be mocked--and rightfully so.

Picking a woman running mate is potentially smart politics, though if Republicans really believe that just putting a woman on the ticket will bring over Hillary supporters in droves, they ought to be aware that that's the biggest strike against Obama's (presumably instinctual) choice of Kathleen Sebelius as VP: HRC fans don't just want another woman. They want Hillary. So, if McCain can get Hillary to jump on the ticket he might be able to help himself here--otherwise, I don't really see it. This is something that's been analyzed in great depth on any number of blogs on the left. It ain't happening.

Picking a pro-choicer is a bad idea for McCain. He's running another base-centric campaign and this might be the very thing that destroys the whole campaign, perhaps even the Republican coalition. If he does it it will qualify as the very sort of hubris many Republicans have claimed that Obama has. Are there any other promient, experienced pro-life women in the GOP these days? Aside from Liddy Dole? No? Then it's gonna be a dude. I'd like to think McCain's stupid enough to pick someone like Meg Whitman, but I don't see it.

Lev of CA @ Aug 19, 2008 17:58:02 PM

Palin?

Palin, really? - while she's being investigated for firing a state commissioner for not firing her sister’s ex-husband?

I think the last thing that McCain wants to do is to create any opportunity to talk about the corruption problems that plague the GOP.

Michael of FL @ Aug 19, 2008 17:49:32 PM

Right strategery, wrong person

I think McCain is actually laying the groundwork for Giuliani. He is right there with McCain on almost every big issue, especially national security. Add, as far a "pro-choice" picks go, Giuliani has already done his own work on soothing fears by proclaiming he would reverse Roe v. Wade and support justices like Roberts and Alito. Giuliani looks good in comparison to Ridge, and would give conservatives a sigh of relief.

Gullyborg of OR @ Aug 19, 2008 17:46:43 PM

Screw eBay

After all the times eBay has surreptitiously raised fees on sellers, there's NO FRICKIN WAY I'd ever vote for Meg Whitman.

TheoMobius of CA @ Aug 19, 2008 17:46:37 PM

It would be hard for McCain to make the experience argument against Obama if his own VP pick is someone with no policy or government experience. Having run a major corporation like E-Bay -- successfully even -- does not qualify you to be one hearbeat away from the Oval Office and a pick like this would effectively neutralize one of the key advantages that McCain has over Obama (particularly if Obama picks Biden).

The Clinton voters will not come rushing over to McCain because of Meg Whitman. Partisan purity and liberal bonafides are much more important to the Hilary loyalists than gender, else they would not have gone so far out of their way to premptively discredit and undermmine Condi Rice over the last few years (while lauding Madeline Halfbright and Janet Reno for so long).

That said, I think that if Obama fails to pick Hilary (as it appears will be the case), a less than significant number of her loyalists will wind up either sitting it out or even voting for McCain regardless of who McCain's VP is. Picking Meg Whitman will not significantly increase that number to have any bearing on the race.

Perhaps McCain mentioning Meg Whitman at the Saddleback forum was the real diversion for someone else...

Matt Zinck of CA @ Aug 19, 2008 16:37:27 PM

notmeg

Please. I can't wait for McCain to get it over with so we can stop pondering these non-starters. Meg Whitman looks the "Quaker Oats" guy without the tri-corner hat. Does anyone even know is she's a REPUBLICAN? McCain needs a solid conservative with real political cred. I like Sarah Palin too. I REALLY like Sarah Palin. I prefer Bobby Jindal but he might best be saved for the next go around. Let the Dems do the black guy thing this time-and lose. GOP can run a gal next time-and win.

Pat of IL @ Aug 19, 2008 16:27:09 PM

Whitman?!? CHOOSE PALIN!

Governor Palin of Alaska meets all of the good requirements mentioned about Whitman, and has more of her own. Palin is young (in her early 40s) and has unprecedented approval ratings in Alaska.

If McCain wants a woman, he should choose GOV. SARAH PALIN!!!

of AK @ Aug 19, 2008 16:24:38 PM