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Now that Sen. John McCain is the likely Republican Party nominee for President, the biggest question is “who will be his running mate?” Much of the speculation has focused on Gov. Mike Huckabee, McCain’s last remaining Republican opponent, Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, who helped put McCain over the top in that state’s primary, and Gov. Mitt Romney who could add to McCain’s conservative credentials. But the Wall Street Journal noted Friday that such theories are “a legacy of a hard fought primary season.”
So, if not Huckabee, Crist or Romney, who will the GOP White House contender choose to make the final run with him? The WSJ puts two South Carolinians at the top of their list.
- Gov. Mark Sanford: If there is a governor anywhere in America who has demonstrated a commitment to economic conservatism, it is Mr. Sanford. The mild-mannered former congressman has been willing to wage spending fights even against members of his own party. Facing an inherited $155 million deficit, Mr. Sanford vetoed 106 spending items. When the Republican legislature over-rode all but one of his vetoes, he carried two pigs into the Capitol, one named Pork the other Barrel.
Mr. Sanford also pushed through property and small-business tax cuts. As a member of Congress, Mr. Sanford was a reliable opponent of legislation expanding the size of government, and a supporter of personal accounts for Social Security before it was politically acceptable. He was also a champion of school choice.
- Sen. Jim DeMint: When it comes to fighting government spending in Washington, Mr. DeMint can be found on the frontlines. Mr. DeMint, a strong believer in the power of free-market solutions, has introduced a number of bills to restrict the federal government’s reach. He’s proposed legislation that would allow Americans to buy health insurance across state lines, opening the health-care market to greater competition. He is pushing legislation that would improve on the No Child Left Behind Act by expanding school-choice options and empowering parents and local officials. Mr. DeMint has also taken aim at the burdens Sarbanes-Oxley imposed on our public companies. He wants to repeal the death tax. And he’s an ardent free trader, never wavering on the issue even when viciously attacked during his 2004 Senate race. [PAT TOOMEY - WSJ]
As I’ve said before, Sanford missed his chance to be the next Vice President by not endorsing McCain at a time when he could have bolstered his eventual South Carolina victory. DeMint, on the other hand, has earned a good bit of national name ID. But if McCain is going to pick one of South Carolina’s U.S. Senators as his running mate, it’s a safe bet that it will be the guy who’s been at his side for years now.
While all of these options look good on paper, McCain has a lot of choices. He needs to put someone on the ticket that appeals to the ideology and demographics that he can’t. The ideal candidate would be a popular, fairly conservative Southerner with a good bit of executive experience.
Former Virginia Governor/Senator George Allen would be a possibility. Former GOP chair and current Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is an option. Someone like Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas (who does lack executive experience) might also be an attractive choice because she is a woman. I wouldn’t even eliminate the possibility of former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Romer, who has been a very active McCain surrogate, making the short list.
Or it could be someone else entirely.
Everything Mark Sanford does is aimed at articles just like this one. It sounds sooooo good. But as we all know, it is all talk. It is all for show. He has accomplished nothing…and has weakend the SCGOP to the point that losses in the next election are expected.
Sanford cares about one thing…Sanford. His press release read like gold, but the facts read like crap.
When the national press takes a good look at Sanford they will think DanQuale a god.
Sorry to rain on the parade, but Lindsey Graham has a 0% chance of getting the VP nod.
“Grahamnesty,” as he’s widely known among conservative activists, is despised by a sizeable portion of the Republican base. In fact, Graham has been the recipient of much conservative angst, successfully deflected from your client, John McCain.
A McCain-Graham ticket would further alienate conservatives and kill the GOP’s 2008 presidential aspirations. DeMint won’t accept, based on principle. Sanford might, but I doubt McCain’s pride would permit him to ignore the cold shoulder. George Allen is probably the best choice.
How about a little attention to detail. This wasn’t a WSJ editorial, it was an op-ed by Pat Toomey.
Pat Toomey is the head of the Club for Growth. They have helped Sanford raise millions in SC…and hide it in his 501c4. The wealthy and powerful donors are not named.
All of these people are interrelated. The money ties them together, and the secret donors are in charge. Mark Sanford sucks at the tit of the secret money…and Pat Toomey helps him raise it.
So what ya think…Toomey has an interest in Sanford or what? I would love to own a vice president one day. Maybe when I grow up….
So let’s connect a few dots…
Mark Sanford’s strategist is Jon Lerner (Red Sea, LLC and Basswood Research). Mark Sanford and Pat Toomey are both quoted prominently on the Red Sea web page. Lerner has produced TV and radio ads for Sanford and Toomey’s Club for Growth.
Lerner, in his own words, states he has extensive experience in…” independent expenditure, and issue advocacy efforts” (that means 501c3’s and 501c4’s with secret donors).
Red Sea co-founder John Barron has been the principle strategist and pollster for Tom Delays infamous and disgraced Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (now closed after paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines).
So Mark Sanford continues the insiders route…his financial backer Pat Toomey write editorials mentioning Sanford for VP, Sanford collects anonymous millions given by rich people in secret, ala Tom Delay. Sanford is appreciative for all of Toomey and Company’s help…and repays them…let me see. With the fruits of elected office…
FYI….
Club for Growth and Red Sea are not exactly choir boys as the below shows…
Last week the Citizens Club for Growth PAC paid $350,000 to settle an FEC lawsuit which
arose after the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee filed a complaint with the FEC in 2003 alleging that the group was violating federal election laws. After an investigation, the FEC concluded that the 527 was required to register as a political action committee because it was accepting contributions and engaging in activities intended to influence the outcome of federal elections.
According to FEC Schedule E report the Citizens Club for Growth had funneled the McHenry donations through an organization called Red Sea LLC:
Red Sea LLC
1111 19th Street NW
Suite 211
Washington, DC 20036
Purpose of Expenditure: tv air buy
Red Sea is an invention of a former communications director for the disgraced Tom DeLay, Jonathan M. Baron.
Red Sea got over 8,000,000 in “527” money …the origins of the donors are rarely ever known.
None of those names are even on the VP long list. I almost fell out of my chair when Buddy Roemer was mentioned. I wouldn’t pick Sanford to be my butler in Washington.
None of South Carolina’s Republicans will be on the ticket. Too much dirt accompanies them. The Good Ole Boys may think they are cool, and above the law, but that remains to be seen.. Any SC pol on the ticket kills every R’s chances.
Surrounding Mark Sanford are even more people that understand the nexus between secret money and “charities”. Mallory Factor of Charleston, a wealthy and politically active fundraiser and close friend of Sanford, Steve Moore and Pat Toomey, has testified before congress, concerning terrorism. He said, concerning Saudi Arabia:
”It should increase the financial transparency and programmatic verification of its global charities and publicly release audit reports of those charities”.
Mallory understands! Secret donations to nonprofits (501c3, 501c4) are the best way to launder money. The same strategies are at work with these secret groups that now command the attention of money/power starved politicians.