"John Kerry is a close friend of mine. We have been friends for years. Obviously, I would entertain it."
-Sen. John McCain (Republican-Arizona) March 10 on ABC's Good Morning America, on whether or not he'd consider an invitation to be John Kerry's running mate in November.
Sen. John Kerry (Democrat-MA), his party's presumptive presidential nominee, has hinted in recent weeks that he hopes to pick his running mate well before the party's July nominating convention in Boston. Among pundits and political junkies the guessing game is in full swing, with a large list of names being batted around.
Sen. Bob Graham of Florida and Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico both have national security and foreign policy expertise and, to top that off, are both of Mexican decent. As such, either man would increase the ticket's chances of winning in November. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, with his strong labor ties, could help Kerry in the Midwest (especially in Ohio, where hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost since Bush took office). But the former House Minority Leader left much to be desired during his reign as party leader (the Democrats haven't been able to win back their majority status since 1994). He may get the nod, but it's doubtful. Wes Clark would bring a certain military gravitas to the ticket. But Kerry may well want to nominate the former NATO commander as Secretary of Defense or Homeland Security.
The number one pick among those playing the guessing game is Sen. John Edwards (Democrat-NC). A "draft Edwards" movement is afoot, but Kerry isn't too fond of his former primary adversary and will probably ignore those pushing for a "Kerry/Edwards" ticket.
All of them are excellent, safe, non-controversial picks for the vice-presidency. But....
With the nation at war, its citizens deeply divided politically, and the threat of that raw, poisonous partisanship shifting into civil strife at home, I would like to suggest that Sen. Kerry look for a running mate that will arouse passions on both sides of the political spectrum, ensuring bipartisan progress in D.C., and draw independent voters away from the President in large numbers.
He should ask Sen. John McCain (Republican-AZ) to join him as his running mate.
Kerry and McCain (in fact, most Democrats and McCain) have things in common that bind them across party lines. On many key issues - tax cuts, the Bush deficits, pre-war intelligence failures, and cooperation with the 9/11 commission - the two have agreed more than they have disagreed. The two men come from military families where service and duty to country were core values.
I think it is those values that would lead McCain to accept the number two slot with his good friend John Kerry. The maverick from Arizona is a man of great honesty and integrity. He is a patriotic American first and foremost, a member of the Republican Party second. I doubt that he would turn down the opportunity to serve his country as vice-president.
In these times of cut-throat "DeLay vs. Daschle" partisan battles, a bi-partisan national unity presidential ticket would be a breath of fresh air - and very well could be the saving grace of this great country. The only way things are going to get done in D.C. is if a bi-partisan approach is taken. Despite all the rhetoric of the current White House, they have not changed the tone in the nation's capitol. If anything they have added to the venomous rhetoric. Always negative. Always destructive. The best way - indeed the only way - to jump start cooperation between parties would be with a bi-partisan presidential ticket.
On the March 16 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews, Sen. Joe Biden (Democrat-DE) endorsed the idea of a Kerry/McCain ticket for the same reason. "I think that this is the time for unity in this country...They do get along, and they don't have fundamental disagreements on major policies...I'd encourage McCain to say yes...we need some unity here, man. The red states and the blue states - we've got to coalesce around here."
A coalition government? Democrats and Republicans running together? Surely I've hit my head, right? Well, no. There is precedent.
In 1864 Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln selected Democrat Andrew Johnson to be his running mate for re-election. The Civil War was obviously an extraordinary time, and the two men did not run on a Republican ticket. Rather they ran under the "National Union Party" banner, a breakaway coalition of Republicans and Democrats who opposed secession of the South.
Before the current partisan venom turns into another "us vs. them" conflict, perhaps it is time that two patriots like the two Johns lead us back to a more civil tone, where each side treats the other with respect and dignity.
As for the incumbent...well, with McCain as his running mate, John Kerry would force Karl Rove and George Bush to reshuffle their campaign plans. The "anybody but Bush" Democrats are already in Kerry's corner. With McCain on the ticket, Kerry would solidify whatever support he has among veterans. Conservative Democrats and independents who might not otherwise vote for Kerry would leave Bush without batting an eye. In fact, Kerry/McCain could be lethal enough to become the first ticket since Reagan/Bush to win a true landslide victory.
On that March morning, when McCain appeared on Good Morning America, he said that the Democrats "would have to be steroids" to let a Republican like himself join John Kerry on the presidential ticket.
Two Vietnam War heroes against the lying Bush Boy? Bring me the steroids!!
