Legal Commentary

Would Republican Voters Embrace a Pro-Choice VP?

By TChris

Tom Ridge, in an interview today, was asked whether the Republican Party would accept a vice president who is pro-choice (like, for instance, Tom Ridge):

Question: Given its long pro-life history, do you really think that the Republican Party would accept a pro-choice running mate?

RIDGE: My friend of 25 years is passionately pro-life. He is also passionately a believer that the Republican Party must have a big tent. And I think, frankly, what he was just saying to the rest of the world is that we need to accept both points of view. He's not judgmental about me or my belief. He just disagrees with me. ...

WALLACE: And to answer my question specifically, do you think the Republican Party would accept a pro-choice running mate?

RIDGE: Well, I think that would be up to — first of all, to John to decide whether he wants a pro-choice running mate, and then we would have to see how the Republican Party would rally around it. At the end of the day, I think the Republican Party will be comfortable with whatever John makes.

Really? Is the shrinking Republican tent likely to grow if McCain selects a pro-choice running mate, or will the tent collapse altogether?

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 17, 2008 (boomark / email).