With less than two weeks before the start of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, John McCain is heading into the homestretch for making his vice presidential selection. An impassioned, sharply worded salvo from former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson suggests that there's growing dissent over that selection process within the normally disciplined GOP ranks.
Carlson, who served from 1991 to 1999, on Saturday sent copies of the letter, which was addressed to McCain, to both the Washington Post and the Star Tribune. He doesn't pull any punches in it, particularly in regard to Mitt Romney, the former presidential candidate who belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
"It has now become increasingly apparent that some are insistent that there be a religious test for the position of the Vice Presidency. The simple fact that religious beliefs are being considered is both offensive and harmful to our American Constitution...,'' Carlson wrote. "If a Mormon cannot be considered today for high office who will be eliminated from the same consideration tomorrow?" Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, an evangelical church member, is widely rumored to be on McCain's short list of vice presidential picks. Via e-mail, his spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment.
Carlson's harshest criticism goes far beyond the vice presidential pick. He bluntly raises concerns about the influence religious "segments" have on a presidential candidate and the party itself. The word "theocracy" never comes up, but Carlson clearly feels that chill in the air.
How much impact a letter from an out-of-the-spotlight former governor can have is unclear. The GOP should take notice, though. In Minnesota and elsewhere, there's a growing sense that the party's vaunted big tent has shrunk too much, leaving old-line social moderates out in the cold. Competency, a quality satisfying a range of party faithful, should be at the top of McCain's veep checklist -- not the concerns of the party's hypervocal, ultrareligious faction.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/27109849.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJArne Carlson represents the wing of long-silenced, nearly forgotten moderates in the party.
McCain would do better to choose someone like Carlson long before he picks someone like Pawlenty.
