Why Not Thad?
It is conventional wisdom (bordering on accepted fact) that Thaddeus McCotter will not be the Republican candidate for the presidency in 2012. My question for Ricochet members is simple: Why not?
Obviously, the standard practical/cynical arguments apply to his prospects in a general election: No name recognition, negligible penetration of popular culture, he looks like Mr. Burns from the Simpsons, etc.
But none of these explain why he is getting so little traction in the Republican primaries. Clearly, primary voters give at least some consideration to the more superficial factors affecting general electability, but assuming that they weigh substance more heavily than style, how is McCotter not in the nomination picture -- or at least on the debate stage?
Every other Republican candidate has glaring weaknesses. I'll not list them here for fear of generating defensive responses, but it's clear that there is no "top-tier" candidate that the party seems eager to unite behind. Willing, perhaps, but not eager.
What substantive weakness does McCotter possess that the Republican party is not already prepared to overlook in other candidates? He is brilliant, eloquent, humble, funny, and disarmingly homely. He eschews talking points, and he seems squarely in the ideological center of the party. It feels less like Republicans are rejecting him, and more like they're simply passing him by. Why?
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May '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Who is Thaddeus McCotter? Honestly, I have never heard the name before.
I think therein lies your anwser.
Oct '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Chris Deleon: Who is Thaddeus McCotter? Honestly, I have never heard the name before.
I think therein lies your anwser. · Aug 23 at 12:21pm
Yes, that is exactly the problem. I suppose my question for people who have heard of him is this: Why have other conservatives not heard of him?
Spend a little time on YouTube with him. You'll fall in love.
Also -- had you ever heard of Jon Huntsman before before the smart set began discussing him as a credible candidate? I sure hadn't. And yet there he is -- ensconced behind the debate podium, a candidate without a constituency.
Aug '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
I think McCotter's main problem is that you could easily find 12 other House members with similar resumes and skills. Politics is as much marketing as anything else.
Oct '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Now that Ryan is definitely out, I would be happy to take another look at McCotter, but as mentioned above, lack of name recognition and an almost retiring nature, especially compared to Perry, makes it a seeming impossibility. And Perry's Texas Miracle pokes a stick right in the President's eye on the issue of the hour, the economy. McCotter has nothing comparable. I know him from Red Eye, where he's brilliant, but that plus his solid policy chops won't carry him far this time around, I fear.
I'm glad he's in the ranks, though, and he's one of the young conservatives that give me hope for the future.
Sep '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
I like McCotter, except for the fact that I recently discovered that he is a shill for big labor. I guess the nature of his district makes that a necessity, but it is still disappointing.
Oct '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Severely Ltd.: ... his solid policy chops won't carry him far this time around, I fear.
I'm glad he's in the ranks, though, and he's one of the young conservatives that give me hope for the future. · Aug 23 at 1:09pm
I agree that he's definitely one for the future -- despite the fact that he looks about 20 years older than his age.
Also, being from Texas, I certainly understand the appeal of Perry's narrative. And yet, I feel a greater personal affinity for McCotter. I think Ann Coulter captured my feelings best: (I'm paraphrasing her) It's easy to be a good solid conservative in Texas, but being McCotter or Chris Christie in the belly of the beast takes real strength.
Jun '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
I love him on RedEye, too. And he's written some good pieces for NRO. But RedEye banter would be viewed as quite vulagar by a pretty big chunk of the GOP base. If that's his biggest national exposure to date, he has a long climb ahead.
Apr '11
Re: Why Not Thad?
Why not? I agreed with his points in the piece he did in National Review Online except for the last one. He is completely wrong on trade. Protectionism locks your economy into a mode and prevents it from evolving. Creative destruction or stagnation and eventual irrelevance, you choose..
Oct '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
This is the only substantive concern I've encountered about McCotter. But these "political necessity" votes are exactly the sorts of weaknesses we're apparently prepared to overlook in other candidates.
Romney has Romneycare, Perry has the HPV vaccine and the Gore campaign -- and yet they remain frontrunners.
I'm not trying to push McCotter as a candidate. I'm just not seeing why conservatives are giving him the cold shoulder.
Sep '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Blake
This is the only substantive concern I've encountered about McCotter. But these "political necessity" votes are exactly the sorts of weaknesses we're apparently prepared to overlook in other candidates.
Romney has Romneycare, Perry has the HPV vaccine and the Gore campaign -- and yet they remain frontrunners.
I'm not trying to push McCotter as a candidate. I'm just not seeing why conservatives are giving him the cold shoulder. · Aug 23 at 2:02pm
As Rod Stewart once said, "some guys have all the luck".
If Tim Pawlenty couldn't get traction with all the time, effort, and money he spent, I doubt a little known congressman like McCotter will do any better.
Dec '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
He doesn't have presidential hair. For that matter, he doesn't have much hair period. I know - it sounds incredibly shallow, but that would matter to a huge number of people. What else is there to admire about Romney except his hair?
Oct '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Mark Belling Fan
Blake
This is the only substantive concern I've encountered about McCotter. But these "political necessity" votes are exactly the sorts of weaknesses we're apparently prepared to overlook in other candidates.
As Rod Stewart once said, "some guys have all the luck".
If Tim Pawlenty couldn't get traction with all the time, effort, and money he spent, I doubt a little known congressman like McCotter will do any better. · Aug 23 at 2:09pm
Oh, I don't expect him to do better than Pawlenty. I'm just surprised he hasn't gotten enough support to justify a podium on the debate stage and an appearance or two on Sunday talk shows. At least Pawlenty got that, while McCotter is relegated to watching the debate alongside the Rent is Too Damn High candidate.
I'm not whining. Just puzzled.
Nov '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Blake, he's union. He represents the district of Livonia, MI.
I have posted on him many times before. He is a fine, ethical and in many ways, a conservative man (see speeches at Heritage), but his constituents are all disgruntled UAW members. This just isn't the right time or place for him to go national.
Oct '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
This is precisely why I think it makes sense for him to move on to a broader constituency as soon as possible. His position in Michigan ties his hands. The sooner he begins garnering national attention as a conservative voice, the sooner he can kick Michigan labor politics to the curb and begin focusing on the core issues that motivate conservatives.
Of course, the question isn't whether he should -- it's whether he can. I don't see why not, but apparently I'm firmly in the minority on this one. That's fine.
Nov '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Blake
This is precisely why I think it makes sense for him to move on to a broader constituency as soon as possible. His position in Michigan ties his hands.
This is a very interesting point..
My only argument with your theory is that a candidate cannot make it to "first base" without his/her "original base." I don't see how McCotter will be able to raise funds for a national campaign without the support of the UAW.
And frankly, even as a personal admirer and native Michigander, I could never support him knowing he would have "due bills" to the unions. I am particularly sensitive to the destruction wreaked by the UAW et al. upon my beloved Motor City car industry.
Edited on Aug 23, 2011 at 4:59pmJul '11
Re: Why Not Thad?
I would love to see Thad in a higher up administration position. He is thoughtful and articulate. Since he will not be elected the real conversation should be whether or not this ethical conservative has a better role than his current one. Let us hope our nation gets to see more of Thad after we remove the Bad.
May '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
Chris Deleon: Who is Thaddeus McCotter? Honestly, I have never heard the name before.
I think therein lies your anwser. · Aug 23 at 12:21pm
He needs a catchier moniker. How about Thad the Impaler?
Dec '10
Re: Why Not Thad?
I only know him because he is my congressman. He represents Northville also.
Mar '11
Re: Why Not Thad?
He doesn't look presidential - similar to Mitch Daniels, he doesn't have the hair.
So, we are maybe left with Mr Perry, who does. Or Mrs Palin, who has a, um, woman's hair.
May '11
Re: Why Not Thad?
We saw a post earlier showing 10 possible VPs. How about Thad? Now that Marco says NO!