The recent announcement of Richard Cheney as Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush’s running mate has not only surprised members of both parties, but has also begun to create concerns among special interest groups.
“In a sense it was very surprising,” Republican Chair of Lane County Jeff Hoyt said. “Not only because he was a pick out of left field, but because he hadn’t been mentioned.”
Members of the Democratic Party also found this to be an unexpected outcome.
“He was rumored, but we were expecting a different nominee, someone more currently involved,” Chairman of the Democratic Party of Oregon Jim Edmunson said. “Cheney is retired. We knew he was helping, but we didn’t think they couldn’t find anybody else.”
According to many Republicans, Cheney would represent a good, safe and solid choice for Bush.
“From what I have heard he is good-tempered and unlikely to cause controversy,” Hoyt said. “He seems like a pretty solid choice.”
While Republicans believe that Bush’s choice can only strengthen the Republican ticket, others seem to disagree.
“I don’t think it will have any effect,” Edmunson said. “Cheney is from the same right-wing party as Bush — he brings nothing new to the ticket.”
Other groups are beginning to worry about effects the combination of right-wing power could have on various issues, particularly abortion.
“It is clear where Bush stands on this issue, as well as Cheney,” said Mick Weltman, executive director of the Oregon chapter of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights League. “A woman’s right to choose would be in jeopardy from a Bush-Cheney administration.”
NARAL has also brought up concerns about how a Bush administration would go about supporting its anti-abortion stance.
“Both Bush and Cheney would appoint anti-choice Supreme Court justices and Cabinet officials, as well as sign legislation threatening reproductive rights,” said Alice Germond, NARAL’s executive vice president.
Members of the Democratic Party also agree that Bush’s choice has made his stance on abortion obviously clear.
“A Bush-Cheney White House would put women in prison for having abortions,” Edmunson said.
The Republicans, on the other hand, believe that having two anti-choice representatives will not weaken their ticket.
“Bush will not lose anything from this move,” Hoyt said. “It will be helpful and keep the conservatives in the fold.”
Both sides can see that the abortion issue is a dividing point among the two candidates.
“Overall, this issue is probably the biggest difference between the two candidates,” Edmunson said.