# Why pretend Condi Rice is a VP front runner? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 14, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215 "2012-07-14T16:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/21 "2012-07-15T00:43:26Z")
Because the buzz helps defuse the party’s image of being run only by white men. Or they think it does, anyway. Julian Bond helped explain why Romney went to the NAACP: > [@](#): > > He wasn’t speaking to us, he was speaking to that slice of white America that hasn’t made up its mind about him, and he’s saying, ‘Look at me; I’m OK. I can get along with the Negroes. I can say things to them that they don’t like, so I’m not afraid to stand up to them.’ Same sort of posturing. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/22 "2012-07-15T00:53:52Z")
On one of the news shows (forget which) there was a pundent who said he thought the Condi rumor really was started by the Romney camp to deflect stories about Bain. However, this pundent went on to say it was a stupid thing to do as “no matter who he picks for VP now, it will seem bland and uninspired compared to the supposed Condi option.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/23 "2012-07-15T00:54:58Z")
The Romney campaign wants to put the message out that they’re not just about rich white guys. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/24 "2012-07-15T01:19:07Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Because I’ve seen some claims from the actual campaign that they are considering her. So, at the very least, they are intentionally running with someone else’s idea, and the question is why. Has there been any potential candidate out there who the Romney campaign declared wasn’t under consideration when asked? It would be stupid to do that. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/25 "2012-07-15T01:28:23Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Precisely what was she ever right about when she was Secretary of State? The neocon crowd was wrong about everything when it came to Iraq. He said she was smart, not honest. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/26 "2012-07-15T01:45:44Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Has there been any potential candidate out there who the Romney campaign declared wasn’t under consideration when asked? It would be stupid to do that. To my knowledge they haven’t made any statements about ruling any specific person out of consideration. However, I feel safe saying any person who is pro-choice can be automatically ruled out. Anything else would be stupid on their part given the history of Republican nominees and their stand on this issue. That rules Condi out of anything close to serious consideration for the VP slot. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/27 "2012-07-15T01:58:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Last edited by DMark; Today at 08:54 PM. Reason: typos typos typos… You missed some: > [@DMark](#): > > … there was a **pundent** who said … However, this **pundent** … It’s “pundit,” from Hindi _paṇḍit_, meaning a learned person. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, is often referred to by the honorific “Pandit Nehru.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/28 "2012-07-15T03:17:41Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > To my knowledge they haven’t made any statements about ruling any specific person out of consideration. However, I feel safe saying any person who is pro-choice can be automatically ruled out. Anything else would be stupid on their part given the history of Republican nominees and their stand on this issue. > > That rules Condi out of anything close to serious consideration for the VP slot. So, it’s your contention that the Romney campaign is always truthful in what they say about their plans and strategy? Or is this an argument you bring up only when it conveniently suits your purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/29 "2012-07-15T03:28:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Has there been any potential candidate out there who the Romney campaign declared wasn’t under consideration when asked? It would be stupid to do that. A Romney/Obama Fusion ticket would be unexpected. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/30 "2012-07-15T03:48:12Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Like I said in the other thread about this, there has never been a winning Republican ticket for President with a pro-choice person on it. Maybe Dole or Kemp were pro-choice, I can’t recall at the moment, but they didn’t win. There has never been a Republican ticket, winning or losing, with a pro-choice candidate on it. Dole was pro-life. Pat Buchanan backed off running for a third party as long as Kemp was pro-life. In 1996, the GOP reaffirmed their pledge to enact a Right to Life Amendment to the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/31 "2012-07-15T04:26:50Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > So, it’s your contention that the Romney campaign is always truthful in what they say about their plans and strategy? I have no idea where you got that as it doesn’t relate to anything I have posted in this thread. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Or is this an argument you bring up only when it conveniently suits your purpose? What argument are you talking about? Are you suggesting the Republicans _have_ nominated a pro-choice person as President or VP at some point in the past? If they did, did they win? I would say no and no. Or are you taking issue with the idea it would be stupid to do so at this time? The only other thing I have said is that a possible explanation for floating Rice’s name was as derail the discussion of Romney’s tenure at Bain. I’m hardly the only person in this thread to suggest this. I could also see this as being true: > [@BlankSlate](#): > > It’s a strategy to construct a narrative that appeals to women and independents without actually having to do anything. Either way I don’t believe they are seriously considering Condi. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215/32 "2012-07-15T04:54:10Z")
In post #26 I quoted the following statement by you: > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Has there been any potential candidate out there who the Romney campaign declared wasn’t under consideration when asked? and then posted this in reply: > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > To my knowledge they haven’t made any statements about ruling any specific person out of consideration. Is this what you are going on about? You do realize I’m agreeing with you, right? How am I put forth an argument here? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pretend-condi-rice-is-a-vp-front-runner/628215.md?page=1)