U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, our representative in Washington, has made a splash since he won election two years ago by defeating long-time incumbent Charles Taylor. He’s got the football celebrity, the youthful good looks. He’s putting together an interesting voting record as a conservative Democrat. And he’s had people talking from day one about how, one day, he might be just the man to seek our nation’s highest elected office.
That kind of talk has been mostly whispered around Shuler. For such a young, inexperienced politician, it’s crazy talk. But that doesn’t shut people up.
George Grayson, a professor at the College of William and Mary, writes in the daily newspaper that he thinks Shuler might be vice presidential material. He lays out a pretty weak argument here. The basis of Grayson’s case is that Shuler’s conservative stances on issues such as guns, immigration and abortion would boost Barack Obama’s chances at winning in November.
Grayson fails to note the major negative — Shuler’s lack of experience. He’s barely got two years under his belt. And the experience issue is also Obama’s major weaknesses.
We need to see a lot more of Shuler in legislative action before he can be seriously considered for higher office. I’d suggest keeping the Shuler-for-president (or vice president) just whispers for now. But anything’s possible, right?