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Politico.com this morning put Bill Gates on its speculative list of longshot vice-presidential possibilities, quoting anonymous Republican and Democratic operatives saying he would be Republican candidate John McCain's "dream running mate." The site added: "Gates could position McCain as a trusted voice on the economy and his multi-billion dollar commitment to charitable giving could soften up the campaign's image."
Bill Gates and John McCain: Dream Team? Dream on. (P-I file photos: Mike Kane, Mike Urban.)
First of all, Gates has said repeatedly that he has no interest in public office. "Elected office would not be the best use of my talents in terms of my abilities to A) get elected or B) to be effective once being elected," he told reporters last year, for example. (Despite the best efforts of Dilbert creator Scott Adams to push Gates as a candidate for president.)
In a Seattle P-I interview two weeks ago, Gates said he doesn't even expect to be a vocal supporter of candidates. "I probably will not just say, 'Oh, I love this candidate.' I'll probably talk more about the issues that are deeply engaging," Gates said at the time.
Gates has donated to congressional candidates from both parties in the current election cycle, Federal Elections Commission records show. However, the Politico.com story is incorrect in saying that he has contributed $2,300 to the campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Those donations were actually made by Gates' father, William H. Gates II, commonly known as Bill Gates Sr. The site is correct in reporting that the Microsoft chairman gave to McCain's Senate campaign in 2003.
In a case of art imitating life (or at least imitating news reports) McCain did appear in the spoof video that Microsoft created about Gates' last day -- in which McCain was shown turning down Gates' request to be a running mate. (Obama and Clinton also had cameos in the video.)
Apparently, there is public interest in the idea of Gates as McCain's running mate. A Los Angeles Times item on the Politico.com story is currently among the most read on the newspaper's site.
But even if you would back such a ticket, rest assured there will be no need to clear a spot for a McCain/Gates '08 sticker on your bumper.
Contributing: P-I reporter Daniel Lathrop.
Posted by J.P. Patches Pal at 7/1/08 2:16 p.m.
I think Gates should stick to making predictions about our future since he seems to be so good at that.
"Spam will be a thing of the past in two years' time," declared Gates at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2004. According to one security vendor, Marshal Ltd., spam continues to represent between 75% and 95% of all e-mails.
Posted by NWGirl at 7/1/08 4:31 p.m.
You'd think that a guy who supports a "death tax" wouldn't exactly be considered McCain's "dream running mate." Unless of course the anonymous republican who said that is retarded.
Posted by Will in Seattle at 7/1/08 5:14 p.m.
Not even Bill G is nuts enough to tie himself to a dinosaur like McSame.
Posted by maryw at 7/2/08 8:13 a.m.
The hair on the back of my neck still stands up remembering that the president of China's first stop in this country was to Bill Gates' house...then there's the appointment of another gates to head the military. Yikes.
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Posted by citizen at 7/1/08 1:10 p.m.
Its a joke to think the guy responsible for the worst OS in history (Vista) would even have his name mentioned in the same breath as Grampa McSame.