The McCain camp is dipping its maaaverick toe into the water, testing to see how the conservative base will react to the possibility (probability?) of a pro-abortion vice presidential pick. Pro-open borders. Pro-global warming hysteria. Might as well go for the trifecta.

They want to know what you think. So, go ahead and let them know what you think.

Don’t hold back:

John McCain’s admission to the Weekly Standard’s Steve Hayes (“Shayes” to friends) that he would consider the possibility of choosing a pro-choice running mate is rightly seen as a trial balloon to gauge reaction among conservative base voters to such a move.

“I think that the pro-life position is one of the important aspects or fundamentals of the Republican Party,” McCain told Hayes. “And I also feel that — and I’m not trying to equivocate here — that Americans want us to work together. You know, [former Pennsylvania Governor] Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don’t think that that would necessarily rule Tom Ridge out.”

Later he added: “I think it’s a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice. We just have a — albeit strong — but just it’s a disagreement. And I think Ridge is a great example of that. Far more so than [New York City Mayor Michael] Bloomberg, because Bloomberg is pro-gay rights, pro, you know, a number of other issues.”

“I’m not trying to equivocate here.”

Uh-huh.