Something To Think About Regarding Obama's VP Pick
Posted by Ashish on 08.15.2008
Someone who does no harm may be the top qualification...
Trapper John makes a good point about what Obama might be thinking about in terms of his VP pick. The dynamics of the election support Obama. And his entire campaign is about...Obama. Adding a VP pick who is at all risky in any way at all could change that dynamic. So what does that mean? Means that Obama could very well pick someone who isn't at all exciting or interesting because he wants to keep the race as it is now.
For example, Tim Kaine, who most consider to be the favorite, has a pretty conservative position on abortion (for a Democrat). So is he worth the risk? Evan Bayh voted for the Iraq war. Worth the risk? Kathleen Sebelius is pro-choice to the point where it could become material for attacks. Worth the risk?
Trapper John thinks Tom Daschle will be the pick. Nobody on the shortlist is as close to Obama as Daschle is. I'm not sure Daschle will be the pick, but the reasoning here does make sense.
Of course, it's becoming obvious based on the differing opinions going around the blogosphere that nobody really has any idea who Obama will pick and it is all just speculation.
Just to add my two cents. The idea of Wes Clark being the VP has grown on me. He isn't associated with Washington (which is important since Obama is, in many ways, campaigning against Washington), isn't a former Senator or politician so no old votes can be used against him, is very well respected in military affairs, and above all else, is a really good attack dog who outranks McCain and thus can go after McCain on war-related things that Obama can't.
Daschle would make a ton of sense in terms of safety and that experience factor and not outshining Obama. And since he isn't currently serving - or for the past number of years - they can even spin it in a way that he's an outsider and an insider at the same time.
Can't wait for the pick regardless.
Posted By: BK (Guest) on August 15, 2008 at 05:06 AM
what would happen if mccain would chose a womana as vp and obama not? It would be a major desaster for the democrats. So he has to chose sebelius if he likes it or not. But I personaly think he likes it.
Posted By: maz hess (Guest) on August 15, 2008 at 05:21 AM
McCain choosing a woman to run with would not harm the Dems in the elast for 2 very simple reasons.
1- As retarded as our country's citizens often are, 95% of them will see right through that flimsy ploy.
2-If McCain was to do so, he knows, as we all know, that Hilary would suddenly become Obama's bigest supporter in deed instead of just name. No way she'd let some other woman steal her thunder. Period.
Posted By: Adam (Guest) on August 15, 2008 at 05:30 PM
I welcome Daschle as the VP pick. McCain can just save some money and use the ads that got him booted from the Senate on him.
Posted By: Chris Connolly (Registered) on August 15, 2008 at 11:20 PM
"As retarded as our country's citizens often are, 95% of them will see right through that flimsy ploy."
Sorry Adam, but according to Time just a few weeks back, 16% of Americans still believe that Obama is a Muslim. And that's with all of the Jeremiah Wright stuff. It's amazing at how retarded we can be even with the facts shown to us every day.
Still...I do hope people would see through McCain's ploy...but I wouldn't put it past people to praise McCain on his "gender neutrality" or some other garbage.
Hmm...gender neutrality... that sounds like an episode title of Nip/Tuck.
Posted By: Rust (Registered) on August 16, 2008 at 02:39 AM
I agree with the notion that someone who does no harm is the best qualification, but how does one define harm? Clark is harmful in the sense that he hold no appeal to woman and those in the left-leaning camps. My own opinion is that a VP will says less about that person as an individual and more about how they see the election. Do they want a candidate to shore up regional voting? One that makes a difference on policy? On that appeals to the correct national demographic? Someone who Obama trusts? From this point of view all the candidates have liabilities. The question is what are you trying to accomplish with the pick. From an economic POV Bloomberg makes a lot of sense. I personally don't know what Obama wants to accomplish with his pick; but whoever he picks will send a strong message about what his aims for the campaign are.
Posted By: Daniel (Guest) on August 17, 2008 at 08:07 PM
STAY CURRENT