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July 21, 2008
Obama's latest veep news
Posted by: Chris
The latest scuttlebutt on Barack Obama's possible running mate is decidedly mixed. The good news is that some are reporting that one potential finalist for the post is Sen. Jack Reed from Rhode Island, who is accompanying the Democratic nominee on his trip abroad. Tongues are wagging because:
[Reed] has been to Iraq 11 times (and voted against the original Iraq war resolution)... The widely respected voice on national security is a 1971 West Point grad, though he did not fight in Vietnam. The Army Ranger paratrooper, who eventually commanded the 82nd Airborne, was assigned elsewhere... Father was a school custodian and WWII vet... Was on a trip to Afghanistan with McCain and Lieberman when he first met his wife... Took weekly art classes at the age of 5 at the Rhode Island School of Design... Big Will Ferrell fan and drives a 1991 Ford Escort... Differing with Obama, he was against the 1991 Gulf War and voted against the recent compromise FISA legislation.
By choosing Reed, Obama could address several perceived weaknesses: Reed served in the military and has significant Washington experience. As a legislator, Reed has focused on education, defense, and healthcare -- all areas that Obama is focusing on. In addition, Reed is a Roman Catholic.
That 1991 vote is a definite drawback, one shared by John Kerry, the party's 2004 nominee. (I remember thinking then that it was difficult to get excited about a presidential candidate who had been so wrong on the two most important war-and-peace votes of his career.)
But on gay issues, Reed's record matches Obama's. He's gotten a near-perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign scorecard -- marked down over the last two sessions of Congress for failing to sign on as a cosponsor to the Uniting American Families Act (and its predecessor bill, the Permanent Partners Immigration Act). Obama (and Hillary Clinton) also neglected to sign on to UAFA but have committed repeatedly to its passage with some undefined amendments to combat possible fraud.
More good news from Marc Ambinder, who lists Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd as the only potential vice president who it can be confirmed the Obama folks are actually vetting for the job. Dodd's presidential run may have been a failure, but his record on gay issues is actually better than Obama's since he has signed on as a UAFA co-sponsor.
Other names on Ambinder's list are more of a mixed bag. He lists as "almost certainly vetted":
- Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh: Near-perfect HRC scores, marked off on UAFA and not adding "trans" to his office non-bias pledge.
- Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine: Backed a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions; did little to stop an even more draconian amendment, which would have banned even D.P. benefits.
- Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius: Opposed a similar state amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions, and helped head off a bill that would ban gays from adopting.
Among those Ambinder lists as "unknown" whether they are being vetted are some names with mostly good gay rights records -- like Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Tom Daschle -- as well as some disastrous picks -- like Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska (straight zeroes on the HRC scorecard since his election in '88) and might-as-well-be Republican Sam Nunn, former senator from Georgia (architect of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell").
One name nowhere on Ambinder's list? My personal favorite, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
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Comments
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I knew Jack Reed when I lived and worked in RI. He is a very good man and a regular guy who may soften Obama's "elite" image among some voters. I just saw Jack on TV with Obama in Jordan. He's an open-minded ex-military officer who would be a great VP. I'm less enthused about Evan Bayh, having seen his disdain for "common people" in an unguarded moment at a private meeting in which I participated. That told me a lot about his character. Reed would be great, I'd be happy with Richardson, I would have second thoughts if it's Hagel or Nunn.
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When Richardson grew that beard, I think he stepped out of the veep race by his own choice. Hagel feels like a man with a vendetta to settle with Bush, Condi, and Rumsfeld.
Sam Nunn - wouldn't make it past the vetting process. He's on the borad of directors for Chevron, would have to quit and would like a fool with gasoline at $4.
The comments to this entry are closed.
Andoni on Jul 22, 2008 1:35:43 PM:
Hagel would be a disastrous choice. His beliefs on everything EXCEPT the Iraq War are out of line with what Barack believes and with what most Dems believe. You always have to remember that the chances of the VP becoming Pres in this country are pretty good. Do we really want a conservative Republican pres if Barack happens to die? That's really stupid planning, no matter how many votes you think he brings you.
It would take a lot of balls to run two minority candidates on the same ticket. It would be wonderful if they did it and they won, but I don't have the confidence that the country is that far along. The only way I see this happening is if they have strong polling numbers that show putting a Latino (Richardson) on the ticket, gathers 95% of the Latino vote just as Obama gets 95% of the black vote. If the numbers are there and prove that that move guarantees victory....then maybe.