Kaine offers Obama many advantages as possible VP choice

[Hope And Change]

Kaine offers Obama many advantages as possible VP choice

By Corey Dade
August 01, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va.—Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine took the stage at the Texas Democratic Party’s annual convention last month and began by offering the standard party dogma. As national co-chairman of Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, he offered the proper tribute to Sen. Hillary Clinton and urged everyone to now “come together” behind his candidate.

Then he paused, and broke into fluent Spanish.

The huge ballroom, which included hundreds of pro-Clinton Hispanics, erupted in cheers.

In a few short months, the 50-year-old governor has emerged from relative political obscurity to the short list of possible running mates for Sen. Obama.

With Virginia thrust into a new role as swing state, Gov. Kaine might play a pivotal role in trying to deliver Virginia to a Democrat in November for first time since 1964. His selection also may bolster the ticket with someone with experience running a large, generally well-regarded state government, and help Sen. Obama pick up blue-collar white voters.


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[Connie_Corleone]

1. I watched his interview on Charlie Rose the other night.

I liked what I saw. I can see why Obama and Kaine have become good friends.

[Hope And Change]

2. I found the video where Kaine starts to speak in Spanish...that is so cool...

he starts at 02:40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBZgzDeHOQo

[flpoljunkie]

8. Thanks for the clip.

[NorthCarolina]

3. Plus he can single handedly work to put those pesky gays and lesbians at bay

Obama, just say NO to the homophobe from VA.

[Independent_Voice]

4. This is what concerns me the most about Kaine

(Support of) civil unions is a deal-breaker for me as an issue, so I'd need Kaine to clarify what his position actually is.

[NorthCarolina]

7. From what I understand he is against any form of legal recognition of gay couples

but he is not against including LGBT in workplace discrimination laws. Basically he's a homophobe that would make any GOP hater proud to vote for him. If Obama chooses this guy he will send a clear message to the gay community that they're on their own when it comes to their goal of achieving equal rights under the law. If you are against gay marriage, gay civil unions, or any form of legal recognition for gay couples then a Kaine VP selection should be among your top choices.

[flpoljunkie]

9. Kaine would be the VP and not set policy. If it takes getting to full marriage equality via civil

unions which have all the rights of marriage, let's get started--rather than push for gay marriage when it will not move us forward toward the goal of equal rights and benefits for all.

[NorthCarolina]

10. Yeah sure, kind of like how Cheney had no say in what went on

in the Bush administration. Sorry, but I won't vote to empower a homophobe. A Kaine choice is a big mistake for Obama in my book, and would send a clear message to the LGBT community that Obama holds little respect for their plight.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Obama is not Bush! So, you will vote for McCain or stay home in November? Now, that's dumb!

There are those in the LGBT community who understand how they can get what they want, and it's not by demanding the impossible--thereby making nothing possible.

[NorthCarolina]

13. You only show by your accusations that you really don't get it

but should Obama choose a homophobe as his running mate then I think it is the duty of every self respecting LGBT person to send a clear message to Obama and both political parties that we will no longer accept being continually taken for granted, and there are other ways to do that which do not include either voting for McCain or staying home. For now, I will wait until he makes his VP choice publicly known before jumping to any conclusions, and if you want to spend your time advocating for a homophobe then that's YOUR choice.

[LostinVA]

6. Yup

Even though I voted for him when he ran, I wasn't happy to pull the lever because of his stance on gays and other progressive issues. VA has the most draconian anti-gay laws in the US: you can't even buy a home as a couple anymore. It's why I moved to NJ when Haruka and I knew we wanted to get married.

Any VP who is actively anti gay or anti choice is a deal breaker for me.

[JaneQPublic]

5. As a Marylander, I've always liked the Gov from our neighboring state

However, my main issues with him as a VP candidate are (1) he doesn't help raise the voters' comfort level in terms of national security/foreign affairs; and (2) he seems like too nice a guy to play the Veep Attach Dog role.

[BigDDem]

12. I cant figure out why he's even considering Kaine

The beef a lot of people have with Obama is experience and Kaine has less experience than Obama.
All of a sudden being from VA and "speaking Spanish!!!!" qualifies you
to be a heartbeat away from the presidency????