WP blog: Tim Kaine: A New Model for Democrats? (incl. link to video)

[DeepModem Mom]

"The Fix," Chris Cillizza
washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog
Posted at 10:50 PM ET, 01/31/2006

Tim Kaine: A New Model for Democrats?


Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's selection to deliver the Democratic response to President Bush's State of the Union address comes as no surprise to Cornell Belcher -- the lead pollster at the Democratic National Committee.

During a conversation last week for The Fix's "Insider Interview," Belcher cast Kaine's victorious 2005 campaign as an example of where Democrats as a party need to go message-wise. Belcher said that Kaine was able to frame his issue positions on controversial matters like abortion and the death penalty as a question of values. Kaine talked repeatedly about his Roman Catholic faith and work as a missionary in Honduras in the early 1980s. That message ran against GOP candidate Jerry Kilgore's effort to paint Kaine as outside of the mainstream for his unwavering opposition to the death penalty.

"The brilliance of the Virginia campaign was when you stand up for what you believe in and talk about it from your values center it can inoculate you from Republican attacks," said Belcher. "When you talk about your policies from a values standpoint it becomes a different kind of conversation."

So is Kaine a trend-setter or just an anomaly in the Democratic Party? Time will tell, although having a Kaine advocate like Belcher at the DNC seems to indicate we'll be hearing more values talk from Democrats in the coming campaign.

(NOTE: There is a link following the article to video of Kaine's response.)


http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[Yollam]

1. When I was channel-flipping I heard Gergen praising him...

Apparently the repugs and talking heads like what they heard, but what I heard of the response was boring, the usual pabulum, and a very weak response to Bush's outrageous lies and disgraceful proposals.

Also, there was something very weird going on with Kaine's face.

There were a TONE of democrats who could have delivered a better response than that.

Hell, I would have preferred a response from DLC Hillary than that lukewarm nonsense.

But what the hell do I know?

[Totally Committed]

2. They've lost their minds... He represents no political Party

I want to belong to. Sorry, but that's the truth of it.

I just want to say one brief thing and then end because I am still too upset by his response to write a coherent and intelligent post about it. But, here's what I want to say: The Democratic Party has got to make up its mind very soon which people it represents. Having a blatant DLC shill out front and center is a slap in the face to those of us who make up, for the most part, the Democratic Party base. The activists. It is also a bad decision to have someone who is so effing weak on the issues the base feels is important: He did nothing to address the war in any way, he is against GLBT issues overwhelmingly, he is very pro-corporate. I was disgusted. I felt humiliated. I felt disregarded. And, I felt disrespected. Again, I had no voice... not even from my own Party. I felt embarrassed that this wahoo was out there speaking for the Party to which I belong.

Tactically, it was another bullet in it's own foot. How many more self-inflicted wounds do they expect people like me to stick around and hurt from? How many more lost elections before they realize they are doing this not only to themselves but to US? I am sick and tired of this Democratic Party mindless, center-to-right, cynical, false-hearted, STUPID bullsh*t. They cannot be this CLUELESS and expect to win ANYTHING. They'll be standing there wondering WTF happened when a HUGE GROUP leaves the Party en masse... because if this keeps up, they will. As it is now, my heart is already gone.

Sorry, maybe more later.

TC

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Thanks, Totally Committed -- sorry for your distress. nt

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. so is that why the Repubs dominate ?-- because they are so centrist?

which planet do these people live on?

[Mass]

5. Let's hope they re wrong.

I'm not somebody who quits easily, but if this is the trend that the Democrats want to follow, they have to think it again.

Let's be clear. I have no issue with value talks, but you have to choose the values you want to talk about.

Here is the English translation of Villaraigosa's response to State of the Union address.

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_3462300

for those who are interested. I dont think there are a lot of differences in the basic issues they cover, but there is a huge difference in how they said it. IMHO, this should be the way the Democrats follow.

[0007]

7. Right on. Thank for the link!

[Armstead]

8. Here's the text to Villaraigosa's speech

I do liike this one better. More fire in it.





English translation of Villaraigosa's response to State of the Union address
Good evening. My name is Antonio Villaraigosa. I'm Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. And I'm a Democrat.
But I'm not just here tonight as a spokesman for my party.

I'm here as a concerned father and as a proud American.

Where else could someone like me the son and grandson of immigrants get a second chance in life and go on to become the mayor of the second largest city of the greatest nation in the world?

I'm here tonight to talk about a future in which more Americans have the same opportunity that my family had.

I'm here to say that our country's best days are ahead of us.

But I'm also talking to you tonight because I'm concerned about the direction our country is headed in.

I'm worried that too many hardworking Americans are earning less and losing faith.

And I'm concerned that we're not investing enough in our children and in our economic future.

In the end, it really doesn't matter whether you're a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent. It doesn't matter what part of this country you come from, or what language your family speaks at home. It doesn't matter whether you get to work in a fancy car or on the bus.

We are all part of one American family.

This is a great country. And we've always been strongest when we've fought hardest for one another.

Democrats are committed to bringing our country back together as the family that we should be.

We had hoped to hear the same from the President tonight.

Instead we heard the same defense of the very policies that have divided this country over the last five years.

So, let's talk about the real state of the union.

Next month, because of the reckless policies of this administration, America's national debt will rise to nearly $8.2 trillion dollars. I am here tonight to say: we are mortgaging our children's futures, and it is morally wrong.

Today, 46 million Americans and 39 percent of Latinos, many of whom work full-time at the hardest jobs, don't have access to health insurance. We can't be a healthy nation if we don't face this challenge once and for all.

Today, 6 million children are on the verge of failing out of school; and eleven million Americans can't read a bus schedule or fill out a job application. It is time to put the issue of fixing our public schools to the front and center of the national debate.

Under this administration, 4 million people have fallen from the working class into the ranks of the poor. And the new jobs that are being created pay less than the ones we've lost. We need an aggressive national strategy to build the skills of our workforce and to promote America's competitiveness in the global economy.

Our troops are serving bravely in the Middle East, but Americans are increasingly divided and doubtful about the objectives of this mission.

We owe it to our men and women in uniform and to the families awaiting their safe return to present a clear and credible plan to complete the job and bring them home.

The truth is that together, America can do better. And it starts with restoring our sense of national community.

My mother, Natalia, taught me this. A women of indomitable spirit. A single mother who raised four kids in East Los Angeles. Who rode the bus nearly every day of her life. Who worked two jobs just to put me and my siblings through college.

In her quiet way and in her infinite grace, she taught us all the things worth knowing. She taught us about working hard. About the obligation we all have to create a better life for our kids. And about a set of values that says that there is nothing--nothing in the world--as important as family.

And as we grew up, we came to understand that the obligations that she talked about extend beyond our doorsteps. And beyond our neighborhoods. That the child who doesn't finish high school, that the small business owner trying to make their dreams come true, that the mother looking to provide affordable quality health care for her children they are our family too.

Democrats want to end the Culture of Corruption and bring honesty and integrity back in government.

Democrats want a health care system that will cover everybody.

Democrats want a strong public education system.

Democrats want to create jobs and make America energy independent.

Democrats want comprehensive immigration reform that respects our neighbors, makes America safer and stronger, and that gives hardworking people who play by the rules a greater opportunity to realize the American Dream.

Democrats want a strong national security based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers, and our allies.

Above all, Democrats want to unite this country again.

We need your voices and your vision. And above all, we need your participation.

We are all in this together. And as Coretta Scott King reminded us, God bless her soul, we are all Americans. Thank you. God bless America. God bless you all.

[iconoclastNYC]

6. DLC wing of the party must be stopped.

Tim Kaine seemed like an untrustable weakling to me. He seemed mealy mouthed and effeminate.