Any Bayh supporters on here?

[BluegrassDem]

I figured I just probably set off alarms on DU by even mentioning Evan Bayh's name. But I'm curious as to know if anyone knows where he stands on the major issues to the Democratic party such as abortion, affirmative action, etc.?

On the surface, he appears to be an attractive candidate. He's been a successful governor of a bright red state in addition to being a senator. In other words, he seems like the kind that could win the Electoral College with states like Indiana and Kentucky.

Bayh/Obama would be an awful strong pairing, IMO.

[keta11]

1. Too centrist.

[nickshepDEM]

13. No such thing, my friend.

He's been a great Senator. Try getting Ted Kennedy elected in Indiana. See how that goes over.

He will move to the left if he wins the White House, especially on Economic issues.

[saracat]

2. Nope. Not me. His is fairly conservative and has had some obnoxious votes.

I 'd have to look them up but I am sure others know! Anyone?

[gully]

3. Here's some info:

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP9107

[nam78_two]

4. Hey thats a very cool site-thanks for posting!

I usually have used the LCV score card and Humane USA's animal score card, but this is really neat.
All issues in one place...

[gully]

16. My pleasure. I love the interest group ratings personally.

nt

[SaveElmer]

5. Not my first choice...

But I wouldn't have any problems supporting him!

[Parche]

6. bayh supporters

I heard that Lance Bass was a big 'Bayh,Bayh,Bayh' supporter..........

[Contrary1]

7. He voted for the flag burning amendment...

That was enough for me.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. I forgot about that. Wimp.

[gully]

17. Kucinich has in the past as well.

nt

[FrenchieCat]

9. Bayh just as good as any of the other "frontrunners"

if you ask me.

Not a Ubersexual like Obama, and not into the populist route of Edwards', but good looking enough in a non menacing sleepy kind of squared jaw way, and he certainly was/is both a twice elected governor and a senator from a red state with a cute family (twins!) who voted for the Iraq War but is now sorry like most at the top Democratic top tier......so, I mean, why not? :shrug:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. Politics by looks. Great!

:patriot:

[FrenchieCat]

26. Seems that it's about it these days.....

Which explains a few of our pundit announced "Frontrunners"! :patriot: :patriot:

[loyalsister]

10. Women's groups will not go for Bayh

He voted for the partial birth abortion ban.
If you want a candidate who will inspire a large field of volunteers. He's not the guy.

[BluegrassDem]

11. Well he is a politician from a red state

And I'm pragmatic enough that Democratic politicians from Indiana will never been 100% progressive. But I'm gonna watch to see if he moves to the left. If he veers left enough, he may do enough to cause some waves.

For the record, I don't think he'd be as centrist as president as he was a governor and senator as he would be representing the whole country, and not just Indiana.

[nickshepDEM]

12. Yes'r. Since my main man Warner has decided against a run.

I am now up in the air between Bayh and Edwards.

[FrenchieCat]

20. Well you have time.....so you can always just wait and do some

research as to which is the best as to not take a chance in where you end up backing a loser. I know you like to play it safe.....and so, you should!

[nickshepDEM]

34. I call em like I see em, lil Frenchie.

[Jai4WKC08]

37. "LIL Frenchie"??

Pretty condescending, don'cha think? Is that what you resort to when you have no good argument?

Frenchie may well be be taller than you. She's certainly taller than a large percentage of male DUers.

Measured by force of personality, she's one of the biggest DUers I know.

[nickshepDEM]

44. Its all in good fun. It wasnt meant to be derogatory.

And yes, she is a brawler, I know this. She's set me straight a couple times.

[tkmorris]

28. WHAT?

You are "up in the air" about two men who are almost diametric opposites politically? Umm, ok. :eyes:

[wyldwolf]

30. you think Bayh and Edwards are "diametric opposites?"

Edwards leaves office, finds poverty as an issue, and he's suddenly a raging lefty? :eyes:

[nickshepDEM]

35. Well Id like to see how the campaign plays out.

Both bring a lot of positives to the top of the ticket. Like I said, we'll see. I probably jumped the gun a little. Those that know me know I was a HUGE Warner supporter. Now that he has dropped out I will probably look at the entire field, but my hunch says it will come down to Bayh or Edwards for me.

[newsguyatl]

14. no

[Pithy Cherub]

15. Warmed over leftovers from years ago would be better!

Nope, a DLC conservative with an aye vote for war! Blech!

[thatsrightimirish]

18. Since Warner left

I think the person who benefits the most is Bill Richardson. The only governor as of now that is considering running.

[Sparkly]

19. I think we'll see, after next month's elections.

Surely there may be Bayh supporters here, along with Vilsack supporters, Edwards supporters, Clinton supporters, Biden supporters, etc.

All to be welcomed to the debate, imo (but a debate we'll have later, I think).

[saltpoint]

21. Evan Bayh does not have his father's grin, his father's liberal verve,

his father's impulse to defy presidents' Supreme Court nominations, his father's agricultural knack, his father's populist charisma, etc.

He has one gift that papa Birch didn't have, though: he knows how to manipulate conservative Indiana voters, and does it. Birch likely knew how, but acted more forcefully. So forcefully and clearly and honorably and liberally that a brainless dolt named Dan Quayle defeated him in their 1980 Senate race.

During that campaign I heard Evan Bayh campaign on behalf of his dad. Evan was then a poor public speaker. Sincere, and true, but robotic. He has worked a lot since then to be more communicative, and while I hardly put him in Mario Cuomo's league, he is greatly improved from past times.

He's been twice elected governor of Indiana, twice elected to the U.S. Senate, and served as Secretary of State. He and his extremely bright wife met at a law firm, and both of them know how to solve problems. They have photogenic twin younguns. They surround themselves with insightful, resourceful people, many from Indianapolis law firms.

Bayh could carry Indiana if he were on the ticket. I think McCain would be a tough opponent with great appeal in Indiana, but even then Evan Bayh could turn the state blue. It would be a kind of pale blue, as his Democratic tilt is much more conservative than papa Birch. I miss his dad and should not blame the son for not being his father. But I do get homesick for the more liberal Birch Bayh in the Senate.

Evan Bayh is capable, focused, energetic, photogenic, and flush with cash.

He won't leave the 08 field without making a significant mark.

[snowbear]

29. Wow.. One thing I would never say about Bayh is that he's a poor speaker

Of course.. I've never seen him in public and maybe that's what you mean?

Then again.. that's the thing about DU.. most of us have a lot in common, but we sure see different things in different candidates.

I'd mention the candidates I do think are real snoozers.. .. but someone would jump in and completely disagree with me..

So what the hey.. We'll have to wait another 18+ months before we're all rallying around one candidate!

[wyldwolf]

32. I've seen him speak in public and he is quite good... here's a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRNVK_-w7-c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-LP1hqKFa0

[saltpoint]

36. larissa, I credited Evan Bayh with a greatly improved speaking style.

Did you miss that?

But watch him sometime on C-Span. He moves robotically from side to side of his audience with his head pivots, never quite making contact with anyone in the audience.

It's very polished. But there's a robotic, trained aspect to his speaking. Compare him to a public address by Tom Harkin or Dick Durbin -- 2 other Midwestern Democrats -- and you'll see what I mean.

The best music teachers tell their advanced students that the finished, prepared piece should not sound "practiced." Evan Bayh has a lot going for him -- which I indicated above -- but he is not a natural public speaker.

[DaveinMD]

22. Bayh

seems less exciting than burnt toast to me. Not ideology with me. No charisma.

[flaminbats]

24. at least he would abolish the Electoral College..

that puts Bayh on my list of primary candidates, but not enough to win my vote. Before I vote for a candidate I want to see their positions on healthcare reform, stopping this endless war in Iraq, and standing up against this McCarthyism-style scare on terrorism.

I've posted this many times before..one Democrat I will never support, even if he won the nomination, is Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen! :grr:

[WildEyedLiberal]

42. What's up with Bredesen?

I know nothing about him. What's his deal? Does he publicly support Repukes?

[zulchzulu]

25. Evan Bayh is a Democratic version of Lamar Alexander

Decent governor of a red state with the persona of a librarian...

[tkmorris]

27. Here's what you don't get

There is a LOT more to being a good candidate than "Can he win?".

Yes, he would make a fairly strong candidate. But there is a lot more to the equation than simply winning. If Bayh won, what do WE win? Universal health care? No. Civil rights issues? (Gay, women, black, hispanic) Nope. Campaign reform? No. Fairness doctrine return? No again. Outsourcing reform? Not really, no. Less aggressive foreign policy? Again, and repetitively, no.

Bayh winning sounds a lot like McCain winning. The only difference I see is the letter they carry after their name and my friend there is a LOT more to politics than simply electing the right letter.

[BluegrassDem]

39. Winning is everything!

It's kinda hard for us to affect policy if we don't have one of our own in the White House. To say Bayh would be no different than McCain is utterly ridiculous.

[Jai4WKC08]

40. "Everything" but not the ONLY thing

Contradictory as that may sound.

A candidate might be "best" in every other aspect; but if he or she can't win, those qualifications are worthless. BUT, just because a candidate can win does not make them good enough.

I refuse to believe we will not have candidates who are qualified AND can win. In fact, I believe I support one now.

[tkmorris]

41. Ridiculous why?

You tell me where they differ. Right off the top of my head I can't think of anything substantial.

Furthermore your ENTIRE argument for Bayh contained not one word about his actual position on any actual issues. You may as well have been describing your like for a contestant on Survivor: Washington. I take politics a little more seriously than that.

[wyldwolf]

31. uh oh! New boogyman for DU

Yes, I support Evan Bayh (along with the other candidates who may or may not be running.)

[Totally Committed]

33. WAY WAY WAY too conservative for me, thank you....

AND he's DLC, to boot. He won't get my vote.

TC

[Arugula Latte]

38. Not I.

Nope. No way.

[IndianaGreen]

43. Go to the DU Indiana Forum

and there you will find how shallow is Bayh's support among Indiana Democrats when it comes to the Presidency.

Someone like Wes Clark has a better chance of carrying Indiana in 2008 than "favorite son," or empty suit, Evan Bayh. Hillary will do disastrously bad in Indiana compared to other Democratic rivals such as Edwards, Kerry, Gore, to name a few.

[SaveElmer]

45. Yes he is so unpopular in Indiana...

That he has been elected Secretary of State, Governor twice, and Senator twice...

Really sounds like they hate him there...

Bayh is the ONLY candidate who would stand a chance in Indiana...

[IndianaGreen]

46. Your knowledge about Indiana is as profound as Bush's knowledge

about the Middle East.

Bayh would not carry Indiana, but Wes Clark could.

[skipos]

47. Bayh's latest approval is 61% in IN. Pretty good.

Personally, I don't know if ANY Democrat could carry Indiana, it is so red. Presidential candidates usually get a 10% boost in their homestate, not enough for Bayh to carry IN, not enough for Romney to carry MA and not enough for Edwards to carry NC, IMO.

[skipos]

48. You are missing an important addition to your statement

"There you will find how shallow is Bayh's support among Indiana Democrats..." ON DU. DU doesn't represent your average Democrats. Hence Hillary gets little support here, but lots of support in national polls.