I'm Beginning to Think Obama Will Need a Woman as His VP

[Bullet1987]

Screw all that Webb, Clark stuff...Obama will need to get the older woman vote back before he tries to win the General Election. With the unlikelyhood that it'll be Hillary...I think Kathleen Sebelius would be a GREAT choice! That way older women can come back and not think that somehow men are out to shaft Hillary (no pun intended). Who are some other respected and qualified women? Someone in another thread mentioned Barbara Boxer...

44th President of the United States...Barack Obama!!!



44th Vice-President of the United States...Kathleen Sebelius!!!

[Connie_Corleone]

1. Anyone but Hillary.

I can go for Sebelius. She would be an asset in Ohio too since she grew up here.

Also, I don't think Obama needs someone with foreign policy experience as VP. He'll have foreign policy and military advisors in his administration.

[From The Left]

17. Hillary's not a woman. She's a Monster

[helderheid]

2. I've often wondered if it shouldn't be required. If a man wins the nom, female VP and vice versa

[SharonRB]

3. Sebelius and Boxer would both be good

Boxer possibly better because she has some foreign affairs experience, which will be very important. She is on the foreign relations committee.

[Seabiscuit]

16. Boxer's too intelligent to join forces with Obama.

How about Geraldine Ferraro? Now THERE's a ticket for you!

[Coexist]

4. what about Claire McCaskill

[sfam]

9. Would prefer someone with executive exp...nt

[Bullet1987]

10. Claire McCaskill got there in 2006...the same year Jim Webb did

That's the same reason I don't want Webb to be his running mate. It doesn't help with the experience argument if you run with someone with less political experience on the federal level than you.

[Coexist]

13. I know - just tossing it out there. Also,

having another Senator in states that are tough to elect Dems in wouldn't be so smart.

I imagine his team already has a short list... I would love to see it.

[DevonRex]

19. Ooh, that's worth considering...

Hadn't thought about her.

[Dinger]

5. Yeah, Why Would We Need A Military Person On The Ticket With mccan't As puke Nominee? (nt)

[backscatter712]

6. Sebelius is decent.

He could also use a person with foreign policy or military experience.

Biden or Webb would be good choices.

[sfam]

7. Agreed. Sebelius would probably be a fine choice, and would help out west...nt

Although the Governor of Ohio would be a great choice too.

[Bread and Circus]

8. I absolutely agree. Not sure exactly who yet, I'd have to research their backgrounds.

But I think a female governor from a RED state would be a good choice for a lot of reasons.

* Can win over voters in a RED state
* Can help solidify interest and enthusiasm of women on the left and right
* As a governor, would have EXECUTIVE experience

I also think on many grounds, Obama would have to give serious consideration to Clinton as well.

[Bullet1987]

20. He's going to appear to give consideration to her...

He's not just going to come on TV and write her off. I wouldn't have a problem with Clinton if she and Bill weren't so damn toxic. I'm also worried about an ex-President being in the White House and potential power struggles.

[book_worm]

11. Does that mean that Hillary will need a black man to win as her VP

because Obama does better among female voters than Hillary does among African-American voters.

[Strelnikov_]

12. Yep

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=4775396#4775455

[stray cat]

14. National security will be an issue as will experience

especially against McCain. If the dem nominee can't keep the dem vote - the person is hopeless in the GE anyway.

[cloudythescribbler]

15. I've been arguing for a female VP for some time -- & if & when Obama becomes presumptive nominee ...

Democrats of various ideologies should get together and, as happened in 1984, when there was the widespread insistence on "a feminist not a Feinstein", there should be a united call for a woman (preferably NOT HRC -- there's better ways to 'make her happy' without endangering the election outcome any more than necessary) on the ticket. Boxer, Sebelius, and others have been suggested.

I agree that the issue of 'foreign policy experience' has a certain illogic to it as Obama can find plenty of knowledgeable foreign policy people; HOWEVER, it MIGHT influence PERCEPTIONS in the face of what can only be expected to be a tsunami of withering attacks of the '3AM phone call' (and talk about ILLOGIC!) by or at least on behalf of the McCain campaign. Hillary running more strongly, at least briefly, after a slew of completely ridiculous attacks on Obama should be a wake up call that 'logic' ain't the only thing that determines election outcomes. I would also note that the 'experience' issue may also not be valid (as Obama has pointed out in regards to various KINDS of experience and the issue of judgment) but again, Boxer's many years (decades) in the Senate really address the experience issue where many people, again not necessarily logically, need reassurance. In running against McCain, her age (68) ordinarily not necessarily a plus, might also help (look how weakly Obama runs in FL against BOTH HRC AND McCAIN). My sense is that Barbara Boxer would in the glare of a campaign help in FL as well as in other places. I am not in a position to say Boxer is any better qualified to be president than Sebelius or other women considered (although I personally would rather see her as president than HRC); I'm not the kind of political maven who knows all the politicians backwards and forwards.

But as for Boxer, she is one of those who might not have even had the inclination to go into the primary fight, but would really be about as good a president as is electable (same story as Obama).

I would be interested in some knowledgeable people going into more detail about the pros and cons of specific female possibilities for VP spot, rather than everyone just going through the same list of names.

[Metric System]

18. This is insulting! We are Hillary supporters. Sebelius and McCaskill leave me cold (and in the case

of the former drowsy). It's as insulting as saying that Hillary should take on Harold Ford or another African-American not named Obama if she's the nominee. We don't support Hillary just because she's a woman, and I assume you all don't support Obama just because he's an African-American. So no, I don't want a female VP just for the sake of having a female VP. This isn't to take away from the women you mention or to suggest they aren't qualified.

[woolldog]

22. What about Boxer?

[Metric System]

25. There's nothing wrong with her as VP, IMO. But speaking for myself, I have no passion for her so

for me, she's no replacement for Hillary.

[Bullet1987]

24. Even though you may feel insulted...this is not outside the realm of possibility

[anonymous171]

21. Hillary might be his only option.

I wouldn't mind having the "fighter" as speaker. She might kick some repug ass in the senate.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. Obama is going to need a true Miracle

[Ravy]

26. Surely he is above seeking someone for a job based on gender. nt