Why I think Sen. Obama should consider Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana for V.P.

[Douglas Carpenter]

With Sen. Webb removing himself from considerations and Gen. Clark looking less than likely - I think Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana deserves the highest considerations for the Vice Presidential nomination.

(my apologies to those who have read already my post on this)

The Democratic Party's weakest points in a general election is in small towns, rural areas and mid size cities. In the state by state counting needed in order to win in general elections, things would play out very differently than exclusive Democratic Party caucuses and primaries in places like Wyoming or North Carolina. For the Democratic Party to develope and maintain status as the strong majority party, I cannot see how it can be done without broadening appeal in the West, the South and border-states and making a respectable showing in small towns, rural areas and mid size cities. So from my point of view, the V.P. candidate needs to be a populist Southerner or Westerner or border stater who appeals to small towns, rural areas and mid size cities.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/countymap.htm

My personal favorite would be Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana. He is a populist rancher from Montana who is generally populist and progressive on most issues - except gun control where he is strongly supported by the NRA. That speaks for his region. And frankly that would remove a huge electoral liability in the South, the West and in rural and small town America. However he is a strong environmentalist and was vehement vocal opponent of the Iraq War even calling for withdrawing the Montana National Guard from Iraq.

--- And get this he lived and worked in Riyahd for seven years and speaks perfect fluent Arabic. Just imagine what it would do for the world and for the interest of peace in the Middle East if the President of the United States had the name Barak Hussein Obama and the Vice President spoke perfect fluent Arabic!

And take a look at the image that he portrays that helped him sweep Republican Montana with 70% of the vote -- would this sell in small town America and among working class people and in the West and the South and border states?





From the actblue website:

"Brian Schweitzer is a different brand of politician who has earned our support based on his willingness to speak truth, and let the chips fall where they may.

A businessman first, he understands Main Street issues at his core, fighting for lower taxes, better health care and education, and the creation good-paying jobs.

A soil scientist by education, Brian lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years, speaks Arabic, and created the largest dairy farm in the Middle East.

As Governor, he has become the nation’s strongest voice for sensible energy policies in an effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while protecting the environment from the dangers of global warming.
Brian understands that energy security will create new jobs and technology for export, expanding our tax-base, reducing our trade deficit, and saving our
environment.

An opponent of the Iraq invasion from the start, he further understands that you can’t win a war when you’re funding both sides of it."

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And my thanks to MercutioATC for contributing on another thread this youtube link and some additional information regarding Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana:

Watch this Charlie Rose interview with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0i9o-ThOPM

Governor Brian Schweitzer is a farmer and rancher who held no elected office prior to being elected as the first Democratic Governor to serve Montana in 20 years.

The grandson of Montana homesteaders, he grew up on his folks’ cattle ranch in the Judith Basin. Governor Schweitzer went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in international agronomy from Colorado State University, and later earned a Master of Science degree in soil science from Montana State University.

He worked overseas on agricultural projects and has visited 37 countries across the world. Governor Schweitzer oversaw the building of major irrigation projects and the construction of the world’s largest dairy farm in Saudi Arabia.

With his unique global perspective, Governor Schweitzer is a leading national voice to end our addiction to foreign oil by developing clean and green American energy with Montana leading the way.

Under Governor Schweitzer, Montana is on the move:
• Created more jobs at higher wages than anytime in history.
• Cut more taxes for more Montanans than any other time in the state’s history, including a $400 rebate to Montana homeowners.
• Increased Montana’s electrical generation capacity more during his administration than the previous 16 years combined where the state is one of only two states in the country to have increased oil production; in fact it’s up by 50%.
• Invested more in both K-12 and higher education than any previous administration – while also capping tuition at our state’s colleges and universities, the first such effort in a generation.
• Increased the number of children on the Children’s Health Insurance Program by more than 3,000 now providing quality healthcare to more than 16,000 kids and giving the future a healthy start in life.
• Montana’s bond rating has been upgraded for the first time in 26 years with Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s Investment Services – a sign of sound fiscal management in state government.

Governor Schweitzer married his college sweetheart Nancy; they have three children and a now-famous border collie, Jag.


He's smart and he really appeals to rural America.

[Oleladylib]

1. We have to know the "name"...we don't.

Obama has to be the only newbie on the ticket...As liberal as we dems profess to be, we still like the familiar.

[Skwmom]

3. The country wants CHANGE. They are working overtime to take away the

change message. The country wants AUTHENTICITY. They are working overtime trying to paint Obama as another phony politician.

An Obama/Schweitzer ticket would represent change and authenticity that they couldn't overcome.

Americans will feel COMFORTABLE with Schweitzer. Picking a typical well-known politician would hurt his message.

It would be such an exciting ticket that it would suck all the oxygen out of the race.

Americans are FED UP with Washington politicians. Why do you think the talking heads are CONSTANTLY talking about Bayh etc. for his VP?

Schweitzer would excite Obama's base and bring on board Independents and Republicans. How many VP picks could do that?

Don't pick someone who displayed bad judgment in voting for or supporting the war b/c it will take away one of the core messages (it's about judgment).

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Speak for yourself.

I'm fully familiar with Schweitzer, love his policies, and every time I speak I'm more impressed. Schweitzer could appeal to the good ole boys out west that Obama may not have convinced yet.

The nice thing about liberals is that we're constantly educating ourselves. If you don't know anything about a topic, read about it or google it.

[Skwmom]

2. It will kill the "Obama is a typical politician, not about change" that the media, the Republicans

and others have been hammering.

[wyldwolf]

4. Here are some good pieces on him

His speech at the DLC's National Conversation:

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=106&subid=122&contentid=254424

... and a profile:

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=254497&kaid=104&subid=116

[tokenlib]

6. Schweitzer would make for an exciting ticket...

The lack of name recognition would be overcome quickly. The "lobbyist" skunk hide on the wall would gain him attention and respect. Instead of outdoorsy set-up photo ops--you get a real westerner rancher, hunter, gun-toting character who is intelligent and strong. He brings foreign policy strength as a businessman who has knowledge of the Middle East.

Let's face it--some of the more "well-known" dems are boring or milquetoast. Picking Schweitzer would be genius----