Sebelius No Longer Denying VP Talks

[babylonsister]

Sebelius No Longer Denying VP Talks

By Jonathan Allen | July 11, 2008


Kathleen Sebelius is no longer denying that she is being vetted by Barack Obama's campaign.

The 60-year-old Kansas governor told me on Thursday that she was never vetted for the vice presidency in 2004 but declined to make the same pronouncement about this year's process.

Asked whether Team Kerry ran the traps on her, she flatly said "No." Asked about this year, she said "Any discussion about this process is being done by the campaign itself."

Just last month, Sebelius told McClatchy Newspapers that she had not yet been vetted.

"There has been no discussion with me or anyone else on my team about serving as vice president," she said at the time.

Her reply Thursday is not exactly a smoking gun, but "no" is such an easy answer when it's true -- and she has given it before. It is at least an opening of the door and probably a hint that she is being vetted.

more...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/vpwatch/2008/07/sebelius-a-no-1-seed.html

[mix]

1. i like her

but not sure how she would help the ticket...how is Obama polling in KA anyways ?

[thoughtcrime1984]

4. They won't win KS. OH might be helped a bit, as her father, Jack Gilligan was a popular Gov. there.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I can't get excited about her, but I can certainly support her--

I just wonder what all the Hillary folks will do about this. They liked HILLARY, not just any ol' lady.

[thoughtcrime1984]

3. She isn't just "any ol' lady", sheesh!

Look into her a little, she has an extensive, relevant political career. Her father was a popular Governor of OH, which is where she may help the most. What she would bring most to the ticket is an excellent background as a leader, and she carries herself in a very dignified manner. Sebelius would be a true leader of our country, should we need her to step up.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Well, I'm not calling her that, I'm saying that might be the perspective

of someone who supported Hillary. If it came down to Hillary and Sebelius, let's face it, a lot of people actually cast votes for Hillary, and she's already run the race and is experienced at campaigning, so I can understand their point. I just would rather have someone who knows more about foreign policy, intelligence, and national security issues for VP--that's my personal preference. Not saying Obama is weak in those areas, but it would be a good "visual" for anyone uneasy about him being able to keep us safe and get us out of a war.

[highplainsdem]

6. Sebelius won't help. Hillary is the only VP choice who can unite the party.

[Colobo]

8. You're wrong. True Democrats will rally around Obama with or without Clinton.

[paulk]

45. so you, who voted for Bush just a few years ago, now think

you're up to the job of defining what a "true Democrat" is?

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[highplainsdem]

13. Not "whining" -- just stating a fact. Polls have shown that the party isn't united,

and that most Democrats favor Hillary Clinton as VP.

Obama can of course choose to ignore those facts. I hope he doesn't. I'd like to see a Democratic victory in November, and we'll need a united party for that. And in terms of uniting the party, the other VP choices aren't even close to Hillary Clinton.

Choosing her becomes even more important with every day that passes, too. If Obama really thinks he can choose someone other than Clinton as his running mate, either during the convention or right before the convention, and come out of that convention with the Clintons and their supporters solidly behind him and the usual post-convention bump in the polls, he's kidding himself.

[Hope And Change]

17. A fact?Hmmm....Not according to the latest Neewsweek poll...

Finally, at the end of the piece, Newsweek tells us the good news for Obama:

Concerns that he would be unable to unite the Democratic Party after the bruising fight against Clinton appear to be unfounded. Only 17 percent of former Clinton supporters say they will vote for McCain in the general election, and 19 percent of undecided voters are former supporters of the New York senator. But 61 percent of registered voters who support Obama say they support him strongly, compared to just 39 percent who say they strongly support McCain.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/poll_race_tightens_majority_sa.php#comments">Link

Now show me your facts.I will be holding my breath...

[Inuca]

38. Even if most dems

favor HRC as VP (which I very much doubt, but I guess it's possible), you do not win the GE based solely on the democratic vote.

[paulk]

46. the problem is this

for an awful lot of Obama supporters "unity" is just another slogan, like "hope" or "change we can believe in". You just say the words, tap your heels three times, and presto! - it happens!

[Zhade]

49. It's quite possible to unite Obama and clinton supporters WITHOUT CLINTON.

Most of her former supporters aren't online whiners petulant enough to fuck themselves over by voting for mcLame just because Obama won fair and square.

[davidpdx]

24. Some have clearly been pushing Hillary Clinton for the VP

position on here and will do anything to make Obama look like he is desperate and needs her. That not the truth though. I'd like to see those continuing to push their little agendas take out back and tombstoned.

[MonkeyFunk]

26. Of course you would

I've never seen a more totalitarian group of dems than I've seen around here these past few months.

[davidpdx]

27. Dear Ignored

Have fun in iggy hell. Personally I don't care what you have to say.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Writer]

10. I think Obama's choosing Sebelius would hurt any inroads he's made with Clinton supporters.

[shadowknows69]

30. Fuck em, then they probably wouldn't have voted for him anyway

[Zhade]

50. EVERY former (right?) clinton supporter's that petulant?

Really?

They'd fuck themselves over by going for mcLame just because Obama won fair and square?

Whatever. A few dozen idiots won't sink the nominee.

[Labors of Hercules]

12. bullshit. Hillary will divide it more than unite it...

And why the hell would Hillary supporters vote against the ticket if another woman is chosen for VP, but vote for it if a man is selected?

That is just plain sexist and stupid.

[4themind]

21. In the end

if he thinks he needs her, he will pick her, if he thinks he does not need her he will not. The consequences of his actions (in terms of winning or losing) will not be known until after the election, I'd hope that you (or also the opponents of her being on the ticket) would temper your words with the recognition of THAT fact or disprove it.

[Writer]

7. It does have the feeling of being some sort of consolation prize.

I'm not a fan of the idea personally.

[Colobo]

11. Sebelius and Obama have had a close relationship since the campaign started.

She'd be a great choice.

[Writer]

14. As I said earlier, I think his choosing Sebelius would erase any inroads he's made...

with Clinton supporters. I think a lot of Clinton supporters would view Sebelius as merely a stand-in - a lesser accepted alternative to satiate the need for a woman in that spot.

Nothing against Sebelius personally, but I think this will hurt the party.

[PM7nj]

18. So Hillary is the only woman allowed to be VP?

In my opinion, that sounds quite.... sexist.

[Labors of Hercules]

19. That's because it is.

Hillary people will support a man on the ticket, but not a woman if it isn't Hillary?

Sounds to me like they're cutting off their noses to spite their faces...

[Cosmocat]

36. I agree ...

Nothing against anyone in any way EXCEPT the MSM, which WILL do everything in it's power to paint this as a poke in Hillary and her supporters eye ...

The day it would be announced, not a word about how the historical moment to have an African American and Woman as the ticket, it will be "DID OBAMA SLIGHT HILLARY !!!"

The day before the election, either way, it WILL be framed around this - slightly ahead despite slighting Hill/behind because of slighting Hill ...

Nothing against Sebalis in anyway, nothing against Hill in anyway ...

It just is a high fastball in the middle of the plate for the MSM ...

[Beacool]

23. Hey, neither one is an ol' lady!!

Though I don't want Sibelius as VP.

[Karmadillo]

15. Sebeliuzzzzzzzz!

nt

[Mudoria]

16. She brings zero to the ticket. Doubtful she can even swing

her own state blue in the election (shades of John Edwards). There are better candidates out there especially ones the general public has actually heard of.

[elkston]

20. I really like her, but she doesn't bring much, IMHO.

The only woman that works is Hillary. Any others make the ticket too "radical" (1 black guy, 1 woman) and it also could be perceived as a slight to the Hillary supporters.

[adoraz]

22. If she got the slot, it would be for one reason-

her gender. I'm sure she is an excellent Governor, but she brings absolutely nothing to the ticket. The only reason she is getting any attention is because she is a possible woman other than Hillary.

I'm not saying she wouldn't be a great VP, she probably would be, but Obama needs someone who will bring something to the ticket.

If he picked her, I think it would back fire because many would see her as a way to just appeal to the women "Democrats" who won't support Obama because he beat Hillary, and I don't think that would work anyways.

[shadowknows69]

31. Being a Governor she has tons more executive experience than Hillary

Which makes her a better choice right out of the chute.

[adoraz]

34. true, if I have to choose between the two I would pick

Sebelius

[paulk]

48. you can't ignore Hillary's experience in Arkansas

where her husband was a three term governor.

I know you will, though.

Anyone who has followed the Clinton's career knows that they are a team. She wasn't just baking cookies all those years.

[Zhade]

51. "they are a team" - which is exactly why she WON'T be Obama's VP.

He's likely not interested in having two VPs.

[shadowknows69]

52. Sorry, much as you wish it, being married to someone

does not automatically transfer that person's experience to you. I'm sure Hillary is an excellent executive's wife. Too bad that job is already filled.

[fujiyama]

28. She's a good female governor?

So what? There are others out there...I don't see any excitement and I don't really understand what she brings to the ticket and I get the feeling that many Hillary supporters would be disappointed if a women other than her get the nod. It's silly, but some would feel like it's rubbing it in, or as another poster said, a "consolation prize".

What about Napolitano of AZ? She's likely be more effective among Latinos, a block Obama needs...and I heard she's popular. Obama has little chance of taking AZ (about the same as taking KS), but perhaps she'd be effective in NM.

Personally, if Obama wants to go with a female, I'm leaning towards Hillary. She has a loyal base (especially among many working class voters), as does Bill. Many are getting nostalgic about the Clinton years and the pick could in some ways be reassuring to such people. There is little doubt, she could boost fundraising and excitement. She'd help unite a strong united party. She's also very competent and capable. I can't believe I'm saying that, but I think she's done what she could since dropping out to support him and since then I've figured a ticket with the two of them could have a good chance of winning. Yes, Bill complicates things and I respect Obama for being uncomfortable about that fact, but I'm sure Obama can utilize him in an advisory role of some sort (though the way Bill's been acting, not listen to him too much).

My #1 pick right now is Joe Biden, but right after him, I hope it's Hillary.

[Maureen1322]

33. I agree completely with your post.

Biden is my first pick. I can't help but feel that picking a woman other than Clinton is like sticking a pacifier in my mouth and telling me to run along.

[barack the house]

29. Sebelius works for me. She's great.

[cornermouse]

32. This is a mistake.

You're basically going to lose a democratic governor in a state that is usually republican. She needs to stay in Kansas and encourage Kansas to remain in the democratic column. Having her remain Kansas' governor would also be useful support in future endeavors to either aid Obama's policies or spike McCain's, depending on who wins.

[mystieus]

35. I love Sebelius. please pick her!

[skooooo]

37. She's got a funny name.

[democrat2thecore]

39. Obama-Sebelius Is a Mouthful. And....

You can already see the bumperstickers the Republicans would print up:

"Vote OBAMA-SEBELIUS and Obama Will Fail Us"

I'm strange I guess, but I think about these kinds of silly things. With that said, she is one impressive lady. I'm still hoping for Biden, but I'd gladly support Sebelius. (Bumpersticker hell notwithstanding.)

[skooooo]

41. Silly things matter sometimes...

..but he should pick who he thinks will be best.

[thewiseguy]

40. Dont do it Obama.

[Imagevision]

42. If you supported Hillary bigtime, how would you feel if Obama chose another woman for VP.?

are you kidding?! and then Obama ask's supporters to contribute 12 million+ to pay down Hillary's past debt? hahaha...

[democrat2thecore]

43. I you supported Biden and Obama chose another man....see?....That's not what this is about. -nt

[That Is Quite Enough]

44. I love Sebelius, but this would energize the sexist vote.