Please, someone sell me on Tim Kaine....

[Coexist]

because I have a feeling he will be the VP pick - and that depresses me. I remember him only from giving the Democratic response to the SOTU. And I remember thinking, "What were they thinking??"

He was flat, boring, lackluster... I'm sure there must be more to him than that, since he was elected in a state that elected Jim Webb, so please tell me what it is.

He seemed to "good" - the whole 'minister's son' thing maybe, but the VP really needs to be an attack dog, the one who can say things Obama can't. I can't imagine anyone less suited for the role than the Tim Kaine I saw that day.

So please, help me out - I don't know where to look for that info.

Also, does anyone know his position on Choice?

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Here in Virginia, he is adored.

Like Mark Warner adored.

[Coexist]

2. Please tell me about him - I really want to like him

why is he so popular?

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Personally, I think he is very personable.

Actually, one of my friends works for him. (Would rather not say in what capacity on the forum, but you can PM me)

He treats people decently, is committed to education. (a big plus for me)

As well, he's reasonably moderate in a very red state. He and Mark Warner have continued to put the state on the right path since the disaster that was Jim Gilmore. When Warner took over, the state was a fiscal disgrace. He moved it to one of the best managed states in the country.

Kaine also took busloads of people to the Million Mom March when he was City Manager of Richmond. That alone earned him my respect.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. He appeared on Faux Noise against Pawlenty and mopped the floor with him.

He had a strong command of the issues. He was very convincing as a surrogate for Obama against my horrible governor, Martin O'Malley during the primaries. It's o.k. that he may not be the most dynamic speaker. He's the VP not the president. He has been an extremely effective governor and is very popular.

[Coexist]

6. thanks, I found the transcripti and am reading it right now.

[Coexist]

26. even better, a link to the video

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=1248732&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/fns/

[Barack_America]

36. Just watched it. It was hilarious how Kaine always kept his cool, while Pawlenty...

got extremely agitated and developed a dozen tics. lol.

[saltpoint]

5. Agree that he is not a window-shattering charisma machine on that SOTU

response, but on the other hand, I wonder if Obama might be looking for someone who won't tell Patrick Leahy to "go fuck himself" on the floor of the U.S. Senate, which is the Cheney model. It might be a case of Obama wanting to restore the ethical notion of public service to the office of the Vice Presidency.

Haven't seen any specific remark about it, but am thinking also that Obama is interested in a veep who understands the need for community service generally, not unlike the sort he himself did in the greater Chicago neighborhoods and finding in Kaine's mission service the same kind of public model of commitment to the service for others.

If Obama is going for the service-to-others emphasis instead of the fatten-the-pockets-of-my-Big-Oil-buddies emphasis of the Bush/Cheney administration, Kaine could be a solid pick.

He's Catholic, and that Demographic could well decide Pennsylvania and key districts elsewhere.

Virginia has purpled considerably from even 10 years ago, and Kaine's approval there could take it plumb away from the Republicans in November.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. I forgot about the Catholic part.

And, the SOTU address was a good one, it's just that that eyebrow was so distracting. He's not Bill Clinton in speeches, that's for sure, but he would be a solid pick for VP.

[Coexist]

8. thanks - I went through his Wki page

and he was big into fair housing/public service, which would seem to mesh well with Obama.

[saltpoint]

13. Hi, FLDem5. Yep. It would be kind of refreshing to have a vice president

who is approachable, collaborative, and considerate after 8 years of Dick Cheney.

Jack Reed seemed to all but rule out accepting the veep nod at the end of this week, although politicians have been known to change their minds.

That Kaine isn't making a whole lot of public tours with Obama raises his odds, IMO, rather than lowers them.

Up until this week, I thought Gov. Sebelius might be the choice. I'm not so sure now.

[Coexist]

27. for quite awhile I assumed it would be Sebelius

so I got all eductated on her, and I really, really liked her. But now for some reason, I think Kaine is the choice. I'm getting to know Tim. Like I said, the only time I've ever seen him is that Dem. response, and Ugh... that was bad.

thanks for your help, OldCrusoe.

[saltpoint]

30. The thanks is owed to you for putting this thread up. You've drawn a lot

of participants who are eager to talk with you on a current and important topic.

That's not only proper use of a forum by the OP, that's top-drawer democracy as Madison and Jefferson envisioned it.

Continue to kick butt!

:toast:

[CreekDog]

9. pro life and anti death penalty (i just don't see it)

it's not as conventional a choice as it seems once you get past Virginia.

[Midlodemocrat]

10. The prolife part comes from his religion, I think.

[CreekDog]

18. oh yes and the death penalty too (i don't dislike him)

but the noise that would create might just be too much for him to be chosen.

and...HEY YOU! :hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

21. Hey back

:hi:

I think he'd be a good choice for VP. It would help to carry the state, IMHO.

[CreekDog]

24. Virginia is a game changer

i'm sure i'll be pleased with whomever he chooses. :)

[AllentownJake]

11. He's not Evan Bayh

or Chuck Hagel

[Eurobabe]

12. He's a nice enough guy, but he's not very well know

outside of Virginia. I met him while campaigning for Clark in 2004. And then when Tim was running for Gov,. at a dem BBQ in Crozet.

I don't think it will be him. I'd be surprised.

[grantcart]

14. On paper he is the strongest candidate

1) Catholic - this will be a great help in IN/OH/PA and other states with the old ethnic neighborhoods where Obama trailed Clinton

2) He is active in his faith and was a lay missionary - this will put further pressure on "moderate evangelicals"

3) He is fluent in Spanish and I would love to see him campaign in Florida Texas and Arizona in Spanish

4) He is from two key states: He was born and raised in Missouri and has lived as an adult in Virginia.
If we simply take all the Kerry states and add these two states we win.

5) Personally he is against abortions but I don't know how this formulates in public policy. While I don't want the platform to change I do want us to start embracing those Democrats who consider themselves "pro life".

6) He was the first politician outside of Illinois to endorse Obama. He gets Obama and they have a very good relationship.

[saltpoint]

16. grantcart, I want it all. This is want I want. I want the Democratic ticket

to win big in November. I want you to keep posting on DU. And I want you to be a part of community problem-solving wherever you are in the world.

Kaine's command of Spanish slipped by me completely and you brought it into focus. A campaign stop for the vice presidential nominee in Tucson or Brownsville or Pueblo to address audiences in both English and Spanish significantly raises our chances in NM, NV, and CO, for example.

Agree with you on Missouri and Virginia as well.

[Coexist]

25. thanks for that info

can you tell, me is his anti-choice stance a personal feeling or something he would feel pressure to legislate?

[grantcart]

32. I think it is personal

But don't feel qualified to comment


I will say that I have relatives who are inclined to vote Democratic but have a problem with this one issue. I think it is most unfortunate that we haven't found a way to get them in our tent.

[Thrill]

15. Popular Governor of Virginia, Catholic, Midwest and Appalachia connections

Speaks very fluent spanish. And he kicks everyones ass on the talk shows for Obama

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. Yep! Democrats need to start thinking strategically and realistically.

We cannot pick who we want: the most liberal/progressive candidate. It doesn't exist and it wouldn't be a winning ticket. Sadly unless Americans change their views on what liberalism is, we have to choose someone who is as close to that as possible. And given the slim pickings, Obama is the best bet. As for Kaine, yes, he is personally anti-choice and death penalty. However, he's NOT for overturning Roe or amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. Yep! Democrats need to start thinking strategically and realistically.

We cannot pick who we want: the most liberal/progressive candidate. It doesn't exist and it wouldn't be a winning ticket. Sadly unless Americans change their views on what liberalism is, we have to choose someone who is as close to that as possible. And given the slim pickings, Obama is the best bet. As for Kaine, yes, he is personally anti-choice and death penalty. However, he's NOT for overturning Roe or amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage.

[Catchawave]

17. Very moderate, but having problems with

his Republican General Assembly right now.

I believe he's pro-life and a former missionary, and very well liked in Purple Virginia. He could win the state.

[saltpoint]

22. Your reflexive impulse to blame the Republican legislature versus Kaine is

PERFECTLY FINE WITH ME, and right-on besides.

Agree with you also that Kaine likely gives us Virginia.

And we'll be pleased to take it!

[Barack_America]

23. Why yes, FLDem5, I can...

Let's first get started on choice. He is my choice for VP, but this is his biggest drawback, IMO.

He refers to himself as "philosophically pro-life". He is a devoted Christian and Catholic. He also opposes 'partial birth abortion' (but I don't know his position regarding the health of the mother). Yet, as Governor, the only thing he has done regarding choice that really ruffles my feathers was regarding parental consent laws. But he also ruffled feathers among the pro-lifers by nixing abstinence-based sex education.

Here's a thread I started a month or so ago, where I highlighted his assets. There was a lot of good discussion in the comments below, too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6345519&mesg_id=6345519


Gotta go walk my dogs now...

[Coexist]

28. great thread - thank you for that.

[Coexist]

29. great thread - thank you for that.

[katandmoon]

31. At least he's a DEMOCRAT

[westerebus]

33. Good man.

Followed into Mark Warner's shoes as Virginia's Governor as governors are limited to one term here. Keeps them on their toes and limits the damage they can do. He is a liberal in support of education, job growth, and good governance. A moderate on taxes and spending. I wouldn't say he was adored by everyone in the state. He leaves the hunters and gun owners alone. And they leave him alone. He works hard at getting the message out on what it takes to run the state. Roads are a big issues here. Not enough money for all the growth that's taking place. The DC and the Beach crowd suck up all the construction money. So the rest of the state makes due. School funding is a priority as is availability of education and quality education is always on the top of the agenda. All things he is committed to. Virginians get real piratical when it comes to taxes and how they're spent. Gilmore helped undo the Repug hold on the state with promises he could not keep even with his own party in power.
We are turning purple as a state, I would not under estimate the fundies or the right wingers in this state though. They did not come out to vote for Allen because he was a total embarrassment in 2006 which helped Jim Webb get elected. That is the real contrast in the state within the party. Both work well and both have their own appeal to voters here. A lot of Virginians were not happy with Gilmore when he started his bid for the White House the day after he became Governor. Mark Warner beat the day light out of Gilmore's suppose shoe in successor.
Tim Kaine is a catholic and is opposed to abortion on PERSONAL beliefs, same with the death penalty. As he stated going into the election, the laws are the laws and he would abide by the laws. He is a good man and a good Governor.

[Coexist]

34. what a lot of great information.

thank you.

[westerebus]

35. Your welcome. n/t

[Barack_America]

37. Watch the first 4 minutes of this video...

Kaine gives a pretty good summary of his selling points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBZgzDeHOQo