A V.P. Hint? VP's Convention Day Is Veteran Themed

Does the schedule for August's Democratic convention provide any clues to whom Barack Obama will pick as his vice president?

On a conference call on Monday morning, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and top ranking aide Anita Dunn announced that the theme for Wednesday -- the night on which the vice presidential candidate is scheduled to speak -- will be national security and honoring veterans. The choice, a reporter noted, lent itself to the interpretation that Obama would choose a running mate with background in military affairs -- like, say, Sen. Chuck Hagel or John Kerry.

Sebelius tried to nip the speculation in the bud.

"I think it is clear that Sen. Obama will announce his vice presidential choice when he is fully prepared to do that," she said. "It is my understanding that every potential vice presidential choice also has a speaking slot, so nothing should be read into themes, issues and ideas. There is an array of talent out there and when the senator makes that announcement you will be prepared to know."

But her answer fell somewhat short, leading Dunn to interject before the next question could be asked. "Wednesday night is thematically about securing America's future, it is about honoring our veterans and the families of our veterans... and how to make us safer and move past the divisiveness and into the future. I think anyone Sen. Obama picks as Vice President will be more than prepared to address those issues."

As for Sebelius, she was asked to divulge whether she, currently, was being vetted for the running mate spot.

"I have made it clear since I enthusiastically endorsed Sen Obama that I would be enthusiastic to do anything I can to help elect him president of the United States," she said. "Because I believe we need a leader just like him to take over the helm of this country and have the kind of change desperately needed. All of the information about the vice presidential selection process is being answered by the campaign. All the surrogates have been ask to defer requests for information to the campaign. And I will continue to do that."

Comments

[Keith52]

It's going to be Chuck Hagel. I think that would be brilliant. He's a left leaning Republican who is also a Vet. I think it's brilliant. But then again Barack has his own criteria sooooo I could be wrong. He and Sebelius look soo good together, hahahaahaa! I am really interested in his choice and reasons. Should be interesting!

[JackND]

How is he left leaning?

[JohnnyJohnson]

Here's the best Obama VP pitch I've seen yet. Some "emo" kid is launching a music-based push to be added to the shortlist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AvL-9PzIVk

Seems like Obama can't afford to run a campaign based so strongly on emotional components unless he's prepared to become a poster boy for the "emo" lifestyle movement.

A hilarious campaign video and a nice moment of levity in the midst of all this speculation.

[chendri887]

Fight, fight, fight! War, war, war! Go, go, go, Team USA! All-the-time! Has it ever been any different? Will it ever be? Ugh.

[tgood]

It should be Biden in the President's chair, not the Vice President's. Americans were too busy playing "worship the rock star" to even notice Biden. He knows what he's talking about and has done quite well for the American people. Not perfect but at least he uses more common sense than most.

[RRK70]

Biden's name was dropped in the "Cash for access" scandal video.

Biden has been in Washington WAY TOO LONG to not be tarnished with some dubious lobbyist ties.

check out this blog which sums it up quite nicely:
http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2008/08/stephen-payne-a.html

any ammunition being used to criticize McCain for his lobbyist ties would vanish overnight when picking Biden.

Wes Clark is my pick

[adropofpoison]

Wesley Clark's my pick too.

[LizM]

RRK70

I feel compelled to say that you seriously need to reconsider the sources you use for your information. I wouldn't go around touting that link anymore, either.

It is clear that you have no idea about who Joe Biden is much less anything about his character and integrity. It really is ironic because the real change agent here who has demonstrated that he is capable of making change happen by working against the grain and conventional wisdom and who is beholden to no one, it is Senator Biden.

Yes, he has been in Washington for a long time. But, did you know that Senator Biden has never lived there and commutes everyday from Wilmington...by train, no less!?

I can assure you that you are quite incorrect to imply, as you do, lobbyist ties - dubious or otherwise. If you go around making claims like that you are simply going to have to do some real research and back those claims up with facts. I hope you do that research because I am sure it won't take long for you to become a Biden supporter - I would bet the farm on it...unless it's in Iowa!

[Chubbster]

Yes but it isn't Biden. It's always useful to employ reality as a reference point. What is the use of wishful thinking?

[boopboopadoop]

Absolutely true! Biden is without a doubt the most qualified and sharpest of the bunch.
He was totally, egregiously ignored in the Primaries. I campaigned for him, and it was like campaigning for The Invisible Man. As much as I like Barack, he was not the strongest choice.
Too bad the American public, in their infinite wisdom, couldn't see that.

I would have loved a Biden-Obama ticket. But if it's the other way around, I'll take it in a heartbeat.
Biden will strengthen the ticket. And I would absolutely relish watching Biden in the VP debate...that's truly Must See TV!

America got it wrong. Now I hope Barack gets it right.

[Fabienne]

Common sense when he voted for the war in Iraq?

[lostinLosAngeles]

I haven't had a chance to scroll through the comments in thier entirety, so please forgive me if this has been covered already.

But, Anita Dunn of Squire Knapp and Dunn has been working for Evan Bayh long time.....looooonnnnggg time...in fact, he was really her only client of real note in the past few years.
and now Anita Dunn works for Obama....hhmmm interesting, especially since earlier this year she was considered "neutral" in the race...now she is on his payroll..
now for those of you who don't see where this is going...
Evan Bayh has former governor on his resume (read executive experience), and serves on the Committee on Armed Services AND Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (read "thematically about securing America's future" as Anita Dunn so eloquently states herself) AND the dude didn't raise taxes the entire time he was governor of Indiana (read "Mr. Bayh's record is one of a genuinely fiscally conservative Democrat," reported the Wall Street Journal in 1992)...so he's got all the chops that they are looking for especially since he is still young enough to fit in with Obama's image....

Personally - on one hand, any Democrat that characaterizes the DLC as "progressive" (yep it's right there on his website) is a joke, he is so-so on reproductive rights and he voted for Bush's Iraq war...on the other hand, i love me some fiscally conservative democrats....
yep, i think the cons outweight the pros....

[Ninety-nine degrees]

I think the press as overlooked an obvious pick.
- Stress national security and honoring veterans? Check
- A running mate with background in military affairs. Check.
- A running mate from outside the beltway? Check

- The pick: Former Georgia Senator Max Cleland.

[RRK70]

thought about him too, he has disappeared in recent years it seems. I prefer Wes Clark though, I don't think Cleland has nearly the command experience that Wes Clark has.

[112985]

OBAMA CAN PICK WHO HE WANTS FOR VP, IF HE DOES NOT HAVE A WOMAN ON THAT TICKET I AM CALLING FOR ALL WOMEN TO VOTE JOHN MCCAIN - REASON BEING HE IS DISRESPECTING ALL OF US - HRC HAD 18,000 VOTES AND THAT SHOULD MEAN SOMETHING, HE DONT CARE ABOUT HRC SUPPORTERS HE FEELS WE ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM - THIS WOMAN WILL CLOSE HER EYES AND HOLD HER STOMACH AND VOTE JOHN MCCAIN I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HIM.

[iamjoyce]

Oh, calm the frack down. I'm a woman and love Hillary, but this race is too important to throw it to the Repugs just because our little feminine feelings are hurt. As a woman and a mother, one should think about sending our children off to a McBush war, not cutting our nose off to spite our face!!!

[mexicanamerican1948]

I agree, Obama is disrespecting all Hilliary Clinton's supporters. It is disgusting. There was a time when my party the Democrat party was democratic, and not part of back room deals that we have to go to the altar the front runner. What happened to the Latino and Latino Women who supported Clinton? They are not even on the Bus, but thrown below the bus...

[PopulistPagan]

That would be the dumbest thing you could do. There is no reason any woman should vote Republican. Unless you have a huge self esteem problem, dont like to make any decisions for yourself, like being held back, think your daughter should concentrate less on Science and more on finding a good man, would like to forget about any reproductive rights.

Hillary Clinton would be ashamed to hear you say all that! Please use your head not your vajayjay.

[Jared137]

All women? All women are not that stupid. Hillary is not for change. She is a status quo Senator who will do anything her lobbyists ask. She does not deserve to be on the ticket.

However, she would make a very sharp supreme court justice. I will give her that.

[poppaculture]

This woman (or WOMAN as 112985 all caps herself) is in for A LOT of anti-Female legislation & judicial rulings if she allows McCain to win. YOU SHOULD BE CONVERTING OTHER ANGRY WOMAN TO OBAMA (and using upper and lower case text). Even if McCain picks a female VP. wake up and smell the regression.

[KidsGoneNow]

i recall reading that McCain has a big fat "0" - yes, ZERO - rating on favorable votes on women's issues. How any woman could even think of voting for McCain is just beyond my comprehension. The same applies to any man who has daughters. McCain wants to send womens rights back to the dark ages. Shame on all of you - what a ridiculous vote..............

[iamjoyce]

Please God, Please God, Please God...let it be Biden!

[as if]

Here here!!

[vfippinger]

I second that!

[RRK70]

Biden's name was dropped in the "Cash for access" scandal video.

Biden has been in Washington WAY TOO LONG to not be tarnished with some dubious lobbyist ties.

check out this blog which sums it up quite nicely:
http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2008/08/stephen-payne-a.html

any ammunition being used to criticize McCain for his lobbyist ties would vanish overnight when picking Biden.

Wes Clark is my pick

[Revrob56]

Can we say VP Wesley Clark?

[RRK70]

PLEASE select Clark. And the news has been oddly silent on him as a choice. I give credit to the Obama campaign on not leaking information, he seems to run a tight ship, bodes well for a president.

[longislandlol]

It will be Biden...

[Think82]

Biden... i'd said it since obama got the nom.

[The5thW]

I hear McNeoconredux has decided to subcontract the Vice Presidency to Eric Prince, or rather his foreign lobbyist puppet masters have.

[sharonh]

General George Washington.

[DevilAdvocate]

Folks it obama/biden, I have wanted this for so long!!!! I'm so happy!!!!

[jrterrier]

it's not sebelius, she's speaking on tuesday along with hillary. so is rendell, strickland and napolitano all on tuesday. haven't seen anything on when biden, richardson, bayh, mccaskill or dodd are speaking. so it could be anyone of them.

[Eisen4Life]

It'll be Jack Reed. In a nutshell, he's a Catholic Army Ranger/Senator. As for the state he's from, well, there's an easy response--"old Washington logic says that you don't pick a VP candidate from a small state with few electoral votes that you're likely to win without the person on the ticket....but I'm not willing to pick a running mate or lead the country based on what Washington has said in the past..."

[SensibleAmerican]

That'll just magnify Obama's glaring lack of overall experience, substance, service to the Country and any Foreign Policy credentials!!!

[RRK70]

-Experience like the Keating Five Scandal?
-Substance like singing songs about bombing Iran?
-Foreign Policy credentials like having chief advisers who are lobbying for Mynamar and Georgia and referring to the Iraq Pakistan border?

no thanks