Obama's VP List: A Few Good Men -- And No Women?

If last week held the potential for a woman to grace the Democratic ticket in the Number 2 spot, this week the wags seem to be working to dispel that notion. In today's New York Times, Adam Nagourney and Patrick Healy offer up a list of potential Obama vice presidential picks, and then swiftly dispense with the only woman on it: Kathleen Sebelius, governor of Kansas. Likewise, on Meet the Press today, NBC Political Director Chuck Todd and MSNBC host David Gregory discussed an Obama veep list that included no women. (This week's media potential-veep sweetheart? Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, with whom Obama is traveling in Afghanistan and Iraq.)

But the part I find so maddening about this turn of events is the reason given for the absence of a female contender. From the Times:

If he does not choose Mrs. Clinton, several Democrats said, it would be difficult for him to name any woman -- like Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, someone for whom he has had warm words. Both Clinton and Obama advisers said such a move could create a backlash among women who supported Mrs. Clinton.

Sorry, but that just doesn't ring true. Sure, I'd expect the Clinton folks to say that (especially those who purchased the HRC2012 domain name.) But Obama supporters who toe that line are likely buying cover for a decision that was made for other reasons. Maybe it's been determined that it's just too risky to put a woman on the ticket with a black man. Maybe Jack Reed or one of the other male contenders bring to the ticket other qualities that political experts deem more important than the competence and red-state savvy that Sebelius is said to possess.

But the notion that voters mad at Obama because, being a young man, he swept past a 60-year-old woman who has paid some serious dues -- that those voters then would be miffed by the nomination of a 50+-year-old-woman who has paid some serious dues simply makes no sense. It has no internal logic, which obviously would not disqualify it in the eyes of those who think that older women -- and let's face it, that's what is meant by "disaffected Hillary voters" -- lack the capacity for logical decision-making.

Here's how that rationale plays out: Let's say I'm a woman over 50 who's totally jazzed by the notion of someone who looks like me, who's had to eat a lot of the same crap I've had to take, becoming the President of the United States. Then this young guy, just like that self-important jerk I trained in his junior exec years, sweeps right by her, just like the jerk swept by me, to become CEO. I'm mighty pissed, and I may not vote for you. So don't you dare put someone other than my choice candidate on the ticket, even if she looks like me and has had to eat a lot of the same crap that I've had to take...

Sorry. Does not compute. Works only if you see the Clinton campaign as a cult of personality, despite the fact that Mark Penn had the candidate put her personality in a box and shove it in the closet.

Comments

[JimNauseam]

Obama needs somebody to beef up his foreign policy creds: Wes Clarke, or even Colin Powell.

[JaneEyrez]

With all due respect, I feel, as a woman, that we would be unwise as Democrats to load up the ticket with too many historic firsts. We are already close to overload with the first mixed race candidate, so I don't feel that in the interests of political correctness we need to put a woman on the ticket, which may prove, in the mind of the general population, to be a bridge too far.

[drolleen]

Obama should get a VP that has some strengths he doesn't have (military know how, finance background, high tech or energy strength) and understands the senate so that she may run it.

It doesn't have to be a woman, but it should be. There is no shortage, and it is about time we have a woman in true position of power (I hope we get rid of Pelosi. She has not been shrewd and cunning enough in her position. Politics is no game for the good grandma. Hillary could be an amazing senate leader instead of Harry Reid.)

General Claudia Kennedy is a good candidate. Hillary is a good candidate. Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox, may be a good candidate.

Sibelius is not because she has no experience outside of Kansas and no experience in those other areas.

[suzyku]

hillary would be Obama's worst choice! She'd make a lousy President and she'd make a lousy V.P.!
NO to hillary! P.S. I am a 50+ woman

[tweed7t]

yeah, and I am the pope!

[theHardTruthFairy]

In August, Hillary and her supporters should sit down and watch the Summer Olympics.

They'll see hard working young women going for the gold.
They'll see some of those young women winning.
They'll also see some of them wipe away the tears, shake the winner's hand, and accept the silver medal if they come in 2nd place.

There's a lot to be learned on how women should conduct themselves during and after a competition Maybe this is something the young will have to teach the old.

[Rockerbabe]

GMAB! Just what do you know about individual or team sports? Athletics and politics are too different animals entirely. Sport is about personal perfomance on the field [tha includes not lying or using drugs for performance enhancement]; politics is about performance on and off the field and is also about playing the ends against the middle and yes, it is all about lying to get people t give you what you want. In politics, there is no silver metal for 2nd place or bronze metal for 3rd place. The Olympics is all about making money for the Olympic Committee and future endorsement contracts for the athletes. Oh yes, maybe a world title or record for some.

The HRC crowd, so far has refused to be taken for granted; the talk from the Obama camp is just talk we have all heard so many times before; not the change, he swore he was about. HRC and her 18+ million votes and all their money is not something to be taken for granted. Obama and his staff should be courting us as seriously as Mr. Darcy went after Elizabeth Bennet; or just as seriously as he would go after an CEO or military general. Until actions are seens instead of just words being spoken, a lot of us will withhold our votes and money.

[bongogirl]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dajo]

Senator Clinton would be Obama's best choice period, Man or Women!

[GLaB]

Here's your problem, Ms. Stan - the reason "it does not compute" for you.

You say, "Let's say I'm a woman over 50 who's totally jazzed by the notion of someone who looks like me, who's had to eat a lot of the same crap I've had to take, becoming the President of the United States."

This is totally patronizing. People - Women and Men - voted for Hillary Clinton NOT because she "looked like them," we voted for her because she was the BEST CANDIDATE. You perpetuate two insulting lies in one little statement - that all HRC's voters were old ladies, and that they only voted for her because she's a woman.

Neither Sebelius nor any other woman was the CHOICE of 18 million voters. No other woman brings anything to the table that would make her qualified for the Presidency - at least none we know of, because no other woman ran and campaigned. Tossing a clearly unqualified lightweight into the VP post simply because she's a woman would be blatant pandering.

I intentionally emphasized the word CHOICE in the statement above. Since when have women like yourself told other women their CHOICE was meaningless?

[clevelandchick]

If John McCain is elected by women who refuse to acknowledge the CHOICE of the other 18 million that voted for Obama because they felt he was the BEST CANDIDATE then women in this country are going to lose their reproductive CHOICE. Is that what you want?

I was an Edwards supporter who felt that he got completely shafted by the media from day one and they refused to cover his campaign. My CHOICE didn't win either but I'm not some psycho candidate fan that's going to risk a McCain presidency because mine didn't win.

Kathleen Sebelius would make a fine VP. As a two term governor, she has infinitely more experience in an executive government position than HRC. She served in her state legislature for 8 years and as state insurance commissioner (refusing to take insurance lobbyist money). She is wildly popular and beat Republicans in seats they held for 100 years.

Hillary is by far NOT the only woman qualified for the position. Sebelius not only knows how to lead, she knows how to beat Republicans. She'd be a great choice.

[ESerafina42]

He needs someone with NATIONAL experience to counteract his perceived weaknesses in that area. Governor of Kansas just doesn't cut it. The only governor I know of who has that kind of credentials is Bill Richardson.

[GLaB]

So then, Obama selects Clinton as his VP and everyone's happy!

See how simple it is!

[dmclean]

I agree with the assessment that most of Hillary's voters are sophisticated enough to not vote simply on the basis of identifying with the candidate. However, a very vocal minority of that 18,000,000 as demonstrated by their unruly behavior at the DNCs rules meeting apparently lack the ability to draw the distinction necessary to come to terms with HRCs primary defeat. In other words, they took it too personally.

Imagine if Dennis Kucinich's supporter claimed that they were being disrespected and behaved like the party owed them something...everyone would tell them to grow up and realize that politics is a rough and tumble game. Does the best or most qualified candidate always win? Um no. Do we get what we want even half the time, probably not. But when a candidate is decided in a fair and just way, it behoves us all to suck up our anger and disappointment and get behind the person carrying our flag. If you can't do that then I think you were in it for the wrong reasons anyway.

[GLaB]

"Imagine if Dennis Kucinich's SUPPORTER ..."

Freudian slip?

If HE did make any claims, would anyone notice?

LOL

[onenation]

A. Mitchell (NBC) has the same problem. She so loves HRC that any percivable "bias" is put forward in isolated stark light. Today it is that the "press" didn't do the photos in Afg and Iraq. Soooo. Who did the photos when the turkey we have for a Pres did the (fake) turkey thing a few years ago. Who did the photos when McBush had his infamous walk through the market in Iraq? Same military control???
I personally consider the Kansas gov as a good option, but so what. I am not running for Pres.

[jackstpaul]

"a 60-year-old woman who has paid some serious dues"

First of all, age has nothing to do with. Bill C. who was younger than Obama. Some guy named JFK. Data re: age and performance relation?

Hillary's elected office experience is 7.5years in the Senate at this point.

Obama's is 3.5 years in the Senate, and 7 in Illinois legislature.

I think Hillary is qualified to be P, but 7.5 years as significant "serious" experience? Since when? If so, that makes many in Congress as much or, many, more experienced. Look at McCain vs. Hillary"she"s far behind.

Hillary"s 2nd hand experience as Bill"s spouse isn"t insignificant, but not as significant as her supporters and many others claim.

She had, with Bill, no experience in having to work inside the law-making process with a legislature. A few things here or there isn"t "serious." Hordes have experience working with that process as an expert outsider, in including myself.

Her finger wasn"t on the button. She didn't bear the responsibility of Bill"s decisions and duties.

Obama"s time in the Senate gives him more foreign policy experience than Carter, Reagan, Bill, and George W, COMBINED. That plus 7 years in Illinois, and in Senate experience in domestic policy.

Hillary hasn"t been in a leadership position or chair of a Major Committee.

Abandon the canard of Obama as inexperienced. Look at the record of other president"s and nominees. He"s not so relatively inexperienced, and Hillary"s not so "seriously" experienced.

[Freesia2]

Thank you, you outlined that very well. I've always been confused by the lauding of Hillary's claims to vast experience. Written out, it's not embarrassingly deficient, but it's nothing to hold over anyone else's head either or dismiss an opponent. I always thought that was stretching it pretty far.

[flatus]

Let's not double the guy's handicap, ohtay?

[jackstpaul]

There is a cult of personality surrounding Hillary, but it"s not all about Hillary per se. It"s the large number of people who have been at the core of the leadership of the Party, in the personages of Bill and Hilary, who would be, had Obama wont he nomination, no longer allies of, and part of, the power-center of the Party.

With the Clintons usurped by the new coterie, many of those people won't get jobs in the Admin, or input into the Admin and running of the nation.

So for those people, it's not a gender thing, it"s an out with the old boss, in with a new one who has his own collection of allies and kitchen cabinet. Regime changes in corporations, government, and universities--anywhere--has experience this phenomenon.

I've never seen anyone anywhere point this out.

[meta]

Blah, blah, blah. How does the author or any of the MSM Drama Pundits for that matter know who precisely is or is not on the list? Senator Obama is going to select whomever he believes will be the best running mate for him and for the nation.

[jcwtts1]

The reason O can't put a women on the ticket is Hillary Clinton. She spent March, April, and May telling the world Obama had a white male problem, hard working white men won't vote for O, she said it over and over again even though the race ended in Feb, her comments hurt. Running up the score in white male bastions like Kentucky and West Virginia didn't help either, but hey, Hillary is a megalomaniac. I said at the time that the only people losing out because of Hillary's vindictive insane behavior were women. He can not put a woman on the ticket, and he can't be seen as being weak with women groups because after she finally ultimately mathematically lost she tried to blackmail him, and her most ardent women supports went along. Finally, women will vote for O because of the supreems, they know it and we know it. If they had been gracious in defeat we would be magnanimous in victory. Instead they went apes**t and guess what, if you start playing hardball then don't be shocked when hardball is played back. To quote a bad movie "I didn't know you wanted to do business with the Corleone family. All right, let's do business." (GFIII)

[bittertooth]

Am I out of jail yet? Can I please post again. It wasn't that bad.

[Ides]

It makes a perverted kind of sense, although that cynicism implies a lot about what we have begun to think about Hillary Clinton's staunchest supporters. I've heard the "gimmick" ticket anti-woman argument, and that makes sense too. I would rather a woman be on the ticket for personal reasons, despite being a black male, but at this point I'm not in the position to second-guess anyone's judgment.