Caroline For Veep

I don't imagine that Senator Barack Obama's veep vetting team is paying much attention to what I have to say, but I want to make the case for who I think the Land of Lincolner should pick for his running mate.

Since Obama became my party's presumptive nominee on June 3, names like Joe Biden, Tim Kaine, Evan Bayh, and Kathleen Sebelius have dominated the headlines. Jim Webb and Mark Warner took themselves out of consideration earlier this summer, and there's been speculation this week that Hillary Clinton has been asked to deliver the keynote speech at Tuesday night's convention, which pundits say rules out any chance that the junior New York Senator might speak as a Vice Presidential candidate in Denver (never mind that Tuesday, except in 2004, has traditionally been the Vice Presidential nominee's night anyway, which the talking heads seem to overlook).

Obama can't tap Joe Biden. I like the senior statesman from Delaware quite a bit, and had he not voted the way he did on the Bankruptcy Bill, I might have considered supporting him -- but how can Obama's insurgent campaign to change the game of Washington politics put someone on the ticket who has been showing up to work at the Capitol every day since 1973?

The same goes for Evan Bayh. Before I ever thought Senator Obama would run, I liked Bayh's midwestern appeal, and closely followed the moves of his political action committee, All America PAC, as he campaigned across New Hampshire throughout 2006. Bayh has a centrist appeal, lots of experience, and could give Obama the best shot of any Democrat to carry the Hoosier State, which hasn't voted for a Democrat since 1964. (When Bayh was up for re-election to the US Senate in 2004, he beat George Bush in votes in every county in Indiana.)

Flat out, Kathleen Sebelius and Tim Kaine have no foreign policy experience. When Obama's biggest flaw, in the eyes of his biggest critics, is a lack of experience in international policy, why put Tim Kaine or Kathleen Sebelius on the ticket, who both have served in public office for less time than Obama (Sebelius was first elected Governor in 2002, Kaine in 2005)? Even with the ability to boast executive experience, Barack Obama already has the "leadership" quality going for him.

"But Ben, you've torn apart the shortlist!" I hear you cry.

I never thought I could say this about any issue, but Obama should take a page from George Bush and pick the head of his search committee: Caroline Kennedy.

Sure, it's an ambitious choice. But Obama for America has been an ambitious endeavor from the beginning. You can come right back at me and charge that "she has no foreign policy experience," and "she's never lead anything!"

Caroline Kennedy has experience as a lawyer and a member of our greater American and world community. Not only has she represented Camelot and our nation, but she's been a witness to the inner-workings of government for decades, while maintaining her role as an outsider.

Critics have said that Senator Obama can't put another woman on the ticket as it might anger Hillary supporters. I think they are right. Putting Kathleen Sebelius on the ticket is simply putting a female governor on the ticket to put a female governor on the ticket.

But Caroline Kennedy has the experience and training necessary to lead, and as Vice President, could help to restore our image in the world. She's my choice, and I hope I get to cast my vote for her in Denver.

Comments

[JonBFertippton]

I support Robert Kennedy Jr. He knows all the issues and is committed to protecting the environment. He has integrity and decency of a sort that no Republican, including McCain and his cohorts, can demonstrate. He was a Hillary supporter and has friends in high places in California.

[Maezeppa]

"how can Obama's insurgent campaign to change the game of Washington politics put someone on the ticket who has been showing up to work at the Capitol every day since 1973?"

How can anybody take Obama seriously about "change the game" when he stole that exact line from George W. Bush who used it in 2000?

[RRK70]

Um, maybe because Bush is a 3rd generation Washington insider, so the statement was a bold lie the moment he uttered it, whereas Obama is actually a Washington outsider.

[GunnyJ]

I agree, this is a super choice, a choice we are ready for and change we really need. Like Obama, a fresh face with fresh views and no polictical ties/agendas would be just what the doctor ordered. Ms. Kennedy as VP would leave no doubt that Obama is truly serious about change we can believe in.......

[JimR]

It's a nice idea, but one of the criticisms of Obama is that he doesn't have enough experience. So you propose a running mate who has even less experience?

[Ben Goodman - Huffpost Blogger]

Caroline has a different kind of experience. She's been an inside witness to the game for most of her life.

[JennyJay]

Hilliary had all those years as FIRST LADY, and she thought that was plenty of experience to run for the top job. . . . And Caroline has all those years of charity work and helping run her father's library, and now you think that qualifies her for VP?
What planet do you live on, that you would require so little from a possible president?
Charity work? . . . First Lady? . . .
No way.

[SEQUOIABISON]

She gets my vote, her experience as the daughter of a president a mother an author and her solid credentials as a liberal democrat are qualifications enough for me.

For a more formidable ticket I would go with:

Obama/Clark

or

Obama/Caroline

[Halsey]

I'm not sure what the author is thinking...Caroline has NEVER fun for office....and..umm...if something happened to obama...is truly NOT prepared to be POTUS...cabinet position...absolutely...!... UN Ambassador...would be GREAT!!!....

Yes...Biden made a big mistake with is backruptsy vote...but jeez loueezz...no one has ever ever been perfect. Flawed, and insider..no real charisma..."but"..he does counter any argument about international experience..and there are ZERO repubs currently being considered that can touch that experierence.... I guess I'd have to say..Biden/Clark/Richarson(who seems to have waned)... would compliment the ticket.... somenew old..(Biden)...something NEW (OBAMA)...

[banjobailey]

I agree with you. Biden would be a good solid choice. Obama absolutely needs someone who "knows" Washington. He needs someone who knows how to swim with the sharks. And he needs a "fighter" on the campaign trail. Biden can fulfill that role with wit and humor and seriousness of purpose. Plus, he has the added advantage of being probably one of the most savvy, experienced, and knowledgable Democrat about foreign relations. We ALL need that.
None of us can afford to throw the baby out with the bath water: we cannot parse an experienced person's voting record into a thousand shards and then refuse support because of some things we cannot abide. We simply have to accept the strengths AND the weaknesses.
After we get into a hugely different position of power, in other words, after we win the election, well, then we can set about achieving our goals.

[Whinger]

Obama should choose a woman as VP as a mark of respect and acknowledgment of equality and change coming to the American way of life!

Caroline Kennedy would be ideal.

[ESerafina42]

Again - I can see the ads - "the affirmative action ticket." Hillary is the only woman who has the stature to live that down, and the votes of a little less than half the people who voted (or caucused) in the primaries. But to choose someone with no discernible qualifications or experience, except for three years (as a CHILD, no less) in the White House, would make him a laughing stock. I know she's done good things, but like being shot down over Vietnam, that does NOT qualify someone to be President, and a VP needs (unfortunately) to be ready to take over at a moment's notice - that's their main function.

[mrohrbe]

I get the drift here, but if we're going to think outside the box, why not have Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as VP. He's brilliant, an expert in energy and green issues, and a veteran consumer advocate. He was a prominent Clinton supporter, has a name that brings back memories of a reform/populist campaign of the past interupted, and as a Kennedy would draw in working class whites and cautious hispanics to the Obama fold.

[bluehorizon]

Nope. He supported Clinton at a crucial time in the primaries. I don't see how he should be rewarded for that. The same goes for Bayh, Rendell, Strickland, Clark, and the rest of the Clinton cronies.

[ESerafina42]

In case you haven't noticed, bluehorizon, your guy WON - would you PLEASE get over it? If no one who supported Hillary is allowed, regardless of their other qualifications, you are shutting out a good-sized portion of the Democratic party. Honestly - how childish can you get? Oh, and by the way, he needs the votes of her supporters, AND he's always yammering on about unity across the aisle - he needs to unify his own party first.

[StephenDedalus82]

The only name in the Democratic universe that could neutralize Obama's "foreignness." But we're in this fake new cold war now, we need someone credible on international affairs.

[ESerafina42]

Apart from her last name, WHAT ARE HER QUALIFICATIONS? Ooooooo - three years of her childhood spent in the White House. I've said it before - I can see the ads: "The Celebrity Ticket." He needs someone who can offset his lack of foreign policy credentials, with executive experience, military experience, and a degree from Oxford in political science, philosophy and ECONOMICS would be nice.

Two words: Wesley Clark.

[Rosanneofpgh]

NO! NO! NO! With all due respect to Caroline, not even she, with the magic of the Kennedy name, could help Obama get elected. No woman could. The american male voter will NOT accept a ticket with a black man AND a woman on it. The timing just isnt right.

Besides, being a very private person, I dont see her out on the campaign trail and exposing her family to the outrageous slanders that would be sure to follow the announcement of her candidacy.

Obama needs a mature white man for his veep. Joe Biden is the first one who comes to mind. Chris Dodd would be good as well.

Selecting a female running mate would be the dumbest thing that Obama could do at this point.

[bluehorizon]

I agree, and this is even more believeable coming from a female.

[JimR]

I agree. Way too risky.

[beaupritchard]

"How can Obama's insurgent campaign to change the game of Washington politics put someone on the ticket who has been showing up to work at the Capitol every day since 1973"

Exactly ... I've been trying to make the case for Caroline Kennedy as vVice President for a while now. Caroline is right on so many levels.

First it should have been done a month ago to put this "must appease Hillary Clinton" thing to rest. Caroline Kennedy is the kind of role model democrat women could and should embrace. There are as many and maybe more who would support Caroline if there were time made for them to get comfortable with the idea.

Delay served to extend Clintons moment in the spot light. Obama should recognize that until there is no hope for Clinton and even after there are some clintonites that will not vote for him. We get over it ... we move on.

[beaupritchard]

Secondly this should be the message ... a new broom and a clean slate.

The most effective campaign ad I've seen makes the point that McCain has been there for every bad thing that has happened in the economy for the last 26 years.

McCain has been there for the decline of the steal mills ... for legislation that moved textile mills off shore ... for electronics industry being given taxbreaks to go to Japan.

McCain has been there as a generation of americans were consigned to poverty at the stroke of a pen in Ohio ... Michigan ... Pennsylvania.

Obama is not making the case for his presidency partly because he believes it can be won in just appeasing the clinton vote ... he should get off his ass and make the case.

Caroline should drag him aside and tell him ... don't lose this worrying about losers like the clinton supporters.

[flyonthepost]

I prefer Wes Clark as VP. Why isn't he on the "short list"? I hope Caroline considers getting more involved in politics and runs for an office herself, or maybe she could work in the cabinet somewhere else.