Let me preface my comments with this note: I'm not one to really follow the "veepstakes". I consider it a waste of time and energy, especially when, where I live, summer is really short.
However, after several days of online murmers that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is at the top of Obama's short list for VP, I have to weigh in.
Choosing Kaine would be a huge mistake, especially in the eyes of pro-choice Democrats. It would also anger and alienate Hillary Clinton's supporters further, not only because Obama chose someone other than Hillary, but because he chose somebody who is fundamentally antithetical to Hillary on a signature Democratic issue: abortion/choice.
I'm betting this is a trial balloon of some sort. But I am queasy about it because I haven't seen any red flags about this on the influential "left" blogs (Huffington Post, MyDD, Daily Kos, TalkLeft). One exception is Melissa McEwan at Shakesville. Thanks, Melissa!
Pro-choice, sadly, is seldom at the top of many males' hierarchy, but for women (who comprise 60% of Democratic voters), it is a fundamental Democratic Party principle and has been for as long as I can remember. Choosing Kaine would be a huge betrayal by Barack Obama and to the longstanding pro-choice principle of the Democratic Party. So, I hope the rumors/murmurs about Kaine are just that.
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