Veneman?
posted at 8:33 am on July 26, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Either the Barack Obama campaign really likes sending reporters on wild-goose chases on their VP choice, or they have become desperate for any Republican that might join the ticket. Yesterday afternoon, Politico reported that they’ve floated the name of Ann Veneman as a potential choice out to Capitol Hill allies — and sent them scurrying to Google her. Veneman served as Secretary of Agriculture — for George W. Bush:
Barack Obama’s vice presidential search team has floated the name of a member of President Bush’s first-term Cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, as Obama’s running mate.
The search committee, now led by Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, raised Veneman’s name — among others — in discussions with members of Congress, two Democrats familiar with the conversations said.
The mention of Veneman’s name surprised Democratic lawmakers. The low-profile Republican was close to food and agriculture industries but clashed with farm-state Democrats and environmentalists during her tenure, which lasted from 2001 to 2004.
Surprised? One unnamed Democrat responded to the suggestion from the VP committee by asking, “Are you serious?” Not only does Veneman have no electoral experience and no name recognition, the Obama campaign has been hammering John McCain for his closeness to the current Bush administration. How can they McSame McCain if they have one of Bush’s Cabinet picks on the ticket?
The primary job of a running mate is to be ready to serve as President if, God forbid, the elected President dies or becomes incapacitated. How exactly does Veneman meet the criteria? She has no military experience, no electoral experience, and no legislative experience. She has more executive experience than Barack Obama, but Veneman used that to push deregulation, a direction that’s anathema to Democrats.
Team Obama wants to show unity by putting a Republican on the ticket, and this seems to indicate that Chuck Hagel has refused that honor. The “unity ticket” is nothing more than vanity anyway. It implies that the Democrats have no one qualified to serve as VP, and it’s not going to convince Republicans to support Obama. It’s show without substance, and perhaps especially so in Veneman’s case.
If Obama picks Veneman, some Green leaners might jump ship to Nader, and everyone will wonder about Obama’s decision-making process. As the initial reaction to this trial balloon shows, they’re already starting to wonder about it.
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Green leaners?
Are really such things?
In any case, the addition of a woman to the ticket would be political genius.
drjohn on July 26, 2008 at 8:38 AM
Shhhh! Ed, don’t warn them away from it!
Yes! Yes! If he picks her, I’ll vote for Obama. Yes, pick a unity ticket. Yes We Can! /s
p40tiger on July 26, 2008 at 8:40 AM
Payback to the ungrateful press and pulling McCain’s nose for all the Rep VP distractions while Barry was on his ‘world tour’.
Then again…
OBAMA/VENEMAN’08!!!!!!!
Limerick on July 26, 2008 at 8:41 AM
The PUMA dames would go throught the roof. And probably campaign for McCain.
The only way Obama can put a woman on his ticket and justify her not being Hillary is to say she had to be a Republican for national “unity.” Yes, shhhhh, Ed. Don’t anger the gods that might send this gift.
Wethal on July 26, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Obviously, they are going to look for “trick” candidates… by that I mean, not a candidate with ability and experience, but the coolest woman or minority candidate they can find. They want appearance not substance Especially in a VP! After all, if the VP looks more experienced, smarter and more connected than Barack, they have a problem. The 2nd on the ticket overshadowing the top man.
Barry will have trouble finding a good VP candidate, my bet.
Warner Todd Huston on July 26, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Having said that, I hope he does it but I doubt he will. This is the response to McCain’s float of Romney.
I also agree with Warner.
drjohn on July 26, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Does anyone really doubt that Obama will pick Hillary?
JetBoy on July 26, 2008 at 8:51 AM
My money is on Caroline Kennedy.
JonRoss on July 26, 2008 at 8:57 AM
Heh!
4shoes on July 26, 2008 at 8:57 AM
Why, so she can publicly decline and completely undermine him?
“I’m very honored to be asked to by Sen. Obama to serve has VP but I think I can better serve the people of America and my constituents of NY in the Senate. This country has been left in dire straights after 8 disastrous years of the Bush admin. and we need strong leadership in the Senate to help get this Nation back on track. I want to be a part of that effort.”
It’s easy being a Dem. The garbage writes itself.
TheBigOldDog on July 26, 2008 at 8:58 AM
Venkman?
locomotivebreath1901 on July 26, 2008 at 9:00 AM
The press is so funny. All Barry has to do is say, “Look over there! Shiny!” and they all go running. There is no way
Barry ObamuhDavid Axelrod is going to choose anyone associated with Bushitler, and no way Michelle will allow another woman to upstage her own ego. On the outside chance this is true, Denver will be more than exciting. I bet Hillary’s ears perked up when she heard this for sure.SouthernGent on July 26, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Sure – if you’re John McCain. There are a lot of Hillary supporters who are not so “green” that they wouldn’t love to hear a smart Alaskan LADY tell them the truth about the Coastal Slope. I don’t need to tell you folks (I hope) that not all soccer moms have traded in their SUVs.
rhodeymark on July 26, 2008 at 9:02 AM
You really think she would? If Obama were far behind in the polls right now, she would. She’d have 2012 on her mind.
Can’t argue with that.
JetBoy on July 26, 2008 at 9:07 AM
She is a political threat and he doesn’t want anyone that could possibly be a political threat. He also needs someone with less experience then he has which he can’t find unless he digs down into the lower ranks and finds a government worker with no political experience and completely unknown. The icing on the cake is that they be Republican which sends the message that people believe so deeply in him that they change sides. I really don’t think his ego could handle anyone that would be perceived as having more experience because he doesn’t want to have the conservative whining that he is just a puppet and the real president is the VP. The dems have never liked it when their own tactics are used against them.
jmarcure on July 26, 2008 at 9:09 AM
I don’t think Hillary is the least bit interested in being forgotten and rotting as VP. She can get on TV every day of the week as Senator. That won’t happen as VP.
TheBigOldDog on July 26, 2008 at 9:09 AM
I didn’t think of that angle but it’s good.
jmarcure on July 26, 2008 at 9:10 AM
And say how much better she would be in 2012.
jmarcure on July 26, 2008 at 9:11 AM
Exactly. With Kennedy gone she will be the new, “Liberal Lioness” of the Senate and be on National TV everyday pushing her agenda. As VP she has to get permission to speak and push his agenda – I can’t imagine that happening – I could be wrong.
TheBigOldDog on July 26, 2008 at 9:15 AM
This is jsut a distraction…
catmman on July 26, 2008 at 9:15 AM
To get people to stop talking about skipping the troops maybe?
TheBigOldDog on July 26, 2008 at 9:18 AM
BHO’s handlers wouldn’t allow for Miss V to be picked. He’s the student here not the teacher.
Picking a VP is like picking an opening act. You want ‘em good, but not better than you are. That’s going to be tough for B. Hussein ’cause everybody is better than he is.
Mojave Mark on July 26, 2008 at 9:20 AM
A good thought, but would he want the Kennedy mystique overiding his own? OTOH, since he’s a JFK wannabe, he might want to ride that horse.
a capella on July 26, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Re:
Hell, they don’t have anyone qualified to serve as President and that isn’t stopping them!!!
I still say Mc should let The Messiah choose first and then Mc “see’s his _____ and raises him a _______” (fill in the blanks with whatever gender/minority/etc applies). Nothing to be gained by announcing now.
Dingbat63 on July 26, 2008 at 9:27 AM
TheBigOldDog on July 26, 2008 at 9:18 AM
A+
catmman on July 26, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Everyone know that MSM is out of touch with Reality. Politico is Obamedia. Air comes out of many ways. This is one of ‘em.
Anita on July 26, 2008 at 9:39 AM
What’s Harriet Miers up to?
andycanuck on July 26, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Well, Obameister doens’t need anyone with foreign policy experience, aince he has it now.
I can just see the acceptance speech now..
I have travelled in many lands [if this is Tuesday, it must be Israel]….
I spoke with commoners and kings [but not the troops in Germany]…
I have lived abroad [grade school in Indonesia, two weeks in Pakistan]….
And travelled this great country [but only where I could get a good photo op and some waffles]….
Wethal on July 26, 2008 at 9:44 AM
So, if you guys are right we have a choice in 2012, the Mayan Calendar or Medusa. Some choice!
OldEnglish on July 26, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Obama and Caroline would be the perfect dimocratic team. Absolutely no experience, but one with charisma and the other the daughter of someone who had charisma. This would impress the Europeans, but doubt it would deter the plans of the bad guys with the Bobbsey twins in charge of our national security.
volsense on July 26, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I don’t believe it.
Terrye on July 26, 2008 at 10:08 AM
This has to be wrong. It borders on psy-ops, which would be my guess if I thought the Republicans were so smart.
kbanaian on July 26, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Caroline has little or no baggage. She has been politically active but not radically so. She is articulate. She is the daughter of the martyred John and the much beloved Jackie. The GOP would be playing with fire when the time comes to get down and dirty. Even a lot of the Rockefellar Republicans (I am showing my age here)would not want to soil her. I believe she would be a real danger to McCain.
JonRoss on July 26, 2008 at 10:19 AM
And recall that Caroline is serving in the same capacity that Dick Cheney did in 2000, chairman of the VP search team.
JonRoss on July 26, 2008 at 10:22 AM
It would be a real checkmate move in that sense. Kneecaps McCain bigtime. Carries a lot of emotional symbolism and that’s what Obama is all about. Plus, we’ve got Teddy with his health issues which is another emotional hook utilizing the name.
a capella on July 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM
And I am not saying Obama/Caroline would not be a disaster like Obama/AnyoneElse. There is a mob mentality at work right now and it will be all about emotions for a lot of the Donks.
JonRoss on July 26, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Interesting anecdote: my younger brother, has been a diehard “Lib”/Democrat/Clinton/Hillary fan for 15 years; to the point where we had to even quit talking about politics at family getogethers!
No one can understand his fatal attraction, he was raised better, but so be it. He’s not a comletely lost case, he does’t “Hate” President Bush in the typical Delusional Moonbat fashsion, and because of our family background, having lived in the Middle East for years, he’s fully cognizant of the Islamic Jihadi threat, and supports the GWOT, etc., which right there, makes him braindamaged, as far as the Moonbats are concerned.
Anyway, we’ve avoided discussing THE MESSIAH, up until about 2 days ago, when we were on a call discussing Family Matters, I couldn’t help it, and finally had to say “Well, what do you think of your Messiah and his speech in Germany?”
Turns out, my brother, thinks Obama is the Most Dangerous Politician he’s ever seen!
I almost had to pull over to the side of the road, to restart my heart!
My brother also lives up in Liberal-land; which is DC and it’s surrounding suburbs.
He then proceeded to tell me a story (I didn’t know any of this until 2 days ago).
I guess basically, he was having a “discussion” with some of the even more Moonbat/Liberals he works with about Obama.
He mentioned, after someone pointed out that Obama was good for America because he was “black”, and that he had and his ancestors had been slaves, etc., my brother apparantly had the temerity to point out that Obama doesn’t have a drop of “African-American” blood in his veins, but instead, has “African” blood in his veins, and as such, his ancestors were never “slaves”, and its a bit disingenuous to say that.
He said was immediately branded a “racist”, for even suggesting that, by his colleagues.
Not one to let it rest, my brother went to the Internet, and printed out the “proof” and showed to the assebled group!
After a bit more discussion, it was admitted that my brother was “technically” correct, however, the other following “facts” were then also concluded:
a) my brother is a “Racist”
b) even though Obama does not have “African-American” blood; he has choosen to identify himself as such, and thus, that is what he is!
c) to even point out what my brother pointed out, is wrong, “Offensive”, and “not helpful” and of course “racist”
d)it doesn’t matter what you REALLY are, only what you THINK you are!
My conclusions from all this:
a) there is a tad bit of hope for my brother, and he did this on his own.
b) I wonder how many other “Democrats” are out there, who are like my brother, and we can only pray it is a trend, and not an exception
c) The Anti-American Liberal Left in this country, are truly, Mentally Insane!
Dale in Atlanta on July 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM
The convention might be a problem when Hillary would be replaced by another woman, but the hysteria produced with another Kennedy on the ticket would probably overide that and the sore loser syndrome later. I assume that calculation has already been done in the Obama camp if your hypothesis is correct.
a capella on July 26, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Is Caroline Kennedy involved enough in the Democratic Party to be a valid choice for that task force, or is that just an attempt to invoke Camelot’s memory?
exhelodrvr on July 26, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I think it would be a brilliant choice.
For our side. :)
irishspy on July 26, 2008 at 11:12 AM
It would be a bit difficult to transpose Michelle Obama into Jackie Kennedy, but I am a bit biased because I’ve never understood how she is worth a $350,000 salary. Anything is possible, I guess.
a capella on July 26, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Evidently the Messiah is afraid McMaverick will pick Lieberman, Hillary or his good friend Ted Kennedy as his running mate thus reaching out, extending the hand that has been bitten to a bloody pulp, poking another stick into conservative and Republican eyes, being fair ,being impartial, a darling of the mainstream media and generally boosting his McMaverick credentials.
dhunter on July 26, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I have a better idea why don’t these two flounders just cut the crap, save a ton of money and pick each other for VP.
dhunter on July 26, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Given McCain’s pseudo endorsement of Obama when he grovelled at the NAACP, that’s not really a bad idea. The media could go back to loving McCain; and they could write stories of how ground breaking this election year was. And it would have the added benefit of ending all this stupid speculation. A VP isn’t going to make the candidacies of either one of these clowns any more palatable so just get it over with already. Pick your insider VP, the rubes will all say ‘hurray’ and then we can all go home while either loser crams his crap policies down our collective throats. See you in four years.
austinnelly on July 26, 2008 at 11:58 AM
In the name of fairness each could serve 6 months as pres. then switch. Wouldn’t matter looks like the only loosers would be the American people which appears to be our fate anyway.
Then like you said, austinnelly, four years from now we could try for an adult for pres.
dhunter on July 26, 2008 at 12:02 PM
I’m going to float a name out there for VP, and I’d like the Barry camp to consider it strongly…Hulk Hogan. Eh, whaddya think? He’s hulky and harry (sorta) and has a hot daughter. I’ll just leave that one with ya…
Seriously, that isn’t any worse than Caroline’s crew has come up with lately.
Wyznowski on July 26, 2008 at 12:46 PM
If I were a Democrat, I’m not so sure I’d want Obama’s baggage to taint me. Any VP choice will have to carry that.
Connie on July 26, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Obama/Obama?
factoid on July 27, 2008 at 1:12 AM
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