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bucolic_frolic

(42,657 posts)
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:40 PM Jul 2016

Why Clinton Might Pick Tom Vilsack For Veep

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by NancyBlueINOklahoma (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Huffington Post

CLEVELAND ― Hillary Clinton’s camp is focusing on Tom Vilsack as a potential running mate, but not because he is the former governor of Iowa or the longest-serving secretary of agriculture in half a century.

It’s because Vilsack, in his own mind, remains a son of the place of his birth and upbringing ― Pittsburgh. He maintains close ties there, and is a typically impassioned member of the Pittsburgh diaspora of emigrants created by the collapse of the local steel-based economy in the 1970s.

An orphan who was left almost literally on the doorstep of the Sister of Charity’s Roselia Founding Home in 1950, Vilsack was educated in local schools and steeped in Pittsburgh culture before leaving the city for good after graduating from Hamilton College.

A Roman Catholic whose father was of Eastern European stock ― the staple of working-class white Pittsburgh ― Vilsack grew up an ardent fan of the Pirates and the Steelers and remains focused on them with the kind of emotion and obsessive detail that only the locals fully understand and appreciate.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-tom-vilsack_us_57910f5fe4b0fc06ec5c20b9?section=



I can swallow hard on the Monsanto angle, but in resume, personability, intellect,
life story, Vilsack would be quite a VP heavyweight.
23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why Clinton Might Pick Tom Vilsack For Veep (Original Post) bucolic_frolic Jul 2016 OP
He would alienate many Sanders voters. forest444 Jul 2016 #1
The 69% of Iowa voters who approved of him when he finished his second term disagree. pnwmom Jul 2016 #8
I think you meant to say Iowa, not Ohio. (eom) StevieM Jul 2016 #12
Yes, I did. Thanks! pnwmom Jul 2016 #14
I vote NO! mountain grammy Jul 2016 #2
I think we win Pittsburgh every election for a very long time yeoman6987 Jul 2016 #3
We remember Shirley Sherrod. nt Qutzupalotl Jul 2016 #4
+1 Person 2713 Jul 2016 #18
+2 CharlotteVale Jul 2016 #21
This message was self-deleted by its author Firebrand Gary Jul 2016 #5
Didn't the NY Times say it would be Kaine? Kingofalldems Jul 2016 #6
They said he was Bill's first choice. Which could be a diversion. pnwmom Jul 2016 #15
Ahh. And that was today? Kingofalldems Jul 2016 #16
I think so. n/t pnwmom Jul 2016 #17
Good job by Hillary then. Kingofalldems Jul 2016 #19
Maybe it will turn out to be Kaine, but I kinda hope it's a trick. pnwmom Jul 2016 #20
Well, if so we definitely win Wisconsin . AngryAmish Jul 2016 #7
Yawn. But goodie for Monsanto, they'd be in the (White) House. FailureToCommunicate Jul 2016 #9
He would be VP, not Ag Sec, but as Ag Sec he has also been pro organic farms, pnwmom Jul 2016 #13
He was very popular in Iowa and has a compelling life story. And as Ag Sec he's traveled around the pnwmom Jul 2016 #10
No! ananda Jul 2016 #11
I am so sick of these lies about Baby Scoop Era mothers. Tom Vilsack's first mother did not abandon StevieM Jul 2016 #22
locking OKNancy Jul 2016 #23

forest444

(5,902 posts)
1. He would alienate many Sanders voters.
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:47 PM
Jul 2016

Plus, Vilsack is low on charisma.

He wouldn't be a bad choice really; but he's not what Hillary needs.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
8. The 69% of Iowa voters who approved of him when he finished his second term disagree.
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:00 PM
Jul 2016

He has plenty of charisma.

StevieM

(10,499 posts)
12. I think you meant to say Iowa, not Ohio. (eom)
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:04 PM
Jul 2016

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
14. Yes, I did. Thanks!
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:06 PM
Jul 2016

mountain grammy

(26,568 posts)
2. I vote NO!
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:49 PM
Jul 2016
 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
3. I think we win Pittsburgh every election for a very long time
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:50 PM
Jul 2016

I'm going to wait for the announcement. I'm good with anyone she picks. However, the Pittsburgh thing is kinda strange to me.

Qutzupalotl

(14,230 posts)
4. We remember Shirley Sherrod. nt
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:51 PM
Jul 2016

Person 2713

(3,263 posts)
18. +1
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:09 PM
Jul 2016

CharlotteVale

(2,717 posts)
21. +2
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:13 PM
Jul 2016

Response to bucolic_frolic (Original post)

Kingofalldems

(38,360 posts)
6. Didn't the NY Times say it would be Kaine?
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:56 PM
Jul 2016

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
15. They said he was Bill's first choice. Which could be a diversion.
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:07 PM
Jul 2016

Maybe Hillary doesn't want to appear to pick Bill's first choice.

Kingofalldems

(38,360 posts)
16. Ahh. And that was today?
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:07 PM
Jul 2016

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
17. I think so. n/t
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:08 PM
Jul 2016

Kingofalldems

(38,360 posts)
19. Good job by Hillary then.
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:10 PM
Jul 2016

Trump's pick leaked out early.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
20. Maybe it will turn out to be Kaine, but I kinda hope it's a trick.
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:12 PM
Jul 2016
 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
7. Well, if so we definitely win Wisconsin .
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:58 PM
Jul 2016

FailureToCommunicate

(13,989 posts)
9. Yawn. But goodie for Monsanto, they'd be in the (White) House.
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:00 PM
Jul 2016

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
13. He would be VP, not Ag Sec, but as Ag Sec he has also been pro organic farms,
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:05 PM
Jul 2016

and pro rural concerns in general.

He has also been very concerned about issues of drug and alcohol addiction, and how to get treatment for people in rural areas.

I think he'd be fine for VP.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
10. He was very popular in Iowa and has a compelling life story. And as Ag Sec he's traveled around the
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:02 PM
Jul 2016

world. He's also been a trusted friend and ally of the Clintons for decades. I'm not surprised he's one of the finalists.

ananda

(28,780 posts)
11. No!
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:04 PM
Jul 2016

Vilsack in a poor choice, as is Kaine.

We want better!

StevieM

(10,499 posts)
22. I am so sick of these lies about Baby Scoop Era mothers. Tom Vilsack's first mother did not abandon
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:13 PM
Jul 2016

him. He was surrendered to adoption during an era when unmarried mothers often had very little choice other than to relinquish.

OKNancy

(41,832 posts)
23. locking
Thu Jul 21, 2016, 08:17 PM
Jul 2016

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