Can't wait 'til tomorrow. Hope the Gov. Kaine talk is accurate.

[hiaasenrocks]

He's the perfect choice, my kind of Democrat, and I'll be set and ready for the election.

Three cheers for Tim Kaine!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Thrill]

1. Whats tomorrow?

[Blarch]

2. Wed.

[Alexander]

4. Obama's in Missouri, Kaine cancelled his appearances and people think the VP will be announced...

Because next week the Olympics start.

I don't think Obama being in Missouri will have any bearing on his VP choice.

Kerry announced it was Edwards in Pennsylvania, not a state that Edwards has any connection to.

I hope it's Feingold or Sebelius, but I will accept whichever Democrat Obama chooses.

[darius15]

11. Really?

do you have a source?

[Mass]

3. Cant wait until tomorrow to learn it is not accurate. Can we have a VP who can fight

and who can speak in front of a camera. (even if I know I will not get the type of Democrat I like).

[Barack_America]

6. Tim Kaine On The McCain Campaign's "Air of Desperation"

Kaine on McCain's campaign:

"It's just desperation. They're just looking for a handle to grab on and slow the momentum of this bus down. And, it's a different strategy every couple of days. It really has the air of desperation about it."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-and-peter-slutsky/kaine-on-mccain-campaign_b_115626.html

[Awsi Dooger]

5. I'm for Kaine but I wish Obama's camp would leak Hillary as VP for at least a week

Just to see DU explode. :rofl:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Ok, who is Governor Kaine and why is he the perfect choice?

I'm working overtime 7 days a week at a new job and haven't been here enough to keep up with events and people. Thanks in advance for telling me!

[darius15]

8. I think they have a lot of similarities

- They both went to Harvard
- both are young and youthful
- I think Kaine grew up in Kansas (where Barack's mom lived) and Missouri
- have a pretty good friendship going a few years back ( Obama campaigned for Kaine when he was running for Gov. Of Virginia)
- Kaine endorsed Obama early, back in Feb.

[sourmilk]

9. The internets are your friends!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Kaine

[LisaM]

12. Yeah, well according to Wiki he is NOT pro-choice and has a "faith-based" opposition

to abortion.

They also identify him as a member of a group that is trying to make the Democratic party anti-abortion.

THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE CHOICE.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrats_For_Life_of_America

[saracat]

13. I just got ripped into for "daring " to post that!

[LisaM]

27. Yeah, I saw.

I got too riled up to comment on that thread.

[onenote]

53. as well you should since its totally and absolutely unsubstantiated

and runs counter to Kaine's express views on the subject, which is that he is personally opposed to abortion but supports a woman's right to choose.

[saracat]

58. What about his own website from 2005? These are his positions.

But to be fair, he doesn't seem to be any worse than the other choices floated for VP this week. None are good for women's rights.


Kaine is very "faith based" and "abstinence" positive. This is baloney. And ""focusing on "abstinence based education" is just stupid and there is no such thing as a "partial birth abortion".I am really tired of "faith based" positions. I don't want to have a politician make any policies on "faith".


Promote abstinence; ban partial-birth abortion
I will reduce abortion in Virginia by enforcing current Virginia restrictions, passing an enforceable ban on partial-birth abortion, ensuring women's access to health care (including legal contraception), and promoting abstinence-focused education and adoption. We should reduce abortion in this manner, rather than by criminalizing women and doctors.
Source: Campaign website www.kaine2005.org, "Issues" Nov 8, 2005

I have a faith-based opposition to abortion
I have a faith-based opposition to abortion. As governor, I will work in good faith to reduce abortions by:

1. Enforcing the current Virginia restrictions on abortion and passing an enforceable ban on partial birth abortion that protects the life and health of the mother;
2. Fighting teen pregnancy through abstinence-focused education;
3. Ensuring women's access to health care (including legal contraception) and economic opportunity; and
4. Promoting adoption as an alternative for women facing unwanted pregnancies.

[onenote]

60. There may be no such thing as "partial birth abortion" but even Kerry and Hillary endorsed it

on much the same terms as Kaine does:

From her debate with Rick Lazio when she ran for Senate:

CLINTON: My opponent is wrong. I have said many times that I can support a ban on late-term abortions, including partial-birth abortions, so long as the health and life of the mother is protected. I’ve met women who faced this heart-wrenching decision toward the end of a pregnancy. Of course it’s a horrible procedure. No one would argue with that. But if your life is at stake, if your health is at stake, if the potential for having any more children is at stake, this must be a woman’s choice. Source: Senate debate in Manhattan Oct 8, 2000


For the record, John Kerry has taken a similar position:
Q: Do you support the ban on partial-birth abortions recently signed into law?
A: I don't support the President's law because it doesn't allow the exception for situations where the health of the woman is at risk. I believe this is a dangerous effort to undermine a woman's right to choose, which is a constitutional amendment I will always fight to protect.

Source: Concord Monitor / WashingtonPost.com on-line Q&A Nov 7, 2003

[hiaasenrocks]

35. Not acceptable? Fine. Throw your vote away.

You seem to be in an extreme minority on this issue (no matter what it looks like on this site).

Kaine is the best choice, and not just because I'm 99% with him on the issues.

[Hamlette]

50. is anyone pro abortion? I'm not

and as I understand it he says he will not interfer in a woman's right to choose.

Which is my position. (Although I agree with some limits to late term abortions like life/health of mother only. Otherwise you impact medical personnel.)

[onenote]

52. there is no evidence he belongs to that organization and he is pro-choice

Just because something is on wiki doesn't mean its true, especially where there is no other evidence (including nothing cited in wiki) to substantiate the claim he's a member of Dems for Life.

He is pro-choice: he supports Roe v Wade and defends a woman's right to choose, to the point that he has stated that even if Roe was overturned and the VA legislature passed a law banning abortion, he'd veto it.

There seems to be some talking points floating around. They're not fact based and you shouldn't be repeating them.

[mckeown1128]

61. Gore was not por-choice at one time too.... nt

[Barack_America]

25. My case for Tim Kaine as Vice President....

(I wrote this thread a little over a month ago, but I think the summary could help you)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6345519&mesg_id=6345519

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

29. Thanks

I appreciate you giving me the link. I just watched the VP segment from KO that is on Political Videos now. I understand now why Kaine would be a good choice.

[Drunken Irishman]

10. Me too! I would love an Obama-Kaine ticket.

[LisaM]

14. Why? He is not a reliable steward of abortion rights

I can't tell you how distressing this is. This is one of my top issues. Caving on abortion rights is not moving the Democratic party to the center. It's moving it to the RIGHT, since most Americans are not opposed to abortion rights.

[Drunken Irishman]

15. The VA Planned Parenthood has no objections to Kaine.

[LisaM]

16. If the Virginia chapter of Planned Parenthood wants to compromise on this

I don't think it's my problem. Don't you find it a little frightening that he'd say he has a faith-based opposition to abortion? Holy Christ, Joe Lieberman is more liberal on this issue. I suspect this is an issue where you either 1) don't have it on your top ten; or 2) agree with Governor Kaine. I don't know. But what I'm reading is really frightening.

Aside from my personal views on abortion rights, this is a woman's issue, and if Obama is as skilled a politican as everyone says, I seriously hope he doesn't make a blunder like this that will further alienate women, particularly women of Hillary's generation. I'm hoping that this is a red herring, because I think it would be political suicide.

[Drunken Irishman]

18. I think he would act within the law.

[LisaM]

19. But that's not my point.

Abortion rights have been systematically eroded since the Roe v. Wade case. It's time to REVERSE that trend, and start restoring them, at a national level. This is not just about education, adoption, and birth control. It's also about ensuring abortion rights and, frankly, not being squeamish about using the term.

This isn't just about a record of enforcing whatever rights happen to exist in Virginia. It's about restoring and strengthening a woman's right to make choices about her own body at the NATIONAL level. I can't see someone who categorically states personal opposition to abortion as being someone we want in the top ranks of our party.

[Drunken Irishman]

20. And Pres. Obama will do that.

Obama is far stronger on abortion rights than John Kerry, who took the Kaine position.

[LisaM]

24. I don't think that any of the candidates were gutsy enough to say they were pro-abortion rights

but I don't find Obama all that progressive on the issue, really. I watched that compassion forum and he was quick to talk about focusing on abstinence-education.

Kaine, though, seems really worrisome on this. What happened? Why the big swing to the right on this issue? Most Americans support abortion rights - hell, most CATHOLICS do (of which I am one). There is absolutely no reason to compromise on this. Presumably, you're male - given your moniker - but this is a woman's issue, and I don't think women should be asked to compromise anymore on this.

[Drunken Irishman]

28. I can understand your concerns.

I think Kaine will come around a bit on this issue. But it's also a personal choice and if Kaine is personally opposed to it, just as long as he doesn't advocate forcing his opinion on you, then I feel better than say having someone like John McCain, who I know will try and force his anti-choice bullshit on America.

[LisaM]

30. Better than McCain, well that's not saying much

Look, there are already a lot of pissed off women who have come around to the fact that Obama is the nominee. What on EARTH good does it do to pick a nominee that is weak on this issue, which matters deeply to many politically active liberal women? It's an issue that is at the very heart of women's politics - and it goes further than the issue of abortion alone. It's about a woman's right to make choices for her own body. There have already been so many compromises, so much watering down - from WalMarts refusing to fill prescriptions for Plan B, to birth control pills being labelled an abortificant so that pharmacists don't have to fill them at all, and so on and so on. I want to shake off this backwards trend. Perhaps Kaine passes for a liberal in Virginia - I don't know - but this is one of my biggest issues and I would think that DU men would try to take a leftist position on this.

[saracat]

37. Let alone that there is dead silence on the latest equation of contraception

with abortion by the Feds. Only one Senator spoke out about that travesty and Planned parenthood does have a petition going about that. Kaine might be likely not to support the morning after pill either as it falls in that catagory( I don't know what he thinks of that issue, but I am not comfortable with his stance).

[lojasmo]

44. He supports comprehensive sex education

And contraception.

[saracat]

62. Exactly and I was raised Catholic as well. No more compromise.

It is interesting that only gender( including GLBT) and poverty are issues that seem to be subject to "compromise". If one talks about race, or even the environment. most self described progressives will dig in their heels.
But for those issues, they are currently saying, "we can deal with that later. Get elected first". Right. Like Casey in PA changed his views and BTW, if one looks at the votes , there appears to be a correlation between votes that support FISA and those that do not wholeheartedly support the privacy issues of Roe. Just a thought.

[ram2008]

23. It'll be fine

Obama is going to set the agenda. Kaine will be a fine vice president, I'm positive there will be no infringing on abortion rights. I know tons of people who are personally pro-life and are against abortion, but respect people's right to have them. In Virginia Kaine wanted to reduce the number of abortions which isn't something that's illogical. His power as VP will be close to none on this issue anyway.

[LisaM]

26. No, it won't be fine.

It may be true that as VP he won't be directly influencing policy most of the time. But it sets a bad tone for the upper levels of the party. And it'll piss off plenty of women too (which makes me think that he WON'T be the pick). If Obama wants to build a bridge to Hillary supporters, this is not exactly the way to do it.

[ram2008]

31. The time for building bridges is over

IF the Hillary Holdouts still aren't coming, they probably wont come at all and its time to reach out to other constituencies. It may piss off a few women but he'll have the chance to explain his stance. I don't see how him wanting to reduce the number of abortion's is a bad thing so long as he is for Roe V Wade which he is, and respects a woman's right to choose.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saracat]

38. You are neither a "good man" or "progressive" if you are anti choice. JMHO.

Why on earth should any women want a candidate who opposes her rights? Or wants to compromise them anymore than they have been? Therte are better VP choices.

[SoxFan]

41. Pup Tent Democrat

Bob Casey is a bad man?

Jim Langevin? Tim Ryan?

You are more concerned with your particular issue than you are with the Democratic Party.

[saracat]

49. I am more concerned with People and with women's rights . Yes.

The equality of people as human beings, including the rights of all genders to self dominion , is more important than any politcal party.Equality is a plank of the Democratic platform. I do not consider anyone who does not support equality a real Democrat.

[onenote]

55. as pointed out in a separate thread, Kaine is pro choice

He supports a woman's right to choose. For most Democrats, that means that they respect a woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy, and they respect a woman's decision not to. Anti-choice means you want to take away that choice. Kaine is not anti choice.

[onenote]

54. Clinton and Kerry have stated they'd support a "partial birth abortion" law

if it protected the life and health of the mother. Same position as Kaine.

Does that mean that Kerry and Clinton are anti-choice and 'unacceptable' national candidates for president or vice president? Don't think so.

Kaine's personal views are his personal views. But he has been unwavering in indicating that he supports Roe, supports a woman's right to choose and would veto a law banning abortion even if Roe was overturned.

[saracat]

57. There is no such thing as "partial birth abortion".And that is RW term

and identified as such by Planned Parenthood.

[onenote]

59. maybe so, but even kerry and hillary use it.

[saracat]

63. That doesn't make it right.

[onenote]

65. I searched for your posts criticizing Hillary for her position on it. Didn't find them.

I know you don't want to admit it, but the difference between Kaine's position on abortion (favors Roe v Wade, supports late term abortion ban if it protects life and health of mother, supports abstinence education and adoption and opposes criminalizing doctors and women) and Hillary's is negligible.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

64. Hillary has a responsibility, too! She pissed off a lot of people with her dirty, nasty

campaign, and she lost. Please get over the primaries. They are over. Obama won fair and square. None of the candidates for VP will ever be pure enough for anyone. Why not have faith in Obama's choices. If his choice for VP is a deal changer, then good luck. There's no reason for you to be here if you don't support the presumptive Democratic nominee.

I tell you the truth: the Dems are brilliant at losing elections because their supporters always find something to bitch and whine about!!!

[hiaasenrocks]

33. Well, there are pro-life Democrats.

Still, not all of us define our politics around a single issue, whether we are pro or anti on that issue.

[polichick]

17. I've seen good and bad things about his environmental record...

Do you know anything about that?

[polichick]

21. What makes him your kind of Dem? (I don't know a lot about him.)

[hiaasenrocks]

34. I agree with him almost completely on fiscal issues and social issues.

[saracat]

39. So you are anti choice?

[onenote]

56. Kaine isn't. Are you?

Kaine supports a woman's right to choose. You seem to think that is an anti-choice position. Please explain.

[Sparkly]

22. I'm hoping all the "rumors" are false, but getting less and less optimistic by the minute.

:(

[depakid]

36. Well, Obama said pretty emphatically that he wasn't going to use geography for his pick

but then again, he seems to have been taking some questionable advice of late- so it wouldn't surprise me if he reneged on that.

[DFLforever]

40. I think geography is just the icing on the cake with Kaine

I think it's trust and partnership values as much as political consideration going into this VP pick - should it be Kaine.

[highplainsdem]

42. Kaine would be a weak choice, and if Obama chooses him he's signaling that

he prefers someone he can easily overshadow to any of the stronger, more obvious choices like Clinton (especially) or Biden or Richardson or Dodd.

Kaine on the ticket will badly hurt our chances of taking back the White House in November.

And it says worrisome things about the people Obama plans to surround himself with.

This is too important an election to have a milquetoast VP.

[gblady]

47. Rachael Maddow...

had some writer from the Nation on yesterday talking about Kaine...(can't remember his name)
He was very impressed with him...and although he was not his first choice (which he did not say who was)
He definitely thought that an Obama/Kaine team would represent a strong progressive agenda.

[SeaLyons]

51. I couldn't agree more...

Kaine is not a good choice.....imho.

[salonghorn70]

43. Tomorrow Is Today

:)

[Clark2008]

46. And, thus far, nothing.

Thankfully.

Of the three the media are touting, Kaine is my "favorite," but his ideas on choice and gay-rights aren't to my liking. At least he was a Clarkie - that's about all I can say.

[book_worm]

45. Some people have speculated that Obama will select a VP on Wed, but it's not going to happen.

[Barack_America]

48. The July fundraising deadline is also tomorrow.

I wonder what the campaign could do to encourage a last-minute fundraising push...

:think: