Sebelius, stumping in Mich., mum on VP spot

[ProgressiveVoter]

Sebelius, stumping in Mich., mum on VP spot
By Jeff Karoub - Associated Press Writer
http://www.hutchnews.com/Localregional/seb
*snip*

"This is less about who is or isn't a running mate," she told an audience of more than 100 people, mostly women. "It's more about the two candidates."

Sebelius said Obama would help women more than Republican candidate John McCain when it comes to economic issues.

"Barack Obama has been a very strong champion of equal pay for equal work. Senator McCain, over and over again, has opposed the opportunity for pay equity bills to move through Congress," Sebelius told The Associated Press in a telephone interview before the meeting.

*snip*


"There's no question that women in Michigan and Kansas, all over this country, are going to be critical voters in this election," Sebelius said. "They control the purse strings. They are the economic engines of their family."

Diane Hughes, a Detroit teacher and Obama campaign volunteer, turns 54 on Nov. 4, and told Sebelius her greatest birthday present would be a victorious Obama-Sebelius ticket.

After the meeting, Hughes said she's open to other vice presidential possibilities. But she thinks it's important for Obama to have a strong vice president, and Hughes said Sebelius certainly fits the bill.

Later, after landing at an airport in Topeka. Sebelius wouldn't say whether she'd been in contact with Obama in the past few days.

"All the conversations are going on with the campaign and the press," she said.

[curious one]

1. She is not it.

[ProgressiveVoter]

2. Oh I know....but Biden has had two brain surgeries before

Evan Bayh is disliked by the progressives, so he must be OK apparently..

"Biden Resting After Surgery For Second Brain Aneurysm - New York Times"
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4DC1E3BF931A15756C0A96E948260

[WinkyDink]

4. You're really pushing this topic.

[lamp_shade]

6. I noticed that too. n/t

[jefferson_dem]

7. Something doesn't seem right with this one.

Just sayin...

[tekisui]

9. You are right.

It doesn't pass the sniff test. It won't be long, IMO.

[tekisui]

8. Spamming this topic.

Funny that Sebilius is also who Drudge and the freepers want.

[City Lights]

13. You forget to mention Tim Kaine's tricky eyebrow! nt

[JackORoses]

5. It's either her or Kaine, and I'm betting on the Lady

[livvy]

3. Wow... an actually accurate MSM report. How refreshing.

I was at the event. The teacher, Diane, was sitting just a couple of seats down. I've met her before at different events. The quotes in the article are how I recall them. They actually got it right.

Sebelius is one impressive lady. She is a good speaker with great ideas. Obama is fortunate to have her supporting him.

[mystieus]

10. Its Sebelius. Everyone the obama veep team talk to had great things to say about her.

[Colobo]

11. She would be a great VP.

[greguganus]

12. Has she visited the Orator yet? n/t

[TexasObserver]

14. never heard of her

She's an American, right?

[SheilaT]

15. Then again, she's probably never

heard of you.

Snarkiness aside, she's in her second term as Governor of Kansas. Won both elections by large majorities in an overwhelmingly Republican -- and right-wing evangelical dominated Republicans at that. She inherited a nasty budget deficit that she turned around. She persuaded the former chair of the Republican party in Kansas to switch parties and run as her lieutenant governor two years ago. She works quite well with a difficult Republican legislature.

She started her political career in the Kansas State House, went on to be elected Insurance Commissioner in 1994. Back when she was considering running for that office I got a phone call polling me about what I know about her, which was nothing at that point, and if I'd support her for the Insurance Commissioner job. She didn't take funding from insurance companies for that campaign, and stood up against insurance lobbyists in the job.

I've met her several times at political events and she's gracious, poised, thinks well on her feet -- in short she has many fine qualities as a potential VP. She came out early in support of Barack Obama. He spoke at the yearly state Democratic event in March of 2006 and it was clear then that he and Kathleen got along quite well. She came out very early in support of him.

Further notes about Kansas and the presidential primary season: on Super Tuesday just over 37,000 Democrats turned out for the caucuses, many standing for as long as three hours in sleet and freezing rain to participate. At many locations hundreds, perhaps thousands gave up and left the lines. I was there (and I stood outside for about two hours) and can assure you that the enthusiasm of all of the voters was strong. Four days later, on Saturday, in much nicer weather during the daytime, only 20,000 Republicans showed up for their caucuses. In Kansas. In overwhelmingly Republican Kansas. When they still had six or seven serious contenders for the nomination. Now that disparity has nothing to do with Kathleen Sebelius, but it says something important about the election this year.

[TexasObserver]

16. Nope. Doesn't ring a bell.

I was just poking fun at the OP, who started a bunch of these threads. There's like 15 threads in the Video forum.

Sure, I like her. If Obama picks her, I'll be fine with it. I just don't think she's the choice.

[SheilaT]

17. But at least now

you've heard of her.

[TexasObserver]

18. Of course I've heard of her.

Like I said, I found the OP's 20th thread on KS out of 44 posts to be a bit much.