Obama/Sebelius 2008! - Democratic Underground

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Sun Apr-27-08 10:10 AM
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Obama/Sebelius 2008!

Right now, I'd literally bet $1,000 dollars on Obama/Sebelius in 2008. There's just no way in hell Obama is going to be robbed of the nomination when he wins the elected delegate count. I therefore predict Obama will pick Sebelius as his running mate.

The premises for this prediction:

1.) If "the sure thing" Hillary is denied her bid for the White House it will create disaffection among grey haired white women, therefore somehow a woman will have to be on the ticket or there will be a huge political price to pay.
2.) Sebelius is in fact a "grey haired white woman" who is yet still young enough to be a strong contender for her own Presidential bid in 2016.
3.) Sebelius is a native of Michigan.
4.) Sebelius is a popular governor in the heartland and would likely put Kansas into play and further bolster our efforts in the interior states, which is what Obama will need to win if Florida should fall to McCain.
5.) Sebelius is Catholic and that is one Demographic Obama could use some "oomph" with.
6.) Sebelius is good looking and is very pleasant to listen to. She looks like the classic beauty from a pharmaceutical commercial - mature and eye pleasing. In other words, her Q score is high.
7.) Sebelius has a "kinda sorta" conservative background in her family. She's no "flaming east coast/west coast liberal" by any stretch.
8.) Sebelius actually "stood up" to health insurance companies in her state when she had the chance.
9.) Sebelius has been named as one of the "top 5 governors" baed on her track record.
10.) Sebelius was able to turn Kansas debt around without raising taxes and she is known for a "bipartisan approach".

Now I know the counter argument is that we "need someone who is strong on self defense". I think that is total baloney so stop right there. Obama himself said he feels comfortable making the "defense" argument on his own and will likely "pick someone who knows stuff he doesn't". It was an inartful statement. However, Sebelius fits this bill on three grounds: 1.) he doesn't know much about being a woman 2.) he doesn't know much about being a governor/executive officer 3.) he doesn't know much about "being a catholic".

Sebelius fills Obama's gaps quite nicely without exacerbating the differences between McCain and Obama. The last thing Obama needs to do is pick someone so white, old, male, crusty, and steeped in the defense industry that the talking point becomes: "I wish this race was between McCain and Obama's running mate."

Sebelius will represent the new kind of politics that Obama seeks to bring to Washington. She can stand up to the entrenched special interests, balance a budget, and work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done. This is exactly what we need.

I'd go so far to say that the DLC and the corporate interests should have passed up Clinton in the first place and ran Sebelius. She is far more likeable and electable. It was actually quite stupid to back Hillary and not let Sebelius get out of the gates.

Personally, I'm against the DLC and I understand Sebelius is part of it. That's the only problem I have with her. However, if she gets on board with Obama it might be a powerful symbol in many ways. First, the true left has power, otherwise Obama wouldn't be at the top of the ticket. Second, we are all for working out pragmatic solutions and bringing people on board in order to work for the best interests of the entire Democratic electorate.

I think all things considered, Obama will HAVE TO bring a woman on board as VP, and I think Sebelius is a very strong contender. Also, Sebelius endorsed Obama back when it really mattered.

Women make over half the electorate nationally and it will be a huge boon to have Sebelius on board. I think from the hard left to the moderate right, she would pull huge numbers to our side. Especially more than a crusty old white guy, no matter how much "experience" in Foreign Affairs that guy has.