A dark horse V.P. candidate? Retired General Claudia Kennedy

[pnwmom]

I think John McCain may have tipped his hand today when he criticized Obama for not having served in the military. It adds to my feeling that the way to counter that would be to have a V.P. candidate with strong military credentials who could fight back on Obama's behalf.

Someone like Jim Webb, or Wes Clark, or . . . what about a female general or admiral?

For example, Claudia Kennedy

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

In 1997, Kennedy was promoted to lieutenant general and named Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence. In 1999, she made a sexual harassment claim against fellow officer General Larry Smith, stemming from an incident in 1996 when she was a major general and he was a brigadier general. Kennedy made the accusation after Smith was slated for promotion to the position of Army deputy Inspector General, the position responsible for investigation of sexual harassment claims. Kennedy claimed that Smith had attempted to grope and kiss her; Smith's appointment to the inspector general's office was later withdrawn. Some service members have criticized Kennedy for waiting three years to file her complaint.

Kennedy retired from the military in June 2000 after 31 years in the Army but under the shadow of her delayed allegations. During the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Kennedy was critical of George W. Bush's military policies, especially as they related to the status of women in the armed forces. According to General Kennedy: "If Mr. Bush becomes president, his campaign platform says he will move us back to a much earlier time."

In 2002, Democrats actively sought to recruit General Kennedy to challenge U.S. Senator John Warner, a Republican from Virginia. Kennedy passed on the race.
Kennedy endorsed Senator John Kerry for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination in September 2003, and served as an advisor to the Kerry campaign. (see John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004). She was sometimes mentioned as a possible nominee for Secretary of Defense in a Kerry administration.
She endorsed anti-war politicians Eric Massa and Patrick Murphy in 2006, which suggests that she opposes the Iraq War. She also endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton in her campaign for president. <1>

[JeffR]

1. A fascinating idea

though she was born in Germany, which may complicate things. She's gutsy, though.

I think Webb might be a better choice, both for crossover appeal and for geographic reasons. And because while I don't agree with some of his positions, I respect the hell out of his sincerity and he'll kick the ass of anyone who crosses him. I like that in a Democrat, even one who came late to the fold.

[pnwmom]

4. She was born to U.S. citizens while her father was in the Army in Germany.

I don't see how that would be a problem.

I like Webb as well.

[newmajority]

5. If she was born on base, that would be considered US soil.

If she was born in a German hospital, it might be more complicated then that. I seem to remember an old friend of mine who was in the Air Force having to apply for citizenship for his kid because she was born in a German hospital. That was a while back though, so I can't remember the details.

[pnwmom]

8. If you're the child of U.S. citizens who have lived in the U.S., then

you're automatically a U.S. citizen even if you're born somewhere else. Maybe there's some paperwork necessary to prove it, though.

[JeffR]

9. I thought that was the case

but of course in this silly season of an election year, a sort of pitiful attempt is being mustered to disqualify McCain on just this sort of basis.

Webb's appeal, as opposed to the general's, is actual experience for both parties (the smart one and the stupid one), including a tough Senate electoral battle and cabinet positions for the bad guys. Plus apparently being a pretty remarkable warrior. I wish he were a little more progressive in some of his stances, but he's a man of principle and he has a go-for-the-throat appeal even pacifists like me have to acknowledge. He could be a good counterbalance for Obama, who could maintain a more rhetorically even-tempered stance, while Webb makes the media rounds and kicks the crap out of the stale but inevitable GOP smear machine.

[pnwmom]

17. I agree with you about Webb being the "kick the crap" type.

Anyone who would refuse to stand in a receiving line for Bush, and then talk back to Bush when he pretends to care about his son in Iraq, would get my vote.

[papau]

15. No problem except any female other than Hill is another slap in the face of Hill folks

[pnwmom]

18. I don't think so. Particularly when the person endorsed HRC. n/t

[BenDavid]

2. So, the plan is for obama to go with an unknown woman? One that

has not produced 17 million plus votes, and he is going for a retired military person? WOW! The only hope obama has to win this election is to pick HRC. If she decides not to accept then her supporters will not feel betrayed by the obama campaign and may or may not vote for him, BUT, if there is any hint that obama never wanted HRC and he or his wife was instrumental in here not receiving the VP slot, and this gets out, then you can kiss the baby goodbye.

To all you obama folks. William Jefferson Clinton the best President in the later half of the 20th century today made one of the best poker political moves. He let it be known that HRC would like the VP slot. Now, two things can happen. One obama can move to have her nomination defeated or he can invite her on the ticket. If the first happens then that 32 to 35% that have said they would not vote for obama would go to 39 to 43% and assuring obama loses in november. If obama is as smart as some of you claim he is then he will accept HRC on the ticket assuring him of the election.

WJC has made the political move of the day and obama has been played, and played hard.

Shalom
Ben David

[Colobo]

3. BenDavid, let's rally around our nominee, Barack Obama.

[JeffR]

13. I'll just translate your response to suit my own taste, if you don't mind.

"Ignore, let's just own up to the fact that you post ridiculous stuff, and come the fall, if you really give a crap about the country, you'll vote for our nominee, Barack Obama."

[CK_John]

6. That is only if Obama has not made a deal with Bloomberg to be VP or have a say in the VP. n/t

[anigbrowl]

11. Zzzzz

Bill's brought it up before and it's gone nowhere. 'Obama's been played and played hard' indeed. You want a poker metaphor? It's the last few hands, Team Clinton is seeing its stack of chips diminsihing, and it's offering to call off the match and split the pot.

[bunnies]

12. Obama already rejected her.

And if he's smart, he'll stick to his guns. Letting her onto the ticket would cost him a big chunk of his supporters and she doesnt bring enough to make up for them.

Further.... I have 5 young Obama supporters visit me before the NH primaries. You know how many Hillary people came by? ZERO. Putting a sign on the lawn doesnt exactly GOTV. Obama people can do it. We dont need her.

[sfam]

14. Yes, lets absolutely make Obama look weak by caving to WJC's power play...

Great idea! Next we can have Obama do a waitering gig downtown for a few days.

Seriously, Obama, if he's going to have any hope at all of looking presidential, he absolutely HAS to refuse categorically pressure from the Clinton camp. If Hillary or her hubby forces Hillary on the ticket, our chances are doomed. This is a recipe for Hillary 2012 - it is NOT one for this year.

The only way Hillary makes the ticket is if she drops out, endorses, and does everything possible to shore up her myriad of attacks on Obama, AND makes it clear that she fully agrees Obama should pick whomever he thinks helps him the most. If, after a vetting process, she comes out, then great. But the forcing thing is a recipe for disaster.

In other words, if Obama has even an ounce of sense, he will NOT succumb to being played hard. People don't vote for presidents that are played hard.

[cottonseed]

16. Why would she even want VP?

She's groomed herself to be President for most of her life and now she'll be happy with a VP slot? to a man her, her husband, and her entire team most likely detest? Is that something she wants, and her supporters want?

[ecstatic]

19. There are many Obama supporters who would love to have a woman president soon--

just not Hillary.

If in 8 years, Hillary has made some serious changes in her attitude, tone, and integrity, and has done everything possible to aide President Obama in getting us out of Iraq, then we MIGHT give her consideration in 2016--but she will be going against Obama's VP (who may be a woman).

[Secret_Society]

7. Unknown women = bad idea

Sebelius, for example, recently polled terribly as a possible VP. Don't just pick a women because of Hillary, it would seem like pandering. If he wants that demographic just pick Hillary and put a lock on winning the GE.

[sfam]

10. Until the race is actually over, I think polling results of other women is truly a dubious...

proposition. I would bet money ALL women other than Hillary will poll horribly right now. That doesn't mean the polls hold a lick of value. Until the contest is over and Hillary fully endorses Obama (yes, perhaps this is a pipe dream) or doesn't, polling for VPs in my mind is almost a waste of time. Of course Clinton supporters will just say, "just pick Hillary, dammit!"