Kerry launches VP interviews | First: Gephardt; Nunn's name surfaces again

[Freddie Stubbs]

First up: Gephardt; Nunn's name surfaces again

By RON FOURNIER
Associated Press
Published on: 06/16/04


WASHINGTON — John Kerry has begun interviewing potential running mates, including Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, who spent about 90 minutes in the Democratic presidential candidate's Capitol office Wednesday.

Democratic officials familiar with the discussions said Kerry planned to meet with other candidates in the next several days. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the Massachusetts senator has insisted that his deliberations remain secret until he announces a nominee in July.

"I'm happy to do it if he wants me to do it," Gephardt said before the meeting. "I'm equally happy to not do it, and just help in other ways."

The Gephardt meeting came as another candidate, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, made the rounds in Washington but refused to say whether he was meeting with Kerry. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, a Democrat touted by some party officials as a potential candidate, was in Washington with Vilsack. She said she was not meeting with Kerry.

more: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/election/0604nation/17veep.html

[Crowdance]

1. What will pro-choice women do on voting day if Gep is VP?

We'll be staying home that day in droves. Will we be baking? Sewing? Or, maybe, organizing so that the Democratic party once again represents us? What's it going to take to wake us up?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[Cheswick2.0]

10. boogie men don't scare us

There is a point where saing "anything is better than bush" ceases to have meaning.
Perhaps instead of telling women to shut up and vote for Kerry you should be ranting and raving at him not to be stupid enough to chose a pro-life VP candidate. Perhaps the democratic party should kiss the womens vote good buy if they keep telling us to shut up and sacrifice our issues so one more generic white guy can win an election.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. You've gotta be kidding me.

Perhaps if you want me to take you the least bit seriously at all, you'll realize the opposition is not far removed from the Taliban with respect to women's rights. If you REALLY want to assist the American Taliban, be my guest.

[Cheswick2.0]

7. Is Gephardt Pro-life?

I didn't know that.

[WI_DEM]

9. he started his career as pro-life but as he gained national

prominence and knowing that democrats must be pro-choice to have a chance at the nomination--he changed to pro-choice. I believe DK did the same. Not that I want Gep as VP.

[Cheswick2.0]

12. okay, well as long as he changed...Gore did the same and I adore him

I have no problem with evolution.

[JI7]

17. on gay rights also

gephardt has a daughter who is a lesbian. she came out not too long ago. i believe she was actually married to a man once also. but when she came out gephardt competely accepted her. she played a major part in his campaign, similar to karenna gore in gore's campaign. she is the type where you think more of her dad because you see what a great person she is. but gephardt wasn't always big on gay rights but he is much more accepting now and his relationship with his daughter helps show it. he is proud of her . this is a huge contrast to cheney whose wife at one point even tried to deny their daughter was lesbian.

in fact i think if gephardt is picked as vp one of the most interesting things will be the debate on gay rights with vp candidates on both major parties having a daughter who is openly lesbian.

[cally]

8. What's Gephardt's position on choice?

What happened in the house when he was Speaker? This is not sarcastic. I honestly don't know.

[mzmolly]

20. Gephardt is pro-choice, He changed his position in the 80's ...

http://www.ppslr.org/Media/Articles/03jan_22_3.htm

http://www.issues2000.org/2004/Dick_Gephardt_Abortion.htm

I think he is iffy on so called "partial birth abortion," but he is in favor of funding stem-cell research.

With his speech tonight, Mr. Gephardt sought to address an issue that his supporters acknowledge could pose a problem for his campaign. Nearly his entire eight-minute speech was focused on explaining his shift on the issue, by far the most time he has devoted publicly to discussing his changing position.

"As some of you know, I was raised in a working-class family of Baptist faith, and I went to college on a church scholarship where early teachings were reinforced," Mr. Gephardt said. "Abortion was wrong, I was taught. There was a moral reason it was illegal."

He noted, to a few soft boos, that he had sponsored an amendment to ban abortion. "At that time, at the beginning of my journey in public service, I didn't yet realize the full consequences of my positions and beliefs," he continued to the hushed audience.

"Like any true change of heart and mind, it took time, and it should have," he added. "Like anyone in public service, I would understand and deserve skepticism if this was a change that came quickly or easily, but I know in my own heart that it didn't."

Notably, Mr. Gephardt did not use the forum tonight to discuss two other positions that have stirred concern among some abortion advocates: his support for restrictions both on the kind of late-term procedure that opponents call "partial birth" abortions, and on some public financing of abortion.

[robbedvoter]

21. But he voted for the "partial birth abortion" thingy

Which pretty much cancels all the progressive noises he made on the matter.

[mzmolly]

23. I don't know that it cancels everything. I don't agree with it, but

if their is no such procedure *color me confused.* To my understanding this procedure doesn't exist, so the law is very grey?

:shrug:

[JI7]

24. right

it's a term right wingers use to distort what is really the situtation such as a women's life may be in danger or if she gives birth the baby will have problems it most likely wont survive. this is why republicans refuse to cooperate on a ban for late term abortion which includes an exceptance in cases of risk of health for women. the supreme court even indicated it may uphold a ban on late term abortion if there is an exceptance for health of mother. but the right wingers don't care about that. they just want to take away choice entirely. not just late term but all choice.

[mzmolly]

25. I agree. They also want to play their followers. *bahhhh bahhhh*

When the Supreme court makes the right decision in this matter, they'll claim that the court took away the will of the people :eyes:

[Crowdance]

29. The "partial birth abortion" ban is a threat to abortion rights

It is designed to end several types of safe abortion--not just late term abortion. The right's plan was to sell this measure to seriously restrict abortion as only applying to a limited number of abortions performed. In fact, this ban is a wedge, opening the door to complete elimination of abortion rights by eliminating a procedure used safely in the second trimester.

The law was written to be grey so that it could be applied widely. And Gep voted FOR that. He's a seasoned politician, who knew what the law would mean. He's not pro-choice. He's just taken an unprincipaled stand, and hopes to get away with it.

[Hoosier Democrat]

2. NOOO..Not Gephardt!!!!

I'm hoping that the consideration of Dick "Mini Mondale" Gephardt is more of a polite formality than anything serious. Gephardt will bring nothing to the ticket. Labor support? Yep, that sure helped him in Iowa, didn't it. Swing State? He only represents about 10% of Missouri.

Sam Nunn is an intriguing choice, but I just don't think he can swing Georgia our way. If we want a VP who can bring his home state to the table, might I suggest John Edwards or Mark Warner or maybe John Breaux.

[rfranklin]

4. Get some new faces for God's sake!

Flirting with these retreads is almost as bad as Gore's choice of Lieberman.

[Corkey Mineola]

6. Sam Nunn caved on Gays in the military

So did Clinton for that matter.
Sorry but I still got that ax to grind. The whole thing was a fiasco but we are still bearing the brunt of it today.

[newyawker99]

27. Hi publichealthnut1!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Corkey Mineola]

28. Thanks!

Super sweet of you to say hi, newyawker99
Thanks!

[mndemocrat_29]

11. I also hope that the Gephardt thing is just a formality

It just won't work. Edwards-great, he's got a youthful energy and is immensely likeable, Warner-also great, he's a governor, a Southerner, and is well-liked as the NGA Chair, so Kerry will receive even more help from Rendell, Granholm, Blanco, Napolitano, and others in swing states, and Breaux-fairly good, though he's a little too conservative for me, he'd bring in Arkansas and Louisiana, though I think if we're going for a Louisiana senator, we should pick Mary Landrieu.

[LeftyDonkey]

5. Crazy Idea?

This might be a crazy idea for a VP choice...let me know what you folks think. What about Dennis Kucinich for VP? He would defend on the left flank against Nader, has a sizable and devoted base of his own, and would really help crank out the vote in northern Ohio (the Democratic base in Ohio). He would fulfill the role of VP-candidate-as-attack-dog very well. He would also be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, which could be a negative depending on where you fall politically :)
:kick:

[wjsander]

13. JUST what I was thinking!!

No, not really. :+

[Hoosier Democrat]

14. Kucinich would be seen as too far left

I personally like Kucinich's guts and his dedication to his principles, but I think he would be seen as a bit odd to mom and pop in Middle America. Try explaining "Vegan" to coal miners in West Virginia or legalizing marijuana to retirees in Arizona.

I think Kucinich can be very useful campaigning to his base this fall. I think he should then be rewarded with one of two positions: Ambassador to the UN or Secretary of HUD. In both cases, he would be a strong and eloquent voice for the disenfranchised.

[RafterMan]

16. Ambassador to the UN is an intriguing thought

I haven't heard that one before.

It would be a powerful statement.

[emulatorloo]

19. Every where but DU Kerry is characterized as a Liberal

The last Bush Ad I saw was all about how Kerry is an out of touch Mass Liberal, way worse than Ted Kennedy. DK is not gonna balance the ticket.

[TexasSissy]

18. I don't see Nunn mentioned.

[mzmolly]

22. Im far more concerned about Nunn then Gephardt!

http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Sam_Nunn.htm

[mzmolly]

26. He's interviewing Graham as well, which could fill the national security

anti-war slot very nicely. ;)

Officials said Sen. Bob Graham of Florida is among the Democrats expected to meet with Kerry in the coming days. The Kerry-Gephardt meeting sparked a raft of running mate rumors, a ritual in presidential politics.