Tim Kaine CANNOT be the VP nominee.

[PresidentObama]

I don't think he's one of the top candidates, nor am I saying he's a bad choice overall.

But one thing should stop him from even getting considered: he's Pro-Life!!

Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee. He is supposed to offer his own vision, but he's supposed to base it off the principles of the Democratic Party and off it's platform. The principles and platform of the Democratic Party on this issue is a Pro-Choice position that Senator Obama has thus far supported and promoted as the nominee of our party.

Kaine is talented, and surely will go far. But he CANNOT be our VP.

For more, read this:

Kaine also has a big weakness with the left as he is opposed to abortion. Kaine supports the partial-birth abortion ban and has a faith-based objection to abortion; Kaine is Catholic. This will certainly make him unacceptable to many Democrats, especially given the strong Hillary Clinton support that still remains among women in the Party. Kaine's weakness on women's rights might not go over so well among a group of supporters still stinging from a Clinton defeat.

http://www.theleftanchor.com/2008/05/vice-presiden-3.html

[book_worm]

1. So yet another one to cross off the list?

[PresidentObama]

4. Yep, put a big X through his name.

[Faygo Kid]

13. Yes, this isn't a viable choice. No foreign policy credentials.

Great guy, excellent governor.

Next.

[grantcart]

26. So that logic would eliminate virtually every Governor and we end up with two Senators

thats not smart.

Theres a reason that Senators almost never make it to the finals - long history of complicated voting records.


Obama and Clinton were both lucky because they had relatively short terms in the Senate and short records to defend.


The VP is likely to be a Governor.

[lojasmo]

27. Gotta keep crossing them off...

Until only DLC hacks are left.

[Alexander]

2. Ooh, he's Catholic! Just like John Kerry!

Seriously, I've seen no desire on Kaine's part to overturn Roe v. Wade.

[PresidentObama]

3. McCain a few years said he didn't want to overturn Roe v. Wade. So him and Tim are in the same boat.

Well not anymore. McCain has flip flopped on that.

But anyway, you get my point.

Pro-lifers don't belong on our national ticket.

[Alexander]

11. So Kaine says he didn't want Roe v. Wade overturned and now he can't be VP?

Okay.

:eyes:

[PresidentObama]

15. When did he say Roe v. Wade shouldn't be overturned?

Source?

[Hippo_Tron]

28. When did he say it should be overturned?

Roe v Wade is the law of the land and unless Tim Kaine says so, I don't see why we shouldn't think he believes otherwise.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Kerry never allowed his personal beliefs to cross over

into policy. Being against abortion personally didn't lead him to oppose Roe v. Wade or funding for women's reproductive health.

I don't know Kaine's record, but I think what matters isn't the person's religion, but how he/she intends to vote and/or appoint SC justices and other judges.

[Alexander]

12. Neither did Kaine, to my knowledge.

Kaine has stated he's not interested in overturning Roe v. Wade.

So he's exactly like Kerry on the issue. Personally pro-life but pro-choice as far as policy.

[PresidentObama]

16. So what has he done so far to show he's pro-choice on policy?

Source?

[Alexander]

40. Are you kidding? Can you name a single thing he's done to restrict abortion rights?

You made the allegation, now you get to back it up.

So far, your evidence has been "Because he's Catholic" and "He supports partial-birth abortion".

Both of those statements could apply to many members of our party.

So, while I'm waiting for evidence of some secret anti-Roe v. Wade agenda from Governor Kaine, I have to ask:

Source?

[Thothmes]

43. I suspect Governor Kaine will

continue to hold his personal views but carry out the laws as they are written. He is also personally against the death penalty, yet he has only commuted one death sentence since taking office. There have been several executions during his tenure.

[SoCalDem]

5. Anti-Choice is my choice..

saying pro-life, is a republican invention..makes us automatically anti-life/pro-death in the eyes of the "low-information voters"..:grr:

[rox63]

6. Kerry is Catholic as well, and he doesn't impose his religious views on the voters

Kerry has said that he personally does not support abortion, because of his religious beliefs. But he has one of the most pro-choice records in the Senate. Unless Kaine has said that he would support anti-choice legislation, or that he supports overturning the right to choose, I wouldn't take him off the list.

[JerseygirlCT]

7. Oh man. Another one?

And all men. No surprise there.

[Va Lefty]

22. Self Delete

Sorry, wrong place to post this, see below

[KaryninMiami]

9. May I make a request? Can we all stop using the term "Pro-Life"- it's ANTI- CHOICE.

Pro-Life is a GOP catch phase which they did a fantastic job at getting into everyone's vernacular. It's like "tax and spend Democrats"- they are brilliant at things like this and we need to collectively- put an end to them where we can. We are ALL Pro-Life-and some of us also happen to be pro-choice.

Please guys- this is how they win elections- let's do what we can to stop the spin whenever we run into it- ok?

Thank you!

[PresidentObama]

10. Let's call them Pro-Death, instead.

For there positions on death penalty and the war in Iraq.

[Alexander]

41. Actually Kaine is against the death penalty.

I'm sure you weren't referring to him, right?

[Major Hogwash]

42. That proves he is pro-life, right there.

I'm against dying myself too, but I'm against referring to it as a penalty.

[Catchawave]

14. It's how he won Virginia....

But he was honest about it being a personal choice, not a political one. Being honest is not a weakness!

[Smarmie Doofus]

17. A lot of people oppose partial birth abortion.

>>>Kaine also has a big weakness with the left as he is opposed to abortion. Kaine supports the partial-birth abortion ban and has a faith-based objection to abortion; Kaine is Catholic. This will certainly make him unacceptable to many Democrats, especially given the strong Hillary Clinton support that still remains among women in the Party. Kaine's weakness on women's rights might not go over so well among a group of supporters still stinging from a Clinton defeat.>>>>>

And a lot of people object to abortion but oppose efforts to involve the state in enforcing thier objection.

There's a difference between being opposed to abortion and being a "right to lifer"

If there are other examples of "weakness on women's rights", what are they, exactly?

Remember folks... we're looking for a *VICE* President. Not necessarily an ideological clone of Obama.

[Thrill]

18. DAMN. I didn't know this about him. I was sure he was going to be the guy

[Awsi Dooger]

36. I didn't know it either

Kaine made the most sense. We never seem to be able to sway a vital state via VP.

Maybe Bayh has more of a chance than I estimated.

[marimour]

19. no reason to disqualify him. A lot of Democrats are against abortion from a religious perspective.

I am personally opposed to abortion (not a religious thing) just my personal morals and would never get one, but I don't think I have a right to impose my views on someone else and their right to choose. I don't see anything wrong with his position as long as he keeps it separate from his political life. Just based on his religious convictions, Obama could personally oppose it but politically support the freedom to get an abortion.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. How is his position any different from Obama's?

Both he and Obama support a ban on third trimester with an exception for life and health of the mother.

Has Kaine ever voiced support for first or second trimester abortion restrictions? Because "I have personal faith based opposition to abortion" doesn't mean he thinks it's the government's place to regulate it in the first or second trimester.

Saying "I have personal faith based opposition to abortion" is how you get anti-choice voters to vote for you when you're running for Governor of a red state without having to make any actual promises on legislating on abortion.

And don't even get me started about how bad Al Gore's record was on choice when he was a Senator from Tennessee.

[cbc5g]

21. +1

I agree

[Hippo_Tron]

24. It's basically red state campaigning 101

When asked about abortion you always say "Well I'm really really super religious and morally opposed to abortion" and do everything you possibly can to avoid going on the record with any specifics. Ambiguity is key.

[saltpoint]

23. I think Kaine brings convincing positives to a ticket. Bob Casey holds

more or less the same position on that one issue as Kaine, but it would most certainly not have precluded my voting for Casey over Rick Santorum had I been a voter in Pennsylvania.

Same for Kaine in Virginia.

Same for either on a national ticket.

I'd prefer Bill Bradley or Barbara Boxer or Russ Feingold or several other pro-choicers but by amalgam affirmation will support Kaine also. Service abroad will matter to Obama and I expect Kaine will be among the short-list finalists.

If Obama should choose Kaine, you won't hear any squawking from my house.

[PresidentObama]

31. Well of course, I'd vote for Kaine in a hard beat. I just think we can do better.

[Va Lefty]

25. Another reason

Many of us who voted for Governor Kaine would not appreciate him vacating his office and leaving us with puke wing-nut Bill Bolling as Gov.

[cbc5g]

29. Mark Warner would guarantee Obama the Presidency .. but at least we pick up a Senate seat

Kaine will do fine also. But damn, Obama and Warner just look good together and he's hugely popular in Virginia.

[grantcart]

32. I also think that they really get along well with each other

The Catholic factor will be useful in OH/PA/IN


His fluency in Spanish will be great with Hispanics


He comes from two swing states Missouri and Virginia


And his personal piety (was a lay missionary for the Jesuits) will confound many evangelicals.


No candidate is perfect and no VP nominee is perfect - I think Kaine brings the most positive pull to the ticket.


And it would also eliminate Ridge or anyother pro choice candidate on the Republican side. It would box McCain in.

[ecstatic]

30. Does he want to overturn Roe v Wade?

:shrug:

[Crowdance]

33. Agreed. Anti-choice politicians do not belong on the ticket.

His support for prohibit women from third-trimester abortions is absolutely horrendous. Despite the right wing talking points about this medical procedure, this is a procedure women access in order to save their lives and their health. It's appalling to see the easy misogyny that denies women needed medical care in the democratic party and among purported progressives.

In addition, his support for Roe v. Wade is only a promise to uphold the law, just as he has upheld the Virginia laws allowing capital punishment. His support for the ban on third trimester abortion indicates that he would be in favor of supporting the continual chipping away of women's reproductive rights that the anti-choice forces have enacted. Once the final piece of support for Roe v. Wade is gone, one can surmise he'll have no problems or qualms enforcing laws that force women into child bearing because that, after all, will have become the law of the land.

His position, and the positions of many in this thread, indicate that women's reproductive choices are so much bus fodder at this point. I'm dismayed that women's reproductive rights mean so little to these people that they are easily disposed of. Expect women to make their displeasure known at this sad turn of events if Mr. Kaine is on the ticket.

[Hippo_Tron]

34. Obama also supports a ban on third trimester abortions

So long as there is an exception for health and life of the mother. Which is basically an exercise in redundancy because no reputable doctor will perform a third trimester abortion unless there is a valid medical reason.

[marimour]

35. He supports 3rd trimester abortions for the safety of the mother. Same as Obama and Clinton.

His position is no different from the majority of democrats. A lot of people are against abortions where he baby can actually live and be adopted somewhere unless necessary to save the mother. I am one of them, and it has nothing to do with not caring about my reproductive rights.

[salonghorn70]

37. Kaine Supports Legal Access to Abortion

He is against abortion based upon his personal Catholic faith. So what? Can anyone say abortion is a wonderful thing. He does support the legal access to abortion. There is no problem with this position and it would not keep him from being VP.
<http://mediamatters.org/items/200511110006Can>

[goodgd_yall]

38. Thank you----I see no problem with Kaine as VP

There are plenty of people personally opposed to abortion but who support legal access to abortion. Personal opposition often means that person would not choose abortion or would not encourage someone to get an abortion. But even there, a person who opposes abortion supports abortion in cases of incest, rape, or medical reasons (detection of a serious abnormality in the fetus).

[Bjorn Against]

39. I think this is a good time to post something I wrote a long time ago. I am pro-life.

I am pro-life because I believe it is wrong to drop bombs on innocent civilians in Iraq.

I am pro-life because I oppose the death penalty.

I am pro-life because I believe that no American should ever have to suffer a slow painful death because they were not able to afford health care.

I am pro-life because I oppose torture.

I am pro-life because I oppose cutting welfare benefits to people who are already unable to provide for their basic human needs.

I am pro-life because I want to protect the environment and stop global warming.

And I am pro-life because I believe that no woman should ever have to risk her life by performing a delicate medical procedure with a coat-hanger.

Today we live in a world in which words are spun to make those who slaughter innocent Iraqi children appear to be pro-life. We live in a world in which we are told our so-called President has been spreading freedom and democracy around the world while ignoring the fact that this "President" was only able to take office through electoral fraud. We live in a world where up is down, black is white, and pro-torture is pro-life. We live in a world of illusions.

It is time that we see through those illusions and start speaking the truth. We must take back our language and insist that pro-life does not mean anti-choice, it means anti-war. It means standing up for basic human rights, it means standing up for the poor the oppressed and the innocent civilians who lie in the paths of the war ships.

It is those of us who stand up to protect a woman's right to choose to have a delicate medical procedure done in a safe environment who are pro-life not those who want to go back to the days of the coat hanger.

So yes I am pro-life, and if you oppose the agenda of the religious right then you are probably pro-life too.