Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP?

by odum, Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:17:16 PM EST

Pardon the short diary, but I wanted to raise an idea u on the flagpole and see if anybody saluted it (with the caveat that I'm not sure if I ascribe to it myself).

First we have Wes Clark, offering a fairly harmless comment that the McCain people are smart enough to realize can be blown out of proportion among the media. One wonders if Obama's quick denunciation of Clark (which, incidentally, has got to decrease the incentive for high-profile Obama supporters to put themselves out there into the media for scrutiny, given that Obama was so quick on the trigger to condemn him, but I digress...), didn't fire off some kind of light bulb over the head of the McCain team.

Because now we have the same yarn being spun about Jim Webb. Given that both have been suggested to be potential running mates, is it possible that there's a real intention from the McCain campaign to use what strikes me as a genuine weakness from Obama (the hyper-quickness to distance himself from anyone who comes anywhere near the question of McCain's service and its relevance to the debate) to drive the decision over Obama's running mate? Do they agree with the many pundits and observers who have suggested that the dustup has removed Clark from the veep list, and are now going after the next high-profile name on the list with military cred, hoping to push Obama into distancing himself from Webb as well (and in the process, knocking him out of contention)?

I'm not saying I'm convinced this is a conscious strategy....yet... I'm jus' sayin', is all...

(Crossposted from Green Mountain Daily)




Tags: John McCain, Barack Obama, Wesley Clark, Jim Webb (all tags)

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Re: Is McCain Picking Obama's VP? (none / 0)

Earlier people were worried that Clinton would influence Obama's VP choice. Now it seems that McCain is doing that.


by devil on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:23:44 PM EST

I like Webb (none / 0)

he has the economic tie-in to voters obama needs.


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:24:37 PM EST

Re: I like Webb (none / 0)

I like Webb well enough...but, he has some 'baggage' that will not play well with a lot of voters (especially women).

He was virulently against allowing women into the Service Schools. His writings on the subject are pretty offensive (even when one takes 'the prevailing view of the time' into consideration). If I remember correctly, he also has some tenuous connection to the Tail Hook Scandal.

Since, seemingly, one of Obama's current 'weak spots' is with women voters.....perhaps it would be best not to outright antagonize them with a Webb VP.

Just my 2 cents....again, I actually like Webb.


by Kysen on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:29:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I like Webb (none / 0)

BTW....when it comes to Obama's VP...I believe that it will end up being someone that we, and the media, are not currently bantering about.


by Kysen on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:31:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's actually possible (none / 0)

We've been seeing stepped up attacks on folks like Dodd as well.  


In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.
by Dracomicron on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:34:37 PM EST

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (1.00 / 1)

"which, incidentally, has got to decrease the incentive for high-profile Obama supporters to put themselves out there into the media for scrutiny, given that Obama was so quick on the trigger to condemn him, but I digress..)

It's never a digression with the Clinton crowd, always take the time to slime the candidate?

You're wrong of course, cause that IS the purpose of surrogates, to do the heavy lifting and the candidate can seem above the fray, not doing the slingin'...

Ah, but, I forget the first rule of the Clinton Core here...

Clinton do=Good, Obama do=Bad.


"Well the danger on the rocks is surely past... Still I remain tied to the mast"...Don Fagen, Poet and Piano Player
by WashStateBlue on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:44:18 PM EST

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (2.00 / 1)

Sorry pal. Am an Obama supporter. Knocked on doors for him in the primary and everything.

Step away from the caffeine.


by odum on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:17:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (none / 0)

Webb has indicated that he didn't want the job, and I think that Clark's not interested either.  I just don't think that there's much here, except that McCain is freaking out over anybody making any comment about his military service.

Obama's probably four or five weeks from choosing a VP.


by NewOaklandDem on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:52:03 PM EST

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (2.00 / 1)

Obama better not throw Webb under the bus like he did General Clark. I'll never support him if he does that. Distancing himself from Clark was deplorable, and he needs to be held accountable by Democrats. Obama is supposed to represent change, and running from the truth is not change we can believe in. Democrats need to let Obama know we expect him to support General Clark, Jim Webb, and all the others who contribute greatly to this country and to the Democratic Party. General Clark and Jim Webb give the Democratic Party credibility that it has lacked for a long time. This isn't the time alienate them, or their supporters. This is no time for a DINO purge.


by millerrt on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:03:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (none / 0)

Okay, I'll bite:

He's certainly being held accountable on this site and others like it, and by many of his strongest supporters here.  I don't think he "threw" Clark under the bus, but that's certainly depends on one's personal opinion.  I doubt he'll have anything ot say about Webb's comments.  In fact, if anything, he's courting Webb Democrats with his recent policy statements, and doing what all nominees eventually do - tacking to the center.


by NewOaklandDem on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:10:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (2.00 / 1)

I hope you're right. We worked too hard in Virginia to help Webb beat (2008 GOP Prez nominee)"Macaca", to sit back and watch him get smeared.


by millerrt on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 01:37:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

if it is a strategy (none / 0)

its a good one - and one Democrats should use.


vote blue in 2008
by sepulvedaj3 on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:52:36 PM EST

Pre-emptively sliming Republicans? (2.00 / 1)

No thanks.

First of all, it's tacky and stupid to do this: the only Republicans we should be afraid of as VP are ones that are actually solid, legitimate politicans with reform cred, like Sarah Palin.  Smearing Palin would be atrocious and a total loser for us.

Second, most of the oft-discussed potential picks are complete jokes, and we could only be so lucky to see McCain pick one of these jokers, because the material writes itself.  There are good reasons why Romney, Giuliani, and the like never became the nominee, and it's not because McCain is super-awesome.


In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.
by Dracomicron on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:07:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

you can go after possible (none / 0)

VP candidates without smearing.


vote blue in 2008
by sepulvedaj3 on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:16:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (2.00 / 1)

Whether it's a conscious strategy or not, it's counter-productive. VP candidates should be assailed AFTER they have been selected, not before. No Democrat should be pointing out, for example, Romney's stewardship of Bain Capital which was basically a vulture fund which bought up companies, broke them up and sold the component parts, laid off many thousands of employees and made Romney rich. (By the way, did you know he's STILL a Mormon?) Discussion of Carly Fiorina's single-handed destruction of Hewlett-Packard and its workforce, for which she was given a $21 million bon votage party, should be stifled until and if she is the nominee. Nor should we mention Bobby Jindal's failure to recognize that, yes Virginia, there were oils spills off the LA coast after Katrina. You get the idea.

Let McCain use his ammo, most of which will be fired at decoys, while Obama keeps his powder dry. The first rule of VP selection is "do no harm." Of course, there's also Hillary. Is she an exception if Obama's team believes there is enough gain to overcome the harm? After all, rules do require an exception to prove themselves.


by STUBALL on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 03:54:31 PM EST

Obama wasn't commenting on Clark (none / 0)

I read earlier today that Obama said that he wasn't commenting on Clark's remarks when he said in his patriotism speech that no one should question others' patriotism and that he respected McCain's service. Those were lines written in the speech two weeks ago.


We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.
by politicsmatters on Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 04:56:20 PM EST

Re: Is McCain Trying to Pick Obama's VP? (none / 0)

I dont think what Wesley Clark said was negative at all. He was being honest and speaking truthful, I hope the Obama Campaign keeps him on the short list for VP, He is perfect. Just the kind of hard line straight shooter Obama needs. Thats why McCain wanted Obama to "Cut Clark Loose" The McCain camp knows that a Clark VP means a insured McCain loss. Clark dwarfs McCain. No one ever talks about the fact that Clark won the war in Kosovo with out even firing a shot. You can learn more about all the vp candidates on both sides at www.theveep.com Link


by charleslawlesss on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 12:23:22 PM EST


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