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Will Obama Wave Bayh-Bye to the White House?Posted on Aug 15, 2008By David Sirota If you believe the chatter, Barack Obama is desperately seeking a white guy—any white guy—to be his running mate. Democratic sources have floated vice-presidential trial balloons for every pale-faced stiff in the D.C. region—from Delaware Sen. Joe Biden to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. But with Obama needing his “change” brand to overshadow his recent flip-flops, no pick would be more self-defeating than Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh—the career politician who best personifies “more of the same.” The son of Sen. Birch Bayh, Evan has no discernible political skills (unless “skills” include being the cure for insomnia and having a famous last name). In the decade since this prince claimed his daddy’s Senate seat, he has amassed not a single significant accomplishment—a miraculous achievement, even by Washington’s do-nothing standards. If he is known at all, it is for heading a business front group called the Democratic Leadership Council, using that position to rake in corporate campaign contributions and then paying back the money with votes. For instance, in his 2004 campaign, Bayh raised almost $1 million from the banking and financial industries, then voted in 2005 for a bankruptcy bill helping those industries intensify their usurious practices. Similarly, despite representing a manufacturing state crushed by trade-related job losses, Bayh has voted for a bevy of lobbyist-written trade pacts, including the monumentally destructive China deal in 2000. On foreign policy, it’s even worse. Bayh has been a shameless Bush parrot, infamously commending himself for being “tough and smart” after aggressively supporting the Iraq war—the same war that U.S. intelligence agencies have said is severely weakening America’s national security. Obama selecting this corporate Frankenstein would implicitly signal that the Illinois senator’s populist campaign promises are a farce. In terms of demoralizing Democratic voters, a Bayh pick would make Al Gore’s 2000 choice of Joe Lieberman—i.e., the worst vice-presidential nomination in contemporary history—look positively brilliant. Advertisement Democrats have lost Indiana in every presidential election since 1964, including the three that Bayh appeared on the statewide ballot. In the June Democratic presidential primary, Bayh backed Hillary Clinton—and yet, Obama nearly tied her in Indiana. That’s correct—the Bayh machine that is supposedly powerful enough to deliver Indiana in the general election couldn’t even muster a decisive intra-party victory. The most ridiculous arguments for Bayh are those insisting that his nomination would (A) appease embittered Clinton supporters because Bayh was a Clinton supporter and (B) help win Indiana border states such as Ohio. Like most D.C. analysis, this assertion assumes that most Americans are as obsessed with politics as professional pundits, and therefore that most Clinton voters (A) know who Bayh is and (B) know Bayh supported Clinton. Furthermore, the theory presumes that unemployed factory workers in places like Akron will decide to vote for Obama because of Bayh—even though most of them have never heard of the Indiana senator and those that have know him for voting to ship their jobs overseas. (Note to Obama: If you want to win Ohio, why not pick the Buckeye State’s anti-war and anti-NAFTA Sen. Sherrod Brown?) If Obama has, indeed, confined his vice-presidential search only to white men (a big “if”), that’s unfortunate, though unsurprising. With Obama facing a continued barrage of race-tinged attacks, such calculation would be predictable. But that doesn’t mean he has to pick a running mate who completely undermines his “change” message. If he does that, Democrats could be saying Bayh-bye to the presidency. David Sirota is a bestselling author whose newest book, “The Uprising,” was released in June. He is a fellow at the Campaign for America’s Future and a board member of the Progressive States Network—both nonpartisan organizations. His blog is at www.credoaction.com/sirota. © 2008 Creators Syndicate Inc. Previous item: Cold War Spin Only Compounds Georgian Crisis Next item: The Original Swift-Boater Is Back Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment
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By karkd, November 9, 2008 at 7:54 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Most americans really support him despite he is black.
Report thisBy stroitbet, November 7, 2008 at 5:40 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I wonder how will matters be going concerning racism in the USA now.
Report thisBy troublesum, August 19, 2008 at 4:55 pm #
Cyrena for VP. Obama will need an attack dog.
Report thisBy cyrena, August 19, 2008 at 2:10 pm #
dihey,
That’s the thing I’m wondering about. I’m not so certain that he really IS on Obama’s short list, or ever was. And, it’s not that I don’t trust David Sirota, because I’m sure he didn’t just make this up.
On the other hand, Obama has had an obsession with leaks in his campaign, and I certainly understand his paranoia. So, while this may in fact be a ‘legitimate’ consideration, there’s an equal chance that it is NOT.
I’ve been ‘sensing’ Chuck Hagel as a possible, but his republicanism would make that troubling for all of the folks who are already damning Obama for not being a raving radical leftie.
Now I personally like Hagel, and believe it or not, I was never overwhelmingly partisan until the neocons highjacked the republican party. I’ve never voted for a republican president, because my own ideology has always been better represented by the democrats. (at least when things were still sort of normal). Still, in other elections that are more local, I’ve always voted the person, not the party.
That said, I’ve always been OK with Hagel, because he seems to me to be a straightforward kind of a guy, and he’s been around enough to know what’s up. I happen to believe that’s worth a lot, which is why I don’t buy into this whole ‘tear it all down’ philosophy. That’s not to say that there aren’t a substantial number of the Congress that should be tossed out and replaced. But the idea of having 535 new people who’ve never done the job before trying to run stuff, is a total nightmare.
One that I might not always agree with, but could still appreciate for what seems to be a level of honesty missing in most politicians, and ALL republicans. (at least these days) And, he has said that he’d be willing to consider the position, and he was on the “official” part of the tour with Obama last month.
So, we’ll see. But yeah, Bayh would be bad.
Report thisBy dihey, August 19, 2008 at 1:27 pm #
Cyrena, I agree with your statement “Theres no doubt that Bayh would be among the absolute worst of choices” but that begs the immediate question of why this “absolute worst of choices” was on Obama’s short list in the first place. This fact does not bode well for the numerous positions that he will have to fill as President.
Report thisBy Kwaayesnama, August 18, 2008 at 11:22 am #
Lets see my choice is John McCain or that smart black man Barack Obama?
McCain who does not know how to use a computer but is willing to learn if we elect him Ill just vote for that smart black man.
My Choices are: John McCain who says the economic downturn is psychological? - Na! I’ll vote for the smart black man.
McCain who says you are better off under George Bush? - Nope I’ll vote for the smart black man.
Mc Cain who wants to continue killing more people looking for weapons of mass destruction that do not exist? - Gee! I’ll vote for the smart black man.
McCain who believes that we should stay the course but is not willing to support the people he puts in harms way. - I’ll take a chance on the smart black man.
Should I vote for a man that does not know that 9-11 was caused by Osama Bin Laden not Sedam Hussein? - Easy! I’ll vote for the smart black man.
Vote for the man who does not know if the Sunnis or Sheits are our enemies? - No way I’ll vote for the smart black man.
Vote for the man who helped put our government on the China, Saudi Arabia credit card? - Not a chance I’ll vote for the smart black man.
Vote for the man with the worst temper in the Senate to have his finger on the nuclear button? - No way - I’ll vote for the smart black man.
Report thisBy thebeerdoctor, August 17, 2008 at 10:23 pm #
My only comment is: WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Report thisBy Terry Dougherty, August 17, 2008 at 12:19 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
‘Russ Holt - you got me there. Never heard of him. Maybe hes a good guy.’
Sorry, it should have been Rush Holt. Holt represents the 12th Congressional District for the state of New Jersey. It was he who introduced the bill that would have eliminated computers in the voting booth. For those who may not be aware, Congress spent $3.9 billion of the tax payers’ money to assure that there were computers, with all their vulnerabilities, in every voting precinct by 2006. Had enough congresspersons signed on, Diebold would not have been able to ‘elect’ Dubya for another four years, and Kerry would have won the election.
Later, much later, Slick’s wife introduced the same bill in the Senate.
Report thisBy cyrena, August 17, 2008 at 2:24 am #
By Louise, August 15 at 7:38 am
I think this silly article falls into the same class as any other silly shit someone desperate for a story with meat, might swallow. Warning, chew first, or you might choke.
Dead giveaway ... Obama desperately seeking ... Sorry thats almost as banal, not to mention dim-witted, as Obama holds duel citizenship.”
~~~~~
Thanks Louise, you were reading my mind again. (or maybe I was reading yours)
Don’t cha just love the language and all of the color coding?
And in all sincerity, why are we to assume that Obama *is* even considering him? If he isn’t considering the Clinton’s, why would he consider Bayh? According to this, just because he needs a white guy.
PLEASE! Last time I checked, there were a whole shit pot of white guys in the US. In fact, unless something has changed in the past few minutes, isn’t that the majority of the electorate?
There’s no doubt that Bayh would be among the absolute worst of choices. But I don’t see how or why Kucinich couldn’t be a perfectly acceptable choice, and he may be willing to take it on. Now THAT would be a team.
On the other hand, Kucinich is a nice guy, and so’s Obama. Americans who twice voted for Dick Bush, (and enough of them did, even if it wasn’t enough for them to win either election legitimately) apparently prefer to elect psychopaths. Like an older woman was ranting on the bus the other day, “People just can’t stand to be treated nicely or fairly any more. They just LIKE getting their teeth kicked in. They can only respond to BAD treatment!”
Extreme? Maybe. But I have to admit, it does have that appearance. Kind of like the abused personality that just continues to choose abusive spouses/partners. It’s like the worse they treat ‘em, the better they like it.
Meantime, another good choice which would piss off the ones who hate Obama already, would be Hagel. Now we know that Hagel is a former republican, so that dooms him in the eyes of those who hate all republicans. (And I don’t much like ‘em myself). On the other hand, I’ve followed Hagel’s stuff for a while, (before he left Congress to.. in his words, “seek honest work”) and he’s basically been mostly OK with me. (I can never *fully* agree with any republican on anything, but then…the same could be said for most democrats as well, though there are some exceptions with the democrats).
So, I only said that to say that there are some perfectly acceptable ‘white guys’ out there, that could do the job, specifically democrats, but even the isolated repupublican or independant. (Bernie Sanders would be very cool.
)
Anyway, the note from Obama’s campaign promised that ‘we’ (I guess that means me and the millons of other supporters linked to his website mailing address) would be ‘the first to know’.
Meantime, I’ll add my few words of discouragement (and threats
) to any possible consideration of this bayh character.
That’s what’s been so brilliant about the Obama campaign strategy, that most of the anti’s still haven’t figured out. He actually DOES take input from the people of the movement. And on the few occasions when he does go against the grain of the ‘voice’, (ours) he generally prepares an explanation for why he did what he did, or didn’t do what we encouraged him to do.
I’m not always satisfied with the explanations, but I appreciate getting them.
Meantime, he STILL has an entire collection of potential VP’s to select from, and there’s no reason (at least not that I’ve seen) to expect that it would be bayh.
Not sure where David came up with this.
Report thisBy Chris1274, August 16, 2008 at 4:52 pm #
G.Anderson said:
“At this point Im wondering if America can survive another 4 more years of Neo Con corporate facism.”
I wish I had your optimism. I’m wondering if it can survive another four months. If the Georgia debacle and the missle defense deal with Poland don’t spark a nuclear crisis, we’ll all be very lucky. On top of that, there’s the Iran issue that will flare up soon enough, along with the immanent meltdown in the financial markets.
The sky really is falling this time.
Report thisBy KYJurisDoctor, August 16, 2008 at 3:41 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Evan Bayh won’t be IT!
Report thisBy jersey girl, August 16, 2008 at 2:03 pm #
Obama and Bayh are perfect together. They both share the same agenda. Kow tow to the investment bankers screw the working class. Yaaayyyy !! Now that’s a ticket that will make the republicans stand up and take notice and vote for the man who is all about change !! yea right.
Report thisBy rbrooks, August 16, 2008 at 10:00 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Oh, it gets a lot worse.
Evan Bayh = Mark Penn:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200808u/mark-penn
Doesn’t get a lot more scary than that.
Report thisBy dihey, August 16, 2008 at 9:35 am #
Bayh was also one of the six Democratic Senators who voted for AG Mukasey who weaseled on water boarding during the hearings. That fact alone should disqualify him to be even close to the White House. If Obama does not understand this he is unqualified himself to be our next president. If Bayh is seriously considered by the Obama campaign for the VP slot that is a major blunder.
Report thisFour years ago the Republican mantra was “four more years”. The universal mantra for the coming presidential election appears to be “four more pricks.”
By youraveragejoe, August 16, 2008 at 9:16 am #
Regarding Hillary as VP, isn’t it interesting how quickly the Democrat Party dropped her and Bill like a stone. After lauding them, apparently hypocritically, for years as the best thing since sliced bread. Bill engineering our best economy ever; Hillary that strong woman…. What are we now to think about all the fawning over O.B.
Desperation?
B.O. and Hillary were temporarily a dream ticket… for the Republicans.
As for other possibilities, I hope both candidates choose non-Congressional running mates. Having more members of the professional debating society will be hard to take.
Report thisBy yellowbird2525, August 15, 2008 at 9:41 pm #
67% of the American folks do NOT like either party nominee; Clinton’s manager said NO MEDIA air time or news print will be given to any other “shadowy” party; the only “shadowy” folks are those in office now; both parties are corrupt to the core; & basically no difference between them; one man said in a book store I have searched & searched & not found 1 single book that has anything good to say about Hillary Clinton; I am trying to be unbiased; but not 1 single book & he had read many or articles had 1 thing good to say re her or her husband; so why are they continually trying to “laud” her and him? Give me a break! NO ONE wants anything to do with either one of them; their “enemies” or those who stand in their way usually meet with “accidents” or “suicides”; that is WHY there was so much uproar over her comment about Bobby Kennedy being shot in June as to why SHE was still going to run. THEY KNOW WELL THE CLINTONS! She is ONLY in office due to fraud folks; trust me, the democrats will tell you more than anyone else will about her; & what they took from the White House; I had no clue & they were not all listed in the news. THEY know to a T.
Report thisBy G.Anderson, August 15, 2008 at 4:29 pm #
At this point I’m wondering if America can survive another 4 more years of Neo Con corporate facism.
All the names that are rumoured to be in the running for Mr. Obama’s Vice president choice, are not change I can believe in.
There’s Biden, who engineered the credit card slavery of the American people, and now Bayh, surely there must be someone who represents change we can believe in.
Report thisBy youraveragejoe, August 15, 2008 at 3:26 pm #
Democrat Party supporters have to get off their angry Liberal kick, or they risk a three-peat. Dems are stuck in believing that everyone really agrees with them, and if they could just get a fair shot, they’d win in a landslide. So they continue choosing red-meat throwing blowhards, that the Electorate sees through in a micro-second.
Next to Spitzer, and Edwards, Bayh is one of the most sanctimonious, and non-genuine people I have ever listened to.
Feingold, Wexler, that Gov of VA guy, Boxer, etc., all fit into the angry panderer mold, too. Pick someone who has a snowball’s chance of bringing the country together, because B.O. hasn’t shown evidence of doing that. He’s more interested in what Germans think than working with the other side of the aisle in his own country. He’s going to magically change after the election??
Report thisBy khi2000, August 15, 2008 at 2:43 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
“Bayh is a nauseating person.”
I disagree except that as an idea he most certainly disagreeable and nauseating. But other than than to nauseate one must move in unusual ways [think rides at the midway] or have a disagreeable flavor [think vinegar]. Bayh has never made a move that wasn’t the most studied and safest so he cannot nauseate due to movement since he has none. Bayh is the blandest flavor there is. He out vanillas vanilla. So he cannot nauseate by flavor. All he can nauseate is as an idea that a person holds office simply to hold office and cater to the wealthy and powerful. Obama loses my vote should he choose Bayh. Nuff said by a former Hoosier.
Report thisBy yellowbird2525, August 15, 2008 at 2:33 pm #
Our whole Gov is run by Corps folks: the Gov is in bed with them & has been; PEOPLE were never to be taxed; NEVER; taxes were all to be paid for by Big Business profits; instead the “political” which simply means prostitutes: give me this much money & I will do this for you; they bought & paid for congress years ago; THAT is why YOU are now paying for Corps taxes; check out FLOURIDE folks: check out WHY other countries aren’t using it; check out WHY all the “banned” toxins are being dedicatedly used in everything from toothpaste, soaps, conditioners, shampoos, lord have mercy! talk about human right abuses! OUR COUNTRY TAKES THE CAKE! because Pharma on the other side takes in a killing you are talking trillions upon trillons of dollars folks; and I am JUST NOW learning about this! If you ever even THOUGHT this country was FOR THE PEOPLE you had better CHANGE YOUR MINDSET. And whoever is elected will NOT change the diabolic deeds unless THEY CANNOT BE BRIBED! and I do NOT see that happening with Congress as corrupt as they are.
Report thisBy Maxim, August 15, 2008 at 12:39 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Brussels, 15th August 08
Report thisThe article written by David Sirota is extremely funny and witty.
I enjoyed it very much especially as the current news are not that encouraging.
Please give us more of the same vein.
With my best regards.
Maxim
By Philip J Dennany, August 15, 2008 at 12:22 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I couldn’t have said it any better from here in Indana. Byah, as his daddy before him was, is a good for the corporate elite. He is not a for the people democrat, but a fully bribe collector that is getting more filthy rich from the hoax war on terror.
Report thisBy rage, August 15, 2008 at 11:50 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
“Will Obama Wave Bayh Bye to the White House?”
If he really wants to win, he will. Amerika has endured enough VEEP buffoonery from Indiana, putting up with that doufas knucklehead Dan Quayle for four Bush41 years.
Enough with the Hoosier twit-feebs!
Obama - Kaine 2008!
Report thisBy khi2000, August 15, 2008 at 11:39 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Bayh, Pannos, Lake County, gaming license, corruption. Follow the trail. Bayh is dirty and it can be proven
Report thisBy Louise, August 15, 2008 at 11:38 am #
I think this silly article falls into the same class as any other silly shit someone desperate for a story with meat, might swallow. Warning, chew first, or you might choke.
Dead giveaway ... “Obama desperately seeking ...” Sorry that’s almost as banal, not to mention dim-witted, as Obama holds duel citizenship.
Given the chance there’s no doubt, several dozen qualified “white” guys who would love the chance to be VP. So, the real question has to be how come you, and so many others like you, cant think unless you’re color-coding?
Are you really that desperate for a story Sirota? OK, I’ll go along with the notion that a lot of Dems are really PO’d about the perceived lack of action by the 110th congress. And I’ll go along with the notion that a lot of dems, who rarely dig deeper than the headline might see Obama as a flip-flopper. But really, is it necessary to create “what ifs” to feed that anger?
Well I guess if you really are a closet conservative, and you really are a racist, and you really don’t want to see change, [if it comes in a different color] this article should go a long way to stirring up some already muddy waters.
~~~
“With Obama facing a continued barrage of race-tinged attacks, such calculation would be predictable. But that doesnt mean he has to pick a running mate who completely undermines his change message.”
~~~
This observation presupposes the author knows more than the candidate. Alleged race-tinged attacks, daily jumped on and pulled into the spot-light by “journalists” like Sirota, giving them more value than they deserve. Followed by a sorta justification for the back door “race” focus by expressing concern about damaging the “change” factor.
There ya go, Sirota defines himself ... albeit somewhat cloaked.
So what do we call this article?
Reverse discrimination, race-tinged attack?
Shame on you Sirota, give us some real meat!
Gag ...
Report thisBy Terry Dougherty, August 15, 2008 at 11:31 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Why not Dennis Kucinich? I believe that had Rep. Kucinich been able to get his message out to the people, he would be our next president hands down. But he was marginalized by the Democratic Party and proclaimed as ‘unelectable’. Furthermore the Democratic Party did not support his bid to speak at the Nevada debates, but simply acquiesed while the Nevada Supreme Court had their way with him.
The Democratic Party has always claimed to be the party of the working class—though the continuation of Taft-Hartley for 61 years puts that claim on the bunk pile. Part of Kucinich’s appeal is that he comes from a working class family and his voting record demonstrates his unwavering fealty to working class values. That should count for something.
If not Kucinich, how about Boxer or Richardson or Feingold or Rush Holt or Wexler?
Report thisBy NYT 9237723, August 15, 2008 at 11:09 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
The logical choice is Bill Richardson. He’s qualified to be president. But is he too ethnic for Obama?
Report thisBy Big B, August 15, 2008 at 10:39 am #
I think Barry should nominate Dick Cheney. Since he has spent the last month making a slow turn towards the dark side, why not make it official by signing on with Darth Vader?
Report thisBy troublesum, August 15, 2008 at 9:53 am #
It has to be a white male because Obama has promised Hillary not to promote another female in the democratic party. Otherwise, Barbara Boxer would be an excellent choice.
Report thisBy Purple Girl, August 15, 2008 at 9:02 am #
Anyone notice the ‘surge’ of queStionable affilations the Obama campaign has had since Hillary ‘dropped out’...She and her cronies are nothing more than Neo Cons in Blue. She has ‘given’ the Obama campaign some rather nefarious Donors and advisors…Why?
tO HELP Him? This has only strengthened the ‘Nadarites’ who still think Nadar is ‘a 3rd party candidate’ (FYI- He’s a Red herring used by the Neo Cons to peel off the support of any Dem candidate- being conned again, just like the Religious conservatives got Scammed)
By ‘Offering’ her supporters Hillary has a Win/ win situation.. She can undermine Obama’s campaign by making him look like he’s in the Corp pocket (HER CONNECTION)which could peel enough Dem votes away (again) to give her Buddy Mac the Win.. which he has already stated he’s only sit for One term- opening 2012 for Her.
If Obama did not accept these Clinton associates (Minions) she would be able to use them to defeat him directly- continue smears about his ‘expereince’ through her loyalists from the supposed ‘left’, not to mentin the money she could assure would not be available.
Funny how she claims ‘unity’ and allegience to the Dem party..but has refused to concede and now gets a Roll call at the convention- changing the standards again so Hillary can compete. She has demanded the bar to be lowered, the rules changed for her so many times during her campaign, any self respecting female should be Outraged. She has done everything to undermine our Cause for Equal treatment and consideration- she has done more harm to OUR cause by using it shamelessly.
I am NOW a card carrying member of the “Hate Hillary” Club. Where were all you so called ‘Feminist’ when Mosley Braun was running in ‘04??
The Clintons ARE a division of CheneyCorp.They have infiltrated both parties- using the ‘Moral Majority’ rhetoric in the ‘80’s and Now proving the are willing to use the Womens Movement.Note Clintons DLC began in 1984-appropo?Double Speak anyone?
Let’s help rid both sides of Our Gov’t system of these Corp Whores- and do it the same way from Within..
Really there has nly been one party in power for decades (century) Corporationists. they just hide behind a facade of Red or Blue, conservative or liberal - using gutteral reaction issues to Distract, recruit and ultimately ‘Divide & Conquer’this country.
Patriotism is color Blind, and there are only a few real Public servants surviving in Gov’t, We need to hand them the WH and end the Cheney/Clinton reign of terror and Stranglehold
OBAMA/HAGEL ‘08
Report thisBy heavyrunner, August 15, 2008 at 7:32 am #
Jay Inslee of Washington state would make an excellent VP for the Obama ticket.
Bayh is a nauseating person.
Report this