As the fight for the Democratic nomination came to a close earlier this month, people everywhere speculated as to whom Barack Obama and John McCain would choose for their vice-presidents. The campaigns got into the act as John McCain hosted a barbecue weekend with Mitt Romney, Charlie Crist, and Bobby Jindal while the Obama camp issued a list of people they were considering. Meanwhile blogs and newspapers sent out hundreds of articles on what the candidates should look for and what they should avoid.
A good example of this can be seen in The Left Anchor's series of vice-presidential profiles for Barack Obama: http://www.theleftanchor.com/...
in which likely candidates positives and negatives were dissected. Obama's choice for running mate seems to interest people so much more than McCain's because everyone believes Obama needs to satisfy so many standards.
The biggest problem in the discussion of Obama's likely running mate is that everyone wants someone who is experienced in foreign policy. The area is McCain's specialty (or at least that is what many people believe) and therefore Obama must look strong on the issue. I think this is a stupid issue because:
- Obama only choosing a candidate solely based on foreign policy reduces his choices to senators who could not possibly reinforce his change in Washington slogan. Biden, Dodd, and Webb are great senators but they are not any kind of change. Webb could be a possible exception but he has way too much outside baggage.
- Obama showed more judgement than any politician who claims "experience" in foreign policy when he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. While everyone else was consumed by jingoism, a few courageous people realized how much the Iraq War would cost the U.S.
- George W. Bush had little to no foreign policy experience and he was elected. But then again maybe that lack of experience contributed to his many blunders.
- Foreign policy experience is important but Obama will not be dealing with all of these issues on his own. He will have a Secretary of State, a Secretary of Defense, etc. who will also make decisions.
Well that's a wrap for today. Up next:
Part II: Southern Saviors: The flaws between the Southern choices including Jim Webb, Sam Nunn, Tim Kaine, John Edwards, and a few more.