Obama-Bayh Ticket? I Don’t Think So…
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 2/25/08 @ 11:33 am - Filed Under 2008 National Elections, Featured
Sylvia Smith had a column exploring the possibility of an Obama-Bayh ticket despite his early endorsement of Hillary Clinton. She gives various reason why he might be a consideration but makes no effort to explain why he shouldn’t (and likely won’t) be Obama’s choice if he wins the Democratic nomination. I’ll go ahead and give you some of the reasons I think he would be a disastrous choice for the Democratic Party.
Smith begins her column with this analysis:
Was it a fatal miscalculation for Evan Bayh to endorse Hillary Clinton five months ago? He quite obviously has been angling for a spot on the Clinton ticket. If she’s not the nominee, are his White House ambitions foiled yet again?
It would seem so.
But maybe not. There’s a case to be made that an Obama-Bayh ticket is at least vaguely in the realm of possibility
I really think the only thing that makes this in the “realm of possibility” is Smith’s geographical bias. I could certainly be wrong (it has happened many a time) but I just don’t see this one. What exactly would Bayh bring to the ticket? The Obama campaign is all about change and how would Bayh fit that mold? Naming a silver-spoon, generational politician to your ticket is the antithesis of change and would cause independents to question the sincerity of that message. Even his wife is a “career politician” serving as a full-time corporate board member - whatever the hell that is.
Furthermore, the guy is just wrong on too many issues. He voted with the pharmaceutical industry to block the importation of prescription drugs that would’ve saved consumers vast amounts of money - of course this was no surprise considering he’s ranked 18th in pharmaceutical lobbying receipts.
He’s been consistently wrong on Iraq since day one and has supported draconian bills such as the bankruptcy bill, flag burning amendment and warrantless wiretapping. These votes, taken together, shows a complete lack of judgment and should disqualify him from the VP position (as well as as the position of Democratic Senator but I digress).
The bankruptcy bill was a particularly egregious vote. The damn bill was written by financial lobbyists and punished hard working people that fall upon tough times - especially those affected by unforeseen medical expenses. Time and again, amendments were offered to soften the bill in ways that might actually help the citizens of this country and time and again they were defeated. While corporations continue to declare bankruptcy and leave taxpayers to foot the bill, Bayh decided it was better to stick it to the little guy just trying to keep his head above water. That is not a Democratic principle.
And flag burnings? Where are the rash of flag burnings in this country? This has been a pathetic Republican wedge issue for years now and for Bayh to give Republicans cover for such a bill is ridiculous. Even if there were a secret society of flag burners they sure as hell aren’t doing it to stay warm - it’s political speech and as such it is protected under the 1st amendment. I can’t believe I’ve even wasted a paragraph on this but it just further cements Bayh’s lack of sound judgment.
And don’t get me started on his support for warrantless wiretapping. Any Democratic Senator that votes to expand the powers of this President and his administration needs their head examined - pure and simple.
There’s a reason he’s a Clinton supporter and vice-versa. They are the “business as usual” Beltway crowd and they’re both cut from the same DLC mold. The party doesn’t need more of the same; we need to move in a different direction. Evan Bayh is not the future of the party, he’s the past - a past I hope Obama is willing to forget…
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