July 25) - Barack Obama's vice presidential search team has floated the name of a member of President Bush's first-term Cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, as Obama's running mate. The search committee, now led by Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, raised Veneman's name — among others — in discussions with members of Congress, two Democrats familiar with the conversations said. The mention of Veneman's name surprised Democratic lawmakers. The low-profile Republican was close to food and agriculture industries but clashed with farm-state Democrats and environmentalists during her tenure, which lasted from 2001 to 2004. But Veneman, 59, has a biography that could be suited to Obama's unifying message. A Republican raised on a California peach farm, she rose to become the nation’s first female agriculture secretary. In 2002 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was treated successfully. Today she serves as executive director of the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF. The selection of a Republican could bolster Obama's unifying message, a Capitol Hill Democrat familiar with the discussion said. "You select a strong independent woman who appeals to Republicans and independents, and so that's hard to beat," the Hill source said, explaining the logic of the possible choice. "Choosing someone like [Veneman] doesn't hurt you with the Democrats. It just doesn't hurt you. But it helps you with Independents and Republicans." Veneman's is one of about a dozen names suggested by vetters in a round of meetings with members of the House and Senate within the last few weeks. Veneman's name, unlike the others, has not been previously reported. Choosing Veneman would be a way to "show that he can get things done without all the partisanship," the Democrat familiar with the discussions said. "Her appeal would be nonideological. It would be, 'I'm just here to get the work done.' She's not a hot-button conservative." Other Republicans mentioned as potential Obama running mates include Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who accompanied him to Iraq, and retired Marine Gen. James Jones. Obama spokesman Bill Burton declined to comment on any aspect of the vice presidential selection process. UNICEF spokeswoman Kate Donovan declined to comment on the news that Veneman's name had been mentioned as a prospective running mate to Obama. She said Veneman is traveling in Africa and could not be reached. Though Veneman's biography and Republican affiliation make her a plausible, if surprising, candidate to be Obama's running mate, the mention of her name was met with incredulity on Capitol Hill. "Are you serious?" one lawmaker asked vetters when Veneman's name came up, a second source familiar with the conversations saidThe surprise stems from the fact that, while Veneman was seen as an experienced leader for her department, she often clashed with Democrats on a central battle front of the Bush years: regulation. Venemen was criticized by some Democrats and environmentalists, and praised by agriculture and food interests, for lightly regulating the industries and for encouraging trade and biotechnology during her tenure. When she resigned, the American Meat Institute praised her "vision and commitment." She also clashed with Democrats — including then-Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, who is now an Obama confidant — over subsidies for small farmers, which they sought to expand. In the best-known incident of her tenure, she led the administration's response to cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, known as mad cow disease. The epidemic was contained, but the relatively light U.S. testing regime has led to continuing barriers for American beef exports. At UNICEF, Veneman has traveled widely, focusing on extending children's health services in the developing world. © 2008 Capitol News Company LLC
Not going to happen. If he we're to pick a Repub, it would be a name who could guarantee a battleground state.
Don't be too quick to dismiss this. Less we forget the role of the vp in the race is to balance the ticket. OBama's focus group is in place to find a suitable candidate to balance out the parts of his issues that he is weakest. In this instance, women and conservatives mainly. There are moderate Republicans out there who are ready to support Obama who are capable of helping to carry a battleground state at the same time. Though I doubt this will happen in the end. My personal opinion up to now is that he'll choose Kathleen Sobilius (sorry for the mis-pro.), Gov. of Kansas. She could help him carry the ticket on both issues.
Tim Kane names has been floated as well for that matter not a Repug but VA Gov - http://www.governor.virginia.gov/
...only person Sen. Obama should consider is general Colin Powel.. pick him.. get elected.. simple as that..
I think he will need a moderate male Democrat, older than him, possibly Southern with foreign policy experience. Maybe Sam Nunn?
Eh a key part of the War in Iraq what are you STONED? Yeah he quit and yeah Scott McClealen came clean but unlike some on the LEFT, I don't forgive or forget. HELL NO! if he is about CHANGE and NEW HOPE and all that NONSENSE you don't reach into the PAST and pull out some relic of the Bush crime family! Tim Kane is largely unknown, but so is Tim Plewenty in MN that's said to be McSains running mate. Kane might not get the nod because he lacks any real experience in international policy. Look the Convention is in a few weeks, you'll know soon enough and I know the Obama camp in looking at this carefully and it won't be some old military fart and even if it was it would be Westley Clark.
Right now, the only Republicans that Obama should even give a thought are Colin Powell and Chuck Hagel. If he dear brings anyone else, he'd piss off his base. Quite frankly, i'd vote for him if he picks a moderate Republican who isn't hawkish, but i know for a fact plenty of my lefty friends won't.
I like Wesley Clark myself. He'd help on the military issue. But he's not super-popular with voters and can't bring a battleground state with him. Plus he's too close to the Clintons (he endorsed Hill early on).
Most of the names being thrown around in this thread are complete non-starters. Obama picks a popular Democratic governor from a Southern or lower Midwestern state in less than a month.
This is true because as with most Americans, they get there news from questionable sources to say the least. Because half of what's imporant to you, your taxes and your way of life is NOT SHOWN TO YOU ON THE "LIBERAL" Media.... (ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX, CBS) The real Wesley Clark? http://news.sbs.com.au/dateline/interview_with_wesley_clark_550682 Very Candid and I like him, don't think he'll be VP, maybe another position in the cabinet. He lead Clinton's US bombing of Kosovo, no US casualties and while bombing and war is not a good thing and something America should get away from, he didn't get anybody killed! Please, please look ELSEWEHRE for the news, it ain't on those channels I listed.
