Obama-Edwards? - The Stump

29.07.2008

Obama-Edwards?

No--not that Edwards. In the last week more than one friend or colleague has brought up Texas Rep. Chet Edwards as a dark-horse Obama veep pick. It's unlikely -- he's quite unknown -- but Nancy Pelosi has touted him, and the enthusiastic Dallas Morning News gives the rationale for him: humble roots, dependable, the right age (he's a bit older than Obama but has two young sons, picture-perfectly matched to Sasha and Malia!), good on health care, and:

He's a moderate, Southern, Democrat who survived a dirty redistricting effort by the GOP to win re-election, thanks in large part to his strong support of the military. The symbolism is great: He's Bush's congressman.

I'd add: experienced (17 years in Congress), a major veterans' advocate (he won this year's national award from both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars), has taken some "straight talk"-esque dangerous stances of his own (ardently defends the separation of church and state against Bush's "faith-based" intiatives, got a 100% NARAL rating in 2007 representing a red district), and if Pelosi loves him, well, he can't be that squishily moderate at heart!

Downsides: Biggest earmarker in the entire Texas House delegation, full-throatedly voted for the war, not good on energy, and how confusing would those "Obama-Edwards" yard signs be?

--Eve Fairbanks

Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 2:12 PM with 10 comment(s)

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bigfish said:

Maybe "Obaba/Edwards" would be too surreal, but "Barack/Chet" would have a nice ring.

July 29, 2008 3:14 PM

mpatrickhendri said:

According to this expert, Obama should be running with Che:

www.huffingtonpost.com/.../jon-voight-obama-is-a-god_n_115567.html

Speaking of god-complexes, does Johnny know who owns the Washington Times?

July 29, 2008 3:33 PM

Illuminismo said:

If this happens, not another dime from me:

from

edwards.house.gov/.../release.cfm

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 Contact: Josh Taylor

202-225-6105

Click here for Printer Friendly Version

Edwards Supports Constitutional Amendment To Ban Gay Marriage

(Washington) -- Congressman Chet Edwards (TX17) released the following statement endorsing H J Res 88, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

“As a husband and a father, I believe that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman and I will support efforts in Congress to protect the sanctity of this union.”

The bill received a majority of the votes in the U.S. House of Representatives today but fell short of the required two-thirds margin to amend the U.S. Constitution. A similar bill failed to receive a two-thirds vote in the Senate earlier this year.

In 2004, Edwards also voted to support HR 3313, the Marriage Protection Act, and previously supported the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.

wgcreeley said:

The name alone is too much of a problem.

July 29, 2008 4:05 PM

jobeek2 said:

The yardsign confusion would actually be a good thing..

But those pesky PS's? "Biggest earmarker in the entire Texas House delegation" and "full-throatedly voted for the war"? Those are not tangential disadvantages. Those are both, each by themselves, fully-fledged disqualifiers. No politician for whom either such description holds should be Veep.

July 29, 2008 4:08 PM

ackyri said:

He's Bush's Congressman too, right? Not that much of a plus or minus, just cool trivia.

July 29, 2008 6:24 PM

jhildner said:

Bigfish: Even better: Cherack. Oh, wait.

July 29, 2008 7:16 PM

Or Baret? Damn, still doesn't work.

July 29, 2008 7:21 PM

hepneck said:

This would mostly be a shame as Edwards is one of the most powerful Dems in the House and his district would go repugnantan if he took the veep job. He has kept his job, even in a gerrymandered district (the repugs took Ft. Hood away from him due to his popularity with the military) because he is moderate and has represented Central Texas quite adroitly. I would hate to lose him as my representative.

Yes, he supported the war, just like TNR did, but is this a surprise from someone that has (had) a military base in his district? Further, a large amount of the earmarks cited had to do with his fight to keep the Waco VA open and to increase benefits for veterans. To attack him for this would hurt McCain.

He would be great as he would bring foreign policy experience, support from military families, and women. And he would do so because of his long-standing record as a congressman.

And, just for fun, if they did choose Chet, I would replace Illuminismo's dime, and add one of my own. Single issue voters are annoying, no matter which side of the aisle they habitate.

July 30, 2008 12:06 PM

davidrhmill said:

I think Tim Kaine of VA has a similar problem. "Obama-Kaine" sounds too much like "McCain" and like "Obamican", both of which are taken.

July 30, 2008 10:49 PM