# Who will/should Obama pick as running mate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 4, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752 "2008-06-04T13:50:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/321 "2008-08-17T21:47:33Z")
[hijack over]No halfway well-adjusted gay person I know thinks it’s a choice and even studies of those who have gone the route of those “homosexual-no-more” programs, show that they either end up reverting or choose a life of celibacy, which is not the same as making the choice to not be gay and live as straight. The clamor that it’s a choice is mostly coming from those who are not gay and are proposing alternative theories. I’m not even going to touch on whether you’re talking about homosexual acts in a prison setting. This is not an attack on you but even you admit (that was you, right?) that you are not gay and don’t think you even know any people who are. Where are you getting you theory from?[/hijack over] ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/322 "2008-08-17T22:03:03Z")
You’re trying to tell me that people don’t do recreational experimentation? I’m not suggesting people live out a lifetime of gayness or straightness out of choice, but they absolutely have a choice as to what acts they perform, whether as experiments, for “kicks”, or to meet familial or other social expectations, like the drag queens in China who will eventually go home, get married, have their one child, and take care of Mom and Dad until they die. I guess you’re talking about a much more narrow definition of gayness than I am - strictly your lifelong preference, while I am talking about anything a person might do sexually in his or her life. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/323 "2008-08-17T23:52:43Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] You’re trying to tell me that people don’t do recreational experimentation? [/QUOTE] If you’re talking about the cliche of the open-minded college girl who is open to same-sex encounters before settling down in her mid-20s to a life of strict heterosexuality, there’s some debate about whether or not those people and that behavior should be considered “gay.” There’s a whiff of No True Scotsman in the debate, but I’m guessing that’s where **5-4** is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/324 "2008-08-18T00:56:49Z")
I doubt a staunch conservative who thinks it’s a sin cares whether someone who is engaging in homosexual activity is playing for the night or for a lifetime. If you are looking at all homosexual activity, you must include those people who are doing it because it seemed like the thing to do at the time. If you’re looking at all gay people, you have to include the people who choose not to live actively gay lives - either to sacrifice their gayness on the altar of hetero marriage and children, or to live in celibacy. In both these situations, there have been choices made. I’m not saying there is not an innate preference; although I will say that in some people that preference is weak enough that it can be influenced by personal circumstances or personal choices. My former husband is now named Rebecca, with equipment to match. He wasn’t desperate by any means; he could have continued living in a reasonable degree of contentment as he was. He chose the path he felt would maximize his happiness. His sexual preference as a woman now is both ways. (I refer to him as ‘him’, because to me, he remains the man I married - the exterior is a costume. In _my_ mind, I _simply_ can not think of him as a woman, and while his feelings are as important as mine, mine are also as important as his. It doesn’t matter, because we are long separated, although not over that issue. I was very supportive in every other way - helped him learn to be a woman, gave him my clothing and makeup, did my best to see him through.). When last I talked to my ex-husband, he was living in a lesbian relationship with a woman. He’s truly someone who made the choice to be gay, because as a woman (but not when he was a man) he is sincerely attracted to men as well. I’m sure that, while he is unusual, he is not unique. Some people simply don’t have as strong a gender orientation as most, and can choose which gender they want to be with based on other factors. It _can_ be a choice. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/325 "2008-08-18T01:38:22Z")
If people want to continue on this hoary topic, I’d suggest starting another thread. See, Obama, this is a hint that people are antsy enough and you should just announce your pick already. Say, 1 pm tomorrow? ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/326 "2008-08-18T02:08:13Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] If people want to continue on this hoary topic, I’d suggest starting another thread. See, Obama, this is a hint that people are antsy enough and you should just announce your pick already. Say, 1 pm tomorrow? [/QUOTE] That works for me. I’d love to see him announce at 1 pm tomorrow! ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/327 "2008-08-18T03:23:24Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] That works for me. I’d love to see him announce at 1 pm tomorrow! [/QUOTE] Forget tomorrow. Announce the day of. Just imagine. The VP’s time slot comes up and there is still no announcement and no one is taking the podium. Anticipation fills the air. Then the VP’s theme music starts up, and whoever is the VP just walks up to the podium and starts talking. Then he announces that the Presidency will be settled by a no holds barred cage match in the middle of Fallujah. It’s all about the showmanship. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/328 "2008-08-18T03:50:29Z")
Yeah, that’s the ticket for the man who bills himself as the thoughtful, diplomatic, look-at-all-the-viewpoints choice. Make it mud wresting, and chase it with a wet T-shirt contest. 😃 ETA: Oh, and don’t forget lots and lots of beer! ETAA: Maybe Obama should drive to the pre-game NASCAR races in his Hummer! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/329 "2008-08-18T05:15:11Z")
I think the presidency should be settled by a mud-wrestling match between Michelle and Cindy. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/330 "2008-08-18T14:56:44Z")
I’ve got $20 on Michelle in a walk. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/331 "2008-08-18T15:05:29Z")
CNN is now floating Biden rumors. Please, not Biden. Biden is the farthest thing away from change. He’s a worse pick than Lieberman. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/332 "2008-08-18T15:10:21Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] CNN is now floating Biden rumors. Please, not Biden. Biden is the farthest thing away from change. He’s a worse pick than Lieberman. [/QUOTE] There, there, NO one would be a worse pick that Lieberman. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/333 "2008-08-18T15:11:24Z")
[The Washington Post is running a story about the VP pick’s staff.](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/?hpid=news-col-blogs) They are not suggesting this staff gives any hints about the eventual choice, it’s just interesting. They apparently don’t know anything either. Although Biden has the Washington Insider thing going, and you can already imagine the attack lines about Obama being all talk and Biden being a plagiarist, I don’t think he’d be a terrible choice. Better than Bayh as far as I’m concerned. CNN’s strategy appears to be “start as many rumors as possible so we can say we got it right first.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/334 "2008-08-18T15:23:49Z")
When the vetting process began, the Obama campaign stated, more or less, that the next thing you would hear from the campaign itself on the subject of VP was the actual pick, so don’t necessarily believe ANY rumors, because none of them are coming from people who know. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/335 "2008-08-18T15:26:33Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] See, Obama, this is a hint that people are antsy enough and you should just announce your pick already. Say, 1 pm tomorrow? [/QUOTE] Well, the moderator says it should be 1 pm today. And we all have to do what the mods say, right? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/336 "2008-08-18T15:32:24Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] Well, the moderator says it should be 1 pm today. And we all have to do what the mods say, right? [/QUOTE] If Obama ever wants to be accepted around here, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/337 "2008-08-18T15:35:57Z")
So if Obama doesn’t announce at 1 pm today, he can never be a member of the SDMB? ETA: I think it would be better if he just never told us who he was. ETAA: Of course, maybe he’s already here… ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/338 "2008-08-18T16:05:59Z")
Christ, I’m going to get a LOT of phone calls real soon. I almost want us to keep the tease going. It’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/339 "2008-08-18T16:08:03Z")
Will someone post it in a new thread as soon as it comes through? I don’t have free text messaging, and I didn’t see how to sign up for email without also getting text messaging. ETA: Not that I’m psyched, or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/340 "2008-08-18T16:11:02Z")
Don’t worry, I think you’ll know almost immediately. It will be a matter of seconds before the name is all over the web. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=18)