# 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:** 27
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/521 "2008-08-22T01:54:08Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] “This is the same old attack we’ve been hearing for decades. I understand why they use it - it’s cynical, and it works. And why do they call me elitist? It can’t be because of my background, because I grew up poor and John McCain was the son of an admiral. It can’t be because of my work, because I chose to work in my community helping poor people rather than join a prestigious law firm. It can’t be because of my money, because John McCain probably loses more money in his sofa cushions than I have. I guess it’s because I have a good education and can articulate my thoughts well. But I think the American people would actually like that in a president. They’re tired of having a president who has trouble mustering the words in defense of America. And to paraphrase Barry Goldwater, “Education in defense of America is a virtue.” The real elitists are those who think that the American people want a dumb, folksy president. I happen to think the American people are very smart, and would like a smart, educated person to lead the country.” … I’ll accept cash or cheques for my consultancy fee. [/QUOTE] **Sam Stone** for president. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/522 "2008-08-22T03:18:12Z")
I know this is going to be announced early tomorrow or Sunday, but since I’m going out for a late meal, I almost wish it would come then. Seeing six or eight cell phones go off at once and watchign the buzz spread around, regardless of anyone’s political orientation, would be very exciting. Whatever else happens in this election, I’ve enjoyed seeing that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/523 "2008-08-22T05:35:37Z")
The “how many houses do you own?” soundbite is going to have legs, I think. People are losing their homes to foreclosure all across the country, and McCain can’t remember how many he owns? Wow. It’s campaign gold, and best of all, it’s self-inflicted. It’s a beautiful thing. If you’re an Obama fan, savor it. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/524 "2008-08-22T07:34:37Z")
My girlfriend’s dog Carl is running for president. He is a yellow lab and foxhound mix, a little over one year old, and very handsome. He has great agility, awareness, and is very friendly. He promises that if he is elected, he will give every dog a big bone, and make sure that dogs have lots of sticks to chew on too. He will also mandate that all humans cease driving motorized vehicles upon roads, so that dogs can walk on the street without fearing for their safety. He is even willing to nominate a cat as his vice president. Vote Carl in '08! ---
**Author:** ![rikc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c57346/32.png) [@rikc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rikc)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/525 "2008-08-22T08:23:36Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] My girlfriend’s dog Carl is running for president. He is a yellow lab and foxhound mix, a little over one year old, and very handsome. He has great agility, awareness, and is very friendly. He promises that if he is elected, he will give every dog a big bone, and make sure that dogs have lots of sticks to chew on too. He will also mandate that all humans cease driving motorized vehicles upon roads, so that dogs can walk on the street without fearing for their safety. He is even willing to nominate a cat as his vice president. Vote Carl in '08! [/QUOTE] Sorry, but I can’t willingly support a canine candidate when the nomination was ripped from the deserving paws of my cat Landmine. I just can’t stand to see a cat in second place after all of the barriers they have shattered in politics in past decades, like they are still inferior to dogs. Carl is unelectable. He was handed the nomination by Nancy Purrlosi- okay, I can’t keep doing this. I’m resorting to puns. I have to stop. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/526 "2008-08-22T11:01:27Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Explain to me how this ‘McCain has many houses’ thing is supposed to be campaign gold? I seriously don’t get it. [/quote] 1. It kicks the legs out from under his “Obama’s an elitist” line of attack. 2. Not only rich, but _clueless_ (or _ashamed_ of it, your pick): he _can’t remember_ how many houses he has. 3. Even non-rich people may have a vacation cabin somewhere where land is (or used to be) cheap, but how many Americans _own so many houses they can’t keep track of them all?_ “I have a mansion, forget the price/ain’t never been there, they tell me it’s nice.” The “McCain as regular guy” meme also just went down in flames. 4. Combined with Phil Gramm (still an informal advisor, and everybody thinks he’d get Treasury in a McCain Administration) and his talk about ‘whiners’, it sure makes for a nice contrast in tough times: we’re rich, you’re whining. 5. The ‘McCain lived in one house for 5 1/2 years’ defense: a noun, a verb, and a P.O.W.! Seriously, this may be the point at which McCain’s “used to be a POW” defense for everything finally is seen to have jumped the shark. > [@](#): > > John Edwards lived in a freaking mansion and claimed to be one of the common folk, and that had no traction whatsoever. If it got no traction, how come people were repeating the story on message boards every time you turned around, along with the haircut and the hedge fund? > [@](#): > > John Kerry has homes alll over the world, and that didn’t have traction either. And they had the added liability of campaigning against the rich, so their own personal fortunes smacked of hypocrisy. What’s the hypocrisy? Could you explain this to me? Was it hypocritical for Ross Perot to be saying he and his fellow rich people should pay more taxes? > [@](#): > > If you haven’t figured out by now that the highest levels of government are full of rich people, grab a clue. It doesn’t matter whether high-information voters like us know. It’s the extent to which the _average_ voter is aware of that. And the American voter is ignorant of all sorts of things that are old hat to us. > [@](#): > > John McCain isn’t being a hypocrite. Who says he is? A rich person who says, “screw you, common people,” isn’t being the least bit hypocritical. But it wouldn’t help that hypothetical candidate. > [@](#): > > Oh, and I thought Obama was going to run a clean campaign, with none of the dirty tricks and character attacks of the past. I guess that’s non-operative now too, huh? Please give specific statements by Obama or his surrogates that are ‘dirty’ or ‘character attacks.’ ---
**Author:** ![rikc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c57346/32.png) [@rikc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rikc)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/527 "2008-08-22T11:50:24Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] The “McCain as regular guy” meme also just went down in flames. [/QUOTE] As much as I hope this whole house thing will be played effectively, I don’t agree with this. Heck, the Clinton campaign had no trouble being the “regular folk” vote toward the end of the primary season, and that’s when the elitist remarks and talk of the Clinton’s millions were all over the place. It will be a nice quip to fire back when McCain tries to attack, but we already knew McCain was rich. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/528 "2008-08-22T11:53:33Z")
The difference was, the Clintons were trying to do things for the poor. McCain wants to lower taxes for the rich. He’s a believer in the trickle-down theory of economics. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/529 "2008-08-22T13:27:48Z")
Yesterday, I heard Obama take the bait and with great oratory skill attempt to paint McCain as “different from you and I” because McCain was unaware of ther extent of his real estate wealth. I was shocked at the phony pettiness. I felt insulted as if I was being played as someone who would resent the wealth of a presidential candidate. And it only caused me to think that McCain is definitely not occupied by his own financial interests. Perhaps Obama is trying to deflect from his image as an elitist. It won’t work. Elitism has very little to do with wealth. It has everything to do with the way you speak, your education and the clothing you wear. I would suggest that Obama wear clothes like McCain, ready to go fishing, except it would look funny. Nope, that won’t work. Obama is just plainly an elitist. Big fucking deal. What Obama needs to do is drop the word “fuck” in his language just once. I know this is going against the grain, but if the vast electorate thinks like me, Obama should just defend himself against the stupid charges by the McCain camp , ignore McCain and focus on the real issues. That I think is what we all expected from him in the first place, rather than “politics as usual”. ---
**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 22, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/530 "2008-08-22T13:39:11Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Yesterday, I heard Obama take the bait and with great oratory skill attempt to paint McCain as “different from you and I” because McCain was unaware of ther extent of his real estate wealth. I was shocked at the phony pettiness. I felt insulted as if I was being played as someone who would resent the wealth of a presidential candidate. And it only caused me to think that McCain is definitely not occupied by his own financial interests. [/QUOTE] Funny how it’s always the Republicans who scream “CLASS WARFARE!” when it’s the Republicans who are constantly fighting a class war…touting for the rich against the poor. It would be pathetic if only so many people didn’t fall for it… ---
**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 22, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/531 "2008-08-22T14:02:10Z")
No, it’s still pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/532 "2008-08-22T15:22:13Z")
Obama’s greatest asset was his appeal to those who aspire. Lately he’s lost that. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/533 "2008-08-22T15:22:14Z")
So Barack Obama, back from a vacation in Hawaii, and returning to the million-dollar mansion he was assisted in buying by a major fund-raiser recently convicted for fraud, is convinced the McCain has been seduced by his wealth into being elitist and out of touch with the average working American. Good to know from the guy who was going to engage in a new kind of campaigning. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/534 "2008-08-22T15:31:09Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] So Barack Obama, back from a vacation in Hawaii, and returning to the million-dollar mansion he was assisted in buying by a major fund-raiser recently convicted for fraud, is convinced the McCain has been seduced by his wealth into being elitist and out of touch with the average working American. Good to know from the guy who was going to engage in a new kind of campaigning. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Boy, you’ve really almost got those talking points down! Good for you! How is travelling to Hawaii to visit his elderly grandmother “elitist,” pray tell? ---
**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 22, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/535 "2008-08-22T15:31:09Z")
Obama was not assisted in buying his house. That’s a totally fabricated allegation. Consider ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/536 "2008-08-22T15:31:16Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The Republicans call Obama an “elitist” because it’s code for “uppity nigger.” [/quote] I don’t think that’s true. If they wanted to thrown around thinly-veiled “OMG he’s _black_” comments, they’d find a clearer way. Obama is black, yes, but he also “seems” elitist. > [@](#): > > Is it because he speaks in complete sentences? Should he dumb it down? Honestly, I think you nailed it here. GW is the good ol’ boy you want to have a beer with. Obama is tall, thin (hey, maybe he’s gay, too!), and generally well put together. He, with apologies to Chris Rock & Colin Powell, speaks _very_ well. He looks like he’s out to impress (which, no shit, he is). McCain could put the effort in, but he’d still look like a doddering old man. > [@](#): > > Speak for yourself. He’s a child of privilege and he married even more of it. He’s got a wife who’s so mortified to have a couple of middle class half-sisters that she won’t even publicly acknowledge they exist. Yeah, but the media and/or American public isn’t going to let a bunch of measly facts get in the way of their opinions, silly. Shit, people still think Macs have one button. ---
**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 22, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/537 "2008-08-22T15:33:53Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Obama’s greatest asset was his appeal to those who aspire. Lately he’s lost that. [/QUOTE] Who aspire to what? And how has he lost anything? You make no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/538 "2008-08-22T15:34:49Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] So Barack Obama, back from a vacation in Hawaii, and returning to the million-dollar mansion he was assisted in buying by a major fund-raiser recently convicted for fraud, is convinced the McCain has been seduced by his wealth into being elitist and out of touch with the average working American. Good to know from the guy who was going to engage in a new kind of campaigning. [/QUOTE] What in your post has anything to do with campaigning? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/539 "2008-08-22T15:38:01Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] 1. The ‘McCain lived in one house for 5 1/2 years’ defense: a noun, a verb, and a P.O.W.! Seriously, this may be the point at which McCain’s “used to be a POW” defense for everything finally is seen to have jumped the shark. [/QUOTE] I certainly hope so. I mean, whatever you think about this whole house flap, saying “McCain was a POW” as a response is just plain ridiculous. I hope people see it for what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/540 "2008-08-22T15:40:47Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] So Barack Obama, back from a vacation in Hawaii, and returning to the million-dollar mansion he was assisted in buying by a major fund-raiser recently convicted for fraud, is convinced the McCain has been seduced by his wealth into being elitist and out of touch with the average working American. Good to know from the guy who was going to engage in a new kind of campaigning. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] That is seriously almost word for word the specific response the McCain campaign gave. For the record, it’s not true. A major point you’re also overlooking is that Obama’s remarks were in response to months of McCain calling him a “celebrity” and implying that he’s out of touch with average Americans. I think Obama very eloquently pointed out the hypocrisy and doublespeak of the McCain campaign regarding this particular issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=28)