# 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:** 28
**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, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/541 "2008-08-22T15:47:31Z")
[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] First of all, this is the stupid “Hawaii is exotic” meme that was tossed out there by Cokie Roberts. Hawaii is a US state. It’s no more “exotic” or “exclusive” than Florida. And it’s where Obama’s family lives. He took his children to visit his grandmother. Oooh! Scary! Second, he earned that million-dollar mansion through the sales of his books. McCain got his by marrying his wife. Obama has ONE home. McCain has seven or eight…and he’s not sure exactly how many. Funny how no one I know ever forgot how many houses they owned. Third, Rezko is a dead letter. There is no evidence of any corrupt connection between them. You and your friends on the right can continue to fantasize about the possibility, but there’s no there, there. Likewise with Ayers. Can you definitively say that you’ve never served on a board or a committee or an organization with someone who might have a shady past? Should we visit those sins on you? In short, you’re wrong. Again. Still. Color me surprised. ---
**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, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/542 "2008-08-22T15:57:25Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] That is seriously almost word for word the specific response the McCain campaign gave. For the record, it’s not true. [/QUOTE] For the record, every single word of it is true. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/543 "2008-08-22T16:00:07Z")
Back (or Barack) on topic, [this article](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080822/ap_on_el_pr/veepstakes_90) suggests it might be Chet Edwards. Not on my personal dream list (Wesley Clark, Mark Warner, Ted Strickland), but also not one of the three favorites, all of whom I don’t like. ---
**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, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/544 "2008-08-22T16:03:58Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] For the record, every single word of it is true. [/QUOTE] Yeah. Republican truth. Which rarely even comes close to being in sight of the actual truth. ---
**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, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/545 "2008-08-22T16:15:43Z")
[QUOTE=rikc] we already knew McCain was rich. [/QUOTE] **We** did. But I bet that, a week ago, most American voters would have guessed that McCain wasn’t hurting, but probably wouldn’t have characterized him as ‘rich.’ They certainly had no idea of the _scale_ of his wealth. As Rush Limbaugh [said four years ago](http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=11115): > [@](#): > > [Kerry] has lived the life of a millionaire living off the inherited wealth of his two wives. As an Ivy League educated millionaire who did not have to work for his fortune, Mr. Kerry never had to worry about the money he earned, the taxes he paid, or the programs he and Ted Kennedy forced the rest of us to pay for. . . . Mr. Kerry Heinz is not effected (sic) when these neighborhoods are destroyed and working class families lose the largest asset in their retirement plans—their home’s value. And who’s losing the value of their homes these days? Oh yeah, just a bunch of ‘whiners.’ ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/546 "2008-08-22T16:20:05Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Yeah. Republican truth. Which rarely even comes close to being in sight of the actual truth. [/QUOTE] Naw, he lives in Canada - every day is opposite day! ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/547 "2008-08-22T16:20:48Z")
WSJ is reporting Kaine And now they are unreporting it… ---
**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, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/548 "2008-08-22T16:24:01Z")
[QUOTE=ZebraShaSha] Naw, he lives in Canada - every day is opposite day! [/QUOTE] No. Unfortunately, **Shodan** is, as far as I know, a voting citizen of the United States of America. It’s **Sam Stone** who’s Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/549 "2008-08-22T16:27:22Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] No. Unfortunately, **Shodan** is, as far as I know, a voting citizen of the United States of America. It’s **Sam Stone** who’s Canadian. [/QUOTE] Woops, I thought we _were_ talking about Sam Stone. Damn, apologies, then - it’s opposite day somewhere! ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/550 "2008-08-22T16:27:54Z")
I was wondering when the Heinz-Kerry stuff would break. It won’t stick, and let’s be fair, there were just as many Dems making excuses for Kerry’s lifestyle way back then, whne their ox was being gored. However, it is deeply satisfying to consider the thought of the hypocrites dining on their cold excrement in the light of day. ---
**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, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/551 "2008-08-22T16:34:36Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Yeah. Republican truth. Which rarely even comes close to being in sight of the actual truth. [/QUOTE] No, actual truth. As in, every word of it is factual. Unless you would care to allege that Obama did not vacation, has never been to Hawaii, does not own a house, said house is worth less than a million dollars, that Tony Rezko did not help him buy it, or was not a fund raiser, or was acquitted, etc. Or you could make something up and try to argue that, but don’t be offended if I interpret that as your conceding the point. Regards, Shodan ---
**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, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/552 "2008-08-22T16:35:29Z")
What is McCain going to do? Paint Obama elitist because he earned his money, while McCain got his the old-fashioned way - he married it? ---
**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, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/553 "2008-08-22T16:39:45Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] For the record, every single word of it is true. [/QUOTE] LA LA LA LA LA I CAN’T HEAR YOU LA LA LA! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/554 "2008-08-22T16:40:35Z")
[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] So Barack Obama, after a short visit to the place he grew up, and returning to his only home, which he paid for from his lifetime of hard work (from a transaction that was free from any illegal or inappropriate behavior), managed to quote his opponent’s words back verbatim, reminding people that by McCain’s own standards, only one of them could be considered “rich”. Good to know that at least one of them is engaging in campaigning that isn’t wallowing in the worst kind of [dishonest innuendo](http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/03/05/rezko/index.html). ---
**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, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/555 "2008-08-22T16:43:21Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] LA LA LA LA LA I CAN’T HEAR YOU LA LA LA! [/QUOTE] Curses - foiled again! 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, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/556 "2008-08-22T16:43:36Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] No, actual truth. As in, every word of it is factual. Unless you would care to allege that Obama did not vacation, has never been to Hawaii, does not own a house, said house is worth less than a million dollars, that Tony Rezko did not help him buy it, or was not a fund raiser, or was acquitted, etc. Or you could make something up and try to argue that, but don’t be offended if I interpret that as your conceding the point. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] But where’s the relevance? You never answered my question with why it matters that he was in Hawaii visiting his grandmother? How that makes him at fault for something or “elite?” And the right wing can bring up the Rezco all you want; he’s gonna matter as little now as he did eight months ago: zero. And how does it matter that his house is a million dollars? It wasn’t handed to him by his wife; he and his wife earned it through hard work. Give me that kind of wealth over living off your wife’s inheritance any day. ---
**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, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/557 "2008-08-22T16:45:54Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] No, actual truth. As in, every word of it is factual. Unless you would care to allege that Obama did not vacation, has never been to Hawaii, does not own a house, said house is worth less than a million dollars, that Tony Rezko did not help him buy it, or was not a fund raiser, or was acquitted, etc. Or you could make something up and try to argue that, but don’t be offended if I interpret that as your conceding the point. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] The conclusion doesn’t follow the premises. Your conclusion is that Obama is out of touch with average Americans because he visited his family in Hawaii or earned enough money over the course of his life to buy an expensive house, which is barely a fraction of the value of his rival’s. And how exactly has Rezko been connected to Obama’s house? Rezko was a political fundraiser. Unless you want to claim every nasty fundraiser who has ever supported Republicans, attaching Obama to Rezko is dumb. ---
**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, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/558 "2008-08-22T16:51:17Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] And how exactly has Rezko been connected to Obama’s house? Rezko was a political fundraiser. Unless you want to claim every nasty fundraiser who has ever supported Republicans, attaching Obama to Rezko is dumb. [/QUOTE] FTR, Rezco bought a strip of property adjoining their house property, which lowered the cost of the house, making it affordable to the Obamas. Obama has admitted it was a stupid thing to get himself involved in, but it wasn’t criminal, and it wasn’t even unethical. Had it been anyone else, no one would’ve batted an eyelash. As it was Rezco, it raised a brief stir. ---
**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, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/559 "2008-08-22T16:52:36Z")
“Vote for McCain. You can identify with him because he’s not smart enough to get rich on his own either.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/560 "2008-08-22T16:55:28Z")
[QUOTE=Mosier] The conclusion doesn’t follow the premises. Your conclusion is that Obama is out of touch with average Americans because he visited his family in Hawaii or earned enough money over the course of his life to buy an expensive house, which is barely a fraction of the value of his rival’s. And how exactly has Rezko been connected to Obama’s house? Rezko was a political fundraiser. Unless you want to claim every nasty fundraiser who has ever supported Republicans, attaching Obama to Rezko is dumb. [/QUOTE] Let’s be perfectly honest–Shodan’s comment, while “100% factual” is also full of shit. He knows it, the Republicans know it, but if they repeat it often enough, they hope that people will draw exactly the type of dishonest inferences they’re hoping so as to perpetuate the whole “elitism/out-of-touch” meme. Maybe they honestly believe Obama’s an “elitist”, but they have only the most pathetic of anecdotes to employ as evidence, especially compared to their own richer/more famous/more powerful candidate. So they use stuff like “Hawaii” and “arugula” as code words and cross their fingers that people won’t be bothered to investigate the inconvenient facts and policy positions that expose their dishonesty for exactly what it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=29)