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(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).

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"A nutty lesbian blogger."
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So will it be Evan Bayh for Obama's VP?

by: Pam Spaulding

Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:00:00 PM EDT


Bil Browning of Indiana-based The Bilerico Project's going out on a limb and makes a case that the Hoosier U.S. Senator is the one, and it will happen on Wednesday:
1. The Olympics start on Friday and run until the Democratic convention starts. He won't want to compete with the Olympics for press coverage. He'll announce before the Olympics starts. If he announces on Wednesday morning, he'll get coverage all day and be on the news cycle until the Opening Ceremonies knock him off the top spot.

2.  Barack Obama is coming to the state on Tuesday afternoon for a campaign stop in Elkhart, Indiana. He'll be attending with Evan Bayh. The press has been told to plan on staying until Wednesday afternoon/evening. Why would he spend so much time in Indiana with nothing on his public calendar?

3. Staying around Indiana allows Obama and Bayh to travel to Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio - all battleground states in this election. When you've just announced your VP, those are states you'll want to visit - especially since Bayh's reputation will help the most in those states.

4. The website ObamaBayh08.com is taken. For a tiny sliver of time late last week, you could type in the URL and you'd be forwarded to another site. Where do you think it took you? The Democratic Party website.

5.  I just got an invite from the Obama campaign to attend an appearance on Wednesday that isn't on Obama's official calendar. Why not? The campaign said, "I can't tell you what the event is about, but we want to make sure you have a ticket so you can cover it for the Bilerico Project. We want Bilerico Project to be there for this one."

Surf over for the rest.  If Bayh is the pick, how do you think this will shake out - plus or minus?

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's name was floated out there, as was Sam Nunn's, and  both of them were shot down (Kaine's unpopular in his state, Nunn is horrible on so many issues, particularly LGBT, and represents the past). Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius was floated a heck of a lot, but the wind doesn't seem to be blowing in her direction. An obvious choice, based on resume, would be Bill Richardson, but he hasn't been on that high-profile short list talk of late. So why Bayh?  

Pam Spaulding :: So will it be Evan Bayh for Obama's VP?
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Bayh isn't my first choice, but he does no harm
I don't see milque toast Bayh being able to fill the tough attack position I want Obama armed with. Bayh is DLC, and a Hillary surrogate which brings the pluses and minuses of those factors.
He is popular in Indiana, and a good friend of mine who is level headed and progressive ADORED Bayh, and wanted him instead of Kerry in 2004.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


Hrm
Yeah, I just don't think so.  Another senator from another Midwestern state (a state that will not vote Democrat in the Fall)....  Evan Byah seems like a good guy, but I don't see what he adds.

Maybe I just have a thing against senators from Indiana being VP.


Just what we need -- not!
A DLCer who dependably backed Bush's war in Iraq and whose support for reproductive rights is tepid at best. No thanks.

The domain name
was registered in 2007.

Updated Date: 22-feb-2008
Creation Date: 06-may-2007
Expiration Date: 06-may-2009

So I don't think the existence indicated anything.

More info:  

Registrant:
joe chan
1156 commonwealth ave
apt 47
allston, Massachusetts 02134
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: OBAMABAYH08.COM
Created on: 06-May-07
Expires on: 06-May-09
Last Updated on: 22-Feb-08

Administrative Contact:
chan, joe joechan24@yahoo.com
1156 commonwealth ave
apt 47
allston, Massachusetts 02134
United States
(617) 271-6092

Technical Contact:
chan, joe joechan24@yahoo.com
1156 commonwealth ave
apt 47
allston, Massachusetts 02134
United States
(617) 271-6092






Claim to fame: Posted first PHB diary to be demoted


Nunn-sense
I can't recall who pointed it out (Glenn Greenwald?), but Nunn has been rpedictably mentioned as a VP candidate for decades, and it's always just idle chatter.  People feel they have to come up with a conservative southerner who's "good on defense."

Bayh?  A bland, safe choice.  But maybe the campaign feels it needs someone like that to balance the "scariness factor" of Obama.

 

"In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant."  The Colbert Report


I always thought Nunn was bogus, and floated only...
I always thought Nunn was bogus, and floated only... so any other choice would seem WAY BETTER.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


[ Parent ]
Bayh is squeaky clean
his vetting probably took all of 5 minutes, so that is a relief, no crazy baggage brought to the ticket.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


He's a mediocre but safe choice.
The VP options are actually fairly constricted.   Choosing another member of Congress (Biden, McCaskill, Hagel) is unlikely to help, given the unpopularity of Congress and the voting record goldmine for the opposition.

I'd much rather see a governor, say someone like Sebelius, but with redistricting coming up, she's probably more valuable as a governor.  Richardson is out (problems with women), as are Granholm (not U.S. born), Kaine (unpopular), Rendell (more women trouble) and on down the list.   One real option could be Napolitano, but I haven't heard her name out there.

Then there's the military crowd.  Wes Clark is the hands down favorite here.  He's got the additional bonus of being popular with the Clinton crowd.  I still say he'd be the best pick.


Napolitano
Napolitano has not been nice to Hispanics.

Bayh is just as much a member of Congress as Biden, McCaskill, and Hagel.

You have convinced me that the only truly viable choice that would shake anything up is Hagel.



[ Parent ]
Hagel would LOSE
Democratic voters aren't taking a Pro-Life VP that is a Repig.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


[ Parent ]
Wes Clark
I like Wes Clark for the VP slot.  He has the chops to be the campaign attack dog and the military background to go toe to toe with McCain on the war in Iraq.



[ Parent ]
Bayh was a 2 term Guv
...here in Indiana before going to the Senate.  One of the highest vote getters in Indiana history.  He was Secretary of State for Indiana for a while too.

Be sure to see what we've got to say over on http://www.bilerico.com

[ Parent ]
Bayh is bad on LGBT equality
I don't have time to dig up links, but let's just say that if he ever has to succeed Obama, we won't be happy.  He's got a solid record of playing a nastier sort of political football with LGBT rights.  If Obama is trying to be sure I stay home in Nov, he's doing better every day.

Lurleen on Twitter

Pretty good using the HRC metrics
100% on 2002 scorecard
75% on 2004 scorecard
    - Didn't co-sponsor PPIA (UAFA)
    - Didn't adopt a staff policy prohibiting
      discrimination on basis of sexual orientation or
      gender identity*
89% on 2006 scorecard
    - Didn't co-sponsor UAFA

I'd like to see support for bi-national same-sex couples--and I'm disappointed in the bigotry and demagoguery Lurleen highlighted below.  But Bayh seems like a reasonable team player--though not someone to look to for leadership.

...

* Like a lot of Democratic Senators, Bayh had a staff policy against sexual orientation discrimination in 2002, but didn't have one in 2004 against both orientation and gender identity discrimination.  Adding gender identity for 2004 was done under Jacques' leadership, and it's part of what led to her being deposed, I believe.

There were complaints at the time about HRC changing the criteria too suddenly for legislators to have time to respond.  I don't know if those complaints were genuine, or if legislators actually found the substance of the change objectionable.  Probably some of both.  (Staff policy has been dropped as one of the criteria in 2006, which is interesting to note as part of the ongoing discussion about HRC.)

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto


[ Parent ]
Sorry, that sounded bad
I'd like to see support for inclusive non-discrimination policy and law, as well.  I meant only that that's more complicated to evaluate based on this staff policy evaluation and the history surrounding it.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

[ Parent ]
HRC metrics are themselves shoddy with regards to equality
Ask them about trans rights. Or marriage. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même merde.

[ Parent ]
I agree
They're certainly carefully calculated to allow politicians to get good scores without actually accomplishing anything or taking any actually controversial positions.

But I consider it a positive sign, at least, that Bayh wants to look good to LGBT people.  The HRC stats establish that he's not gratuitously anti-gay as a matter of personal belief, which is unfortunately not a given with some red state Dems.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto


[ Parent ]
I disagree
I've covered Bayh for several years now on bilerico.com.  He's not too bad actually.  He's not perfect, but no one is.  I think I, as a blogger, have had more queer issues with him and his staff - and that's just over one small story a few years back.

He has openly gay staff members, meets with the gay community, and have always just treated me like any other journalist/blogger.  I've got no complaints and I'm a constituent.

Be sure to see what we've got to say over on http://www.bilerico.com


[ Parent ]
really?
It was your site that linked to that nasty comment from his office about how he a) believes in 1M1W, and b) would change the US Constitution to keep that view legal, as necessary.  Why were you concerned about such comments in 2006 but not now?  As others in this thread, do you just think he's faking out the haters with that line?  If so, how do you know he won't find it more useful to keep using that line than even get around to backing real equality?

Lurleen on Twitter

[ Parent ]
Yup
If you search for other articles about Bayh, you'll see that's a fluke that they clarified later.  (Personally, I think a staffer got a little over zealous.)  Look for my blogger roundtable talk with him - he clearly says that he's opposed to a federal marriage amendment.  

The problem is that he claims it under "state's rights."

My question to him was how we would vote personally if Indiana's amendment came to the ballot box.  Once he stepped behind the curtain, would he vote in favor or against?  He never answered my question - causing the stream of posts you found one from.

Be sure to see what we've got to say over on http://www.bilerico.com


[ Parent ]
Senate
I'm sure the DSCC would be none too happy with the choice since the Republican Indiana governor would replace him with a Republican; making that filibuster-proof majority they want out of reach.

I'd like an outside the box pick
Caroline Kennedy...that ticket would have STAR POWER

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


Caroline would be the ONE woman Hillary couldn't say BOO about
neither could her women supporters.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


[ Parent ]
couldn't or wouldn't
I think Caroline is one of the few women sufficiently successful on her own accord that Hillary and her supporters would be fine with.... Of course they COULD be unhappy with anyone, but they WOULD not be unhappy with Caroline.  The only problem will be if Obama picks a Hillary substitute that lacks her experience, stature, and good stance on important issues, that is to say Kathleen Seebelius or Claire McCaskill.

[ Parent ]
Bill Clinton latest interview
Sorry off topic but this P*ssed me off, and I hope Bill just stays away until january. He made a snide comment that next year he could talk about how he REALLY felt about the Primary. We don't need ya Bill, you flushed your own legasy, deal with it.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


[ Parent ]
Bayh on the issues
Here's a first pass:
   *  Continue affirmative action programs without quotas. (Jan 1998)
   * Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
   * Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
   * Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
   * Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
   * Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
   * Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
   * Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
   * Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business. (Mar 2004)
   * Sponsored bill for special-needs evacuation plans. (Sep 2005)
   * Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks. (Dec 2005)
   * Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
   * Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
   * Rated 33% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)


NARAL gives Bayh 100% rating in 2007


What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


[ Parent ]
Bayh voted against Roberts and Scalito
Bayh's key votes at this link

  http://projects.washingtonpost...

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


[ Parent ]
Thanks
Pam, Bil, and the rest. I was going to ask about his record because I don't know that much about him.

[ Parent ]
Come on folks...
All this talk about "staying home...if..."
WE HAVE TO WIN THIS ONE. Your reproductive rights are at stake (and I'm a guy, so I could easily say, "who cares.") Stop the posturing. Support the change no matter what/ who! Too much is at stake. We must win. No matter what...

support change?
"change" would be being strongly for equal protection of the laws.  playing political football with our civil rights is not change, it is more of same.  remember, the vp will be the president of the senate.  as such s/he will cast tie-breaking votes.  i don't want that person to be this one
In response to an HPR query, the senator's office emailed the following statement:

   "Senator Bayh does not support same-sex marriage. He thinks marriage should be between one man and one woman. That is currently the law in Indiana and the law nationally. He also believes that the Constitution should only be amended when absolutely necessary, not because of hypothetical situations that may or may not come to pass. If the Supreme Court ever strikes down the state or national laws prohibiting same-sex marriage, then he believes that a Constitutional amendment should be considered."



Lurleen on Twitter

[ Parent ]
I understand your concern
But look at his voting record, according to ontheissues.com:

# Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
# Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)

I'm not sure where you live, Lurleen, but in conservative states (like the one I'm in and the one Bayh is from) you have to play politics to the idiots to win...then change!

Do you agree is voting record is tolerable?


[ Parent ]
I agree that
he's playing the same "trust me" game that Obama is playing.  I don't trust politicians, since as you said politicians play politics to win.  Who's to say who Bayh is playing for the fool?

I am happy about his positive votes, but I'm very distressed that he takes an extremely firm stance against marriage equality.  When politicians get around to taking a principled stand on anything, it is never a good sign when that stand is so much in direct violation of the US Constitution that they advocate changing that very Constitution to accommodate their currently unconstitutional position.  Even Dick Cheney was able to say "freedom means freedom for everyone".  Why can't the "change agents" Obama and Bayh?

Lurleen on Twitter


[ Parent ]
See Milktoast, but who cares!
He will satisfy the ignorant white (yes, I'm white) folks down here in the South who want change but are too afraid of Obama. TRUST ME ON THIS... I teach in conservative North Texas; I hear it every day. The racist overtones, the fear from students--and faculty! If we bring a boring, looks-like-me candidate along with Obama we stand less chance of alienation. Regardless who gets the nod, however (be it Gumby or Twinkie Winkie) WE MUST WIN THIS ONE! Come together, come together, come together...argue about the details after the win!

[ Parent ]
Your logic is seriously flawed.
How is someone at the bottom of the ticket supposed to alleviate bigotry-fueled concerns about the one at the top of the ticket? Sorry, it just doesn't work that way.

[ Parent ]
Where is the fallacy?
I might indeed work this way. Please name the illogical fallacy you claim in my comments. And, might I see your credentials on stats?

When you live a conservative, bigoted area, NOTHING IS LOGICAL. Just like the fact Dallas has a lesbian Sheriff who was not supposed to be re-elected, based on polls after a smear campaign, when if fact she did.


[ Parent ]
No stats involved, just common sense.
Look, if a bigot is opposed to voting for an African-American for president, the presence of a caucasian in the VP slot isn't going to change their mind. If you can't see that, I can't help you.

[ Parent ]
Bayh would ground the Obama campaign
the charges of Rock Star or celeb is SO NOT BAYH.
If anything he suffers from  "Mr Cellophane"  syndrome, he's almost invisible.

Chicago Lyrics
"Mr Cellophane"

A human being's made of more than air
With all that bulk, you're bound to see him there
Unless that human bein' next to you
Is unimpressive, undistinguished
You know who...

Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...
Hope I didn't take up too much of your time.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


Staying out of this but...
I love "Follies"...I did not have to scroll down to your name to know it was you posting, my friend. :)

I also agree with you; I am just not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

I know all my relatives in South Bend say Bayh is a stand-up guy; but I don't know if that means anything either...

I was really rooting for Richardson. I don't really know what to think. For once, I don't have an opinion, but I do trust Bil's judgment, so I need to think on this one.  

susanferman.wordpress.com


[ Parent ]
good enuf, welcome evan
Voted against 2 hated Supreme Court Justices, rated 100 % by largest pro-choice lobby, and 89% by HRC

good enough for me...welcome evan!

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


Pelosi has her own awful idea
According to Signorile's blog, The Gist, Nancy Pelosi would like Obama to pick an awful Texan pig to be his VP

Check him out here:

http://www.democraticundergrou...

The talk of Obama's VP options makes it really easy for me to be excited about Nader/Gonzalez being added to the CA ballot this past weekend.  

Rep Chet Edwards loves the flag and reproductive freedom and he supports the Federal Marriage Amendment.  

Democrats:  Not my party.  


Awful indeed...
...but would 4 more years of Repugs be worse?!
I'm no staunch dem by any means, but reality is they are the party that can overthrow the rulers. Dem's have only had three winners in 30 years. Nader, while thrilling, is certainly not going to win. Lesser of two evils? Dems. Come together, come together, come together...it's about Supreme Court Justices, reproductive rights, and LGBT movement toward equality...toward, closer to...but at least not entirely against. Dems aren't the perfect party for us, for sure...but come on...they are closer and more inclusive. What a downer it will be if we wake up to McShame and that entitled wife of his on 11/5. Come together, come together, come together...please! Everyone!

[ Parent ]
Depends on the state...
Here in California, I'm much more willing to take advantage of the fact that I don't have to cast a "clothespin vote" to keep the state from going to McCain -- I get to make the much more appealing decision between Nader/Gonzalez and McKinney.

[ Parent ]
Democracy is nice, eh M?
I like having a choice, too.  One more reason to like California.  Hopefully the oppty to choose among more than two parties will also attract more voters on election day that oppose Prop 8.  

We need all the help we can get.


[ Parent ]
one danger of Red State senator as VEEP
Indiana's Repig governor would replace him with a repig.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small


Geographically
Bayh doesn't make alot of sense, imo. 2 guys from the same area? And another senator to boot? Just not seeing this... a bland, nebbish option.

"It goes on one at a time, it starts when you care to act, it starts when you do it again after they said no, it starts when you say We and know who you mean, and each day you mean one more."

Now wait a minute...
Remember Clinton/Gore?

Be sure to see what we've got to say over on http://www.bilerico.com

[ Parent ]
Good point
but in all disclosure, I have never been a Clinton fan (either of 'em) AT ALL.

Al Gore... yes.

"It goes on one at a time, it starts when you care to act, it starts when you do it again after they said no, it starts when you say We and know who you mean, and each day you mean one more."


[ Parent ]
"how do you think this will shake out - plus or minus"
Unfortunately, if the past is any indication, Indiana would flip red at 6:00:01pm if Jesus Christ himself were running on the D ticket.

you never know...
Bayh won two terms as governor here and was very popular.  If anyone can bring Indiana into Obama's column, it's Bayh.  Indiana only has 11 electoral votes, but 11 votes the other way would have been enough to turn either 2000 or 2004, right?

Besides, they may be hoping that a strongly Midwestern regional ticket might have additional appeal in Michigan and Ohio, either of which might mean the difference between victory or defeat.

It's not a perfect plan; it's too early to tell whether Bayh brings enough to the table to clinch the victory, but at the very least he does no harm, other than the potential for him to be replaced in his senate seat by someone icky... and that only happens if Bayh wins the vice-presdiency, right?


[ Parent ]
Obama's VP nominee may well be the Democratic nominee in 2016
do we want someone as boring as Bayh in that slot?  


I think Obama would do well to pick a
very progressive person as his VP candidate.

The way he campaigns, he needs insulation or a sort.  

And he would do well to pick a woman as well (and no, not Hillary!)


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