Could Obama’s VP Be a Republican?

Posted on August 7, 2008 in Campaign 2008

“To question your government is not unpatriotic — to not question your government is unpatriotic.”

“I took an oath of office to the Constitution, I didn’t take an oath of office to my party or my president.”

“National security is more important than the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. And to use it to try and get someone elected will ultimately end up in defeat and disaster for that political party.”

Senator Chuck Hagel
R-Nebraska

How would Mean John McCain respond if Obama’s running mate was [[Chuck Hagel]] of his own party? There are other candidates said to be in the mix including [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Evan Bayh]], [[Joe Biden]] (Mr. Foot in the Mouth), [[Kathleen Sebelius]], [[Sam Nunn]], and [[Chet Edwards]]. Word is that it will be “someone from left field” (does that disqualify Nunn and Hagel?) You could be sitting in the state or the district of the man or woman who is the next VP of the United States.

It is said that Clinton supporters might not like it if she is not on the ballot, but if they are thinking of defecting to Mean John McCain, they should check some of his recent activities and think twice. Obama wouldn’t call any woman a buffalo chip, much less attend a topless beauty pageant.

I think Hagel might well be the best choice. He and Obama are friends. Hagel could position himself as the “real maverick” of the Republican Party and, in the role of hatchet man, could tick off the number of times McCain was just a another member of the herd with the GOP brand across his rump roast rather than a true independent. Obama could then reach across to disaffected Republicans and proclaim a [[National_Union_Party_(United_States)|National Union Party]], the likes of which has not been seen since the Civil War.

Check this article by The Financial Times for further background.

[tags]campaign 2008, barack obama, obama, vice president, vice presidency, candidates[/tags]