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During the roundtable discussion on Sunday's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Cokie Roberts not only made a relatively rare identification of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as "liberal," but she also argued that Obama needs to choose a running mate who is a "Bible-thumping, gun-owning, white guy from a swing state. I mean, maybe that's who the party should have nominated." (Transcript follows)
As the group discussed the running mate possibilities, Roberts contended that it would be a bad idea for Obama to choose Clinton: "I don't think that it's good for the Democratic Party to have two liberal Senators from states that are going to go Democratic anyway. I mean, he needs a Bible-thumping, gun-owning, white guy from a swing state. I mean, maybe that's who the party should have nominated."
Sam Donaldson jumped in: "You mean, in other words, somebody who disagrees with him on all the issues."
Below is a transcript of the relevant exchange from the Sunday May 11 This Week with George Stephanopoulos:
COKIE ROBERTS: I don't think that it's good for the Democratic Party to have two liberal Senators from states that are going to go Democratic anyway. I mean, he needs a Bible-thumping, gun-owning, white guy from a swing state. I mean, maybe that's who the party should have nominated.
SAM DONALDSON: You mean, in other words, somebody who disagrees with him on all the issues.
ROBERTS: Doesn't have to disagree with him on the issues. He doesn't... [AUDIO BECOMES DIFFICULT TO HEAR]
DONALDSON: Or, like Joe Lieberman, he'd have to be quiet, or she.
ROBERTS: Just somebody who represents the people in the party that she's been carrying in the primaries.
—Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.



















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Obama-Huckabee
May 11, 2008 - 17:41 ET by muh-oonObama-Huckabee
but he also needs one
May 12, 2008 - 10:50 ET by TruthMongerbut he also needs one who can partner with a Muslim...
I am available...
She's right. If he takes a
May 11, 2008 - 17:48 ET by balboaShe's right. If he takes a VP that's as liberal as him, it's ovah.
ROBERTS: Just somebody who
May 11, 2008 - 18:01 ET by motherbeltROBERTS: Just somebody who represents the people in the party that she's been carrying in the primaries.
(emphasis added)
she???
I wonder if Coke has anyone in mind....
Ya think????
Hmm, Jim Webb? The VP
May 11, 2008 - 18:09 ET by SMGalbraithHmm, Jim Webb?
The VP will have to be in favor of leaving Iraq. That's a requirement.
Webb's about the best of that group (best in meeting, let us say, Robert's rules).
That sounds possible, but
May 11, 2008 - 18:31 ET by motherbeltThat sounds possible, but this is from Robert Novak today:
Support is growing in Democratic ranks for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland as vice president. He would bring to the ticket maturity (66 years old), experience (six terms in Congress) and moderation (rated "A" by the National Rifle Association). He is very popular in Ohio, a state Republicans must carry to elect a president.
Novak also says that Michelle Obama won't stand for Clinton.
yea Strickland
May 12, 2008 - 11:46 ET by CooperAnd he could implement his "no gambler addict left out" platform on a nation wide basis by legislating casino building from sea to shining sea.
"... he needs a
May 11, 2008 - 18:30 ET by bassndude"... he needs a Bible-thumping, gun-owning, white guy..."
Oh Yeah? Well, he aint a gittin none of us!
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
ed shultz is about as close
May 12, 2008 - 12:10 ET by TruthMongered shultz is about as close as Obama's gonna get
No, Sam. She meant one of
May 11, 2008 - 18:51 ET by usinkoreaNo, Sam. She meant one of those ignorant, racists too blinded by prejudice and poverty to understand what all good, educated people see inherently. You know. She meant those same kind of people Obama condescendingly put down when speaking in SF. That's who Cokie was condescendingly talking about...
as long as the "un-racist"
May 12, 2008 - 12:16 ET by TruthMongeras long as the "un-racist" Dems are desperately seeking "THE BLACK VOTE" why don't they just come out and say that they need a VP who will also attract "THE WHITE TRASH CHRISTIAN FUNDIE VOTE?!?!?"
Why the civilized language all of a sudden cokie???
I watched this show today
May 11, 2008 - 18:55 ET by bigtimerI watched this show today and what I was amazed at was Cookie...er...I mean Cokie saying what he needed was a Bible-thumping, gun-owning, white guy from a swing state...when is the msm going to start calling her a racist like they have Hill and Geraldine for example...good thing she didn't say hard-working before the use of white guy.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
This may seem odd, but
May 11, 2008 - 19:05 ET by NL207This may seem odd, but McCain needs to choose the same sort of VP, a Bible-thumping gun-owning, white guy. If he chooses George Allen, I predict McCain landslides Obama 65-35. Too bad he won't coat-tail the Congress as well.
NL... I can only hope he
May 11, 2008 - 19:14 ET by bigtimerNL...
I can only hope he picks someone like Allen, which I posted somewhere earlier today about Allen...I fear he won't. That will be the only way I can hold my nose and vote for him.
Time will tell.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
I'm not good at political
May 12, 2008 - 08:33 ET by misterbee241I'm not good at political predictions, but I doubt McCain will pick Allen. For one thing, Allen is a conservative, and McCain has already made it clear how he feels about us. And Allen will still be carrying the "macaca=racist" baggage and the MSM will not let people forget that one.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
Even with the Macaca thing,
May 13, 2008 - 00:10 ET by NL207Even with the Macaca thing, Webb only outpolled Allen by what, 1100 votes?
I think people now understand more clearly what that was: A media smear campaign conducted by the WaPo.
I don't care what McCain thinks of us. He needs us. He had better throw us this bone because he won't get elected otherwise.
McCain
May 11, 2008 - 19:06 ET by opnpt0How come no one ever says the Republican needs a sissy girly-man to even out the ticket?
"But this one goes to 11"
Maybe because their
May 11, 2008 - 19:08 ET by NL207Maybe because their Presidential candidate is not a sissy, girly man?
They're afraid of winding up
May 11, 2008 - 19:16 ET by balboaThey're afraid of winding up with another Dan Quayle?
If Obama were running as a
May 12, 2008 - 08:36 ET by misterbee241If Obama were running as a conservative Republican, you can bet your bottom dollar the media would be portraying him as the black Dan Quayle. But since he's a liberal democrat, he's the messiah.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
You mean they need to
May 11, 2008 - 19:06 ET by MidAmericaYou mean they need to stand a 'typical white guy' next to him so he seems less like a liberal black? If the country is truly ready for a black President then it has to be ready for a black Vice-President.
MA... Excellen
May 11, 2008 - 19:19 ET by bigtimerMA...
Excellen point.
Rev. Al Sharpton to the rescue!
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
-
May 11, 2008 - 19:46 ET by dahliatraversEww! BT, you grossed me out!
LOL...sorry about that
May 11, 2008 - 19:54 ET by bigtimerLOL...sorry about that dahlia...first thing that came to mind.
...then there's always the old stand by Jesshhheeee Jackshhhon.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
How 'Bout Harold?
May 11, 2008 - 20:00 ET by CaringwhiteguyHarold Ford. He's "light-skinned" enough, he's "articulate" enough, and he's a media darling.
Cwg... That'll work
May 11, 2008 - 20:10 ET by bigtimerCwg...
That'll work too...by the way I think he is a Hill supporter but I bet he could change his mind in a second flat.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Two words: Flava Flav
May 11, 2008 - 21:37 ET by the strugglerTwo words: Flava Flav
So many choices
May 11, 2008 - 20:31 ET by harry flashmanMichelle suggested Hassan Nasrallah but he's busy eviscerating Beirut at the moment.
I'm sure Barack would love Keith Ellison but he's black and thumps the wrong holy book.
Alec Baldwin would bring Obambi the narcissistic white male bi-polar constituency.
Rosie O'Donnell fits the all the requirements as her bodyguards are armed.
Bill Ayers would give the Obamessiah serious bang for his buck while Sweet Bernadine could fill the Homeland Security Directorship.
Zell Miller is probably out of the question and Liberman doesn't pack.
The poster who mentioned Webb is a good suggestion but it doen't take in Webb's distaste for Ivy League affirmitive action prima donas.
Obama-rama-lama Ding Dong is going to have to pluck one of those young freshman conservative Demos out of the House that has been giving Nanny Pelosi such fits which will not sit well Dr. Howard von FrankenDean OR San Fran Nan.
Barack Hussein Obama has a problem.
OH! Wait! The Perfect Obama Veep
May 11, 2008 - 20:37 ET by harry flashmanGet ready for it - drum roll, please.
LARRY THE CABLE GUY!
Ta-daaaa!
Roberts is
May 11, 2008 - 20:42 ET by Delsain the tank for Hillary. I listened to her comments this morning. I believe she'll be voting McCain in November.
We are ready for a Black President. What we are not ready for is an American Hating President not withstanding his or her color!
He should never get near the White House or our security secrets
Why not Jerry Wright ?
May 11, 2008 - 21:08 ET by BodiniJ. Wright sure looks white to me! I'm almost certain he's packing heat and he meets the bible thumping criteria too.
Hey take Mc Cain, we want to
May 11, 2008 - 21:23 ET by USA4freedomHey take Mc Cain, we want to pick again!!
Look, take him and we ill toss in (if you are one of the first callers) every RINO in Washington..
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
Actually, I'm thinking more
May 11, 2008 - 21:26 ET by Free StinkerActually, I'm thinking more along the lines of Romney / Watts or Romney / Palin, but otherwise I'm with ya!
Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!
Actually Flava Flav will
May 11, 2008 - 21:39 ET by the strugglerActually Flava Flav will work for either party.
Why this clown has a show
May 11, 2008 - 22:08 ET by terrigWhy this clown has a show and why any woman with a brain would want to be with him is beyond me.
Fried chicken and watermelon eating black guys
May 11, 2008 - 22:01 ET by jefflebowskiMaybe Hillary just needs fried chicken and watermelon eating gangstas to win the nomination, Cokie.
Doesn't sound so nice when you change the stereotype of white men to black men, does it?
But of course, the white male is the only being on planet earth that can be stereotyped and ridiculed.
Jeff Lebowski - Angry White Dude
~
May 11, 2008 - 22:14 ET by Free Stinker~
While I admire Dick Cheney
May 11, 2008 - 22:53 ET by SvenWhile I admire Dick Cheney and others VP's, I've never been of the opinion that a nominees VP pick was that big of a deal.
I also agree with Rush, that even if BHO does win his parties primary, Operation Chaos has bloodied him up. He is now damaged goods. People will not forget his baggage: Rev. Wright, guns and religion (remember, these are the crutches for bitter Americans!), his affiliation/friendship with Bill Ayers etc.
BHO, pick any candidate you want...it really wont matter. WE see you as you are.
Thank you to everyone involved with Operation Chaos! :-)
Democrat VP
May 11, 2008 - 23:01 ET by ChuchulainnI'm thinking big Jon Tester or Jim Webb would be a good choice for the Democrats. I think McCain should go with a younger vp to combat the "little old man from the Carol Burnett show" visuals. Although, most any potential running mate would be younger than him, come to think of it.
The reverse discrimination
May 12, 2008 - 02:30 ET by mostlymoderateThe reverse discrimination in the media astounds me sometimes. What if a conservative commentator like Pat Buchanan said that Hilary should have found a running mate that loved fried-chicken, played basketball for pleasure, loved rap music, drank Colt 45 from a 40 oz. can on weekends while kickin' it "old-skool" with fellow Jr. High graduates (cuz they didn't finish high-school) ???
Apparently that is wrong but you can say ANYTHING defamatory about the white guys. Afterall, whites are evil blacks are good. Blacks can dance and whites can't....and on and on....
VP Picks
May 12, 2008 - 05:24 ET by MystapittBarry will pick someone like Webb, Wesley Clark or even Graham of Florida.
McCain should pick someone like Michael Steele, Haley Barbour, John Kasich or how about Hillary Clinton...lol..
Barbour?
May 12, 2008 - 08:46 ET by Saint ZeroYou can have him! I can't seriously vote for the guy.
A Bible thumping gun toting
May 12, 2008 - 08:25 ET by misterbee241A Bible thumping gun toting white guy huh? Well, he'll have to look further than the Democrat party for that one.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
Nancy?
May 12, 2008 - 08:26 ET by okiehawk44Let's just lose this election big but appeal to some weird demographic stew by having McCain for President and Nancy Reagan for Vice-President in '08.
I like the gun toting
May 12, 2008 - 08:49 ET by northernskepticElmer Fudd as B. Hussein Obama`s running mate. Yep, he`ll take on the Wascally Wepublicans! If the dhimmicrats can run Obama, surely they can`t distinguish between cartoon -land and reality.Yup, maybe ole Elmer will accidentally give Obama a load of buckshot in the butt!
Funny, isn't it, that the
May 12, 2008 - 09:48 ET by Chris NormanFunny, isn't it, that the media never gives campaign advice to Republicans other than "be more moderate", while spending hours offering strategy advice to the Democrats. Also funny, the Republicans never have to seem to have to "balance out" the ticket like Democrats - maybe because they know their standard bearer doesn't usually need "balancing"...
Liberal Bigotry on Display
May 12, 2008 - 10:45 ET by mattm"Bible Thumping" = one of those lunatic Christians who actually take the Bible seriously.
"Gun Owning" = southern accent, blue jeans, a pickup truck with a gun rack...etc.
"White Guy" = White & Male, the two worst things anyone can possibly be (especially if you add the two previous items).
Thanks Kokie, for displaying Liberal bigotry in one sentence.
That's me
May 12, 2008 - 14:01 ET by ricklailBible believing, white, bitter clingy gun owner who drives a 4-WD Ranger pickup with a gun rack in the back window. AND I AM PROUD OF IT.
"A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself." A.W. Tozer (Pharisee=modern day liberal)
They just can't help
May 12, 2008 - 12:19 ET by Chris NormanThey just can't help themselves - the elitist snobbery always comes out. You know what Ms. Roberts? I'll take one of the "gun totin'" people you mentioned anyday over those who have made themselves wealthy and powerful by being a barnacle on government - whether as a lobbyist, an "advisor", or a member of the talking head crowd.
appearances
May 12, 2008 - 10:55 ET by wizardjrIt is always and only about appearances for the Demoncrats. There is no intention to support Johnny Sixpack and those Old Dead White Men who founded the country. No, no. We have a "VISION". (and it doesn't include white heterosexual monagamous folks with a job)