Liberal Democrats who can’t shake the Bernie-or-bust mentality have already let loose with their collective groan over Hillary Clinton’s selection of Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her VP pick.
Those on the left complain that he is the typical moderate Democrat, supportive of free-trade deals, cautious about new spending programs, somewhat hawkish on foreign policy, a backer of certain abortion restrictions such as ban on “partial-birth” abortions and, worst of all, a drab, fiftysomething white guy.
Yet, all those can be nice additions to a presidential ticket if you’re interested in securing votes from independents and mainstream America.
Some pundits say Kaine is incapable of playing the traditional role of running mates as the attack dog biting at the opposition’s heels. But in this most unusual election year dominated by the Republicans’ political pit bull, Donald Trump, Kaine fits the bill nicely. The senator may play a different role — the kind of all-American nice guy who, in another vein, prompts parents to say to their rebellious/obnoxious son, “Why can’t you be more like Tim?”
If one assumes that Trump will relegate his vice presidential pick, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, to a minor role in the upcoming general election, Kaine, the former governor of Virginia, a swing state, may serve as the Democrats anti-Trump at each stop along the campaign trail. Lead by example and you expose the enemy for who he is.
Here are 10 reasons why Kaine may give Trump fits from now until Election Day:
1. Kaine is known for his modesty, quick with a smile or a laugh, and he has shown an affable, pragmatic manner while reaching out to Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Trump demonstrates a narcissistic, bullying persona that resulted in juvenile attacks on his Republican primary opponents and the dark demonization of his Democratic foe, Clinton.
2. Kaine is a devout Catholic, Jesuit-educated, from the Midwest (Minnesota) who took time out from Harvard Law School to do Christian missionary work in Honduras. Trump struggles to portray himself as a religious man and he spent his early years as a rich New York City playboy whose goal was to buy up large chunks of expensive Manhattan real estate.
3. Kaine is fluent in Spanish, shifting between the two languages on the stump with little effort and demonstrating an affinity with the Hispanic community. Trump has crassly targeted Hispanics with harsh, xenophobic views, to the point of receiving public shaming from top Republicans.
4. In addition to serving as senator and governor, Kaine was a civil rights attorney specializing in housing discrimination cases and he was elected the first white mayor of Richmond in a quarter century. In a recent C-SPAN interview, Kaine said that his time as a city councilman and mayor in Richmond was his most valuable experience because local government service forces officials to deal with people’s specific problems one-on-one and to practice retail politics. Trump’s experience consists of building hotels, casinos and golf courses. He has shown little interest in retail politics, instead playing an emperor-like role in front of raucous crowds where his minions shout slogans such as, “Build a wall.”
5. Kaine is a low-key workhorse; Trump is the ultimate showhorse.
6. The father of a Marine, Kaine serves on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees where he pushed for congressional authorization of military force against ISIS and has supported anti-terror measures. Sen.Angus King, an Independent from Maine, said last week that Kaine is “thoughtful and knowledgeable in foreign policy and has engaged with the leaders of the world’s most troublesome places.” Trump has no foreign policy experience and he said months ago that his solution to terrorism would be to “bomb the sh—“out of ISIS. His views on the role of NATO expressed last week were so far out of the mainstream that they emerged as somewhat of an international incident and sparked widespread condemnation from Republican officials.
7. As a former Democratic National Committee chairman, Kaine understands the inner workings of party politics and the need for a unified team approach. Trump has battled with Republican National Committee leaders from the day he announced his candidacy in June 2015.
8. Kaine’s political talents were recognized early on, as he was on Barack Obama’s short list of potential VP picks in 2008. As recently as four years ago, Trump’s status with the GOP was so weak that presidential candidates successfully boycotted a debate that was planned with Trump as the moderator.
9. Kaine’s wife, the nation’s potential Second Lady, Anne Holton, is a former judge who serves as the state education secretary in Virginia. Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, became entangled in an imbroglio at last week’s GOP convention for giving a speech with passages that plagiarized Michelle Obama. That dust-up led to accusations that she has falsely claimed to hold a college degree.
10. Kaine has readily acknowledged his lack of charisma, even pushing back against speculation about his future previously by saying that he is too boring to win a spot on the Democratic ticket. Trump’s bloviating manner assures that he will never be accused of being boring. But Kaine, who has never lost an election, may be just the kind of regular guy to give Trump just enough rope to hang himself.
Photo: Clinton campaign