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"Caroline: Pull a Cheney!" An Open Letter to Caroline Kennedy (head of the Obama VP search team) from Michael Moore"
Dear Caroline,
We've never met, so I hope you don't find this letter too presumptuous or inappropriate. As its contents involve the public's business, I am sending this to you via the public on the Internet. I knew your brother John. He was a great guy, and I know he would've had a ball during this thrilling and historic election year. We all miss him dearly.
Barack Obama selected you to head up his search for a vice presidential candidate. It appears we may be just days (hours?) away from learning who that choice will be.
The media is reporting that Senator Obama has narrowed his alternatives to three men: Joe Biden, Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine. They're all decent fellows, but they are far from the core of what the Obama campaign has been about: Change. Real change. Out with the old. And don't invade countries that pose no threat to us.
Senators Biden and Bayh voted for that invasion and that war, the war Barack ran against, the war Barack reminded us was the big difference between him and Senator Clinton because she voted for the war and he spoke out against it while running for Senate (a brave and bold thing to do back in 2002).
For Obama to place either of these senators on the ticket would be a huge blow to the millions that chose him in the primaries over Hillary. He will undercut one of the strongest advantages he has over the Hundred-Year War senator, Mr. McCain. By anointing a VP who did what McCain did in throwing us into this war, Mr. Obama will lose the moral high ground in the debates.
As for Governor Kaine of Virginia, his big problem is, well, Obama's big problem -- who is he? The toughest thing Barack has had to overcome -- and it will continue to be his biggest obstacle -- is that too many of the voters simply don't know him well enough to vote for him. The fact that Obama is new to the scene is both one of his most attractive qualities AND his biggest drawback. Too many Americans, who on the surface seem to like Barack Obama, just don't feel comfortable voting for someone who hasn't been on the national scene very long. It's a comfort level thing, and it may be just what keeps Obama from winning in November ("I'd rather vote for the devil I know than the devil I don't know").
What Obama needs is a vice presidential candidate who is NOT a professional politician, but someone who is well-known and beloved by people across the political spectrum; someone who, like Obama, spoke out against the war; someone who has a good and generous heart, who will be cheered by the rest of the world; someone whom we've known and loved and admired all our lives and who has dedicated her life to public service and to the greater good for all.
That person, Caroline, is you.
I cannot think of a more winning ticket than one that reads: "OBAMA-KENNEDY."
Caroline, I know that nominating yourself is the furthest idea from your mind and not consistent with who you are, but there would be some poetic justice to such an action. Just think, eight years after the last head of a vice presidential search team looked far and wide for a VP -- and then picked himself (a move topped only by his hubris to then lead the country to near ruin while in office) -- along comes Caroline Kennedy to return the favor with far different results, a vice president who helps restore America to its goodness and greatness.
Caroline, you are one of the most beloved and respected women in this country, and you have been so admired throughout your life. You chose a life outside of politics, to work for charities and schools, to write and lecture, to raise a wonderful family. But you did not choose to lead a private life. You have traveled the world and met with its leaders, giving you much experience on the world stage, a stage you have been on since you were a little girl.
The nation has, remarkably (considering our fascination with celebrity), left you alone and let you live your life in peace. (It's like, long ago, we all collectively agreed that, with her father tragically gone, a man who died because he wanted to serve his country, we would look out for her, we would wish for her to be happy and well, and we would have her back. But we would let her be.)
Now, I am breaking this unwritten code and asking you to come forward and help us in our hour of need. So many families are hurting, losing their homes, going bankrupt with health care bills, seeing their public schools in shambles and living with this war without end. This is a historic year for women, from Hillary's candidacy to the numerous women running for the House and Senate. This is the year that a woman should be on the Democratic ticket. This is the year that both names on that ticket should be people OUTSIDE the party machine. This is the year millions of independents and, yes, millions of Republicans are looking for something new and fresh and bold (and you are the Kennedy Republicans would vote for!).
This is the moment, Caroline. Seize it! And Barack, if you're reading this, you probably know that she is far too humble and decent to nominate herself. So step up and surprise us again. Step up and be different than every politician we have witnessed in our lifetime. Keep the passion burning amongst the young people and others who have been energized by your unexpected, unpredicted, against-all-odds candidacy that has ignited and inspired a nation. Do it for all those reasons. Make Caroline Kennedy your VP. "Obama-Kennedy." Wow, does that sound so cool.
Caroline, thanks for letting me intrude on your life. How wonderful it will be to have a vice president who will respect the Constitution, who will support (instead of control) her president, who will never let her staff out a CIA agent, and who will never tell her country that she is "currently residing in an undisclosed location."
Say it one more time: "OBAMA-KENNEDY." A move like that might send a message to the country that the Democrats would actually like to win an election for once.
Yours,
Michael Moore
(the misadventures of an expatriate corporate dropout)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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10 comments:
But the Democrats don't want to win the election, at least that's the impression I got in 2000 and 2004.
Is it November yet?
What a great ticket that would be. But, I don't think Obama has it in him. Obama, I beg you to listen to Michael Moore. He may have bad taste in clothing---but he is right about this!
That sound you hear is me slamming my head against the wall as I just saw images in my head of McCain giving his Presidential acceptance speech.
god I'm sick of my compatriots. our party needs to grow a proverbial pair. grrrr.
I would love for her to run with him...but it won't happen, at least I don't think it will, too logical, to smart, to we are going to win! Our party is so with it's head in the sand it's embarassing. If Mr. stubby with his two thumbs up hiss win, I'm never coming back to America.
I feel you OJL-today in french class we did this free form convo exercise with questions and I was asked why France instead of U.S. - well after extolling beauty of France, I was amazed at how easily the French rolled off my tongue as I shared that my gov't and administration were no longer aligned with my views and I wanted to live somewhere else.... all heads were nodding and all understood! nous comprenons, bien sur!
There's something extra groovy about bashing our current stupidity in French. I'm just glad my prof, who's from France, hates Bush too.
There was a very interesting man being interviewed on the radio today who basically said, "If B.O. does not start telling the American people exactly what he would do if he became the President, they aren't going to elect him."
I voted for Hillary because I wanted a woman and experience and I will vote for B.O. because I'm a Democrat, by gawd! But I was starting to get a bad feeling today--"They wouldn't elect ANOTHER Republican after the last 8 ghastly, pathetic, mortifying years, would they?"
Speaking of thumbs, OJL, two of them up, Kim, for your French class. That is soooo cool! And I love Michael Moore. I have a soft spot in my heart for him ever since "Looking for Roger."
I like Biden. Sorry guys. Biden's groovy. Don't hate me cause I'm right.
LaF-Man that was a great flick, wasn't it? Fear rules America.
U.S.-does this mean you WON'T be coming for dinner? :-(
U.S. - also, I fear if any of the publicized candidates are the one, we are looking at 4 more years of the same. Barack needs to show the courage of his spoken convictions and do something very daring. Which means someone who espouse values that don't include voting for war, a record of fighting for heartfelt change, and a true commitment to public service.
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