If elected, Barack Obama might just get shot.
Chalk it up to my paranoia, my distrust of government or even my sneaking suspicion that from the inception of this country the ruling elite has waged class warfare in a battle so subtle the middle and lower classes of this nation don’t even realize they’ve been on the losing side.
Whatever the reason, I’m not the only one nor am I the first to express a lingering fear that the first black President may be assassinated. There are people who even think there might have already been assassination attempts on Obama during the campaign (besides character assassination) that were thwarted by the Secret Service.
I even have some mean-spirited acquaintances who are deliberately voting for Obama just so they can watch him get shot.
Senator Barack Obama is still mulling over who to select as his running mate. I have some advice for him if he wants to reduce his chances of being shot.
DON’T PICK A WHITE MALE.
A lot of people are speculating that Obama may choose a white male to placate white Democrats and even a few swing voters who are keen on voting for Senator John McCain. But if Obama’s Vice President is in fact a white male and he is elected to office, all the white supremacist whackos will say to each other, “All we have to do is kill Obama and we’ll have a white man back in the White House!”
In his stand up routine, comedian Dave Chappelle talks about his aspirations of one day being President, just not the first black President, and that if he is elected President, he’ll make a Mexican Vice President just for insurance. “You can go ahead and shoot me,” he jokes. “You’ll just be opening up the borders. Just let Vice President Santiago and myself to our own devices.”
Here’s a few alternatives to white male candidates for Obama’s VP, and why I think they would make a good running mate. Note that included in this list are some Republicans. I think a Republican or at least a conservative running mate for a Democratic Presidential candidate would provide a good balance for a nation which has been torn apart by partisan politics.
Black VP: Possible choices: Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell.
Picking a black Vice President would solidify the stereotype that black elected officials appoint primarily black administrations. I don’t see the big deal; white Presidents have been picking white VPs for centuries. There are some people who might think that a black President and Vice President is too black too soon for America. Obama could pick Condoleezza Rice and sweep up the Hillary supporters (at least the female ones anyway). Her upbringing in Jim Crow-era Birmingham, Alabama will provide Obama with the African-American socio-political context he very much lacks.
Like Rice, Colin Powell has high ranking Presidential administration experience (at least I think Secretary of State and National Security Advisor are higher on the totem pole than First Lady) and Powell’s military background could woo all those vets considering supporting McCain. I think choosing conservatives like Rice and Powell would be a good ideological balance. While they may have played key roles in the Bush Administration, they are by no means cronies, as Powell and Rice (as Secretaries of State) have both made significant reform in America’s foreign policy in ways that almost contradict the attitudes of their boss, George W. Bush.
White VP: Possible choices: Hillary Clinton, Rep. Barney Frank, Michael Bloomberg and Nancy Pelosi.
Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi are the two most powerful figures (of either gender) within the national Democratic Party. This would definitely snap up the white Democrat vote. Besides, Pelosi looks like she wants it.
While still white males, Michael Bloomberg’s Jewishness and Barney Frank being both Jewish and openly gay would seem, at least to anyone who would not want a black President, just as bad as or worse than being black.
When New York City was still reeling from eight oppressive years under Rudy Ghouliani in 2001 and badly needed real leadership. Michael Bloomberg was that leader. He completely tore apart and rebuilt a public school system that has been allowed to wallow in inefficiency and corruption for two decades. From day one, the billionaire served as Mayor for only $1 a year, something he might also do as Vice President. He is also a supporter of gay marriage as well as immigrants’ rights and supports amnesty for illegal workers. He once said,
“It is as if we expect border control agents to do what a century of communism could not: Defeat the natural forces of supply and demand and defeat the natural human instinct for freedom and opportunity. You might as well sit on the beach and tell the tide not to come in.”
Barney Frank makes me laugh. He is very funny, and as a comedy duo, Obama’s serious will play a good straight man (no pun intended) to Franks’ witty and insightful quips. He is also a strong supporter of civil liberties, advocating fiercely for medical marijuana, to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and has fought against Congressional attempts to regulate online gambling. He also opposed legislation prohibiting anti-war protesters from demonstrating outside of the funerals of fallen soldiers, citing the Constitution’s right to free assembly. Lets not forget the Frank Rule!
Latino VP: Possible choices: Bill Richardson, Linda Chavez, Antonio Villaraigosa and Rosa Clemente.
Even I admit I didn’t know Bill Richardson was Hispanic the first time I heard his name. But upon learning more about him, he quickly became my first choice for Presidential Democratic nominee before he dropped out of the race. I’ve already discussed my reasons for supporting him here and here. Here’s the short(er) version:
Being half non-Hispanic white (his Anglo family can trace their lineage back to the Mayflower) will win over some of the white Democratic vote and maybe some of the swing votes leaning towards McCain. His massive foreign policy and diplomacy experience is much needed in a time when America needs to mend a few fences among the international community. As a Congressman, Richardson has negotiated with the likes of Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro and North Korea dictator Kim Jong Il to release American hostages. In 2007, he brokered a 60-day cease-fire in war-torn Darfur.
The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, regards Richardson as the most fiscally responsible Governor in the U.S., a quality this country could use after eight years of rabid Bush spending. He is a supporter of gay rights and of medical marijuana and has fought attempts at eminent domain in his own state.
Like Richardson, Linda Chavez is also half non-Hispanic white, which should ease white voters. Like Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, she is no stranger to high-ranking positions in Presidential administrations. She was the highest ranking woman in the Reagan Administration, and was nominated to Secretary of Labor by George W. Bush in 2001, becoming the first Latina to ever be nominated to a Cabinet position. Ronald Reagan also appointed Chavez to Staff Director on the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights, and George H.W. Bush appointed her to be the Chairwoman on the National Commission on Migrant Education. The UN Human Rights Commission appointed her U.S. Expert to the UN Sub-commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.
Antonio Villaraigosa is like a Latino Obama. Young, good looking and charismatic, Antonio is sure to win over female voters regardless of race. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872, so like Obama, he is no stranger to breaking racial barriers. Like Michael Bloomberg, one of Villaraigosa first acts as Mayor was to fix Los Angeles’ failing public school system.
Rosa Clemente, a Puerto Rican from the Bronx, has an academic background and is an avid writer, just like Obama. She has a background in grassroots community organizing in urban communities, just like Obama. She has led workshops on everything from hip-hop activism to feminism to black-Latino intercultural relations. The only problem? She’s already running as VP on the Green Party ticket alongside Cynthia McKinney.
Who are your VP picks for Obama? Also, if you disagree with any of my VP suggestions, please, fire away.
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