(No not that one...)
One name that has been barely mentioned among the many persons offered up to be Barack Obama's running-mate is the one that may offer the most surprise and the most upside. He's been out of office awhile, but he was broadly popular, known for reaching across the aisle, was a friend and ally to African-Americans, and was taller than the average horse.
No, it's not Bill Clinton (not to mention Bill Richardson).
It's Bill Bradley...the common-sense progressive who ran an insurgent campaign not unlike Obama's, vying against another Clinton-era Dem, attracting a lot of Independent and moderate Republican support, but losing in the end.
Given the start of the NBA finals tonight, I'd like to throw his name back into the hat. Let's look at some of the positives with Bradley, and see how he might serve to be a strong reinforcing pick on an Obama ticket....
* He offers experience, but not the wrong kind.
Bradley's "only" 64, roughly McCain's age when he ran in 2000, but he's been out of office for a decade. He left after two decades in the Senate because he felt the political system was "broken." He remains an elder statesman, however, with a sharp mind for policy. He could add gravitas to the ticket without seeming like a "compensation" pick that might highlight Obama's weakenesses.
* He was against the Iraq War from the beginning.
He penned an article in the Washington Post in February '03 lambasting Bush's State of the Union that got the Wingnutosphere into fits.
And he continues to speak out on the need for international cooperation, muscular diplomacy, and a multilateral foreign policy.
* He endorsed Obama early, when it counted.
Real early, in fact. Before Iowa. The first week of January.
It's worth looking at the linked blog article above to get a sense of how much Obama and Bradley have in common:
"Barack Obama is building a broad new coalition that brings together Democrats, Independents, and Republicans by once again making idealism a central focus of our politics," said Senator Bradley. "Because of his enormous appeal to Americans of all ages and backgrounds, Obama is the candidate best positioned to win in November. Barack knows above all that unless people can once again believe in our democracy, we won't be able to do the things that need to be done on health care and education or to break our dependence on foreign oil. His movement for change could create a new era of American politics - truly a new American story."
"Bill Bradley has always called on Americans to reach for what is possible in our politics," said Barack Obama. "As a Senator, he was a thoughtful and tireless reformer, expanding health care for children and college education, and working to heal economic and racial divides. As a presidential candidate and author, he has continued to challenge us to build a mandate for pragmatic solutions and progressive change, and I am truly grateful that he has endorsed my candidacy."
Bill Bradley ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2000, after representing New Jersey as a United States Senator from 1979-1997. In the Senate, Bradley compiled a track record of fighting special interests, expanding health care, and promoting good economic growth. Prior to entering politics, Bradley played professional basketball for the New York Knicks. He was inducted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Fame in 1982 and has written six books about American culture and politics.
The quote is accurate. Bradley was and still is a tireless advocate for government reform and transparency. His signature issue is Obama's signature issue, which takes me to the next issue:
* Bill Bradley was a key supporter of campaign finance reform in the era before McCain-Feingold.
Bradley does well to reinforce Obama's clean government rhetoric, and gives him a genealogy of reform to draw upon. Some more Bradley policy highlights from Wikipedia:
In the Senate, Bradley acquired a reputation for being somewhat aloof and was thought of as a "policy wonk," specializing in complex reform initiatives. The best known of these was the 1986 overhaul of the federal tax code, which reduced the tax rate schedule to just two brackets, 15% and 28%, and eliminated many kinds of deductions...
Some significant domestic policy initiatives that Bradley led or was associated with included: reform of child support enforcement; legislation concerning lead-related children's health problems; the Earned Income Tax Credit; campaign finance reform; and federal budget reform to reduce the deficit, which included, in 1981, supporting President Reagan's spending cuts but opposing his parallel tax cut package, one of only three senators to take this position.
"Aloof" was the tag he got when he delved into policy detail, not unlike that given to Obama early in the "professorial" stage of his campaigning. "Aloof" is sometimes a difficult label for a presidential contender to shake, but as a VP, it's no big thing. More important is the meat on the plate there:
Deficit hawk. Budget reform crusader. A man who actually closed the loopholes they always talk about closing.
Sensible spending reduction. Tax code simplification.
If the economy's the thing this year, here's a man who actually pushed sensible economic reform, and saw some results.
Of course there are other tangibles and intangibles:
* He was born and raised in Missouri, a true swing state that may prove pivotal in this year's contest.
* He's lived in New Jersey since college, so may help in Mid-Atlantic areas like Eastern PA, as well as among Indies in New Hampshire, where he had decent support.
* Since his 2000 run, he's been involved in promoting alternative and green energy, among other things. He's on the board of directors for
Superprotonic, a fuel cell technology company.
* He's 6'5, and with Obama at 6'2 would form a truly imposing physical presence.
* It'd be awesome to get press photos of the two of them
shooting hoops.
* A choice of Bradley on the ticket compromises no other races. It's like having Russ Feingold as VP, but without losing Russ in the Senate.
* The ticket just rolls off the tongue:
Obama / Bradley '08
I think it's an inspired, and innovative, choice. It'd sure throw the media for a loop.
Why not?