An excellent politician pegged as possible Obama VP

[xiggi]

<p>Chet Edwards is one of the good guys in the House and would bring much needed integrity to the democratic ticket. Despite Pelosi’s tip, his chances are still extremely small. </p>

<p>Obama/Richardson or Obama/Edwards would constitute two very attractive tickets and could get my vote.</p>

<p>

Edwards would take VP offer</p>

<p>Congressman says he’d be honored to run if Obama asked </p>

<p>U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards says that he is not working to become the next vice president. But if Barack Obama offered him the chance, Edwards said, he would take it. </p>

<p>“Would I serve if asked? Yes,” he said in a brief interview on the Texas A&M University campus Wednesday morning. “It is a privilege just to be mentioned.” </p>

<p>Edwards’ name surfaced as a possible candidate last week when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a Newsweek reporter that the Waco Democrat would be a good choice. </p>

<p>Soon after the suggestion, Edwards – who represents the 17th Congressional District, which includes Bryan-College Station – released a statement saying that he was flattered but that he had not had any discussions with the Obama campaign. </p>

<p>Edwards declined to say whether that remained true Wednesday. </p>

<p>“Senator Obama has publicly said that he wants the process to be a quiet one, and I am going to respect that wish,” Edwards said, adding that he was grateful to be mentioned as a possible candidate. </p>

<p>“I can’t imagine many Americans would turn down the offer to serve their country as vice president,” he said. </p>

<p>Numerous media outlets have mentioned Edwards as a possible running mate since Pelosi’s suggestion, but it remains unclear how serious he is about the job. The Obama campaign has not publicly disclosed its selection process, and dozens of politicians have been mentioned as possible candidates in the media. </p>

<p>Edwards has served as a congressman since 1990. He began representing Bryan-College Station in 2003 after a congressional redistricting in Texas. </p>

<p>Since then, he has survived two re-election bids against Republican challengers, beating Arlene Wohlgemuth by about a 4 percent margin in 2004 and Van Taylor by about 18 percentage points in 2006.

</p>

[WashDad]

<p>Northern democrats don’t win nationally, but southern dems do. Picking a Texan is smart politics for Obama – especially a well-regarded white male. He’s a Harvard MBA, which will sit well with the teeth-clenching northerners, too. (Speaking politically, that is.)</p>

[marite]

<p>^^Washdad: TX is one of the three areas sending the most students to Harvard College. Texans are not exotics there. One of my S’s roommates hails from the Lone Star State
But thanks to Xiggi, I’ll look up Chet Edwards. An endorsement from Xiggi is valuable.</p>

[xiggi]

<p>Simce the probable reactions will be “Who the hell is Chet Edwards” I thought it would be good to add a few quotations. </p>

<p>In general terms, he is known for having survived Tom Delay’s redistricting shenanigans and having been able to overcome that the 17th District is home to President Bush’s Crawford, Texas, ranch. President Bush carried that district with 70% of the votes. </p>

<p>This dates from exactly two years ago: </p>

<p>

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court’s decision last week upholding the current congressional redistricting plan in Texas wouldn’t have helped four former colleagues of Texas Rep. Chet Edwards, the only Democrat to survive the state GOP’s targeted redistricting in 2003.</p>

<p>But the high court’s ruling so far hasn’t slowed Edwards, who according to the GOP plan, wasn’t supposed to be re-elected in 2004. That was the first election year after the Texas Legislature, with the help of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, redrew the lines to make it easier for Republicans to win.</p>

<p>“I respect the court’s decision,” Edwards said of the Supreme Court’s ruling that a state has the right to redistrict anytime it wants, even it if is more than once in a decade. The decision effectively dismissed charges that the redistricting was unconstitutional gerrymandering.</p>

<p>“I’m not sure anyone is the winner in the Texas redistricting. It has cost taxpayers millions. It has created terrible divisiveness in the state … and uncertainty to this day,” Edwards told FOXNews.com on the day of the ruling, June 28.</p>

<p>Uncertainly also applies to Edwards’ future in Congress. In the current election, he faces Iraq War veteran Van Taylor, who has the ability to match Edwards’ growing war chest with his own money, and who is attempting to appeal to the overwhelmingly Republican conservative base there.</p>

<p>“[These voters] are conservative, God-fearing, hardworking Texans who are hungry for a change in direction and in their representation in Washington,” said Taylor.</p>

<p>But some political analysts say Edwards, who won in 2004 despite the fact that two-thirds of the redrawn district was completely new to him, may not be the target for change. He has been able to prove his moderate-conservative bona fides with the voters in the 17th District that is home to President Bush’s Crawford, Texas, ranch, and is less vulnerable than before.

</p>

[momof2inca]

<p>Really interesting. Thanks for the post, Xiggi. I’d not heard his name mentioned at all.</p>

[BarristerDad118]

<p>^Xiggi, thanks a bunch! I’m on the prowl for all the top candidates and Edwards (some think the other Edwards from NC still has a shot?) seems intriguing. Do you think Texans like him enough to put the Lone Star State in play?</p>

[BarristerDad118]

<p>^Xiggi, thanks a bunch! I’m on the prowl for all the top candidates and Edwards (some think the other Edwards from NC still has a shot?) seems intriguing. Do you think Texans like him enough to put the Lone Star State in play?</p>

[xiggi]

<p>

Do you think Texans like him enough to put the Lone Star State in play?

</p>

<p>I do not have a crystall ball, but I know that my entire family would vote for Chet Edwards … and they have never voted for a democrat. Well, except for Hillary when they joined their friends in doing the Limbaugh thingie.</p>

<p>Edwards is extremely well-respected, including by many people who think he picked the wrong party years ago. Had he compromised his principles eons ago and not made Phil Gramm an enemy, he’d be a House or Senate “lifetimer” in his district, and might have become a star in the Republican Party. </p>

<p>Who knows … we might have been spared the Arizona dude! :D</p>

[fundingfather]

<p>If I were going to vote for Obama I would vote for him regardless of his VP choice (unless perhaps if it were Hillary). I don’t see any VP choice changing any of Obama’s positions or his willingness to reach across the aisle.</p>

[xiggi]

<p>^^–^^</p>

<p>True, but the best way to avoid a Hillary catastrophic access to the presidency is to see a strong VP who might be the next in line. If Obama wins, his chances to repeating in 2012 are increased. In eight years, the VP would have the best shot from the liberal side. This means that Hillary’s would be closer to check in at Happy Acres Retirement Community than at 1600 Penn Avenue. That is well worth 12 years of democrats!</p>

<p>On the other hand, a McCain victory all but guarantees four more years of misery brought by a divisive Congress and Senate led by a candidate with her eyes still firmly set on the White House. </p>

<p>A win by Obama amounts to buying the very best muzzle for Hillary and ensuring she stays away from her most prized “former” possession.</p>

<p>However, this is has nothing to do with Chet Edwards.</p>

[LakeWashington]

<p>I’m still holding out for Congressman John Spratt of South Carolina. A very smart and respected member of the House. And like Edwards, he is that rarest of animals, a white male Democrat from the south.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>But Edwards, as far as I can see from the above, has no administrative experience. I just can’t see Obama picking somebody from the House, but who knows?</p>

[ejr1]

<p>I thought Obama wanted change. If so, he should get another inexperienced person to run with him. But I guess he is becoming more of a politician as the campaign continues.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>The ideal VP would be a governor. That way you have executive experience, but without the taint of Washington.</p>