RICHMOND
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder delivered a broadside to the White House on Tuesday in an online column calling for President Barack Obama to remove former Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Wilder said Kaine should be fired as part of a larger house cleaning Obama should perform within his administration. Though he has supported Kaine in the past, Wilder wrote in the column, posted on Politico.com, that Kaine's position atop the national Democratic Party "is the wrong job for him."
Wilder, a Democrat and the first African American elected governor of a state, said Obama also should replace some West Wing staffers: The president is surrounded by "people who are in their jobs because of their Chicago connections or because they signed on with Obama early during the presidential campaign" but lack "sufficient experience at governing at the executive branch level."
It's hardly the first time Wilder has flashed his maverick tendencies. Last fall he did not endorse the gubernatorial candidacy of fellow Democrat Creigh Deeds in a race he ultimately lost to Republican Bob McDonnell.
Writing about why Kaine should be ousted, Wilder pointed to recent election losses by the Democrats in Virginia and other states.
He also denounced Kaine's outgoing state budget, which featured a proposed individual income tax surcharge, and his late-term recommendation to federal authorities that convicted murderer Jens Soering be transferred to Germany, where he could be paroled in a few years.
Republicans can use those examples to portray Democrats as a "tax and spend" party that is "soft on crime," Wilder said.
Messages left with Wilder's office seeking comment were not returned Tuesday.
"We have a great deal of respect for Mr. Wilder, but we respectfully disagree with his analysis and conclusions," DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said via e-mail. "Under Chairman Kaine's leadership, the Democratic Party has won five of five special congressional elections, helped the President pass the most robust agenda of a first year president since FDR, put staff and resources in all 50 states
and raised more money than the DNC ever has in any non-Presidential election year since McCain-Feingold was passed. We have had our share of setbacks and we recognize this will be a tough year..."
"But there are several lifetimes between now and the midterm elections and we are proud of the accomplishments of the President and of our work at the DNC and believe we will exceed expectations come November."
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Poor Doug
Doug is just trying to keep his name alive. When you're retired, you have to keep your mind occupied.
Meanwhile in the West Wing
So what's the game ? Horse or 21 ? Can I bum a smoke Rahmbo...
Great job Wilder
Despite your party affiliation you called this one like you see it. Your former faithful supporters are now attacking you. I agree with your assesment.
hey wilder
Sounds to be you are more than a little jealous. Hope you get over it
Nobody cares what Doug
Nobody cares what Doug Wilder thinks. He still thinks everyone has to kiss the ring.
WOW
I'm not a fan of Wilder's but I give him props that he is speaking up against his own party like that......this shows that the democRATS themselves can see what is happening...and that it ain't pretty
Stand by
Wanna bet he is setting up for some other political run?
As a democrat, he could care less about anything but how he can get elected to some office.
Kaine
I agree with past Gov. Doug. I dont think Kaine could run a Mom and Pop store He is worthless.
Hey doug....
Can you explain how obama's whopping 48 days seated as a Senator provided him "sufficient experience at governing at the executive branch level"?
Same way Abe 18 months of
Same way Abe 18 months of formal schooling got him in office, they were elected by the people.
Let's see
born in the US and over 35, so he met the requiremments of the Constitution. What other requirements do you read there?
Read again
Where in any comment did anyone ask about "requirements". I think the term was "experience".
There is no
experience level required by the Constitution. So experience is a strawman argument when it comes to whom the people vote in.
And where he also
got away with voting 'present' on most issues......kind of like being in school - teacher calls out your name and you say 'present' -
Nice
Throwing insults isn't a good way to make a point. Why not actually explain why a short term in the Senate qualifies someone for the president and why he voted present.
Because
that's what the "Rules for Radicals" handbook teaches them - when you don't have an argument or can prove your point, attack the person. That's what they do to Sarah Palin - because they consider her a threat. And btw, would rather have a few notes on my hand than have to sleep with a teleprompter.....I don't think he can do ANYTHING without that teleprompter - if you get my drift.
You must have missed Obama's
You must have missed Obama's Q&A with the GOP. He mopped up the floor with them. The Republicans did so terribly that Fox news had to cut and run two thirds of the way through it. Fox News stopped broadcasting it. Obama did not use a teleprompter. He used his mastery of the issues. And I for one intend on Voting for Palin in the primaries if she decides to run and if she makes it that far. Running Palin as a candidate for either the GOP or the faked-up Tea Party guarantees Obama gets another term. Cute that you accuse me of using the very same strategy you employ in this post. But I guess hypocrisy is OK if you're a Republican. All of Obama's present votes were in concert with strategies of the Democratic party. You'll notice he voted in concert with a block of other Democrats. They did so because the Republicans had included various poison pills in otherwise non controversial bills. Voting present allowed them to block the tainted bills from being passed without giving the republicans the ammunition to say the equivalent of "This Democrat voted against an obviously good thing." I don't blame you for not knowing this. It's not part of the narrative the corporate press is construct
I don't blame you for not
I don't blame you for not knowing this. It's not part of the narrative the corporate press is constructing.
finally people tear apart and examine every word that Obama says. The republican are slobbering for quote minable things. It only makes sense that he is careful about what he says in public. Most people who speak in front of large groups do so with notes or from carefully crafted written remarks. The teleprompter is just another form of notes. Politicians have been using them forever. It only has become an issue with Obama. This smacks of racism. Correct me if I'm wrong but explain why his political opponents focus on his use of the teleprompter and have ignored it with every other politician.
BTW Bush had his speacesh transcribed phonetically so he would not mispronounce difficult words.
Yea
He voted present because he had no idea what he was voting for. Sorta like his tenure now. He has no idea what he is doing to our country!
See my reply above. You seem
See my reply above. You seem to be lost