The choice of Vice President is perhaps the most important decision Barack Obama will make as he begins the next stage of his quest for the presidency. He has to have that man or woman who will fill in the abilities that are missing or not yet filled out in his own person. I sense the weight of that decision, and I've followed the Veep diaries closely, trying to figure out who could possibly have that magical combination of attributes that he needs. Most would agree that he is not like any other presidential candidate they have known in all his particulars. He is a unique, perhaps even transcendental figure, in search of his match: who will his match be?
Recently, on Daily Kos, some diarist said that Jim Webb could not be a Vice President because he has an Asian wife. At the time I read it, I wanted to make a comment, but first I wanted to think about it. By then the diary had gone.
Here are my thoughts on that subject: I wonder if the diarist had been listening to Barack's speeches. Barack says, no slicing and dicing. We are all one America. We are white Americans, Black Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans. From many, one. We are neither red America nor blue America. His ideal is to secure a more perfect union. I saw photos on the internet of Jim Webb sitting next to his Asian wife and baby. The woman next to Jim Webb, his wife, had a radiant smile. Jim Webb looked happy. I think most would say Jim Webb does not have a lot of soft edges. He looked like he has one: his wife. The other soft edge clearly is America's fighting men, its Veterans.
I do not pretend to know who Barack Obama should select. I feel sure we can take him at his word. He will choose someone who will supply something he needs. I would guess that he will choose someone who is the equivalent of his campaign's leaders. I doubt he will worry about the color of their skin. I live in Hawaii. Skin color does not matter much here, at least to the people I know. We reach across such artificial barriers, sit down at the same table, so to speak. No slicing and dicing. All one America. I think we do not have to take into consideration the color of the skin of Jim Webb's wife. Bravo.