pro choice.  I know a lot of people who are that way.  Besides VP's generally flip to match the POTUS...

But thank you for your excellent, well researched and exhaustive diary, no go be a good McBlogger and redeem this for points.  Or if ye be of Murphy's ilk go crow about your success on the PUMA blogs...

then yea go ahead pick Tim Kaine. The word risky is a double sword in that it not only hits Obama's experience, but hits him on color. If he has another inexperienced person on his ticket, he still will be called risky, and meaning his color will still be hit. He needs a veep with experience. He needs Hillary Clinton. She will bring back the Dems on the fence, and the ones who voted for her in the primary because they were uncomfortable with Obama.

Tim Kaine is against making abortion illegal and he has said so on the record.  He is entitled to his own morality.  Look at what he has done as governor.  If something gives you pause, that's fine.  However, his personal views are not being made into law, nor is he enforcing the laws such that abortions are no longer a viable choice.

I would never burn the American flag, but then I would never vote to outlaw flag burning, either.  See how that works?

doesn't appoint SC Justices, right?

That train has already left the station with the selection of Obama as the nominee. Obama's views on choice are not that far from Kaine's, and the sorts of people Obama is likely to nominate for the supreme court, people like Cass Sunstein, argue that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision. Obama judges probably wouldn't allow the banning of abortion, but they would look to limit the scope of the right to choose.

Let me do a little explaining here.

There are RED states, There are BLUE states, there are PURPLE states.  

Democrats in PURPLE and RED states often adopt a stance that says:

"I am personally Pro-Life, but I am against legal restrictions on abortion, I feel the decision should be made by the parties involved, in conjuntion with their doctor and their belief system."

This is essentially a Libertarian position, but it does two things.

It essentially defuses 90% of the abortion attack mantra, used time and time again to defeat Democrats in states like Virginia and Kansas.

It allows us to ACTUALLY HAVE Democrats elected in Red and Purple states.

So, having Kaine on the ticket (not my first or second choice, BTW, I would prefer Wes Clark or Senator Clinton...I know that shocks a lot of folks from Big Kitty-Ville, not all Obama supporters get up in the morning hating the Clintons) would NOT mean he would object to USSC justices who support the right to choice.

In fact, it would be exactly in line with his personal philosophy.

He is anti death penalty, that would be my most defining vote on the court. That, and environmental vots, where he is excellent as well.

Been commenting for a while on this thread, and I just re-read this part of the diary:

"Do we really want a VP who is out of step with the party on possibly our most defining issue?"

Well, I wonder what people think of that statement, and in this context:

Does is seem like EITHER party is fighting this election on what the poster thinks is "possibly our most defining issue?"

I think not, and I think it's because there is NO clear winner if either party throws this issue down and wants to define this election around Choice.

Obama is trying to flip Red and Purple states, McCain is trying to appeal to cross-overs and independents.

In this case, neither side wants to go toe to toe on Abortion, though, I HOPE it's brought up in debates, because I think Obama's position is less risky then McCain, who literally is trying to have it both ways...

He's having Carly Fiorina run around and pretend that McCain is some Gloria Steinhiem fan..

And, he has his Evangelical preachers keeping the flock in line by touting McCains letter perfect voting record and NEVER CONTRADICTED statement that he favors overturning Roe.

It's McCain that needs the veil ripped away, just for now, Abortion rights is not a battle field Obama, who is focused on trying to win Purple wants to focus on.  

...because his stance on abortion is very similar to Kaine's.

PS. Considering the 'Southern Strategy,' wouldn't it be a good idea to have a Southerner on the ticket?

issues go beyond abortion.   And it's not at all clear that Kaine would promote hard right anti choice justices to the bench.

Frankly, if SCOTUS was the only deciding issue, then we really ought to have nominated Clinton as there is a proven history there of nominating great justices to the bench.  But it's not the only deciding issue.

I think this is a ridiculous premise for a diary. Tim Kaine is a great pick for Obama. The fact that he has personal/religious qualms with abortion but that he is able to keep those private and not within the legislative realm says a lot about his approach to politics and his understanding of the separation between church and state. I think he is a uniquely appealing candidate who can speak to voters who care are motivated by values-based issues but who still presents the best of what Democratic Party leadership could be.

Kaine??? yawn  zzzzz   Can't believe he'd pick that bore over Hillary Clinton.