Too much paper, too much ink, and far too much time have been wasted lately in debates over who should be John Kerry's running mate and why. They have been wasted, of course, because what journalists write about the subject has little effect on Kerry's decision.
Unfortunately this speculation is terribly entertaining and cannot be resisted by those captivated with presidential politics. Everyone loves the idea of a Kerry/Edwards ticket. Edwards is energetic and easy-going, which would either provide a great boost or a sharply negative contrast to Kerry's stiff personality.
But there are so many great choices. What about Mark Warner, Tom Vilsack, Bill Richardson or Wesley Clark? Would one of these talented men not make a fine vice president? They absolutely would, except that they all have one thing in common which would make any of them a strategically predictable and supremely dull choice for VP.
They're all men. All of them have great credentials, and Wesley Clark seems like a particularly good choice considering his international experience, centrist views, and Washington-outsider status. But even he would not be able to provide the excitement, strategic bonuses and balancing viewpoints that a woman vice presidential nominee would provide.
Kerry has already laid claim to an arsenal of stances with which to batter the incumbent in November. He represents environmental protection, civil liberties, job creation, affordable health care, investment in education, campaign finance reform and almost every other progressive issue. It makes perfect sense for him to add Women's Rights and equal gender representation to his almost-complete policy arsenal.
Even more importantly, choosing a woman for a running mate would generate a firestorm of free media coverage which would give the relatively impoverished Kerry campaign a chance to fight back against Bush's $100 million war chest. He could instantly be transformed from a solid Democratic candidate, to a fantastically exciting one that represented the bright future of gender equality in American politics.
A woman vice presidential nominee would not only compliment Kerry's progressive stances and boost media coverage, but would also draw votes from formerly apolitical women, and those tired of having to choose between old boy's club candidates.
The Bush campaign would doubtlessly have fits trying to figure out how they could get Cheney out of debating a sharp-witted woman nominee. Imagine that horrible little slouch of a money-grubbing ex-executive trying not to look like the very definition of male-dominated political corruption in a debate with Dianne Feinstein, Hillary Clinton or Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, any of whom would make fine vice presidents.
Clinton has the dichotomous distinction of being associated with her husband, one of the most successful politicians in American history but the only one impeached for improper sexual conduct. Sebelius has been remarkably successful in leading her state through tough financial times and is a charismatic political moderate, but she's from strategically insignificant Kansas.
California Senator and former mayor of San Francisco Dianne Feinstein on the other hand, is from the most populous state in the country and has a decade of experience as a Senator. Her strong executive ability has been demonstrated in the Senate and as mayor where she was named the nation's \Most Effective Mayor"" in 1987. She is an articulate and well-informed speaker that is a favorite guest on national television news shows, and has been a strong Kerry supporter.
As Kerry's vice president, Feinstein would function as more than a token of gender equality, or a strategic choice to help him win the election. She would bring real political talents and stances that are remarkably compatible and complimentary to those of John Kerry. He could use her help in winning the election, she could use his help to jump in to national politics, and the nation could use a little variety at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Breezy Willis is a junior majoring in international relations.
