Tim Kaine, Barack Obama (photo by Lynn Sweet)
Barack Obama (photo by Lynn Sweet)
WASHINGTON--President elect Barack Obama introduced his pick to run the Democratic National Committee, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Thursday, declaring "we cannot afford to abandon the movement that we built."
Obama and Kaine appeared together for a 10 minute event at the DNC headquarters here, taking no questions. Kaine is replacing DNC chair Howard Dean, whose term ends next month. Kaine's term as governor ends in 2010.
In taking the post, Kaine said "I want to promote this
president's agenda. I want to carry the proud banner of a proud
party. And I want to work to creatively engage citizens in new ways
through this party to be active in civic life."
Obama noted the "movement" his campaign created and signaled that the DNC will be playing a major role in being the keeper of the flame. Obama also said his DNC will be looking for pragmatic candidates who favor results over ideology.
"On the other hand, it would be a mistake to take our success in
the campaign as a sign that our work is somehow complete. At a time
when the challenges we face in this country are so vast, we cannot
afford to abandon the movement we built. We have to strengthen it," Obama said.
"We must build a movement for change that can endure beyond a
single election. And that will require redoubling our efforts to
reach out to Americans, throughout our 50 states, north and south,
east and west.
"It will require finding candidates, for elective office, whose
policies and plans are rooted not in ideology but in what works. And
it will require shedding our ingrained habits of taking money, from
federal lobbyists and special interests, and relying instead on small
donations from ordinary Americans. "
Obama also praised Dean, who was not at the session.
"We're in a strong position to rebuild a Democratic Party
committed to these principles because of the outstanding work of its
current chairman, Howard Dean. For nearly four years, Howard has
served our party and our nation as a visionary and effective leader.
"He launched a 50-state strategy that made Democrats competitive,
in places they had not been in years, working with my chief of staff,
Rahm Emanuel, to give Democrats a majority in the House for the first
time in over a decade."
In talking about Kaine, Obama said, "Tim comes from Virginia, a state that reflects America, where
people of all backgrounds and walks of life, big cities and small
towns and a growing population come together. But in a state so
diverse, Tim has been a successful candidate and a successful
governor, not by appealing to our divisions but by appealing to our
common hopes, not by pursuing policies that advance any dogma but by
pursuing policies that work for the people of Virginia."
Kaine was the second governor to endorse Obama's presidency (the first was Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich), getting to know Obama when the then Illinois senator stumped for him in the Old Dominion. Their mothers come from the same home town in Kansas.
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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