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DEL.ICIO.USSam Nunn on Barack Obama and the vice presidency
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week, the Democratic world was abuzz with the news that former North Carolina senator John Edwards, a former contender himself, had endorsed Barack Obama in the never-ending race for the presidency.
The development was important only within the confines of the Democratic primary. Edwards will be of little use to Obama in a fall campaign, when Republicans highlight the commander-in-chief credentials of John McCain.
Obama received the endorsement of the white, Southern male who mattered weeks earlier, when former U.S. senator Sam Nunn of Georgia quietly announced that he would serve as an advisor on national security.
Even before he’s secured the Democratic nomination, Republicans have declared Obama’s greenhorn status in international affairs to be a ripe target. Nunn voted against the first Persian Gulf war in 1991 and has been a harsh critic of President Bush’s handling of the current conflict in Iraq.
Come October, Nunn could serve as an important reference on Obama’s resume.
The Georgian’s backing has also stirred talk that the former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who keeps an office on the edge of the Georgia Tech campus, would make a fine running mate for Obama.
Nunn says you should treat such speculation with extreme skepticism. More on that in a bit.
But first consider how Nunn, a conservative Democrat, came to settle on Obama, who is not.
For the past year, the former senator had been one of the behind-the-scenes figures exploring a non-partisan bid for the presidency.
Only five months ago, Nunn and former Senate colleague David Boren summoned a group of centrist Democrats and Republicans to Oklahoma City, where — with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg among them — they decried the crass polarization of political debate, and the lack of any forum that required presidential candidates to address issues in depth.
Say what you will about it, the two party-system abhors a vacuum. Nunn’s complaints that middle America had been shut out of the dialogue coincided with the rise of McCain and Obama, both of whom appeal to independents.
“I suspect we were riding the wave much more than we were causing it,” Nunn said in an interview last week. As the air wooshed out of a third-party movement, the former senator began looking at the presidential candidates still in the race.
Nunn’s top priority is the restoration of the United States’s credibility in the world. You can’t imagine, he said, how much damage the war in Iraq has done.
What must be regained, the senator said, is a non-partisan approach to foreign policy. McCain doesn’t represent change. Hillary Clinton, Nunn said, would find the task difficult — a president who polarizes at home would find it hard to create a unified foreign policy abroad.
Nunn said he’s talked with Obama. But he was also swayed by the good reports about the candidate from Republicans — including the staff of U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Lugar has served as Nunn’s partner in a 17-year program to corral the world’s “loose nukes.”
“Lugar’s staff tell me [Obama] is genuine, he’s sincere, he’s very capable and not only is he a fast learner, but he’s got real depth,” Nunn said.
“Even when he’s heading to the left, he always wants to find out what the other position is. I think that’s enormously important. We’ve been heading down an ideological split in this country — it’s been annoying for a long time. It’s gotten dangerous now.”
“Even though I would love for him to have more experience, I think he’s the most likely to listen, he’s the most likely to be non-ideological,” Nunn said. “There are very few people in politics now who let the facts have a bearing on their conclusions.”
As for that vice presidential stuff.
It’s not just “highly improbable” that Obama would make the offer. “I think that it’s also highly improbable that I want to go back into government,” Nunn said.
And think about it. Nunn will be 70 this fall. He’s trim, he’s fit. Intellectually, he’s not about to slip into a rut. But John McCain is 71, and his age has already become an issue. As a running mate, Nunn would muddy any discussion.
“People are looking for younger leadership and change. And that’s an important factor that Obama needs to consider. And I would tell him that if he asked me,” Nunn said.
If you want proof of Nunn’s disinterest in the position, consider that vice presidential candidates aren’t permitted their own agendas.
Nunn has been hosting a series of “dialogues” — available on the Internet — on terrorism and national security with former U.S. defense secretary William Cohen.
Another one will be held in Atlanta early next month. It will concide with a national convention of volunteers, hosted by the Points of Light & Hands On Network, an organization headed by Michelle Nunn, the former senator’s daughter.
Nunn the father will make a pitch for a new national service program. Not a draft, but incentives — federal grants for college — given to young people who volunteer for the military or border duty, or who do civilian service as teachers, hospital workers or the like.
The grants would take the place of the current college loan system, which Nunn says has trapped many students in a cycle of debt. The former senator expects to be pounded by both right and left.
Photo credit: Bloomberg News
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Comments
By N Parr WA State
May 18, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
Thank you former Senator Nunn for your wisdom and involvement.
By bobbysell
May 18, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
It is time for common sense to prevail in our relationship with the world that surrounds us. We need to see and relate with the world as it is, not how we want it to be; as the current administration seems to operate. Events show that this view of our relationship to the world has not been successful, not has it made us any safer here in the US of A. It is past due time for a change. Take your clues from a proven statesman like Senator Sam. Can you imagine Sam Nunn spinning anything? You see my point. Vote for competence, not ideology.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
May 18, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
Mr. Nunn, um, our credibility in the world is just fine, especially when they knock on our door for dollars. Dont worry about our ‘credibility’, worry about our sovereignty!!!
By Craig
May 18, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
Wow. Proof Obama is a Cliff’s Notes kind of guy. He sounds good but is an empty suit needing to be filled by those who do actually know something. The call at 3 am better be with Obama’s staff hiding under the bed and within easy reach. Nunn and others are showing us Obama needs basic training on our nation’s security.
By bobbysell
May 18, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
The guy who relies on his gut for what he doesn’t know is what we have had for 8 years craig. give me someone who wants to know what folks who know think.
Think about it.
By Will Jones
May 18, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
Time to end philistine rule in America. Study the history of civilizations, as did The Founders: All the indicators are in place to spell our doom if we do not correct the situation now controlled by fascist plutocracy, their assassins, and their political “buffer caste” of homosexual draft-dodging politicians.
Gas prices are soaring because the unconstitutional Fed is printing trillions of dollar bills to pay for the false war in Iraq while making taxpayers bondservants of the service on the National Debt while shipping our factories and good jobs overseas privatizing international trade for personal profit (China/US Chamber of Commerce is BushCo) and promoting illegal immigration to destroy the only threat they face…the eighty percent Working Class.
The People must restore Whig righteousness and extirpate once more the Tory traitors destroying Our Country.
By clifton grant
May 19, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this
Would much prefer to see Sen. Nunn as Secretary of Defense — or even Secretary of State.
By Alex
May 19, 2008 1:47 AM | Link to this
I don’t hear him giving a Shermanesque no. I still think he’d be Obama’s strongest choice for a vice presidential running mate.
By jethro
May 19, 2008 1:49 AM | Link to this
Nunn’s wisdom and leadership is needed. I pray he will either help start a new party or advise whom ever is elected.
By Pickrick Lester
May 19, 2008 1:59 AM | Link to this
Nunn is nothing but a sellout with a hideous combover. His biggest achievement is his ability to bamboozle dopes that he is a paragon of intellect, integrity and wisdom. His pimping for Carter-crook Lance on a Senate committee has not been forgotten. He’d best stay steeped in his lawyer big-bucks factory.
By G. Burnett
May 19, 2008 5:33 AM | Link to this
Pickrick Lester….Or is that really Lester Maddox returned? Ever done any research before commenting? Or do all of you opinions come out of your A**?
By Craig Spinks /Augusta
May 19, 2008 5:49 AM | Link to this
(An aside: After reading the pejorative comments of G. Burnett regarding Mr. Nunn, mewishes that Burnett’d make similar statements about Zell and then give our former governor/senator his home address.)Nunn is the latest, hopefully not the last, in the succession of statesmen we’ve sent to Washington. I’d include Nunn with the likes of Georgia statesmen such as Richard Brevard Russell of Winder/Russell and Carl Vinson of Milledgeville. Nunn’s wisdom and integrity is needed in our nation’s capital now more than ever.
By G. Burnett
May 19, 2008 6:28 AM | Link to this
In 1967 I served with John McCain aboard the USS Forestall, and I have great respect for the man. McCain’s father and grandfather were both career military (USN both rose to the rank of Admiral). I have read some of McCain’s books and know him to be exemplary both in his courage and his love for this nation. We could do (and have done) much worse in choosing him to lead this nation.
We all know Hillary Clinton’s background. Do we really want, and can we stand four more years of Bill? I have nothing against having a woman for President; in fact I think that might be a well needed change. But! Not that woman! Those two have left a trail of slime everywhere they have traveled. Let me say, at this point, that this is my opinion and I have been wrong before. I was a supporter of Newt Gingrich, and on the other hand I think that Jimmy Carter is one of the greatest human beings (not Presidents) that I have ever met.
Barrack Obama seems to have come out of nowhere to run for the highest office in this nation. His financial support concerns me some. I have great respect for Ophra and recognize her as a person that truly cares about others. But! It troubles me when any celebrity uses their position to attempt to influence the masses. Primarily, because we have so many in this nation that blindly follow, without exercising any judgment of their own.
I don’t know Barrack Obama, but I have researched his history, and I know that he is not an Islamic Militant. I have read his books, and in “Dreams of My Father” he is very candid about his early life and his upbringing. He was not that close to his father, in fact knew little of him, his mother seemed a little “flighty” and his “white” grandparents had more to do with raising him that others.
In Obama’s book “Audacity to Hope” he outlines a dream for America that would be hard for any “working man” to deny. Obama is not without some bias of his own, who among us isn’t? But his dream is for “universal” equality, and he readily admits to the failures of the Black man as well as the white.
My concern with Obama has been his naivety. His “Utopian” dream is wonderful in it’s ideal. But! His wishes for “world peace and universal equality” seem almost like a beauty pageant speech. This nation is sick and wounded. Who is the best person to aid in our recovery? If Sam Nunn says it is Obama that carries a lot of weight with me. Especially if Nunn and others like him, are to serve as advisors. .
Anyway, this nation is in trouble. We must be very careful with our next steps. We cannot tolerate four more years of floundering leadership. Please do your homework! Know who and what you are voting for, know the men or women behind the scenes, they are the true drivers of your future. Look at the philosophy of Republican vs. Democrats and decide which is best for you. The parties will not allow their leader to stray too far from the base ideals. By all means “vote your mind” but do it intelligently, and not with predisposed opinions and inaccurate information.
I apologize for the length of this post and the fact that I did not have time to spell check and proof read.
By Will Jones
May 19, 2008 6:56 AM | Link to this
“Pickrick Lester’s” point is well proven by the offering from Augusta.
Arriving into the world from the beginning of The Creation, like the rest of us, their lines are cut-off and we should see their “legacy” of where we are now as commendable, the Warren Commission shield, for Rockefeller/Bush/Fifth Column treason, and anti-American racism, included?
By Craig
May 19, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this
Bobbysell,
Bush isn’t running for re-election. Not sure why you’re talking about the past 8 years. As for Obama, our country is at a crossroads. I don’t trust both a tough economic situation along with a tough foreign policy situation to someone who has never been in the military, has no foreign policy experience, and has no executive experience either in government or the private sector. In every aspect that this country needs, Obama has no experience. It’s great he can come up with good advisors but this collective will not always be there in his ear and having 30 high quality advisors each with their own opinions means something of the equivalent of Congress….discussion in committee.
As for Obama preaching hope, this is a hard sell that cannot be accomplished by a President. If hope and a new voice is what he’s selling, then he is in trouble. He’s already whining about Hillary’s attacks and the appeasement argument. He cannot even handle round one of the campaign.
By Will Jones
May 19, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Bush may not literally be “running for re-election,” but he is running for his life: If neither McCain nor Hillary is elected he could be in mortal legal trouble, even though Obama is a member of Rockefellers’ CFR.
Fascist racist tools of the Roman Anti-Christ can whistle past the graveyard all they wish but all any American needs from the Executive is righteous leadership giving hope…it’s called the American Dream for good reason.
Birds of homosexual draft-dodger Bush’s feather have degraded our currency, economy, military and National Honor, and are fixing to pay…in spades.
Keep whistling, the day is coming soon and the People will be getting much more than a pound of flesh from the ravening wolves who’ve been eating America’s substance.
By Atico
May 19, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
My take on peopel like Nunn is they are jumping onto what they think is a winning team that will ingrate them with POLITICAL POWER, nothing more. As for as Nunn’s wisdom is concerned, it is highly questionable. Deomocrats will do ANYTHING to gain back lost power, even by putting up a candidate that is clueless in world affairs, Senator B. H. Obama. These guys are fearless and downright scary with their choice. It’s easy to bash a setting President, but difficult to field a Democrat candidate worthy of the Office of President of the USA. Hate and the quest for power SUCK.
By The Snark
May 19, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Let’s see, one of the smartest men ever to serve in the Senate says Obama is “genuine, he’s sincere, he’s very capable and not only is he a fast learner, but he’s got real depth, and even when he’s heading to the left, he always wants to find out what the other position is… the most likely to listen, he’s non-ideological.”
But that won’t matter in Georgia, because he doesn’t wear a flag lapel pin and his name sounds foreign.
By Bill Hoyes
June 2, 2008 5:24 AM | Link to this
Senator Obama has the smarts to be a competent leader. Graduating at the top of his class at Princeton and Harvard, which does matter, is what this nation needs—-a person who can be analytical and make the correct moves. Lets face it, the present administration is a pathetic mess. We need a great team built to fix this mess, and Sam Nunn is an asset to Obama as an advisor. You are only as good as the people you place around you, and Barack Obama seems to know what good credentials are.