Kaine blasts Trump in speech
Vice presidential nominee hopes to draw moderates
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine introduced himself Wednesday night to American voters by sharing his life story, with a heavy emphasis on his Jesuit upbringing and workingclass roots, while demonstrating his ability to play the traditional vice presidential role of attack dog against Republican nominee Donald Trump.
After accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination, Kaine presented his life story and went straight at Hillary Clinton’s biggest challenge: that a significant number of Americans do not find her trustworthy.
“I want to tell you why I trust Hillary Clinton,” he said, citing her record of advocating for kids and families; her foreign policy pedigree; her fight in Congress to secure funding after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; and her role in the Obama administration’s decision to kill al- Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
“With Hillary, it’s not just words, it’s accomplishments.” he said, before training his fire on Trump.
“You know who I don’t trust? Donald Trump. The guy promises a lot,” Kaine said. “He has a habit of saying the same two words right after he makes his biggest promises: ‘Believe me,’” said Kaine. “His creditors, his contractors, his laid-off employees, his ripped-off students did just that, and they all got hurt. Folks, you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth.”
Kaine, a mild-mannered former Virginia governor who joined the Democratic ticket with the former secretary of State over the weekend, is a popular figure in Congress, but also relatively lowkey. For many Americans, it was the first time they’ve laid eyes on him.
When it comes to executive experience and foreign policy credentials, he is considered a solid choice, with experience on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees.
In his acceptance speech, Kaine described his workingclass roots, mentioning that his dad ran a union iron working shop. He also recounted attending a Jesuit boys school and how he took a year off law school to be a missionary in Honduras.
“I got a first-hand look at a different system — a dictatorship, a dictatorship where a few people at the top had all the power and everybody else got left out,” he said. Kaine cited his work as a civil rights lawyer fighting housing discrimination and an executive order he signed as Virginia governor keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. “These are the battles I’ve been fighting my entire life.”
The Clinton campaign believes Kaine has the potential to draw in more moderate voters come November.
“If any of you are looking for that party of Lincoln,” Kaine said Wednesday to disaffected Republicans, “we’ve got a home for you right here in the Democratic Party.”
“If any of you are looking for that party of Lincoln, we’ve got a home for you right here in the Democratic Party.” Tim Kaine, Democratic vice presidential nominee