Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is making final holiday rounds and "Barry from D.C." couldn't resist the opportunity to call in to a Kaine radio appearance to offer kudos from the White House.
Kaine was caught a little bit off guard during the monthly "Ask the governor" segment when the radio folks tossed the caller to him as simply "Barry from D.C." When the caller begins speaking it's abundantly clear it's President Barack Obama on the line. ("Barry" was the name Obama used during his childhood instead of picking a less awkward name to use at 7th grade mixers from his formal moniker - Barack Hussien Obama.)
On the call, Obama jokes about the awful traffic problems in the Northern Virginia suburbs that ring Washington before thanking Kaine for his service over the past year.
Obama also took a playful swipe at Kaine by saving the big compliments for Kaine's wife, Anne Holton, immediately suggesting that Kaine and Obama are bonded in that they both toil in the tall shadows of more popular spouses.
"We continue to think your wife is probably a little superior to you, as I think people think about the first lady, but you and me have to stick together since we're married to better people," Obama said.
Kaine added "quite a bit superior" to the description of his wife.
"As I think back about my four years as governor I still think my happiest day as governor was in November 2008," Kaine said. "I'm excited to continue to be in service, as they say."
Kaine is preparing to be a more vocal and aggressive cheerleader for the president as he sheds control of Virginia to incoming Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell. The Republican takes office on Jan. 16 freeing Kaine to more fully embrace his role as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Kaine has taken some heat from both ends for the dual roles, with state Republicans blasting him for traveling and fundraising across the country and national Democrats occasionally critiquing his efforts to bring in money and pump up the base. Kaine snared the DNC job after solidifying himself as a staunch and consistent ally for Obama during the long a brutal presidential campaign trail.
Kaine was the first statewide elected official outside of Illinois to endorse Obama during the Democratic primary when the common wisdom said that Hillary Clinton would win in a walk. Obama flirted with the idea of choosing Kaine as a VP, but ended up asking Kaine to take the helm of the DNC.
Obama thanked Kaine again before signing off.
"OK, get back to the calls," Obama said.
Click here to see the WTOP take on the call
Great some well learned haters...one can't spell and is completely incoherent, the other presumably would rather hear about car crashes, rapists and murders, and yet another is completely confused and assigns the age old "southern" moniker "the good ole boy network" to the wrong group... America is such a great country where idiots can have their say as well....Happy Holidays all...
Posted by: iyamd | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 12:36 PM
TIM KINE MAKE ME SICK I AM SO HAPPY HE IS GONE GO BOB MCDONELL
THIS MY AMERICA I AM BE A PRESIDENT IN 2011 AND 2012 THANK YA.
Posted by: JENNYHATCH | Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 09:02 PM
It must be a slow news day, a really slow day for this to be considered news worthy.
Posted by: Rick | Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 03:48 PM
The "good-ole-boy" network is alive and well in liberal clothing..
Posted by: Tax Withoutrepresentation | Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 02:14 PM