Tim Kaine ... 'Doing what the President wants me to do'

Tim Kaine split his time in the Virginia Governor's Mansion between that bipartisan job of representing all the people, and the job of Democratic National Committee chairman doing whatever President Barack Obama wanted him to do.

He enthusiastically endorsed all of Obama's big government programs including Obamacare, much to the chagrin of many Virginians. When former Governor George Allen announced he was running for the U.S. Senate seat, Kaine was pressured by Democrats to run against him. A reluctant candidate, Kaine's sadly lacking record as Governor went under the microscope and his time as DNC chair was remembered all too well.

The Washington Post even noticed:

When Timothy M. Kaine takes the stage Tuesday in Charlotte, he’ll be one of a handful of candidates in high-profile races slated to address the Democratic National Convention.

But for Kaine, who is battling fellow former Virginia governor George Allen (R) for a U.S. Senate seat, his 27-month tenure as national party chairman has proved to be a double-edged sword. Kaine’s convention appearance is a reminder that his DNC partisan post cemented his ties to the White House and President Obama’s most controversial initiatives — particularly the economic stimulus and the health-care law — after years of building a reputation as a moderate consensus-builder.

Referring to this nifty YouTube video where Republicans named Kaine as "Cheerleader in Chief" for Obama, the Post continued:

“Virginians know Tim Kaine chose to be a part-time governor to jet-set as Democrats’ national party chairman while families and businesses faced a struggling economy,” Allen spokeswoman Emily Davis said.

Kaine’s primary responsibility as party chairman was simply to deliver on whatever the president asked. Kaine was an ubiquitous media presence, helping to marshal political muscle behind Obama’s top policy priorities.

The George Allen for U.S. Senate campaign took note, too, releasing the following:

Today Tim Kaine will address the Democratic National Convention, basking in the applause of liberal special interests and Democrat leaders for his record of championing Washington’s failed agenda.

While Virginians faced a struggling economy, Tim Kaine did what the President wanted him to do and set off to be Chairman of the Democratic National Committee during his last year as Governor.

Becoming a part-time Governor, he spent days jet-setting around the country, giving speeches and raising money to promote the Democrats’ Washington agenda.  At the end of his term as Governor, Tim Kaine left Virginia in a state of disarray, including 100,000 jobs lost, an over 30 percent increase in tuition costs, closed rest stops and a budget panned as a “shoddy little trick.”¹

With the writing on the wall for steep Democrat losses in 2010 because of the failed policies he championed, it’s no wonder Tim Kaine was criticized for “not doing either of his jobs very well” while splitting his time being DNC Chairman and Virginia Governor.² Tim Kaine hopes Virginians have as short of memory as Democrat Party loyalists at the convention today.

“Tim Kaine is right at home with Democrat party loyalists praising him for championing President Obama’s failed tax, borrow and spend agenda while leaving Virginians behind,” said Emily Davis, spokeswoman for George Allen for U.S. Senate.  “As Governor, Tim Kaine chose to Chair the Democratic National Committee instead of focusing his sole attention on Virginians struggling to find jobs, afford college and make ends meet.  Virginians won’t applaud Tim Kaine today when remembering how he lost 100,000 jobs, made ‘significant cuts’ to education, and tried to raise taxes on Virginians making as little as $17,000 a year.  Virginians can’t afford six more years of Tim Kaine putting Democrats’ Washington agenda ahead of Virginians.”

An informational graphic shows those Kaine years. Bispartisan? Not a single Republican or Democrat voted for Kaine's final tax hike as Governor. That's not such a great legacy.