Former Va. governor urges DNC chairman's firing

AP News | 2010-02-10 00:32:14

<div id="subtitle">Former Va. Gov. Douglas Wilder urges Obama to fire DNC chief Tim Kaine, state's ex-governor</div><div><p>Democratic former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder is urging President Barack Obama to fire Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, another former Virginia governor.</p><p>Wilder wrote of Kaine, in a column for the Politico news Web site, that "the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee is the wrong job for him."</p><p>In an interview with The Associated Press, Wilder cited Republican victories in last month's Senate election in Massachusetts and in gubernatorial races last fall in New Jersey and Virginia.</p><p>"I'm just disappointed in his leadership," Wilder told the AP. "And there are a lot of people — a lot of Democrats — who come to me and are disappointed but are not going to speak out like I'm saying it."</p><p>"Don't let yourself believe that Massachusetts and Virginia and New Jersey were some aberration," Wilder said, "and I hope Tim and the president will take it in the constructive way it was intended."</p><p>Wilder also noted the $1 billion-a-year income tax increase Kaine proposed before leaving office and his efforts to let a German diplomat's son convicted of two grisly slayings return to Germany from a Virginia prison.</p><p>"Is that who this president wants to be arm in arm with as we enter a pivotal election year?" Wilder wrote. "The president has enough to worry about and defend without this detracting sideshow as to feckless party leadership."</p><p>Kaine did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment. White House spokesman Bill Burton had no comment on Wilder's remarks.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68784915&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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