VeepStakes: Kaine, Booker & Becerra All Invited To Speak At The Democratic Convention...

[writes3000]

Huffington Post has the news. Their headline is all about Elizabeth Warren still being in play for VP. Interesting.

"WASHINGTON ― Tim Kaine, Cory Booker and Xavier Becerra were invited Tuesday to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, sources familiar with the planning of the event told The Huffington Post.

The news is significant because of a report that same day from The New York Times saying that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) had been given a prime speaking slot for Tuesday night of the convention. It’s a good place to be, but it’s not the vice presidential nominee’s spot, and the report immediately raised suspicion that Warren had been ruled out by the Clinton campaign for the No. 2 spot, with the Times calling it “an apparent sign that Senator Elizabeth Warren will not be named Hillary Clinton’s running mate.” The Clinton campaign has repeatedly said no VP decision has been made and that Warren is under consideration.

That invites also went out to Kaine, Booker and Becerra, top prospects as well, reinforces that the decision has yet to be made. Cabinet secretaries such as Tom Perez, who have also been floated, have been told by the White House they can’t speak at the convention."

Continued at the link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/veepstakes-not-over-tim-kaine-other-vp-frontrunners-get-invitations-to-speak-at-convention_us_57864704e4b08608d3325156?9wv78pvi

[jcgoldie]

1. so enlighten me

With Obama and Biden planning to speak, why is it that cabinet secretaries like Perez are not allowed to? I'm en-heartened by the implication of this article, however, which seems to be that Warren still is in the running

[writes3000]

2. Yeah, I was puzzled by that as well. I'm not sure why. That would block Vilsack as well.

I'm curious to see if others report the same notion.

[FSogol]

4. See: The Hatch Act

From wiki:

The Hatch Act of 1939, officially An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is a United States federal law whose main provision prohibits employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president, vice-president, and certain designated high-level officials of that branch, from engaging in some forms of political activity. The law was named for Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico. It was most recently amended in 2012.

[jcgoldie]

5. Thank you...

So is there an exception if one of these guys is the Veep nominee?

[FSogol]

6. Anytime.

[pandr32]

3. Perhaps he is under ultra-short-list-VP consideration

You know, like in reserve to announce. If we are to believe the tradition of the VP not speaking until just before the nominee is still in play, than this makes sense. However, there hasn't been much of a traditional primary season, so maybe some more traditions are out the window.
But there is this-- Politico reported that he has become very close and comfortable with both Clintons and they have a good, working rapport:
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/clintons-new-friend-and-maybe-vp-225347