The one thing that struck me about him was at a time when Virginia was leading the country in executions, he had no fear about stating that he did not agree with the death penalty and that VA should look into a moratorium. This was 00-01 and it just wasn't something that Virginia Democrats trying to take the Governor's mansion back openly said. I did not work in close proximity to him, as it was during a statewide run and I was working in tidewater, but anytime Mark Warner seemed too conservative for my tastes at the time, I always drew inspiration from Kaine.
He's always been upfront and honest about his personal feelings on abortion, and why he doesn't think that his personal opinions should be legislated, and position of his that I've always respected.
He's also really charming, more so then he comes off as on camera. My favorite memory of any of my time in politics was back in 2004. He was Lt. Governor and gearing up for his run at Governor. I was at some young democrat function in Richmond where he had given a speech. I had invited my then girlfriend (now wife) with me on what was kind of our first official date. As happens in the wee dark hours of the night after these events have moved to the party suites, the alcohol was freely flowing. At some point my Girlfriend and I ended up making out in what I was fairly certain was a private stretch of hallway. Again, young dumb, and out in the open. All of a sudden I hear people walking towards us and we stop what we're doing to look up and see Tim Kaine and his entourage walking down the hallway. I probably turned 20 different shades of red, because it was obvious he had seen the passion that we were going at it, and he's just staring at me as he walks towards us to what I assume is his room. As he gets closer, he gets this shit eating grin on his face and actually pats me on the back as he passed and said 'you guys keep having fun tonight', and continued to walk on.
I mean that's a stupid story, but its one of my favorite interactions with a pol that I've ever had.
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