I'm a little nervous, anyone know of any reason that Kaine is speaking at liberty?  My guess is that he is trying to "reach out", but there is no need to legitimatize Falwell's crew.

Unfortunately, the link provided in the diary simply states that Kaine when down there, anyone know why?

I have the same question on why, it doesn't specify.

Perhaps Kaine is thinking about running for something higher someday? Perhaps Senate?

I read the story and could not stop praisng Tim for the bold step. Recruitment is the name of the game. If it means getting in front Falwell's students then I am all for it.
For me the "Cold war" shows what talking to your enemies accomplish. Sure Russia is still not with us, but at least they are not wanting to wipe us off the map militarily.

I cannot get Jim Webb's statement through out the campaign out of my head. "It is time for all the Democrats to come back home to their party". (Something like that)

Some Democrats may still be wondering in the sands, but with leaders like Kaine, Warner, Webb we may just bring them back home.

"This makes Kaine the first Democratic Governor to speak at Falwell's School."

False. Mark Warner spoke at Boys' State, held at Liberty, at least once.

Was that "fact" made up because it sounds nice, because it supports your point, or both?

That was was reported by the press.

Do you have any evidence on your Mark Warner claim?

I used to think politicians speaking at places like Liberty was a betrayal, but I have since come to the view that speaking there does not mean one is pandering to them.  What's important is the message that's delivered.  And speaking at such a place can spread the message of truth.

At some point in the recent past, Richard Dawkins, the British scientist and atheist (he wrote "The God Delusion", which is a terrific book) spoke at Randolph Macon.  A Liberty theology professor broought his students to the talk, and they asked many questions.  I give someone like that teacher lots of credit -- he explicitly stated he wanted his students to hear the best arguments for atheism.

Dawkins told his audience that students enrolled at Liberty should leave the place because it was not a real university.  (Apparently, they have dinosaur bones on display at Liberty with a sign that says they are several thousand years old! LOL!)

when I was a debater in college about 25 years ago.  True, we used to have a good chuckle over their squeaky clean appearances, especially at a time when everyone was dressing exactly like characters out of That 70s Show.  They'd show up at tournaments dressed very preppy and moving around in tight little pods, but they actually were usually well-prepared and articulate in presenting their arguments.  They were even known to drop in and chat at the inevitable evening gatherings, although they always left before the beer-swilling went overboard.  Overall I found most of them quite bright and pleasant, although a little Stepfordish.  I felt a sort of cognitive dissonance between their apparent intelligence and reasoning ability and their dogmatic positions on things like evolution, but it seemed to work for them.  Governor Kaine's decision to address them was good.  Plenty of the kids attending Liberty are bright, hard-working people who are just trying to do the right thing and who've grown up with the notion that the lefties hate them and judge them unfairly.  If you want to reach people you can't leave them with the impression that you really are so bigotted against them that you won't even talk to them.  Besides, I thought the Dems were supposed to be all about the big tent.