Tim Kaine is a Dad joke come to life: Social media lights up over Hillary Clinton's super friendly Veep pick

  • Kaine took on the traditional vice presidential candidate role of attack dog 
  • But on Twitter, people focused on the Virginia senator's Dad appeal 
  • Many users agreed that the 58-year-old would be quick to pull a Dad joke 
  • Wisconsin Senator Chris Larson said a Vice President Kaine would be 'a solid supply of dad jokes' for the next four to eight years

Tim Kaine took on the traditional vice presidential candidate role of attack dog as he addressed the Democratic convention last night - but Hillary Clinton's Veep pick won over Twitter with his 'Dad' appeal.

The Virginia senator introduced himself to the many Americans who had never heard of him before he was tapped by Clinton last week, looking to build up his nice-guy image.

'I never expected to be here,' he said, during his speech in the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

Kaine bashed Donald Trump, highlighted his political career and urged Americans to vote for Clinton - but on Twitter, he was declared a 'Dad joke' come to life.

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Tim Kaine (pictured) took on the traditional vice presidential candidate role of attack dog as he addressed the Democratic convention last night - but he won over Twitter with his 'Dad' appeal

Tim Kaine (pictured) took on the traditional vice presidential candidate role of attack dog as he addressed the Democratic convention last night - but he won over Twitter with his 'Dad' appeal

Twitter users, including Wisconsin Senator Chris Larson, think Tim Kaine would be quick to pull a Dad joke

Twitter users, including Wisconsin Senator Chris Larson, think Tim Kaine would be quick to pull a Dad joke

Wisconsin Senator Chris Larson is one of many who believe Tim Kaine is likely be quick to pull a Dad joke. 

'What's becoming clear is that a Vice President @timkaine will be a solid supply of dad jokes for the next 4-8 years. #DemsInPhilly,' he tweeted.

'Tim Kaine is not afraid to turn this car around and drive everyone back home if you kids don't stop fighting,' joked Nu Wexler. 

PJ Vogt added: 'Tim Kaine is your friend's dad who catches you smoking weed at a sleepover and doesn't rat you out but talks to you about brain development.' 

'I can't wait to see Tim Kaine pull a quarter out of some foreign dignitary's ear at a State Dinner,' added Dan Ryan. 

He added: 'Tim Kaine is going to crush crime in this country by telling all of the bad people he's not mad at them, he's just disappointed.' 

Ryan also hypothesized about how the conversation between Clinton and Kaine may have gone when she picked him to be her running mate - with Kaine responding with a classic Dad joke.

Kaine won Twitter over with his 'Dad' appeal and everyman image after his address to the convention

Kaine won Twitter over with his 'Dad' appeal and everyman image after his address to the convention

'Tim Kaine seems like the kind of guy who buys you 5 shares of stock for your 10th birthday and tells you to "hold onto those, kiddo", noted Jake Beckman.

Alexandra Petri joked: 'I bet if Tim Kaine has leaked voicemails at the DNC they were all reminders to stay hydrated.' 

Others noted that Kaine would be the type of father to embarrass his kids in public. 

'Tim Kaine is your dad performing in the PTA talent show and you're proud of him but also kind of want to die,' Hayes Brown said. 

Ema O'Connor added: 'I bet Tim Kaine still says "wuzzzaaaaaa" to his kids on the phone even though they've never gotten it.' 

Former actress Mara Wilson also joined in on the Twitter jokes.

'Your overly nice friend's pastor dad just took the stand,' she said. 'Tim Kaine is also your second favorite substitute Spanish teacher.'

Comedian Patton Oswalt likened Kaine to the 'quiet A/V nerd in high school who could unscramble porn and secretly had great weed.' 

Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine gives a thumbs-up next to his wife Anne Holton as they leave the stage

Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine gives a thumbs-up next to his wife Anne Holton as they leave the stage

Kaine along with his wife Anne Holton acknowledge the crowd after giving a speech on Wednesday night

Kaine along with his wife Anne Holton acknowledge the crowd after giving a speech on Wednesday night

Many took to Twitter to liken the Virginia senator to a typical, embarrassing father type

Many took to Twitter to liken the Virginia senator to a typical, embarrassing father type

Kaine's super-friendly vibe may help him win Clinton the presidency.

The ex-governor, also a former mayor of Richmond and city council member, hasn't lost an election in Virginia since his first campaign in the mid-1990s.  

But he remains largely unknown on the national political stage.  

And vouching for Clinton wasn't Kaine's only job during his star turn at the Wells Fargo Center. 

He introduced himself to the American public, switching between English and Spanish and talking about his time as a Catholic missionary in Honduras.

When he highlighted his background as the son of a union ironworker and graduate of Jesuit schools, he made sure to mention his father-in-law, former Virginia Gov. Linwood Holton, a Republican who integrated the state's public schools.

'Lin's still a Republican but he's voting for an awful lot of Democrats these days,' said Kaine. 'Because any party that would nominate Donald Trump for president has moved too far away from this party of Lincoln.'

Former actress Mara Wilson and comedian Patton Wilson joined in on the Tim Kaine Twitter jokes

Former actress Mara Wilson and comedian Patton Wilson joined in on the Tim Kaine Twitter jokes

He placed Clinton in a long line of liberal icons, including her husband and predecessor.

'Thomas declared all were men equal and Abigail remembered the women,' he said. 'Bill built a bridge into the 21st century and Barack gave us hope.' 

He went on to ridicule Trump's habit of saying no more than 'believe me' when offering vague details of how he'd build a wall on the Mexican border or destroy the Islamic State group 'so fast.'  

Kaine offered a series of tough attacks on Trump, offering an impression of the New York millionaire before mocking him as a 'slick-talking, empty-promising, self-promoting one-man wrecking crew.'

Yet the threat of Trump hasn't led to an open embrace of Kaine by liberals, who had hoped Clinton would select Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a champion of tougher restrictions on Wall Street and other liberal causes.

Much of their unhappiness has centered on Kaine's vote in 2015 to support so-called 'fast track' authority, allowing the president to put forward the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. 

The Pacific Rim agreement has been promoted by President Barack Obama as a way to increase U.S. influence in Asia and act as a counterweight to China.

Kaine now opposes the deal, a position in step with Clinton, but liberals raised concerns about him after he praised parts of the agreement.

Kaine's allies say his record must be judged in totality. They point to his work as a civil rights attorney specializing in fair housing, his opposition to the death penalty, and record as governor of defending education funding during tough times.

Kaine attempted to defray some of that worry during his address.

'We all should feel the Bern and we all should not want to get burned by the other guy,' Kaine said, to cheers.

 

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