NYTimes: Clinton Is Being Vetted

Buried in an article on the veep-vetting process comes this piece of information:

Democrats said they thought it was less likely now than it was a month ago that Mr. Obama would choose Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York as his running mate, though they said she remained in consideration and that she was being vetted.

If he does not choose Mrs. Clinton, several Democrats said, it would be difficult for him to name any woman -- like Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, someone for whom he has had warm words. Both Clinton and Obama advisers said such a move could create a backlash among women who supported Mrs. Clinton.

Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson said recently that she was not being vetted "as far as I know." The Huffington Post reported on Hillraisers who aren't bundling money for Obama but say they would if he picked Clinton for VP.

Comments

[Busterdawg]

Oh please let him pick Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. The complete collapse of this sham candidates bid for the Presidency will be a joy to watch.

[olivia]

You obviously do not know Kathleen Sibelius. I am her constituent and I do. She's be great.

[StopSexismNow]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - she puts people to sleep. a complete dud from start to finish.

[the964kid]

But is Bill Clinton being vetted too?

[darthmaul]

I'm afraid it's a twofer. Bill's ego is too large to be ignored. It would probably be the primary reason that Obama would not pick Hillary.

[Jay20]

GOOD I want a twofer. He was a great President, and is needed again to let the American eagle soar once more.

[Jeffin90019]

Bill Clinton cannot legally run for VP since he is also not eligible for the presidency.

[ndnndpendent]

I believe that Obama will win, no matter who he picks as VP. He will be the next POTUS---he has the unmistakable presence that just diminishes McCain and its to McCain's benefit that they have not been on the same stage--debating, because the contrast will be vivid. I predict when this starts to happen, the polls will start to show a widening gap. I also predict that Obama will win in Nov. by a landslide.

I do believe HRC is the strongest choice for VP and he will ultimately chose her. Obama is a classy guy, his sole reason for doing that potentially; is to show his consideration to the millions of HRC supporters. I believe he has Hagel on the trip abroad because he may be on the list of a potential Sec. of Defense or Sec. of State. He is truly building a coalition and he is serious about ending the war in Iraq.

[olivia]

Most of those millions of HRC supporters are already going to vote for him. And the PUMAs - all 20 of them - will never be happy unless he just hands her the nomination on a silver platter, so there's no use trying to please them. They're Republicans anyway.

[littleblue]

For Nancy P to say that Hillary voters should vote for obama if he picks some other woman as vp is BULL!! Hillary is the one that worked and put herself out on the line of fire for over a year and longer. How could you people think it fair for some woman not as well qualified as Hillary and without working for it could be put second in line to be president of the united states. You must be out of your mind. It would be as unfair as how she was treated in the primary. There are 18 million voters that feel like me. It would be a slap in the face to put any supporter of clinton in the vp spot.

[SensibleAmerican]

Ironical, as Hillary won the poular vote and all the major States!

[JimR]

Stop pretending the nearly 18 million people who voted for Hillary are an army of mindless zombies who think and act in unison. They are individuals. A vast portion of those 18 million have already decided to vote for Obama.

As for the alleged slap in the face if Clinton is not chosen, as the Clintons like to say, if you can't stand the heat...

[DesertZ]

I am a retired American male who watched how differently Senator Clinton was treated by the MSM than Senator Obama. I would definitely have trouble voting for Obama IF he picked another women VP instead of the most qualified-Senator Hilary Clinton.

[SingingBird]

First, the MSM was the one that treated Hillary like crap and continues to do the same to O. Look at how McCain gets a free pass on *everything*. The MSMs treatment of Hillary has nothing to do with Obama. If anything he treated her with grace and class. When the whole Rev Wright issue came up, he could have easily said in a debate, "Ask Hillary what she thinks of Rev Wright as he ministered to Bill when he was caught being an adulterer". Even when she didn't renounce the attacks on Wright, he left it alone. That action alone speaks volumes about Obama. Bottom line, O was not responsible for the MSMs treatment of Hillary.

Second, Sebelius has put herself on the line and continues to do so as a govenor. The only difference being that she does it on the state stage vs the national stage. She is an experienced legislator who has taken a deficit and created a surplus. She has stood up to Bush regarding the National Guard, their equipment and the state's ability to be ready (which they can't do) during natural disasters. In addition, I imagine if you were to look at her favorability ratings in her state, they would be higher than Clinton's is in NY.

[olivia]

One doesn't deserve anything for campaigning - not even for campaigning hard. Nobody "earns" the presidency or vice presidency that way.

They have to convince voters to support them. And she didn't convince enough of us.

[pbcrunch]

I think Hagel will be a better pick... neutralizes the most devastating attack the Republicans have against 08ama (his alleged inexperience), shows that he can work with someone from across the aisle who does not share all of his views, and he's a bona fide war hero who didn't crash several planes...

Hagel's also retiring at the end of the year from the Senate; perfect timing for him.

[lmab]

The Clintons are hoping that Obama loses. They are not going to do anything to help him win. Hillary is just looking ahead to 2012. Their priorities are straight and clear.

[Busterdawg]

She's right to... because he is going to LOSE.

You Obama-crats are walking around on a cloud right now... but you screwed up. He has Dukakis written all over him.

[lindaqqq]

now that i stopped laughing I want to tell you that you are on the wrong website.
so march your fanny over to some of those reight wing blogs where you belong.

[JimR]

Say Hi to everybody at GOP headquarters.

[olivia]

This is 2008.

[GeorgeKaplan]

rubbish

[dajay]

and good for her

[ndolomar]

The temptation simply seems too hard for mainstream media to resist. Sen. Obama explicitly stated that the next time any news about a veep was announced, it would be directly from him -- openly and to the public. However, when a media outlet's corporate owners refuse to cover stories about what's really behind gas prices or the rarely covered news about the wars in the Middle East, then their little heads start coming up with all sorts of non-story stories. Has anyone noticed how each "such-and-such on the list for veep" article doesn't say much more than the previous one did? Notice how vague and unproven the statements are -- other than "according to Democratic sources" and "officials near the Obama campaign say..." Heavens -- that could be an airport security guard in the same parking lot as a campaign volunteer. Is what his campaign does so divergent from the politics of before that even his supporters and some Democrats are unwilling to trust that much of what we're told Obama said/did is constructed by the entities who don't know what to do when they have no story? The media already have been proved wrong on several "predictions" or assertions about Obama's campaign. I'm going to put my eggs in his campaign's basket this time; me thinks the media are doing their best to belabor a moot point for ratings. What are you going to do?

[Tulka2]

I was one of those who was "thrilled with the great Democratic slate of candidates". First for Kucinich, then Edwards, then Obama. I have always been a H. Clinton fan, okay...? It's the Clintonistas i am afraid of. I have not seen the like since those whacky women in _The World According to Garp_. You know, the ones who cut out their tongues in solidarity with another victim. Yikes. I am afraid for Obama's safety if Clinton is V.P.

To all of you who would, so to say, cut off your nose to spite your face....? Here is a commander in chief test i have been promoting lately. Ask yourself, "Who could i beat in a game of chess, Obama or McCain?" Vote accordingly.

[againstzionistracism]

Remember the exchange on CBS in 1996 between Bill Clinton’s (Zionist) Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who was then US ambassador to the United Nations, and Lesley Stahl of CBS?

Albright was maintaining that sanctions had yielded important concessions from Saddam Hussein.

Stahl: "We have heard that half a million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And you know, is the price worth it?"

Albright: "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price ­ we think the price is worth it."

They read that exchange in the Middle East. It was infamous all over the Arab world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_QshS2EW8

[ktlou]

As you seem to be somewhat informed, what makes you think that Corp-O-bama would be any different? And from Mike Gravel, " McCain is George Bush on steroids". Wake up America!!

[Peddler]

You mean Hillary is being "vented," all her air is being let out. She is toast.......the will of the voters have prevailed. Her get 18 million voter card has expired, and her due date on her campaign bill will soon be forthcoming. All she has is memories of "what could have been; but it was never meant to be.

[Rosie2]

Peddler you are so right! I also want to add; How many of the 18 million were Repubs?

[Yman]

You do know that Obama received more Repub votes in the primaries, right?

[tds1273]

If Corpo-Clinton is on the ticket, then Obama is on his own as far as I'm concerned.

Do you PUMA(operation chaos) appeasers not realize the sexist irony in saying if not Hillary, than no woman? It should be about resumes and actual qualifications, and on those grounds alone Sebelius could win at the top of the ticket.

If Hillary Clinton is on the ticket, I'm voting for Cynthia McKinney and the Green Party.

[jcd8822]

If Hillary Clinton is on the ticket, I'm voting for Obama. If not, I like many others, will skip the top of the ballot. I will not waste my vote on the GOP or the Green Party.

[ktlou]

No matter who Obama picks as VP, I will support Cynthia McKinney. For all who want change, she is the only candidate who qualifies. Also, if it matters to you, she is Black and she is a Woman. YouGoGirl!!

[mikeant50]

As an Obama supporter, I have no issues with him picking Hillary as VP, just along as she and Bill go through the same vetting process as other candidates and prove that she will be loyal to Obama and not to herself. What we don't need is some scandal about Presidental Library Donors to be our October surprise? Don't care what HIllary supporters believe or say. There is nothing sexist about vetting the Clintons. It's called smart politics.

[Cybersquirt]

what "Hillary supporters" called her vetting sexist?

[Melissa]

I am a big supporter of Hillary and even if she is on the ticket I will not vote for Obama. I will wait to vote for Hillary in 2012.

[lindaqqq]

Then you better hope McSame doesnt finish the Bush job of destroying America in the 4 years you are dreaming about hillary.

[MrsPeel]

So, Melissa, you choose to compromise Sen. Clinton's standing in the Democratic Party, thus making it harder to try again down the line? It's well known the Clintons don't want to--and can't afford to--be seen as contributing to an Obama loss.

The proverbial cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[Veratruth]

So... sounds like you are aware that a decision was made in the very beginning ... McCain would only serve one term and then it would be Hillary in 2012. That would account for the friendship the two seemed to enjoy, as Hillary praised McCain. Rush Limbaugh tried to help Hillary. All fairness in a so-called Democracy went awry. It is a blessing that Sen. Obama has endured thus far against such unfair tactics. Remember, dishonesty doesn't always pay ... there are consequences.

[Publiusmcpeters]

Ha!! You'll be waiting until 2016 for that, when she is what, 160 years old, or something? lol!! She hasn't got a chance of being President... EVER!! (Let's hope, at least!) Let's pray, (if Obama DOES MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE & picks the HillBill combo for his vice presidency), that he doesn't get mysteriously assasinated like some rogue Vince Foster or something!

On a further note, as a pretty big supporter of Obama from the beginning in a MUST WIN area in a State (Pennsylvania) which Obama win if he is to win the Presidency in November, I will not donate my valuable time, & will, further, discourage all others from doing so if that (woman??) is chosen as our next Vice Presidential candidate! I will vote for him (out of the fact that I have no other choice but to), but I will discontinue all of my significant volunteering activities for him!

In all seriousness, Melissa & all other Hillary voters, I would encourage you to reassess your values... Is it really just the person who you were voting for? or was it the ideals? because if it were the second, you should be voting for Barrack Obama... & if it were the first, then our very existence as a Democracy is in peril!!

[norkas]

If Hillary worked every day telling those that voted for her to give there support to Obama and that the race is over and the Democratic party must unite she would no doubt be the next V.P. But i believe Hillary is still seething about her loss and those close to her have to shake her and wake her up now if she has any chance as V.P. I was very bothered that Hillary went nuts on the Bosnia story and embelished it each time she said it. Obama mada a excuse for her also but would not do it if he was running aganist a male.. No one ever forgets about bullets flying over there head, it is a lifetime nitemare that no normal person would forget. Saying all of this Hillary is brillant and could be very helpful to the nation and campaign but if Obama does not select her please understand she did it to her self because of her lack in passion to support Obama and that will not go unnoticed.

[PacificGatePost]

Meanwhile, remember that the Democratic Convention has not taken place, and is not over.

There may yet be surprises.

[Veratruth]

Yes ... we don't know what McCain and Hillary are planning. Remember, they are good FRIENDS. They both have EXPERIENCE, and love this country. Hillary said, "Obama only has a speech he gave in 2002" It wouldn't surprise me if those two are not on the same ticket. Then, McCain could run one term and, guess what, then Hillary could step right up in 2012 and please "whomever." The Celestial Choir needs to sing and scare the daylights out of some of these crooked politicians. Obama "08 and "12

[JimR]

Oh, I know... the Clintons are just vile and nasty enough to try to pull something, the effect on the Party be damned.

[proudloudlib]

My God, could you people BE more petty?!?!!

"The only way I'll vote for Obama is if Clinton is on the ticket."

"He'll lose my vote if he picks her!"

"I may just not vote at all."

WTF!!??! I am here to tell you that I will vote for Obama. He can put Carrot Top on the ticket, and I will still vote for him. I will not ever, under any circumstances, vote for McCain. And staying home on election day is the same as voting for him.

Can we get our priorities straightened out here? It's way past time to end the war between the Clintonistas and the Obamamanics, and concentrate on the real battle coming.

"Can't we just all get along?" Man, it is a bad day when I have to quote Rodney King! Come on, people!

[Cybersquirt]

the messiah can't pick just [i]anyone[/i]. Wassa matta U.

;)

[proudloudlib]

And what is this "messiah" crap? I back him for President, I don't worship him.

[Rosie2]

Grow up!

[hirhodes]

Well said proudloudlib!

[sociocanuck]

Better than having to quite Rodney Dangerfield, I'd bet.

"I get no respect..."

[who38]

Thank you.

[ireland]

awe...a wise voter...so rare in this country you are and thank you for being PRAGMATIC and not selfishly IDEALISTIC....

[TheSecularist]

Let's hope Obama continues to be as astute as we think he is and that he has the good sense to not choose ethically-challenged Hillary and drama queen Bill as running mates. They'll only bring the same shame to an Obama administration that they brought to their own. No more sleaze!! We want dignity and ethical behavior in our white house. We want a president and first lady we can be proud of.

[belikejeanvaljean]

For sure. And they are both too high maintenance. Neither one would be content to be in Obama's shadow.

I think Sebelius would make a good veep, though.

[Publiusmcpeters]

What about Claire Mccaskill ? I have always wondered why she does not receive more serious consideration from the masses than she has!! Or Barbara Boxer? Or one of the MANY other qualified woman whom Obama could choose? Why does it have to be HillBill, Sebelius, or no woman candidate at all?

[AlohaDavid]

I am really not certain what Obama has planned for his VP candidate...none of us are. So as a broader question, I wonder if Obama is going to take a safe route (Bayh, for example) or if he plans to do something more "audacious." A great example would be Chuck Hagel. Hagel has been a hero, standing outside of the Republican masses in his disagreements with Dubya...could Barack say to us that in his desire to bring the country together, he was a Republican VP? What would the Dem's say? Wow, how audacious? !

And since Lieberman has lost his mind and forgets the Repubs were the reason he was not VP the first time, would McPain select this ex-Demo, Jewish neo-republican to be his running mate? I think McCain is too afraid of freaking out the party, weak as it may be. But that would be audacious too.

[who38]

Hagel is not pro-choice; forget him. Hope McCain choooses Joe. It will be his demise, for sure.