Prior to the Iowa caucuses, I warned that no matter what the outcome of the ensuing contests, the Clintons would never, ever, drop out of the race ("If Obama Wins Iowa, Gore May Become President," January 2, 2008).
They have now proved that by declaring they would invoke the nuclear option, i.e., provoking a floorfight at the Democratic convention. That no party in modern times has won the general following a major floorfight at the convention is of no consequence to them. The superdelegates should think about that.
As the primary season progressed it became clear that the only way this campaign would come to an end prior to "mutually-assured destruction" (MAD) was for the Superdelegates ("Dealing with Deadlock, Superdelegates, Michigan and Florida: A Challenge to Both Campaigns", February 6, 2008) and later the SuperDuperdelegates (party leaders in high elective office), to step forward and take the necessary steps to prevent a war of "all against each" that will do nothing but help Republicans. ("SuperDuperDelegates: How About Some Leadership?", March 21, 2008).
By March it was apparent that Hillary Clinton's only remaining path to the nomination is a scorched earth strategy ("Only a PyrrhicVictory Remains Possible for Clinton", March 21, 2008 ). That is more true today than it was then. She has not, and will not, flinch from employing that strategy.
I asked -- and repeat -- this question: if there are only 3 alternative outcomes, either a Hillary or Obama nomination in late August following a bruising battle, or an Obama nomination NOW, without the bruising battle, which outcome is best for the country and party?
The superdelegates, and even more, the super-duper delegates, should have led. Instead, they were awaiting some external event so that they did not offend the Clintons. They could have used Texas, where Obama won the delegates, but lost the popular vote.
Bill Richardson tried to lead after Texas. He was careful not to declare prior to Texas so as not to be accused -- as the leading Hispanic politician in the country -- to have tipped Texas to Obama.
The Clintons attacked ferociously. The sent their old hack, James Carville, to savage Richardson with meaningless nonsense. Richardson is only person running for office who, literally, risked his life time-and-time again to make peace. Carville called him a Judas, not just once, but repeated for weeks over the airwaves. Their message: if another super-duper delegate tries to prevent MAD, they will pay a huge price.
Nor is our political system well-structured to allow Lou Gehrig moments, "taking one's self out of the line-up for the good of the team." There are too many hangers-on, those who see not only 4 or 8 years with important, or cushy, or honorific jobs and titles, but life-changing opportunities for wealth-building thereafter, in the victory of "their" candidate. Even if the Clintons wanted to drop out, the hangers-on would oppose it, and invent fantasies to convince them to remain in the campaign.
Not that they need convincing; the Clintons certainly are not known for self-sacrifice. Indeed, one of Clinton's most senior supporters stated to me "it's always all about the Clintons". A noble gesture just ain't part of their DNA.
Faced with a political system not structured to encourage self-sacrifice, and a political couple not known for it, it was clear months ago, and should be clearer now, that the only way of averting MAD is for key SuperDuperdelegates to show a small profile in courage, and risk the Clintons' wrath for the good of the country and party -- for a couple of leaders to, well, lead.
Unless one believes that a Clinton, or an Obama, nomination after a bruising fight is better for the party than an Obama nomination now, the path is clear: Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, a strong Hillary supporter but who says, "Barack is the real deal", and Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, a strong Hillary supporter who says "Obama will carry Pennsylvania," need to call up the Clintons and tell them it is over. If the Clintons do not withdraw (and I do not expect them to do so), the only way for Schumer and Rendell to make their point is to switch their super-duper delegate votes to Obama.
The Clintons have provided the justification -- their acknowledgment that they will use the nuclear option. In addition to being Senior Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer runs the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, focused on electing more Democrats to the Senate. In addition to being Pennsylvania's Governor, Ed Rendell is also former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
The Clintons' message is clear: "Stop us, or we will destroy the party to save it."
Schumer and Rendell can save the party from throwing away its greatest opportunity in a generation. They can show what it means to be leaders by, well, leading.
Or, they can fiddle; and fritter away the only benefit of the Bush years -- an opportunity for two generations of progressive politics.
Senator Schumer...Governor Rendell.....this is your time.
Are you up to it?
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Posted May 6, 2008 | 10:23 PM (EST)