On an Obama/Clinton Ticket: A Response to Andrew Sullivan
On Sunday, Andrew Sullivan published a story arguing that when Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination, he should give serious consideration to selecting Hillary Clinton as his running mate. The argument itself is not new, but that it is coming from Sullivan, one of Obama's most eloquent and ardent advocates, is certainly worth exploring.
The past weeks have been difficult for Obama, to be sure. In addition to a number of crises boiling over, from Reverend Wright to comments about small town bitterness, Obama has been the subject of a new media narrative, one that suggests he will be unable to win working class voters in the fall. That has been complicated by the relentless depiction of Obama by the Clinton camp as being unelectable in the fall, and by indications that the length of the primary has begun to permanently divide the Democratic Party. In such an environment, choosing Hillary as his running mate seems like it might be the easiest way for Obama to overcome these obstacles, turning the ticket into what Sullivan describes as "unstoppable almost overnight."
Of course, many, if not most of Obama's supporters recoil at the notion. Throughout the campaign, Hillary has proven herself to be the worst of the kind of politics Obama is seeking to end. She has clearly chosen personal ambition over party, and dishonesty over candor. She has, on numerous occasions, praised John McCain while deriding Obama, and still refuses to apologize for her Iraq war vote. The politician she turned out to be is so divergent from what the core of the Democratic party would expect, that despite starting with the greatest political brand in Democratic politics, a popular former president as her chief surrogate, and a seemingly endless war chest, she has been denied the nomination.
Yet the problem with Hillary as vice president is not so much that she flies in the face of Obama's purpose - he no doubt could eloquently bring her into the fold, as part of a reconciliation that is distinctly Obama. It is rather that Obama would have to give up so much in his presidency in exchange for a choice that seems, at this point, completely unnecessary. The Clinton machine that Obama has so deftly dismantled would find new life with Hillary in the White House. Bill, who views Obama as the chief architect of the undoing of the Clinton legacy, would no doubt wield more influence than he would deserve or Obama would prefer. The opportunity for Bill and Hillary to meddle will be far greater if they are given the formal authority of the vice presidency. That the spotlight would have to be shared with those kind of people - and that kind of politics - is something to which Obama should be understandably averse.
Decisions about a vice president need to be undertaken with an eye toward November and beyond. And though many, including Sullivan, would argue that they are looking to November when suggesting Clinton, it is far more likely that they are being clouded by the events of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. There was a time, for example, when Mike Huckabee seemed a necessary choice for John McCain as his running mate, given McCain's problems with the Republican base, especially among evangelicals. Not two months later, McCain's base is clearly in line, and Mike Huckabee seems more suited for a variety show than the vice presidency.
Hillary too, will likely enjoy a similar fate. By June 3rd, Obama will have secured the nomination. The wounds that lay open from his epic war with Clinton can be healed as easily with an eloquent speech praising her as with an eloquent moment appointing her. Once he has honored her for her service, her strength and tenacity, he will have at least two months before he needs to select a running mate. At least sixty news cycles will go by with Hillary well out of the spotlight. And in that period of time, we are likely to see the Democratic Party unify.
For all the talk of Obama's inability to connect to working class voters, it appears that it is white women, more than any other group that have stayed loyal to Clinton, thus preventing Obama from "closing the deal." White women made up 47% of the electorate in Pennsylvania, and as with every other state since Iowa, they stood with Hillary by dramatic margins. Could it be that white women are voting against Obama? Perhaps. But it seems far more likely that they are voting with Hillary, the greatest chance they've ever had for a woman in the White House.
With Hillary out of the race, white women - especially unmarried women - are sure to line up behind Obama. The 54 million unmarried women in America are as big a portion of the Democratic base as evangelicals are to Republicans. That they would choose McCain over Obama is simply unthinkable.
After a long two months of reframing and recalculating, Obama will be able to make a decision about his vice president based on a number of considerations, from the sharing of political philosophy, to possible geographic electoral advantages, to the anchoring of any perceived weaknesses. His decision will be made in July or August, not on the basis of the political calculus of April and May, but with an eye toward November.
By then, Hillary Clinton's place on the short-list will be entirely for show.
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I think it would serve Obama well to select the most eligible female VP candidate OTHER than Hillary Clinton. It would still represent something of a landmark change(An African American presidential candidate, and his Female VP running mate). Letting anyone named Clinton back into the Whitehouse fold under the guise of power sharing, would be detrimental to Obama to say the least. But then again, I've seen stranger things happen.
Can you imagine Obama as the 1st (partially) black president in US history with those 2 hounds right behind him??? He would be assassinated within his first 2 years. It would be political and literal suicide to have Hillary on his ticket. If white women are that whiny about having a woman in the WH, there is Gov. Sebellius and the several other female politicians that have already backed him. People need to get it thru their skulls: the issue is not misogyny, she is the WRONG woman/person in any capacity. It's her character not her XX chromosomes.
2 years? Clinton wouldn't let him live long enough to move into the White House.
Obama's ideal running-mate is Wesley Clark. He's a Clinton surrogate, so there's some "reconciliation" factor, and nobody can question his credentials or his ability to assume the presidency under crisis. He's the only U.S. military commander to ever lead his forces to victory in a major conflict without taking a single combat casualty. He's the Democratic counterpart to Dick Cheney.
I agree on all your points. Clark could be relied upon. He understands the chain of command. he would also make a good Secretary of State or of Defense. As Secretary of Defense he could repair the almost broken Armed Services.
Wesley Clark was FIRST in his West Point Class. How he could support Hillary is beyond me.
What did you mean by "He's the Democratic counterpart to Dick Cheney." - Cheney is a coward - he got FIVE draft deferrments rather than serve his country. Please do not compare the two - it is insulting to Wes Clark.
I support Obama completely but with Clinton on the ticket, I would be rather disgusted to cast my vote! People have talked about what wonderful years the Clinton administration brought this country. Well, it's funny how people tend to look at only what they perceive as good from that administration. The Clinton administration put in place the loss of jobs, helped put in place terrorist attacks since President Clinton failed to act fearing a 'wag the dog' situation. I could go on, but word limit won't let me. Please be honest about those years and not whitewash it. We also had an Impeachment and horrible scandals including Whitewater, Travelgate, etc. And it's very odd how people end up rather deadish around the Clintons!
I laughed when one poster said Obama would have to have a food taster! Although, comical, it's TRUE! That man could never shut his eyes with those snakes around him!
I'm a woman and sure, it would be great to see a woman as President but that doesn't mean as much as seeing a GOOD President. Besides, Hillary Clinton is no woman I'd want for a friend, associate or role model for MY daughter. I teach my daughter to be honest, be the best she can be without cheating, lying or tearing others down. Now, why would I want Hillary when she is the exact opposite of everything I try to instill in the future generation?
He also allowed the massacres to go on in Africa(Rwanda)!!! He deregulated telecommunication which removed the fair doctrine practice of equal time and allowed for the creation of these media conglomerates that now own most of the air time in America! ... oh yes, I forgot about NAFTA! Screw the Clintons and the Bushes... we are suffering through their legacy of Global pillaging and now the chickens ARE coming home to roost!
New Century, New page for America... let us unite behind a visionary leader and together, ALL of us, can change the World!
I do NOT want Hilary Clinton on Obama's ticket it would make him Look WEAK. She is the one that said he is weak in Foreign Policy he can't be trusted its like GWB all over again. I would VOMIT literally if he put that woman on his ticket. Give her a Job as Secretary of labor or something but VP NOPE!!!
Thankfully Pelosi said NO DREAM TICKET and I beleve her.
Carol
I think a lot of woman that supported Clinton in Feb. (in part because of her gender) are shocked by her low-road tactics and her 'manliness'. They may not be polling for Obama today, but you just watch...
Yes, Obama has a great message. Unfortunately, it is the same message that came from Michael Dukakis and Adlai Stevenson before him. LOSER!
um, clinton is losing. did you forget?
And Obama will lose the general which i think is what the Dukakis /Stevenson bit was referring to.
Excellent analysis..
Yes!! right on.
People do not intentionally step in “skip”, and especially when the “skip” comes with a know it all braggart husband peddling influence out the back door. How do you claim to be about change when you have a crazed nuclear idiot and her Husband telling lies. McCain sang boom boom, then Hillary takes one ups him with obliterate. Which countries do you think will take us serious?
We are but one short world level economic change from being forever put onto the second or lower tier of importance.
Saudi Arabia and entire middle-east can kill us off simply by pegging the price of oil to the euro.
Obama should certainly consider some female candidates, such as Sebelius from Kansas, Napolitano from AZ, and Barbara Boxer. Clinton should not be among them if you ask me, she is too far to the right of Obama, he wants a VP who opposed the war, and doesn't want to expand some kind of insanely frightening 'nuclear umbrella' over such despotic regimes as Saudi Arabia. her crazed foreign policy views should keep her out of this slot, she is barely a Democrat in this regard.
Obama/Boxer 08!!!
it would be too polarizing. i would like to see it but it would def. be too left for middle america.
In addition to the idea that Hillary would not be a good choice for Obama in style or substance, I am more concerned at the Democratic obsession with putting two minorities on the ballot.
GOTV is the strongest isssue in winning. The Dems have an astronomical increase in voter registration in the primaries. We still have five months (six in some states) to pull more in for the GE. The GOP is going to have some problems with those who would be likely to stay home. Unless we give them candidates they would come out to vote AGAINST.
A black or a woman, ok.
A black and a woman, too risky.
A black, a woman and a Clinton? Insanity.
Would the Clinton/woman vote result in a race so close election fraud gives McCain the WH?
In addition to the coat tail issue (Obama probably has long ones, the Clintons' have been notoriously short), I would like to see a really CLEAR mandate in this election. Congress AND the Media need to lose the GOP/neocon mindset and try being functional for a change.
Exactly, I'm with you on this. Besides Obama would have to employ a food taster in the White House if they did make it.
Obama would have to fundamentally change his character, his values, and his vision for America in order to make Hillary clinton his running mate. He cannot do that without being looked upon as a complete hypocrite, something she has been for a very long time. No...Barac
Obama should draft John Ellis Bush as his VP. Now that would confuse the right wing. Well, maybe Neal Bush would be better.
Yes! he'd have to become a 70 year old maverick that embraces Bush.
Clinton would be nothing but a huge liability in november. The Ayers issue will dissolve as soon as the first debate is over. Wright on the other, especially if he and his book come out before the election could wreck disaster for the ticket. From June till November he better spout he doesn't agree with and has disowned Rev Wright as much as John Edwards said he was the son of a millworker. He also needs to keep reminding folks of just how bad things in this country are. As far as veep goes, he should go with Gov Richardson. Richardson would make the mountain west, texas, and florida very competitive. Hispanics make up 33% of the population in Texas and 17% in Florida. If Dems take Texas, it'll be a done deal. Also, expect to see the deep south in play. Blacks make up more then 30% of the vote in Mississippi Georgia and Alabama. Plus, there is no way Ohio, and especially Pennsylvania after all the attention it got is going to vote red this fall. But yea, he should put Edwards on as Secretary of Labor and Wesley Clark as Secretary of Defense.
They are fundamentally different she is the Status Quo. Thats part of the reaosn people are drawn to Obama he represents change a new kind of politics NOT the same old Washington to put her on his ticket would be a disaster for him imo. The media has spin this nonsense about Obama not being able to get white working class voters well its CROCK he won the voters in Virginia and other states and with Rendell in PA he can win PA. I think he will have problems with Ohio and Florida and guess what so would Hilary. Heck I would take Rendell as VP over Hilary but the Governor of Virginia is my first choice.
Carol
Hillary's not about to play second fiddle to Obama, someone she considers unqualified to be President. She is likelier to accept the number two spot with McCain, someone she admires and looks up to.
She won't be offered, don't worry!
If he did offer it to her I wouldn't vote the ticket. I'm not voting for any party that has her on the ticket in any way shape or form.
"She is likelier to accept the number two spot with McCain, someone she admires and looks up to."
I think that's probably true and provides further evidence of her complete lack of discernment. Not that qwe needed anymore than we've seen this primary season.
Ha! That would be the greatest gift to Democrats. A McCain/Clinton ticket would doubly ensure a Republican loss.
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