He Should Offer Her Nothing

By refusing to concede and instead dangling "18 million voters" before Obama's eyes, Hillary Clinton is threatening to withhold her "army" of backers from Obama until she gets what she wants, whatever that is.

Obama has reached out to her. But he would be wise to offer her nothing and let her hang out to dry. Meanwhile he should work around the edges to pry her supporters away without conceding her anything.

Already Maxine Waters has broken from Clinton. Obama now has to work on winning over Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Jon Corzine of New Jersey, Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York and other key Clinton supporters. Once he secures their public backing Obama needs to get them to bring their people along.

After Clinton supporters really start paying attention to what McCain is saying, they will gravitate to Obama.

In any case, he can wait. This is way too early to pick a VP. If she doesn't want to concede and endorse him, ignore her and let her be marginalized. Then whom will her "18 million" voters follow?

Tonight it looks like she has an army. But how long will it stay together when she has no more primary campaigns to run, no more rousing speeches to make?

Time is on Obama's side. The last thing he should do is give in to the Clintons' blackmail.

Related:
Read more from Huffington Post bloggers on Barack Obama clinching the Democratic nomination for president

Comments

[MDTERP]

It is the nasty, punitive, vindictive attitude of the Obama supporters that will keep her supporters away. To the victor and all that but ignoring the person who, in a truly democratic system, i.e. one person, one vote, would have won the the postion is a pretty stupid and spiteful thing to do. We know all about McCain, but if Obama really is a new type of politician I'd like to see it now. And see him rise above the petty impulses of his supporters.
After all, if there is a Democratic Congress and Senate McCain will be severely limited as to what he could accomplish as far as wars and taxes and even judges.That is, if the next Democratic legislators come equipped with backbones.

[connorin]

That's right...Obama shouldn't listen to someone that got more of the popular vote than he did...someone that he barely got more delegates than, he shouldn't listen to...someone that beat in in large battleground states, he shouldn't listen to...

You people act as if he trounced her! The analogy is that he beat her on a last second play...and that was because the officials called a biased game.

All you obama backers want HRC's delegates and voters to vote for your guy, yet you say that the only reason they voted for HRC is that they are racist idiots...which is the same thing you say about every one who lives in "fly over country" and yet you expect all of us to get on our knees and worship you and your choice even though you disdain us...very nice

[joeinvt]

He shouldn't offer her anything and she shouldn't accept anything if he does. He won and it's important for him to sink or swim on his own - no blaming, no sharing of credit, etc.

[Insideout143]

I really think Hillary did a great job of "disenfranchising" a slew of democrats giving them to the republicans. Thanks Hillary. Thanks a bunch. Go home. Just don't go to the one in NY state because that's the state I'm in! Go to Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, wherever, just not NY.

[Krikkit]

Here's a better idea. What if he offered her a subordinate role involving some issue she's claimed she feels passionately about, like Health Care Czar? Her role would be circumscribed, and best of all, if she butts heads with him or fails to carry out HIS mandate, he can FIRE her.

Also, if he offers her this type of cabinet-level position publicly and she refuses she damages her credibility with the public beyond repair, therefore pulling the fangs of her supporters' urging for her to usurp the party's choice.

[Rule Of Law]

This is not the 60's and Hillary is no Mayor Daley! Today's Democrats vote the issues, not the person. To say she "controls" 18 million voters is to give her strength she does not really have. We want to win the White House this Fall and take back this country. That means putting all of our resolve behind Obama. Clinton will continue giving us what she has all along, nothing--and nothing is was she should be given in return.

[Krikkit]

Uh, Rule Of Law, what planet are you living on? People are people and they vote for the person they like.

[Rule Of Law]

Why, I live right here on this planet--it's called the real world, not high school.

[Terriac]

Agreed. At this point, I'm all too happy to let her fade into the ether.

[ljmck]

Hillary's power and influence wane each day that this goes on, and that is sad. She could use her hard-earned support for the benefit of the country and the party.

Any third-party run (fifth, actually, considering Nader and Barr) would be misguided; she has little enough financial support even now, and as her supporters drift away she will have less. Almost certainly, no delegate or super-delegate will follow her into oblivion, let alone Democrats currently in office. She should not risk becoming a Lieberman with a severly limited future.

She boasts of "having" 17 millions voters. That number may well have voted for her in the primaries, but polls show that the equation has changed. California would almost certainly have been in the Obama camp had the primary been held in April or May, and that is with the large Hispanic population that is said to be exclusively in her corner.

I"d like to see her celebrating the fact that people are not voting exclusively according to their gender, race, or age, instead of continuing on with the identity politics that divide us.

Now that she doesn't have to calibrate her vote according to her presidential aspirations, she can become a leader in the Senate and can seriously take on those issues she says she champions. With her capable and inspiring help we can make the changes so desperately needed in this county. Come aboard, Hillary.

[mom2sons]

She has overplayed her hand. She is history. Clinton era is over!

[booksnmore4you]

HILLARY: I want a, b, c and d.

OBAMA: And if not, then what? You'll leave the party and have your followers vote for McCain? Your political career will be even muddier than it is right now.

HILLARY: But...but....

OBAMA: How about we do this: you save your political career by unreservedly endorsing me?

[DennyCrane]

I agree. Obama has to show strength. If he can't stand up to the Clintons, how does he expect to prove to the American people he's strong enough to be their President. He should call Clinton's bluff. She's betting her supporters won't vote for him. But he has time on his side. In time, they may decide Obama is better than McCain and what if he picks a female running mate? Then those older women supporting Hillary can ditch her.

[chriss0114]

But the Clintonistas have already said that Obama "better not" offer the VP to another woman. Also, some Clinton insiders want Obama to publically offer her the VP so she can decline it [no other women allowed] but of course with her record of lies, they are afraid she would renege and take it.

[ljmck]

Clinton supporters saying "Obama better not offer the VP to another woman."

We used to call this the "queen bee" syndrome; some women get to the top and then make very sure no other woman does. Obviously, it's the opposite of true feminism.

[BassMent]

He shouldn't offer it to another woman. He should offer it to someon who would boost the ticket's credibility on military issues and raise its appeal to blue collar voters.

If anyone can think of a better choice to fit this bill than Jim Webb, I'd love to hear it! Jim Webb is

- a highly decorated ex-Marine
- former Secretary of the Navy to Ronald Reagan
- truly reformed ex-Republican who has seen the dark side and embraced progressive politics (he knows the enemy)
- high credibility among white working-class voters
- delivers Virginia
- adds maturity to the ticket without seeming old (seriously, he doesn't look old enough to have served in Nam)
- can be extremely tough when needed... who could McCain possibly pick to debate this guy?
- can hang McCain out to dry on the issue of benefits for veterans, thus delivering veterans

Someone's going to mention Richardson, who I think would be a good second choice. Not much of a debater, though.

[Insideout143]

Sorry, but it's his decision. Like it or leave!

We're talking about the President here, not the captain of a cheerleading squad. Jeepers, vote on the issues!

[Daisy1111]

What arrogance.

Don't underestimate millions of "older women" who came of age in the 60s and 70s. To underestimate us is an arrogant mistake on your part. Remember, we started a revolution.

You say Obama has class? No, Obama has Axelrod -- proof he has no class. (research Axelrod -- the ROVE of the Democrats.)

Obama stepped over her South Dakota win with "Breaking News" about Supers putting him over. Is that a win to be proud of. Party insiders picking the candidate?

He couldn't wait till this morning to claim victory? It had to be moments after South Dakota polls closed? A calculated manipulation of the media.

You say Obama showed Hillary respect?

Where was Obama when his operatives planted vile rumors in the press, when his bloggers wrote 'hate Hillary' articles to whip up the fringe, when his supporters said vitriloic things about her, her daughter on comment boards? Obama's silence constituted approval.

Where was he when he let his supporters circulate GOP lies about her on the interent? Obama's silence constituted approval.

The Vanity Fair article about Bill? So well timed, so nuanced, so many unnamed sources. Obama's silence constituted approval and Axel-rove clearly planted that bogus story to use as an excuse for not choosing her as VP.

Maybe Obama supporters are blind but Hillary voters see it all. Obama & company are MORE ruthless than the Clintons, ever.

You say you don't need Hillary voters? We'll see in November.

[anney]

Yes, we will.

[kramskoi]

of course, the perfect, saintly, benevolent, altruistic, self effacing Clinton did nothing underhanded throughout the entire campaign...she did'nt have surrogates plant stories or send out mailers or use the kitchen sink to take down her fellow democrat...how does a Vanity Fair article pertain to Obama?

...just her war vote is enough reason not to vote for her, not to mention the fact that she is morally bankrupt and seen by nearly 60% as dishonest...you seem to share in the same sociopathic and deluded fantasy that your candidate does as she absolves herself of her failures by scapegoating, denial, magical thinking, and a refusal to take responsibility for her situation...

Clinton herself would've needed party insiders to claim the nomination...this is an infantile argument and a disingenious one at that...Obama supporters may be blind but they've seen enough to know that Clinton is a "me" first politician with a penchant for victimhood and a tendency toward pandering...

[remc]

Please do not include me in your royal "we".

[Insideout143]

Okay, so he should have waited to proclaim victory, and yet the man who announced Hillary last night, announced her as the next president of the USA? You don't see something wrong with this picture? Sorry, but he had every right to claim victory, it has nothing to do with respect. He won.

[MDTERP]

After he stands up to the Clintons he can stand up to the teachers and the laborers and the African Americans and the poor and the antiwar and the resposible government types and all those other stinking, uh, democrats.

[hsm121]

Oh my gosh. Stop the hating!

I am a proud Obama supporter and I DO NOT like Hillary. That being said, there are many that are proud Hillary supporters and DO NOT like Obama. We all know this. I would have voted for Hillary had she won the nomination, no matter how much I personally don't like her as a person (or at least the public persona). A lot of the hate in this campaign has come from both sides on the comment boards. Depending on who you support, you're going to view this campaign differently and neither side will agree to the other. That being said, Obama has clinched the nomination and we NEED to keep John McCain out of the White House. Both sides NEED each other and we have to put our personal feelings aside and do what's best for the COUNTRY. It's the Supreme Court! If nothing else, think of your future or current daughters and granddaughters, and how their rights will be effected if McCain is in the big house.

UNITY 08.

[Rmtns]

Liking the candidate is not a requirement, that kind of thinking got us Regular Guy GWB. What we need is reasoned thought on who can get us out of Iraq, mend our shattered economy, and keep the Supreme Court from becoming Mussolini's Court. The supporters that threaten to vote McCain, well, ther is no need to wring our hands, either they will stop whining and vote in their own self interest, or they won't. And if they won't, perhaps it would be a good time to see if we wouldn't be better off without those who would rather lose an election than support a candidate other than their first choice.

[Terriac]

You're absolutely right. Now trying telling that to the radical supporters of Hillary. I agree that the ones with sense will probably come around. But there are some that are so far out there that they will never back Obama. And you can bet that had the situation been reversed, Obama would have graciously conceded the election and thrown his support behind HIllary last night. I have no doubt of that.

[lincheryl]

Stop the hating????? How about show a little respect to the person who just achieved a milestone in American history and all the people who came before him to build up to this moment?

She stole his night, the nation's night and sold her integrity in the process.

[booksnmore4you]

Given her tactics she deserves nothing.

[blaqntelligence]

Joe Lauria: "He Should Offer Her Nothing".

She still feels entitled although she has earned NOTHING.

[feminancy]

"What has Hillary earned?" is the wrong question.

"What role could she play to benefit the country? is a better question.

I'm a passionate Obama supporter (despite being a woman of Hillary's age), but I do recognize that Hillary has values, ideas, skills, and connections that could be tapped to accomplish great things.

I think she'd be an excellent Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Further, I think we need to redirect our anger toward our real opponent -- and it's not Hillary.

[seawolf77]

Clinton's blackmail is called politics choir boy. And if you can't stand to see her playing it, that's too freakin bad. Go away. Don't go away mad, just go away.

[LittleBrother]

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen-- as the cockroaches like to say.