That's the Ticket! Clinton-Obama Unity after Super Tuesday

First, apologies to all the political strategists, pundits, consultants, and media personalities who will undoubtedly hurl tomatoes at this column since it threatens their lucrative empire that thrives on political drama and divisiveness.

Second, apologies to everyone else for my being so naïve and, dare I say it, hopeful.

Lately, it seems that the Democratic Party is falling back into its bad habits and foolish ways. Just walk down the streets of NYC and mention the words Hillary or Obama and you find good friends screaming at each other, family members sleeping on couches, and more divisiveness than unity. It is sad -- but apparently unavoidable. Just look at yesterday's nasty exchanges and today's New York Times headlines.

Reality: We are a nation arguably on the cusp of a third war (with Iran) and already in an economic recession (heck, even President Bush is starting to admit it). We are overdue for another domestic terrorist attack. We are disliked (if not outright hated) by much of the world. We have made little progress when it comes to global warming. Millions can't afford health care.

Given this situation, I am sick and tired of Democrats being disorganized, self-interested, and destructive to each other and to our country. It is high-time for LEADERSHIP and SACRIFICE, which should begin with our top two candidates for president.

If Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton really want to be uniters and not dividers, then why don't they both do something so out-of-the-box and head turning that it would virtually guarantee the White House to the Democrats in 08? Namely: if Clinton is ahead in delegates after the 22 primaries and caucuses on February 5, Obama should stop running and join her in a national unity ticket. No divisive battles like the Reagan-Ford contest in 1976 or the Kennedy-Carter contest in 1980 -- struggles that probably doomed both Ford and Carter.

Democrats simply can't afford that in 2008, not after the disasters of Bush & Cheney.

Obviously, Obama won't withdraw now when he's still a possible presidential nominee. He wouldn't simply toss aside some 400,000 donors and millions of supporters who've been stirred by his words and promises.

But if Clinton takes a real lead on February 6, here are the benefits of a merger between these two titans.

First, it is the smartest long-term strategic move for the 46-year-old Obama. He spends eight years as VP, and then runs for President in 2016. Who could then criticize him for lacking "experience"? During Obama's eight years as VP he would be able to hone skills, gather experience, and produce good works. And if the Clinton-Obama administration is as good as I suspect it would be, it would assure Democrats 16 years of White House governance.

Second, for anyone who thinks this suggestion is an insult and/or demotion for Obama, I have two words for you: Dick Cheney. Not that Hillary would need a #2 to rely on as much as Bush did. But the state of our country right now really does call for a form of powerful, intelligent co-parenting. Truth be told, there is an awful lot of work to be done--too much work for one man or woman alone.

Of course, this arrangement would also require an amount of graciousness and sacrifice on behalf of Hillary Clinton. With Obama as her VP, she'd need to share the limelight with an eloquent, luminous star -- and she'd surrender the normal nominee's option of choosing a running mate only on the basis of politics and chemistry.

But just think about the message that this would send to the world. The two most popular and powerful Democrats would be putting aside their egos for the good of the post-Bush America, based on the theory that their whole is greater than merely the sum of their parts.

Sure it's hard to arrange such a result. But here's what's far worse: wasting tens of millions of dollars in the mutual destruction of our two best and brightest. Because the next few weeks have the potential to get ugly. The bickering. The name-calling. The fratricide. It is such a waste of time and money. And, frankly, we are better than that. Let's leave such antics to the Republicans.

Would this be viewed as an unseemly "deal," just the kind of thing that an untraditional Obama would scorn? If a similar arrangement worked for another Illinois legislator in 1846 -- when Abe Lincoln agreed to sit only one term in Congress and then defer to a rival to serve the next -- it should be okay for Obama. Surely Obama can frame it as surrendering his personal ambition for the larger good of the United States of America, to quote him.

Except for extreme partisans and crazed staff, the truth is that the differences between Obama and Hillary are insignificant compared with the risks of, in effect, handing the White House to the Bush Republicans for a third term.

Both Hillary and Barack are great people and they will both be great leaders. We deeply need their complementary styles, experience, personalities and vision to fix our ailing country.

Bottom line? Its either Clinton-Obama next month or (yikes) the risk of McCain-Giuliani next year.

Comments

[mi]

It's a dream ticket for Democrats.
neither candidate is perfect, together
they really would be unstoppable.

[LeeFromVA]

You are living in a dream world. Obama is clearly going to win the nomination, and Hillary is way to negative to add to the ticket.

[Shocktheworld]

Things have gotten too far out of hand with the personal attacks and dirty campaign tricks. The further Hillary and Bill continue to keep being negative, the further they are going to distance themselves from people that were supporting Obama. The Democrats are going to mess around and hand this election to the GOP.

[SmellTheHorse]

Obama would be nuts to hitch his wagon to her horse. He's twice the politician--and ten times the mensch--than she is.

[MonicaL]

If Obama makes any deal with the Clinton Crime Family, I'm voting third party. I've had enough of their racism, triangulating, and double talk. No more...no more.

[whimsicalpig]

UNCLEJOE:

you are correct, the truely patriotic thing for both obama and clinton to do is both withdraw from the race.

Either one of these 2 will certainly lead to the election of john mccain in november.

Edwards,though is also in for a rough ride because he is calling for the restructuring of the governement to the extent we have not seen since 1932.

Short of a real depression by april, he doesn't stand a snowball's chance since none of the current slate of congressmen and senators are willing to stand for change of this nature without a national disaster which would give them the politcal cover.

we shot ourselves in the foot in Iowa when good viable candidates were relegated to the "second tier" by the MSM.

A Biden or Dodd sure look good now

[Thad]

Hi Kristen,

My biggest question -- and sorry if it's already been asked -- is why you chose to frame this as "If Clinton is ahead after Super Tuesday then Obama should bow out" instead of the other way around. Do you believe that this is a two-way street, or do you hold a double-standard and think Hillary should stay in the race regardless of Super Tuesday's outcome?

[Marrob]

Kristen, I couldn't agree with you more on the ticket and I'll go further and say I don't care who the front runner is after "Super Tuesday". Those two should be on the ticket together. You're right on the money when you say that the Democrats will lose a for sure thing in "08" if we don't get our act together. The media has lead the uninformed into believing that Hillary is a bad person yet if you ask someone who thinks this to give you three reasons why they dislike Hillary, nothing of substance would be included. My biggest fear is given the direction of the country is going economically, and inexperienced Obama nominee is not going to play well on stage next to an experienced John McCain, when it comes to people voting their pockets books. Niether Hillary of Barack will bring an end to the war immediately so in some regards, thier both like McCain but when it comes to people finances, there is a clear difference and Obama inexperience will show. The South Carolina Debate will be about economics and we'll get a good look at him in action I hope.

[murrieta]

Well, IF (a big IF) Hillary gets the nomination - and IF (another big IF) she offered the VP to Barack - he would have a very tough decision. Why? I do NOT think Hillary is electable even with Jesus as her running mate. So, would Barack be better served running for POTUS in 2012 as a 2008 VP loser? Or better if he just stands by and watches Hillary go down in flames?

[ChristopherLib]

I'm a Hillary supporter, but I can't really agree Obama should just give up if Hillary is leading in the delegate count after February 5th. It really depends on the margin. If Hillary does exceptionally well in California and Florida (obviously she'll dominate New York and probably most of the North East) than you can bet there's little chance of her losing Texas, Ohio, or Pennsyvania later on, and Obama would be best off to concede. However if it's close than he should fight on. No one should expect a coronation.

I'm down with a Hillary Obama ticket. That would be freaking amazing for this country. Is it too much history making? I don't think so. I think that kind of ticket would create a wave of excitement among women, minorities, and young people. I don't think that momentum could be stopped.

[Dailyfare]

NO WAY would HRC pick Barack as her running mate. The Clintons (mostly by surrogates) freely throw around invective and fabrications and then blame the Obama campaign. AND NO ONE'S CALLED THEM ON IT. At least not forcefully. Obama made one (one!) smart-ass comment to Hillary ("likeable enough") and he was called ungracious, cruel and "jarring" among other things. Lesson: The Clintons get to wallow in BS (because people are so used to it from them) and then blame everyone else for it, but Obama is expected to take the "high road". Don't be mean to Hillary. But Hillary get to do whatever she wants. Cry a little, lie a little.

Good grief. Are people really considering 4 or 8 more years of Clinton psychodrama?

[gussini]

Kristen, you are so cute, I want to marry you but having say that I totally dislike the idea of Hillary returning to the White House cause she will take all the rest of furniture she left before living the WH

[lynnn]

I won't vote out of Fear! Fear is opposite of Hope. We have nothing to fear but fear itself-FDR

[HailtotheChimp]

What about Obama-Clinton? Why don't you give an analysis of that ticket? Why deos Obama have to sacrifice? Why is Obama's age a problem, it wasn't with Bill Clinton when he first ran for President? Obama has more legislative experience than Clinton.

[joebaggadonuts]

I think Obama/Gore is the right ticket.