Have the Clintons Outsmarted Themselves? If Hillary Might Choose Obama as VP, Doesn't That Mean SHE Believes He's "Ready" to be President?

The Clinton campaigns (all of them) have masterfully used suggestion and innuendo to entice supporters and undermine opponents. For example, Bill Clinton began the primary campaign season saying that "he always told Hillary that she'd win the general election easily, but getting the nomination would be tough".

What was the point? The voice of wisdom showing everyone how smart he was, that he understood everything that the rest of us, including his wife's entire campaign staff, did not get? Was he not on the phone to donors talking about her "inevitability" at the same time? Her whole campaign was geared to February 5 and nothing beyond, suggesting the inevitability argument was persuasive.

What Bill was doing was telling people not to worry about the general election---about which everyone remains VERY worried---and that the challenge was the nomination, so that, if they supported her, they would overcome that problem (that, in their minds, did not exist), and that was her "last" major challenge.

Bill Clinton did NOT predict the Obama phenomenon. He was playing with peoples' psyches, and abusing his status as the voice of wisdom in the party. Reverse psychology.

They now employ this tactic to suggest, not so subtly, that Obama can be on the ticket---just not at the top. Vote for Hillary, and Obama makes a great deal of sense, because they appeal to different constituencies, says Bill.

Ok, Bill, if Hillary would even entertain putting Obama on the ticket, does that not mean that she considers him to be able to take over on a moment's notice? Every Presidential nominee, in both parties, has always said that the first criterion for a VP choice is "ready on day 1".

Thus, Bill and Hillary, if you are entertaining putting Barack on the ticket, does that not mean you both agree that he passes muster on that criterion?

Or, are you just cynically trying to manipulate peoples' psyches---again? I'm shocked, shocked!

Comments

[efranklin]

Isn't it ironic? The candidate running in second place is offering the #2 spot to the guy running in first. Remember the Bulls/Pistons rivalry in the late '80s? Let's think of an analogy. It'd be as if the Bulls were up by 10 points in the fourth quarter of game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals; what are the odds Michael Jordan is going to throw up his hands and award a victory to Bill Laimbeer? I mean, come on.

[ignorantwillyharper]

Hillary, is playing both sides aganist the middle. If she is not nominated on the democratic ticket, she will confront McCain to ask her to be his VP. If he were to win, he'd only be a one turn prez and then she could run in 2012 for president again. She cares less for the democratic party, it's all about her.

[VillyVal]

Golly! Amazing! Where DID you get this information?

[MizLiz]

The Clintons may have outsmarted themselves, but you can't lose money betting on the stupidity of the American Electorate. Ronald Reagan twice? The Chimp twice? I rest my case. I live in dread that somehow Obama will be pressured to actually BE Vice president if the worst should happen...and then he'd sit, useless, for 4 long years. He'd better not do that. I'm just sayin'.

[VillyVal]

Can he read books about foreign policy? Can he undertake fact-finding trips for the administration? Can he travel and make personal acquaintances that will serve him well in the future? ... It's called experience, and it shows when it's there. Just saying.

[frustratedinohio]

She can put him on the ticket even though he's not ready to be president, because she doesn't intend to die while she is president. That's right, she controls that too.

[ljsfolly]

It seems really strange/fu­nny/stupid to endorse the republican guy when you are running as a democrat any way it's looked at. For Hillary to go into such a strong endorsement of Mac is craziness at it's worst when she is saying Obama isn't capable of "crossing the treshold" whatever that means really. But to actually put out a teaser/lie that she would accept Barack as VP meaning he would be the "heartbeat from the presidency" is a whopper! It is degrading for her to first say the republican is better but then to say unless Barack wants to be my VP. It means the clintons must think the only way they have to the white house is for her to have Barack as VP. I thought the multiple personality thing was really really hard to deal with and her PMS moments or going through the "change" scares me even worse. WHo wants someone who has come across as so mentally unstable with a finger on the red button? To hell with the red phone. If she will go to such lengths to win the nomination can we trust her judgment if she wins the general? Why are people still supporting her?

[razberryberet]

C'mon people, this is another political trick. Hillary knows she'll lose Miss. she's trying to shore up the margin. This is for the people who really like Obama but may be wavering because they are concerned about some "lack of experience" (which I don't really understand, I voted 4 Bill twice and he was inexperien­ced)....Th­is is a ploy to make people think that a vote for HIllary is also a vote for Obama. Forget it!

[syllepsis]

The Clintons' suggestion smacks of lunacy.
Imagine if, say, in 1980, George H.W. Bush claimed that Carter was more fit than Reagan to serve as "Commander­-in-Chief" (strange how that term wasn't the sole descriptor of our highest office in those days) because Carter had commanded a submarine, while Reagan made films for the AAF.
Then, imagine if Bush generously offered to make Reagan his VP!
The elder Bush's career would not have survived such stupidity. Neither will Hillary's.

[GManPhx]

I see it as a racist slight, that the "boy" Obama, even though his is the person leading the race, should get to the back of the presidential bus.
The Clintons cannot rap their mind around the idea that this "boy" would win the nomination. If he does, the Superdelegates should put him in his place.

[pbarba1969]

Its seems that the Obama people see pretty much everything as a racist slight. He isn't ready to be President yet. being a VP is a a pretty good training ground...

[LAJonathan]

"training ground?" I don't want my VP training to do anything. Its not an internship its essentially the Presidency. It sounds like you have embodied Hill's talking points as well. The manipulation in this race is very sad and difficult to watch.

[Herrington]

Its a cheap poltical trick. Clinton and now her chorus are floating the idea of Obama VP to defuse criticism of her burning down the party. See how nice I am, I am offering the poor under qualified Obama a chance put all this nastiness behind us and form the dream ticket. And, she assuages the probable guilt of her core supporters about NOT voting for a black man. It works on so many levels. Now it is up to Obama to save the party and salve the guilt of her supporters. Oabma bad, Clinton good.

It is very worthy indirection. Worthy of Rove, but then we don't like Rove do we?

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

of course it means she thinks he's ready. But, it doesn't mean that she thinks he is as ready as she is or even as ready as McCain is.

Has she ever actually said at any time that she thought Obama wasn't ready to be president? Or, is that just an inference pundits are making?

my inference from what she has been saying is that she has a lifetime of experience in foreigh policy, McCain has a lifetime of experience and Obama does not. Therefore, she would be better equipped to fight McCain in the general election on the issue of foreign policy.

If anyone thinks the republicans weren't aware of McCain's advantage over Obama in this area before Clinton mentioned, they are seriously deluded. Far better the dems be reminded of this advantage prior to making their selection.

And, I don't see how Obama isn't doing exactly the same thing to Hillary by constantly questioning her judgement.

[Tranquility]

Um, no. It's kind of equivilant to letting your teenager who just got their learners permit drive with their while you're in the car. And, while my answer is 'smart-ass' it's about in the same vein as the question.

[ntmessage]

Both Clinton and Obama are vigorously campaigning. Clinton did not actually say that Obama was not ready, but I agree was likely inferring the same. However she was defending herself from attacks by the Obama on that very issue. The Clinton/Obama ticket inference was probably to get back some of the Black vote in MS.

The reason this is backfiring is that Obama was attacking his opponent on an issue that is one of his weaknesses, and perhaps his most glaring weakness against McCain. Was Clinton just to stand by and get attacked without a response? Obama needs to stop attacking his opponent on issues that he is trying to simply deflect from himself.

Does it mean that Hillary thinks he is ready? Frankly I dont think it is indicative of what she really thinks either way on Obama. It was a response to an attack and politics in MS, in my opinion.

Do I think the best ticket for the country is Clinton/Obama? You bet I do. Let Clinton do her eight years on top and then flip the two for another eight!

Not likely, but a great thought.

[FlowerGirl]

It amazes me that some people admire Clinton because she will lie and cheat. Theycall that tough. Ibelieve it more indicative of strength and toughness that one remains true to more honorable principles. Clinton is still in the race because of the disgusting dirty trick by Harper's administration. If his chief of staff had not illegally leaked faalse accusations against Obama, which Hillary knowing them to be false used in fake news report radio ads to get a big boost just in time for the vote in Ohio,Texas,and Rhode Island, i would have ended there. On the day after the voting the Canadian government corrected this misinformation, appologizedd for their wrongful intrusion into our election, and said that it was unfaiur to Obama. That didn't restore tgher votes he lost due to that swindle, and you may note that Hilolary didnn't appologize. The timing makes it obvious that thoseNeocons were trying to harm Obama and help therir fellow Neocon. I suppose those who like dirty deals love this. But is that how we want our president chosen? Is a cheat our best bet for an honest government that will serve our needs and resist personal gain by deceiving us while in office? Hillary and deception or Obama and higher principles? We have seen them on display. It isn't stronger to cheat and lie. It is not tougher. It is only crooked. Didn't Cheney give us enough of that?

[ntmessage]

What amazes me is that many Obama supporters cannot believe that the chosen one is a politician like anyone else. He went negative right after NH and has not stopped since. Beneath the stage, his team has been every bit as nasty as any other politician has and has tried every trick in the book. Clinton is only counter punching Obama and now people are whining.

What is also amazing is that many Obama supporters are projecting their hatred of the current administration onto Clinton. When the Clintons left, they had some of the highest ratings in history of any president. Bush has the lowest. Another smearing of Clinton brought to you by Axelrod, Obama, and company.

This obvious psychosis is so prevalent it would be clinical in any other setting.

[soulstressed]

It's time we prove, in large numbers, that we have our candidates back. Senator Obama is dedicated to remaining above the fray. A testament to a well rounded decent man, and I might add, a good upbringing by his single mother. But if his supporters, demand in large numbers that he eloquently, but seriously, fight fire with fire, he will speak for us. We're being attacked too! Please read and sign this petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Truth_Hurts/

[hellogreenhighlighter]

most people who fear his green-ness as president would (and do) consider the VP position to be a perfect training grounds for Obama. it's really not that complicated or far-fetched and i doubt you believe your own reasoning. yes, hillary could die on her first day on the job before obama gets his feet wet, ok, that's a possibility (i guess), but who gives a crap. there is so much more profound hypocrisy floating around than this. obviously clinton is just saying that to pacify obama-lean­ing-but-wa­ry undecided voters. it's a sneaky campaign tactic: nothing new from any polititian and certainly not illogical within the context of political bullshit.

here's my suggestion: Obama and Clinton flip a coin. get this over with. it's so "exciting" that it's become boring.

[olderdem]

Reporters need to ask Hillary if she will campaign for/support Obama if he is the nominee. That will tell us if she believes he is ready.

[JakeEasy]

Bill has already said they will support the Democratic nominee. Has Barack made any statement along that line?

[flatus]

Of course Obama will support the nominee. To do otherwiswe would be political suicide.