Will Hillary Be Obama's Cheney?

Will a Hillary vice presidency continue the precedent of presidential candidates picking VP running mates who also serve as insurance against impeachment and as pit bulls who do the dirty work?

We already know how far right wingers- the remaining 27% who still staunchly support Dubya -- feel about Hillary. They hate her guts from their heads to their toes, kinda like liberals feel about Cheney.

While the mainstream media and a lot of bloggers are proclaiming their indignance over Hillary's dumb remark about RFK, castigating her for her inappropriate mention of assassination, some even accusing her of suggesting the idea, I see a different perspective. Hillary is setting herself up to be Obama's Cheney-like junkyard dog.

She's shown how, with Bill, she can be incredibly tough, aggressive and abrasive -- to the extent that she's certainly pissed a lot of Obama supporters off. On the other hand, Obama has worked hard to come across as the great healer, the candidate to heal the divide and bring people together. Frankly, when the campaign gets into full gear, in September, I want a team that can get very tough. Hillary and Bill could play the "bad guys" in the good cop, bad cop routine, leaving Obama to hold on to his vision and hope positive persona. I get the feeling, Bill could really sink his teeth into the job of being the hardball guy who goes after Republicans.

Further, once Obama wins the Obama-Clinton election, Hillary will serve for Obama very nicely as Cheney served for Dubya, as a huge disincentive to right wingers even thinking about impeaching Obama. Bill Clinton had the relatively benign Al Gore, who was not anywhere near as polarizing as Cheney. Bush senior had Dan Quayle, generally seen as a mental midget who no-one could have seriously considered as a serious presidential replacement. If you think about it, Gore was an anomaly -- a tolerable VP who the other side might not have loved, but that they'd have lived with Gore without grinding their teeth in their sleep. He certainly was no attack dog for Bill Clinton and perhaps things would have been different for Clinton and for Democrats if they'd had a high visibility tough guy who was also so unacceptable as a Vice President, they would never have considered impeachment.

If Hillary does run with Obama and does play the bad cop, tough guy roll for him, which seems so, so natural, it might be a very good thing for future female candidates. She's already been villified in so many ways by right wingers, if she comes off as a tough, Cheney-type of negotiator, she'll play a valuable role for the Democrats and she'll show that women in the US can be Iron Women, like Margaret Thatcher. That will "stretch the envelope" of public perception of female American leaders, and that's a good thing.

Clinton lost the candidacy because she allowed her campaign managers to plan and run an overly top-down campaign against Obama's incredibly successful predominantly bottom-up campaign. There WILL be a roll for top-down management and leadership in the Obama presidency, even if it works better, image-wise for Obama to limit and delegate some of his top-down command and control functions and needs to Hillary, or whoever he chooses. As "bottom-up" leadership and strategy continues to explode as the new political paradigm, Bush's selection of Cheney, which allowed Dubya to come off as the regular guy may be seen, as history looks back, as a brilliant move. If Obama gives Hillary some of the more aggressive Top-down jobs, he'll be able to maintain his image as the "bottom-up" we-the-people, grassroots leader, while tapping the power of the executive office.

Meanwhile, it's interesting to consider other potential Democratic VP candidates in light of, not only their ability to pull key states or demographics, or to cover strengths lacking in the presidential candidate, but their "Cheneyesque" natures -- their ability to be a tough, to play hardball. Chris Dodd might be one. He's shown his willingness, on occasion, to stand up to the Dem leaders who have given the senate its "spineless" reputation. California's attorney General Jerry Brown might be another one. Hey, he's a former flower child, but we're talking about toughness, not corruptness or corporate sellout, at least in the case of Brown. Selling out to corporations IS a concern for Hillary. She's a bit too chummy with the K street crew. Then again, roses have thorns. I wonder if it's possible to actually elect the purest of candidates in today's world.

That said, I am not suggesting that Hillary will become a criminal who engages in a multiplicity of offenses against the constitution, who engages in serial corruption, totally worthy of impeachment, as Cheney has. My hope is she and Bill will operate as tough, honest operators who work to accomplish the vision and mission Obama is elected to complete.

Politics is all about compromise and putting Hillary on the ticket with Barack would be the penultimate compromise. It may also be a brilliant idea that really does bring together America -- at least the Democratic party and more than 50% of the voters in November -- which is the outcome I think the rest of the world and a majority of Americans desire.

Crossposted from OpEdNews.com

Follow Rob Kall on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robkall

Comments

[jdkjdk]

Jerry Brown. Catholic, Governor, Mayor, helped Mother Theresa, Attorney General but not a weirdo like Spitzer, got the vision thing way long ago, speaks Spanish, realized that money and special interests were corrupting Democratic Pary. Great Last Name for Ohio.

Obama/Brown 08

[crystalhaidl]

Well said, and importantly positioned, Rob.

The comments from this Roman Circus increasingly make me wonder if people truly comprehend the difference between idealism and the real world. Evolution is slow, and running mates are often like bedfellows who compliment each other for the mutual task at hand. The Republicans win because they state their beliefs as if it's an obvious facts and they strategize for the win; climax-- nothing less.

Hillary has a strong voice. For my money, she's not yet shown it-- partially due to her own flaws, partially because any woman who has fought for anything can tell you, the world IS a man's way of doing things. that is an undisputable fact. It's exceedingly tough for a woman to navigate how she should be perceived in anything to get ahead-- should she wear the pants, show a little bit of her feminine side, androgynous, mother, sister, unemotional or emotional, supportive wife or independent woman.

As VP Hilary will fight like a momma protecting her cubs. And though Obama is too young for this analogy to fit exactly—yes to the good cop-bad cop--- and also a bit of “mom and pop” (Ok slightly younger brother/son taking the helm) protecting the business for the benefit of the whole family AND the surrounding villages.

[OtayPanky]

Rob Kall: Will a Hillary vice presidency continue the precedent of presidential candidates picking VP running mates who also serve as insurance against impeachment and as pit bulls who do the dirty work?

===

I'm not sure what you're sprinkling on your Cheerios, but no one picks a VP on that basis. In fact, if you're old enough to remember, there was nothing overtly Darth Vader-ish (yet) about Cheney at the time he became Bush's running mate.

Or - maybe this is an Andy Borowitz satirical type post, and I got suckered in. In that case, you got me!

[mom2sons]

We want our country back, so we can start afresh. No Hillary and Bill lurking around the WH or VP residence. If something happened to Barak, I would hate to be in Hillary and Bill's shoes. LOL

[S1m0n]

You're dreaming or crazy if you think that Cheney has any of Bush's interests at heart. Almost all of the toxic, criminal, treasonous and evil acts engaged in by the Bush administration, which will damn Bush's name in perpetuity, were in reality Cheney-led initiatives.

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

no...

hillary is already a cheney around obama's neckey --

the faster and the further he can get from her, the better off he will be ...

[shinybear]

Right. Hillary as VP even after her RFK remark.

Well this makes one person in billions who sees it happening.

She's lucky she's still in the party.

[ccrnjr]

I guess people have run out of real news and continue to speculate. Let's talk about the war and all the lives destroyed by it and how McCain wants to continue the quagmire. Let's talk about McCain and all his scandals including the Keating Five and his relationship with Phil Gramm and Wendy Gramm (Board of Directors--ENRON).

[LivingStardust]

Not gonna happen.

Edwards is getting the guard/attack dog position, either as VP or AG. Why? Because he's still considered (as much as ANY politician CAN be) an honest player and Hillary has proven EXACTLY what kind of manipulative opportunistic scumbag she is over the course of the campaign. He also has a better track record at actually helping ALL his constituents, especially the poor and not just the wealthy, than Hillary. She's just another lobbyist purchased sellout who will say and do whatever the money men behind her say without question to legality or the common good. The only difference between her and Bush is that Bush is owned by Saudi Arabia and Big Oil while she is owned wholly and outright by Big Pharma and the Insurance Industry. No one will want to be associated with Bush after this certainly, but you'll find that Hillary has scorched a fair amount of her political capitol and all of her credibility. Her RFK comment was the last nail in the coffin of her political career beyond being a Senator.

There will be a female President/Vice President someday. Probably fairly soon.

It just won't be Hillary Clinton. Ever. She simply pisses (-ed) off too many people. Not because she is a woman but because she embodies the worst in Washington's "greed is business as usual" model.

[JimR]

I don't think so.

[emory]

lets all collectively stop writing stories like this and Hillary will just go away. after all she lost so lets just report on the race at hand OBAMA vs McBUSH

[marco34la]

you mean... REV OBAMA vs McBUSH

[emory]

BETTER REV OBAMA VS MCBUSH THEN
THE POLITITION HILLARY- YOU KNOW "THE LIAR"

[marco34la]

That would be a disaster. It would be just like the SNL 3am commercial. Everyone would know that
Obama would be Hillary's puppet cause he's got no experience or any platform of his own.
Then, you know, if he ever won... that the repubs would try to get rid of him... and then Hillary would be President and MSNBC and the bloggers here would all start saying that the Clinton's did it.

Better Hillary let Obama fail on his own this fall...so she can run in 2012.

Democrats for McCain -'08
Hillary 2012

[DanniD]

If McCain wins because of Hillary's divisive tactics, is there going to be a nationwide epidemic of amnesia over the next four years?

There must be because that is the only way in hell, Hillary Clinton can even dream about being President in 2012!

[edwarvir]

Hillary Clinton/William j Clinton are both crazy, McCain/McBush are a disgrace to the
human race. How do justify killing all of these young men and women for OIL.

Oil that I might add that you don't have. May GOD ALMIGHTY have Mercy on their
souls

[emory]

SHE DOESN'T DESERVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marco34la]

neither does HE... but... here we are. Don't worry. If it happens... Obama will give a nice speech and you'll support him just like always. He's nicotine to your idolizing habit.

[booksnmore4you]

Of all the ironic persons, Maureen Dowd has totally nailed why Hillary will never be Obama's VP.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/opinion/28dowd.html?em&ex=1212120000&en=a9ea3bc94c287c13&ei=5087%0A

[EngineerBill]

I'll concede that this post makes some good points but Hillary as a VP choice would still be a disastrous mistake. While the post says things about Hillary as an actual VP that may be true, the problem is that she would sink his chances in November. From her neutralizing the contrast between himself and McCain on the war in Iraq to the built-in SNL circus that is Bill and Hillary, there are just too many negatives there. Let's not forget that.