Obama throws #2 spot in Hillary's face
A great many pundits have been discussing the idea that Barack Obama would be the obvious choice for the Vice Presidency if Hillary Clinton wins the nomination, since the Democratic Party has been so fractured this election cycle. It goes beyond saying, I think, that Obama would be the best political choice for Clinton at the top of the ticket. Barack Obama appeared to rule out the option yesterday that Number Two is acceptable to him:"I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to someone who is first place," Obama said, drawing cheers and a standing ovation from about 1,700 people in Columbus, Mississippi.
"I am not running for vice president," Obama said. "I am running for president of the United States of America."
Obama aides said Clinton's recent hints that she might welcome him as her vice presidential candidate appeared meant to diminish him and to attract undecided voters in the remaining primary states by suggesting they can have a "dream ticket."
He told the audience that it made no sense for Clinton to suggest he is not ready to be president and then hint that she might hand him the job that could make him president at a moment's notice.
"If I'm not ready, how is it you think I would be such a great vice president?" he said, as the crowd laughed and cheered loudly.
No one should operate under the illusion that Barack Obama would not take the Vice Presidency were he in a position for it to be offered to him-he very likely would do so for no other reason than that it would set him up to run for the top job when Hillary is finished. However, these comments make it considerably less likely that he might be considered. Why? We know now from John Edwards' own public admission to Chris Matthews some time ago that running for Vice President under John Kerry wasn't something that he particularly enjoyed, and that he wasn't interested in being Vice President. Barack Obama doesn't want to be Vice President, he wants the top job-and if he runs for VEEP, he would be in a position to upstage Hillary Clinton on the stump. It is a normal rule of running for President that you don't pick a running mate who can outdo you or upstage you, and Barack Obama threatens to do that to Hillary Clinton.
Obama is also in the unique position of being able to eschew the Vice Presidency if he wants to because regardless of whether he is nominated by the Democrats, he has run one of the best political campaigns this country has seen in a very long time in terms of raw politics. He does not need the Vice Presidency to make him more marketable in 2012 and 2016, he is already marketable and theoretically can win without it. He has made it clear, however indirectly, that he does not need Hillary Clinton to make him a winner-he appears willing to take this to the Democratic Convention and "fight to the death."
Labels: Democrats, Presidential Election
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 1:35 PM
7 Comments:
David;
You must realize that this is a great strategy for the Clinton Camp and is keeping the focus on Hussein as a #2. The Clinton Camp is masters at this and if you will look Hillary is widening the gap in PA.
Barack is a wimp and a coward who will fail to defend and uphold our values and Constitution.
Please provide solid evidences to supports your opinion about coward and defend the Constitution. By the way what exactly YOUR values? Lot of people B.S. about values (famility values, Christian values, Constitutional values, middle classes values....blah blah blah). All those values stack up and smell like sh*ts in a dirty toilet.
Sounds like you have serious issues there Anon. Values are too many to mention and with the crap that comes out of your mouth that discussion would be moot. As far as his failure to defend the Constitution where should I start. He has agreed to multiple alliances with islamic extremist countries (Iran, Syria, and Libya to name a few) Has said he will not deploy troops to protect interests around the world, Will raise taxes and try to make the wealthy pay for the poor.
The above are only a couple of ways he will not defend the Constitution . But good news is he will be defeated before the primary is over.
Fabian,
A couple of things...
1) Do the math. Given the proportional nature of the Democratic primaries and Obama's current 100+ delegate lead, it is going to be very difficult for Hillary to overtake him. It's certainly not impossible -- but it's not very likely, either. If Obama wins Mississippi tonight, as most have expected, he'll actually have regained the delegate margin he lost on March 4th; in fact, he may end up increasing his lead over what it was going into March 4th.
2) I'm gong to say this with all due respect, because you've done nothing to me to cause disrespect...but you really need to listen.
When you say something like, "keeping the focus on Hussein as a #2" without even bothering to refer to Mr. Obama with neither his first OR last name, you are doing yourself a terrible disservice.
I understand if you have ideological (and other) differences with Mr. Obama, and I have no problem with that.
However, I do have to take exception with the language that I just quoted. It's inflammatory, it's disrespectful, it's deceitful, and it borders on being both xenophobic and racist.
I know that you can articulate your differences with Mr. Obama without stooping to such immaturity, so why did you stoop?
Mr. Obama is NOT a Muslim. And even if he were, not all Muslims are evil, extremist terrorists.
Fabian, if you want other people to listen to you, that's not a tactic that I would suggest using.
It's your right to say it, but honestly, I thought you were better than that.
Matt;
For years I have been doing this and have seen every tactic under the sun used against me and others. I used the hussein as a mark to someone in the Obama Camp. Secondly, I am well aware of the math - my lively hood depends on it as I am a political operative.
Hillary is going to win this primary and she knows it as well as Obama. Obama has his people working with Hillary trying to wrap up a VP spot. Matt I realize you have only what is in the media to go by but let me assure you there are many things going on behind the scenes.
Hillary has a lot of power and clout with super-delegates and will win the nomination with Barack as VP.
As far as my using his middle name I by no means used any type of racism and you are being pulled into a silly rancor about trying to shift focus.
Barack is not now a muslim but has shown he will create alliances with rogue extremist nations.
Let me close with this.
I have never been considered racist and never have judged a man based on color of skin but I have a right and an obligation as a voter and citizen to examine religious history, actions, votes, statements, and affiliations of any man or woman running for president.
Fabian,
Okay, I can respect that.
Regarding the election, I can't really argue your points. I'd like to think that the Democrats are smarter than that -- those sort of back-room deals aren't going to remain a secret forever, and my guess is that a Hillary nomination is going to hurt their party in the end, even if Obama is the VP.
Of course, I'm an idealist and am probably dealing in wishful thinking in keeping alive the idea that the people would actually be the ones to choose the Dem nominee, not a bunch of stuffed shirts.
As far as the "Hussein" thing goes...look, if you want to examine those things you listed, I'm all for that. My point is simply that referring to Mr. Obama as "Hussein" doesn't advance that goal -- in fact, I think it takes away from it.
And I'm not accusing you of being racist; I'm just warning you that the language walks that line, even if that wasn't the intent. And saying that I am trying to "shift focus" or that I'm "being pulled into a silly rancor" is disrespectful to me and doesn't shine well on you.
I, more than many people, want a real, honest debate about the Presidential candidates and our country. I want issues to be out there, for the REAL candidates to emerge and be vetted. I want what's best for our nation, regardless of what that may be.
But that debate has to be fair. It has to be honest. It has to be open-minded.
If you want to examine issues, then by all means, examine issues. But we don't refer to Hillary as "Rodham". We don't refer to President Bush as "Walker". We don't refer to President Kennedy as Fitzgerald. So why refer to Mr. Obama as "Hussein"? There must be very specific purposes for doing so, and they are not positive.
Examine the issues, but be respectful and refer to Mr. Obama as you would anyone else.
I do refer to the president as W but there is a history there.
As far as candidates go I have to say no to all three right now. All are going to bad for the country as I see it. Hillary and Obama will split the dem party if all of this rancor keeps up.
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