Face-Off: Hillary Clinton, Vice President?
With the Democratic nomination all but sewn up, Barack Obama’s list of choices for vice president is not short - but one heavyweight’s name is generating the most buzz, by far: Hillary Rodham Clinton. In today’s Face-Off, Donkey Dish debates …
SHOULD HILLARY CLINTON BE BARACK OBAMA’S VICE PRESIDENT?
YES by woodywilson
Imagine if Coke and Pepsi combined to form one ultimate cola.
Would people care if these brands spent years making commercials mocking one another, attempting to convince consumers that each was the better product? Of course not. It’s just the nature of competition.
People would gladly stock their coolers with this super soda and, most important to this metaphor, RC Cola wouldn’t stand a chance.
Indeed, for all the talk about which candidate - Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton - is most electable in the general election against John McCain, the answer is neither. Or both. It’s the Democratic Party.
Never before has one one party had the odds stacked so strongly in its favor. The current Republican in office is the least popular president in history; the man hoping to succeed him has mirrored his words and policies for eight years.
Both Democrats, conversely, represent historic levels of change.
Instead of worrying that the addition of Clinton to his ticket would muddle his message of a new era in politics, Obama should focus on the bigger picture. He can take a page out of the Hillary playbook in order to do that:
The ends justify the means.
An Obama-Clinton dream team might disappoint Barack’s most loyal supporters, those that nod their heads in awe at the fresh perspective he brings to politics, but those backers will vote for him no matter what.
It’s the demographic Hillary Clinton is adept at capturing - lower income white voters and women over 50 - that Obama must win over.
The best way to do that? Solidify the party, openly embrace Clinton and her voters. As long as Hillary lets Barack answer the phone at 3 a.m., the combination of the nation’s two most beloved Democrats will put all electability arguments to rest.
NO by frankroosevelt
Calling Obama-Clinton the “dream ticket,” as many Democrats do, is quite appropriate. That’s the only place it’s ever going to happen.
There are many, many reasons this shouldn’t take place - the second-most popular Democrat lost for a reason; she blatantly questioned his ability to lead; she waged a very negative campaign at times; she’s a divisive figure who won’t help the ticket win swing states - but a single word says it all:
Bubba.
Is anyone surprised that Bill Clinton is quietly pushing to get Hillary on the ticket as vice president? And does anyone possibly believe this would not cause interminable problems for a Barack Obama administration?
Just ask Boston Mayor Tom Menino, a staunch Clinton supporter:
“If she got back into the White House, she’d bring along Big Daddy, and he would overshadow the president,” he mumbled in an interview.
Why would Obama possibly carry the Clintons’ baggage? It’s his vision of change that has brought him to the brink of his party’s nomination. Being accountable for 16 years of Clinton strife is too much.
It makes much more sense to have a fresh face - even if it’s an older one - serving as vice president who doesn’t foster rage in much of America.
An Obama presidency won’t happen without a least some independent and GOP support, and Clinton being on the ticket makes that an uphill battle.
What do you think about a Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton ticket?
NATIONAL
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
If Obama doesn’t want to nominate Clinton as VP, why doesn’t he nominate a stand in, and say he will have the stand in run for VP who will resign once he becomes President, and appoint a commission of Democrats, Republicans, and independents to make suggestions. The commission could hold hearing on C-Span, and once the commission makes their suggestions the House of Representatives could hold a run off vote of the two top vote getters. This way Clinton and the others can campaign out their hearts without hurt hearts for Obama hoping the commission will select them. Also those running for congress can hear from their voters who they want as VP.
I have another suggestion that Obama could wait a few weeks after the Republican convention to see how he alone is doing in the polls and then decide if he needs Mrs. Clinton as VP to win. The polls, at that point, could reveal who helps him, who does nothing for him, or who hurts him.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
No way after yesterday Billary has to go and quick! This is the list Obama and his people compiled a few days back and it could have changed. I would like Edwards but besides him I find Hagel to be the most intriguing: Joe Biden - The Deleware Senator has been in Washington for a long time and although he has the experience to be vice president, his long tenure would play against Obama’s “change” mantra. In the long run, I believe Biden would be more useful to the next administration as a strong ally in the Senate.
Bob Casey - A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer made a strong pitch for the PA Senator to be Obama’s running mate - they explained that he would help lock up Pennsylvania in the Fall. However, even though Hillary Clinton won the Keystone State in the primaries, George W. Bush lost the state in 2000 and 2004 and I just don’t see the state falling into the hands of the Republicans in a year when the party is is facing more troubles than Amy Winehouse. I believe Casey will make the short list, but I don’t think he’ll make it to the finals.
Hillary Clinton - There are a lot of Democrats out there who are aching for a unity ticket - some are calling it the dream ticket - but I just don’t see Obama choosing his main rival for the nomination unless pressured by the party as a way to get her to drop out of the race, which is a strong possibility.
Tom Daschle - The former South Dakota Senator is on the team doing the running mate search and some say his own name is on it - sound familiar? It should, Dick Cheney was in charge of finding Dubya a running mate. Actually, Daschle would be a good VP, but like Biden and others on the list, he runs counter to the “change” mantra.
Chris Dodd - another long-time name in Washington, but unlike the others, the Connecticut Senator has always remained a vibrant force for change in the way things are done inside the Beltway. I think Dodd could make it to the final four and perhaps the final two.
John Edwards - Another name people are bandying around as half of a dream ticket, but I don’t believe the former North Carolina senator is interested in running for the number two spot for a second straight time. He wants to be number one and if he has to wait until 2012 or 2016, so be it. Besides, I believe Obama has Edwards in mind to be the next Attorney General.
Chuck Hagel - An interesting choice. A maverick Republican as part of the Democratic ticket. The Nebraska Senator could bring an interesting nuance to the race. Although he has split from his party on the question of Iraq, he remains a staunch fiscal and social conservative. Although his name would bring some moderates, Republicans and independents to the ticket, it would probably turn a lot of Democrats off.
Tim Kaine - While the Virginia Governor could guarantee the Old Dominion in the Fall, I have read that Kaine has already been chopped off the short list.
Janet Napolitano - One of the first women in the country to back Obama, the Arizona Governor may be too bland to go on the ticket and I believe another female Governor has the edge over Napolitano.
Sam Nunn - The former Georgia Senator suffers from inside-itis. His time in Washington precludes him from the list and like Tim Kaine, I have read that his name has already been stricken from the list.
Bill Richardson - I like the New Mexico Governor a lot. I think he would make a wonderful Vice President, but his is the third name I have read has been cut from the list. I believe Obama has Richardson in mind as Secretary of State.
Tim Roemer - the former Indiana Congressman has been seen with Sen. Obama during several campaign stops in the Hoosier State, but I don’t believe his name carries nearly enough clout to help in the Fall. Not even close to making it to the finals.
Kathleen Sebelius - This is the female Governor I was referring to earlier. I believe she might actually help bring a red state into strong play (her state of Kansas) and if I was a betting man, I would put my money on Sebelius actually making the final cut. It may come down to Obama choosing between her and Dodd. In the long run, Connecticut will already be in Obama’s column and Kansas would be a big prize!
Ted Strickland - If there was anyone who could come close to making it up there with Dodd and Sebelius, it might be the Ohio Governor. With the way Ohio went in the previous two presidential contests and with Obama’s problems with the White working class, Strickland could prove crucial in getting Obama into the White House.
Jim Webb - Another Virginian on the list, the first term Senator could bring help to Obama with veterans groups, but he may be considered too inexperienced by some - although not by me.