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Note to Obama: Call Hillary’s Bluff
By Bill | June 4, 2008 | Email This Post
Watching Hillary’s non-concession speech last night it became apparent that she’s holding out the not-so-subtle threat of a convention fight should Obama overlook her for a vice presidential slot. (Update: today, ABC news reinforces the point by reporting that “Clinton is exploring options to retain her delegates and promote her issues, including a signature call for universal health care.”) My advice: call her bluff.
The conversation should go something like this:
“Hil? Barack. Yes, fine, fine, how are you? Really? Bill? Chelsea? Great. Now, about this veep thing. I hear you’re interested? Yes, yes, your name has come up over here, too.
But here’s the thing that’s worrying me: I’m not sure I can work with you. Now, fighting the good fight is one thing, but you persisted long after you knew it was over and that you were damaging my general election effort. No, no hear me out. And then the speech after the last primary… it was anything but conciliatory, almost as if you’re willing to cause a ruckus if I don’t publicly offer you a spot. I’m afraid there’s too much water under the bridge, Hil. I hope we have a productive relationship with you in the senate, we can do a lot of good, but the VP spot is out.
Yes, yes, I’m sorry you feel that way, but that’s just the way it is. What do you mean, we’ll just have to go through the convention? Fine. Have it your way. Just between you and me: you just spent the last two years confirming everything the Republicans ever said about you - only now, Democrats are all saying the same stuff. People flat-out hate you, Hillary. Our party has tolerated you as long as they have because 1) it looked for a while like you were going to win, and 2) out of nostalgia for your husband’s administration. But you’ve played those cards. Fight me at the convention and you’ll be forever remembered as the bitter shrew that screwed up the biggest cakewalk election in American history. You’re out of allies, Hil.”
In short, Obama doesn’t need her. Moreover, I think selecting her would be pretty shortsighted; Hillary polarizes people in a way that will actually cost him votes.
I hear Joe Biden is on his short VP list. Now THERE is an interesting choice. The one knock on Obama is his foreign policy chops, and Biden could cover him on that.
Topics: Barack Obama, Democrats, Hillary Clinton |