With Obama reeling, Clintons not motivated to assist

[Lauri]

With Obama reeling, Clintons not motivated to assist
posted at 10:30 am on September 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

Send to a Friend | printer-friendly The Clintons would appear to give Barack Obama everything he needs in surrogates — experience, a natural constituency, and in Hillary a strong female presence to counteract Sarah Palin.  Thus far, though, the Clintons have remained on the sidelines, with Hillary expressly declining opportunities to attack Palin.  This disconnect comes from unhealed divisions from the primaries, ironically in the same vein as the recent Palin meltdown for Team Obama, and is unlikely to be resolved soon:

With the McCain campaign running tactical circles every day around the Obama outfit—which has failed, somewhat unbelievably, to come up with even a semi-compelling response to the Palin selection—one might think Mrs. Clinton, to say nothing of her sidelined husband, would be a useful surrogate on the counterattack right about now. Apparently, the Obama campaign does not agree.

“My concern is that I see them as totally reactive right now as opposed to getting out there on their own and saying what the hell they are about,” said Leon Panetta, a former chief of staff to Bill Clinton who has advised Mr. Obama. “They seem to be intimidated by the Palin pick. They seem to be intimidated by how the Republicans are coming at them on change. And you cannot win if you are constantly on defense.”
Mr. Panetta added, “As president of the United States you are going to have to learn how to deal with people you may not particularly like, because if you are trying to get things done, you have got to use everything and everybody that you can to get it done. I do think that they absolutely in this race have got to make use of the Clintons in every possible way, because they need them. He has clearly got some problems out there.”

That’s the catch-22 for the Obama campaign.  As much as he’d like to get a rescue from his present catastrophic nosedive, Obama knows that he can’t ask it of Hillary Clinton.  To publicly acknowledge her as his last, desperate hope would be to admit that he shouldn’t have won the primaries in the first place, and that the superdelegates made a huge mistake in selecting him over Hillary.  Also, it would look like the ultimate hypocrisy to demand that Hillary become his attack dog after ignoring her for the position of running mate.

Joe Biden has the job of attack dog, anyway.  That supposedly was one of the reasons Obama picked him — because Biden would fight where Obama wanted to rise above the fray.  So far, Biden’s made an absolute mess of it, insinuating yesterday that Palin didn’t really love her infant son because she didn’t back embryonic stem-cell research, without actually finding out what her position was first.

And why would Hillary feel like lending a hand?  Jason Horowitz sums up the problem succinctly:
Either way, the fact that it has taken so long for this discussion about the Clintons’ role to occur—while polls show a sharp shift in support toward the Republican ticket—is a source of wonderment in Clintonland. The consensus there, based on conversations with present and former Clinton advisers, is that the Obama campaign has isolated itself both as a result of its desire to break with the Clintons and establish itself as the future of the Democratic Party, and out of primary-victory-inspired hubris.

Obama wanted nothing to do with the Clintons.  He fought against them and beat them in the primaries, although only with the Deus ex Machina effect of the superdelegates.  Obama made it clear that they were the past, and he was the party’s future.  In fact, when pushing back against the perception that Democrats were weak on defense in his acceptance speech, Obama pointedly ignored Bill Clinton when listing strong Democratic presidents from the past.  That was less than two weeks ago, and the Clintons remember slights for years.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/10/with-obama-reeling-clintons-not-motivated-to-assist/


I think we are witnessing the snatching of defeat from victory 

[Wretched Excess]

you think he wishes that he had a "do-over" on his VP pick now?

[Lauri]

you think he wishes that he had a "do-over" on his VP pick now?

I think he wishes there was at least one other powerful woman in his party he could have chosen instead.

he's sunk at this point.. and i cant believe how much airplay this 'lipstick/pig' stuff is getting! i am SO sick of hearing about it now.. move on guys!

and Biden.. good Lord, how much worse could this guy be???

[Lord Undies]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down.  

[Wretched Excess]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down. 

I don't think she wanted it, but I don't see how she could have turned it down without making it obvious that she secretly wants The BarackStar! to lose.  the pressure to do what was best for the party was intense during that ridiculous two week "obama veep watch".  I think she would have had no choice other than to accept.

we all have theories, though, of course.

[thundley4]

I think there were under the table talks between the Obama and Hillary camps, and it was decided to not make a public offer to her.

[Lord Undies]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down.  

One must consider Clinton's other concern.  If Barry Hussein/Oak Ankles Clinton, by some miracle, wins - it's over in 2012.  That means Hillary Clinton will be over in 2012.  No White House.  No Senate.  No dreams.  No future.

I say Hillary Clinton wasn't and isn't a consideration on the ticket.  She would be a tremendous burden for the ticket, and would really fly in the face of "change".    Obama would be Clinton's albatross, too.

I truly think Joe Biden was the only democrat willing to hitch his wagon to the fading StarBarak.  Biden had nothing to lose, and it would be terribly embarrassing for the party if they could not find a running mate at all. 

[Splashdown]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down.  

One must consider Clinton's other concern.  If Barry Hussein/Oak Ankles Clinton, by some miracle, wins - it's over in 2012.  That means Hillary Clinton will be over in 2012.  No White House.  No Senate.  No dreams.  No future.

I say Hillary Clinton wasn't and isn't a consideration on the ticket.  She would be a tremendous burden for the ticket, and would really fly in the face of "change".    Obama would be Clinton's albatross, too.

I truly think Joe Biden was the only democrat willing to hitch his wagon to the fading StarBarak.  Biden had nothing to lose, and it would be terribly embarrassing for the party if they could not find a running mate at all. 

I happen to think it WAS offered to her and she turned it down for exactly the reasons you've stated.

[Hawkgirl]

Clinton has started strategizing for her 2012 run...and already collecting info on her opponent,  Sarah Palin.

We'll have a female president in 2012 either way...

[USA4ME]

All these problems in the Obamassiah campaign are happening with the Clintonistas just sitting on the sideline doing nothing.  I have no doubt that if the need arises they have info on the Obamassiah to release.  This is making its way to being a major shove in the face of the Dem party from Billary, an "I told you so" of very large proportions.

.

[Lauri]

All these problems in the Obamassiah campaign are happening with the Clintonistas just sitting on the sideline doing nothing.  I have no doubt that if the need arises they have info on the Obamassiah to release.  This is making its way to being a major shove in the face of the Dem party from Billary, an "I told you so" of very large proportions.

.

oh you know it... Bill Clinton will be all over the news on November 5th wagging that finger of his at his party.

[Zeus]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down.  

I Disagree. After Obama got the nomination the VP slot was Hillary's last chance at the ascending to the Presidency,she would have accepted it. Obama didn't pick Hillary for VP for pride & egotistical reasons. He also didn't want a Hillary VP to be seen as a comparison of Hillary is to Obama as Cheney was to Bush.

[Lauri]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down.  

I Disagree. After Obama got the nomination the VP slot was Hillary's last chance at the ascending to the Presidency,she would have accepted it. Obama didn't pick Hillary for VP for pride & egotistical reasons. He also didn't want a Hillary VP to be seen as a comparison of Hillary is to Obama as Cheney was to Bush.

oh no, its not Hilary's last chance at all.. she will come roaring back in two years to start this all over again.

she has enough pissed off people still pulling for her, especially after it looks like Obama never considered her for VP. whether he did or not, or whether she asked not to be chosen or not, that's how it looks to her supporters.

she is in her early 60s, plenty of opportunities to try it again.. although I guess Obama could run again as well, but Hilary will be more abusive next time and Obama still wont have any experiences to draw from.

[Wretched Excess]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down. 

One must consider Clinton's other concern.  If Barry Hussein/Oak Ankles Clinton, by some miracle, wins - it's over in 2012.  That means Hillary Clinton will be over in 2012.  No White House.  No Senate.  No dreams.  No future.

I say Hillary Clinton wasn't and isn't a consideration on the ticket.  She would be a tremendous burden for the ticket, and would really fly in the face of "change".    Obama would be Clinton's albatross, too.

I truly think Joe Biden was the only democrat willing to hitch his wagon to the fading StarBarak.  Biden had nothing to lose, and it would be terribly embarrassing for the party if they could not find a running mate at all. 

we talked the 2012 angle into the ground during the primaries.  while her career would have been essentially over if she had been elected vice president, it would have also been over if she had turned down the offer.  she would have been a pariah within the party if she declined, and then The BarackStar! lost.  it would have gone down as hillary's fault, and her motivation was her own self interest.

so, either way, she loses. 

and biden blows away The BarackStar!'s change argument even worse than hillary would have.

[Wretched Excess]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down. 

I Disagree. After Obama got the nomination the VP slot was Hillary's last chance at the ascending to the Presidency,she would have accepted it. Obama didn't pick Hillary for VP for pride & egotistical reasons. He also didn't want a Hillary VP to be seen as a comparison of Hillary is to Obama as Cheney was to Bush.

he didn't pick because he didn't think he could trust her, he knew that he couldn't trust her husband, and because The MichelleStar! wouldn't let him.

[Wretched Excess]

Clinton has started strategizing for her 2012 run...and already collecting info on her opponent,  Sarah Palin.

We'll have a female president in 2012 either way...

it's hardly comforting when you put it that way.

[Wretched Excess]

No one ever mentions this aspect, but I will.  I don't think Hillary Clinton would have accepted the VP slot even if it was offered.  It is not in her best interest, so it was out of the question.  I figure the Obama camp knews this, so the offer was not extended.  It is better that Clinton didn't have the chance to turn it down. 

One must consider Clinton's other concern.  If Barry Hussein/Oak Ankles Clinton, by some miracle, wins - it's over in 2012.  That means Hillary Clinton will be over in 2012.  No White House.  No Senate.  No dreams.  No future.

I say Hillary Clinton wasn't and isn't a consideration on the ticket.  She would be a tremendous burden for the ticket, and would really fly in the face of "change".    Obama would be Clinton's albatross, too.

I truly think Joe Biden was the only democrat willing to hitch his wagon to the fading StarBarak.  Biden had nothing to lose, and it would be terribly embarrassing for the party if they could not find a running mate at all. 

I happen to think it WAS offered to her and she turned it down for exactly the reasons you've stated.

we all have our theories, but I think she just didn't get the offer.

[Zeus]

he didn't pick because he didn't think he could trust her, he knew that he couldn't trust her husband, and because The MichelleStar! wouldn't let him.

There is quite a bit of evidence floating around out there to support the claim Mo has no love lost when it comes to Hillary.I also think Baracks own people looking to preserve their presence & jobs in the campaign didn't push or may even have poo pooed the Idea of a Hillary VP. It doesn't take much of an imagination to envision the Clinton machine moving in & basically taking over the campaign.

Hillary may not be done running but her chances of ever being elected are greatly diminished after this go around. To much of the Hillary myth & mystic has been exposed and a substancial part of the Democrat party is weary of the Clintons. The Moonbats aren't in charge of the Democrat party just yet.

[Wretched Excess]

he didn't pick because he didn't think he could trust her, he knew that he couldn't trust her husband, and because The MichelleStar! wouldn't let him.

There is quite a bit of evidence floating around out there to support the claim Mo has no love lost when it comes to Hillary.I also think Baracks own people looking to preserve their presence & jobs in the campaign didn't push or may even have poo pooed the Idea of a Hillary VP. It doesn't take much of an imagination to envision the Clinton machine moving in & basically taking over the campaign.

Hillary may not be done running but her chances of ever being elected are greatly diminished after this go around. To much of the Hillary myth & mystic has been exposed and a substancial part of the Democrat party is weary of the Clintons. The Moonbats aren't in charge of the Democrat party just yet.

I think that if she had run the first half of her campaign like the second half, she would have won the nomination.  she had this bizarre "big state" strategy that presumed a field of weak candidates.  The BarackStar! blew that to pieces, and she couldn't grab the reins in time to turn her ship around.

but, as I said, we all have our theories.

[Zeus]

I think that if she had run the first half of her campaign like the second half, she would have won the nomination.  she had this bizarre "big state" strategy that presumed a field of weak candidates.  The BarackStar! blew that to pieces, and she couldn't grab the reins in time to turn her ship around.

but, as I said, we all have our theories.

Yea she made the mistake of trying to ride on her own myths & fables. She wasn't the only one that thought she was a slam dunk for the nomination.