Democrat Barack Obama ridiculed the idea of being Hillary Rodham Clinton's running mate Monday, saying voters must choose between the two for the top spot.
The Illinois senator used his first public appearance of the week to knock down the notion that he might accept the party's vice presidential spot on the fall ticket. He noted that he has won more states, votes and delegates than Clinton so far.
"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, Miss.
Saying he wanted to be "absolutely clear," he added: "I don't want anybody here thinking that 'Somehow maybe I can get both'" by nominating Clinton as president and assuming he would be her running mate. "You have to make a choice in this election," he said.
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."
Obama had never suggested he might accept a second spot on the ticket. But until Monday he had not ridiculed the notion so directly, even if he did completely rule it out in Shermanesque terms.
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.
Mississippi holds it primary Tuesday, the last contest before the Pennsylvania primary six weeks from now.
Clinton and her husband, the former president, had suggested recently that a Clinton-Obama ticket would be popular and formidable against Republican Sen. John McCain in November.
Many political activists discounted the notion all along. They noted that the two senators lack a warm relationship and, more important, that Obama would be ill-served by hinting he might accept the vice presidential slot when he holds the lead in delegates and hopes to win the presidential nomination.
In the latest Associated Press count, Obama leads Clinton, 1,578-1,472. He has won 28 contests to her 17.
Moreover, many insiders feel the ambitious and fast-rising Obama would chafe in the vice president's job, especially in a White House where Bill Clinton would almost surely play a huge advisory role.
Still, the notion of a Clinton-Obama ticket has received ample discussion in recent days on cable TV news shows and newspapers such as New York City's tabloids.
In an interview Friday in Wyoming with KTVQ-TV, a CBS affiliate based in Billings, Mont., Obama's comments were somewhat mixed.
"Well, you know, I think it's premature," he said of accepting the second spot on the ticket. "You won't see me as a vice presidential candidate."
His Monday remarks were more detailed, pointed and humorous.
Of course, they will not completely end the speculation. Presidential candidates routinely disavow any interest in the vice presidential spot. But some, including John Edwards and Al Gore, change their minds when they fall short of their top goal.
whomod said: I generally don't like it when people decide to play by the rules against people who don't play by the rules. It tends to put you immediately at a disadvantage and IMO is a sign of true weakness. This is true both in politics and on the internet."
I agree that he isn't good enough; but what this is really saying is that somehow Hillary is thinking that she can determine the outcome of the election by marginalizing him. What it's really looking like is that she's too stupid to realize that she's losing.
whomod said: I generally don't like it when people decide to play by the rules against people who don't play by the rules. It tends to put you immediately at a disadvantage and IMO is a sign of true weakness. This is true both in politics and on the internet."
The red phone ad seemed to hurt Obama alot. Hillary only raised the question of who would you rather have answer it. The GOP won't be asking, they'll be answering.
The interesting thing about Hillary's attacks on Obama in this regard is that she is alternately hinting or coming right out and saying that McCain is more qualified to be President than Obama.
I hope her party appreciates that when the GOP picks up on that theme if Obama gets the nomination.
Resignation Would Cost Spitzer Superdelegate Status: Should Spitzer resign he would lose his superdelegate status. Spitzer is in Clinton's corner on our endorsement list. He would be replaced by Lt. Governor David Paterson who is already a superdelegate and Clinton endorser.
The red phone ad seemed to hurt Obama alot. Hillary only raised the question of who would you rather have answer it. The GOP won't be asking, they'll be answering.
The interesting thing about Hillary's attacks on Obama in this regard is that she is alternately hinting or coming right out and saying that McCain is more qualified to be President than Obama.
I hope her party appreciates that when the GOP picks up on that theme if Obama gets the nomination.
Wasn't it a given that the GOP would pursue that theme reguardless? A candidate's record has always been fair game for opponents. Obama himself has no problem when he attacks Hillary on her record. It's just strikes me as strange that Hillary is supposed to not go after his lack of one. It just then passes on to McCain to take advantage of.
This is hysterical. It's not quite the story of a potential Commander-in-Chief in action, which is Hillary Clinton's version. Mary Ann Akers, The Sleuth at the Washington Post, has an interview with Sinbad:
Quote:
Sinbad, along with singer Sheryl Crow, was on that 1996 trip to Bosnia that Clinton has described as a harrowing international experience that makes her tested and ready to answer a 3 a.m. phone call at the White House on day one, a claim for which she's taking much grief on the campaign trail.
Harrowing? Not that Sinbad recalls. He just remembers it being a USO tour to buck up the troops amid a much worse situation than he had imagined between the Bosnians and Serbs.
In an interview with the Sleuth Monday, he said the "scariest" part of the trip was wondering where he'd eat next. "I think the only 'red-phone' moment was: 'Do we eat here or at the next place.'"
Clinton, during a late December campaign appearance in Iowa, described a hair-raising corkscrew landing in war-torn Bosnia, a trip she took with her then-teenage daughter, Chelsea. "They said there might be sniper fire," Clinton said.
Threat of bullets? Sinbad doesn't remember that, either.
"I never felt that I was in a dangerous position. I never felt being in a sense of peril, or 'Oh, God, I hope I'm going to be OK when I get out of this helicopter or when I get out of his tank.'"
In her Iowa stump speech, Clinton also said, "We used to say in the White House that if a place is too dangerous, too small or too poor, send the First Lady."
Say what? As Sinbad put it: "What kind of president would say, 'Hey, man, I can't go 'cause I might get shot so I'm going to send my wife...oh, and take a guitar player and a comedian with you.'"
the sad thing is that sinbad wouldn't even make a decent bodyguard. as soon as shit starts going down someone will just kick him in the nuts and he's down for the count.
Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday she disagrees with Geraldine Ferraro, one of her fundraisers and the 1984 Democratic vice presidential candidate, for saying that Barack Obama "would not be in this position" if he were white instead of black. ADVERTISEMENT
In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Clinton said she regretted Ferraro's remarks. The Obama campaign has called on the New York senator to denounce the comments and remove Ferraro from her unpaid position with the campaign.
Last week, Ferraro told the Daily Breeze of Torrance, Calif.: "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."
She also faulted a "very sexist media" in the historic race between a man bidding to be the first black president and a former first lady seeking to become the first female president.
In the AP interview, Clinton said, "I do not agree with that," and later added, "It's regrettable that any of our supporters — on both sides, because we both have this experience — say things that kind of veer off into the personal."
"We ought to keep this on the issues. There are differences between us" on approaches to issues such as health care and energy.
Ferraro is a former New York congresswoman and was Walter Mondale's running mate when he was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984. She has endorsed Clinton and raised money for her campaign.
Obama called Ferraro's comments "patently absurd."
"I don't think Geraldine Ferraro's comments have any place in our politics or in the Democratic Party. They are divisive. I think anybody who understands the history of this country knows they are patently absurd," he told the Allentown Morning Call.
Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said Ferraro should be removed from her position with the Clinton campaign because of her comments.
"The bottom line is this, when you wink and nod at offensive statements, you're really sending a signal to your supporters that anything goes," Axelrod said in a conference call with reporters.
A defiant Ferraro dismissed the criticism in an interview with Fox News.
"I have to tell you that what I find is offensive is that everytime somebody says something about the campaign, you're accused of being racist."
She also said she was the vice presidential nominee 24 years ago because of her sex, saying if her name was "Gerard Ferraro" she wouldn't have been on the ballot.
The AP interview followed Clinton's appearance before an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,500 in the state capital.
On other subjects, Clinton described Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, as a tough adversary on national security but stopped short of saying McCain is better qualified than Obama to be commander in chief.
"I don't want to use those words. I think that voters will have to make that decision," she said.
Clinton said her eight years as first lady and seven years in the Senate give her the credentials to stand "toe to toe" against McCain in the general election.
"I think Senator McCain will do everything in his power as a candidate to make national security central to the fall election, so we'd better be prepared as Democrats to match that," she said.
Asked what foreign policy crisis had tested her and showed she possesses the skills to be commander in chief, she cited her advocacy for the peace process in Northern Ireland and her speech at the 1995 U.S. Conference on Women in Beijing defending human rights.
"To this day, I will have people stop me or come to see me who talk about that speech and what it meant to them and how it set sort of a framework for American foreign policy," she said.
Former officials in her husband's administration who were active in foreign policy have said Clinton is taking credit for accomplishing more than some recall during those years.
Clinton declined to say whether she would accept an invitation to be Obama's running mate if he becomes the nominee. She recently hinted that she might welcome him as her running mate if she wins, but Obama ridiculed the idea.
"I'm not ruling anything in or out because I'm focused on winning the nomination," she said.
At the rally, Clinton said she has significant differences with Obama on key issues.
"Today my opponent is here in Pennsylvania talking about energy policy — I think specifically about wind energy — and that's great. Except in 2005, when we had a chance to say 'no' to Dick Cheney and his energy bill, my opponent said yes and voted for it," Clinton said to boos.
"All those tax subsidies and giveaways that have been used by the oil companies and others to retard the development of clean renewable energy ... I said no, and he said yes," she said.
She also criticized President Bush, who was photographed holding the hand of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah during a visit to Bush's ranch in Texas three years ago. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest exporter of oil.
"As your president, you will not see me holding hands with the Saudis," she said to cheers.
there's no way Hilary get's my vote now, she's as bold faced liar as Bill. everyone even whomod knows Obama doesnt get this far if he's white.
While I agree with what Ferraro said, she really hurt her own candidate by saying it. This just gave Obama a nice little race card that I think he'll have no problem playing over & over.
Last edited by Matter-eater Man; 2008-03-121:42 AM.
While I agree with what Ferraro said, she really hurt her own candidate by saying it. This just gave Obama a nice little race card that I think he'll have no problem playing over & over.
what she said was in effect racist. She completely discounted his credentials, which he does have in an attempt to tokenize him. I really hope you're just endorsing that just because it's anti the opposition candidate.
she didnt discount his credentials, if he didnt have the large black turnout clinton would be in the lead, every time someone is a realist you cannot lable them racist.
A) Nowhere near as many blacks would have voted for Hillary had her last name not been Clinton.
B) Nowhere near as many liberals of any other race would have voted for Hillary had her last name not been Clinton.
C) There are a lot of people who, though they won't necessarily say it, would not and will not vote for Obama because he's black and because of his name.
D) It disregards the idea that, perhaps, the black people who are voting for Obama are doing so not for his race, but because he has satisfactorily addressed issues we individually deem important.
The remark reeks of old time, "the only reason you ever made it is because you're black" racism, the kind that assumes that black people don't have the credentials. It's sickening, and if the tables had been turned, if women had come out in droves to vote for Hillary and one of Obama's people had said something similar about her, you best believe this woman would cry sexism.
A) Nowhere near as many blacks would have voted for Hillary had her last name not been Clinton.
B) Nowhere near as many liberals of any other race would have voted for Hillary had her last name not been Clinton.
C) There are a lot of people who, though they won't necessarily say it, would not and will not vote for Obama because he's black and because of his name.
D) It disregards the idea that, perhaps, the black people who are voting for Obama are doing so not for his race, but because he has satisfactorily addressed issues we individually deem important.
The remark reeks of old time, "the only reason you ever made it is because you're black" racism, the kind that assumes that black people don't have the credentials. It's sickening, and if the tables had been turned, if women had come out in droves to vote for Hillary and one of Obama's people had said something similar about her, you best believe this woman would cry sexism.
It's not taboo for the media to be sexist though. Folks like Chris Mathews can say Hillary Clinton is only where she's at because her last name is Clinton. Nor do I think that if she spent most of her first incomplete senate term running for President she would be have gotten as far as she has.
...sexist...Folks like Chris Mathews can say Hillary Clinton is only where she's at because her last name is Clinton.
Well, it's true that she's where she is beacause of her last name.
However, it has nothing to do with sexism or her gender.
How many other people could move into a state a few weeks before an election and get elected to the U.S. Senate? You pretty HAVE to be a celebrity and/or part of a famous political family (see, eg, Bobby Kennedy). In fact, the Kennedys have made something of a cottage industry of moving into other states to run for political office on their name. In this regard, they aren't particularly different from the Bush family I might add.
Does this mean any of these people (Clinton, Kennedy, Bush) are wholly unqualified for political office? No. But at the same time, being part of a famous family gives them the leg up to get elected in situations where someone else wouldn't have even gotten nominated.
A) Nowhere near as many blacks would have voted for Hillary had her last name not been Clinton.
B) Nowhere near as many liberals of any other race would have voted for Hillary had her last name not been Clinton.
this is absolutely true, see you can say the truth. but if you a person says the truth about Obama, they're racist. It's just such a double standard. Everyone knows he's where he is because he's black, everyone knows Hilary is where she is because she married Bill. Yet you dont feel sexist for saying it, why should someone feel racist for saying the truth about Obama?
But MEM did, in fact, accuse someone who said that about Hillary of being sexist. Which leads me to believe that some people would, in fact, feel sexist saying the truth about Hillary.
C) There are a lot of people who, though they won't necessarily say it, would not and will not vote for Obama because he's black and because of his name.
D) It disregards the idea that, perhaps, the black people who are voting for Obama are doing so not for his race, but because he has satisfactorily addressed issues we individually deem important.
The remark reeks of old time, "the only reason you ever made it is because you're black" racism, the kind that assumes that black people don't have the credentials. It's sickening, and if the tables had been turned, if women had come out in droves to vote for Hillary and one of Obama's people had said something similar about her, you best believe this woman would cry sexism.
Obama doesnt really have any credentials though, he is a mostly a blank canvas.
Would Hilary cry sexism? Very likely, the fact her campaign would be in the wrong doesnt make Obama's crying about the truth right.
Would Huckabee had even been a blip if he wasn't a former minister? Huckabee got most of the evangelical vote because he was a Baptist preacher, this was well covered, did that make people christian-phobic? Nope it's just a fact.
But MEM did, in fact, accuse someone who said that about Hillary of being sexist. Which leads me to believe that some people would, in fact, feel sexist saying the truth about Hillary.
...sexist...Folks like Chris Mathews can say Hillary Clinton is only where she's at because her last name is Clinton.
Well, it's true that she's where she is beacause of her last name.
However, it has nothing to do with sexism or her gender.
How many other people could move into a state a few weeks before an election and get elected to the U.S. Senate? You pretty HAVE to be a celebrity and/or part of a famous political family (see, eg, Bobby Kennedy). In fact, the Kennedys have made something of a cottage industry of moving into other states to run for political office on their name. In this regard, they aren't particularly different from the Bush family I might add.
Does this mean any of these people (Clinton, Kennedy, Bush) are wholly unqualified for political office? No. But at the same time, being part of a famous family gives them the leg up to get elected in situations where someone else wouldn't have even gotten nominated.
Hillary however was & has been part of the Clinton team. She's been there working all along campaigning for her husband & played an active role in the White House. She didn't just win the sperm lotto like Bush Jr. did. She was an integral part of making Clinton a politically bankable name.
right but if she hadnt married Bill, who hada miraculous run in his primary and went to the white house she most likely not be in the position she is in. she has done a lot more than obama with her capital, but it's not sexist to suggest she got where she is by marriage to bill, or racist to suggest that obama is where he's at becasue of his color.
let's face it hilary was widely endorsed by black leaders till it seemed obama had a chance to win the nomination, did her record change? nope. but the black guy stood a chance so they went with him.
Hillary however was & has been part of the Clinton team. She's been there working all along campaigning for her husband & played an active role in the White House...She was an integral part of making Clinton a politically bankable name.
Even if that were true, it doesn't change what I wrote one whit. Do you really think that, for example, DeeDee Myers, Janet Reno, Madeline Albright or any other Clinton advisor/staffer could have waltzed into a Senate seat from a state they didn't live in? Or are you now going to denigrate their roles and claim that they weren't intregral and active parts of his administration?
Hillary however was & has been part of the Clinton team. She's been there working all along campaigning for her husband & played an active role in the White House...She was an integral part of making Clinton a politically bankable name.
Even if that were true, it doesn't change what I wrote one whit. Do you really think that, for example, DeeDee Myers, Janet Reno, Madeline Albright or any other Clinton advisor/staffer could have waltzed into a Senate seat from a state they didn't live in? Or are you now going to denigrate their roles and claim that they weren't intregral and active parts of his administration?
And, also, BSAMS is right.
"Even if that were true" So you think it might not be true? Do you feel she was just around for the ride? This to me is you being vague because you know it is true.
BTW unlike the others, Hillary was right there at the beginning of her husband's carreer palying an active role all along. It doesn't denigrate these women to recognize a wife who has been very much a partner in her husband's political career.
Hillary has a decent political record, but not nearly that of Bill Richardson or Joe Biden. And let's face it Obama has no record, his basic stance is if we wish it it will happen.
Hillary however was & has been part of the Clinton team. She's been there working all along campaigning for her husband & played an active role in the White House...She was an integral part of making Clinton a politically bankable name.
Even if that were true, it doesn't change what I wrote one whit. Do you really think that, for example, DeeDee Myers, Janet Reno, Madeline Albright or any other Clinton advisor/staffer could have waltzed into a Senate seat from a state they didn't live in? Or are you now going to denigrate their roles and claim that they weren't intregral and active parts of his administration?
And, also, BSAMS is right.
Originally Posted By: Matter-eater Man
"Even if that were true" So you think it might not be true? Do you feel she was just around for the ride? This to me is you being vague because you know it is true.
As noted earlier, people are disputing her claims of influence on the WH foreign policy. Furthermore, as others, including Obama, have pointed out, Hillary can't have it both ways. She can't take all the credit for her husband's policies and then pretend she was just "along for the ride" when something is politically unpopular with the Democrat base, like NAFTA.
But we'll never agree on this so rather than derail the thread on a side issue, I simply pointed out that, even if you're right (and I don't think you are) it doesn't diminish my other points.
Quote:
unlike the others, Hillary was right there at the beginning of her husband's carreer palying an active role all along...very much a partner in her husband's political career.
That description is true of most political wives. You might as well tell us that Laura Bush should be running to replace Spitzer as NY Governor.
But, most importantly, the simple fact of the matter is that she wouldn't have any of that alleged influence or experience in the Clinton White House if she hadn't married Bill.
Actually Obama is trying to have it both ways reguarding Hillary's White House experience. If it's negative he holds her accountable, if it's positive it's downplayed. Understandable stratagy but it's part of the old politics he decries or at least used to.
Hillary's experience is hardly a derail but thanks for answering my question though.
The fact that the GOP are rooting for her is more than enough to convince me.
It's more a case of rooting for an extended battle than actual rooting for her IMHO. They'll have no problem rallying against Obama & corronating Michelle as the next Hillary.
The real question here hasn't been answered. Has Hillary rejected Geraldine Ferraro or just denounce her?
whomod said: I generally don't like it when people decide to play by the rules against people who don't play by the rules. It tends to put you immediately at a disadvantage and IMO is a sign of true weakness. This is true both in politics and on the internet."
Last night on Countdown, Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment was directed at Senator Hillary Clinton over her failure to immediately fire supporter and former member of her campaign finance committee, Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, after making inappropriate racial comments about Senator Barack Obama.
Quote:
Senator, as it has reached its apex in their tone-deaf, arrogant, and insensitive reaction to the remarks of Geraldine Ferraro… your own advisers are slowly killing your chances to become President.
Senator, their words, and your own, are now slowly killing the chances for any Democrat to become President.
In your tepid response to this Ferraro disaster, you may sincerely think you are disenthralling an enchanted media, and righting an unfair advance bestowed on Senator Obama.
You may think the matter has closed with Representative Ferraro’s bitter, almost threatening resignation.
But in fact, Senator, you are now campaigning, as if Barack Obama were the Democrat, and you… were the Republican.
