Is Barack Obama priming Hillary Clinton for healthcare reform role?

Early on in his speech last night claiming the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama offered praise for Hillary Clinton, which can be viewed as either a gracious or cynical overture to her angry supporters (many of whom have commented here).

But Obama also mentioned something that almost sounded like an offer. He said: "You can rest assured that when we finally win the battle for universal healthcare in this country, and we will win that fight, she will be central to that victory."

Of course, Clinton's history with healthcare reform has not exactly been successful. But Obama's careful wording -- and he is usually very careful in his wording in prepared speeches -- left the impression that he's considering asking Clinton to play a lead role in healthcare reform. Or maybe just be the anchor point in the Senate. Of course, that would be moot if John McCain wins in the fall, but given how much the issue means to Clinton, letting her steer the fight on that issue could be Obama's answer to a  pressing question: What to do about Clinton?

And that's the kind of role Clinton could also play as a vice president, much like Bill Clinton assigned Al Gore to streamline the federal bureaucracy.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Vince]

Hillary Clinton will break this country one way or the other with her universal healthcare plan. She's damned and determined to do it.

[Start Loving]

Anyone that has led an organization should see that Billary has totally disqualified herhimself from EVERY ROLE in the Obama administration through repeated attempts to strongarm/endrun the boss. Get her out of there!!! Get bILL out of there!!!

[Start Loving]

Anyone that has led an organization should see that Billary has totally disqualified herhimself from EVERY ROLE in the Obama administration through repeated attempts to strongarm/endrun the boss. Get her out of there!!! Get bILL out of there!!!

[Adam S]

HIllary already failed once at Health Reform due to the same mishandeling that led her to vote for the war and caused her to lose the primary election. She lacks the ability to develop and manage resourses that provide the critical intelligence to promote effective decision making. Failures can be blamed on those below you but in my book it begins at the top.

[Joe]

I certainly hope that Mr Obama gives Mrs Clinton a lead role in HealthCare reform. That is an area which she will bring what "change" is needed, and frankly was much stronger than he has been.

[toby]

"The Problem with GM is that it ceased to be a Auto Maker and is now a Health Care Provider"
Hillary Clinton

No truer words were said.

[Jeff]

Hillary was shown the door and needs to leave. Bill has turned into a complete sociopath, both have lost their way... or maybe that happened years ago. I think a mysoginist and a cynical liar need to be kept out of any public office. Thank the Dems again for putting another prime candidate up for the presidential election, an unabashed socialist.

[Angela]

God save us if Hillary has any major role in America!! keep her in New York!

[RACIST MEDIA]

ATTN: MEDIA, You people are responsible for all the racism and HATE that persists in this country. Americans only THINK what you tell them to think, most only know exactly what the MEDIA tells them about a candidate, and r/t Obama, it's NEGATIVE stuff every single day. Media, you are the cause of ALL the world's problems and that is so darn sad!!!!!!!!!

[david blailock]

I can only hope that Barack is being polite and further emphasize that Hillary should continue her support from her position in the Senate.

Hillary R. Clinton would be a negative choice as Vice President. Her presidential campaign has been a constant attack toward Barack Obama at every turn; even to the point of comparing him as a lesser candidate than John McCain. I cannot trust her on the same ticket with Barack nor any appointment to the Whitehouse.

This new presidency needs to break away from current policies, which has polluted and distorted the principals of freedom and democracy, and lead our nation toward a more sound declaration to support and defend our constitution. I believe Barack can do this, but I hold no faith in Hillary.

The trust voters have toward Barack could waver should he recommend her as any political appointment or running mate. This risk is not worth the few wavering strong-arm followers of Hillary.

[San Diego]

No. Enough. She has the opportunity to grow in the Senate (asuming that New Yorkers continue to re-elect her). She had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make changes in healthcare and blew it big time. We need someone who can lay their ego aside and work to build consensus on this critical issue.

I wish that she would do the gracious thing and congratulate Obama and move to support him in every way possilbe, but then that's not what they do. So disappointing, but not surprising.

[Houston, TX]

ATTN: David Blailock, your post hit the nail on the head, for Obama to take HRC as vice president, would be to defeat the sole purpose of him running to bring a different approach to Washington, in the first place.

If the MEDIA would stop UNDER-HANDEDLY trying to destroy this man, he'd win easily. Who keeps pushing Jeremiah down our throats, the MEDIA, not Hillary Clinton!

[Bruce P]

If Obama caves in to Clinton's bullying demand for the VP slot, no one will ever believe his claim that he can negotiate with Putin or Ahmadinejad without giving away the store.

[DE ELLIS]

I hope both Obama and Clinton remember that health insurance is not health care. If you love auto insurance in California, just wait until you get forced health insurance.

[DE Ellis]

PS: Terry McAuliffe should not call himself a Democrat. He's done nothing but hurt the pary.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Senator Clinton could help Barack implement his heath care plan as senator of New York.

[gc]

You Clinton bashers just might be sorry if Obama loses in November. He needs every vote he can get and you're not going to get talking like you are. It's about the big picture-winning in November. Don't let your petty feelings blind you.

BTW, Hillary failed at healthcare only because the right demonized her plan. The plan didn't fail-it never was implemented.

[George]

Hillary Clinton says she will "fight" for health care. But health care is not a fight, it is a puzzle. Handle it badly, and you don't solve anything, or you destroy the economy. Handle it well, and you rescue American free enterprise. Nixon went to China. Republicans would be smart to address this issue, because any solution they come up with will be better than the result of any "fight."

[Jon]

Health care is the major issue facing Americans now. All of you who seek to deny this basic right and allow the corporations to control this are really killing America. You should only know what it is like to have a life-threatening disease and have to keep your job at the sake of doing further damage to your health just to be able to see a doctor and be able t pay for medication to keep you alive. I truly wish none of you have to be going through what my wife is. If you did maybe you would see with less selfish eyes.

[Martin]

I do not understand all of this contempt towards Hillary! She is right up there with Obama on sincerely confronting what our country needs. I only hope now that the 2008 dream team of Obama-Clinton goes forward now. Together.

[Tom]

Hillary's first attempt at healthcare reform was a failure because she lacked the knowledge of how the system works, what's really wrong and how it could be fixed. I suspect that neither side will be able to solve the problem with a quick fix as there is none. Fixing the system will take more than a few politicos and insurance co. exec's plotting behind closed doors. Be warned that this will be only one of many things rammed down our throats if the dems win in Nov. and watch your pay stub - it will shrink as taxes to pay for all these programs rockets to record levels. Remeber the Republicans may have bad ideas but the Dems have no ideas so they make the bad ones worse.