Feinstein and Rangel back an Obama-Clinton "dream ticket"

Hillary Clinton endorsed Barack Obama on Saturday, and now two of her most powerful supporters are endorsing her as the strongest candidate for vice president on the Democratic ticket.

In appearances on three of the Sunday talk shows, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York both urged the Illinois senator to make Clinton his #2.

Feinstein, of course, hosted the Obama-Clinton "secret" meeting Friday night. On ABC's "This Week," she put  her hopes for the Democratic ticket this way:

"I've looked at every other possible candidate. No one brings to a ticket what Hillary brings: 18 million people committed to where she's going. ... if you really want a winning ticket, this is it."

She reiterated her support for an Obama-Clinton ticket on CNN's "Late Edition":

"I think there are 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling that say, yes, do it. I think Hillary had something that is a bit unusual. She has a very committed woman constituency, female constituency right now. She has proved herself. She has grown in the campaign. She has some constituencies that he needs."

Rangel -- a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and one of the New York senator's earliest supporters -- appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation":

"From a personal view -- and I may be too close to the forest -- I think it is an absolutely unbeatable ticket, and I think it would be terrific for the country." 

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Comments

[Kuriakose]

Please leave OBAMA alone to select his VP. Obama Clinton tickect will not work good for either of them or the nation.

[neveragain]

You know, he might could work with Hillary - but nobody can work with Bill...

Please get over this "Dream Ticket" nonsense.

[Donna]

David, I believe you are over-the-top. Hillary will enhance this ticket, and while ambitious, will respect her boundaries

[thebob.bob]

Will everyone just calm down and let things cool down. Public statements like this will make it seem like he's dissing Clinton if he chooses someone else. It's an important decision, there's plenty of time to make it and, most importantly, it's Obama's decision to make. Not Rangel's or Feinstein's. Obama won it. Back off and give HIM the respect to make his own decision.

[Bob M]

Making such a recommendation public to a presidential candidate guarantees 100% non-compliance.

[hainana]

Yes,choose Hillary. I did not like her before, but I do now and very much. The strength, determination and grace she has shown won me over. She is not only a great woman model we can learn from and look up to, she will be also a great leader. If you haven't seen all the great qualities she has, you are not open your eyes. She is bigger than just being a woman. The country needs her, and where she goes, we follow.

[Jamie]

I don't think Obama should or will choose Clinton as his VP. A vp for Obama has to recede into the entire picture and with Clinton that might be hard to accomplish. Clinton would have too much recognition and it might push Obama into the background. Remember, it's not Clinton who is running for president now, it's Obama VS McCain. I think Obama should pick a male or female White Christian conservative as VP.

[Judith]

Why don't Feinstein,and Rangel, let Obabm pick his own running mate,as Bill Clinton did in the 90's and all other presidental canadates have done through out history???? Why are they still tring to stuff Hillary down everyones throat??? I think as super delagates it is so unfair for them ( Feinstein,and Rangel) to insist on Clinton on the ticket with Obama, and frankly I know a lot of people that say they won't vote with her on the ticket.

Here is another question, why is she holding on to her delagates when she lost and there are no more races to go except the final one against mccain? does she want the democatics to take Obama out and give run the election????? sounds that way to me.... if the DNC does as Clinton plans, they can kiss the election and the party good-bye...... Or is Hillary hoping one of her supporters takes Obama out giving the election to her, AGAIN THE PARTY WOULD LOSE THE WH...... SO SAD SHE CAN'T BE LIKE THE OTHER CANIDATES THAT LEFT THE RACE... INSTEAD SHE STILL IS TRYING TO TAKE THE PRESIDENCY..... HOW SICK AND SAD.....

[Carolyn Grace]

No way should she be his VP, especially not after Tuesday night when she refused to even acknowledge that he had won the nomination. This woman has no shame. Did she think that maybe everyone would wakeup the next morning and forget that he "had won" and then to try and hold him hostage to get the VP nod, no to Hillary and her "friends" should stop suggesting it. It is Senator Obama's decision to make, not Charlie Rangel's or Diane Fienstein's.

[Helen Cuan]

I voted for Ms. Clinton, I acknowledge there are always going to be differences among human. Time will be a cure for everyone, first for this Country, our citizens and the candidated. God is in chagre.

Thanks,

Helen Cuan

[Ky Mankind]

I know everyone is looking for the so-called dream ticket. If I were Obama, I wouldn't trust my life with Hillary and/or her fanatic supporters who would stop at nothing to make her president. Remember, if the president becomes indisposed, the VP automatically becomes the president.

The democratic party will come together and Obama can win by himself (with other qualified people as VP).

Like someone previously commented, even if Hillary wouldn't get rid of Obama some of her fanatic supporters will. Please let Obama make his own decision to pick the right person for VP and to stay alive also. God Bless America

-Ky
A concerned and patriot citizen

[Theresa in Minneapolis MN]

HRC as a running mate is a very bad idea. Obama needs to be the "alpha" in this duo & regardless of what HRC may say, she won't settle for this ! Obama will have enough obstacles without placating HRC's ego.
If the people who supported her aren't smart enough to vote for Obama, they're short-sighted. Taking in account Obama and McCain's policies, I fail to understand the logic behind the threats to go McCain. It's akin to shooting one's self in the foot.

[Dan]

End of her relentless compaign, only to be followed by a new campaign to be the VP. Expect to see and hear a lot more about a never-give-up campaign for this nightmare ticket - which seems to be the new approach to the presidency.

[Adam]

"If Hillary is the VP, Obama will need a food taster and Brooks Brothers body armor. If she wouldn't kill him, her supporters would."

To the person who wrote this, you are exactly the kind of person that Obama dispises. Whether you voted for him or not, whether you were wearing his t-shirt, he'd be disgusted by your remarks. He's a good man, and he deserves better supporters than you.

So, why is it that so many Obama supporters are so unlike Obama? Why is it that so many followers of this visionary man can't seem to practice what he preaches?

[International Observer]

Obama choosing Clinton would raise far too many doubts about how much he stands by his message of change, about how well he would stand up to this kind of Washington lobbying, and about what kind of judgement he has.

The cost-benefit is not worth it.

[michael]

I said it before, and I'll say it again...I would be perfectly satisfied with a woman president, but not THAT one! Now that I had my wish come true, and Hillary is out of it, please please please Mr. Obama, don't ruin your chance to get away from old school politics...hopefully the Clinton "Dynasty" is over, don't ruin it for all of us who wish you well, by putting her on your ticket. That would lose my vote for sure!

[Sterling Greenwood]

Maybe Feinstein and Rangel can convince John McCain to make Hillary his running mate!
Sterling Greenwood
Aspen Free Press

[James Mason]

For all those Democrats who want to vote for McCain, just to ‘punish’ Obama, here is some food for thought.

McCain has made no secret of his intentions to bomb Iran and to stay in Iraq for 100 years. On the latter, Bush is already pressuring the Iraqi government to sign agreements allowing the establishment of 50 permanent US bases in Iraq and granting immunity for US forces. He wants the agreements signed by July.

We have to assume that Bush and McCain have agreed that an invasion of Iran is necessary and imperative. To facilitate that McCain may well bring back the draft.

I hope when you vote for McCain you think about this. Imagine yourself sometime in the next few years standing beside the open grave of your drafted son (or daughter – remember equal opportunity!) as the bugler plays ‘Taps’.

Is that what you want for your children? Will you be proud of your vote for McCain then? Will you be happy that your vote led directly to the death of your child?

Think about it.

[Leo]

Who better for a number 2 than the person who spent the past 17 months saying you're not qualified to be number 1

[International Observer]

It's quite a stretch to claim that making Clinton his running mate would deliver 18 million voters. The large majority of them will now vote for Obama over McCain even if he doesn't choose her as running mate. A small segment will not vote for him even if he does make her his running mate. The remaining percentage of Clinton supporters that will only vote for him if he makes her his running mate will be some small fraction of the 18 million figure.

[Rom M]

There are plenty of qualified people who have competence, integrity, and independence, the three qualities said his vice presidential candidate will have. Those who support Hillary should take this into consideration before suggesting Sen Clinton. And they need to qualify their suggestion with, "it's ultimately his decision". This sounds like pressuring the candidate or maybe mindless chatter.

[Julie in Burbank]

This should not be news because of course they're for that ticket -- they bet on the wrong horse, so they're trying to get "their candidate" onto the ticket another way.

Rangel and Feinstein like everybody else, need to back off. Especially them because they did not have Obama's back throughout this primary. They're looking out for Clinton first and themselves and their own influence.

[NinaK]

People must stop pushing Hilliary on Senator Obama. Their VALUES are on oipposite ends of the spectrum; he has them while Hilliary does not---as she proved during the campaign. She has proven she is incapable of running a good campaign and managing her campaign funds and is $30+ million debt!! She is not anywhere near ready to be VP! She can recite policy like a pro, other than that what??? Nada.

[TruthIsGold]

I do not support Clinton as VP. She is a divisive candidate using the sexism that pervades our country to try to win the election. Yes, its true, we are as a culture sexist. American culture is sexist. This has been a wake up call for the nation regarding sexism and racism. Hillary Clinton may have inspired millions of women blinded by her basic message of a woman as president. However for many of us she also demonstrated political and financial incompetence, arrogance, and naked ambition. Sounds awfully American? Well Obama is the American counterpoint to Clinton, representing true change, well run financially, a bit more humble, and with a power for the people campaign. However all of this is moot, the real questions to answer right now are:

Do you want a man who is against Roe vs. Wade as president?

Do you want a man who publicly called his wife a c--t as president?

Do you want a man who is for cluster bombs as president?

Do you want a man who jokes about bombing Iran as president?

Do you want a man who was member of the Keating 5 banking scandal as president?

Do you want a man who was tortured for years as prisoner of war as president?

Do you want a man who reportedly has an anger problem as president?

Yes, McCain appears to be all of these!

[NinaK]

If an Obama/Clinton ticket happens to win the general election for the Democrats, it is clear that Barack Obama, as President, would marginalize Hillary Clinton and render her completely useless. These two could not work together after the election. The only purpose of such ticket would be to attract Clinton's voters in November - and its main result would be pushing Hillary Clinton aside after that. She could do better as a Senator...

Posted by: Josh
-------------------

There is NO guarantee Hilliary would bring her supporters with her if she were on the ticket. It would be a big IF. Not only have so many Clinhton supporteers screamed and yelled they would vote for McCain regardless; so have many of Obama's supporters expressed they will not vote for him if she is on the ticket. So there you have it. If hers supporters won't vote for them and if his supporters don't either, Senator Obama would lose MORE votes if he puts her on his ticket. Everybody, and I mean everybody, must cease pushing Clinton for VP!! It is up to Senator Obama as to who he wants as his running mate and I am pretty sure he does not want BILL and HILL as his VP. There are many qualified people out there to choose from. He has a committee working on this already. IT is totally UNFAIR to keep nagging Senator Obama.|