How do you not pick Hillary Clinton for Obama's VP?: McAuliffe

O.K., so he changed his mind over the weekend.

It's a flip-flop if you don't like the idea. And a wonderful vision for the country if you like it.

Terry McAuliffe, chairman of Sen. Hillary Clinton's deceased Democratic presidential primary campaign and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has a nifty not-so new running mate for Sen. Barack Obama:

Hillary Clinton.

Yup, her.

Appearing on MSNBC TV today after what looked like way too many cups of coffee, the ebullient McAuliffe said:

"Hillary Clinton. I don't even think it's a close call. How do you not pick Hillary Clinton? We would sweep all across the country, up and down the valley... Think about it.

"It would be a bold move,'' he said. "I don't think people would expect it... It'd be a bold move: Barack Obama, leadership, take this country to a new place, first African American, first woman.... History!... I'm telling you!... All across the country!""

The Democrats would hold the White House for 16 years, suggested McAuliffe. Trouble is, late last week McAuliffe, a longtime Clinton booster, appeared to have given up (like most everybody else) on the freshman Illinois senator picking his main party rival.

Obama has been quoted as saying Clinton is, of course, a VP possibility, but there's a "complication." And his name is Bill.

How many presidents, ex-presidents and wanna-be presidents can one White House hold?

So just to be safe, today McAuliffe, who's not known as being on the short list of top Obama advisors, offered up some other probably more realistic names for Obama's running mate: Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, and Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, whom he pushed last week. "So many great candidates,' McAuliffe added.

Is Clinton on the short list?

"Sure, she's on the short list!" Our colleague Mark Silva has the rest of this fresh repeat story and what Clinton's fall plans are over here at the Swamp.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[CC]

The way you don't pick Hillary Clinton as a running mate, is the same way you don't shoot yourself in the foot!

[N.E. BodynutHillary]

Hilary would be a torpedo which would sink Barak Obama's bid for the presidency. Barak Obama's campaign has not been about the same old politics which has been the very core Clinton staple.

Nobody has forgotten the Lincoln bedroom scandal, the 12th hour pardons, or Whitewater.

Change = Discarding the boiler room politics.

There is nothing the Clinton Klux Klan could offer the Obama campaign other than an abandonment of Barak Obama's most loyal supporters to appease a group with an agenda.

[Girl with the bushy armpits]

This McAulif guy is a compulsive liar .He sure embodies
the concept of old style backroom politics.....and by that
notion he would be a perfect fit in Obama's Chicago
gang of felons and strong arms henchmen.

[chargy]

Hillary hasn't abandoned her presidential campaign.
Big difference between the words "suspended" and "conceded"
Hillary suspended her campaign, talk is she would not touch VP along side Obama.
Let OB slowly sink his own ship. Hillary continues to be a rising star, against back room dealings of the DNC.
Brazile, Dean & Pelosi are in quick sand over this one.
Hillary received more votes from the American people than ANY presidential candidate EVER. The people have spoken and now we are moving. Our conscience will not allow an INexperienced JR senator to be chief commander. You Obamnuts can cry racism all day long, it is what it is. Certainly NOT racism, it's called smarts.
Go PUMA
HIllary 08/ McCain 08

[Chris]

Obama should pick somebody who shares his political views to the letter, and a relative unknown. He doesn't need anyone high profile or popular in their own right like Clinton, he's already essentially won the general election. Obama's biggest challenge might be making it there in one piece.

[Alessandro Machi]

Don't be brainwashed by the media that says that Hillary Clinton's campaign is over, it is not over. Join the Protest Postcard movement to let the superdelegates know that Hillary Clinton is the better candidate.

Check out the 555 postcard, let your jaw drop at the unfairness of the FACTUAL information contained on this postcard, and then mail a few of them to your favorite super delegate or delegate.

http://www.POSTCARD-BRIGADE.com
http://www.PROTEST-POSTCARDS.com

[WTF???]

Oh man, I can't believe that Hags for Hillary are still at it. Give it a rest Ladies, she lost and is deep in debt.

[Fred]

How do you not pick Hillary Clinton?

Three simple reasons:

1. Obama has based his entire campaign on the idea of change, portraying Hillary as the obvious agent of the status quo of "old politics". To choose her now would make him look like a hypocrite.

2. From a practical standpoint, she wouldn't help the ticket. For whatever reason, Republicans (and some moderates) hate her with a passion. Putting her on the ticket would mobilize all of these voters (who might otherwise sit out the election, or even vote for Obama). The GOP would make the entire election revolve around Hillary. Why give them the ammunition?

3. Also from a practical standpoint, Obama already has the hurdle of selling voters on their first black President. Does he need the double burden of selling the first female vice president as well? The logical move is to play it safe by choosing a standard, male WASP for the VP slot, to balance out the novelty at the top of the ticket.

[Louise]

Americans won't vote for a Black and a woman in the Whitehouse at the same time. One at the time.

[gaiaschild]

I would like to suggest to Terry McAullife that had Sen. Clinton won the primary she would not have taken Obama as a running mate. She was clearly going to put Wesley Clark in that spot and their campaign chemistry was about as good as it was getting for her. She is the wrong choice for Obama and I'll be stunned if he picks her. But that's his call. Meantime, I would like to see her pay her little vendors all over the US as she's left them unpaid as far as I know and we all did see her tax returns.

[Alessandro Machi]

from the comment above "Oh man, I can't believe that Hags for Hillary are still at it. Give it a rest Ladies, she lost and is deep in debt..."

one of the postcards available deals with this type of arrogance. It's the sexism plus ageism equals rageism postcard.

http://www.POSTCARD-BRIGADE.com
http://www.PROTEST-POSTCARDS.com

[Alessandro Machi]

Terry McAuliffe is a class act. David Axlerod is about as greasy as they come.

[Ellie]

Yea, David Axelrod is a dirty dude. You all thought ole Bill was slick Willie, well look at the crap Obama and his crew pulled. Terry McAullife is nothing but enthusiastic and positive. Just because he enthusiastically supports Hillary doesn't make him a big liar. And for those negative jerks out there making up reasons why Obama shouldn't put Hillary on the ticket....he'll be shooting himself in the foot if he doesn't put her on the ticket. To say that Hillary Clinton doesn't represent change is a far stretch....sorry folks. The first woman Vice President is a big change to our government. So stop being negative and making stuff up just to be nasty. The woman deserves the position whether you like her or not.

[Mike Sullivan]

KAINE FOR VP???? THIS WILL BE A BIG ISSUE - IF OBAMA PICKS KAINE- HE IS IN FOR MAJOR PROTESTS AT CONVENTION AND AT CAMPAIGN STOPS.
THE GUY IS INEXPERIENCED JUST LIKE BO - AND NO FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE
IT WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR THE DEMS. THEY WOULD LOSE THE STUDENT VOTE - GAY VOTE - & MANY WOMAN VOTERS.

Any gay Dem should be sick to their stomach at this pick.

For gays living under Kaine and his endorsement of a marriage amendment, it's a clear message that your life partner relationship has no legal footing or recognition in the state -- and it will NEVER be recognized. Oh, and keep paying taxes for that luxury.

Defenders will say: "just ignore that and look at 'the whole package' or 'the long view'. "

Kaine ran an unnecessary gay-baiting campaign against an even-worse homo-bigot Jerry Kilgore in the Virginia governor's race, and Kaine has pledged to sign off on an onerous marriage amendment that enshrines bigotry into the state's constitution.

That said, I'm willing to take the gay-baiting of Kilgore issue off of the table, since it's noise that's distracting some people from the larger issue, which is what Kaine represents as the new face of the party. The gay residents of Virginia were stuck with two pro-marriage amendment choices for governor because it reflects the political lay of the land there. I feel for folks there.

Any gay Dem should be sick to their stomach at this pick. Kaine is just another Republican-lite clone from a Red state, and that's where the Dem leadership has indicated it wants to move the party. We are on notice -- homos are going to be tossed overboard -- again -- in search of the elusive win. They haven't figured out that voters need and want to see a party that has values it actually believes in and is willing to defend --


Mike Sullivan
Providence RI

[Big Tom Kofax]

People - ya got a memry problem!; Obama and Reagan Democrats, remember? A courtship that ain't a take. Obama is stuck in the polls, with a hubris problem. An unknown Washington outsider will not help him; but Hillary can help him - Hillary can help him win. Few people can, and he's allowing his hubris to lead him astray. Gov Kaine would be like shooting yourself in the foot. Evan Baye likewise. Neither has the chops or the experience he needs in national security. Hillary was in the White House for 8 years. And she has been a movement - and they are still enthusiastic, mind you! Here are Obama's best chances in descending order:

1. Hillary - the only one who can rally many.
2. Gore - Now basking with a Nobel Prize.
3. Biden - a foreign policy expert.
4. Sibelius - that 'other' woman
5. Ed Rendell - in tune with the Blue Collars

Take your pick, Obama - but be humble now!

[Alessandro Machi]

I have recapped all the fraud that went on this democratic nomination process.

I wish the gay delegates would stand up for what is right rather than just want to belong to the same mainstream that ostracized them for so long. Suddenly the gay delegates have a chance to make a difference, and all apparently they prefer to just go along with the same factions that oppressed them for so long.

http://www.CAUCUSCHEATING.com

you will be shocked at how much cheating went on on Barack Obama's behalf.

[Judy]

If Obama doesn't have the good judgement to pick Hillary, I will cross over and vote Republican! She deserves to be on the ticket and assure a win. Obama, you are being bitter and not thinking of our country if you don't. This is the only way you can get the big states you can't do without her.

[Ellis Harris]

If Obama is a uniter then he will pick Hillary. If he does not, I will not vote for him because he will show that he only cares about his own ego. John Kennedy picked LBJ and won the election because he did.

[Michael]

Hilary is the only for Obama to go.

Any other way and he will be gambling the election and showing he is an idiot,

Kennedy did it with LBJ and Obama can do it with Hilary, any other VP pick will be noting but a handicap.

Mike NJ

[Alex]

Obama picks other VP than Hill, Obama loses. Is as simple as that

[rmills]

bla, bla bla
All I can say is that if Obama isn't smart enough to pick Hillary I will do the unthinkable and NOT VOTE. I can say that about 40 people i know are considering the same. Or voting Republican. Obama, you do not have it in the BAG.