Mind you, I'm assuming Obama wins TX OR OH today. If he doesn't, I'll support Hillary to the very end. But assuming he does for a second, here are the 7 things he can do to unify the party and make me excited to support him. In no particular order:
- Pick a Vice President with a long record, especially on foreign policy affairs. That doesn't mean one of our great governors (and for the first time in recent memory, we have some really great governors). I'm talking someone with 20+ years in the foreign policy 'business'. Someone who can allay our fears that Obama is another "learn on the job" President after we just suffered through 8 years of that.
- Say very good things about President Clinton--how he hopes to have a Presidency half as successful as Bill's was. Those of us who support Hillary know the Clinton years to be the best of our lives politically--we want a return to that.
- Include a close Clinton advisor as one of your 3-5 members of your VP vetting committee. Again, this is a symbolic gesture more than anything else. I don't expect Hillary to be Obama's VP (though I'd expect Hillary to serious consider Obama if she can pull out OH and TX).
- Find some way to seat MI and FL--fully and without penalties. I don't know how you make that happen and still get the nomination, but figure it out. Maybe give some extra delegates to Iowa, NH and SC or something. Just do it.
- Give a speech that lays out exactly what you want to do with this country--that lacks any generalities like "Yes we can" or "Together we can build a better tomorrow". I'm talking an ugly policy wonkish type speech about adjusting marginal tax rates and social security deductions and the "real stuff". It should be in front of a crowd of stodgy technocrats instead of screaming young people. It should show you are serious about policy to those of us who think you've won this because you speak well (which you do).
- Stop being self-referential in speeches. Those of us who fear the "Cult of Obama" groan whenever we hear the self-referential stuff. A little more normalcy in the speeches would make us happy. [UPDATE: I think Shep0001 is right--I mean less focus on the Cult of Personality Aspects and more focus on the policy movement]
- Give Bill Clinton a featured speaking spot at the convention. Hillary will get one by her delegates. But Bill should get one as a tip of the cap. Other than that, its your convention, your platform, etc. Have fun, you're our nominee.