The Best Candidate for the Democrats may not be the best Candidate for President.

The Best Candidate for the Democrats
may not be the best Candidate for President.

Sean Lewis
February 12, 2008

Let me explain.

The Republicans are demoralized and unmotivated.
The Conservatives and the Religious Right have been
abandoned by main stream America. The blowback
to the Republican Party was extreme in the 2006 elections.
This was because of the short sighted extreme ideological
policies and agenda's of the Bush Administration and Republican Congress
which divided America and has crippled the
US economically, politically, militarily and has damaged America's Preeminence in the world.

The litany of failures is long and is a testament of
the incompetence, unaccountability and irresponsible
leadership of the Bush Administration.
The Democrats should be able to solidify complete
and absolute control of Congress and also win
the executive office in the next election, IF the correct
candidate runs.

Obama is that candidate, not because he is the best
candidate to be President, but because he is the candidate least likely motivate the Extremist of the Right.

With a light turnout from the Republicans
the Democrats will run the political table and solidify power. This will happen if Obama runs. Obama will also neutralize the independent voters who might vote for a moderate Republican candidate.

If Clinton runs, she will galvanize the Republican Right. These extremists will not be voting for the Republican candidate, they will be both voting against Hillary and also voting a straight party ticket. If this occurs, the Democrats will not solidify power in the Republican Senate,
a much needed event to eliminate the Republican Senators who are the obstructionist to the will of the American people.

Clinton is the better Candidate for President, but Obama is the better candidate for the Democrats.

The only issue after that will be the closet fear of white America electing a Black President. Americans may be politically correct in public, but in private they vote based on their fears and prejudice.

•  Damn 'em all with faint praise

  Clinton can't carry the masses and Obama can't carry the world.

  hmmmm....I think this underestimates them both.

  by ksh01 on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:09:44 PM PDT

•  either can and will beat McCain n/t

  by YatPundit on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:10:48 PM PDT

  •  but it's too early to talk about that

    permenant Democratic majority.

    <snark>

    by zic on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:13:07 PM PDT

•  No

  I think Obama is the best candidate AND would be the best president.

  by greatn on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:11:50 PM PDT

  •  and that wasn't on the poll

    Otherwise much of the discussion did make sense.

    by Judgment at Nuremberg on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:16:37 PM PDT

•  I like Clinton but

  The best candidate for president is the candidate that gets the highest percentage of votes, period.

  by BlueTide on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:12:52 PM PDT

•  don't agree with the last sentence

  But you make good points otherwise.
  I have to admit that one of the things I like most about Hillary is that the right hates her so much.

  by sunshineonthebay on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:12:59 PM PDT

  •  You may not like the last sentence

    that however doesn't negate the fact that this is a REAL possibility. How many election exit polls and predictions have been proven wrong because voters do not truthfully admit who they voted for.

    The Reality is that America may vote for the 'lesser evil' McCain!

    by VirtualTruth on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:59:29 PM PDT

    •  very much a possiblity

      Reminds me of a somewhat sad story.  I was at a bar the other day where I was talking to a middle-aged white man who identified himself as a republican.  He said he hates Hillary, but would vote for Obama in the GE.  We got to talking about race, and his comments contained a number of racist undertones.  For example, he argued with me about my race, saying I wasn't white because I'm not of European descent (I'm 100% white), etc.  And the more he talked the more I realized this man is never voting for Obama, he is merely saying he "would" potentially vote for him because he figures that makes him sound like he's not racist.
      This sort of thing worries me about the so-called repubs and indies who say they would vote for Obama in the GE and not Clinton.

      by sunshineonthebay on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:04:21 PM PDT

      •  That's curious

        Would you mind telling about your heritage?  I'm having trouble thinking of non-European "whites" other than perhaps some western Asian folks.  That's probably me being stupid, but I'm a sucker for curiosity.  

        by smijer on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:14:05 PM PDT

        •  ME

          I'm of middle eastern descent, but as pale as can be.

          by sunshineonthebay on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:16:34 PM PDT

  •  That doesn't bode well

    Winning a divided election may seem like a great victory, but the repercussions may defeat the desire for change.

    by MrMichaelMT on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:33:46 PM PDT

•  You're so wrong.

  Obama is the best candidate and WILL be the best president.

  by Lepanto on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:13:28 PM PDT

  •  Given the shambles in Hillaryland....

    I'm not sure she's a good manager or politician.
    What's left?

    by chicago jeff on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:26:24 PM PDT

•  I think Obama would be the best dem and the best

  president.  This is because he has an inclusiveness.  I think he will be able to help us repair our country.  We're all in this together, so to speak.  I think either Hillary or Obama would be a great dem and president, but I think what we need right now is not necessarily 'experience', but out of the box thinking and a fresh start.  

  Bush is like that stuff in the fridge that you have to clean out and throw away.  You can't just take those moldy containers out and throw them away, you also have to tear the fridge apart and scrub it clean.  I only wish we could overhaul the congress too.  give most everyone a nice swift kick in the butt and tell em to not let the door hit em on the way out.

  by ejpoeta on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:33:43 PM PDT

•  Yup

  We sure don't want to get them Republicans uppity.

  by Dave B on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:36:49 PM PDT

•  I'm not so sure Clinton would make a better prez

  There was a time when I did think that Clinton would be a better president in terms of management (though I also agree with Obama's argument that it's important to have a president who can build popular support for his/her agenda, and I think he is better equipped to do that) and my arguments for supporting Obama were based primarily on wanting a candidate I could be excited about and my belief that he is more electable, for all of the reasons you cited.

  But lately I have started to doubt her whole "competent management" argument. The shenanigans in her campaign lead me to doubt her ability to lead the country effectively. If she can't even manage a campaign budget, how can she manage the federal budget? I just read this article, and I can't help but think that if this is the way her team in the White House is going to operate, maybe we shouldn't be so confident in her ability to get the job done. This nomination was hers to lose, and the fact that Obama is still in the fight reflects poor planning and judgment on the part of Clinton and her campaign team, as well as Obama's personal appeal and the kick-ass campaign he has run. So I'm not so sure I see her as more qualified anymore.

  by democrattotheend on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 02:55:12 PM PDT

  •  The tipping point for the nomination

    is fast approaching, and it was Hillary's
    to lose and Obama's to fight for.

    It comes down to who wants it more,
    and who the people support and trust
    to change.

    It comes down to who do we feel
    energized by, and who is lighting
    the path  to change we can follow.

    Do you believe in miracles?

    by VirtualTruth on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 07:09:31 PM PDT

•  this is a very tired argument-

  and like everyone else that makes it, you never get around to explaining EXACTLY why Clinton will galvanize the right.  

  by Texas Blue on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:19:35 PM PDT

  •  You are joking?

    You do not think Republicans hate the Clintons?
    Where have you been these last 15 years?

    by VirtualTruth on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:30:26 PM PDT

    •  Only because they won and they are Democrats

      They'll hate Obama just as much

      by caldreaming on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:33:11 PM PDT

•  NO YOU"RE A CLUELESS IDIOT. OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT.

  by Texas Blue on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:21:00 PM PDT

•  Total Nonsense

  The right wing noise machine has their sites set on Hillary right now, but if Obama wins the nomination, they'll come after him with both barrels blazing.

  Let's remember that a significant portion of the "right wing base" is deeply racist.  If you think that they won't be inflamed by a (I apologize in advance for saying it) "n*gg*r" running for president you are sadly mistaken and naive.  

  If Obama wins the nomination, expect to see the stories of his being a Muslim, having Muslim sympathies, and more repeated.  It doesn't matter one bit if they are true.  Truth has never mattered to Rush, Hannity, Coulter, or the rest of RWNM

  Our nomination should not depend on how we think THEY will react.  The person we nominate should be the person we believe will be the best president.  Period. Not the best candidate for president, the best president.  Then it is our job to make the case to the rest of the american people that our candidate is the best person president.

  If you believe that Obama will be the best president, work for him, argue for him, give money to him.  Ditto if you think it is Hillary.

  by caldreaming on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:26:34 PM PDT

  •  Amen brother

    It is time to fight for the new revolution,
    Nation before Party
    Accountabity, responsibility and Credibility.

    by VirtualTruth on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:37:03 PM PDT

•  To repeat a comment

  It's not who likes you, it's who shows up. Right now, the religious right may simply sit out the election. Nominate Senator Clinton, and that dynamic may change.

  Here's my comment on another diary:

  The Florida primary indicates the principle: "It's who shows up." There was a big, high profile tax initiative on the ballot. Florida people turned out in big numbers for it. Then they quickly vote for a primary candidate. The "known quantity" Clinton wins. That's because, knowing the primary didn't count and seeing virtually no advertising about Obama, they just voted on name recognition. No credit, no meaning in the results.

  If the Democrats motivate the religious right, they'll show up. If word is spread that Obama is a Christian, endorsed by at least some high profile pastors, they may simply leave the election to God.

  by MrMichaelMT on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:32:53 PM PDT

  •  one comment

    I don't think it's the "religious right" that hates Hillary.  It more the sour grapes from the Clinton administration who do.
    It's not about religion.

    by sunshineonthebay on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:51:37 PM PDT

    •  I don't think you listen

      to far right radio, or get their mailings (as my late mother-in-law still does.) They use Clinton as the devil and the money machine. They hate them because they've stolen their schtick!

      by MrMichaelMT on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 04:52:58 PM PDT

      •  that's objective /snark

        by sunshineonthebay on Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 05:00:43 PM PDT