That is the historic moment which marked the end of the Clinton era. The rejection of Hillary Clinton's bid for the VP spot on Obama's ticket made it official.The next chance for a Clinton Presidency is when Chelsea is age eligible.Caroline Kennedy's comments on Biden selection below the fold.
The Clinton supporters are not taking this lightly. I have been browsing their blogs all morning and will post some remarks.
First,the latest polls show that only 18 to 20% of this group will definitely not vote for Obama as of today. So her famous 18 million votes we are afraid of losing is actually 3.6 million. From the reactions on her bloggers after the Biden selection, about 50% will stay home and vote for no one.This shrinks our potential loss to 1.8 million or about 2%.In my opinion,her departure from center stage will fire up our base enough to easily negate that 2% loss.
Caroline Kennedy, on Meet the Press this morning told Tom Brokaw that Obama selected Biden primarily because he could more effectively advance his promise to "reach across the aisle."
She said there was no Senator more respected by Congressional Republicans and particularly John McCain. Bi-Partisianship is not just a slogan for Barack Obama,Ms. Kennedy emphasized.
Caroline Kennedy, as you know, served on the VP selection committee.
She said, in some respects the selection Of Biden as a conduit to the opposition party might be compared to her father's selection of LBJ almost a half century ago.
Back to the comments of the Hillary die hards, here are some samples:
I understand the not even vetting her - that was terrible, but rolling out your text message at 3 am? Seems to me that they were trying to sneak it in there so that as few people as possible would go "WHAT THE F!!!!?"
chooses a guy with
*a 36% NARAL rating (I know about NARAL).
*and someone who, in the past, wasn't well liked by women for his treatment of Anita Hill.
In a year when people are screaming misogyny, was this the best pick?
Maybe so, since there wasn't a single good pick out there for such a weak candidate
Dislike Of Obama and his team (4.55 / 9) (#62)
Ok, I am a nut case, but none of this makes me get the warm and fuzzies. I still cannot watch him(Obama). Cannot listen to him. I think I need to check in somewhere to figure out what it is about him pushing all these buttons at the same time.
On Biden, I used to like him, then I cannot remember, I think it was the run up to the war and the Anita Hill hearings, I cannot remember, but I turned on him cause he just did not have any pith or guts. I remember it was something on C-Span that got me really mad that he was just the same old.
Hillary Knows This Is Her Chance! (1.00 / 4) (#72)
Sat Aug 23, 2008 at 11:08:30 AM EST
She has to help Obama win. That's all.
If Obama loses, 1/2 the Democratic party will blame her for "not doing enough." I don't care if you agree. Hillary supporters will NEVER agree.
But, you can bet that Obama's supporters WILL. And that will finish her. There will be endless bitterness and finger-pointing and Republicans laughing at Democrats for failing to rally together.
And she will need those voters if she ever wants to run for President again. Think the black community would ever forgive her? Think she wouldn't need their votes (the most reliably Democratic constituency of all)?
If she goes all out and campaigns hard until November, and Obama still somehow loses, she becomes the sentimental favorite for 2012. If he wins, she can have her pick of either a cabinet position or an appointment to the S.Ct. or she can become Senate Majority Leader (her natural position).
Thanks Pal. (5.00 / 3) (#57)
Sat Aug 23, 2008 at 10:59:43 AM EST
It essentially refers to those who find a negative interpretation to or sinister reason behind anything Bill and/or Hillary Clinton say or do. The people who believe the Clintons are the "evil empire" that must be stopped at all costs.
Hillary Clinton's Statement on the Biden VP selection:
"In naming my colleague and friend Senator Joe Biden to be the Vice Presidential nominee, Senator Obama has continued in the best traditions for the Vice Presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic Vice President who will help Senator Obama both win the Presidency and govern this great country."
Links:
http://www.mylifetime.com/...
http://www.talkleft.com/...