I don’t believe Hillary Rodham Clinton wanted to be Barack Obama’s running mate, regardless of what Bill really intended after Hillary trailed behind in the primaries. First, I think the vice president post is too passive to suit Clinton. She wanted to be in the action and getting the credit for wrinkles from doing heroic labors such as getting the dollar in top form again after Bush, bringing better education to people who freaked out about Atlanta because they heard Russia attacked Georgia, shaking hands with and talking to nicer heads of state and the barking at meaner ones all in the name of equality, fairness and world peace, on top of inevitable boo-boos. That’s the president’s job. The vice president is at best on support mode, the one in the backseat, the understudy who mostly poses for pictures with a spade in hand, bringing awareness to and saving the environment, smiling at and waving to the crowd and making bake sales to raise money for a good cause like saving Iraq for the course of four years unless something special happens before the term is up, like when the president gets shot.
On the other hand, we have the Bush and Cheney model.
Second, the two dominant candidates clashed too hard during the primaries. It’s not just a case of differences – these could be complementary, based on each one’s capabilities: Clinton has the subtlety and effectiveness of a sledgehammer, is the one who hoards information from tons of background checks for artillery, which she uses in cross-examining the hell out of the soon-to-be roadkill on the witness stand. Obama, on the other hand, is the lawyer who hates remembering all the those information (and opts for surprising things to say instead) but is cute and very persuasive, so he always gets to handle the closing in front of a jury full of suckers. Again, the capabilities just mentioned would fit into a partnership only if Clinton is the one in action. The reverse would be a bit awkward and brings me back to the second reason: how could a hypothetical Obama-Clinton tag team fare well when the two have only been only full-metal storm on each other during the race? They would contradict earlier statements. Their opponents would have a ball: “Clinton insisted Obama’s a clueless bonehead and now she’s running with him?” The team-up is really not a good idea for either candidate.
However, given that everyone has an ego, least of all high profile public servants, HRC probably at least expected a courtesy talk with Obama when he was considering his ‘shortlist’ for running mates, formally recognizing her weight as a serious candidate with solid supporters. Hey, like it or not, she does carry clout and was a worthy adversary/nominee. And sure his camp said they were in no way considering her so why waste everyone’s time… but the response was only a deadma, if you will, signalling with a ‘maybe’ to talk but then blowing past her and talking to other candidates of even lesser balls. And clout.
Incidentally, Obama chose Joe Biden as his running mate, which is a safe decision, much like his ‘present’ votes in Senate. I think many people can predict Obama’s moves by now. John Edwards, the third biggest vote drawer in the party, would have been a great running mate, if only his little affair hasn’t become public, but no matter. Move on to Joe Biden, fourth in line, with enough supporters. By the way, both endorsed Obama after dropping out of the run. Clinton threw in what she could after her run. It is interesting that Biden, when still running, also said Obama’s not prepared to be president. What’s even better is when McCain was still an Independent candidate, Biden invited him to be his running mate (McCain then ran to the Other Side). Which is why there’s a great start for ya.
And why John McCain’s choosing Sarah Palin for running mate is, well… brilliant. It’s bold, it’s unexpected, and Kasparov would approve. It’s something Obama would not have done. It may score or fail (Palin may turn out to be a bonehead, or the Obama charm may be that omnipotent), but it’s a call that differentiates him from Mr. Safe Consensus. Palin is:
- Likeable, attractive, and has mass appeal
- Seemingly generally solid and has clean resume; no blemish (for now) about extracurriculars or hanky-panky
- Relatively young
- A woman
- Inexperienced, with regards to how things work in the White House and diplomatic work outside the States
In short, she’s a Republican female white Obama, but with no embarrassing gaffes so far. Can’t see Dems attacking her on a shallow level without having the stuff backfire at their elected candidate. Ditto for any attempts at gender-related black propaganda, which will only aggravate the situation with disappointed and angry solid Hillary supporters who believe their candidate wuz robbed this year. The first two purposes of McCain’s strategy are levelling the playing field somewhat by limiting attacks from the other camp to differences in policies rather than qualifications or appeal, and emphasizing McCain’s standing a leader who thinks fast on his feet even when under pressure, and makes the right decisions that get the result he wants, which, in this case, is levelling the playing field.
The third purpose is Palin will be tasked to appeal to some of Hillary’s feminist supporters. But Palin and Clinton differ on policies (abortion rights, Iraq, and gay rights, to name a few) and actual experience, brains, appeal, and scope of work… but let’s have a go at the shallow attempts to connect them so far. It is well known that McCain supporter once referred to Hillary as a bitch; Palin said lipstick was the difference her, ”a hockey mom”, and a pit bull. More:
“Sarah’s smile is sincere, which I never felt from Hillary, who has anger and resentment in her eyes.”
Ha ha ha… erm. There we have ‘em, to start things with for women running for office… an affinity to canines and sincere smiles, which are, of course, important standards politicians are measured up against these days. It does not hurt then that Palin was first runner-up in a beauty pageant during her salad days — she had lots of practice! — while Clinton was a sledgehammer of average physical attributes and a nerdy sledgehammer before that. How Biden would measure up using the same criteria, I don’t know. Considering my own ignorant and skewed idea of the vice president’s job requirements, I think Palin has the better credentials.
