I had always been one of the skeptics on the issue of what support Bill and Hillary Clinton would provide to Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign. The fight for their party’s nomination lasted longer than it should have. Hillary’s reluctance to concede defeat underscored longstanding doubts about whether she could ever support Obama as the inevitable Democratic Party nominee. The most outspoken skeptic on this subject has been Maureen Dowd. Her column in the New York Times on August 19 (just before the Democratic Convention) described a fictional meeting between John McCain and Hillary Clinton. The article, entitled Two Against The One, described the following imaginary, conspiratorial conversation between Hillary and McCain:
“Oh, John, you know I love you and I’m happy to help,” Hillary says. “The themes you took from me are working great — painting Obama as an elitist and out-of-touch celebrity, when we’re rich celebrities, too. Turning his big rallies and pretty words into character flaws, charging him with playing the race card — that one always cracks me up. And accusing the media, especially NBC, of playing favorites. It’s easy to get the stupid press to navel-gaze; they’re so insecure.”
“They’re all pinko Commies,” McCain laughs. “Especially since they deserted me for The Messiah. Seriously, Hill, that Paris-Britney ad you came up with was brilliant. I owe you.”
I had voiced my own doubts about whether the Clintons would support the Obama candidacy, back on June 5:
Whatever motivated her to continue on, ultimately resulted in the dissociative speech she gave on the night of Tuesday, June 3, 2008, when Barack Obama earned enough delegates to guarantee himself the Democratic Presidential nomination. She spoke to her relatively small audience of sycophants and losers, as though she had just assured the nomination for herself. On the following day, she was faced with conference calls from 28 House members and 8 Senators, both pledged delegates and superdelegates for Clinton. According to Howard Fineman of Newsweek, these people made it clear that they were beyond disappointment that she had not given a concession speech. They were outraged by her arrogance and gave her an ultimatum: Hillary must release them as her delegates, or they would endorse Obama, regardless of her consent. Hillary agreed to a concession event, to take place on Saturday, June 7, at which time she would formally endorse Obama.
My suspicions continued for another two months and on August 7, I wrote this about the upcoming convention:
Forget the OxyContin (at least for this weekend). Rush Limbaugh is going to be on a “natural high”, because his favorite fantasy might just become reality. The Clintons are in “full hostility” mode and the Hillarologists are planning a parade and more for the convention in Denver. Limbaugh has attempted to claim credit for the likely showdown in Denver, with his own label: “Operation Chaos”.
Nevertheless, by the time the Convention began, the Clintons were on board for Obama and both gave great speeches for the Obama – Biden ticket. On August 28, I felt humbled enough to say this about Senator Clinton’s performance at that event:
After hearing her speech, I felt motivated to apologize for publicly doubting her loyalty to the Democratic Party. She really did “deliver the goods” by giving what was, perhaps, her best speech on the campaign stump. Although many of us were surprised by the substance of her speech, I was particularly impressed by her delivery. Hillary had always addressed her audiences with Lieberman-esque stiffness. Imagine someone saying “let us go forward” with a groaning, insincere tone for the 10,000th time. That was the way Hillary used to speak. In defeat, she really did find her voice.
Since that time, both Hillary and Bill Clinton have been working hard along the campaign trail, proving themselves as essential compatriots in the Obama – Biden campaign. The best example of this took place on October 30, when Bill Clinton delivered his rousing speech in support of Obama, before a crowd of 35,000 in Kissimmee, Florida. His remarks urging supporters to “get out the vote” for Obama, made it clear that he had no shortage of enthusiasm for this former foe:
So I want you to get on the phone, and I want you to stalk your neighbors on the street. I want you to get on the Internet and say if you haven’t made up your mind you ought to vote for Barack Obama. He’s got the best philosophies. He’s got the best positions. He definitely has the decision making ability. And he is a great executor.
Folks, we can’t fool with this. Our country is hanging in the balance and we have so much promise and so much peril. This man should be our President, all of our President.
For a candid look at Hillary Clinton’s real attitude about the Obama campaign, the November 2 article by Carrie Budoff Brown and Glenn Thrush on the Politico website is essential reading. The following passage described what was really going on in Hillary’s mind during the days before her concession speech:
Clinton, whose relationship with Obama was still tense and tentative at that moment, professed no great affection or admiration for Obama, whom she regarded as less qualified than herself. But she would support him, body and soul, she said, because she was so terrified by the prospect of McCain sitting in the Oval Office. And that was before the credit markets crashed, setting off a domino effect on the U.S. economy.
“John McCain’s my friend; I really like him,” she said, according to a person who was within earshot. “But there’s just no way we can let him be president.”
Both Bill and Hillary Clinton surprised many of us with their tireless efforts for the Obama – Biden campaign, despite the “bad blood” that had been spilled during the primary season. Their conduct will surely be viewed by history as an exemplary model for party unity.
Time To Toss The Tool
November 6, 2008
November 5 (the day after Election Day) left us with a nearly breathless Chris Matthews on MSNBC’s Hardball. His guests included their correspondent, David Schuster, who had attended the election night speech by Barack Obama in Chicago’s Grant Park. Schuster described the scene in Grant Park, immediately after the west coast results were announced at 11:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). Strangers were hugging each other and crying. This could have only happened in Chicago. I had been in Grant Park on several occasions to celebrate many a Bulls championship, back in the day when Phil Jackson was coach and Michael Jordan defied the laws of gravity. The post-championship celebration in Grant Park became a rite of summer: the weather was just getting nice and Fourth of July was right around the corner. I still return to Grant Park for the annual Independence Day fireworks show (that actually takes place on July 3) even though I now live a long way from there. The consensual spirit of Chicago’s people brings life to the theories expressed by Carl Jung. Myth, archetype and symbol hold important places in the collective soul of that community.
Chicago has its own approach to politics, as well. The city’s history is rich with tales of “back alley” politics, giving rise to legendary figures and laying waste to contenders. As a result, I can’t keep my mind off the subject of what might be in store for Senator Joe “The Tool” Lieberman of Connecticut. The remark by Stephen Colbert during Indecision 2008 on Comedy Central, caught my attention. After the announcement that Obama had won 64 percent of the vote in Connecticut, compared to McCain’s 35 percent, despite McCain’s unfailing support from The Tool, Colbert wondered: “Where could the people of Connecticut have learned such disloyal behavior?” As you may recall: Lieberman was re-elected to the Senate in 2006 as an Independent candidate (after having lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamot). Although they were irked by The Tool’s mercenary act to preserve his own political skin, the Democrats struggled to keep Joe in their “Big Tent”. The Senate Democratic Caucus (or Conference) currently consists of 49 regular Democrats and 2 Independents, one of whom is Joe “The Tool” Lieberman, who calls himself an “Independent Democrat”. Prior to the 2008 election, the Democrats had been desperate to maintain their 51-percent majority in the Senate, so they did all they could to make sure The Tool was a happy camper. All that changed when Barack Obama became the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee. Many commentators saw in Obama, not only a winner, but one with long enough coattails to bring more Democrats into the Senate. The Tool realized that his betrayal of the Democrats could result in the loss of his many important appointments, should Obama get elected. He had already “sold his soul” to Bush, Cheney and Rove in his quest for re-election. At that point, he had no choice but to “go for broke” by endorsing John McCain. However, The Tool went beyond that. He spoke ill of Obama at the Republican Convention. He followed McCain around throughout the Presidential campaign, giving rally speeches himself, in addition to serving as McCain’s “nodder” when McCain would question Obama’s patriotism.
It is now time for the Senate Democrats to throw The Tool under The Trash Talk Express, before it departs for that great bus barn in the sky. It has been widely reported that The Tool is scheduled to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, at some point this week. My familiarity with Chicago politics leads me to believe that on his way to this meeting, The Tool will be alone in a dark alley. He will reach a spot alongside a blue dumpster and that will be the signal. Suddenly, Democratic Senators will step out from their positions, in the shadows, to surround him. The Tool will be cut … and he will be cut quite thoroughly. He will be cut from the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He will be cut from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (where he is Chairman). He will be cut from the Senate Armed Services Committee. He will be cut from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, including its Subcommittees on: Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection (where he is Chairman). He will also be cut from the Subcommittee on Public Sector Solutions to Global Warming, Oversight, and Children’s Health Protection. He will be left, writhing on the back bench of the Senate. “Backbenchers” have no influence to peddle … or, perhaps I should say: They have difficulty raising campaign contributions.
The Tool assumed that by joining himself to McCain’s hip, he could secure the Vice-Presidential nomination or a high-level Cabinet appointment. This must have appeared as his only route to avoid obscurity. It didn’t work.
The Tool now has a “date with destiny” somewhere in a dark alley . . .