US Politics

A Vice President Clinton?

 Plenty of tricks up the sleeve

The Republicans are loving this attempt by Clinton to destroy Obama. If she can’t get the nomination she will not stop until he chooses her as his running mate, and maybe pay her campaign debts. Deep down she knows Obama probably won’t agree. How could he, when she represents everything he abhors about the way politics is presently conducted? He also knows that the money he has raised is not to be used for bailing out an opponent’s poorly conducted and conceived campaign. That in itself could appear as though he was attempting to buy the nomination. Clinton’s campaign debt is her problem, not her opponents.

With the right VP running mate, Barack given time to hammer McCain, would unify the Democrats in a way they could only dream of, and to date Barack’s dream is doing just fine.

The Clinton modus operandi and what it represents needs to be excised from Politics not encouraged. The very idea of a Clinton Vice Presidency would be counter to all of the values Barack espoused to those who embraced his message of change. It could cost him the election and Clinton would blame him. The flame of hope he lit would be instantly snuffed out for at least another generation. The status quo and the Clintons way of doing things would continue, and everything would quickly return to the Washington way. And four years hence Clinton would demand a clear run for the Presidency. Either way Clinton wins and Barack Obama and his supporters lose. Barack must realise this will be his only chance. I have a feeling he knows it.

Barack is not yet the nominee. At the moment that objective must be his only priority. Without the nomination he can achieve nothing. And in the game of Politics the words “Presumptive nominee” mean nothing. The title “Nominee” is his grand final ticket.

A Profile of a possible Obama Vice President

In my original profile of Barack Obama “The Power of One” I listed the qualifications, skills, attributes and abilities I saw in Senator Obama as the future President of the United States of America. 

Appreciating his present position it is interesting to contemplate the type of person he might seek to be his Vice Presidential running mate should he become the Party nominee.  First on the agenda would be his consideration of the personal qualities, skills and political abilities available from a short list of potential running mates. He would also focus on those who have displayed an ability to develop and maintain a successful executive and marital partnership. Finally the political pros and cons would be examined and debated. In politics those considerations are critical to any success.

A contender would need to be compatible with Barack and example a record of trustworthiness, sage judgement, loyalty, temperament, particular skills and experience, a record of service in government, an impeccable reputation and a proven ability to work constructively and effectively with people. In other words someone quite special for America’s second most important executive position. The type of person who could and would perform valuable work in a future Obama administration. In addition a running mate must be genuninely prepared to put aside any personal Presidential ambitions for at least four to eight years. 

I am of the view that Barack Obama will be the nominee. The Democratic Party needs everything he has built as well as the standard of representation he offers. If the Oval Office incumbent is to be a Democrat again, the Party urgently needs to acknowledge what the voters already know “He is the one they have been waiting for”.