Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sure were chummy during last night’s CNN-sponsored debate. Obama started off on the right foot by assuring the voters – particularly the Democrats – that he and Hillary are friends. Said the Senator from Illinois, “And I also want to note that I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over.” He did, however, first thank John Edwards, the Democrats new saint, as one pundit put it later in the evening.
Clinton also gave Edwards some love, but made sure to extend an olive branch to Obama, as well.
The debate turned out to be less bickering and more mutual masturbation as the candidates took a unified front. “As we move forward in this debate,” said Obama, “Understand we are both Democrats and we understand the issues at stake. We want change from George Bush.” Clinton echoed Obama’s comments, but with a bit more self-awareness than the younger politico, “I think we as Democrats have to be willing to fight for universal health care.”
Iraq proved to be the only place the candidates showed real difference as Clinton again defended her vote to go to war. Regardless of this bellicose difference, Obama and Clinton sure did make a great show of it, which inevitably led to the trouble-making Wolf Blitzer (who, we feel, picked on Hillary unnecessarily) to inquire:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The more I speak to Democrats out there — not only the Democrats here at the Kodak Theatre, but all over the country — they take a look at the two of you and they see potentially a dream ticket. A dream ticket for the White House.
There may have been some nasty words exchanged or angry words or whatever, but the question is this: Would you consider an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket going down the road?
Things got so hot in the theater, Stevie Wonder stood up and did a bit of a jig. Perhaps he was shaking off some political ejaculate?
Obama left the door open a little more than Clinton, who also used the occasion for a bit of tacky self-promotion for her national town hall meeting Monday. (Strategist Mark Penn later got a plug in on MSNBC, as well. Shrewd!) The message was clear, though: “We are both dedicated to doing the best we can to win the nomination, but there is no doubt we will have a unified Democratic Party.”
It seems to us that a Clinton/Obama ticket may be the best route for the Democrats. We put Clinton first because, let’s face it, Hillary ain’t going to be VP, especially not to Barack Obama. Obama, however, could fit quite nicely in the role and such a scheme could potentially lay the groundwork for a sixteen year Democratic run. That is, however, a bit of a quixotic, potentially naive projection – and not necessarily what the candidates want. The Democratic candidates, however, would be well-advised to consider such a tag team.
emb
If Hillary wins the delegate count legitimately (i.e., not by some magical reactivation of Florida and Michigan delegates), she will be hard-pressed to look to anyone other than Obama for the veep spot: passing him over for Some White Guy would be a political disaster; selecting a Different Black Man could rightly appear patronizing. Obama would bring younger, black, and more independent voters to the Dems, which might help offset the unified republican dreadnaught poised to be be unleased against Hillary. Plus, as you guys say, we could set up 16 years of dem rule.
Obama, on the other hand, has a little more latitude in who he could pick, especially since HC would be highly unlikely to accept a #2 spot, as Queerty points out. On the other hand, Hillary (and hubs) would be extremely effective in the Attack Dog role traditionally taken by the VP candidate, and could absorb the republican spewage, leaving Obama free to be all visionary and optimistic and positive–the stuff he does best.
In any case, after watching the two of them last night behave like rational grownups, I think I could happily vote either way. I still prefer Obama (because I don’t think the US is a business that needs an antagonistic micromanager at the top, but rather someone who can insprire, unify, and lead), but I wouldn’t have to hold my nose too much to vote for Hillary either. Damn it, I just want a Dem to win the white house, and a bunch more dems in the Congress. For all their many shortcomings, a dem-dominated gov would ultimately be better for us homos, and better for America and the world.
Jason in Oakland
It’s almost as if EMB above me read my mind. My sentiments exactly.
blackiemiko
I agree too. I WANT Obama, but either way they HAVE to RUN TOGETHER to beat the Repugs.
abelincoln
-And I also want to note that I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over.-
What about DURING the campaign.
Obama said early on he isn’t interested in being VP.
gary
so you guys are for either of these fake, phoney, grifters! Hill is well documented crook !
Obama great speaker but dumb as a rock !
Bookem Dano
You know who is a convicted felon? Cheney’s chief of staff. Not Hillary. Take a deep breath because you’re looking at 16 years of democrats, douche.
gary
convicted of nothing. Bill (sleze)Clinton pardoned all his convict buddies. (but only after he hit them up for “donations” in cash.)
deep breath? more like hold my nose from the H/O
O/H stink but dont think I will have to.
Douche? as expeted usual low class liberal name calling but then you would know what a douche is.
(Hint: look in mirror)
blayne
You are outnumbered gary, but thanks for making us look like a diverse community.
gary
Thanks Blayne, at least ONE class gay on this site. I am gay by the way and believe me not all gays are looney libs. (we think) remember “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder” see book by that title.
only outnumbered on this site, see states that have voted yes on gay marrage…..0….
Bookem Dano
Thanks for proving my point, Gary. You’re a douche.
arealpilot
Gary: He’s dumb ? Excuse me ? Did you graduate Magna Cum Laude from Harvard ? Did you help Laurence Tribe write a paper ? Did you even get in to a school at that level ?
gary
arealpolot: No, Grad from class school UVA ! You?
dano, I prefer douchbag when dealing with you “kind”
Bookem Dano
Keep trying to divide people like Bush did, see how far that takes the “conservatives.”
gary
demos are the divided ones, everyone knows the H and the O hate each other…how scared must the rad islams murders be of those two poofs > we fags will be the first without heads when we are “defended” by the H/O idiots.
arealpilot
gary: Yes – PhD in Engineering from Stanford. And frankly, having gone to both a large state school and Stanford, I can tell you there is no comparison. The level of competition required to succeed is an order of magnitude higher.
You may not like Obama, but he is certainly not dumb! To thrive as he did in that environment says something for both his raw intelligence and his persistence. Quite a change from the “C” student frat boy we have as president now.
seitan-on-a-stick
You are all so “Old Europe” get over your backward-ness. Hillary and Barack have already done the backroom deal (hello, LA debate) hence no John Edwards-Al Gore Endorsement until Hillary wipes the floor on Super Tuesday (New York and California). Hell, I give lessons to you naive children of a lesser media brain! They (as in the profit-based media)want this race to go on but Rank and File Democrats (majority) want this over with on Super Tuesday with a Clinton-Obama ticket. Come on people, we are invaded by dumb-ass desperates like emb, jason in oakland, blackiemiko and gary (self-hating) Like Hillary, I went on a Listening tour of Black women and it’s the issues baby. Hillary will be the next President and now we need to come together or join ‘Wifebeaters for McCain”….I think not! Even the Republicans (half these bloggers) hate this Clinton Ascendancy while promoting the less experienced Obama for the fortitude and experience of Clinton. Remeember, it takes a Clinton to Clean Up after a Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
seitan-on-a-stick
I loved this Anti-Bush T shirt: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/clinton+clean+up/-/pv_design_prod/id_17511488/p_storeid.106109892/pNo_106109892
emb
Seitan– feel free to disagree with what I thought was a fairly thoughtful post, but do try to be a bit rational and please: I am neither dumb-ass nor desperate, and hardly an “invader” here. Feel free to love HC all to bits, and I’ll happily come together once a few more votes have been cast. You’re falling into the profit-based media trap yourself, hon: rank and file dems are pretty happily split on this one, and deserve a chance to vote before demogogues make the call on our behalf.
M Shane Walsh
Even back in New Hampshire, the Party chiefs were scolding the Clintons for party devisiveness; If you recall, in Hillary’s tearful charade, she was claiming that without her the country would be demolished & Bill was cussing up a storm about Obama. The people who really ran the Party finally got through to them both to get past their egos and see the incredible burden that they both bear. Escape the Bush conspiracy at the very least! We will be totally irretruivably fucked forever if we’re not forever.
The Kennedy endorsement for Obama may have clalified any doubts or questions any Democrats had and pushed the primary into heis hands. Despite Hillaries follish offhandedness about it, JFK is one of the most revered of American presidents by a huge number of People: the closest thing that we had to a beloved president in memorable history.
I’m sure that with Bill being her tag team mate, that the two of them would not be Vice president together. It will be hard enough if they are president. It has long been the case that Vice Pres office is a death sentence . So I suspect that It will be one or the other of them.
seitan-on-a-stick
The media has tried to call this campaign from the very start from Hillary being the Establishment candidate to Barack being the Media Darling. It’s all to prolong the race for television advertising dollars, weaken the Democrats and Coronate the Republicans. Some of us Democrats want this wrapped up with the Dream team so we can go after the God-Offal-Party. emb is too sensitive and does not realize that I am addressing the onlookers who quote this Blog in the media and Gary is the Republican sent to divide us with anti-Clinton talk. M Shane Walsh is still drunk!! Obama should accept the Vice Presidency on Wednesday I expect.
seitan-on-a-stick
PS-Go Giants!
M Shane Walsh
I have yet to see one reason why anyone would see Hillary as a superior candidate .
People have really dim memories when it comes to assesing her consistent approval of Bushes war;even after all of the lies and perversity came out she never apologized for destroying every remnant an ancient culture and murdering masses of innocent people. That is why we are shamed in the world. She even gave Bush excesses of money to do with as he pleases: with this, just recently, he told the Turks to go in and bomb hundreds of innocent Kurds. When it comes to “experience” that is malarkey: she didn’t sponser anything and did almost nothing as a Senator. She did have experience tolerating Bill .. Must have been worth it ! Oh! now I get it, she gets to be president for missed head jobs(?)
seitan-on-a-stick
Because it takes a Clinton to Clean Up after a Bush! Barack can be the Attack Dog so she can keep her Crown intact. Don’t hate me on February 6th when I am right, again!