The Democratic Party Soap Opera Goes Wide
07 August 2008 12:05 pm by Taylor Marsh
It’s like high school, only the stakes are much higher. But, I told you so. How in the world did grown ups who want to run the free world get in this position?
Clinton has made it clear that she is not considering formally fighting Sen. Barack Obama for the nomination in Denver later this month. But her supporters, some still riled from the close primary contest, have threatened to create at least a disturbance if she is not given enough respect, including, possibly, having her name entered into contention and the votes of her delegates read aloud.
Democrats and others sick of the Republicans either want to kick the GOP out in November or we don’t. All this angst, drama, and traditional media spin about the ongoing drama being pushed forward between the Clintons and the Obama, compliments of the unhinged fringe, is only going to result in one thing. A McCain victory. It doesn’t matter how thin the unity is or if people are having trouble. We all have to agree on one thing: kicking the Republicans out. However, what we’ve got today is non stop “Democrats United?” being broadcast everywhere. No doubt it satisfies the anti Obama zealots and the Clinton haters, but especially the fringe groups trying to push Clinton’s name into nomination. But all it’s succeeding in doing is pushing Hillary Clinton off a political cliff. It’s doing absolutely nothing for our chances against Republicans in November.
Ari Melber on MSNBC last hour:
“I think it’s kind of sad and it’s somewhat irrelevant for the Clintons to be going through these machinations, and according to the ABC News report, she doesn’t even really plan to go through with it. So again, it’s just talk. … Hillary is talking about her self, her feelings,” her campaign. It’s unfortunate, because she’s not living up to her promise to support Obama.
Now, Melber and “The Nation” are no fans of Senator Clinton, but the story circulating does not help Hillary.
Hillary is responding to supporters who think they have her best interests in mind, but all they’re doing is building up more antipathy towards her among party regulars and activists who want to win in November.
Additionally, if the anti Obama zealots get their wish and Obama loses in November, which is still unlikely, though possible. Does anyone believe what’s currently unfolding will be forgotten?
Then there’s the number one issue for Democrats wanting to win: Hillary as Obama’s veep. Via Rasmussen:
Sixty-four percent (64%) of women rate Clinton’s conduct since the beginning of June as good or excellent, and the identical number (64%) expect her to run for the presidency if Obama loses.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of women – but only 23% of men — think Obama should pick Clinton as his running mate. Forty-four percent (44%) of female voters and 56% of male voters disagree.
Forty percent (40%) of African-Americans rate Clinton’s behavior Excellent since dropping out of the race, but 59% want Obama to pick someone else as his running mate. Forty-two percent (42%) of black voters believe Clinton wants to see Obama win, but 30% disagree.
A survey in late July found that among the possible Democratic vice presidential candidates, Clinton was second only to former North Carolina Senator John Edwards in terms of favorability among voters.
This is why Democrats lose elections. Because by stirring “the Clinton drama” story up one thing becomes more certain above all else. It makes HRC impossible to choose as Obama’s vice presidential pick. It gives Obama supporters an excuse, highlighting their “reasons” as relevant. Because as good as Obama is, and he is good, there’s only one person who can make him stronger in November. That person is Hillary Clinton, which the daily Democratic soap opera diminishes, because it vaults the media’s Clinton fetish on highlighting drama over substance more relevant than winning.
