Obama-Clinton '08?
Hillary Clinton gave a defiant non-concession speech, but the final curtain reportedly will fall on the Clinton-Obama drama on Saturday. Barack Obama isn't waiting for the lights to come up. He has named Caroline Kennedy, former deputy attorney general Eric Holder and Jim Johnson to lead the search for a vice presidential running mate.
But Clinton backers are saying: We got your veep and she's "absolutely ready." The campaign to put Clinton on the ticket is being led by Lanny Davis, who has posted an online petition:
We write you because we believe it is very important for the Democrats to win back the presidency in 2008. To do so, we must field the strongest possible ticket for the Democratic Party. We believe the 2008 election could be close. And your selection of a vice presidential candidate may make the difference between victory and defeat.
We write to urge you to select Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to be your choice for vice president because we believe that she would be, by far, the most qualified and strongest candidate to be your running mate.
Clinton's ace boon coon, Bob Johnson, is also pushing a "unity ticket." In a letter to Rep. James Clyburn, Johnson wrote:
Now that you have endorsed Senator Obama as the Presidential Nominee of the Democratic Party; I, as a long-time supporter of Senator Clinton and of the Democratic Party, urge you to do everything possible to unify this party to win the Presidential election in November. For me and millions of other Democrats, I believe that the most important step that you can take now is to encourage the Congressional Black Caucus to urge Senator Obama to select Senator Hillary Clinton as his Vice Presidential running mate. ...
You know as well as I the deep affection that millions of African Americans hold for both Senator Clinton and President Clinton. ... But most important, we need to have the certainty of winning; and, I believe, without question, that Barack Obama as President and Hillary Clinton as Vice President bring that certainty to the ticket.
Johnson apparently didn't get the memo that African Americans are through with Hillary and Bill Clinton. Besides, Johnson has little credibility with black folks and none with the presumptive nominee. Obama is more likely to heed the advice of Jimmy Carter: Don't go there.
