Barack Obama doesn't rule out Hillary Clinton for vice president

[romantico]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:46pm

To all the other Hillary supporters, there is still some hope.

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama told a potential donor to his campaign that Hillary Rodham Clinton is on his list of possible vice presidential running mates, but that her husband's status as a former president makes matters "complicated."

Jill Iscol, a faithful Democratic donor who was an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, said Obama reached out to her because he heard she was unhappy about the way the New York senator had been treated by the Democratic Party and the media.

Iscol turned their phone conversation Thursday to the vice presidency -- something the Obama campaign has refused to discuss publicly. She said she told him that Clinton would be his best running mate.

Obama replied that she is on his list, Iscol recounted, and that it would be a mistake not to have her on such a list. But he also explained that he was thinking through a potential "complication" -- Bill Clinton.

"He said once you're a president, even if you're a former president, you're always a president," Iscol said.

That suggests Obama might be worried the White House could get crowded with Bill Clinton back on the scene.

Still, Iscol hung up believing Hillary Clinton had a shot. Obama didn't say that Bill Clinton would be a disqualifying factor, but he conveyed that he needed to grapple with what it would mean to have a former president as second spouse.

Obama also was willing to hear Iscol make the argument for Hillary Clinton as his No. 2.

"I said nobody has been vetted the way she has been vetted," Iscol said. "We need to pick the most qualified, wisest, smartest, experienced person to serve our country alongside of Barack Obama. And I think it's Hillary Clinton. We need her, and the party needs her, and it will be a ticket that will steamroll its way to the White House."

Iscol, who lives in Westchester, N.Y., describes herself as a donor-activist. She met Obama in 2004, at a dinner party on Martha's Vineyard, she said. During the party, her son, a Marine Corps officer, phoned from Iraq. Obama "expressed concern about my son, and subsequent to that, whenever I saw Barack Obama he was kind and thoughtful."

Along with many Clinton supporters, Iscol is closely watching the Obama campaign to see how it treats Clinton.

Asked if she might donate to Obama in the coming months, Iscol said she wanted to see if his campaign followed through on commitments to help Clinton pay down her debt.

Then there's the matter of the vice presidency.

Iscol said she may wait to see who Obama picks.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-veep12-2008jul12,0,3540067.story

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:20am

If she's so worried about Clinton's debt why isn't she paying it off? At the very least Obama, Obama shouldn't have to pay for commercials Clinton ran attacking him.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:28am

Well Obama needs her supporters to win, so look at it as if he's getting sometihng for the $$.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:30am

Perhaps she has already maxed out her donations and cannot donate any more personally.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:35am

Plus, didn't Obama say he would pay her debts (not including the loans she made from her own funds)? I read that as her seeing if he'll keep his word - fears that I don't think are unfounded.

[romantico]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 1:05am

Hillary is out there campaigning FOR him. She is bringing in a lot of money for him.

Clinton is still the favored choice for the other half of Democrats.MY half and a VP slot for someone who came razor close to winning outright should be a given at this point.It would be foolish to disregard the passion and energy that Hillary's grass-roots supporters had.

Posted: 7/12/08 at 2:07am

No he didn't promise to pay off her debt- in fact, he's not legally able to do that. He's addressed his donors and asked them to conribute and he's appeared at fundraisers for her.

So no one thought her tone & "demands" were at all out of line?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 2:10am

So no one thought her tone & "demands" were at all out of line?

Only the misogynists.

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:20pm

i always try and think what would happen if the roles were reversed, if Clinton just narrowly beat Obama for the nomination... do you think she would actually try and retire his debt in the same manner? Do you think she would entertain his demands of him being at the front and center of the vp bid? i highly highly doubt it...

[romantico]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:45pm

I disagree. I think she would.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 1:50pm

I absolutely disagree. I think she would be in the same boat he is in now.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 4:11pm

Where's romantico's last post?

[romantico]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 4:16pm

Phyliss, I had to click on your profile to read yours.I saw you posted a comment but when I clicked on the thread it was not there.

Here was my post:

"I agree. Obama voted for FISA and Hillary against it. Imagine if she won the nomination and voted for it and he against it. Double standards.Trust me, the day is coming where they will turn on Obama as they did on her and for the same reasons."

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 04:16 PM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 4:18pm

he hasn't mollified the clinton supporters enough yet so he can't just come out and say, "there's no effin' way she's getting the veep slot, you white devils!" so he plays for time, lets the process wend its way slowly along and hopes that his supporters kick in to retire her debt, and that hers warm up to him. meanwhile he continues begging her to say that after careful consideration that she feels her best place is in the senate helping the people of new york.

she's not getting the veep slot. my money is still on richardson. he didn't kick those delegates to bammy for nothing. if he gets blown off after bowing out like that, it says to all the other career politicians that bammy is out for bammy alone and will screw over anyone and anything to get what he wants. i think that reality ought to have been obvious to them by now, but if he goes with anyone but senor wences, it will hammer it home to anyone who still thinks the kool-aid tastes like anything but hemlock.

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 04:18 PM

[romantico]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 4:56pm

I think you are right Papa. A lot of my friends automatically assume I am voting for Obama. His rabid foaming at the mouth supporters have done more harm to his image than the right wing as far as I can see. I have a Hillary window cling in my car that I still have up and my Obama supporting friends get very angry over it. My attitude is that their guy got the nomination so why so angry? They expect Hillary supporters to bow down to Obama. When Bill Clinton said he supported Obama they did not feel his gratitude and admiration was strong enough. This is how it is. Unless you are a big fan and say nice things about 24/7 then you really do now want change and you are a bad Democrat. Its this attitude alone that is making me bitter and angry. Who Obama picks as his VP will be the deciding factor for me. If it is Richardson, I won't vote.

I think you are right on when Obama is in this for Obama only.He has proven he will say anything to get elected (they accused Hillary of the very same thing convinced he was OH SO DIFFERENT than her)Obama has a chance to unite the party. If he screws that up how can he unite the country? I am no McCain supporter but at least I know what he is and what he stands for.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 5:36pm

Bastard or not, who do you want choosing US Supreme Court Justices that WILL affect your rights?

It may suck. It may be choosing the lesser of two evils.

[romantico]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 5:49pm

jrb, I agree with you 100% however, look at what Obama said last week about abortion. We know where he stands on gay marriage. Just because he has a (D) after his name does not mean he will pick a liberal judge to the Supreme court. Still, I am hoping my mind changes between now and November. He has to do A LOT between now and then.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 5:56pm

remember, rom, i'm saving you a seat on the straight talk express...and a big gulp sized cosmo.

[romantico]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 6:16pm

That sounds fine Papa. Its a long way between now and November. Both Obama and McCain really need to pick their VP's well. I hope you are wrong about Obama picking Hillary, but my gut says you are right.

Posted: 7/13/08 at 8:43pm

Romantico please tell me what Obvama said about abortion last week that upset you so?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 8:46pm

I would presume it is this:

"Obama then added: "Now, I don't think that 'mental distress' qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term."

Last year, after the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on late-term abortions, Obama said he "strongly disagreed" with the ruling because it "dramatically departs form previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women."

The health care exception is crucial to abortion rights advocates and is considered a legal loophole by abortion opponents. By limiting the health exception to a "serious physical issue," Obama set himself apart from other abortion rights proponents.

The official position of NARAL Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group that endorsed Obama in May, states: "A health exception must also account for the mental health problems that may occur in pregnancy. Severe fetal anomalies, for example, can exact a tremendous emotional toll on a pregnant woman and her family."
Mental Distress Does Not Justify Late Term Abortions

[romantico]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 8:53pm

Are you toying with me or do you always ask questions you know the answer to? Just asking.


https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=971683&boardname=off&dt=2&boardid=2

Updated On: 7/13/08 at 08:53 PM

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:00pm

Argh BWay world ate my post!

1) It's been his position all along. It's Hillary's position too.

2) The "Mental Health" loophole affects about 1 in 10,000 abortiions.

3) Clinton & Obama have the same position on Gay marriage.

4) Barack Obama supporters foam at the mouth? What about Pal Joey?

[romantico]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:10pm

Pal Joey is a Hillary supporter. Obama has the nomination so we really don't matter now do we.As long as we shut up smile and give Obama our votes thats all that matters.The Obama supporters feel its OK to STILL bash Hillary and her supporters and order them to vote for Obama or else. Hillary is way more gay friendly than Barack is and his position on abortion has moved closer to the center. Obama will say anything to get elected.To be fair, Hillary would have as well and we know McCain will, its politics. Its just that Obama sold himself as the guy who was different and now we are seeing he is more and more like Hillary. The Obama supporters hated Hillary because she would say whatever to get elected. She moved to the center. She was on the O'Reilly Factor, she did all these things Obama is doing now. What happens if Obama goes on FOx? Will they call him Judas? Will they become as angry towards him as they did with Hillary?

At least with Hillary I knew what I was getting. I am still wondering with Obama and that is what is making me hesitate on voting for him.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:14pm

Well, I guess if you are the one in 10,000, it might matter to you.

And the position is an erosion of the rights granted under Roe - where mental health issues (and not those rising to the level of a diagnosed mental disorder) were justification.

He back peddled from his original position, to indicate that he would allow abortions for "serious clinical mental-health diseases" which is a higher threshold than under current precedent. It is the same standard adopted by Scalia and Thomas.