Video: The Commander-in-Chief test
posted at 3:00 pm on June 3, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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With Barack Obama close to victory in the Democratic primary — depending on whose calculations one uses — maybe it’s time to take a trip in the Wayback Machine to March. Hillary Clinton tried warning the Democrats that nominating Obama for the ticket would open a critical experience gap between Democrats and Republicans, whose nominee could claim a lifetime of knowledge and action on national security:
Why take a look at this now? If Hillary really does concede in the next few days, she will almost certainly begin giving speeches making Barack Obama sound like Winston Churchill. Having this reminder of her assessment of Obama’s sum-total experience on foreign policy — he “gave a speech once” — will serve as a fine rebuttal to any claims of superiority for a man who hasn’t yet finished his first term in national office.
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Meanwhile, Jimmuh is backing the Messiah.
amerpundit on June 3, 2008 at 3:03 PM
No big surprise there, since they’re cut from the same cloth.
crazy_legs on June 3, 2008 at 3:04 PM
And he wasn’t even PRESENT for half of that term.
Rovin on June 3, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Carter likes losers; maybe because he identifies with them.
AZCoyote on June 3, 2008 at 3:06 PM
This is why Obama will in no way put her on the ticket. I think rumors of such are silly.
terryannonline on June 3, 2008 at 3:08 PM
I expect Hillary to fade away rather quickly. This may or may not be permanant. I think that she will make a reasonable concession speech, then retire to her US Senate seat.
Hillary as VP seems to be more of a career-ender than anything else. Once VP (elected VP this time), she can’t go back to being a Senator, and her chances to be President will decrease.
Besides, “US Senator” has no clear boss, but “VP” does.
Arbalest on June 3, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Sometimes you just can’t argue.
drjohn on June 3, 2008 at 3:11 PM
We should be fair to Hillary here. Hillary has a duty to back Obama, and so it’s nothing against her that we should use her March statement to defeat Obama. Hillary isn’t wrong to back Obama despite her earlier statements, since no one we elect for president has the experience and the wisdom for the job. We just hope for the best, and we get fatally flawed people like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
thuja on June 3, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Silly, silly people. When the Messiah takes over, we will have no need for this thing you call a “military.” We’re going to taaaawwwk to enemies. And with our peace dividend, we’re going to buy carbon credits. Yippeeeee!
Sugar Land on June 3, 2008 at 3:11 PM
That’s because he had to fly back to Chicago so he wouldn’t miss Mass.
SPCOlympics on June 3, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Meanwhile, Jimmuh is backing the Messiah.
Yeah, and that traitorous appeasing backstabbing bonehead didn’t pass the Commander In Chief test even WHILE he was in the White House!
pilamaye on June 3, 2008 at 3:15 PM
What if Hillary wins big in SD and Montana, or one of them? How does that affect the outcome?, if at all?
Entelechy on June 3, 2008 at 3:16 PM
No, the Democratic establishment has already picked their nominee. They pulled the rug out of Hillary a while back.
terryannonline on June 3, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Barring a miracle, Hillary will ‘back’ Obama the way Ted Kennedy backed Jimmuh Carter in 1980. She has to run in 2012, or else never again. By 2016 she’ll be bypassed and forgotten.
Entelechy on June 3, 2008 at 3:18 PM
You’re probably right terryann, but I believe they’ll live to regret it.
Entelechy on June 3, 2008 at 3:19 PM
He doesn’t need to pass any CinC test as there won’t be a need for a CinC. Obama has already promised to cut funding to the miltitary and plans on talking our enemies into submission; who needs an army?
Welcome to the brave new America; Canada with more people.
Bishop on June 3, 2008 at 3:20 PM
According to Drudge:
Rick on June 3, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Carter evidently believes that he was just a man before his time. That the people threw him out because they didn’t understand how advanced he was. The U.S. wasn’t ready for a progressivelike he. So Barry’s election is a referendum on Carterism. If Barry wins, Carter is finally vindicated and can die happy. If not, he’ll just go back to thinking we just didn’t deserve him. That quiet, unassuming, peaceful man is an ego maniac, with a narcissistic streak a mile long– in some ways not unlike Bill Clinton.
JiangxiDad on June 3, 2008 at 3:21 PM
That’s when Chelsea picks up the slack and begins her run.
Rick on June 3, 2008 at 3:22 PM
It looks like we have a choice……Carter II or Bush III. The problem is McCain has never been a Republican and will bury the party if given the chance. The misery index of Carter gave us Reagan. History could repeat itself…..if we are still a viable country.
volsense on June 3, 2008 at 3:27 PM
I just wouldn’t wait until November to buy your guns and ammo. I expect a run on them after the election and after January they will probably be damn near impossible to get…unless you know somebody in the Blood and Crips who no doubt can give you a good discount.
Just A Grunt on June 3, 2008 at 3:27 PM
We see how well the Bush plan has worked … yawn
TOPV on June 3, 2008 at 3:27 PM
According to Drudge…
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 3, 2008 at 3:28 PM
She has been. It’s Team Obama that’s more than likely not going to be open to her. Michelle Obama doesn’t like the Glacier and the Clintons don’t leave their baggage at home.
amerpundit on June 3, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Channeling my inner Democrat……..
Well, you know that in the heat of primaries candidates will say things that aren’t part of the narrative when it comes to the general election. Senator Clinton certainly believes that she was the better candidate but she’s always put Obama as the second-best choice. What is important now is not focusing on Clinton’s stunning defeat and remembering that even an utterly unqualified Democrat is better than a Republican with twenty years of acting like a Democrat.
highhopes on June 3, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Carter likes losers; maybe because he identifies with them.
Well, he is from Georgia… he’s used to the Falcons and Braves. ;-)
- – DOH ! – -
cannonball on June 3, 2008 at 3:33 PM
I bet she is but what is important is if Obama is open to the idea!
highhopes on June 3, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Hillary open to McCain Veep slot???
morganfrost on June 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM
This is all I need to know
ConservativePartyNow on June 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM
How magnanimous of her. Again she is willing to cling to a man’s coat tails to gain proximity to power.
Akzed on June 3, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Even more bitter than him, is his wife. They have never forgiven this country for catapulting them out, in that extraordinary fashion. Frank Reynolds, the ABC anchor of that time said that night “It’s a rainy day in Georgia”.
Entelechy on June 3, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Should we consider it two for the price of one?
Akzed on June 3, 2008 at 3:43 PM
If bho wifeee doesn’t want hc for vp, it probably won’t happen. This little darling seems to wear the pants in the family. It would be something for pay per view if hc was vp. Seeing wifeee and hc go at it. With the egos of the two, bets would be placed on the outcome of who will place the first blow.
L
letget on June 3, 2008 at 3:46 PM
If he would do it quick, that is the only possible argument I could fathom for an Obama vote.
funky chicken on June 3, 2008 at 3:49 PM
D*mn taking the high road. Do you want to win?
SPCOlympics on June 3, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Drudge has become a conduit for the Obama campaign, just like the NYT. Those announcements coming right before she could win a primary election or two are pretty slimy.
I think the Obama campaign is putting that stuff out there to try to suppress her vote. I honestly can’t imagine her giving up her Senate future for a VP run….of course scumbag Kerry didn’t resign from the senate for the POTUS run, so I guess she may be looking at that.
I really doubt that even Hillary can plug all the holes in the SS Obama hopeychange.
funky chicken on June 3, 2008 at 3:52 PM
“If not, I’ll instruct my supporters to vote for McCain.”
Connie on June 3, 2008 at 3:53 PM
So, What are we saying in all of this?
“People aren’t sure whether they can trust, and they need some reassurance. And they’re not sure what the answer should look like, but we know a couple of things. People are hurting, life has gotten harder, things are tougher, so people are willing to step outside of their comfort zones, probably in a way that they wouldn’t before because the need is so great.”
–MO, 6/2/2008
Are we saying that Michelle Obama won’t “step outside her comfort zone” to allow Hillary to be Veep? That would seem kind of hypocritical on her part, no?
/sarc
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 3, 2008 at 3:55 PM
It sure does! Abd that boss would be Michelle My Belle Obama!
kcd on June 3, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Abdand (oops)kcd on June 3, 2008 at 4:07 PM
This one will be easy to spin.
Hillary didn’t actually say that Obama didn’t pass the CinC test.
She said that McCain clearly passed it, she felt she’d proven that she’d passed it and that “you’d have to ask Senator Obama if he’s qualified.”
All this requires is a quick spin of “Since then I’ve had many opportunities to sit and talk with Senator Obama and I can now say unequivocally that he is definitely qualified to be CinC.
JadeNYU on June 3, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Obama needs the superdelegates, he can’t win without them. SD and MT doesn’t matter.
Obama (if you count the committed delegates) needs 30.5 to win, Hillary needs 200 to win. .5 because Florida and Mich count as .5 each (superdelegates, different for the pledged delegates). There are 217 delegates not committed, so out of 217 Hillary needs 200 of them.
Per the Dem watch site.
right2bright on June 3, 2008 at 4:23 PM
shudder
funky chicken on June 3, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Rove just said Obama doesn’t even have the majority of votes – only 48.92%. He also said Hillary’s statement was a dig at Obama and I agree.
Connie on June 3, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Excellent.That was a killer comment!
That opeanut head deserves no respect since he shows none to the country. What a f**k**g moron.
crashman on June 3, 2008 at 4:50 PM
My 9 year old said today, “Mommy, a democrat’s going to win in November. Don’t spend any more money. Our taxes are about to go up.”
Smart kid.
We’re doomed.
pullingmyhairout on June 3, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Why fight it? This is the best possible outcome for the RNC. Obama can’t win in the general with all his baggage. So we end up with a loser republican in the white house and both branches of the congress under Dem control. It could have been much worse.
duff65 on June 3, 2008 at 4:57 PM
With Barry as Commander-in-Chief the thugs of the world would promptly “test” him soon after he assumed office.
Also, a military draft would not be far behind. How many would enlist or re-up to serve under an Obama administration.
diogenes on June 3, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Didn’t stop Bill Clinton who won the presidency in 1992 with only 43.0% percent of the vote.
wise_man on June 3, 2008 at 5:20 PM
You mean like they “tested” George Bush after he took office?
12thman on June 3, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Not unless you sit home and refuse to vote GOP. You hand Obama the WH on a silver platter, he’s surely gonna take it. I don’t understand the defeatism.
It’s not an option for me…my husband’s in the military.
funky chicken on June 3, 2008 at 5:33 PM
funky, you fight on, as best you can. And please tell your husband that we thank him for his sacrifices so we can pontificate freely, and sometimes idiotically. Hang in there and give some here hell, every time.
Entelechy on June 3, 2008 at 5:41 PM
The thugs did test George W Bush shortly after he took office–a Chinese fighter plane rammed a U.S. spy plane in April 2001, and its crew was taken hostage.
Obama would be a much more tempting target.
Osama for Obama, America for McCain.
Steve Z on June 3, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Hillary is voting McCain.
richardcamera on June 3, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will endorse Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for president when polls close in two primaries later on Tuesday, the Carter Center in Atlanta said.
richardcamera on June 3, 2008 at 5:57 PM
i got two words for you:
rez
ko.
reliapundit on June 3, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Great analysis!
thuja on June 3, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Let’s just take a quick look at an Obama administration:
1. Skyrocketing taxes
2. Unlimited social welfare programs
3. Unrestricted collaboration with our enemies
4. A military reduced to its bare bone structure and unfit for combat deployment with unrestricted, openly gay service members
5. Government control of civilian industries
6. Billions wasted on climate and environmental controls
7. God and church removed from every aspect of official life.
8. Oppression of the majority
9. Low quality health care through socialized medicine
10. And . . . The slow painful death of the Republic
rplat on June 3, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Wont have any need for a Constitution either.
abcurtis on June 3, 2008 at 6:56 PM
I think that you are ignoring the reality of the current state of affairs. Without her voters, he is Mondale Lite, and gets slaughtered. The same would have been true for Hillary, without the monolithic, racist black vote.
No, he will most certainly look at every conceivable way to involve her without giving away the farm.
Jaibones on June 3, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Obambi is toast in the general for SO many reasons. After he’s slaughtered in the general election (figuratively) we’re going to hear over and over how he lost because he’s black. Prepare yourselves people. It’s ALL going to be about race when he loses in a landslide. They’ll say “America just wasn’t ready for a black president.”
No we’re just not ready for a Marxist frat-boy.
Mojave Mark on June 3, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Don’t underestimate the wimpyness of the GOP leadership.
jukin on June 3, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Don’t worry – I’ll vote GOP. I always do. I don’t mean to sound defeatist, but the probability of McCain winning in November is slim. Most people are fed up with the GOP and would vote for Mickey Mouse if he were on the democratic ticket, just for a change of pace. Me? No way I can vote for a guy who pledges to raise my taxes. I vote with my wallet 99% of the time.
I have two nephews in the military. One has been deployed once and is going back this year and the other is getting ready to go to Basra this month or next. An Obama presidency scares the shit out of me.
pullingmyhairout on June 3, 2008 at 7:54 PM
I “Cliff noted” the reasons that he has a good chance of winning for you.
right2bright on June 3, 2008 at 7:56 PM
VP might be in the deal..but if I were OHussein I’d sure increase my SS detail 4 fold!
wepeople on June 3, 2008 at 7:58 PM
“…maybe it’s time to take a trip in the Wayback Machine to March. Hillary Clinton tried warning the Democrats that nominating Obama for the ticket would open a critical experience gap between Democrats and Republicans,…”
My dear, thuda…”Three times a charm!”
Believe me.
J_Gocht on June 3, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Steve, You have an excellent memory.
“Never let inexperience get in the way of ambition.”
diogenes on June 3, 2008 at 9:15 PM
The Dms have decided to thow away a chance at the Oval Office in order to look politically correct.
Works for me.
Now, how to force McCain to the right as often as possible (NO “Cap and Trade” follies & DO secure the borders), and retain as much control of the House and Senate as possible needs to be the goal.
Obama is a slow motion bus plunge.
Buy popcorn.
Vote.
profitsbeard on June 4, 2008 at 12:45 AM
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