Denver discord real, deepening between Clintons and Obama
posted at 8:20 am on August 25, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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If Democrats hoped for a Mile High Unityfest, they will find themselves bitterly disappointed — as bitter and disappointed as Bill and Hillary Clinton. Politico reports from the scene that Bill has complained about the role assigned to him on Wednesday night, and Hillary remains offended by Obama’s freeze-out on the VP nomination. Obama and senior DNC officials have had just about all they can take from the Clintons as well, as Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen report from the Pepsi Center:
One flashpoint is the assigned speech topic for former president Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to speak Wednesday night, when the convention theme is “Securing America’s Future.” The night’s speakers will argue that Obama would be a more effective commander in chief than his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).
The former president is disappointed, associates said, because he is eager to speak about the economy and more broadly about Democratic ideas — emphasizing the contrast between the Bush years and his own record in the 1990s.
This is an especially sore point for Bill Clinton, people close to him say, because among many grievances he has about the campaign Obama waged against his wife is a belief that the candidate poor-mouthed the political and policy successes of his two terms.
Small wonder Obama didn’t want Hillary on the ticket. The combination of the three egos would have eventually proven toxic. However, LBJ’s point about the direction of urination regarding the tent may have been instructive, had Obama cared to consider it, and this may be the latest example.
Team Obama hasn’t exactly helped the situation, either. Allen reports that some of his team have compared the Clintons to Japanese soldiers on bypassed Pacific islands after Hirohito surrendered, not accepting that the war is over. They complain, apparently to anyone who’ll listen, that the Clintons have forced Obama to do all the work in repairing the breach in the Democratic party, which seems laughable on its face. Why not call Hillary just to get her advice on his VP pick? Even if one wanted to ignore the obvious healing quality of a 15-minute conversation on this topic, one can presume that she would have given him better advice than Pick Joe Biden.
Now Bill has to give a speech outlining Barack Obama’s resumé on foreign policy and national security, which under normal circumstances would qualify as the shortest speech at a major political convention; it might not outlast his introduction. That’s a big, big mistake, because few people can talk as effectively about middle America’s economic concerns as Bill Clinton. Why saddle Bill with a task that would be better suited to Bill Richardson or anyone else? Maybe Obama thinks that Bill throws the best bull in the party, but Obama isn’t going to win this race on foreign policy; his only chance is to win it on the economy, and he’s misusing his greatest asset.
Maybe the frustration the Clintons feel comes from the fact that they actually lost to this candidate.
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Bill Clinton speaking on national security?!? Who’s going to talk about healthcare? Moe, Larry and Curly? That who’ll speech is going to be one huge joke.
guitarplayer on August 25, 2008 at 8:25 AM
Am I really in? Pass me some popcorn, hold the greasy butter.
BuckeyeSam on August 25, 2008 at 8:27 AM
An evil cackle rose over the convention hall in Denver on Monday as the DNC hoped for unity. “As I rip off Chris Matthews leg, I’m going to shove it and unity up his a$$” hissed Hillary Clinton as she rubbed her evil hands together. “When Carl Rove finishes my speech to the delegates, they shall all vote for me…Muwahahahahahah!!!!!!”
sabbott on August 25, 2008 at 8:28 AM
This elephant must be addressed for better or worst, everyone knows it’s there, to pretend it is not is foolish
chasnleo on August 25, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Let’s be serious. Obama and Hillary could have shown up and made out, and Ed still would have rolled out this post.
No mention of the fact that she released all her delegates to him? If she were still that bitter, she wouldn’t have done that.
e-pirate on August 25, 2008 at 8:29 AM
Lol, lets see… he grew up listening to sweet prayer music in indonesia… vacationed in pakistan… tried on cloths in kenya… and speechified in Berlin…
ninjapirate on August 25, 2008 at 8:29 AM
She’ll fall in goose step, all good commies do…
jbh45 on August 25, 2008 at 8:31 AM
This. Is. Deliciously. Entertaining.
And while I think Bill is subhuman, I still have respect for his ability to talk about domestic economic issues. Obama is cutting off his nose to spite his face with this one.
Anna on August 25, 2008 at 8:33 AM
This should be rich. Especially after 2004 empahsized Kerry’s military credentials by “reporting for doody.” Of course, the voters have very short memories.
Wethal on August 25, 2008 at 8:33 AM
So Obama wants Bill to lie for him, but Bill would rather talk about himself. And the polls are tied? In a sane world there would be a 20-30 point margin for Juan in November. And if he was a real conservative….
pugwriter on August 25, 2008 at 8:35 AM
If Barry wants to try to turn the election on his fitness to be CinC the election is very likely already over but the gnashing of moonbat teeth.
sven10077 on August 25, 2008 at 8:36 AM
I’m having a lot of fun low key “rubbing salt in the wound” with Hillary supporters. Whenever you get a chance, remind a Democrat how much Hillary was screwed over. The facial contortions are hillary-ous!
Star20 on August 25, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Me thinks Hillary,might launch a Blitzkrieg,
or sumpin sneaky,kinda link the Battle of the
Bulge,Liberal style on Denver UNITY/DISUNITY/08′!
canopfor on August 25, 2008 at 8:37 AM
I thought the main reason for the messiah’s coronation is because he knows how to bring people together.
That’s not the naked emporor I thought I knew!
singlemalt_18 on August 25, 2008 at 8:38 AM
Now, they look to Wesley Clark who said that it’s bad thing to have served in the military.
guitarplayer on August 25, 2008 at 8:39 AM
I hope they do recreate 68. Those who are protesting appear to have not even been born until 80, so they do not remember that the 68 convention the eye opening event that woke up average Americans to what the Democratic party is and they have lost more presidentials than they have won ever since.
church on August 25, 2008 at 8:39 AM
I always love how the candidate of ‘hope and change’ is hoping that Hillary supporters will change their minds about him.
Right-brained on August 25, 2008 at 8:40 AM
Does anyone believe Bill is actually going to stick to the script?
Dariaanne on August 25, 2008 at 8:40 AM
This is politics. Here, I’ll read the future for you:
both Hillary and Bill toe the line and ‘raise the roof’ for Obama, startling everyone looking for divisiveness.
Then, if Obama wins, Hillary is rescued from being one voice in 100 (Senate) to become Obama’s Secretary of State. She gets to fly around the world as our Representative, waging Peace. Bill is paid off in kind, possibly supported for his next run at public office: Secretary General of the United Nations.
All of this flummery is dependent upon an Obama win in November. When McCain wins, look for Hillary to opt out of another term in the Senate, choosing to retire rather than continue as one voice in 100. Bill will continue to do his “Dewey Cox” impression.
Doug on August 25, 2008 at 8:41 AM
Great political strategy! Have the man most responsible for the conditions leading to the 9/11/01 atrocities get up and tell us that Democrats can be trusted on these issues.
highhopes on August 25, 2008 at 8:44 AM
Of course not! That’s why the Dems are going with a 30 second delay button! ;-0
highhopes on August 25, 2008 at 8:45 AM
Exactly!!
I have been busting my democratic friends chops for months
over the fact that all I heard for years from them was:
“The Clinton economy was the best of times”
“What a great legacy,peace and prosperity”
“Clinton was so intelligent and well spoken”
If the Clinton’s were so great and possessed such a great legacy,how come they couldn’t beat out a lightweight like
Obama who has no accomplishments or achievements what-so-ever.
Reality has never been a strong foundation for liberals and
their ideology,they will jump on any band wagon for whatever
reason if it sounds good and they tow the party line.
Wire tapping,campaign finance,gun laws,NAFTA,keeping troops
in Iraq based on conditions on the ground,taking money from
lobbyist and big oil,drilling……the list goes on and on
where Obama has “CHANGED” positions in the “HOPE” of making more money and getting votes, smacking his liberal sheep right in the face.
“Yes ‘O’ great one”
“Whatever you say ‘O’ great one”
“Point the way to the cliff you want me to walk off of ‘O’
great one”
The same dam# way democrats talked about the Clintons before they threw them under the bus.
Baxter Greene on August 25, 2008 at 8:45 AM
I think if the Clintons could’ve been bought off it would already be a done deal.
Right-brained on August 25, 2008 at 8:45 AM
I have strong hopes that the Clintons will not do the politically correct thing and blast Obama, but knowing that Hillary will want to run in four years, there’s a slim to no chance that will occur.
MeeMa2008 on August 25, 2008 at 8:46 AM
My guess is that Hillary Clinton will want to stay in the Senate and become the next Teddy Kennedy (decades of doing absolutely nothing and getting paid well for doing it). Bill Clinton might want a role in Obama’s administration but even Obama isn’t that stupid.
highhopes on August 25, 2008 at 8:47 AM
I would suggest that the Clintons can be bought off- they just haven’t been offered enough yet.
highhopes on August 25, 2008 at 8:48 AM
If we’re lucky the ONE will continue to make stupid mistake after stupid mistake.
Browncoatone on August 25, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Obama’s loss in the election will be Hillary’s gain, as she will get another try in 4 years instead of 8. Anyone who thinks that because she is giving up her delegates to Obama that she is actually going to work for his success, is naive. A lot of things go on behind the scenes that we do not know about.
bloggless on August 25, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Thanks for the suggestion. Philly streets have been full of Obamaniacs this summer asking people to register to vote so the “Democrats can take back the White House.” I have been saying “No way,” but I think I’ll change to “Hillary was robbed!”
Wethal on August 25, 2008 at 8:50 AM
The payoff is winning the election.
bloggless on August 25, 2008 at 8:50 AM
HWR’s - folks who believe that “Hillary Was Robbed”.
bloggless on August 25, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Obama screwed Clinton on helping her pay back her loans. That alone is enough for her delegates to give Obama a hard time. What the hell did he expect?
Blake on August 25, 2008 at 8:58 AM
And let me remind you dear readers, she has not YET given up her delegates………..
ArmyAunt on August 25, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Both Clintons remind me of Dukakis in ‘88, when he looked into the camera and, talking about G.H.W. Bush said “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy” (or was that a SNL skit?).
Relish this, but keep your fingers crossed that McCain doesn’t cause the same consternation next week on our side with his VEEP pick.
lionheart on August 25, 2008 at 9:00 AM
We’re on the same page. I just don’t think that Obama’s ego, of Michelle for that matter, will allow him to give the Clintons what they need for appeasement. Hence, they cannot be bought.
Right-brained on August 25, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Screw Dark Knight. This is entertainment.
Pablo on August 25, 2008 at 9:04 AM
The Dems– candidates, party leaders, and their sheep-like partisan voters — have always struck me as being still stuck in high school. The cliques combat in overt and subversive ways in order to win the class presidency or prom queen crown with methods more suitable to adolescents. What a party of children!
onlineanalyst on August 25, 2008 at 9:07 AM
Yes, ep, let’s be serious. FACT: The last time I checked this was Monday and the Clinton delegates are not going to be “released” until Wednesday.
And if you don’t think this woman is THAT BITTER, along with millions of PUMAS, a quick visit to the doctors to check the ears and eyes might be in order.
Rovin on August 25, 2008 at 9:10 AM
Hillary fares better if McCain wins and she can run again in four years.
Bill will either 1) screw the Obama people and say whatever he wants (i.e. talk about himself), and be happy, or 2) stick to script and look as if he’s faking every minute of it, which he will be, and look unhappy. This will feed the Hillary supporters.
This convention is not a happy thing. Bill, Obama, Joe Biden, Michelle Obama —- put ‘em in a glass and shake and you have poison.
BigD on August 25, 2008 at 9:13 AM
And more, from CNN: “Sixty-six percent of Clinton supporters, registered Democrats who want Clinton as the nominee, are now backing Obama. That’s down from 75 percent in the end of June. Twenty-seven percent of them now say they’ll support McCain, up from 16 percent in late June.”
If Obama doesn’t have a 10-15 point lead in national polls leading into election day, he loses this election. At least 10% of the Dem vote will not pull the lever for Obama when in the privacy of the booth. These folks know their people; know that you must keep this information secret or suffer the consequences.
In my view, Obama will lose this election in a landslide simply because he is not qualified for the position of potus, and he is a radical Liberal… Simple as that…
Keemo on August 25, 2008 at 9:13 AM
This is by far the most important point on this blog today, and cannot be overemphasized.
It looks to me like John McCain has just run an almost perfect rope-a-dope here. He has scared Obama into making this an election about foreign policy and not the economy. And Obama’s ego is so huge that he actually thinks he can win that election.
I’ll tell you something else about Bill Clinton. He does not have a poker face when he gives speeches. I’ve seen him give a speech that his heart was not in, and it’s a dreary experience. He has absolutely nothing to gain by helping Obama out here, and he won’t.
rockmom on August 25, 2008 at 9:15 AM
but…but…they were so happy after the rally at Unity, New Hampshire?!?
LOL!
elduende on August 25, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Somewhere, in a dark and locked closet controlled by the Clintons is a juicy, embarrassing bombshell. That bombshell will be pulled out and its fuse lit just in time this week to prevent the Anointed One from engaging in damage control before he speaks to the faithful at Invesco.
The bombshell will be shamefully salacious, incriminating and incontrovertible. It will also have no Billary fingerprints on it.
This is the Clinton script.
GulfCoastBamaFan on August 25, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Given the bruising Dem primary, there would always be lasting hurt feelings. The fact it’s Obama v Hillary in a party steeped in identity politics and the Clinton machine that’s run the Dem party for the last 15 years makes it that much worse.
Paul-Cincy on August 25, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Then you turn on the television and all of the talking heads are saying everything’s all kisssy-kissy.
TooTall on August 25, 2008 at 9:31 AM
chaos!!!
superdave on August 25, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I’ve been socking in popcorn for this show for months…..
Let the PUMA games begin!
RocketmanBob on August 25, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Has anyone asked Hillary who her VP selection is?
Vashta.Nerada on August 25, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Moving the acceptance speech to Invesco Field may have been one of the O team’s only smart moves. As the Clinton festering goes on all week, the last thing the Shallow One wants is to have any amount of discord in the audience. His fragile ego couldn’t stand it. Instead, he’ll drown out their voices. They’ll have 75,000 Obazombies screaming about Hope and Change in a stadium. Perfect. It’s a concert, not a speech. It doesn’t matter one flip what he says, as long as he does it with feeling and gives those idiots enough pauses so they can scream with giddy delight.
Sugar Land on August 25, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Getting Slick to talk on any subject other than himself is guaranteed to be a major disaster. He’s still more fixated on being labeled a racist than that the Glacier in Pantsuits lost the primary (in part because of his oafish performance).
Captain Hate on August 25, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Still no better word for this than the german: “Schadenfreude”.
Aylios on August 25, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Obama’s petty not to just let Bill be Bill.
The funny part is, Obama keeps talking about a “Team of Rivals” on his cabinet, and he can’t even let Clinton make the speech he wants to make.
MayBee on August 25, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Things are going to be veeerrrry interesting this week, me thinks.
Nineball on August 25, 2008 at 10:04 AM
This is the result from Chicago based machine politics. One does not build consensus in Chicago. One dictates and if there is a whiff of opposition a little graft takes care of that. Its a combination of “Who sent you?” and “Here’s $50gs, now sit down and shut up!”
Dr. Dog on August 25, 2008 at 10:14 AM
But devilishly good fun for the rest of us.
fourstringfuror on August 25, 2008 at 10:26 AM
is this an example of Obama’s “strong diplomacy”? sign of the easily fooled - Obama ‘08 t-shirt says it all at chachiinc.com
cpr on August 25, 2008 at 10:28 AM
This week is going to be great. I just hope the Dimmies don’t have a collective sane moment and nominate Hillary. Oblahblah’s such a complete turkey — he seems to be losing his tail-wind. Let’s hope the stall is after the nomination.
mr.blacksheep on August 25, 2008 at 10:37 AM
This will be so evident when Bill walks out onto that stage and he loses it after having three days to think about everything that is going on - and that they are not the center of attention.
tru2tx on August 25, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Funny, I always thought Slick Willie was more like Dewey’s cousin, “Drippy”…
GeneSmith on August 25, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Having Bill talk about Barry is a farce. The only person Bill knows how to talk about is himself. Just as Hillary!
GarandFan on August 25, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I smell trouble in Camelot. The Democrat Party love-fest is hanging by a thread. All it’s going to take is one little comment off script by Bill or Hillary and…
FOOD FIGHT!!!
Can’t wait… someone pass me the chips and a cold beer!
Traverse on August 25, 2008 at 12:31 PM
My “Exit” question: Does BO want to make sure that neither Bill nor Hillary can take the credit for the Obamessiah’s election win?
Wildcatter1980 on August 25, 2008 at 1:14 PM
This whole scene is almost too good to be true.
I’m not holding my breath, but wouldn’t it be schweeeet if the Hillraisers managed to stage a nearly successful-but not quite-Pepsi hall putsch during the floor vote?
Then let the game begin and see whose identity politics card trumps the other!
RocketmanBob on August 25, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Thanks HOT AIR for letting more of us in.
The whole Democrat convention is becoming a really funny political show. Baraq Hussein (bin) Obama is finally showing thin spots in his fabricated persona. We are getting close to JibJab here. For those of you who have not experienced the site, it is too funny. You can Google it or go to the JibJab link
We need BHO and McC (All silliness aside) in one on one debates about the future of our country (All over our Country). That is what it is all about folks. Who would be the best commander in Chief? Who wants the US to prosper and grow? I think Baraq wants us to fail…he needs to explain that to this old man.
The Republican Convention needs to throw the liberal, Non Conservatives out. This is the place to reform. Not in the General Election!
Marc in Brookshire, TX.
marcboyd on August 26, 2008 at 12:51 AM