Hillary’s test run ignored Obama
posted at 7:10 pm on August 26, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Hillary Clinton gave a preview of tonight’s speech for a group of supporters in Denver earlier today, and it didn’t feature Barack Obama — at all. Peter Nicholas covered the event for the LA Times, and reports that Hillary never asked her backers to support Obama, only urging their support for “all our nominees”. If that’s the strategy she takes tonight, the snub could be historic:
She previewed the speech she is to deliver later tonight, saying, “I believe with all my heart that the Democratic Party represents a much better future for everything we believe in and care about and I will be making a very strong case tonight that we stand behind our nominees in order to keep pushing progress forward.’’
Clinton also made reference to a sore point during the primary: gender bias. Commending the hosts of the event, an organization called WomenCount, she said, “I urge all of you to support women running at all levels of government, but also on behalf of other concerns that were raised during the course of the campaign. WomenCount will continue to stand up against the pervasive bias we saw in the media.’’
Clinton stood on a small stage with her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, who did not give a speech. In her opening, Clinton talked about this being a historic week, marking the anniversary of both Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream’’ speech, as well as the Constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. But in talking about the week’s significance she did not mention that convention delegates would be nominating the Democratic Party’s first African-American candidate: Obama.
Does this sound familiar to Hot Air readers? Just two months ago, Obama “forgot” to mention Hillary in a speech intended to help her raise money to retire her debt. This looks like payback, at least if she adds him in later tonight. If not, then it looks like Hillary has decided not to bother supporting Obama and instead focus on her own future in politics by ensuring a path to the nomination in 2012.
Nor is this unprecedented. As George Stephanopolous notes, a Republican seized the moment at a convention which he narrowly lost and set the stage for his eventual triumph:
Sore losers cripple Presidential nominees. Think of what Ronald Reagan did to Gerald Ford in 1976. After Ford crushed Reagan’s late challenge and refused to offer him the VP slot, he had to beg Reagan to speak at the convention. The 798 words he got were no help. Barely a mention of Ford, not a word of praise. While Reagan’s ringing defense of the GOP platform laid the groundwork for his 1980 campaign, it did nothing for Ford — who barely lost to Jimmy Carter come November.
Carter also got his comeuppance from Ted Kennedy in 1980, but that was more or less a dog-in-the-manger ploy, as Kennedy knew 1980 was his last chance to win the White House. Hillary may have looked at the Reagan example as a template for her own ambitions. In the speech earlier today, she positioned herself as the champion of civil rights and the heir of Dr. King, a rather bold assertion given Obama’s position at this convention.
Put together with Bill Clinton’s remarks earlier today as well, it looks like the Clintons have decided to only give grudging and tepid support to Barack Obama. Perhaps Hillary will change her mind by tonight, but the Clintons appear ready to take full control of their two days in the Denver spotlight.
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I suspect Obama would gladly settle for tepid support. What he’s more likely to get is a shiv.
Mr. D on August 26, 2008 at 7:14 PM
A Woman Scorn.. come to mind!
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Um… dude?
Weebork on August 26, 2008 at 7:15 PM
SNUB! SNUB! SNUB!
FlatFoot on August 26, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Floor fight! Floor fight! Floor fight!
A girl can dream, can’t she?
Meryl Yourish on August 26, 2008 at 7:16 PM
I can’t wait to hear Olbermann’s response to that!
Clownballoon on August 26, 2008 at 7:17 PM
If this is true…
I feel funny…
Kind of, woozy…
I - I can hear colors… This is all a bit much.
I’d… better go lay down. Then I can be ready with popcorn for tonight.
Cry Havoc!
juanito on August 26, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Did you see the video of Biden crying about geting selected as VP?
it’s about the same thing as Michelle saying, “for the first time in my life i’m proud of my country”
Chakra Hammer on August 26, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Is jello involved? Will it be BHO or MO against Hillary. Or will it be both families? Is it a death match?
now that would be dreaming!
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Oh, this is going to be good… If she doesn’t so much as mention “THE ONE” then Olby and company will have a friggin’ collective thrombosis.
Drunken Angry Clown on August 26, 2008 at 7:19 PM
The current version is actually much better than the first draft.
Cicero43 on August 26, 2008 at 7:20 PM
I’m sure the fact that Ford was a bit of an idiot had nothing to do with the loss.
rmgraha on August 26, 2008 at 7:20 PM
I’m a fan of narcissism; just for today.
lorien1973 on August 26, 2008 at 7:20 PM
I will definitely watch her and Chelsea tonight.
jencab on August 26, 2008 at 7:21 PM
[A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder.]
Thrice the brinded cat hath mew’d.
Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin’d.
Harpier cries:-
’tis time! ’tis time!
Round about the caldron go;
In the poison’d entrails throw.-
Toad, that under cold stone,
Days and nights has thirty-one;
Swelter’d venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot!
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
Loxodonta on August 26, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Let’s not set ourselves up for heartbreak. There’s no way she won’t mention Obama in her speech tonight. But I admit, if she didn’t, it would be HUGE!
Jim-Rose on August 26, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Hillary is an Infidel
Elizabetty on August 26, 2008 at 7:25 PM
I love Hillary, for all the wrong reasons.
Anna on August 26, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Meh- this was a speech to her hardcore supporters. As suggested in the article, she probably didn’t mention Obama because it might’ve generated some boos- and that would’ve reflected badly on her.
She’ll offer praise for Obama tonight, but I don’t expect her to do more than the bare minimum expected of her to support him.
Hollowpoint on August 26, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Jim-Rose on August 26, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Never say never when a Clinton is involved.
Mew
acat on August 26, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Hillary will mention Osama Obama, and in phrases no one will dare to complain about.
She knows that being a good little soldier is her best course right now, particularly as the chances of The Messiah winning the election seem a bit shakier.
She and Bill are too good at this stuff to confuse temporary satisfaction with permanent self-interest.
MrScribbler on August 26, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Ed, I almost wish you would have held this story until after the snubb, just in case this gets back to Obama and he “pressures” a change.
Can’t wait to hear Hillary’s excuse…….”Oh shit, Barack, I forgot to mention you’re running for the Throne, do you want me to go back on the stage tomorrow night?”
Rovin on August 26, 2008 at 7:32 PM
She’ll have to pay lip service to him, but if she can pull off making it look just exactly like that,….Wowzer! I can’t envision enthusiasm in delivery,…I’ll bet she has practiced making it look as boilerplate and uninspired as she can. Good times ahead. Olby will blow froth on his cameras..
a capella on August 26, 2008 at 7:33 PM
A speech throwdown over the roll call debacle. Too funny.
Fletch54 on August 26, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Ah, that would be so sweet.
Do it Hillary!
AZCoyote on August 26, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Odds on Obama’s followers boo’ing La Hillary tonight?
I give 35% odds there will be boo’s.
SouthernGent on August 26, 2008 at 7:36 PM
I don’t see how this helps Michelle’s children.
omnipotent on August 26, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Tonight’s speech won’t matter, even if she gives him a full throated endorsement. It’s what she does AFTER the convention– will she work to elect him, or get too busy “fighting for the people of New York” to be involved?
Is the domain HRC2012.com for sale?
leftnomore on August 26, 2008 at 7:38 PM
I would imagine that will happen based on prior experiences…
WI-Hawk on August 26, 2008 at 7:38 PM
When is her speech tonight? Late, I suppose?
Anna on August 26, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Dog in the manger? I’ll take your word for it, Ed.
mikeyboss on August 26, 2008 at 7:40 PM
According to the Page, the time for her speech should be around 10 Eastern, 9 Central.
WI-Hawk on August 26, 2008 at 7:40 PM
I would not blame her if she ignored the man.
Terrye on August 26, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Loxodonta 7:21pm
Hilarious!!!!!! That is funny!!!
Winebabe on August 26, 2008 at 7:44 PM
It’s funny how some things get forgotten - but other things never, ever do.
logis on August 26, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Wow. But if Obama loses won’t most black supporters of Obama abandon her in 2012 since she’ll be blamed (in part) for the loss? And she’ll need that constituency if she wants to win much less get the nomination.
Ford had no significant constituency (moderate Republicans?) for Reagan to worry about. The party was moving in his direction anyway (it would have been interesting had Ford won, though).
This is an incredible gamble on the Clintons part. I wonder if Bill isn’t on the sidelines encouraging this?
SteveMG on August 26, 2008 at 7:45 PM
You GO, girl!!!
I will be seriously disappointed if Hillary’s kisses Obama’s behind in this speech. She has no reason to. She is in an even stronger position that Reagan was in 1976. I was at the 1976 RNC convention and I know aht I am talking about here.
Bill and Hillary have never given a rat’s butt about the Democratic Party as an institution. They ran ovet the Demicratic establishment in 1992 and they are perfectly willing to throw Barack Obama under the bus this year in order to regain power in 2012. I don’t think anyone who has followed their careers could possibly expect anything different from them. There is absolutely nothing in it for them to play the good soldiers and back Obama.
rockmom on August 26, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Your brand of realism is a total buzz kill, but probably correct.
She will be so saccharine and non-Hillaryish that everyone will see how tepid her support is.
And a new meme will come from the PUMAs: The convention is making its star women play nice instead of attacking. They won’t stand for it. They’ll stay home so Hillary can run again in twenty twelve.
bcm4134 on August 26, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Clintons may very well be thinking, If I’m going down you’re going down with me.
lorien1973 on August 26, 2008 at 7:48 PM
I don’t think any of us would.
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Well, who can blame her. After all, the Obamateur never paid for the Clinton’s celebrity endorsement.
Campaign lesson 1 for O! : Never try to do things on the cheap
Life lesson for O! : keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!
RocketmanBob on August 26, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Since Obama is going to lose if nominated, she should tell the truth and declare:
“I hate, at this late date, to say it, but I’m the better candidate to go up against John McCain, so I am asking you to make this truly an historic convention and to choose me as the Democratic nominee over Barack Obama, who has shown that he fails to energize the majority of potential voters.”
He’ll have no coattails as a loser, so worrying about his effect on her career is meaningless.
He already butted ahead in line for the succession, and has proven himself an arrogant, pompous empty suit, tied to radicals and fools.
Hillary should go for it.
Obama is going to leave the Dems in the wilderness for another 4 years, at least.
They all secretly know it, and she should be honest enough to say it.
profitsbeard on August 26, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Could be. After all, NOTHING must get in the way of Bubba’s legacy and Hillary’s image, not even the messiah.
Fletch54 on August 26, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Are the Clintons so strong that they can get away with this? Won’t there be pay-back from the Party?
obladioblada on August 26, 2008 at 7:52 PM
The ‘76 Republican Primary was entirely about philosophy. It’s always possible to win people over when that’s the case.
The Democrat Party race is now offically about nothing except race and sex. And it’s pretty safe to say that neither Hillary’s or Obama’s core supporters are ever going to change theirs. There is no room for compromise; there can only be endless power plays.
logis on August 26, 2008 at 7:54 PM
BHO went off the old proverb, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Only problem is, how is anyone your friend when you are all running for election and everyone is your enemy?
upinak on August 26, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Ah…yeah. This is going to be a political death match. And I don’t have to have pay-per-view?
hot-heir on August 26, 2008 at 7:56 PM
make that especially the messiah…
WI-Hawk on August 26, 2008 at 7:57 PM
U - N - I - T - Y
WisCon on August 26, 2008 at 7:57 PM
I hope she follows Reagan’s example - anything to take that poor excuse for a POTUS candidate down a notch or two. I am so sick of his soaring rhetoric - need to have some air removed from that windbag.
It’s been interesting how during the Dem’s convention and since announcing his VP choice that McCain’s up a couple in a Rassmussen poll.
Karma. I truly believe in it.
tru2tx on August 26, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Thank you. I think I’ll caffeinate myself to stay up and watch it.
Anna on August 26, 2008 at 8:01 PM
This is NOT the Hillary I thought I knew! Oh, wait a minute…….Never mind.
Mallard T. Drake on August 26, 2008 at 8:03 PM
I can’t believe she won’t make a perfunctory pro-forma endorsement of him by name.
That’s just way too stupid not to.
And the Clintons, while ruthless, aren’t stupid.
The real obstacle in this is Bill. He’s clearly still peeved over the racism charge.
SteveMG on August 26, 2008 at 8:03 PM
This puts Romney’s bitter rivalry with McCain in perspective. What if Romney went all out Clinton and stayed in the race to the bitter end? What if Romney went to McCain to fundraise for personal loans he made? Nope..it’s nothing but cumbayah for the RNC, Gomer Pyle notwithstanding.
hot-heir on August 26, 2008 at 8:03 PM
You heard the woman. She just instructed her supporters to vote Palin.
texette on August 26, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Do you remember the olden days when convention delegates actually voted for a candidate. The days when conventions were deadlocked and it took multiple ballots before a candidate won a majority.
Think of the threats made, votes bought, sold or traded. Think of the deals negotiated, broken, re-negotiated. Think of the votes counted, re-counted, recanted, rejected.
Where are the journalists? Think of the book deals. It could mean millions.
rockhauler on August 26, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Not to change the subject… but Olby and Chris are on right now trying to wax poetically about Hill and Bill and their feud with Bambi…
All I can say is that these 2 are like little girls screaming at a Donny Osmond concert circa 1971. Something tells me that Olby even steps off camera during commercials to change into yet another pair of clean panties. And as for Chris… he just needs to get back on his medication.
Gartrip on August 26, 2008 at 8:10 PM
O’Reilly’s telling Carl Rove that McCain should announce his VP choice on Friday to take the wind out of Obama’s sails. O’Reilly is acting like he is the first to think of it. It’s only been discussed ad naseum since, like forever… not to mention he’s talking to “The Architect” Carl Rove.
O’Reilly’s getting on my nerves. I’m starting to dislike everything that begins with “O” - we’ll maybe not everything. Wait for it…
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 8:14 PM
I keep hoping for her to get up there, open her mouth-shrug-and say: “You know what, how about a floor vote!”
ThePrez on August 26, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Gartrip - you must be looking for material ;-)
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 8:16 PM
I didn’t watch at all last night; I’m simply burned out on the Obama pimping… But tonight is a must watch, as this is the moment I have been waiting for. I don’t expect Hillary to ruin her chances for 2012, however I do expect her to pull something out of her Clinton war room for this event. Hillary got her shot stolen by Obama and the powers of the DNC. This was her moment in history; first woman, Ms. Bill Clinton, et al. Obama was supposed to wait until Hillary’s turn was over to make his run. Obama & the DNC dropped a house right on Hillary, as the world watched. No way this woman takes this without giving something back. Tonight she is in the spot light; tonight is her night.
Keemo on August 26, 2008 at 8:19 PM
I hadn’t planned on watching this since she’s the most god-awful speaker in the world, but I’ve been persuaded to tune in and grab some popcorn.
I’m betting on her following the Reagan template with no mention of Obama.
Buy Danish on August 26, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Just now spoken to Bill Orielly:
Lanny Davis……”Hillary will open the door tonight……it will be up to Barack Obama to close the deal”
Hmmmmm………
Rovin on August 26, 2008 at 8:21 PM
I think Thomas Jefferson took 38 ballots. Baracky would never survive. Not to mention Matthews and Olby would completely implode like that creature at the end of the LOTR: Return of the King movie when the “fair maiden” thrusts the sword in his vacuous face (sorry don’t know the character names). Hmmm. Fair maiden thrusts her sword in the vacuous face… calling Michelle Malkin, page for Michelle Malkin. Do you perchance own a sword?
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Keemo on August 26, 2008 at 8:19 PM
And I believe that Fox News just mentioned that it was 88 years ago today the the women’s right to vote was official. How sweet is that?
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Hillary has to decide how lucky she’s feeling:
If she disses Obama and he wins, she and Bill truly are toast - no cabinet post, no nothing, their Geiger readings will be right up there with Edwards. On the other hand, if Obama loses, 2012 is once again hers for the asking, regardless of anything she says tonight.
If she’s not feeling lucky, she plays nice and hopes for the cabinet spot - unless of course that’s already been negotiated.
sanguine4 on August 26, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Hillary supporters are willing to fall on their swords so Hillary doesn’t have to. She will go to 2012 clean. And they are really angry about the process - mostly because they are on the wrong side.
Major buyer’s remorse at the DNC.
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Isn’t Terry McAuliffe the creepiest of the creepy. He sweats intellectual dishonesty from every pore of his body.
I need to go to bed, I don’t have a vomit bucket here in the living room.
Gartrip on August 26, 2008 at 8:31 PM
sanguine4 on August 26, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Not sure Hillary is interested in anything O has to offer but it sure makes for some wild drama! It is interesting that she would be betting on him losing if she disses him. If he wins, she is out for 2012. I hadn’t thought of that. But I think that is why her supporters are willing to take the hit for her, so she can remain neutral (sort of).
Now that I’m thinking of it, I think she’s screwed either way. O said she would be on anyone’s short list and then ignored her. If he wins, I think he will ignore her again.
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Yea, but the talking head who just interviewed him called him a celebrity. Puke. Wretch.
Mr_Magoo on August 26, 2008 at 8:35 PM
The headline on Yahoo is, Kucinich speech electrifies convention arena. They really are digging it deep this year arent they?
Chuck Schick on August 26, 2008 at 8:38 PM
first,its my birthday and I get registered here,good gift, thanks.Was not going to watch any of the convention,CNN int.is alittle hard to stomach,not to mention 8hr time difference.But like Jim-Rose says,probably not going to happen,however if it dose,A hot time in the old town tonight
budaside on August 26, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Wrong direction Chuck……they’re really out there in space with Kucinich’s UFO buddies.
Rovin on August 26, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Nah. The sexism card has been played. If Obama loses, the Democrat party will run have to run somebody like an albino lesbian midget in 2012.
logis on August 26, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Dennis Miller on what Hillary should say:
“Watch out for this guy Obama. I got cheated on by the first black President and I’m not going to get cheated by the next one.”
SteveMG on August 26, 2008 at 8:46 PM
I’ve noticed that, since opening up the comments section to a bigger group, the language has became a tad more salty. While few of us or shocked or offended by it, it really isn’t appropriate on this blog. Say it the way you would say it in church, not the way you would say it at the local pub.
Buford Gooch on August 26, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Can’t imagine Hillary would be interested in Obama’s cabinet, or any possible position offered to her by the messiah at this time. The woman got stiffed if front of the world. The Clinton’s have ego’s the size of Al Gore’s new yacht; and that thing is huge… The only form of Global Warming that is real, is the heat coming off the Clinton’s bodies.
Keemo on August 26, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Buford Gooch on August 26, 2008 at 8:46 PM
This is not church Buford, nor is this a pub. The powers to be will dictate as they see fit. As is usually the case when you get hundreds of individuals talking, you get a mixed bag.
Keemo on August 26, 2008 at 8:56 PM
It took Barry 19 rounds of balloting to win the position of Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Don’t underestimate him; he knows how to play this game. His team out-planned and out-manuevered Hillary’s crowd in the primaries — they won the caucus states her people couldn’t be bothered with; they kept their eye on the ball and built up a big enough lead so that by the time Hillary’s people figured things out, it was too late.
AZCoyote on August 26, 2008 at 8:56 PM
The drama of all this is amazing. But maybe it’s not Shakespearean. Maybe it’s more Film Noire:
Can you imagine Hillary as Sunset Blvd’s Norma Desmond?
Loxodonta on August 26, 2008 at 8:57 PM
If Hillary snubs the “O”, will he flip her off again during his acceptance speech?
Zorro on August 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Schadenwoode!
sulla on August 26, 2008 at 9:49 PM
I think by then it won’t matter to her. She’ll be too busy plotting 2012 in detail to care.
BillH on August 27, 2008 at 12:30 AM