Hotline After Dark -- Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun
Last night it was reported Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were sitting down together.
FNC's Van Susteren: "Democratic sources tell Fox News Channel they are meeting at Senator Dianne Feinstein's home" ("On the Record," 6/5).
CNN's Crowley: "We do know that the meeting either is still taking place or has taken place. ... It is a step in the process of trying to bring the Democratic Party together. Both of them understand that that is something that they needed to do. ... Obama was supposed to fly home here from Virginia, because he was here campaigning and looking forward to the general campaign. But hard to do that general campaign until he and Hillary Clinton come to a meeting of the minds" ("AC 360," 6/5).
FNC's Garrett: "The agenda of that meeting -- it's a bit opaque" ("On the Record," 6/5).
After the jump, VP talk and presumptive nominee appearances.
DEAL OR NO DEAL?
There was a lot of discussion about Clinton saying she is not running for VP, and that the decision is Obama's and his alone.
FNC's Barnes: "Her saying she is not seeking the vice-presidency, that doesn't mean anything. Nobody publicly seeks it and says I am seeking it. ... Her strategy failed. Her strategy was to not endorse him, to
make life miserable for him, and her pledged delegates stayed with her. But an important group didn't, and that was all the superdelegates who were with her. And you saw that Ed Rendell said you can't negotiate for this vice-presidency" ("Special Report," 6/5).
Washington Post's Balz: "I think both sides have tried to create more space than it looked like there was 24 hours ago" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 6/5).
Dem strategist Robert Zimmerman: "Hillary Clinton is going to be judged whether she runs for vice president or not by how successfully she can help bring her coalition to the Democratic nominee" ("AC 360," CNN, 6/5).
BRINGING IT BACK
Meanwhile, ABC's Gibson sat down with John McCain.
McCain, asked if he is relieved to finally know who he's going to run against: "I guess, in a way. It was, I think, pretty apparent there for a while that it was going to be Senator Obama."
Gibson, on McCain's town hall meetings proposal: "It sounds to me like you both, actually, in these town meetings think that you've got the other guy on your turf."
McCain: "I'm not so sure I think that. I think one of the great regrets of the tragedy in Dallas was the campaign that we missed between Senator Barry Goldwater, my predecessor, and President Jack Kennedy. They had agreed ... that they would travel around the country on the same plane and go to a town, and have debate and discussion, and town hall meetings, and then go to another one. I think America missed a rare opportunity at that time. ... So I think this may be trying to revive what I think most Americans would have approved of way back in the 1960s and they certainly want today."
McCain, asked if he's worried the election will come down to race and age: "I hope neither. ... I don't think I have to address the issue of race. I have tried to on various venues address the issue of age."
McCain, on an Obama-Clinton ticket: "It would be a formidable ticket. But I also think there's a lot of people out there that could make it a formidable ticket, as well. And I know that a lot of times, too, we place emphasis on the running mate and, at the end of the day, it's the top of the ticket that most Americans make their selection from" ("World News," 6/5).
A LITTLE FORESHADOWING...
And Obama sat down for a one-on-one with CNN's Crowley:
Obama, on whether he feels pressure from Clinton's camp to choose her as his VP: "You know, I'm a big believer in making decisions well, not making them fast and not responding to pressure. ... She and I will have a conversation. We won't be doing it through surrogates or the press."
Obama, on whether the best way to get Clinton's supporters is by putting her on the ticket: "As I said, I think everybody just needs to settle down" ("Situation Room," 6/5). (KATHERINE LEHR)
I think it is good for the party and the country that they both were able to have sit down and chat. The history of the United States procedure is that the candidate who will be nominated to run by either party for president has the right to choose, not the runner up. I am very proud of my country, I hope Sen. Obama can get permission to us the theme song " Born in the U.S.A, it is very appropriate. This is not Argentina this is AMERICA THE HOME OF THE FREE AMEN...AMEN
How about this? As Democrats we have to except a nominating system that is far less than Democratic as the results have clearly shown. As a Clinton supporter, Axelrod and the media did their best to destroy Clinton, but the voters in all the Blue States and Swing States clearly voted her as their choice. Only a fool would think that the Red States that Obama won will go Blue in the general election. Therefore, I don't think it is up to Obama. I think it is up to us, the voters and we want Clinton on the ticket. He won't win without her anyway and to assume all of Clinton's supporters will fall in line behind the candidate is a gross underestimation of the damage that was done by the DNC, the Obama campaign, and the media regarding the treatment of Hillary Clinton.
Just saw a poll result headlined: Majority of dems favor Clinton as VP.
Duh ...now let me think here..doing my Clinton Math..
If the majority of the dems want that why didn't she win the nomination?
Here is a bulletin: the majority of the residents in my community favor Obama picking anyone other then Clinton...by 99%. True. now ask me what the sample number of households were, and the demographics of those households.
Secret meetings smack of secret deals..and I dont' like them.
Okay. I'll bite. What were the number of households you sampled and give me a breakdown of their demographic.
But first let me remind you, that in the end Clinton won the popular vote, but the DNC rules make this a race for delegates.
Obama, or I should say, Axelrod was clever enough to push hard in the cacus states and rack up delegates knowing Clinton's campaign would not push hard in these states because they
always go Republican. Clever of Obama in trying to win the nomination, but truly stupid of him if he thinks this will carry him in the general election. Clearly Clinton won the Democratic primary where it mattered. But you go ahead and support keeping her off the ticket, but then don't complaign when he loses.
I too find his behavior troubling. He has spoken of the need for transparency in his administration should he be elected, and yet, he out witted the media for his clandestine meeting with Clinton?
I heard today that the reporters checked with their resources within his campaign and were told they "could not say because Obama had told them not too."
This air of secrecry over a meeting with Clinton? That was innocuous--what other secrets would occur during his administation if he were elected that our country would have no indication of because of the "wall of silence" of his followers?
This is scary, and the press has every right to be concerned. It was the first shot fired over the bow of freedom of information in regards to how he will conduct his administration.
I was willing to give him a chance, but not now. If he acted this way over just a meeting with a political opponent---how will he conduct international meetings with our foes?
Scary thought.
Elise
Obama met with the Bildergroup Group in Chantilly, VA in violation of the Logan Act a Felony.
fcuk
Good argument elise (yeah right). Ya think McLobby is open and transparent? Hahaha. I don't know who you are trying to fool.