Is it insulting to suggest that Obama could "function" as a VP if he's not qualified?

[Hugabear]

I don't know about anyone else, but I feel insulted by the notion among some that even though they don't feel he's qualified for the top slot, he could function as the #2. It's almost as if they're saying "look, why don't you just step out of the way and let Hillary fulfill her destiny. We'll toss you a bone and make you the VP, even though you're really not qualified. Be a good boy, don't make waves, and in eight years you can have your turn."

If he's not qualified to be President, then he's not qualified to be VP.

[Pirate Smile]

1. Yes, it was very insulting and condescending.

[kirby]

2. To me, what is more insulting...

Is that the candidate who is in SECOND place, in both delegates and popular vote, is the one making this statement.

[eShirl]

3. You're right, it doesn't make sense.

It implies affirmative action, if Hillary actually believes he is not qualified to be president.


However, I think in reality she knows he's just as qualified as many other presidents we've had.

[Yurovsky]

4. She wants to treat him like the WH lawn jockey...

just sit out front holding the lantern, and we'll let you move into the master's house in 8 years.

[Birthmark]

5. Yes, anything said about Obama...

...that isn't a 22-k, platinum-plated compliment is a horrible, horrible insult and probably racism. At least that's what appears to be the case in these parts.

[Hugabear]

6. Read the OP

If you don't think he's qualified to be President, then it's patronizing to say that you'd consider him for the VP slot.

Sorry, but there really isn't any other way to read that.

[Birthmark]

7. Well there is...

...but it's not gonna demean Hillary Clinton, so there's little point in me going into it. Y'all look like ya got a good thing goin'. I sure don't want to spoil it.

Here: Hillary = teh evul!!

[Hugabear]

8. No, really - I want to hear it

If you don't think he's qualified to be President, then why would you want him in a position where he might have to take over at any time?

Do you think you're doing him a favor by "grooming" him and giving him experience for 2016?

Is this an attempt to "unify" the party?

If either of those is your answer, then you're basically saying that experience doesn't really matter too much, which goes against your whole reasoning for not wanting him as President in the first place.

So please, enlighten us as to why you think Obama would make a good backup to Hillary.

[Birthmark]

11. Well, to be honest

My reason for not wanting him as President is that his policies suck. "Change" is what he says, "Tweak" is what he proposes. But that's probably a subject for another thread.

To answer your question: A VP is NOT the President. Yet a VP is frequently included in WH decisions, so being VP is indeed a good way to groom someone whose resume' for President might be a little thin.

The "he might have to take over at any time" argument is largely nonsense. The last time a VP assumed the Presidency permanently was nearly 34 years ago. So, it IS a calculated risk...but not a big risk. In addition, just because you don't feel that someone is wholly qualified to be President doesn't mean you think that they have NO qualifications at all.

Frankly, I don't think Obama or Clinton or McCain should be anywhere near the Presidency. But it's almost certain that one of the three will occupy the office. Such is life.

[Hugabear]

15. Thanks - that's all I really needed to hear

And your response says an awful lot.

Since you dismiss the idea that the VP should be "ready to take over at any time" as nonsense, and think it's a good way to groom someone, then you're basically saying that Hillary's doing him a favor in making him a glorified gofer.

If I were Obama, I'd feel insulted by that.

[Birthmark]

16. Quite welcome.

But I'm not saying Hillary's doing him a favor at all. I gave a possible explanation of Clinton's reasoning, and pointed out that no VP has had to assume the Presidency since 1974.

As for Obama taking insult, I'll say this: Insult is a process. It has two parts, the person who insults and the person who is insulted. Both must exist for insult to occur. We *choose* what we want to be an insult. If we don't accept an insult, then no insult occurs. So, if Senator Obama *chooses* to be insulted by Senator Clinton's statement then that says something about him.

[Orsino]

9. It might be more insulting if it weren't such a blatant lie...

...and all the more ludicrous coming from the second-place candidate.

[suston96]

10. John Nance Garner said it but he was offered and accepted the Vice-Presidency:

"The Vice-Presidency isn't worth a warm bucket of spit". Musta been during the day of lots of spitoons in the bars.

[backscatter712]

12. Let me bring the dog whistle down a few octaves...

With the dog whistle, it's "You're not qualified to be President, but we welcome you to join our ticket and become Vice President."

Lowered out of bigot hearing and into normal hearing, it's "Get to the back of the bus, n!@@#r!"

[City Lights]

13. It oozed entitlement.

And the absurdity of it worsened when the contradiction was pointed out to her. One day he was qualified to be her veep, and the next day he wasn't. After realizing that the veep, being a heartbeat away from the presidency, had to be qualified to be president, he suddenly hadn't proven himself to her yet, but might be able to do so by Denver. :eyes: Oh, and after she and Bill talked up the "dream ticket" for days, she topped it off with 'the veep talk has taken on a life of its own.' Delusional.

[DarienComp]

14. if nothing else, it's insulting to our intelligence

since the necessary qualification to be VP is the ability to step in immediately should something happen to the President.