Barack Obama wants Bill to heal Hillary Clinton wounds

[JimGinPA]

An assassination remark is the latest twist to sour relations between the two rivals

Barack Obama, the probable Democratic presidential nominee, wants Bill Clinton to help him heal the deep party rifts created by his wife Hillary’s divisive campaign – culminating in her dramatic claim this weekend that the 1968 assassination of Robert F Kennedy was a reason not to be pushed out of the race.

The tension between Hillary Clinton and Obama intensified after she told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader in South Dakota, which holds the last primary contest in 10 days’ time: “We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June.”

She quickly apologised, ashen-faced, for a comment which appeared dangerously close to wishful thinking about Obama, but the damage was done.

Senior officials on Obama’s campaign believe Bill Clinton has the unique status and political gifts to reunite the party after such gaffes. They expressed confidence that the former president would rise above the perceived slights and grudges of a hard-fought campaign and work flat out for an Obama victory in November’s presidential election.

“If anybody can put their arms around the party and say we need to be together, it is Bill Clinton,” a senior Obama aide said.

“He’s brilliant, he has got heart and he cares deeply about the country. It’s tricky because of his position as Hillary’s spouse, but his involvement is very important to us.

“Bill Clinton will give permission to Hillary supporters to come into our camp and become one party. He is critical to this effort.”

Much more at link


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3998946.ece

[DJ13]

1. Reads more like an article by the Onion

:shrug:

[JimGinPA]

4. Did You Read More At The Link?

It covers a lot, and it's not silly at all.

[marylanddem]

2. Another crock of shit hits the wires.

[ClassWarrior]

5. Why do you say that?

NGU.

[marylanddem]

7. Because I believe it's made up bullshit - I do not believe

that any unnamed senior advisors to Obama in their right minds would feel anything but rage at Bill Clinton at this point.

[ClassWarrior]

8. Project much?

NGU.

[KittyWampus]

10. You must not know much about hardball politics. Emotion seldom enters into it.

And this is a good idea- as long as Clinton is kept within very specific parameters.

[JimGinPA]

12. I Can't Understand Why You'd Respond Twice Without Reading The Article...

Several "sources" from both camps are cited by name.

[me b zola]

13. I dunno. The way I read the article is that the battle for alpha dog

has been won by Obama. Am I the only one that reads this? Obama is telling Bill what he must do.

Then, here's the cherry on the cake:

"Sen. Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it," he added, "and I would take her at her word on that." :rofl:

[Swamp Rat]

15. Same here

:D

[me b zola]

18. Maybe we're not supposed to say the obvious? (could look like gloating?)

:shrug:

[ShortnFiery]

21. GLOATING?!? WTF! She said the unforgivable yet Obama and his staff GRACIOUSLY set the matter

aside. Hell, this was "a gift" that her mean-spirited campaign of "devil's rejects" did not deserve. Yet, Obama showed mercy.

He truly is a more forgiving and humanitarian person than me. THAT IS A GOOD THING to value in a President.

[me b zola]

23. I think that you may have misunderstood my (initial) post

I believe that this article is extremely positive for the Obama campaign. The article reads as though Obama now has the power to tell Bill what he is going to do.

Then, to top it off, Obama throws back into HRC's face the nasty phrase that she used against him ("he says he's not a Muslim, and I'll take him at his word.)

"Sen. Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it," he added, "and I would take her at her word on that."

This entire article reads to me as though Obama has won the battle behind the scenes.

Obama won. :thumbsup:

[JimGinPA]

6. Read The Article - As Another Thread Notes It Mentions Al Gore Hosting A Joint Fundy

[Ian David]

3. He feels our pain. n/t

[rove karl rove]

9. THIS is sexist

The big man Bill is supposed to talk some sense into his hysterical wife?

[JimGinPA]

14. I Didn't See Anything About Her Being "Hysterical"

[Swamp Rat]

16. LOL!

Ok, don't talk any sense to her. Let her plummet to the bottom all by her lonesome.

[ClassWarrior]

17. "The big man Bill??" Why so snotty toward the last legitimately-elected President?

:shrug:

NGU.

[lisa58]

19. I don't think this is flat out sexist, but I see your point...

...Hillary is the candidate and if she loses the nomination it will be up to her to rally her supporters around Obama and the reverse would be true - if Hillary gets the nomination it will be up to Obama to rally his supporters around Hillary.

That's what they should do for the party and even though Bill is a former President - it's the candidates that need to show the leadership necessary to unite the party.

[dmkinsey]

25. not exactly

The hysterical wife is to be set aside and big man Bill is to explain to her supporters that it's time to come back to the Party.

[K Gardner]

11. That's a great article.. my favorite line re: Hillary's campaign..

"the implausible has become the unthinkable."

[Tatiana]

Bill Clinton is the driving force behind this kitchen-sink scorched earth campaign.

It wasn't a coincidence that Hillary seemed to do better, be more focused on issues, when he was out of the picture.

But, when it is time to fall in line, Bill would be best to convey the message. He can convey empathy and sensitivity (whether he feels it or not... he can persuade people). Hillary simply cannot communicate in the charismatic way that he can.

[ShortnFiery]

22. I'd still advise Bill Clinton to move his office from Harlem. It is going to take A LONG TIME ...

for both Clintons to fully reconcile with the AA Community. :shrug:

[me b zola]

27. LOL,I'd bet a dollar to a dime

...that Bill moves his office.

The entire shtick of him being there has been exposed. The Clintons have burnt that bridge in their all or nothing strategy--they lost. I'm sure Harlem won't want them there, and I'd bet that the Clintons don't want to remain in a community where there is no political advantage to being there.

[ShortnFiery]

20. I would be surprised if Bill Clinton will rise above his jealousy of Obama to ADVOCATE for either...

the Party or the Country.

I seriously doubt that Bill Clinton will advocate for Obama. However, I'd LOVE to be wrong about this impression. :shrug:

Let's just say I won't be holding my breath waiting for "the pigs to fly by." :(

[Az_lefty]

24. Bill Clinton???? Someone please pass the whiskey.

[IndyOp]

26. I think this is smart -- Bill has credibility with everyone who supported Hillary

and he is capable of turning on a dime and supporting Obama all-out if he choses to do so. He would be, I think, far more effective than she at this point.

[crickets]

28. Wow, Obama handled this really well.

One terse, well-deserved smack, forgiveness the next day, and now he's offering her campaign something everyone thought irretrievably lost: a graceful exit on a platter. I truly wish they'd take the olive branch, but unfortunately I doubt they will.

[intaglio]

29. This is the London Times

a Murdoch rag. It might be true but it may well not be true

[msallied]

30. I'm not sure if Bill Clinton will be in a position to do any such thing.

He's said too much during the course of this campaign that would make his aligning next to Obama look like nothing more than political maneuvering. It simply got too personal for Bill. For both of them.

[pnorman]

31. Here's what I wrote in another thread on Obama's statement about her "gaffe":

"Let's all take a deep breath, and let that be the last word on this matter.

Not so much for Hillary, but in behalf of her fervent supporters on our beloved DU. November beckons, and we all NEED to be together on this."

So in behalf of our SHARED GOAL, let's ALL respect the wishes of the person who so inspires us with HOPE.

pnorman