Posted by
John Crutchfield on Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:33:57 AM
Obama's choice of running mate answered the question of Hillary's part in the grand scheme of all things democratic. The message was clear. I am the nominee and you will support me. John McCain should take a lesson from this attitude of arrogance.
Clinton people resent the fact that this young upstart has leap froged ahead of her for the biggest job in the world. According to Rush Limbaugh, feminists around the country are reminded yet again of that glass ceiling and how the seasoned executive female is pushed aside in favor of the handsome, energetic young newcomer with the golden toungue. And if that's not bad enough, passing over Clinton for the VP slot is inexcusable and unforgivable in the eyes of many. Paris Hilton must still be wondering why Obama would choose "an old white-haired dude".
Biden's presence on the ticket may silence critics questionong Obama's experience, but it does little or nothing to unite a party deeply divided between race and gender. Those who've fallen for the "change" line are wondering why the presidential nominee would choose a running mate who's spent nearly his entire adult life in Washington. Clearly, Biden represents the status quo.
Thirty years in congress gives Biden indisputably more experience over Clinton in just about any area other than lamp throwing. Biden is certainly a heavyweight in the congressional ring and he has been steeped in foreign affairs for many years. But Biden's presence adds nothing more than another layer of liberal elitism. Moderate democrats have little in common with the extreme leftist views of the party's standard bearers who want to tell everyone else how to live their lives.
Recent pols indicate Obama has received no bump as a result of his VP choice. There's a crack in the defense and it would seem like a perfect opportunity for the republican nominee to hit the hole at full speed, but don't get too excited. McCain has yet to announce his running mate and there's no guarantee Senator Maverick won't fumble.
The campaign has hinted that he might choose a pro-choice independent as hisVP running mate. Joe Lieberman may be a friend of McCain's, but he's no friend of conservatives. Lieberman would be a disaster for McCain and the GOP. It's going to be tough enough to mobilize the base who don't trust McCain to begin with. A pro-choice selection would doom the ticket. The solid conservative base won't show up in November and there aren't enough disenfranchised Clinton supporters to make up the difference even if the candidate were Hillary, herself.
The senator from Arizona would do well to select a running mate with solid conservative, pro-life credentials. If that person were black or a woman, great! But things like race and gender shouldn't matter. Character and principles matter. Conservatives know that. The senator knows that too, but as we've seen so many times, McCain doesn't always like the play sent in from the sideline.
Should he win, McCain will very likely be a one term president. Looking ahead, McCain and the republican strategists should be drafting a player whom they can build into a solid contender for 2012. We need to know there's a back-up quarterback who can not only step in and finish the game, but also carry the franchise beyond the McCain years.