Barack Obama rejects VP idea

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Campaigning in Casper, Wyo., Friday night for the 12 delegates to come out of Saturday's Democratic county caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama refused the notion of becoming the vice presidential candidate on this fall's party ticket.

Obama was asked by a television reporter, "Can you ever see yourself on the same ticket as Sen. Clinton?" And the freshman Illinois senator replied: "Well, you know, I think it’s premature. You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate -- you know, I’m running for president. We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."

Many Democrats have long thought of Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama as a dream ticket, offering both the first serious female candidate and the first serious African American candidate for the nation's top two political offices. Clinton surprisingly broached the idea Wednesday morning after she won the popular vote in Texas and Ohio to regain some momentum after 11 straight losses, though she still lags far behind in pledged delegates. She mentioned the possibility of a joint ticket again Friday morning during a campaign appearance in Mississippi.

Last night was the first time Obama commented on the idea.

It's political protocol when presidential candidates are asked about the vice presidency to twist the question back around to the top office and avoid a direct answer. But Obama's response last night was unusually direct and dismissive....

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/03/obamasays-novp.html

[Cha]

1. I knew Obama wouldn't do it and so did

his supporters who know what he stands for.

[roguevalley]

31. I'm glad he cleared that up. I also wouldn't want her with me if I were

him for the multiple endorsements of McCain.

[RainDog]

2. from your quote

he didn't dismiss the idea of Hillary being the v.p. He said he wasn't going to accept a v.p. payoff. He replied to the question "do you see yourself on the same ticket," not as the v.p. for Clinton.

[lligrd]

4. I Caught That Too. I Wish He Had Just Said No. nt

[EFerrari]

8. He didn't need to say that. It would come off as mean to some people.

Since they seem to actually hate each other, I don't think you have to worry about it.

[lyonn]

3. Hillary needs him, he doesn't need her. nt

[RaRa]

5. Exactly. She can only win the general with the traditional

model of the big blue states. Obama has real broad based support and the ability to turn red into blue.

[aquart]

10. You mean Hillary will win with the heavily populated industrial states?

You betcha! Obama has to pray the teenagers still think he's hot stuff in November.

Which is irrelevent. The Democrat will win because the country votes Democratic in an economic crisis.

[PSPS]

13. I think you're right.

Obama's patina is quickly fading, and it's eight months to the general election.

[papau]

18. not one state poll summary supports Obama can win more easily than Hillary

[aquart]

6. Well, naturally.

With his ego? Fat chance.

[Zhade]

33. Ah, more hypocrisy, considering HER giant ego.

NT!

[Mme. Defarge]

7. It's a good thing

because I just donated to Obama last night and I'd be really pissed if he had expressed openess to such an utterly ridiculous and obnoxious idea!

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. ditto Mme. Defarge.....

I think most Obama supporters would agree that she brings absolutely nothing to an Obama ticket. He'll need a running mate with strong foreign policy/national defense credentials. And no matter how many "red phone" ads she runs, that is not Ms. McClinton.

[Orsino]

9. As she would, were the reverse question put to her.

If she's not ready to drop out yet, she's not going to let herself be framed as second-in-command, either. Both questions are pretty pointless, at this stage.

[susankh4]

11. Uh.... this is not the first time he has commented

They need to go back a few debates.

It's also not an outright rejection. That is the "reporter's" spin.

Last time he said these same words.... CNN took it as a "maybe."

[Kokonoe]

12. He said its a stupid question, there is no way in hell

he is going to lose. Can we have a real question please.:sarcasm:

[Zuiderelle]

14. From his response, it sounds like he would consider being on the same ticket with her.

He only answered "Well, you know, I think it’s premature. You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate -- you know, I’m running for president."

But the question was "Can you ever see yourself on the same ticket as Sen. Clinton?" He didn't answer that.

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. Not going to happen. Obama & Clinton have as much contempt for

each other as their supporters on this board. I would not & could not support such a union.

[Zuiderelle]

20. Then I guess you're saying that their supporters also can never come together.

That would be really sad.

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. She has done more damage to this party in past couple of weeks

than the G.O.P. could ever hope to. She not only stopped short of endorsing McCain over Obama, but gave ample reason why undecided voters should support McCain over her. It was the single dumbest move to date.

Obama should have put this rumor to bed for good. Let her sink or swim on her own.

[goclark]

35. Today she did reinforce it ~ she had the bold faced nerve

to say again that "McCain had experience, I have experience and something like, and he makes a lot of speeches."

Altered the words a tiny bit but the same old song.

She is one evil woman.

That lady should not have lost her job for telling the truth.

[noel711]

17. No.. duh...

This is a desperate plea...

another machiavellian plot that won't fly.

Why should Obama consider hitching his star

to a floundering political career?

Especially after her kneecapping comments, and ads...

Who do you trust? Why 'marry' a woman who knives you in the

back every chance she gets?

[Olney Blue]

19. I wish the reporters wouldn't ask either of them this question right now.

[peaches2003]

21. The V-Pres under a Clinton Adm would be a joke

You think for one minute Hillary and Bill would have a V-P with any power much less any visibility? Obama would disappear from the public view completely except for the occasional funeral. They did it to Al Gore and would do it to Obama even worse. People would be saying "Whatever happened to that Obama fells? Where is he now?" BO is not stupid. It would be the end of his career, at least for 8 years and Hillary would so poison the country for any Democrat to succeed her he wouldn't have a chance.

[1776Forever]

22. Good! I would like to see Sen. Webb as his VP - It would be a great ticket!

:popcorn:

[union_maid]

23. That didn't sound like a rejection to me

Not in polititalk. No one who is in any kind of contention for the nomination - let alone in the lead - is going to talk about being on the ticket as VP. It would just be stupid. He correctly reaffirmed that he intends to be the nominee for president. He certainly doesn't want anyone seeing him in any other role. If that, somehow, doesn't happen, seems to me he left his options wide open.

[No Blood for Hubris]

24. Good. I want Hillary to pick Wesley Clark.

Or maybe he'd be best as Secretary of Defense?

[eric351982]

25. He'll fit right in in the good-boys club........

Barak Obama will fit perfectly in the boys-club this country has had since 1776. I like both Hillary and Barak, but a female president would be a monumental change for the better. I am supporting our first presidential candidate who is a mother. If he gets the nomination, when would we see another woman like Hillary? She receives a lot of criticism for her husband and his speaking out on her behalf, but what would her fundraising power be without him? What woman would be our next hope? Nancy Pelosi? Barbara Boxer? This is Hillary's time. Let's give a woman a try for once.

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. nothing against a woman president. just has to be the "right" woman...

and for a lot of us, that is not HRC. Too divisive and polarizing, and would have absolutely no coattails in a general election. We need a super majority in Congress to get anything done, HRC at the top of the ticket won't accomplish that. No time for "symbolism".

[Zhade]

34. You're a racist for not supporting Obama.

See what a ridiculous argument you make?

A woman president would be awesome -- so long as it's not a lying, underhanded, power-hungry wannabe-cheat like Clinton.

She gives female politicians a bad name.

[GetTheRightVote]

26. Obama is running to become President nothing less...

what is it that they do not seem to understand ??

[AZ Criminal JD]

29. People running for president always say they will not take the V.P. spot

And then they take it if asked.

[robcon]

30. Sounds a lot like Johnson in 1960, Muskie in 1968 and Mondale in 1976.

You never know until they're asked.

[Zhade]

32. "We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote"

"though she still lags far behind in pledged delegates"

Tell me again why the LOSER should be at the top of the ticket?

Oh, right, her arrogance that she's "due". Thankfully, she's not.