Barack Obama | Lauralyn

Post from Lauralyn Said That?!:

He's Choosing a Veep, Not a Menage a Trois!
By Lauralyn - Aug 1st, 2008 at 8:12 pm EDT


I voted for Sen. Obama in the Georgia Primary. I've been voting since 1968 and never before entered the voting booth still UNDECIDED. My head and heart were convinced that the arc of history was now bending toward Obama; but, my head and heart were also grieving that Sen. Clinton had missed an opportunity to frame her campaign in similarly passionate, visionary, historical terms.
How had it come to pass that voting for the first female presidential nominee of the two major political parties (I'm old enough to remember, with awe, Rep. Shirley Chisolm's 3rd party effort) was seen as voting for the status quo? But, it had. Yet, why not participate in that bit of history by at least voting for her in the primary? Back and forth I went - for weeks - right up to the moment I logged onto the voting machine. And then I, literally, took a deep breath and voted for Obama.
On reflection, I could see how Sen. Clinton had missed the opportunity: it's the price many of us "professional women" paid in the 1960's and '70's to be effective in a "men's club" business setting. (And the US Senate is THE most exclusive "old boy's" club!) We cultivated the ability to become "one of the boys" in manner and dress. We avoided being perceived as "emotional," learned how to speak in a lower register voice to be taken seriously, and wore our pants suits with fierce pride.
But once it became clear that Obama will be the official nominee of the Democratic party, it was equally clear that no one in their right mind could seriously believe Hilary Clinton would be an effective Vice President in an Obama administration. Why?
Aside from her own steamroller ego needs (which is fine if you're the Prez), she's married to a recent US President - DUH! The integrity of Obama's actions and policies would become political "chum" for the news media as "political pundits" and lazy reporters who cling to them, in symbiotic harmony, circled the choppy waters in a Potomac Fever-styled feeding frenzy, speculating how much was Bill's behind-the-scenes manipulation and how much was Hillary's.
Avoiding a B'illary Vice Presidency should be a no-brainer, folks!
And if Hillary had any willpower left to keep her political ambition in check, she would have removed her name from any further consideration for the Veep long ago in a gracious and absolutely unequivocal public statement. As she hasn't, I can only send my voice to the inner circle that advises Obama, and Obama himself, to have the - uh - integrity to state clearly that she is NOT being considered as his running mate for the obvious reason that it would be untenable to have a standing vice president triangulating the inner workings of the US presidency with a former US president! Period. Simple. Don't take it personally, Hillary.
To Hillary supporters who want to see her as Veep, or are threatening to vote for Sen. McCain - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? (Or smoking, drinking, snorting, injecting?) You would be willing to vote for a man who has gone on record as opposing a woman's right to a safe and legal abortion; a man who has stated his determination "to stay in Iraq 100 years in order to win the war"?! I would hope that your loyalty to our Constitution would trump this cult of personality thing y'all got goin' for ya!
Do I wish Barack will choose a female governor, senator or congressional rep. as his veep? Of course! But, ultimately, I want who he chooses to be a vital asset to winning the White House more than making my wish come true.
Thanks for listening!