Carter on Hillary as VP: "The Worst Mistake"

[ultraist]

Run time: 02:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32B7FFQGTUA   Posted on YouTube: June 04, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: June 04, 2008 By DU Member: ultraist Views on DU: 2140

 
President Jimmy Carter tells the Guardian on June 4, 2008, that he thinks chosing Hillary as VP "would be the worst mistake that could be made. That would just accumulate the negative aspects of both candidates."

[polichick]

1. Hopefully other high profile Dems will suggest the same thing...

Supposedly that's the way to take the pressure off Obama and signal to HRC that it's not going to happen.

[ultraist]

2. Good point

And I agree.

I really don't think it would be wise to put Hillary on the ticket. It wont better our chances to beat McCain.

[polichick]

4. Pelosi has already spoken about it - maybe Gore will speak out...

...or Kennedy, etc.

[Pastiche423]

3. I agree w/Jimmy Carter

Neither Obama nor the country would benefit w/Hillary Clinton as his vp.

[Triana]

5. Yep. I AGREE. n/t

[Jefferson23]

6. Carter, you are so right on this..agree 100%

[adigal]

7. Carter is correct - my Republican parents are voting Obama

but they already said that if Hillary is VP, they will vote McCain.

Too many Independents and Republicans who are planning on voting for Obama hate her. Don't do it, Barack!!!

[Vote4Change]

11. On Target!

Good insight into your parents. I'm not your parent, although probably old enough to be ... and I'm a Libertarian-leaning Independent rather than a Repuke. However, I am like your parents in that I am supporting Senator Obama because he is far and away the best candidate for the job in this election. But I will not, under any circumstances, continue my support for Senator Obama were he to make the deeply flawed decision to put "Little Miss Sniper Fire" on the ticket with him. After 8 years of Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld & Turdblossom, I do believe I have endured more than enough lies and deceit to have any interest in putting another pathological liar in high office.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. My husband has said the same thing

He's not a GOP person, but he really dislikes Clinton.

[King Coal]

21. She would just piss everyone off as she did when Bill was first elected and possibly screw up

any chance for a single payer health plan.

[DWilliamsamh]

8. Mr. Carter is 100% right, 0% wrong, on this issue. (N/T)

[Wapsie B]

9. Right you are Mr. President.

For one thing Hillary would be way too polarizing on the ticket. Obama has come too far to even think about risking the GE by putting her on as VP.

[ultraist]

10. Polarizing

Yes and because of that fact, I think we can expect that if she were on the ticket, it would also have an adverse effect all the way down the ticket. We can't afford to lose our majority in Congress, not to mention, local races.

[eagertolearn]

12. Obama needs to listen to these who have great experience and

do what is best for the party. I too know so many people who voted for Obama because they can't stand Hillary for many reasons. Plus his platform has been changing the way we have done things and starting a new plan. It's kind of hard to say that when you get the Clinton's back in the White House. I'm hoping there is another job that she would want more because many times the vice president isn't a big part of the administration (except this last 8 years when Bush was for show and Cheney the brains of these disasters!). She is very bright and they could use her better in a role where she could get something done like being in Charge of the health plan or something. But if she is on the ticket I would vote!

[DirtyDawg]

13. Jimmy's been reading my posts...

....this is exactly the point I've been making for months. Arguably, the combined total of those that would, under no circumstance, vote for Obama and/or Clinton, is upwards to half the voting public. Hard to win with those kind of numbers against you going in.

Additionally, having Clinton on the ticket would be, as has been pointed out by others, counter to the 'change' agent that Obama is, and must be. And finally, who in their right mind would add someone to their ticket whose soul motivation for being there is if 'something happened' to Obama. I mean just how long do you think it would take before Billary would come up with something that would vault her in the WH?

[Kaleko]

14. Why does anyone assume

that Obama is considering HRC for VP?

These speculations sound preposterous to me.

[Carolina]

38. I think they're preposterous to all of us

but the yapping heads on TV keep pushing this crap, so we have to keep pushing back with a resounding:

NO
NO WAY
NOT EVER

[OhioChick]

15. Agreed. n/t

[Crowman1979]

17. Just let Hillary have a cabinet spot.

Preferably Attorney General, so she can put her law experience to good use.

[Mira]

18. Who is heading Alcohol -Tobacco - and Firearms these days?:)

[Number23]

19. Ka-BOOM

And there you have it, from the ultimate graybeard himself.

But everyone knows that he's right. I think some are trying to be what they think is practical by suggesting the two of them on the same ticket. Like Carter, I don't think that's going to happen, and I do agree that Bill has hurt his legacy which is a shame.

I still love the work that both (Bill and Jimmy) are doing at their respective foundations - Clinton Foundation and Carter Center. I think Bill's continued work there will raise his profile back up. I'd love to work at either place, myself.

[bertman]

20. LEAVE IT TO JIMMUH TO HAVE THE BALLS TO SAY IT.

Jimmy Carter has once again proved to be a man who is willing to speak the truth when others shy from it.

Thank you, President Carter.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. Too much has gone down during the campaign

Both would come off as insincere at best. It would seem like he's throwing her a bone. I just can't imagine them standing side by side, waving and smiling. In addition, in many ways, they aren't different enough. Obama might as well choose someone who has strengths that he doesn't have, for example, someone who has more years as an elected official, a governor rather than another senator, someone with more foreign policy experience, someone who has military experience, etc.

[Jakes Progress]

36. Gone down?

What is this a 70's cop show? This is politics. Both of these are senators. Senators smile and work with their bitter enemies every single day. Ted Kennedy has cosponsored with some of the slimiest republicans slithering through the door. Clinton and Obama are closer in temperament, policy, and appeal than almost any campaign duo in recent years. I mean Gore/liebermann? They both know that politics is politics. You and I might not like it, but neither would have gotten where they are without being good at the game. And being good at the game means that you can appreciate the skills of your opponent and that you never take it personally. If you can't do that, you can't be a senator. And both of these are good at being senators.

[cyr330]

23. HRC on the Supreme Court?

Why not? She's certainly bright enough--unlike that dumb ass, Harriet Myers, and the other idiots, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. . . .

[happygoluckytoyou]

24. AT LEAST SHE FIGHTS LIKE A GIRL... HOPE OBAMA CAN DO THAT TO MCCAIN

[MannyGoldstein]

25. The Clintons Treated Carter Like A Leper

Carter is such a good and gracious person.

[Cha]

29. I'm so happy Carter is still

around to see this all happening with Obama:D

[Jakes Progress]

26. World's nicest guy.

World's worst political strategist. I will listen to him on affairs of aiding the world's poor. I contribute to his foundation. But, if my interest is in winning elections, this is not the guy to go to for advice. We all have our strengths; this is not one of his.

[mdmc]

32. do you think he is wrong about the unity ticket?

I dont...

[Jakes Progress]

35. What is it about Democratic unity

that you find so wrong?

[wcepler]

27. THIS WOMAN IS THE MOST DANGEROUS WOMAN IN AMERICA

Amen! All Hillary lives for is the death (assassination -- her word!)of Obama. For God's sake don't give this Bush-in-a-dress a fast track to the presidency. THIS WOMAN IS THE MOST DANGEROUS WOMAN IN AMERICA.

[northernlights]

28. once her camp

started putting out the word the other day that she'd be open to VP, that ended *any* chance of her ever being on the ticket.

Everybody's best bet, imo, would be to shut up and let Obama make his choice. He doesn't need a bunch of high-profile anybody's saying "don't do it" to take pressure off. If anything, that puts pressure on.

Obama was extremely gracious in his speech last night. Too bad Hillary didn't follow suit, but at this point the more people goad her by telling her to get out, the more likely she is to dig in.

Best bet for a *long* time would have been to shut up, stop telling her to get out, let the voters vote, let the chips fall.

She never was "playing the victim." She was victimized by high profiles telling her to get out long before the race was over. They were no better than she. All any of them had to do was shut the fuck up and let the chips fall.

I am impressed with how Obama has handled it. Too bad his supporters suck so badly at living up to his example.

[beyurslf]

30. I agree that she is the wrong choice for VP. I like her in the SCOTUS.

I do think Obama needs to choose a woman as VP though.

[King Bacon Fat]

31. So long, Justice Stevens...

Hello, Justice Clinton. The great thing about the Supreme Court is that it's a job for life. Maybe Obama could convince Hillary of this. Eight years of nothingness versus twenty-five years of presiding over the direction of the nation. She'd be a fool not to take an appointment to the court.

She can't really want the Vice Presidency, can she?

[NoFederales]

33. Obama probably wouldn't so choose, but it is nice to have prominent Democrats

council publicly why having HRC on the ticket would be inappropriate.

NoFederales

[disndat]

34. Relax! It's just not going to happen. Period.

We have to give more credit to the Obama team than to do something so foolish as to have HC nearer than ten milliona miles from the WH. After what she suggested about the "A" word and "harding working White people." That shows she and her team would do anything to ruin Obama's first term if given the chance. They would have "2012" dancing in their heads. Anyway, the Obama team has made the chess 'checkmate' move by asking for all the Clinton's financial records were they still to press for VP spot. Sharp, those Obama people!

[sui generis]

37. he just needs to STFU

his presidency was such a success. We don't want another one hit wonder with 20/20 hindsight.

He is a much better statesman than presidential advisor, regardless of who you like.