A growing theory now making the round on the right, center and in some parts of the left is that Senator Hillary Clinton and her husband former President Bill Clinton have now effectively-hijacked a good part of the Democratic attention away from Democratic party presumptive nominee Senator Barack Obama. Those who believe this pooh-pooh reports of a compromise to let Clinton have her name put in nomination and contend it was actually forced on an unwilling — and poll-weakened Obama –and that the worst for Obama is yet to come.
Here’s one of the best summaries of this view.
The only problem with this interpretation is that it assumes the Clintons have such political hubris and are so self-absorbed that they — and their backers — don’t realize that if Obama loses it will NOT be a confirmation of what Hillary warned about if her backers stay home and don’t vote for Obama. It’ll signal to many that some Clinton supporters cared more about Hillary and not the party or policies and values shared by Democrats. (such as a less-conservative Supreme Court appointee). And if that is the conclusion in the wreckage of an Obama loss — and I believe it would be — then Clinton will face a battle royal in 2012. And, if she wins office, she would have a segment of her own party greatly distrusting her.
But what is certain is that the pro-Hillary rallies, the Bill Clinton speech (which is likely to praise his wife and detail his own legacy rather than passionately urge Demmies to vote for Obama), the Hillary Clinton speech, the introduction of Hillary Clinton by daughter Chelsea will dilute the usual impact of a convention. Modern political conventions are now the best chance for a candidate to control the image and delivery of that image. Now it’ll be Obama by 1/2.
News types will focus on the Clintons’ appearances and Clinton backers’ threat to essentially sink the ticket. And on Obama’s speech.
But it will be a diluted message nonetheless. And Republican Sen. John McCain’s message won’t be diluted.
UPDATE: Marc Ambinder says those who claim Obama “blinked” and that Hillary and Barack aren’t getting along are wrong.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.