Obama Tells Letterman VP Not For Me

"You Don't Run For Second," Ill. Senator And Democratic Candidate Says Of Sharing Ticket With Hillary Clinton

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama is not interested in running for vice president.

The Democratic presidential hopeful made that clear during an appearance Monday on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman." Letterman asked Obama if there had been any discussion of the Illinois senator sharing the Democratic ticket with New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"No, you don't run for second," Obama said. "I don't believe in that."

Letterman offered that a Clinton-Obama combination "would be a powerful ticket," to which Obama replied: "Which order are we talking about?"

Obama also told Letterman that his family is holding up well on the campaign trail.

"I take my kids occasionally," he said. "Malia, who's 8, Sasha, who's 5 — we take them on the campaign trail and they see these big crowds. I ask them sometimes, 'How's it going?' and the last time I did that, my 8-year old turned to me and said, 'This is terrific, daddy, but what are we doing here again?'

"She wasn't overly impressed."

Still, Obama said: "I'm not getting back to Chicago very often. ... My wife is starting to refer to me as her first husband. It's a little disturbing."

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Sen. Barack Obama speaks with David Letterman

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Meanwhile, Obama and Clinton will give voters several chances this primary season to see if they would be a good fit together, agreeing to participate in six debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee, aides for both campaigns said Monday.

However, the aides added that neither candidate will appear in a Democratic debate co-hosted by Fox News Channel this fall.

The decision by the two Democratic presidential candidates follows an announcement last week by John Edwards, another White House contender, that he would forgo the Fox event.

The Sept. 23 debate, set for Detroit, is co-sponsored by the cable news network and by the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute.

Without Obama, Clinton and Edwards, however, Fox and the CBC institute would be missing three of the marquee contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination.

A spokesman for Obama, who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, made it clear that Obama intended to participate in a debate co-sponsored by the CBC Institute and CNN.

"CNN seemed like a more appropriate host," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said.

The Clinton campaign announced its intentions Monday after Obama had let it be known he would not be attending the Fox debate.

"Were going to participate in the DNC-sanctioned debates only," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said. He added that Clinton already had commitments to participate in an upcoming debate in South Carolina and one hosted by Tavis Smiley, the PBS late-night talk show host.

Democrats have been under pressure from liberal activists to avoid Fox-hosted debates. Last month, the Nevada Democratic Party canceled a debate that Fox was to co-sponsor in August.

[processor2]

I'm still wondering how Hillary Clinton is going to politically destroy Barack Obama, while simultaneously proclaiming to "feel the pain" of black people.

...

[jacksteen1]

Too bad Barry (as we called him as little as eight years ago) blew his wad on this run - not only will he NOT get the nomination, it ruins his chances of getting nominated ever again. His handlers should have told him this - and told him his best chance would be after Hilary's two terms which she is SURE to get.

An example of a good man basically letting his abbitions get a hold of him.

Too bad, Barry. Back to selling Afro-picks around the U of C campus in Hyde Park!

[wama2]

I want Obama to win!!!!to be honest I want a black president, if obama's not the next president then i consider clinton to win it all!!

[truthword]

Every school district, city, county, state, and the feds are sitting on billions and trillions of our tax dollars that they're hiding from we the people. They're running a double book keeping scam, the budget is just a shell game, you can find the real numbers in what is called the CAFR or Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, over 85,000 CAFR's are filed every year in the USA, and it shows all of their surpluses, liquid assets, holdings, investments, profit centers etc. that are left out of the "budget." They're sitting on enough of our money to literally pave the streets in gold, they keep this money from us to keep us chasing the dollar like a rabbit with a carrot dangling in front of us. If any of these politicians claim to be for the people but are unwilling to redistribute this money back to we the people whom it rightfully belongs they're nothing more than liars and con men. Our system is so profitable that we should all be getting a dividend earnings check every year from these institutions instead of a tax bill! Redistribute the surpluses Obama and you will have my full support!

[processor2]

I'm still wondering how Hillary Clinton is going to politically destroy Barack Obama, while proclaiming to "feel the pain" of black people.

...

[truthword]

If Obama is for real, and a real follower of Jesus Christ, he will redistribute the massive tax surpluses that the state of IL is hiding in thier CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) double bookkeeping scam that all states have been running since 1946. If he's not a fraud he will start working on getting this money redistributed back to the people of Illinois whom it belongs to. Otherwise he's just another fake politician.

[nolalou]

djermano1,
Your argument is the biggest load of racist/sexist c-rap I've seen! First of all , this early in the campaign, no serious candidate is going to publicly say they have counted out any of the other contenders for the VP spot, but even if it did end up being Obama/Clinton or vise versa, to try to make the analogy that it's like an interacial marrage is just plain stupid. I, for one, plan to vote for who I agree with most on the issues, and who I feel has the experience and temerment to be President. I don't care if that happens to be a woman, a black man, hispanic, or whatever.

[rafterman1]

"Why do liberals hate alternative ideas ??
Why do liberals like MOCALEO hate free speech??
Why do liberals want to SUPPRESS opposing viewpoints???"

I don't know, why do conservatives hate thouse things?

But the way, when it comes to supressing opposing viewpoints, the Bush administration and his sychophant rubber stamp Congress has been experts at that. Nothing like calling anyone who opposes your strategy a traitor.

[forthepeopl1]

LET IT BE SAID HERE FIRST. WORLD WAR THREE IS HERE. AND IRAN WILL BE THE START.

ISERAL WILL NOT LET THEM GET NUKE POWER.. THEY WILL BE HIT FIRST.

AND WHY ARE WE GEARING UP WITH SPCIAL FORCES TEAMS ALL OVER IN IRAQ.

[samthetvcat]

processor2

Probably because whenever we in center and left of center try to engage you in dialogue by pointing out what troubles us about by way of inconsistencies and falsehoods all you do is whine. I noticed you responded under the liberal arts article almost a day ago but didn't address the issue - just did a 'hit and run' on other people with a couple of insults you already tossed out the day before. Are you still working on a response or do you just have nothing to say except whining and insults? Maybe that's how Fox comes across to some people too.

[processor2]

I would love to shut down FOX
Posted by MOCALEO at 11:41 AM : Apr 10, 2007


Why do liberals hate alternative ideas ??
Why do liberals like MOCALEO hate free speech??
Why do liberals want to SUPPRESS opposing viewpoints???

...

[tuckerndfw]

Ever notice that SORE LOSERS and LIBERAL CRATS are always trying to stack the deck?

Posted by didntinhale at 11:17 AM : Apr 10, 2007

Not unless you consider Faux News viewers and the GOP to be "SORE LOSERS and LIBERAL CRATS."

Ronald Reagan was president in 1985 the GOP was the party most responsible for eliminating the requirement for "fair and balanced" coverage of the issues.

Odd how the tv network that represents itself to be "fair and balanced" opposes being required by law to be "fair and balanced."

Of course, when the fairness doctrine is reimplemented, all right wing hate radio and tv will go out of business. Their listeners do not want facts, they want to listen to or watch hate presented as if it was news.

[rafterman1]

"LMFAO You hit it processor I love to watch Liberals "eat their young" It will be sweet to watch these liberal Media outlets have to choose between a minority and a woman."

Keep pretending their is a liberal media bias. It helps explain away all the Republican screwups. But if it wasn't for the so-called liberal press protecting Bush and never asking any tough questions or willing to dig deep into any story, Bush would have been impeached long ago.

Oh, by the way, how many Repubs are rallying around the 30% wonder Bush? Not many you say? Hilarious!

[forthepeopl1]

A declassified Pentagon report released Thursday concludes that there was no
direct cooperation between Saddam Hussein's regime and al Qeada. But *** Cheney,
apparently, remains convinced there was. ONLY IN HIS AND BUSHES HEAD!!!! ALSO
RUMSFELDS HEAD..THEY SHOULD BE HANGED FOR TREASON AGAIST OUR COUNTRY...FOR THE
MURDERS OF OUR KIDS.

The Washington Post on Friday said the report, which had been issued in summary
form in February, drew on "captured Iraqi documents" and "interrogations of
Saddam Hussein and two former aides" which "all confirmed" that Saddam and al
Qaeda were not working together prior to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. THERE
HAVE BEEN ALOT OF US SAYING THIS EXECT THING FOR A LONG TIME NOW, SO WERE ARE
THE ONES THAT LOVE THERE BUSH CRIME FAMILY.THIS SHOULD KILL THEM..SEEING CHENEY
WINEING LIKE A BABY.

WHY NOT LET ALL AMERICA KNOW ALL THIS, THIS SHOULD BE IN ALL PAPERS AND NEWS FOR
DAY ON DAYS UNTIL OUR ELECTED DO THE RIGHT THING. IMPEACH AND CHARGE THEM ALL
WITH WAR CRIMES...

WAKE UP AMERICANS AND FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTRY. DONT LET OUR CONGRESS GET AWAY WITH MURDER
Posted by forthepeopl1 at 07:42 AM : Apr 10, 2007

[tuckerndfw]

Watching Faux News to learn factual information is similar to watching Jerry Springer to learn family relations.

Might be entertaining to some, but it is a waste of time for the intended purpose.

When the FCC restores the "fairness doctrine," Faux News will go out of business. As will all other right wing hate radio and tv networkds/programs.

[changeit4]

Obama is smart: both to even mention that VP would be okay with him as well as to avoid Fox News, which has already tried what amounted to libel against him.

Free speech may just survive...

You don't see Obama deigning to deal with Don Imus... He's a damned disc jockey! He's suppposed to pi$$ you off. Leave the uproar to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson; a marginal argument for marginal characters. Does anyone see the irony in free speech which is always accompanied by fear that someone might be offended?

[rf35]

I'm concerned that the Democrat candidates will not participate in a Fox-sponsored debate. What are they afraid of? The MSM is likely to coddle these folks and make sure they look as good as possible...that won't help swing my vote. If they are worried about having to answer the tough questions, maybe America should take a more critical look at them. I guess I'll be taking a closer look at the Republicans running this year. Can't do worse that what we have already.

[djermano1]

Obama is not thinking of the party, but only himeself. He should consider his place from a historical point of view. Since the beginnning of America the Executive Office has always been a man. When will that enigma be broken? It is asking the question which comes first the blackman or the woman? Looking at this from
another perspective is the fact that this blackman first would give the impression that America has a Black President with with a White woman, rather like a mixed race marriage. Now I know they are not married, but that is the perception. But if Hillary was President and Obama VP, the people would see the dynamic shift and sensitive awareness of Obama's intellect. Hillary as a VP would conjure up senarios that she finally left her man for Obama, even though they are not really married, that will be a reminding presence. Who has more power the first lady or the V.P.? She has already been that close to the Presidency in her life...making her a VP is only going to be pushing a replay, only Bill Clinton has become Al Jolsen.

This is something Imus should consider when he made his comment; which leads me to this. You know it is OK for black entertainers to make fun of blacks using such talk, but a white guy doing it is really rung through the ringer. Perhaps we in all our political correctness we have loss our sense of humor, our sense to laugh and to have fun, without it meaning discrimination or vengefulness. America has lost its personality, when we can not be people.

[tuckerndfw]

Hillary Clinton cannot win a national election. Her poll numbers are as high as they will get. People already know her and her message and don't much care for her or her message.

Few people liked her as first lady and even fewer want her as president.

Obama is wise not to saddle himself with a loser. Hillary should drop out of the campaign and stop wasting her time and money.

[djermano1]

Obama is not thinking of the party, but only himeself. He should consider his place from a historical point of view. Since the beginnning of America the Executive Office has always been a man. When will that enigma be broken? It is asking the question which comes first the blackman or the woman? Looking at this from
another perspective is the fact that This manly first would give the impression that America has a Black President with with a White woman, rather like a mixed race marriage. Now I know they are not married, but that is the perception. But if Hillary was President and Obama VP, the people would the dynamic shift and sensitive awareness of Obama's intellect. Hillary as a VP would conjure up senarios that she finally left her man for Obama, even though they are not really married, that will be a reminding presence. Who has more power the first lady or the V.P.? She has already been that close to the Presidency in her life...making her a VP is only going to be pushing a replay, only Bill Clinton has become Al Jolsen. Something Imus should consider when he made his comment. which leads me to this. You know it is OK for black entertainers to make fun of blacks using such talk, but a white guy doing it is really rung through the ringer. Perhaps we in all our political correctness we have loss our sense of humor, our sense to laugh and to have fun, without it meaning discrimination or vengeful. America has lost its personality, when we can not be people.