Obama Rips Clinton's VP Suggestion

Illinois Senator Says Voters Need To Make A Choice Between Two Democrats

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Barack Obama ridiculed the idea of being Hillary Rodham Clinton's running mate Monday, saying voters must choose between the two for the top spot.

The Illinois senator used his first public appearance of the week to knock down the notion that he might accept the party's vice presidential spot on the fall ticket. He noted that he has won more states, votes and delegates than Clinton so far.

"I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to someone who is first place," Obama said, drawing cheers and a standing ovation from about 1,700 people in Columbus, Miss.

Clinton aides say she's just reflecting talk that's already out there, reports CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod. The Obama camp says that Clinton would make a terrific VP as well but that they just don't want to get ahead of themselves.

Saying he wanted to be "absolutely clear," Obama added: "I don't want anybody here thinking that 'Somehow maybe I can get both"' by nominating Clinton as president and assuming he would be her running mate. "You have to make a choice in this election," he said.

After suffering losses in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, the Obama campaign promised to aggressively respond to criticisms from Clinton, reports CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic. Monday was the first time that Obama responded to suggestions by Clinton and former President Bill Clinton of a Clinton-Obama ticket, which he took seven minutes to do. (read more from Gavrilovic in the CBS News "From The Road" blog).

Obama aides said Clinton's recent hints that she might welcome him as her vice presidential candidate appeared meant to diminish him and to attract undecided voters in the remaining primary states by suggesting they can have a "dream ticket."

"Neither candidate wants to be seen as second fiddle but it's even more perplexing when the leader in the nomination battle is put into that role by the candidate who is trailing in the delegate count," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "Obama refuted the suggestion effectively but Clinton may have accomplished what she set out to do, and that's plant the idea into the minds of whose uncommitted super delegates who may well decide this nomination."

Obama had never suggested he might accept a second spot on the ticket. But until Monday he had not ridiculed the notion so directly, even if he did completely rule it out in Shermanesque terms.

He told the audience that it made no sense for Clinton to suggest he is not ready to be president and then hint that she might hand him the job that could make him president at a moment's notice.

"If I'm not ready, how is it you think I would be such a great vice president?" he said, as the crowd laughed and cheered loudly.

Mississippi holds it primary Tuesday, the last contest before the Pennsylvania primary six weeks from now.

Clinton and her husband, the former president, had suggested recently that a Clinton-Obama ticket would be popular and formidable against Republican Sen. John McCain in November.

Many political activists discounted the notion all along. They noted that the two senators lack a warm relationship and, more important, that Obama would be ill-served by hinting he might accept the vice presidential slot when he holds the lead in delegates and hopes to win the presidential nomination.

In the latest CBS News count, Obama leads Clinton, 1,570-1,461. He has won 28 contests to her 17.

Moreover, many insiders feel the ambitious and fast-rising Obama would chafe in the vice president's job, especially in a White House where Bill Clinton would almost surely play a huge advisory role.

Still, the notion of a Clinton-Obama ticket has received ample discussion in recent days on cable TV news shows and newspapers such as New York City's tabloids.

In an interview Friday in Wyoming with KTVQ-TV, a CBS affiliate based in Billings, Mont., Obama's comments were somewhat mixed.

"Well, you know, I think it's premature," he said of accepting the second spot on the ticket. "You won't see me as a vice presidential candidate."

His Monday remarks were more detailed, pointed and humorous.

Of course, they will not completely end the speculation. Presidential candidates routinely disavow any interest in the vice presidential spot. But some, including John Edwards and Al Gore, change their minds when they fall short of their top goal.

[blkpresident]

Hey Hillary,

Update--YOU are losing to Obama, so you should be asking for the number two spot instead of suggesting who should take it. After PA., you will have plenty of time on your hands to bake cookies with Geraldine Ferraro. Do you even remember what a kitchen looks like? Get use to it, ''cause the only cabinets you will be filling will be those in a kitchen lady.

[kailumego1]

If I didn''''t know the consensus of white America, I learned it last night, when an elderly white female, in my African History class, politely, in a firm but soft spoken voice reminded me, she said this country will never see a black president, and it mattered little of his/her qualifications, because the largest voter constituency, which happens to be those 45-above will never vote a black into office.

She went on to say Obama''''s winning in the primaries says nothing, when the actual vote to elect a president comes into play, of which a majority of whites will "NEVER" cast that vote for him.

Obama has a strong following among 18-35 year whites, but his support sharply declines among the 45 plus generation, they''''re the one''''s which make up the majority of the vote, accordingly.

A fellow student, a white male, second that emotion, or sentiment, as he stated this is the consensus of white Americans, and although it appears Obama has the Democratic lead, McCain is a "shoe-win".

So, if this is any indication of the "collective consciousnesses" of white America, Obama, according to Bill Clinton, is living in a "fairytale", because white Americans will "never" elect him.

Maybe that''''s why Hilary has fought a relentless campaign against him, because she''''s only echoing the sentiments of white America.

[craigh9]

What a calculating pompous, arrogant SOB - can''t wait for her to lose this race - and due to her unscrupulous antics never be able to muster enough support to even sniff an opportunity to run for president again.

[jack3213]

HYPOCRITICAL AND DECEPTIVE, CLINTON WILL STOOP TO ANY LEVEL, BE A MONSTER, AND REINFORCE HER SCUM STATUS TO WIN A POSITION SHE IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR. SHE STANDS BY A MAN WHO CHEATS ON HER AND THIS IS A DISGRACE. WOMEN WHO ACCEPT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOUR SHOULD NOT BE RESPECT ESPECIALLY BY OTHER WOMEN.

[xzonz]

Obama should take Clinton up on her offe...that way he could see how a real leader operates and maybe he would learn something

Posted by dem4change at 01:50 AM : Mar 12, 2008
----------------------------------------------------
I think its either calculated move but we are still in the middle of the race, and Obama is campaigning to be President
so far he is the front runner hence it looks like a well thought strategy for whatever reasons for her to offer him second place

thirdly Obama wants to take the voice of the middle class and the unheard of Americaans. he very much understands their needs working as a community organizer
Give it up for Obama, he is a very eloquent intelligent and very much capable of being president

OBAMA 08!!

[dem4change]

Obama should take Clinton up on her offe...that way he could see how a real leader operates and maybe he would learn something

[stezzer]

The only VP I''m interested in is Mitt Romney. My wife has the most terrible crush on him.

I don''t know what it''s like in America, but we Brits haven''t heard a peep from him in weeks.

Anybody think he may be in the White House soon? My other half is missing him dreadfully.

[hwy71so]

I don''t know how anyone could be enjoying this. Who we have vying from the front man/woman of our country. All three are less than minimally qualified.

[libra127]

Hillary is portraying herself as Kim Jong-il of North Korea,

Posted by user168 at 06:46 PM : Mar 11, 2008

Yeah, right. ROFLMAO!

[user168-2009]

" have been voting for 27 years and never seen someone to deside to be president and have so little experience.

Posted by prayerman3 at 01:34 PM : Mar 11, 2008"


Take a look at all the dictators in the world. They are there because of their experience. They are as clever as Hillary, and they are as driven as Hillary. And they are as self-serving as Hillary too!

Double-standard self-serving Hilary and her believers believe experience is power and cunningness is clever?

"Knowledge becomes evil if the aim be net virtuous."

"Smart people instinctively understand the dangers of entrusting our future to self-serving leaders who use our institutions, whether in the corporate or social sectors, to advance their own interests."

[user168-2009]

Hillary is portraying herself as Kim Jong-il of North Korea, experienced, clever, and with audacity, except Jong-il is the dictator with "il" and Hillary is the hypocrite with more "ill" than dictator Jong-il.

[taddles-2009]

" have been voting for 27 years and never seen someone to deside to be president and have so little experience.

Posted by prayerman3 at 01:34 PM : Mar 11, 2008"


G.W. Bush was elected governor of Texas in 1996, his only successful political experience before being elected president 6 years later. You don''t read much do you.

[taddles-2009]

"Obama only has 3 years and Hillary has 35 years.

Posted by prayerman3 at 01:34 PM : Mar 11, 2008"


That''s patently false. Do yourself a favor and take the 5 minutes to do a little research before posting stupid comments that just make you look like an ignorant dolt.

Hillary was elected Senator in 2000 so she has had 7 years experience in elected office. Before that she was appointed the head of the Clinton Health Care initiative. She was congressional legal counsel during the Nixon Watergate hearings in 1973. From 1979 to 2000 she was the first lady of Arkansas and then the First Lady, neither of which are political appointments or elected office.

Barack Obama served in the Illinois state senate from 1997 to 2004. He was elected US senator in 2004 and has served to the present for a total of 11 years in elected office. Before that he was a civil rights lawyer, community organizer and university lecturer on constitutional law at Harvard.

[xzonz]

DO vote for Obama and we can get real change in Washington
In the most logical sense an administration largely depends on the sincire commitment to make a difference in peoples lives and advisors thata president chooses.
i believe Obama is a very intelligent and brave man

vote for Obama- Obama 08!!!

[taddles-2009]

"As you can see for yourself, Sen. Obama''''s African-American ethnic claim, when properly researched and documented, is a lie.

Posted by kmccliment at 02:26 PM : Mar 11, 2008"


Your post is so absurdly racist as to be laughable if it weren''t so vile.

[chrissss6]

I know everyone thinks they know who our next president is going to be, but the truth is no one does. Personally, I think it''s pretty stupid for hillary to even think of offering vice presidency when she''s not even in a position to do so. I was going to vote for Hillary but it seems she is getting a little ahead of herself, so I think I''m leaning more towards Barack Obama, but for right now I''m going to remain undecided and see how everything follows up.

[hoopakai]

Check out this memo regarding Hillary''s "experience" sent out by former Director of the Policy Planning Office, U.S. State Department, Greg Craig--

http://thepage.time.com/obama-foreign-policy-memo/

(Obama supporters distribute it as many as possible, about time someone released something pertaining to her "experience")

[ifeelgood3]

Below is an excerpt from an article written by Greg Craig, former director, Policy Planning Office, U.S. State Department.

Senator Obama''s speech opposing the war in Iraq shows independence and courage as well as good judgment. In the speech that Senator Clinton says does not qualify him to be Commander in Chief, Obama criticized what he called "a rash war . . . a war based not on reason, but on passion, not on principle, but on politics." In that speech, he said prophetically: "[E]ven a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences." He predicted that a U.S. invasion of Iraq would "fan the flames of the Middle East," and "strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda." He urged the United States first to "finish the fight with Bin Laden and al Qaeda." (End of excerpt.)

How astute%u2014and prophetic%u2014of Obama on the Iraq war. He had correctly foreseen the debacle with presumably less information than Bush and his cabinet had for making the decision. I%u2019ll take Obama%u2019s judgment over Hillary%u2019s so called %u201Cexperience%u201D anytime.

[kmccliment]

Part II

Put another way, his father could honestly claim African-American ethnic classification. He was the last generation able to do so.

Sen. Obama could honestly say, "My father was African-American." Racist presumptions led an Ivy League admissions committee, and lazy "newspapers of record" factcheckers, to presume that if his father is African-American, then Sen. Obama must be African-American also.
But it doesn''t work that way. Racist presumptions coupled with sloppy vetting don''t turn a lie into the truth.
Sen. Obama is one generation too far removed from the ethnic African Negro input to make the same claim as his father, Harvard''s Admission''s stamp of approval notwithstanding.
As you can see for yourself, Sen. Obama''s African-American ethnic claim, when properly researched and documented, is a lie.

[kmccliment]

By Kenneth Lamb,
While his shrill wife objects, the truth is that Sen. Obama''s life, as he wrote about himself in his autobiography, is, in fact, nothing but a fairy tale. Again, don''t take my word for it - read Mr. Cohen''s, and others, articles about it.

If what Mr. Cohen writes are truths, then what Mr. Obama wrote are lies. It''s just as simple as that.Being the son of a poor Kenyan goat-herder plays much better than being the son of a highly placed Arab-African who operated at the top of the Kenyan government following his education at Columbia. You see, even the way he portrays his father is a lie.Mr. Obama is 50% Caucasian, that from his mother. What those who want Mr. Obama to write history by becoming "America''s first African-American president" ignore is that his father was ethnically Arabic, with only 1 relative ethnically African Negro - a maternal great-grandparent (Sen. Obama''s great-great grandparent, thus the 6.25% ethnic contribution to the senator''s ethnic composition.).

That means that Mr. Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother''s side. He is 43.75% Arabic, and 6.25% African Negro from his father''s side.