I am hoping everyone is writing to Senator Obama's website and encouraging him not to bow to political pressure by selecting Hillary as his running mate. I have done just that, and my letter is below the fold.
President to be Obama,
I am a small donor, only $100 thus far, (I am a graduate student) but I believe this campaign is about small donors, and that each one of us has a voice in your campaign. As such, I humbly request that you do not choose Hilary Clinton as your running mate. I ask this for five reasons:
- "Too many chefs spoil the kitchen." In this case three, yourself, and Billary Clinton. Governance requires a singular leader to be effective, and the Clintons' hubris will make this impossible. This is not even to mention the "historical overload" which will accompany the ticket.
- Baggage, baggage, baggage. The Clintons have more baggage than any other politicians in this country. They incite virulent hatred among many Americans. Although I believe these emotions to be misdirected, they will nonetheless try and convict you for guilt by association, never hearing your message. Your rhetorical skills are your best weapon, don't give people a defense against it.
- Strength. Irrespective of when you were to announce Hillary as VP, it would be inevitably seen not as an act of unity, but as a compromise of historic proportions. This will hobble you from the start. The only tool McCain has is his "leadership" meme, and this relies on strength in the face of adversity. I assume you will be attacking him head on on this issue; therefore, you will need to stand up to Clinton "the fighter." The VP works for the President, plain and simple (except, of course, in this administration). They are not "co-leaders."
- One of your strongest, and unassailable positions is your opposition to the Iraq war. Hillary will undermine this position, miring your candidacy in the same quicksand as Senator Kerry's.
- Hubris is the worst of human traits. Hillary needs a good dose of humility.
I have no doubt that you have though about all these issues a thousand times (if not more!), but YOU are the healer this country needs. Please don't allow others to diminish this historic opportunity by arguing for a "politically expedient" solution. You are not a politician: you are a leader.