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Sparkle (0)
It wasn't weird for me to type out a post last week about how McCain was possibly leaning toward -- and would do well leaning toward -- having a female running mate. Not only would it capitalize on the disenfranchised segment of moderate Democrats who were dead set on Hillary, but it would give a nice, refreshing foil to his old-man-ish-ness to have a lady in the House. But that got me thinking...what about if Barack Obama picked a woman for Vice President.
Sure, you'd think, immediately, that Hillary would be top of the list, but I don't particularly think so (and neither does, apparently, the mainstream media).
Some supporters of Hillary Clinton are voicing anger that Barack Obama may choose another woman for his vice presidential running mate.
Rumors that other high profile women politicians -- such as two-term Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and first-term Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill -- are fueling a backlash of sorts from some of Clinton's most ardent supporters.
"Hillary Clinton in not a political lego block, easily replaced by another woman candidate," Allida Black, a former Clinton national fundraising committee member, told ABCNews.com Thursday.
Now, don't get me wrong, I think Hillary would be a fantastic Veep choice...for Barack. Hillary would NOT be a fantastic Veep choice for...Hillary. Okay, I'm still not making myself clear: I think Hillary probably has no intention of being anyone's second banana, particularly if the first banana is as weak of a candidate, and as potentially disastrous a President as Barack Obama. If he were to somehow win, Clinton would have a better shot as separate from his whole administration and taking another jab at the Presidency in 2012. She could campaign as "change from change" and handily pull out a win over then-zombie John McCain.
Which is also why it makes sense for Barack to ignore the common understanding that if he picks a chick, it should be Hillary. He has more loyal supporters than the fair-weather Clintons, and there are stronger progressives with more detailed views than Hillary herself. If he really wants a complimentary running mate, someone who is moderate and hawkish doesn't make sense as a companion to a campaign for change. If he really means something different, Barack won't choose someone who is overtly more of the same. Sebelius is a name that is tossed around quite frequently, and personally, if I were Obama, I would be seriously considering the governor of Kansas. She'd deliver a more rural state (which Obama needs to bolster his average American-street cred), she's competent and knows what its like to work in an environment where she's a political and ideological minority, and always under attack. She's been prepared for the limelight, and she wears much more flattering suits than Hillary could even dream of.
So, sure. There might be a woman closer to the highest office in the land than ever before, and she doesn't even need to be a Republican.
Don't just take my word for it -- look at what some other fine ladies across the Net are talking about. Brittani at Dimpled Chads calls Hillary's second-night "keynote" (a move that makes it obvious from the point of view of the DNC that she's not even being considered for the no. 2 slot) a "consolation chickfest". Catherine Price at Salon asks, is Barack cheating on Hillary Clinton by going with a different VP, and Lorna at Boudica tells the story of a Clinton supporter, and Mother with Brownies explains why, no matter who is up for President, its going to be the Vice President who will make all the difference...wonder if she'd like to see a woman.
