Open Letter to Barack Obama - October 2006

From the blogging files...boy did I nail this one!

Open letter to Mr. Obama

The road to the Democratic nomination runs through Hillary Rodham Clinton. It’s that simple. The moment Bill Clinton left the White House, the Clinton team, their supporters, and funders have positioned themselves for a Hillary Clinton White House run in 2008. Let’s not forget that behind the genteel visage that the Clintons present to the public, is a ruthless ambitious, ego driven team. One only has to revisit Bill Clinton’s recent Mike Wallace interview to gauge how serious the Clintons are about their legacy – and their future. You would be taking on a team who believes the work of William Jefferson Clinton was only interrupted by the 22n amendment, and that the momentum of the eight years of Democratic rule stolen in Florida.

The Clintons and their supporters will not stand idly by while a first term Senator, who has never cut his teeth on national politics considers running for president. Running for president means more than a cover story on a national magazine, or musing on a Sunday Morning talk show. Just as George Bush utilized the holdovers from his father’s administration, as well as many others with personal, financial, and political ties to the Republican Party, many Clinton loyalists will be supporting Hillary in 2008. Making enemies with the resources that the Clintons can bring to bear will make one a political piranha, and democrats who see Hillary Clinton as their party’s best chance to regain the White House will not look favorably on any opponent who loses the nomination, extends Ms Clinton in a manner that may cost her the general election akin to what Ted Kennedy did to Jimmy Carter in 1980.

My advice to you Mr. Obama is to have a private conversation with the Clintons, prior to making any formal announcements. The Clintons have invested over 30 years in positioning Hillary to be the first female President, and to continue the Clinton legacy, to add to that, the Clintons have proven to be prodigious fund raisers. Winning the Democratic nomination, without the unequivocal support of the Clintons will make fundraising extremely difficult if not impossible. Many feel that a Vice Presidential nomination makes more sense, as witnessed by recent vice presidents, that role of VP has taken on a larger scope of responsibilities, and increased visibility. Assuming Hillary Clinton wins two terms of the President, you would be the front runner in 2016 for the democratic nomination and an heir to the Clinton legacy. To run now and you may position yourself to be a thorn in that legacy. Heir or thorn – its yours to chose.

October 29, 2006