Conversation | 05/11/2008 11:16 am

Cokie Roberts on the Chances of an Obama-Hillary Ticket

LESLEY: You know, Hillary gave an interview to USA Today last week, and people are interpreting what she said as race-baiting.

COKIE: Yeah. I think that’s wrong. I really do.

Click here to read the first part of Lesley Stahl’s interview with Cokie Roberts.

LESLEY: Well let’s tell everyone what she said. There was a suggestion that the white vote will never go to Obama. Something like that. So why don’t you think that was race-baiting?

COKIE: Well, because what she was doing was describing what her vote was. And her description was 100 percent accurate. It’s become very difficult in this country to use words like "white." I must say, through this campaign I have found it interesting and disturbing that even though we are happily at a place in our history where it is not appropriate, and considered inappropriate, to say anything negative about race, it is apparently just fine to say things negative about sex. And we certainly saw that in the course of this campaign.

I do think that she probably shouldn’t have used the word she used, but we use these words in talking about the exit polls all the time. She gets the majority of the white vote. She gets an overwhelming majority of the lower income white vote and of voters who have traditionally been up for grabs in the general election.

LESLEY: You know, it’s interesting because if you are at all sympathetic to Sen. Clinton, then you give her the benefit of the doubt. And if you’re really for Obama, you saw race-baiting. It’s interesting.

COKIE: But that’s true about everything now. I mean, it makes me nuts. The truth is that nobody gives anybody the benefit of the doubt. And part of this is the ferocity of the blogosphere — that people are all evil on the other side and they’re all doing something terrible. And that is the way our politics is these days. And Barack Obama might say constantly that he wants to get beyond that and bring people together and all that. But that certainly has not been true of his supporters.

LESLEY: No. Cokie, one last question on this: Do you think there is any chance at all that they would form a ticket together – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton?

COKIE: I think there’s a chance. But I think it would be a really stupid thing for the Democratic Party. I mean, again, if this was the year for the generic white guy, you certainly want him as the vice president — probably a white man, preferably a gun owner, from a swing state. I mean, to have two liberal senators from states that are going to go Democratic anyway …

LESLEY: What about a Hispanic … a Catholic Hispanic governor? There is one.

COKIE: We’re talking Bill Richardson.

LESLEY: Yeah.

COKIE: Well, that could happen.

LESLEY: Yeah.

COKIE: That could happen.

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158 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

As a New Yorker, I can tell you the MEDIA INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, Democratic Party Pols and establishment — and our financial fat-cats were solidly behind HRC’s runs for the Senate runs and — raised $100mil upfront before she did her introduction to her Campaign from her (now infamous) comfy living room shoot telling us SHE WILL BE THE ONE — before one vote was cast. The NYT endorsed her, though they have had to rebuke her several times on the Editorial Board page due to the tone and conduct of her Campaign. If Barack Obama wins, he will have our children to thank — not the MEDIA. They are his army, raised his war chest to afford MEDIA — and a 50-State strategy, HRC’s $100mil Campaign NEVER PLANNED FOR, so secure she would win by Super Tuesday — which, locally, she repeatedly TOLD us.

By Renata on 05/12/2008 6:23 pm

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your children will have to reap the consequences Bish qas not experienced and now we get another?

By Dorothy Brennan on 05/12/2008 7:40 pm

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i agree renata, she was the presumptive nominee from the beginning. this election was hers to lose… and she did.

By ariadne a on 05/12/2008 7:33 pm

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Ariadne: ….this election was hers to lose…and she did…but, WON’T ACCEPT DEFEAT and is racking up bills others will have to pay going forward…including her own loans.

By Renata on 05/12/2008 8:18 pm

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The ultimate reason for Barack Obama not inviting HRC onto the ticket is because her case since Iowa has perversely been white voters won’t vote for Barack in the GE…despite evidence they are doing so in large nos. What she is really saying, buttressed by her Campaign surrogates — is ASKING WHITE VOTERS NOT TO VOTE FOR HIM, thereby dividing the Party. She has been asking for this kind of support all Spring — women and white voters. This is her case to “Super-Delegates.” He can’t win. He can’t win. He CAN’T win….because…. I can win “hard working white voters.” Therein lies the distinction…and Americans can hear the dog whistle. We are paying attention because there is too much at stake this time around. An Iowan poster said it was HRC who raised this as her rationale and diferentiator while she was in Iowa. Thankfully, Iowans repudiated this as THE case. Then code language has been used — to no avail. Then people were fired from the Campaign…to no avail. Then HRC began to openly make this as her case during speeches…to no avail and making her worthy of an SNL skit her great-grandchildren will see in the 22nd Century. Gerry Ferraro now knows what it will be like to memoralized in a speech Barack Obama gave, 100 years from now. No. HRC will not be on the ticket because the reason Barack and Michelle Obama ran this gruelling race AGAINST the Bush/Clinton dynasties is to fundamentally how races are run, enroll young people to do their civic duty and MANAGE the Government to serve the American people, instead of commoditizing it.

By Renata on 05/12/2008 9:53 pm

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Renata- another great post “to do their civic duty and MANAGE the Government to serve the American people, instead of commoditizing it.” You’re a terrific writer, with an exceptional grasp of the political nuances. I posted in this thread out takes from several media sources of Clinton’s race baiting. really atrocious. I went out for a late lunch with an atty. friend who was a law prof at a top law school, she is AfAm…..we’ve known each other a long time…very wonderful person…so talented…has been devoted to the Democrats working every election. She was angry to the point of tears talking about the betrayal she feels by the Clintons. “First Black president” indeed. What a croc and we all not only believed it, but spiritually kind of thrived in that farce. I’m really ticked.

By zut alors on 05/13/2008 1:55 am

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Suzanne/Renata: You are both terrific writers and have “an exceptional grasp of political nuances”. BTW, I am a white woman who grew up in the “old south” and I feel much pride in the woman I am today. I had to move back several years ago and was shocked by the relics of the past and the consciousness that still exist. I feel that I barely escaped to Denver with my life still intact. Being from SC, there are two poeple on the national scene there are two natives that I much admire for their reasonable voices and they are James Clyburn in congress and Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post. We MUST move forward. Hillary Clinton does not represent “women”, only herself, and is an embarrassment to our gender.

By Agyness O on 05/13/2008 11:24 am

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Speak for yourself. Hillary does represent women to me! To me, Obama represents yet another ambitious young man who hasn’t paid his dues, has barely mustered a record and has considerably less experience, but nonetheless rushed in prematurely to steal the thunder and blind-side the woman, snatching the opportunity away. The classic tale of competent women toiling for years to claw their way to the middle, then only to be crushed by the old boy network just as they reach for the brass ring.

By Buh- Bye on 05/14/2008 4:14 pm

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What is the gender of a plain jane? It sounds to me like an hermaphrodite! lol

By cat lord on 05/29/2008 11:49 pm

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Suzanne: Context and nuance are important. I want to provide a more accurate perspective regarding how some African-Americans view him — and are making political decisions about his candidacy. So much has been written about women voting for Hillary BECAUSE she is a woman — and the same for Barack and African-Americans. While I believe some of that is at work for each, I believe Americans this cycle KNOW their vote must count for something more than our petty selfish issues/biases — and we must rise up and take charge of our DESTINY after 7 years of FEAR-mongering to manipulate us, making the 9/11 attacks even worse. I remember George W. Bush telling New Yorkers to BUY PLASTIC FOR OUR WINDOWS…and telling the rest of America to GO SHOPPING. HRC said NOTHING. Bill said NOTHING. Now, our children are facing increased expenses across-the-board and decreasing wages w/no healthcare, pensions, insurance, etc. All we get are SIMPLISTIC SOLUTIONS - and patchwork. I will NEVER forget watching Americans DROWN in New Orleans. NEVER! While our President complimented his toadie…”Brownie.” This is EXPERIENCE I hear so much about? While the planes were flying into the WTC, which I could see from my windows…I was simultaneously watching our President read a children’s book! We are in two FAILING wars and now he is tap dancing out of Office…the ultimate in mockery of the American people. Too bad the boomers didn’t know the fastest way to make $100mil or more is to run for Office and then commoditize it via DEALS in the revolving door of the Bush/Clinton dynasties. Forget Wall Street or Silicon Valley. Government is where it’s at! No-bid contracts and deregulation of entire industries who outsource American jobs. We are losing our youth, while other Nations are investing in them. HOW MANY PRISONS CAN WE BUILD AND PAY FOR LIFETIME STAYS? How about restoring defined benefit pensions and making college education FREE for public service — instead? We are BETTER than this. We are BETTER than our “leadership.”’

By Renata on 05/13/2008 2:22 am

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You speak for African-Americans now? I better listen up.

By Star Lawrence on 05/13/2008 10:13 am

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Renata…….. I must disagree with you on two points of your post…. 1. While the planes flew into the WTC I watched the President reading to school children. Yes, he was. Now, was he supposed to jump up and say “Sorry kids, gotta go. Some big bad men just flew some big planes into the WTC and probably killed a bunch of people. Now, I don’t know about you — if I had been in that situation I think I would have (as he did) graciously gotten up, excused himself, and left the school. My question — what would you have done in front of a classroom of small children? 2. I too watched the debacle in New Orleans. If there is any one to blame —you might start with the Mayor of New Orleans and his non-existent “Emergency Preparedness” system. Apparently there was none. There were hundreds of buses to take people out of NO — those buses were never used. Living in a Hurricane zone myself, I thank God each day for the emergency management system we have in our area. Also, the people who have enough brains to implement same. Next — before the National Guard or any Government Agency can come into any state they must be requested by the Governor of that state. She, or he, must declare their city or state a “Disaster Area”. (As the Governor of Missippi did. She (at that time - has since been voted out) on the other hand, waited for days before she would give permission for the National Guard to come in. Also, there were ships from the US Navy sitting offshore waiting for her word to start unloading supplies. Again, she waited — the Mayor waited. Talk about tap dancing!!!!! I’m not taking up for Bush, however, I do take someone to task when I know there is another side to a story. 2.

By Lady Gator on 05/13/2008 3:03 pm

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Lady Gator, agree with you wholeheartedly about Bush’s behaviour when 911 happened. What else was he supposed to do — scare a bunch of little ones half to death, totally ruin a special (being read to by the president of the U.S., event. I’m for Obama and have little use for Bush and all of his costly mistakes, but his behaviour was right on at that school. I also think it is stupid to bring up McCain’s 100 years comment. We all know he didn’t mean it the way it has been latched onto. Hillary and Obama both have those kinds of things attached to them by either very dumb or unscrupulous people. None of them can just up and pull out of Iraq. It’s going to take quite a bit of finesse no matter who occupys the While House. I’m sick of all the nonsense fed to the American people, which far too many of them are buying. We need an educated popoulace. One that can talk about what kind of America we want — then go for it. WE NEED A NATIONAL DISCUSSION ON WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE WANT TO BE. That discussion will not happen unless it is made popular by politicians, Hollywood, pundits, etc.. Can somebody get the ball rolling?

By Jenny Oops on 05/17/2008 5:21 am

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Renata’s favorite word is dynasty, even tho it is incorrect and only applies to the Bushes (and even then, not really). It’s a propaganda buzz word planted liberally in posts. This election is unhinging us. I abhor the subversive sexism you see everywhere. People talk about Obama’s lack of experience, but with Clinton it’s personal and you just know it is steeped in this undercurrent of sexism and self hatred. The intent is to crush smart women. It’s a celebration of schadenfreude. I would’ve voted for Obama in ‘16 when he was ready to lead, but now… never.

By Buh- Bye on 05/14/2008 4:27 pm

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After a month of surfing this site, i find that woman Renata, full of hate for whites,fanatic and mostly intruding! We have to forgive her as she probably didn’t get much education.

By cat lord on 05/29/2008 10:55 pm