Conversation | 05/09/2008 4:43 pm

Cokie Roberts: 'Hillary Is Negotiating Her Withdrawal'

A Q&A with ABC News correspondent Cokie Roberts.

LESLEY: Let’s talk about Hillary. I’m wondering, how do you explain her unwillingness, at this point, to throw in the towel? Does she really think she has a shot at winning this? Is she addicted to campaigning, which is my favorite possibility here. She’s kind of unable to give it up. Does she think there’s another shoe to drop with Obama? What do you think?

COKIE: I think that she is taking a somewhat graceful and prolonged exit. You know, when you’ve been running this hard and have won this much, you don’t just go. And the truth is, when you’re this significant a candidate you negotiate a withdrawal. It’s almost like a plea bargain. You start talking about paying off debt and about convention roles. There are all kinds of things that have to be negotiated. But I also do think that she feels strongly that she is the better candidate — and you can make a good case of that given the way the votes played out in these primaries and caucuses — and that by staying in until it’s over, perhaps something will happen.

LESLEY: Assuming, though, that he does win this nomination, do you think she will be anything less than enthusiastically behind him and corralling her supporters into his camp? Or, is there any chance there’ll be a moment like the one at the ‘80 convention.

COKIE: No, I don’t think there’s going to be that kind of moment. I think that Hillary Clinton is too interested in her own political future to be seen as someone who is tearing the party apart at that moment.

LESLEY: Will she go all out, do you think?

COKIE: I think she’d campaign for him. But, you can’t move your supporters. You know that, Lesley. The endorsements hardly matter at all, particularly at the presidential level. Or she can say, "I want everybody to vote for him. I think he’s terrific. I think he should be president." And those working-class Democrats who voted for her can say, "Have yourself a ball, Hillary. I’m voting for John McCain."

LESLEY: And do you think that’s going to happen?

COKIE: I do think that’s going to happen in a lot of cases.

LESLEY: Really?

COKIE: The fact that John McCain is doing as well as he is in a year that should by all odds be an overwhelmingly Democratic year tells you that there’s a lot of unhappiness with these Democratic candidates. You know, many people say this was the year when the Democrats needed to nominate a boring white guy, somebody who you didn’t even hear talk because all he needed to have was "D" after his name.

LESLEY: Show up, right?

COKIE: Show up. Exactly. And instead they’ve had this very exciting, historic nomination process. But it might not work so well for them in the end.

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

I love folks looking for ANY African-American to help take Barack Obama down. Mr. Reed clearly doesn’t speak for ALL African-Americans — evidenced by the voting patterns. There are certainly many “intellectuals” from Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, etc. among us. I KNOW many, personally. We have always had “house slaves…” Nothing new here. Conservative African-Americans have made entire careers riding the Reagan/Bush wave aka Clarence Thomas. Be clear — African-Americans will challenge Mr. Reed and Rev. Wright, who WE know more intimately. They and their Republican-lite ilk will not swift boat Barack, as you have already seen. We are NOT hiring a saint. We are hiring a LEADER and MANAGER — with good judgement. But, if we were hiring a saint, Barack comes closer than Bill Clinton (and Hillary) ever did. He is winning w/out saying ONE WORD about their boatload of “baggage” — while they, fused w/the Conversatives are proudly, gleefully and unfairly drudging for ANYONE/ANYTHING they can pay to spew against him - simultaneously. This is familiar territory for Barack and Michelle Obama, who — as Hillary should know — are burdened with having to be damn-near perfect to be equal, and will be subjected to an untoward amount of scrutiny the likes no other Presidential candidate in our history could withstand. Women KNOW this scenario and it is fascinating watching us/women assault the Obamas with the same things we abhor for ourselves in the marketplace and competitive business environments. Keep trying, Republicans, DLC-ers and Neocons! There are plenty of African-American sellouts — just like there are plenty in every ethnic group. Barack, we’ve proudly got your back!

By Renata on 05/10/2008 6:04 pm

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Renata, re: 6:04. You don’t even know who I am voting for. You think I am a republican - wrong again. Adolph Reed writes for the Progressive, and is extremely liberal. I found it a contrast to the stream of this discussion that only republicans were against Obama. I am not against Obama. He still has a long way to go, and he will have to answer those perceptions that Mr. Reed has addressed. I don’t want him to be perfect. If he feels that way, he has to reconcile that with himself. You should be glad to hear that I have mostly heard good and generous comments about him coming from his white constituents. Hey, to get my vote they don’t have to be perfect, but better be honest, and I thought that is what they were trying to do and that is what makes him more appealing. His ability to connect with his constituents is much like Bill Clintons, and that is what helped Bill get into the White House. In the general election, Obama is going to have to face the race issue every day. I don’t think that is right, but you know it is going to happen. I think that is good for the nation, because even if he doesn’t win, we as a nation will have addressed one of the biggest issues of our culture and history of the American people. Maybe that is his function at this juncture in time. It will grow us up more. We are evolving, and whatever pushes us to dealing with our weaknesses is important and necessary. Race is one of our weaknesses. We are slowly growing out of our old concepts about race, and this will take us further. The world is changing so fast, and to be a strong nation we must resolve our worst problems. You said that the Obamas “are burdened with having to be damn near perfect to be equal.” To some maybe, but certainly not all. Look at Oprah, she has made millions on her honesty about her imperfections. America loves her, she has changed so much about perception. What about Whoopi - hardly perfect - (Sorry Whoopi - hey loved you singing back-up on “Higher Love” - I want that gig) She is an academy award winning actress, producer, TV host and much much more. Perfect to be equal? I hope that concept dies for everyone, especially African Americans and women. This new generation coming up just doesn’t have the problems that we had about race. So it is changing. I also think it is disrespectful to call conservative African Americans ‘house slaves’. Many of them will feel offended. They are educated and do their homework as much as anyone. They have a right to hold whatever opinion they want. So what? They have one vote, just like you and me. That was the beginning of equality.

By Frannie Em on 05/10/2008 8:44 pm

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Frannie Em: Let’s be clear, the term “house slaves” is not perjorative to African-Americans who understand its true meaning. In the view of the overwhelming no. of African-Americans, Conservatives such as Clarence Thomas, etc. — beneficiaries of Affirmative Action as many of us are — yet, become strict constructionists of the Constitution AFTER they have “made it” are assigned that term. During slavery, which we do not cringe from, having survived and thrived in a unique Nation that corrected its founding mistake — “house slaves” functioned in a kind of middle-world, often descendants of both black/white heritage. They were able to leverage that easier position and exploited it to survive. This is an historical reference — to us. One of the benefits of an Obama Presidency is we can all be more open about our own perceptions about our own history and experience — and learn from one another. I lived on the Navajo Reservation as a teenager for two Summers and learned much about Native American culture and history I did not learn from history books. I have great respect for our Native Americans. I lived in Hawaii during my daughter’s first year of life, and learned much about the Hawaiian people and culture I did not learn in school’s revisionist history. I traveled to Russia during “Glasnost” — when my daughter was part of an International Camp for children — and saw first hand the tragedy of the waning of Communism and those who could not psychologically transition to the new world order, despite talent and high education. I am reminded how tragic it is for those who cannot turn the page to their own brave, new world. As Americans we DEMAND this of other Nations — but shrink from doing so ourselves. The world is crying out for America to TURN THE PAGE! In a strange turn of events, they are rooting for us to have courage and embrace our own future. They are joining our children in this matter. What we (boomers and boomer women, in particular) choose to do — will affect them all.

By Renata on 05/10/2008 11:55 pm

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Renata- EXCELLENT!! “The world is crying out for America to TURN THE PAGE! In a strange turn of events, they are rooting for us to have courage and embrace our own future. They are joining our children in this matter. What we (boomers and boomer women, in particular) choose to do — will affect them all.”

By zut alors on 05/11/2008 12:33 am

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Suzanne: Thank you. We are such a young Nation and we don’t always understand the impact of our own strength and power. We love to focus on everyone else, so we don’t have to prod ourselves. The Bush/Clinton dynasties are corrupt but cozy. We have been at this place before in our history. Right now, our SECURITY requires we bond together and forge a new coalition to move forward. In an interconnected, globalized, multicultural world — we can no longer IMPOSE our will on others, while simultaneously “hiring” a President who makes CARELESS public statements such as “OBLITERATE” or “hard working white voters.” Triangulation and pitting people/groups/religions/Nations/interests against one another is COSTING THE WORLD a heavy price none of us can any longer afford. Posturing and sashaying our way through the world looks comical, while other Nations are moving forward into the 21st Century and building economies to COMPETE with Americans. China and India — and other Nations who don’t care a fig about “hard working white voters” are on the rise. We TAUGHT them and now they will teach us — if we don’t TURN THE PAGE and embrace our future. I come from a Nation where half a million Caucasian Americans died to correct a mistake. They paid the ultimate price and TURNED THE PAGE to honor the integrity of our founding documents. I come from a Nation where I was born during SEGREGATION and women marginalized in the workplace as defacto office housewives, and now my daughter and her friends discuss starting new businesses or their career options like water trickling down a stream. I listen to their banter and smile a knowing smile. It is THEIR future that is the testament to our success. We must LET GO and help them transition into this brave new globally competitive world. The world loves this teetering young Nation…and they want us to be our best. We are NOT after 9/11. We are never at our best when we are afraid. That is not our natural default. The COURAGE to embrace CHANGE is our strength, not a weakness. We have accomplished what took other Nations thousands of years — in 200 years. Certainly we can find the COURAGE to transition and cross this barrier, together? Boomer women, your children NEED you to stand up for them. Be fearless, for their sake.

By Renata on 05/11/2008 1:25 am

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WOW o WOW!! I truly enjoy this site! you all have some very insightful opinions and experience. Renata I am so glad to see3 the word COURAGE. Earlier in the week the ? of the day asked about important books. MAN there arte some interesting and well read folks responding here! I didn’t think of it at the time but you reminded me what I thought while rreading CAMUS at Combat ( princeton press) Man reading about the French underground. Camus was so much a part of the effectiveness of their efforts. The COURAGE, The COURAGE!!! I feel that Americans will talk about taking action, but will stand still while a parent strikes their child at a grocery store or otherwise in public. Mental health and the lack of available care has put multitudes of needy personalities on the streets; just watch when one of them saunters into STARBUCKS!! a littlebit of freakin goin on!! I’m right there with you regarding our lilly white coziness! The flagrant misuse by the REAGAN/BUSHIES of American power for their seeming selfish if not nefarious interests goes way beyond apalling! Where’s the courage here? I am hard pressed to really believe W has ever done something courageous. I would have been very happy a year ago to support Hillary with as much vigor as I could muster. As a veteran I worked here in Oregon in m04 for Kerry, but was later dissapointed by what seemed his lack of courage in the faace of the Ohio debacle. I picked him as some nother establishment pol who was ” cozy” and now I see Hillary as even cozier! Too cozy!!! Cozy with McCain,Cozy with Bush’s designs and aspirations, and cozy with the the overbearing methods of character assasination that seem to be polluting her very own ability to project a credible endorsement when it will be neccessary! For two decades I have been hoping, promoting women in elective opportunities! I felt the trouble with Hillary brewing the very morning after the 06 elections! from that very second the media has been eyeing this race and began immediately in thier attempts to choose our candidate! Hillary! Obama is a surprise! Perhaps , as his detractors suggest he has received Resko money, So what! Im guessing we can bet our lilly white asses that he will be one very scrutinized and pressured chief executive!!!!!! I also believe < with the propper STAFF CABINET AND ESPECIALLY CONGRESS YES BI CAMERAL CONGRESS that the world will embrace America!! Let’s not be naieve! It’s a big world out there! And our work doen’t end just cause the election is done. First COURAGE then FOLLOW THROUGH !!!! Well said Reneta and Suzanne, and Frannie, And Al Gore who told me that democracy is a conversation!! Sometimes HEATED , that’s what has been lost with our society. That’s what YOU ALL provide here.. NICE

By immoddesta godessa on 05/11/2008 2:59 am

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After hundred and hundreds of years, still only men allowed in the White House. After eight years of baseball, now we’ve got basketball. Well, that’s a change.

By A B on 05/11/2008 10:31 am

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And don’t forget black men voted long before white women. djudge

By Diane Judge on 05/12/2008 3:04 pm

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Frannie—NOT INTERESTED.

By zut alors on 05/10/2008 8:46 pm

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Of course Suzanne, you are only interested in the “truth” that fits your paradigm.

By eleanor roche on 05/10/2008 9:12 pm

Suzanne - SO WHAT?

By Frannie Em on 05/10/2008 10:08 pm

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yep, frannie, rezko may be the other shoe to drop, although my trib reading friends say he has lots more association with ALL of chicago’s politicians. it seems to me hillary may want to keep going as part of her slogan of letting every vote count. if we apply that slogan to the election process for november, it may help us.

By mary lou s on 05/10/2008 12:25 am

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The Rezko shoe already dropped. It’ll be sex.

By Buh- Bye on 05/10/2008 9:59 am

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The Clintons and McCains had better NOT open the SEX pandora’s box. Thus far, the Obamas are the ONLY pols who don’t have this problem…and it is a good thing Barack doesn’t choose to assault the Clintons and McCains on these filthy grounds. As a mother of a 33 year old daughter — I, for one, don’t want Bill Clinton anywhere near young Interns ever again.

By Renata on 05/10/2008 5:23 pm

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I did not even vote for Senator Clinton; I voted for Senator Obama. I just object to horse race journalism. It is not good enough. Whether and when she withdraws is up to her. Is anything up to the voters? Not much with such an information drought about issues and policies and other things that matter. A year ago, all the panelists on the Sunday morning shows were predicting Hillary would be the nominee. Not once did anyone discuss in depth her position on Bush’s bankruptcy bill, or any other position other than the vote on Iraq.

By Elizabeth Bennett on 05/09/2008 6:25 pm