Joan Ganz Cooney | 09/16/2008 2:00 pm

Joan Ganz Cooney on the Real Reason Obama Didn't Choose Hillary

I’ve been reading a lot of complaints that Obama did not choose Hillary as his vice president. And I have been moaning about it for days. I spoke yesterday with someone who knows a lot about it all who told me that Hillary was high on the list but the vettters couldn’t get past Bill’s very complicated philanthropy and business life because the two were so closely tied together. It was almost impossible to know where business stopped and philanthropy began. And of course a lot of foreign governments had donated to his library and other entities with which he was involved which would have become another story.

What they faced when considering her was that the press (it was rumored and was probably so that the Times had five reporters ready to go) would have a field day investigating Bill’s very complicated financial history. And what they became certain of was that Bill would become the story day after day and week after week and that they would never be able to get back on message. This all rings true, so I think those of us who support Obama should try to be happy with Joe Biden.

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

sibelle: She flies like a butterfly,stings like a bee!” Yes, I think I’ve heard it in some form from the boxer, Cassius Clay aka Mohammed Ali. At any rate, it suits her fine.

By Marjorie C. on 09/18/2008 1:24 pm

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awwwwwwwww…I float like a butterfly sting like a bee watch out world I am Mohammed Ali…one of the Greatest boxers ever!! nice to know other women enjoyed his Boxing ..aGreat sport to watch!

By Obama Biden on 09/21/2008 9:45 pm

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I’ve always told my daughter, that it wouldn’t be Hillary. It would be Bill, he would be trying to run the show since he was there before. Didn’t know about finances, just a gut feeling.

By Velita Carr on 09/16/2008 1:43 pm

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Velita, Your guts told you right on this one. Read my comment above.

By Diana T on 09/16/2008 9:06 pm

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Well my view is this……..Bill Clinton was an excellent President….after the Republicans made a mess of it he straightened it out! our heads were above water!..So had Hillary gotten in there Great for us we would have had experience and Balls in the white house this country would have ROCKED and our heads WOULD HAVE been above water again at this point in time we are drowning in our own feces! and if Palin/McCain get in there that will be all we have to eat too!

By Obama Biden on 09/21/2008 9:52 pm

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“I spoke yesterday with someone who knows a lot about it all who told me that Hillary was high on the list but the vettters couldn’t get past Bill’s very complicated philanthropy and business life because the two were so closely tied together.” 1) I think you need to provide a source here. 2) I think your explanation is horsesh*t.

By Corinne M. on 09/16/2008 1:57 pm

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Corinne, Bill has consistently refused to release the names of the donors to his library. Approximately 10% of the money reputedly came from overseas … no doubt, the Clintons would beholden to them … and while Hillary likes to publicly put distance between her and his dealings, aides have commented that she has been involved in everything, every step of the way. Take a look at these articles … http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR200712… http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20clinton.html?pagewanted=… Hillary would have been a HUGE distraction. She and Bill would have hijacked the campaign.

By Lucinda Herbert on 09/16/2008 8:48 pm

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“the vettters couldn’t get past Bill’s very complicated philanthropy and business life because the two were so closely tied together” what a total crock. looks to me like the obamacans are on the march again renewing their goal to ruin the clintons. given this latest goodie, it boggles the mind that obama has invited them to campaign for him.

By Buh- Bye on 09/16/2008 2:22 pm

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My Alias: …it boggles the mind that obama has invited them to campaign for him. It boggles the mind that they agree to do it. The Democratic Party, under the current leadership, isn’t worth trying to save.

By Marjorie C. on 09/16/2008 2:37 pm

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agreed Marjorie, it’s in the dumper. I’m going to start calling Obama “The Eliminator.” His approach, pretty much across the board seems to be, It’s not enough that I succeed, all my opponents must be forever eliminated. What’s his camp trying to do now? Ensure that she never gets a shot after he fails? What a bunch of creeps.

By Buh- Bye on 09/16/2008 4:59 pm

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I read this about the vetting issue being Bill’s, as a necessity because of the press and the Republican thirst for creating drama and clouding every single issue. It is McCain and the Republicans that are the Eliminators. Hillary’s star will rise high with Obama and her credentials and leadership appointments will soar. If Hillary chooses to run again, no one will be able to spout that tripe, that she is unqualified or trash Bill, as a way of bashing her. She will be beyond all of that, out of the Republicans grimy slimy reach. She may not have gotten the nomination this time. But she has an incredible stepping stone that will lift her, as far as she chooses to go.

By Deni G on 09/16/2008 6:47 pm

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I’m with you, Deni G. I think, once Obama’s elected, Hillary will be spending plenty of time in the oval office. Who would waste Senator Clinton’s exhorbitant expertise on the Vice-Presidency. Biden’s a good fit for V.P. I see Hillary as our next Secretary of State, and our first female president.

By Ms. Dee on 09/16/2008 7:07 pm

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My prediction Dee, there’s a last minute wild Republican push with the Muslim school/ Reverend Wright/Osama-Obama name similarity/Sadam Hussein-Barack Hussein name similarity/Rezko issue… and McCain wins. Palin gets chops in next 4 yrs. Pelosi steps down. Dean ridden out on a rail. Hillary becomes the new lion in the Senate. Next election cycle… it’s an estrogen-laden Presidential campaign… but in the end it becomes President Palin because of her 4 years nearest to the Oval, and Hillary’s chances are forever dashed. All thanks to Mr. Greedy Guts and his idiot campaign advisor Axel-rove.

By Buh- Bye on 09/16/2008 7:27 pm

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No, My Alias. If your scenario happens, it will be because some voters will SET THE WHOLE THING UP by ignoring Hillary’s plea that Democrats vote for Obama, and instead, will vote for McCain/Palin, to register a “protest” vote. They will intend to protest Obama being the nominee, or that HRC was not the nominee, or whatever, but it will be a De Facto Vote for 4-years of McCain, 4-years of Palin. Think of the people who cast “protest” votes for Ralph Nader — and tipped the election to GWB. Does anyone remember what the HECK they were protesting??? No! What We Remember are 8 Years of Lying about WMD, Of War and Occupation in Iraq, Losing our Standing and Respect in the World, And Having Our Economy TANK — To Name Just the Highlights! That is the Legacy of the Nader “Protest” Votes! And those who Cast Protest Votes for McCain will have a Similar Legacy. So don’t blame Obama for your Scenario — but if you must go on a rampage against Obama, WHY TAKE IT OUT ON YOUR COUNTRYWOMEN?

By Linda Mason on 09/16/2008 11:14 pm

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I really hope that I don’t end up with a President who had to attend several colleges before she could get a degree. Why not take a look at her resume and her record. She is a phoney, and intelligent women can sense it. And please stop referring to Muslims and tyring to imply that there is a connection between Senator Obama and Sadam Hussein — this is the most rediculous and lowest I have ever seen in my 39 years as a voting citizen of this country.

By Eve R. on 09/18/2008 9:02 pm