The winner is Barack Obama. He is the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, to be officially nominated at the convention in August 2008. Hillary Clinton has officially suspended (a technical term for ending) her campaign and extended her support to Senator Obama. The main-stream media is delighted and hopefully would also suspend Clinton-bashing in the weeks to come. Now let’s talk turkey.
Obama’s post nomination decisions could make some people pause a little. His speech to the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) on Friday May, 30, 2008 was a typical political pandering. But more significant was his appointment of a three member search committee to help him in the vetting process of a prospective vice presidential candidate. The three Democrats to head the committee are Caroline Kennedy (JFK’s daughter), Eric Holder (former deputy attorney general under Bill Clinton) and Jim Johnson (former CEO of Fannie Mae). This search committee was announced on June 4, 2008.
Caroline Kennedy’s selection to head the search committee is emotional and not hard-core political decision. Eric Holder comes to the table with the baggage of Marc Rich pardon saga, having used a very poor judgment as the Deputy Attorney General under Janet Reno. Jim Johnson was the campaign manager of Walter Mondale in 1984 and chaired the vice-presidential selection committee for John Kerry. None of the three inspire a great deal of confidence. Selection of a vice-presidential candidate would be one of most carefully watched event for Barack Obama as that would show his political judgment.
Filed under: American Tagged: | AIPAC, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Appointment, Barack Obama, Beauty Contest, Bill Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, Clinton-Bashing, Convention, Decisions, Democratic Party's, Democrats, Deputy Attorney General, Emotional, Eric Holder, Fannie Mae, Friday May 30th 2008, hard-core, Hillary Clinton, Janet Reno, Jim Johnson, John Kerry, June 4th 2008, Main-Stream Media, Marc Rich, Obama's, Officially Suspended, Political Decision, Political Pandering, Post-Nomination, Presumptive Nominee, Search Committee, Senator Obama, Talk-Turkey, three-member, Vetting, Vice-Presidential Candidate, Walter Mondale, Winner
