The Ultimate Entitlement Program
Well, you can put the fork in the legacy of President William Jefferson Clinton; it’s cooked and burned beyond repair. This campaign has always been about Bill’s debt to be repaid to Hillary. She stood behind him in Arkansas and through eight tough years in the White House. After moving to New York, as the junior Senator from the country’s third largest state, 2008 was supposed to be her time and he owed it to her for standing by him.
Now, after the decisions to seat all of FL and MI delegates but only give each delegate one-half of a vote, her mathematical chances to win the nomination are non-existent. However, the numbers do not matter to Senator Clinton; it is about the entitlement she feels she deserves. In case some of you have missed the hint: Hillary is not conceding or going anywhere until the smoke clears from the fireworks on the convention floor in Denver. Senator Obama will clear the 2,118 threshold on Tuesday and it won’t matter. Harold Ickes said yesterday that "Mrs. Clinton has instructed me to reserve her rights to take this to the Credentials Committee."
When Mr. Ickes comes before the DNC Credentials Committee, it would be wise to use something other than the popular vote tactic that has not worked for them very well. It will be July, so how about using a slogan or two from the Revolutionary War? Here are some possible arguments that Ickes may use:
1) “Don’t Tread on Me” – actually the argument will be to not tread on the women’s vote, a vital voting block for Democrats if they want to win in November.
2) “Join, Or Die” – a variation on the “I am more electable argument.” Clinton can point to the Electoral College map and say that, sure, Obama can win Iowa and Oregon, but she can win NY, PA, Ohio, FL and CA.
A fair warning to the Obama camp: you may think that the general election will start on Wednesday morning, but be fully aware that Clinton and her backers are not going anywhere. Clinton is going to wait him out and hope he stumbles between now and the convention. If he does not falter, be prepared to see Clinton’s supporters in force in Denver.