A Two-for-One Campaign: George McGovern has a proposal for our two candidates

NYT op-ed: A Two-for-One Campaign
By GEORGE McGOVERN
Published: May 13, 2008



THE competition for the Democratic presidential nomination between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has been long and intense. The news media have given it round-the-clock coverage, including seemingly round-the-clock debates between the two candidates. The campaign has been good not only for the Democratic Party but also for America. It has made millions of voters excited about selecting our next president.

We are witnessing two of the most talented candidates for high office this country has ever produced. Hillary Clinton is one of the great women of our age. Her husband, Bill Clinton, may be the most admired political leader in the world today. Together, they demonstrated a remarkable mastery of the American political system in 1992 and showed that Democrats could get back to the White House — not once but twice. And in Barack Obama, Illinois has given us a candidate with some very impressive qualities. During this campaign, Senator Obama has exhibited great character and intellect. (Disclosure: I endorsed Senator Obama last week and am now working for his campaign.)...

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To reduce the risk of creating the kind of divisions that afflicted Democrats during my campaigns, here is a proposal that I hope Senators Clinton and Obama and our party will consider. After today’s vote in West Virginia, the two candidates should agree to make joint visits to the sites of the five remaining primaries (in Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota).

During these visits, Senators Clinton and Obama should agree not to criticize each other. They would simply state what each would do if elected president. They would also point out why President Bush’s policies have failed and why they would continue to fail under John McCain. After each candidate speaks for 15 minutes or so, they would then be taken to a reception where citizens paying $50 a ticket would mingle with the two candidates. The money raised would go to the state Democratic Party to assist local and state candidates in the fall elections.

The two candidates should also visit the two disputed states, Michigan and Florida. No matter what happens to the delegations from those states, their voters are entitled to see and to hear these two historic candidates.

This is an agenda that could unite our party and prepare us for a successful convention with a big victory in November. It would also be a refreshing and welcome change for American presidential politics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/opinion/13mcgovern.html

She's done enough damage to the party.

invole anointing Obama?

It's so transparent.

I don't consider telling someone to shut up and sit down to be well meaning.

All there is left to do is collect the scorecards and tally them.

Lights out.