Chelsea Clinton, not Bill Clinton, to introduce Hillary Clinton at convention

Chelsea Clinton, not Bill Clinton, to introduce Hillary Clinton at convention

BY THOMAS M. DeFRANK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF

Saturday, August 9th 2008, 2:15 PM

WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton wants to be introduced by her daughter Chelsea at the Democratic National Convention, and party insiders say Barack Obama has signed off on the idea, the Daily News has learned.

Some Clinton and Obama partisans had assumed Clinton would be introduced by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, but Democratic sources say it was Hillary's idea to have Chelsea do the honors.

The New York senator will deliver the Denver convention's keynote address in primetime Aug. 26, a plum speaking slot that indicates just how much Obama wants to keep his vanquished primary opponent happy.

An official close to both the Obama and Clinton camps told The News that having Chelsea usher her mother onstage would be another symbolic gesture to Hillary's female backers, many of whom remain bruised by her loss and still haven't sworn their allegiance to Obama.

"He has a problem with Hillary's more fanatical women supporters, and this is a way to help with that," the official said.


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/08/09/2008-08-09_chelsea_clinton_not_bill_clinton_to_intr.html">Full article here

...and then TURN THE PAGE!

interchangeable. One is a former president. The other is a U.S. Senator and presidential candidate who just got 18 million votes. To have them speak on the same night is to affirm--as you want done--their designation as "the Clintons." I'm sure Obama asked and I'm sure that they adamantly refused, making it clear that one or both of them just wouldn't speak.

As for "turning the page," we turned it when Bill Clinton left office. Whoever we elect as our next president we are turning the page--Obama, McCain, Clinton, Romney. They are all new, none have been president before. The issue is what the policies will be. Both Obama and Clinton (as well as Edwards) offered us a new direction. Electing Hillary Clinton as president would not have meant that we were failing to "turn the page" because it is innappropriate to identify her as Bill Clinton's wife running for president.

At least that's how I feel and I imagine that Hillary feels the same way. So if Obama wants her support, and if he wants Bill's support, then he can't expect them to validate the narratives and analyses preferred by the other side. That means that Hillary's presence at the Convention, and on the campaign trail, will not involve developing any kind of narrative about her "passing the torch." Hillary has never been president before--she doesn't have a torch to pass, anymore then Obama could pass her the torch if she had won the nomination.

Steve

especially when Bill Clinton was so front and center in her campaigning.

that said, had she won, i would have happily voted for her in the general.

I'd like more of those Dems to have a chance to speak.

NT!

Hillary has endorsed Obama. Bill wants to refer the viewers to constitutional requirements. :rofl:

The Clintons, to the chagrin of some, are not going away.

:D

Still, I wouldn't be surprised if McCain wins because of this split.

If the tables were reversed, what would happen? Would Obama symbolically nursemaid his bruised acolytes?

(A statement of probable fact, not an implication about who Obama's VP should be)

best way to marginalize a party opponent is to put them in the Naval Observatory.

I think it's a wonderful idea. Mother/daughter plays well with women and everyone loves seeing Chelsea...

I sure hope Obama has some great speakers to counteract them.

:)

It seemed like Obama could either continue to have Bill going around undermining him or try to bring him back into the tent. Bill better get his shit together, move past his grudges and follow his own damn advice by the time he gives his convention speech.

"Folks, go ahead and fall in love, be for somebody," Clinton urged the crowd at the rain-soaked Balloon Grounds east of Indianola. "But when the primaries are over, let's fall in line."


To say my patience with Bill is thin at the moment would be an understatement but he has one last chance to actually put the good of the party in front of his own ego. If Bill is as smart as he is supposed to be then he will give a real barn burner supporting Obama - but I wouldn't feel particularly comfortable betting anything I really care about on Bill doing that. :(

Maybe Bill should say something like:

"I think he SHOULD be elected and I think he WILL be elected"

Maybe that would help, do you think?

Let's just make it three nights of Clintons and be done with it.

Maybe they can squeeze Barack in there somewhere. That'd be nice. :sarcasm:

- as

as long as we're inviting the Clinton drama we might as well take it all.

He probably isn't too busy these days.

- as

Too many Clintons! :D

- as

Is nice to have a nominee who listens to liberal voices instead of Mark Penn, right wing prayer groups etc.

Oh, wait....he threw Senator Obama under the bus, didn't he?

:crazy:

but that doesn't mean that anyone should get away with trashing the Clintons. My comment was in reference to the person who brought up Monica.

the only two term President it's managed to elect since FDR?

And a Senator who got 18 million votes in the primary?

She'll do well.

Sounds like someone is jealous of Chelsea's job.

But that's what rich "Democrats" kids often do. I use quotes because we have our own Democratic Royalty, and they typically hold jobs that usually are held by well connected Republican offspring.

I wouldn't vote for Chelsea for dog catcher, and think she's had an easy life that has been spent largely in denial, but she gives a decent speech, and if it will make her mother and father behave instead of being big babies, then I'm all for it.

Since when has this been the keynote address??

The keynote speaker hasn't been announced, as far as I know.

:shrug:

:)

it's ultimately all about THEM and their power and wealth.

Seriously, WTF has Chelsea done other than have famous parents? I think this makes the Clintons look like their desperately trying to overtake the proceedings.

And she did a great job. She's an impressive woman, Chelsea, and she has a mind like a steele trap. So, I'm glad she's a Democrat. Glad she's speaking. She was the most honest and straight forward of the candidates and surrogates I heard during the Primaries, and that includes her mom and the nom. And many others.

I guess I wasn't as impressed as you were.

because you did not hear her speak? I'm just saying, my point is that I liked the work she did, and how she did it. I did not support her mom's candidacy, but Chelsea was really impressive, direct and fact filled. I'm saying she was the best surrogate in a season when surrogates tended toward the lousy in all campaigns.
Your point is obvious. She stummped for Hillary because she's her daughter, shocker! My point is that she did it very well and is an asset to our Party, in and of herself. Michelle O is only stummping in the spotlight due to her hubby running. Still she is also doing it very well, and also deserves credit for filling the role she's called to fill with grace and intellignce. Same for Chelsea.

I did hear her, but I wasn't left with the same positive impression. I could go on, but I don't really see the need to flog her.

And the Obama camp invited Bill and Hillary.

How in the FUCK are they trying to overtake ANYTHING?!?

Soooo obvious. Wanting to turn GDP into Primary Wars 2008 Part II is nothing but a sign of desperation.

Obama has allowed himself to be blackmailed- give the Clintons the convention in return for their 'support'. For the first time I am seeing Obama as very weak and fear for the rest of the campaign. Can you imagine the Clintons giving 2 nights to Obama if Hillary had won the nomination? Hillary and now Chelsea get Tuesday night and Bill will speak too long, follow no guidelines, and totally overshadow the VP nominee on Weds. night. I doubt the VP will get anywhere near appearing in prime time on tv with Bill speaking before him.

The Dems, and now Obama, are so adept at pulling defeat out of a sure victory. I'm so sick of it.

they're always telling us Hillary supporters to "get over it." Really, I question how different some of you really are from the PUMAs. Your behavior and comments are just as divisive, and you're on the winning side!

I'm also annoyed by those in this thread who don't think the only 2-term Democratic President in the last 40 years should be speaking at the convention. And I am absolutely pissed off by those who seem to think Hillary is hogging the spotlight just by speaking at the convention, despite her historic candidacy and 18 million votes. Of course, I try to tell myself that not all Obama supporters think this way or are so politically tone deaf. I also remind myself that it is the usual suspects who are posting these divisive comments (you know, the ones most likely to be forming their own PUMA group if Hillary had won the nomination).

Just having a little fun here.

And I'll note that you had no problem name-checking Rev. Wright upthread. Not the least bit divisive, no...

- as

"I also remind myself that it is the usual suspects who are posting these divisive comments (you know, the ones most likely to be forming their own PUMA group if Hillary had won the nomination). "



They so would have been the PUMA group for Obama if Hillary had won.

Good for you, Victim.

:patriot:

Every time I post, I can be sure you will be there. :shrug:

assure you I don't look for your name. If you find that I'm responding a lot to your comments or threads it must mean you're doing a lot of Clinton bashing.

You at least provide great comedy. :)

He tends to spam them on occasion too.

and are acting in accordance with that.

PUMAs have other goals, electing a Democrat is secondary.

huge difference.

is extremely appropriate for the handful in question.

:eyes: It's not mandatory that Bill speak at the convention; it's a courtesy. As for Hillary, she should speak on that night; not because she came in second but because of that particular night's significance. I think it's cute that Chelsea will introduce her mom and that's all I'll say about her.

Also, what do you mean by 'us Hillary supporters'? Is Hillary still in the running for something?

for sabotaging her campaign? Actually I think this is a good move. I know during the primaries there were speculation about Chelsea's future in politics.

and yet the toothless pussycats are still whining about a "roll call".

Whatever.......

...speakers who exemplify Obama's change message.

Obviously, Bill Clinton, as the last Democratic President who was allowed to take office, is entitled to speak. Hillary represents something significant that eclipses herself (as the most successful female Presidential candidate) and for that reason has also earned a legitimate time slot. But there's no reason why it couldn't both be on the same night. And, as others have said, I really don't know what Chelsea's done to earn a turn at the podium, but whatever.....

About the only reason I could see for Bill speaking on Wednesday is if he was introducing the VP. And I could only think of one candidate he would be willing to do that for. But she's speaking Tuesday, so that can't be the case.

"I think one night would have been enough, and allow more time for speakers, who no one will watch, who exemplify Obama's change message."

There are only like 900 other channels to watch these days. This isn't the 1960s when people HAD to watch the conventions.

The Clintons will attract viewers to nights of the convention that would otherwise draw c-span type ratings.

It is better for 30 million to hear Hillary or Bill than for 12 million to hear a speaker you'd prefer.

We don't need Indies nearly as much as we need Democrats. (Indies will tune in to see Obama on the last night, will not tune in to watch a bunch of earlier speeches.)

The ONLY reason this race is even close is because McCain is doing better with Republicans than Obama is doing with Democrats.

Whatever DU thinks, Democrats like the Clintons.

And people who like the Clintons are receptive to the possibility of voting for Obama, though they are not yet all on board.

things came up, you know...

Are there any plans for Bill Clinton to address the Democratic Convention?

I don't think they would give primetime spots to both Hillary and Bill.

Hillary will get an amazing response from the delegates (almost half are hers!) B-)

How many keynote speeches are there gonna be?

I guess that is I.

...and who has stated she isn't looking to be anointed.

That's all I needed to read.

Thankfully in this case, it's sterile.

i think she is the perfect person to do it.

long as its a possitive theme and not all weepy it should be great!

That would be inappropriate ... ;-)

Fawning over millionaires ...tisk tisk ...the same people watch American Idol and read the Star and Globe.

nothing at all.

I'll read a book instead.