Is there a glass ceiling in the back of the bus?

I think the most likely end result of all of the Democratic Party infighting I discussed in the last post will be a Clinton Obama "party unity" ticket. This assumes that Obama would swallow his pride and accept the number two spot even if he won the most delegates.

It might sound ugly, but it's the way political sausage is made.

The magic of this party unity ticket is that there will no white men; and of course there will be two words to describe those who vote for McCain.

"Racist!"

Plus "sexist!"

But does that really settle everything?

The racist, sexist Republican issue aside, political realities dictate that if there is going to be any Democratic "unity ticket," someone is inevitably going to have to accept a subordinate role on it.

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that having Hillary on top might make it appear that the issue of sexism is more important than the issue of racism. And if Obama wins the most votes, forcing him to accept the number two spot could very well be said to take on the appearance of racism, and (in the minds of many) would convey the clear implication that even in the Democratic party, a black man who won fair and square is still treated like a second class citizen, and must be still be put in his proper place.

Will Obama accept a subordinate role of helping to shatter the glass ceiling from the back of the bus?

And while few seem to be asking it, there's an alternative "national unity" question: would Hillary accept the number two spot?

Or would that be seen as another respectful nod towards the traditional patriarchal approach of keeping women in their proper place?

This election is shaping up to put the entire country in one of those damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you don't situations.

Despite my penchant for complaining about damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don'ts, the only thing I can predict with any degree of accuracy is that I'll be damned.

MORE: Via Glenn Reynolds, Dr. Helen has an interesting post on the subject of whether Obama is feminized. To the extent that he is, and to the extent that feminism equals socialism, this might make it easier for him and his followers to accept a subordinate role for him -- not as a black man (and certainly not as an individual) but as a feminized man.

Doncha just love identity politics?

posted by Eric on 02.27.08 at 10:08 AM





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Comments

Saul Alinsky must be jumping for joy at the prospect of two disciples running for President. HRC won't take second banana to Obama, but that ticket could be a TRUE 'shared Presidency'. Granted, neither likes the other, but, as Eric says, that's the way the sausage is made.

I could see HillaryCare v2.0 getting past a Democrat dominated Congress, especially if Obama sells it. I could also see WJC becoming either SecState or SCUS Justice. HRC could also don her Dominatrix persona to gut and geld the Military (think one of her 'colleagues' as SecDef).

The idea is so crazy it might just come true.

SeniorD   ·  February 27, 2008 01:10 PM

The conflict should indeed create a crisis for the Democrats. That assumes, however, that they would feel obliged to confront their own hypocrisies and contradictions rather than just pretend they don't exist.

It is not very different from a drunk who has a car accident or a thief who loses his job - you would think that the experience would wake them up. But the ability of human beings to rationalize is enormous. Democratic voters will barely miss a beat (We've always been at war with Eastasia). Discussion of projected problems of governance can be deferred until after the election.

Assistant Village Idiot   ·  February 27, 2008 01:39 PM

I think an Obama/Hillary ticket (in either order) is highly unlikely. I really can't see it.

With Hillary/Obama, she knows damn well he would outshine and take the focus away from her. I don't think the way JFK sidelined LBJ would fly with Obama's supporters. With his personal charisma, she needs him much more than he needs her. And he's 14 years younger than her. He can afford to wait an election cycle or two.

With Obama/Hillary, there'd be less kerfuffle if he sidelined her, but as you say, there'd be objections to the "patriarchy". And it'd really be a step down for her.

But she has a grating voice, seems inauthentic, and has come across as whiny and self-pitying. She's already shown herself to be undemocratic in trying to get the Florida and Michigan delegates seated. There surely were lots of angry, loud confrontations over that behind closed doors.

She needs the fire of real political campaigns to refine her political metal and remove those "impurities", but she's never run a campaign. Obama is a natural and doesn't need this. And he's had more years in elective office than her.

Jim C.   ·  February 27, 2008 05:43 PM

No way. If Obama gets more delegates than Hillary, he will not accept the second banana role. His wife, "Winnie" Obama, won't tolerate it. If the Party even suggests it, Michelle will immediately go public, and engage in demagoguery that will make Al Sharpton look like a milquetoast, in rousing black America, so as to foreclose on Barack even being tempted to seal the deal. Meanwhile, black leaders will threaten race riots, if Obama does not get the top slot. Meanwhile, Hillary will have no choice but to accept the VP slot.

Besides, if Obama wins, Hillary will figure she'll have a pretty decent chance of succeeding a slain Obama, who will have been assassinated by:

1. A Moslem for being an apostate;

2. A black man for being insufficiently "black" in his policies; or

3. By a Hillary hit man, for being in her way.

And if Obama survives two terms (which may include, as you or someone else suggested, with his having named Bill Clinton as chief justice of the Supreme Court, by 2016, the Republicrats will have amnestied over 30 million illegal immigrants, who will guarantee a permanent Democratic majority, and a Hillary presidency.

Have a nice day!

Nicholas Stix   ·  February 27, 2008 06:23 PM

I have to agree with Jim C.

On ego alone, Hillary would insist on being #1. She feels she has done her time, if you will, in the secondary roll by supporting Bill for 8 + years and now it is her turn.

And she would NOT want the pretty boy with the smooth voice as her #2, becuase every time he spoke, we would be reminded of just how shrill she is.

No, even for the sake of "party unity" this one is not going to happen. Especially if there are any back room deals at the convention.

joated   ·  February 27, 2008 08:37 PM

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