Thread: Obama Not Qualified for Commander in Chief, OK for VP

Obama Not Qualified for Commander in Chief, OK for VP

Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:15 PM

By: Newsmax.com Analysis

After touting Barack Obama as a potential vice presidential running mate, Bill and Hillary Clinton have created an eruption of outrage in the liberal blogosphere.

The Clintons made overt hints this week they were open to a Hillary-Obama ticket.

This weekend, speaking in Biloxi, Miss., Bill Clinton said such a ticket would create an "unstoppable force."

"(Obama) would win the urban areas and the upscale voters, and she wins the traditional rural areas that we lost when President Reagan was president," the former president said.

But the suggeston came on the heels of Hillary Clinton's remarkable claim that Obama was simply not fit to be commander in chief on day one of a possible presidency. At the same time, Hillary Clinton said she was, and added that Republican John McCain was also qualified.

After meeting with retired generals and admirals and other military officers in Washington, D.C., Hillary Clinton said: "Look I have said Senator McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the campaign, I will bring a lifetime of experience, and Senator Obama will bring a speech he made in 2002."

A liberal New York Times columnist suggested Hillary had "shamelessly" stated that Obama is simply not qualified to be president.

"I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold," Hillary Clinton said. "I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Senator McCain has done that and you'll have to ask Senator Obama with respect to his candidacy."

Hard words to take back if Obama does win the nomination.

Obama angrily decried the Clinton's negative campaign and dismissed any intention of running as vice president.

"You won't see me as a vice presidential candidate -- you know, I'm running for president," the Illinois senator said in an interview with CBS. "We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count."

And on "Meet the Press" Sunday, a testy Tim Russert took Hillary backer Ed Rendell to task for the obvious contradiction:

RUSSERT: Do you think that Barack Obama would be acceptable as vice president?

RENDELL: Acceptable? I think it would be a dream to Democrats all over this country. Personally, for me, it would be a great ticket. I mean, I'm going to fight hard for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, whoever the candidate is. But put them together and I think it would give America a rare opportunity to experience something just incredibly wonderful.

RUSSERT: So, if you believe he's acceptable as vice president, one heartbeat away from the presidency, you believe that Barack Obama is qualified to be commander in chief.

RENDELL: I think he's qualified. I don't think he's as good a potential commander in chief right now as Hillary Clinton is. But I certainly think he's qualified. And I will work my heart out for him if he's our nominee.

RUSSERT: That seems to be in conflict with some things that you have said and what Hillary Clinton has said. On Wednesday you sent out a statement from the Clinton campaign that says, "We want a president who's ready, not one we hope will one day be ready," suggesting Barack Obama is not ready. Hillary Clinton said this on Monday.

RUSSERT: So, Governor Rendell, if Barack Obama's qualified to be vice president, he has crossed the commander in chief threshold. Correct?

RENDELL: Well, I, I think he's ready. He's not nearly as ready as Hillary Clinton is, there's no question about that. But, look, make no mistake about it, he's a talented, dynamic politician and, and a, and a good senator, and I think he would make a fine president. Again, is he as experienced and as ready as Hillary Clinton? Nobody is. Tim, I've been talking to Democratic candidates since 1980, and Hillary Clinton is the best-prepared candidate I've ever talked to. Far better prepared than Bill Clinton was in 1992.

RUSSERT: But if, in fact, there's a possibility Obama may be the Democratic nominee, would it be better, in the interest of the Democratic Party, that the Clintons not suggest that he hasn't passed the threshold to be commander in chief?

RENDELL: Well, sure. Look, there, there's rhetoric in a campaign on all, on all sides, and I, I think the, the issue should be framed as ready compared to Hillary Clinton. And, and that's the way I would frame the issue going forward. To me, there's no contest. I don't think--it's not Barack Obama's fault. I think almost any of the other candidates would have fallen into the same category, ready but not as ready as Hillary Clinton.

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/obama_ ... ode=46D0-1

I know I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but everytime I hear talk about her experience it puts pictures in my mind of back room dealings, stealth legislation, various cover-ups, and the list goes on. The real problem with Hillary for me is her lack of integrity. Obama has his financial info posted on his website while Hillary refuses to release her income tax records. The American people should insist their President display good moral character -Bill Clinton was impeached for this very reason. After what's going on with FL and MI, where Hillary basically wants to change the rules after the fact, it's obvious she has conceded Obama is the peoples choice, but she will "cheat him to beat him" just the same. A true monster indeed...