Obama Hires Patti Solis Doyle
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James Joyner | Tuesday, June 17, 2008 |
There’s an inordinate amount of buzz over the fact that Barack Obama has hired Patti Solis Doyle, Hillary Clinton’s former campaign manager, to serve as chief of staff for the eventual vice presidential nominee. Some Clinton insiders are furious about the move because, apparently, the parting was not friendly and this is being perceived as a slap in the face or, well, worse. Just about everyone seems to be excited about this.
But isn’t this what always happens after the primaries are over and the winner gears up for the general election run?
Naturally, there are a lot of unemployed Democratic operatives out there looking for work. Despite their candidates having lost, some percentage of them are bound to have skills that Obama can use. Presumably, the fact that Clinton, then the heavy favorite, hired her to run her campaign out of all the possibilities available to her is an indication that she’s not without some talent.
Further, if Doyle gets along with Obama and his senior staff, who cares whether she and Clinton are BFF? Aside, one imagines, that this is a pretty good signal that Clinton isn’t going to get the VP nod?
I take Kevin Drum’s point that it behooves Obama to make nice with Hillary. But, really, his obligations on that front are minimal. Indeed, if she wants any chance of a post-loss political career, she’s got every incentive in the world to give the impression she’s doing everything she can to help Obama win.
That said, the sniping from the Clinton team is amusing. Especially this jibe: “Who can blame Obama for rewarding Patti? He would never be the nominee without her.”
Me-ow.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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I'm glad you noticed this one, James.
Solis-Doyle being hired is the strongest indication I can think of that Clinton stands no chance of being VP, bar Obama shouting it on Larry King's show. It's also the strongest signal yet that the Democrat party has no chance whatever of actually reconciling itself with these issues prior to November.
Like sand through the hourglass so are the days of our lives. Is this a soap opera or a presidential campaign?
It will be interesting how the narrative of party cohesion is supported while stuff like this continues.
It's possible Hillary is still loyal to her old friend in spite of her failure working on the campaign. Perhaps this is a favor to Hillary and not a poke in the eye. We can speculate all we want, but to portray this as disunity among Democrats is grasping at straws.
(Of course sometimes straws are all you have...)
Man she's attractive.
Yes, she is a looker.
With looks like that, who cares about brains
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