By Michael Tackett
At the State Department, when a spokesperson says, "The talks were fruitful and productive," chances are quite good that they were neither.
We can't make that same deduction about the suprise visit that Sen. Barack Obama paid to his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, but notice the words that Obama spokesman Bill Burton chose to use: "Senator Clinton and Senator Obama met tonight and had a productive discussion about the important work that needs to be done to succeed in November."
Whatever healing needs to be done between the two won't occur overnight, but as a gesture, Obama gets some points.
The burden now shifts more to Clinton, who is expected to endorse Obama formally on Saturday and ask her supporters to do the same.
For voters to believe what she says, after a campaign season in which she has been arguing the opposite, her talk will have to better than "productive."
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Comments
Heard from a fly on the wall:
Barack: "Hi sweetie!"
HRC: "You may refer to me as Senator."
Barack: "Oh yeah, I forgot. You're one of those women who actually has self-respect."
HRC: "May I inquire why you called this meeting?"
Barack: "Uhhhh...yeah."
HRC: "Senator, your teleprompter is over there."
Barack: "Oh, yeah, thanks....The United States of America is a land of great diversity, one in which we are judged by the content of our character -"
HRC: "Yes, Senator, and you're such a wonderful judge of character."
Barack: "Hillary, please. Wright, Rezko, Pflager...these aren't the guys that I knew and profited from for 20 years - "
HRC: "Cut the nonsense, Barack. Your media base isn't here. What do you want?"
Barack: "Uhhhh...the teleprompter isn't working."
HRC: "Just spit it out."
Barack: "Uhhhh...you ran a really cute campaign. Girls are just so cute - now, I'm not getting fresh. Uhhhh...ya know, the media realize it, but they can't really get me elected. Uhhhh...I...uhhhh...I need those 18 million votes you earned."
HRC: "ok...."
Barack: "I mean, you're likeable enough....Now, uhhh...I can't promise anything because...uhhhh...I don't really....uhhh...Michelle...uhhhh...I don't really hate women....uhhhh...it's...it's....uhhhh...I can't promise anything specific....uhhhh"
HRC: "So you want my support because you're Barack Obama."
Barack: "Exactly."
HRC: "And true universal health care, a strong, principled foreign policy, a color-blind, gender neutral society?"
Barack: "Uhhhh...yeah...I....uhhhh...I tried to do those things when I was in a position to do so in Springfield...uhhhh...it's....uhhhh...hard...I can't promise anything."
HRC: "Thank you for your candor Senator."
Barack: "Thanks for everything, sweetie!"
Posted by: Bemused | June 6, 2008 8:29 AM
This seems very biased toward Obama to me. It was well known that they were going to meet...no suprise there. Why does Obama get points for meeting and Clinton does not? Why is the burden on her? I don't get this. Explainer please.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | June 6, 2008 10:04 AM
I think it was quite gracious of Senator Obama to meet with his former opponent, given the many cheap shots, with which, she tried to nail him !! Thank God, that didn't work and America has a candidate she can be proud to support. My only advice to Senator Clinton is: You have served your constituents well, in New York, I am sure they would appreciate your continued hard work. You are a good American and a good U.S. Senator and I hope you will be a good Democrat and support our candidate, Senator Obama. We can always use your help. Congratulations on a hard fought campaign !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | June 6, 2008 12:35 PM
clinton has run a most negative campaign, having played the gender car, the race card, and the class card. not that she has lost, she is using the voters as bargaining chips (through her surrogates, of course), whether for the v.p. or for money to pay back her debt, or both. it amazes me how so many people bought the smear campaign against obama and follow her like sheep.
Posted by: rooby | June 6, 2008 10:37 PM