by Frank James
Being that it's Armistice Day, it seems like perfect timing for Politico's piece on the complicated, uneasy truce between the Obamas and their team and the Clintons and their people. Definitely a clash of personalities between the worlds of No-Drama Obama and All-Drama Bubba and Hillary.
A lot of it comes down to money which, as we all know, has ruined many a good relationship. Evidently, the Clinton people would like to see a lot more help from Obama in retiring the huge campaign debt she ran up trying to destroy Obama.
As Politico reports:
These tensions have created a somewhat schizoid relationship between Clinton and the Obamas - warm on personal matters, warier on political ones, and downright frosty on the still-unresolved issue of Clinton's mountainous campaign debt, which Barack Obama had pledged to help reduce.
"Senator Clinton did not just check the box for Obama - she went all out for him, which says an awful lot about how important she felt this election was, what kind of character she has, and the positive state of their relationship," said Chris Lehane, an aide to both John Kerry and Al Gore during their presidential bids.
Since the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton headlined about three dozen rallies and fundraisers - working rope-lines where well-wishers often lamented her exit from the race.
Bill Clinton, who once called Obama's Iraq policy "a fairy tale," hosted about 20 events for Obama after the Illinois senator paid homage to him with a mid-September visit to his Harlem office.
Obama responded by lavishing praise on the pair - after months of questioning the legacy of the Clinton White House. More importantly, he embraced much of Hillary Rodham Clinton's domestic agenda, especially her health care and green jobs proposals.
Yet a half-dozen Clinton insiders told Politico they are disappointed that Obama's vaunted fundraising operation hasn't reciprocated by planning new events or an Internet campaign to help Clinton pay off the $7.9 million she owes to vendors. (Clinton has already written off the $13 million she loaned the campaign during the primaries, aides say).
"I don't think there's a whole lot of hard feelings, it's more like mild annoyance," said a former Clinton aide on condition of anonymity. "There's just not a lot of expectation they are going to lift a finger for us."
Added another longtime Clinton adviser: "She killed herself for them, did a hundred events, went anywhere they pointed - so it's disappointing they aren't helping... But it's not a big deal at this point."
One former Clinton fundraiser took a more cold-blooded view. "In a few months, when he's really struggling, he'll come to her for support," he said. "That's when she should ask him for money."
An Obama spokesman didn't comment but didn't rule out a debt retirement effort down the road.
Looks like Rep. Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Obama's White House chief of staff, will not only have his hands full managing the White House and negotiating with his old colleagues on Capitol Hill but in trying to keep the truce going between the new boss and the old boss.
Comments
Best Quote since the Election-
One former Clinton fundraiser took a more cold-blooded view. "In a few months, when he's really struggling, he'll come to her for support," he said. "That's when she should ask him for money."
Oh how dirty theObama Camp treated the CVlintons hope America never forgets-
Posted by: Inky | November 11, 2008 9:40 AM
I'm sure Obama will help them retire this debt. It hasn't even been a week since he was elected, and it took every dollar and ounce of energy his team had to win the election. He also has to scramble to move quickly now to transition into the White House. All of that said, the Clintons are still very important to the democratic party and it's astounding to me that Hillary has not been able to raise what seems like a paltry sum compared to the amount Obama raised in only a month. I haven't received any e-mails from the Clinton campaign -- maybe she should start e-mailing people and ask. Perhaps more people are willing to pitch in than she imagines.
Posted by: Grandblvd03 | November 11, 2008 9:49 AM
Hillary Clinton has earned her respect after working very hard to get Barack elected, while her husband is someone to be very wary of and not to be trusted.
Posted by: Angellight | November 11, 2008 9:52 AM
Truce? Hillary made dozens of appearances and Bill made very strategic and valuable appearances. And Michelle asked HIllary how to raise kids in the public eye and have them be HAPPY like Chelsea.
so...Are you trying to gin something up?
Posted by: Miss the campaign adrenaline? | November 11, 2008 9:57 AM
This remark of Frank's says it all about his opinion/slant: [[A lot of it comes down to money which, as we all know, has ruined many a good relationship. Evidently, the Clinton people would like to see a lot more help from Obama in retiring the huge campaign debt she ran up trying to destroy Obama.]]
Hmmm -- as more impartial observer might say the debt she ran up "trying to clinch the nomination," or "during the heated primary."
But "destroy?" Wasn't he trying to do the same thing?
Posted by: furious at the bias shown | November 11, 2008 10:08 AM
"...retiring the huge campaign debt she ran up trying to destroy Obama...."
DESTROY? Well, Obama apparently was doing the same thing, no?
But, DESTROY?
Posted by: this is the problem with campaigns---you guys make too big a deal about things | November 11, 2008 12:18 PM