We can argue about whether it's fair to both candidates and how they've been treated.
We can argue about who can best help Obama with his media-manufactured "white voter" problem.
We can argue about what kind of feminist would spite Obama by supporting more Scalias, Alitos, Thomases, and Robertses on the supreme court.
We can argue about whether Clinton helps or undermines Obama's message of "change".
We can argue about the best way to unify the Democratic party -- and I have a tremendous amount of respect for Hillary Clinton, especially her work and stance on health care.
But we can't argue about this:
We can't have someone on Obama's ticket arguing that McCain is ready to be the commander-in-chief and Obama is not. Period. Exclamation mark. Double exclamation. (!!)
The logic is simple. Imagine the Republican ad that they're planning on running in August:
America is under attack from depraved enemies who oppose our every interest, and hate every value we hold dear. It is the great test of our generation. We need a commander-in-chief with the experience to make this world a better and safer place.
That man is John McCain.
But don't trust us. Ask Barack Obama's running-mate:
"I think it’s imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold. ... Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you’ll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy."
In these dangerous times, should it even be a question?
McCain 2008. Ready to be Commander-in-chief on day one.
Nothing would undermine Obama more.
I don't want Obama on the defensive about his readiness to be commander-in-chief. I want Obama on the offensive, showing that McCain is unfit to be commander-in-chief, unfit to keep this country safe, unfit to diffuse the danger in the world that has grown under Bush's failed policies.
Hillary Clinton is a strong and capable political leader. Her platform is very similar to Obama's, and that makes her a vital part of our progressive coalition. In my humble opinion, I prefer her health care policy to Obama's. This is not a criticism of her as a politician or as a human being. This isn't personal.
But Obama MUST keep a healthy distance between himself and Senator Clinton. A behind-the-scenes promise for a cabinet post or supreme court appointment is totally appropriate and fair. She can and should campaign very hard for Senator Obama, for the good of this country. But Barack Obama cannot do anything that would legitimize her criticisms of his fitness to be commander-in-chief.
We can't risk losing this argument. Not in the most important election of my lifetime.
I'm sorry. But Obama cannot legitimize anyone who is more certain of McCain's leadership than Obama's.
UPDATE: The GOP is one step ahead of me. They already have a new youtube video in the exact spirit of what I was talking about. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com... (H/T to Stroszek.)
