Clinton dodges Palin
By Jennifer J. Foster
Did you hear about Hillary Clinton cancelling an appearance at a New York rally because she learned that Sarah Palin would be there?
It happened.
Clinton had committed to attending a rally organized by a handful of Jewish groups and set for Monday to protest the attendance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the opening of the UN General Assembly.
But then, from ABC News:
Clinton aides were described as “furious” after learning from reporters—not rally organizers—of the plan to have Clinton and Palin appear together.
“Her attendance was news to us, and this was never billed to us as a partisan political event,“ said Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines in a statement to reporters. “Senator Clinton will therefore not be attending.“
Right. But here’s the thing, Phillippe: What is partisan about a rally that features leaders from both political parties?
Isn’t a partisan event, by definition, only partisan when it involves one party?
So the event was never a “partisan political event.“ If it turned into one, it was only because Clinton made it so by dropping out.
Whatever her reason, Clinton opened the door for the McCain-Palin camp to unload on her, and they were happy to do so:
Palin spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt released a statement on Clinton’s canceled appearance saying, “Governor Palin believes that the danger of a nuclear Iran is greater than party or politics. She hopes that all parties can rally together in opposition to this grave threat.“
Hmmph. Well, that smarts, but it isn’t as bad as what would have happened it Clinton had gone.
That’s because the bottom line is that Clinton cannot, under any circumstances, be photographed with Sarah Palin.
After the incredibly divisive primary the Democrats endured adn the hurt feelings the Obama campaign is desperately trying to mend in the name of party unity, can you imagine the impact a picture of Clinton and Palin together would have—especially considering that Palin has been actively courting disaffected female Clinton supporters almost nonstop since her emergence onto the national stage just three weeks ago?
A visual image like that—Clinton and Palin together—would have a devastating effect, even if only psychological, on the credibility of Clinton’s endorsement of Obama. It would suggest that Clinton was amenable, if not enthusiastic, about the idea of Palin picking up the gender mantle and working to break that “highest, hardest glass ceiling” of the White House ...
... Even though she isn’t.
Clinton was in a no-win situation here. She couldn’t go, for reasons that I have just outlined. But she will likely pay a price for staying away, too. Consider what a guy who calls himself “Fella from Chicago” had to say about this over on CNN’s Political Ticker:
Bad move Hillary. If you believe the event would be interpreted as political, then it would have at least come across as bipartisan. Better pray that Sarah doesn’t attend or the Dems have lost the Jewish vote. How many retired Jews from New York and New Jersey live in Florida?
The answer is ... a bunch.
And they vote.
Luckily for Obama, organizers have disinvited Palin from the rally on Monday:
“In order to keep the focus on Iranian threats and to ensure that this critical message not be obscured, the organizers of the rally have decided not to have any American political personalities appear,” the organizers, which include several Jewish groups, said in a statement.
You know, I just don’t get it ... Did these groups really think that neither Clinton nor Palin would draw any attention to the rally? If not, then why did they invite them in the first place?
And don’t they think they would get more attention to the rally if one appeared than if neither appeared?
Think about it: Would you be reading about this rally if Clinton and Palin hadn’t been invited—then uninvited?
Yeah ... not so much.
So, after getting a lot of publicity for their rally five days ahead of time, the organizers will now host neither candidate on Monday.
And you’re not likely to hear another word about them—or their event.
