Alaska delegates split over what Clinton should do next
Published Thursday, June 5, 2008
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Stumble It!As hopes for the first female president faded Wednesday, at least two of Hillary Clinton’s four Alaska delegates said they think the former first lady should vie for the vice presidency.
A third delegate said that Clinton should belong to a Democratic administration, while the fourth delegate said Clinton would make a fine vice president but the decision should be up to presumed Democratic front-runner Barack Obama.
“I am hoping that she will go for vice president,” said Patti Higgins, Alaska’s sole Clinton superdelegate and chairwoman of the Alaska Democratic Party.
“It seems to me that half of the country passionately supports one and the other half passionately supports the other,” Higgins said, referring to Clinton and rival Obama, an Illinois senator. “Why not have both? I also believe that she is the most qualified out there to be the vice president.”
Higgins received an e-mail, apparently sent en masse, from Clinton late Tuesday asking for advice on what the presidential hopeful should do next. The Anchorage resident reiterated her support for Clinton in her response.
“I said for all of the times you’ve stood for us, I stand with you,” Higgins said.
Delegate Claudia Douglas of Wasilla also agreed to support a Clinton vice presidential bid.
“She is such a symbol of somebody who is fighting for universal health care and early childhood education and so many of those issues that matter,” Douglas said.
Douglas encouraged Clinton to keep her campaign alive in her response to the senator’s e-mail.
“I don’t want those things that she has focused her campaign on to get lost,” Douglas said.
Carolyn Covington of Palmer, a state party leader and a Clinton delegate, resisted pressing for a Clinton vice presidency even though she was deeply disappointed in the outcome of the primaries.
“Some of my favorite media people have treated her very, very badly,” Covington said.
Covington said she will vote for the Democratic nominee, which appears to be Obama, and that he should choose his running mate.
“My hope is that we find a ticket that unites the party and we move forward,” Covington said.
Rex Okakok of Barrow, the fourth Clinton delegate in Alaska, said he isn’t relinquishing his support for the presidential hopeful until he hears her concede. Still, Okakok feels there should be a prominent place for Clinton in a Democratic administration if Obama is elected.
“I think she’d make an excellent team member with her experience, especially on health issues, Native American issues and Alaska Native issues,” Okakok said.
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The Ballad of Bill and Hillary
(To the tune of “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” with apologies to no one.)
Standing on a dock in Seattle
Trying to win in Texas or Maine.
The man with the Mac said
I wish you’d go back
You know two of you are really a pain
Well, you know it ain’t easy,
You know how hard it can be.
The way things are going,
They may not nominate me.
Finally made the plane into Nashville
Honeymooning on the campaign
Al Gore called to say
“That doesn’t make it OK,
You know that everyone still laughs at the stain.”
Well, you know it ain’t easy,
You know how hard it can be.
The way things are going,
They may not nominate me.
Drove from Vegas to the Hollywood Hilton
Hadn’t slept together for years.
The newspapers said
Say what’re you doing in bed
I said we’re only trying to cry us some tears.
Well, you know it ain’t easy,
You know how hard it can be.
The way things are going,
They may not nominate me.
Spending all you money on a primary
Losing all your super-delegates
Last night Bill said,
If you’re not elected,
I won’t have to be seen with you no more
Think!
Made a lightning trip to Florida
Eating caviar from a bag
The newspapers said
It’s gone to her head
She looks just like a campaigning nag.
Well you know it ain’t easy,
You know how hard it can be.
The way things are going,
They may not nominate me.
Caught the early plane back to D.C.
Bill and Gina caught in the sack
The men from the press said
We don’t wish you success
We don’t really want the two of you back.
Well you know it ain’t easy,
You know how hard it can be.
The way things are going,
They may not nominate me.
"half of the country passionately supports one and the other half passionately supports the other,” - Higgins
Actually that's a quarter and a quarter.
I have to go with Obama let Clinton fade away. In no way would I vote for McSAME. We have had enough republican destruction & corruption. We need fresh voices and new perspectives to see this nation through what to many years of repulican leadrship has lead us. Out with the old in with the new...
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