Why Hillary Wasn’t Chosen

By Jill Chapin

August 27, 2008

After watching Hillary Clinton’s stunningly powerful and classy convention speech last night, I understand why Rudi Guiliani said that Barack Obama should have picked her as his running mate. But the reason why he didn’t is most certainly the vetting process.

If news chatter is correct, Hillary declined to be vetted, saying she didn’t have the time to provide all the necessary information required in a thorough vetting.

But maybe this isn’t true. What is most likely quite true, however, is that it was her husband who would not – actually, simply could not – be vetted. It would be naive for any of us, including Mr. Guiliani, to imagine that President Clinton could have emerged unscathed from the sticky stories attached to him.

During the primaries I admit to having been almost as anti-Hillary as I was pro-Obama. I was exhilarated when he won the nomination, but I was curiously let down in the immediate aftermath as my focus had been more on her losing than on him winning.

So it was an enormous jolt to my sensibilities when I came to fear that perhaps Senator Obama does indeed need Senator Clinton on his ticket to placate her sorely disappointed supporters. And I suspect that Senator Obama may have had similar feelings.

However, after the predictable love fest at an Obama/Clinton convention, the republicans would have had clear sailing through November with a never-ending barrage of exposés surrounding Bill’s financial dealings and his post-presidency peccadilloes. If I had those seven or eight houses that Senator McCain has, I would bet all of them that our former president has continuously enjoyed the company of other women since leaving office.

So what would their campaign have looked like under these circumstances? It would have been damage control at every news cycle. The democrats would not have been allowed to stay on message because of the relentless inquisition by inquiring minds as past paramours come clamoring out of their anonymity for their fifteen minutes of fame.

As much as I hate to admit it, Senator Obama could possibly have had an easier chance at securing a seat in the Oval Office with Hillary on board.

But only if she had divorced Bill, thus separating themselves literally and figuratively from each other. He could have morphed into a trusted advisor and mentor without the baggage of her having to explain away their pretend marriage.

To all of you Hillary supporters, I can empathize with your feelings of frustration, because Bill’s behavior may have cost not only Hillary the presidency, but Barack’s as well.

Jill Chapin

Jill Chapin has been a guest writer and columnist in several Los Angeles area papers for over fifteen years. She has written a bilingual parenting book titled, "If You Have Kids, Then Be a Parent!" and a children's book entitled, "My Magic Bubble."

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