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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Obama, Clinton cross paths

Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 12:53 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC's Lee Cowan
Obama had a chance encounter backstage with Clinton at AIPAC, according to the campaign. It was Very brief. No word yet on what was said.

*** UPDATE *** NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli reports that Clinton folks describe it this way: "After her speech, they ran into each other in a hallway at the convention center."

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I know what I'd say to Clinton:  to quote Hillary Rosen today (Clinton supporter disgusted w/HRC's lack of class last nite)  "I'M A DEMOCRAT, NOT A BARGAINING CHIP."
Now that it’s OVER, I continually hear that everyone should treat Hillary Clinton graciously, that she is deserving of our respect and consideration. Fair enough, she’s fought hard is deserving of afforded that treatment. On the other hand, where is the same consideration being extended to Senator Obama from herself, her campaign? She won’t say,  they won’t say it, they won’t even acknowledge the fact that HE WON and she has lost the nomination…..She even tried to upstage him on HIS SPECIAL NIGHT by inserting her interest in being on his ticket to the media prior to Obama’s victory speech in Minneapolis…..One thing that hasn’t been mentioned, which is a contradiction in terms, is that even in her public denial of his winning the nomination, she still is open to being on his ticket?

Nonetheless, we should remember a core principal is at work here, it is that the personality of the two campaigns, are no more than extensions of personalities of the candidates themselves. Has this been a hard fought and lengthy process? Yes, it has. Have there been revelations on “both” sides? Yes, there has been. But, now it’s over. In the waning days of the last few primaries, the Clinton campaign’s candidate and senior advisors constantly mentioned that neither candidate had received the requisite number of delegates and she wouldn’t consider leaving the race until that winning metric had been achieved. Now that that has been accomplished and more and more super-delegates flock to Obama. But after watching the machinations of her campaign why should we be surprised that there is still denial from the Clinton Campaign?

Before, the issue was somewhat cloudy, there was always someone to spin the issues, to cover up her true motive(s). Now she’s finally been uncovered and she’s displaying “her personality” in front of the whole world.  She’s openly running “her own personal flag” up the pole, saying I could give a damn about the nation, I could give a damn about  the party, I could give a damn about the process…it’s all about, what it’s always been about…ME! She and her campaign have finally arrived at rock bottom and are now digging down below that level and for that she is deserving of our respect, consideration and gracious treatment? When does this person realize that the world doesn’t revolve around her….she’s proving one undeniable fact, that all of the dark stories and whispers about she and her husband’s maniacal thirst for personal power were vastly underrated….  
Despite all the calls for her to back down, "end of the Clinton era" as well as the name-calling in this forum, nobody can make her do things not her way.  Never underestimate HRC. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Obama-bots better have to kiss her @ss coz she has the capability of bringing the entire party down even after losing the candidacy if they get nasty to her. For starters, if they get mean to her with all that gloating, all she needs to do is run as an independent; this will totally screw up the numbers for Obama this coming November.
Sources say it went something like this......

Clinton - Hey Mr. Obama.

Obama - Hey, quit tearing down the party. And NO, you are not going to be offered the VP job, but here are a few lovely parting gifts.

http://www.politivine.com
Hillary: "Good morning, Mr. President!"

Obama: "Nice try, but you're not going to get my nod."
"Don't I know you?"
HRC has shown NO class whatsoever, demanding respect without giving the same to Obama.

For a lesson in TRUE class, see the following post from staunch Clinton Supporter, Hillary Rosen:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hilary-rosen/i-am-not-a-bargaining-chi_b_105133.html

Clinton should be ashamed and does not deserve the VP post.
In a fantasy world, it was probably a stare of cold hard revenge by Hillary Clinton.....

But I'm sure Hillary will almost be ready to shine Obama's shoes in order to be vice president.....
Hey, now why did you capitalize that V in very?
Hilarious!
How about 'hey', and then  'hey', in response?  

Nah.

More like 'Senator, then 'Senator'. (Pregnant pause).
She's likely still dangling her precious 18 million voters in front of his eyes. She is PATHETIC. She BLEW the window to concede gracefully last night. This nation is FED UP with the Clinton drama. Get out Hillary. And take your bitter female voters with you!
If Obama spoke to her, she should be honored.
I can imagine what she said:   GET OUT OF MY WAY !!!
Obama was probably as gracious and kind toward Hillary as he was in his speech last night.  All of us Obama supporters should follow his lead.  It's time to unite the party, and Hillary and her supporters are now part of the team to win back the White House in November!
Before you Hillary-haters can jump in here. Id like to say I bet she was gracious and congratulatory.  Have you ever lost something? Remember how it feels?  I bet none of you could take it as well as she has.  I decided that based on the ugliness I have witnessed on these posts from the supposed above-the-fray Obamam backers.
Do you think she congratulated him? I doubt it..... what a democrat she is!
Has anyone noticed the right wing "nut-jobs" who are masquerading as women and/or Democrats and attempting to divide our solidarity..?   Everyone of these phony posts just screams "we are small minded and fearful and desperate"..!!

Don't fall for it good people - not this time.., not this year.  Today we begin taking our country back..!!
How about this:

Get out of my way and let me work.  
no need to talk to the bloody looser
It went something like this. IF HRC will politely conceed, Obama will offer her an insignificant position in his administration.  But this ONLY if she will get her supporters behind him.  Women of America know your place.  It is not running this country it is cleaning up the mess that already has been made.
Good.  Things should be handled privately between these two.  (And shame on Andrea Mitchell for allowing herself to be used as a leak source on a so-called "secret" meeting last night.  She knows better.)

http://midwestmoms.blogspot.com
Clinton has proven too many times in this campaign that she has NO CLASS...NONE. This was proven yet again in her speech last night when she could not even admit that Obama is the winner of the nomination. She owes an apology to this country for her behavior...but, Oh, yes, she is a CLINTON, no chance of that happening.
Nanny, nanny, boo boo --- bbbrrraaaaaattttt!
Chris, Warwick, RI (Sent Wednesday, June 04, 2008 11:27 AM)

Chris - if you view this process as a hiring process, answer me this.

Say you are part of a hiring committee.  A voting majority chooses one candidate over your choice, so the job offer is given to that candidate.  

Do you accept the committee's decision or do you continue to fight it and encourage those who voted with you to fight with you?

What do you think your future in that company will be if you act like that?
... and he said, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Seriously, he would never say that of course -- too much class and respect. Hopefully she will come 'round to also respecting his voters.
She said " Mr. President..", He said " Madaame Vice President.."
nothing having to do with this news LINE, but, I think its a shame for Clinton to hold the dems that voted for her hostage. WHAT A SORE LOSER! The Dem Party should just X her out.She hasn't even conceded nor has she congratulated Obama. How sad. What is there to think about? You LOST give it up. We have a nominee. With all of this war talk from the Repubs, if we choose another Repub to be in charge, people had better think about this, we will be doomed to even more war than we are in now. Your issues will not be considered with a repub in office. We will definately get more of the same. HRC has no respect for this country, you or Obama.
I assume the Hillary is not ready to talk.. She may just be in shock.. I know that she ran a tough campaign.. but she did loose and those supporters who threaten to not vote for Obama, probably didn't plan to vote for him anyway.. That tells you one thing.. they weren't really democrats in the first place.. they were just trying to be apart of the action..

IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, BE A DEMOCRAT... HOLD YOUR FRICKIN NOSE AT THE BALLOT BOOTH AND VOTE FOR YOUR DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE..
oooo man i wonder when he'll stop being so coy and ask her out on their first date! - yes that is what thisstory sounds like...high school drama

Obama '08
hilary ran a dynamic race. but to hold the concession and turning the reins over to obama smacks of extortion and 'you do what I say or I'll take my votes and crush you and nobody wins, If you don't make me Vice President and do as I say" mentality. Yes I feel that she would make a great vice president, I felt she would have been an amazing President, but I feel that to use threats and shrilly declare that she "really won it..wink, wink" dangerously hovers near paranoia, narcissism, and lightly veiled meaness and entitlement on her part.
Wonder if she could actually look him in the eye, after not acknowledging or conceding the victory to him.
In addition to some political concideration, I wonder if Hillery Clinton is also holding out for the Obama Campaign to pay off Her personal campaign loans she made to herself?
Please.Obama should had past her straight.
If Clinton wants any future in the Democratic Party beyond 2008, she needs to announce her public, enthusiastic, unreserved endorsement of Obama as the Democratic candidate for President. Both she and Bill seem to have forgotten that fame and prior successes are no guarantee that a politician can hang on to widespread support. The flow of events can leave anyone in the dust. The history of both parties is filled with stories where arrogance and a disdain for following the traditions of one's party presages a fall from power. But my guess is, both Clintons will have to learn this lesson the hard way.
It must be difficult for her.  I can certainly understand the disappointment and let-down she feels.  I hope she feels comfortable facing her disappointment soon.  If anyone does, I'm sure it would be someone with her tenacity and will.

She has a lot that she can do.  Time will certainly help clear her mind.  She doesn't deserve to settle.
for all those people on this thread bashing Hillary, you  sound pathetic. She is strong: 1 Million voters stronger than Barack. Yes he got the educated vote, Yes he got the Black vote, yes he got the White voters who have a misguided ax to grind against the Clintons, however she still got more votes than Obama. Oh I forgot She won NY, CA, PA, FL and OH, the Major population areas of this Country. Go ahead and be delusional, Hillary has nothing to loose, Barack advisers better wise up, look at Puerto Rico, Florida and California as far as Hispanic voters go, they wont vote for Obama unless Hillary brings them in. There are over 50 Million Hispanics in the US and the African American Population is around 20 million. Do the math.

Hillary is much needed, Veep or Some major role.
Wise up
Win gracefully; lose with dignity.

Given Clinton's performance in her campaign capped off by her blatant attempt, from the moment she lost, to crassly exert pressure on Obama, the above appears to be outside her capacity for comprehension.

The Clintons' self-absorbed attitude of entitlement is grossly repugnant. Their graciousness deficit is appalling. They, purely and simply, have no class.

Obama will look extremely weak if he chose her. Indeed, even choosing one of his surrogates now, after last night, will make him look weak.
He does not need to give her the VP to bring the party together.  Time heals all wounds.  he will make his own way and win!
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall!

Watched "The View" this morning and all but Elisabeth were totally disgusted with Hillary's less than gracious speech last night. And all, except Elisabeth, agreed that Hillary should NOT be on the ticket. Why is this relevant? All have been strong Hillary supporters during this campaign. It is very telling that even they think she crossed the line of inappropriate behavior last night.



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