Jack & Jill Politics

That’s the direct headline from Politico.com and further reason why this whole roll call nonsense is a bad idea.

Looks like we’re gonna have to send a lot of positive energy to block all the hateration some might try to pull in Denver.

This is not a headline most politicians want to see heading into their convention. But here it is, inviting thoughts of division, confusion and a weakened candidate. Which is why the Clinton roll call is a bad idea . . . because this may or may not be the beginning of a string of headlines with similar titles.

What’s worse is the fact that we’re talking about super delegates, here. It’s one thing to have a symbolic vote for party activists, but these “House Dems” are supposed to be professional. House Democrats shouldn’t need a “catharsis.”

Please, don’t try to make any sense of this. Don’t think too hard, but just trust your instinct that it makes absolutely no sense for super delegates to do this.

Try not to pop a brain vessel when you hear a super delegate attempt to convince you that the best way to unite the party behind Senator Obama is to . . . vote AGAINST Senator Obama at the convention.

Add in a little PUMA action with some of your regular GOP talking points (gee whiz, I guess the timing is pure coincidence) and this convention is off to a weird start.

That feeling has not been lost on former Clinton supporters who will be forced to cast their votes under awkward circumstances. . .

via Politico.com:

“I think that most superdelegates, including myself, are going for Obama,” said New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, who campaigned with Clinton around the country. “I made my decision for Obama, and I’m not switching again.”

Other onetime Clinton backers are reluctant to reverse course for fear of angering their black constituents.

“My boss is totally conflicted about it — and pissed Hillary is putting us in this position,” said a congressional staffer for another New York House member. “We still haven’t made up our mind and I don’t know when we are going to.”

To his credit, I’m confident that Obama has things under control. This is supposed to be a short, relatively painless symbolic vote.

But he can’t control the headlines and media spin. Those words, “division,” “confusion,” and “weak” aren’t my words, they’re the words of cable media and GOP pundits who are already asking, “If Obama can’t stand up to the Clintons, how can he stand up to foreign dictators?”

It might not be a fair question (after all, the stakes and circumstances involved in conventions and foreign crisis are not the same). But it’s a question Obama better have an answer to if he wants to come out of this convention looking strong.

In the meantime, be prepared to answer critics who’ll try to use this roll call in Republican campaign ads. Because, “Half of House Dems may vote Hillary” ain’t a good look, no matter how you try to slice it.

Especially when lines like the following don’t necessarily leave a good taste in your mouth:

“The convention is about nominating Barack, so his people want to speed through the vote as fast as possible so it won’t take too much TV time,” said a Democratic delegate who plans to vote for Clinton. “They also want to avoid a scenario where she’s leading at any point.” (emphasis added)(Politico.com)

cross-posted at my blog