Melissa,
As much as I enjoy a good Obama-bash, I have to disagree with youon this one. Given your penchant for calling me idealistic and naïve about therealpolitik of presidential campaigns, I’m surprised that you're tripping about UnityFest 2008.
I agree that, ideally, their joint message should center around policyconvergences rather than empty symbolism. The reality, however, is that theDemocratic primary was never really about policy disputes in the first place. In truth, Clinton and Obama are political twins who have no major differences regarding “universal” (snicker)health care, No Child Left Behind (which they both passively endorse), Housing (although Clinton’s plan was more robust), or bringing down oil prices (yeah, right). In essence, to paraphrase Henry Kissinger, their primary battle was so bitter because there was so little at stake. Given this reality, their reconciliation work has less to do with policy and more to do with personality. In order to deliver Clintonites to the Obamaphiles, the two rivals must tour the country engaging in the same superficial symbolism that shaped their primary battles.
Don’t get me wrong, some of Hillary’s remarks were over-the-top and downright dangerous to the party. Still, were her tactics any more vicious than what took place between Johnson and Kennedy? Was her “commander-in-chief”remark any more treacherous than George H.W. Bush’s infamous “voodoo economics”snipe at Ronald Reagan? Not really. In both cases, their constituencies quickly forgot about the internecine beefs and refocused their competitive energy across the aisle.
As long as Hillary continues to advocate for Barack --and Bill Clinton goes into hibernation-- all will be forgiven amongst much of her base. Is this true unity or reconciliation? No, but it just may make for a winning campaign.
Marc
P.S. I thought the matching outfit thing was kinda fly! The only thing better would've been if they'd played Queen Latifah's "U.N.I.T.Y." Too bad that song makes a reference to loving black men...