Althouse: The theory that Obama will endorse Biden but only if Biden commits to serving only one term and picks Deval Patrick as VP.

September 21, 2015

The theory that Obama will endorse Biden but only if Biden commits to serving only one term and picks Deval Patrick as VP.

This is the "talk in Democratic Party circles," according to Edward Klein (linked, just now, by Instapundit).

ADDED: If you're Governor of Massachusetts and want to be President, you do need to be Vice President first. Ask Michael Dukakis, Mitt Romney, and Calvin Coolidge.

50 comments:

Jaq said...: Deval Patrick!? If there is any truth to this, it is pretty clear that the Democrats are sick of the American electorate, and seek a new one. As Patrick and his predecessors have successfully done in Mass.; 9/21/15, 7:57 AM
Wince said...: Deval Patrick? Massively unpopular in Mass, especially since his departure as governor.

Viewed as a failure even on his own terms and priorities.

I'd think Obama upon his departure would want to not invite such comparisons.

Or maybe Obama really does think it best if the Republicans inherit his mess?; 9/21/15, 8:04 AM
exhelodrvr1 said...: At least that pairing would force the Democrats to take responsibility for the policies they enact, right?; 9/21/15, 8:10 AM
paminwi said...: Obama knows best, doesn't he?

I mean, look how far our country has come under his leadership!; 9/21/15, 8:18 AM
David Begley said...: I read somewhere that Obama just wants a black VP and not Patrick in particular.

If that is the case then why not Kanye?; 9/21/15, 8:18 AM
Henry said...: From the link

In addition, there is speculation among top Democratic sources...

"In this scenario, which Obama has not yet fully explained to Biden..."

There's speculation and then there's wild-ass speculation.

Taking these fictions seriously, there's a Dr. Strangelovian aspect to this doomsday device. President Obama can't make public such a quid quo pro, but if he doesn't make it public the device won't work.

Assume that President Obama endorses Biden on these speculative secret conditions. Biden takes a commanding lead in the primaries and has the nomination in hand. At this point, Biden can call off the deal with impunity. The President will have no leverage other than setting off the doomsday device and blowing up his own party.; 9/21/15, 8:19 AM
rhhardin said...: Usually the credit of the endorser comes into the equation, but not for Obama.; 9/21/15, 8:20 AM
Scott said...: Has Biden become so emasculated that Obama's opinion would carry that much weight?; 9/21/15, 8:23 AM
gerry said...: The President will have no leverage other than setting off the doomsday device and blowing up his own party.

Ohhhh...I like that. "MEIN FUHRER!!! I CAN VALK!"; 9/21/15, 8:23 AM
clint said...: If this is true, Biden would be a fool not to take the deal.

Obama's endorsement guarantees him the Democratic nomination (at least in the current field).

And there's a significant chance he could win. *Shudder*; 9/21/15, 8:24 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: Obama & Biden would have to mansplain' why they were being so mean to women in general, and Hillary & Warren in particular.; 9/21/15, 8:24 AM
clint said...: Or perhaps this is all theater -- so that Biden can seem principled when he refuses?; 9/21/15, 8:24 AM
CarlF said...: Deval Patrick has joined Bain Capital, a global investment firm. This fits with Obama's history of putting the interests of investment firms ahead of the American people.; 9/21/15, 8:27 AM
Virgil Hilts said...: Reading Blood Feud by Edward Klein. I know that Klein has been criticized for a lot of the content, but it does seem believable that Obama committed to supporting Hillary in 2016 in exchange for Bill Clinton campaigning hard for Obama in 2012 and helping him get reelected (Obama got a really big bounce in the polls after Bill Clinton's long speech at the convention). Per Klein, Valerie Jarrett told Obama to make the deal since he could always just go ahead and break it. Obama (Jarrett) has no loyalty whatsoever; after Oprah helped him get elected the first time, he (Jarrett) completely blew her off. Ultimately, Obama will do whatever Jarrett tells him to do.; 9/21/15, 8:28 AM
Brando said...: Seeing Obama endorse Biden in the primary would be worth it if only to see how the Clintonites react.; 9/21/15, 8:33 AM
Mark said...: On the plus side for Hillary!, Obama has been electoral death for pretty much everyone he's endorsed. He's the anti-coattails President.; 9/21/15, 8:43 AM
Lauderdale Vet said...: Michelle.; 9/21/15, 8:50 AM
lgv said...: I thought the idea was a bit odd, until I noticed you were quoting Edward Klein. I went from 5 to 11 on my skeptical dial.

It's good to know if Seymour Hersh has a protege.; 9/21/15, 8:51 AM
Brando said...: "On the plus side for Hillary!, Obama has been electoral death for pretty much everyone he's endorsed. He's the anti-coattails President."

Does that hold true for intra-party primaries? It seems his popularity among Democrats is still pretty high, especially among core groups that Hillary is counting on (women and inexplicably, blacks).

I think the one thing that would keep Obama from endorsing an opponent of Hillary's during the primary would be the possible split it would cause in his party. He'd prefer they see him as above the fray, and hold his endorsement until someone secures the nomination. But I don't think he holds any loyalty for Hillary.; 9/21/15, 8:52 AM
chickelit said...: The Deval is in the details.; 9/21/15, 8:52 AM
dbp said...: Even in MA, Patrick only won reelection due to a strong independent siphoning off votes from the Republican.

Yes, even in MA, the Democrat won with 48% of the vote. I don't see him doing well nation-wide.; 9/21/15, 8:55 AM
CWJ said...: "Deval Patrick has joined Bain Capital, a global investment firm."

You're kidding. Romney's Bain Capital? THAT Bain Capital?

Boy, now I want to see Patrick on the ticket if only to munch the popcorn as the Dems tie themselves in knots spinning Bain Capital as a Good Thing.; 9/21/15, 9:03 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: @Chickelit

Heh - are you saying it's better to go with the Deval you know, than the Deval you don't know:); 9/21/15, 9:04 AM
CWJ said...: Deval Patrick gave my wife cancer!; 9/21/15, 9:04 AM
jacksonjay said...: Just words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M6x1H08aFc; 9/21/15, 9:10 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Who would the Pope endorse?; 9/21/15, 9:13 AM
traditionalguy said...: Ed Klein is a master of insider rumor that is so close to the truth that it usually becomes the truth. The man has an instinct for it. His book on Katie Couric is another painting of a picture from collected insider tips that is spot on.
If Klein writes it down, I would expect it to fit the facts.; 9/21/15, 9:20 AM
Meade said...: "Deval Patrick gave my wife cancer!"

Ha ha.

From the Web:

Forget the iPhone 6. Next hit Apple product revealed... by OBAMA and Deval Patrick!

5 Things I Learned While Listening to Deval Patrick

You Won’t Believe What We Found Inside The New 2015 Penny (Hint: Deval Patrick put it there)

25 Celebs You Forgot Committed Horrible Crimes: #19 is Shocking (because it's Deval Patrick); 9/21/15, 9:22 AM
damikesc said...: Sure, why not hire ANOTHER utterly incompetent black man as President? Just insure that everybody associates "black President" with "inept clown". Patrick fucked up MA something fierce.

Deval Patrick has joined Bain Capital, a global investment firm.

...also the same firm, I believe, that Mitt Romney was viciously castigated for starting.; 9/21/15, 9:23 AM
Wince said...: Bain Capital has... evolved.; 9/21/15, 9:41 AM
PoNyman said...: Say this were true. Is there any president in the history of the U.S. who would not have been able to renege on that deal?; 9/21/15, 9:46 AM
ddh said...: Any candidate who accepts that condition has put his manhood in trust--even if she has lady parts--and will never recover it.; 9/21/15, 9:53 AM
mccullough said...: It's not the endorsement of Biden so much as sticking it to Hillary. An indictment of the Clinton Foundation would be imminent. Maybe Hillary should run as a Republican.; 9/21/15, 10:00 AM
William said...: Deval Patrick as VP is the functional equivalent of hair plugs for the Biden ticket.; 9/21/15, 10:14 AM
Chris said...: I'm not sure what Deval Patrick brings to the ticket for 2016. He'd temper the old, white image of the Democrats' nominee, but I doubt it translates into a net gain of electoral votes. Blue states are gonna vote blue no matter how damaged his brand is in Massachusetts. This would be either a play to peel black Democrats away from Clinton and Sanders, or set him up for 2024. Or both.; 9/21/15, 10:15 AM
Big Mike said...: A 10 day wonder to give pundits a reason to write and bloggers something to post. (Yawn); 9/21/15, 10:29 AM
Sebastian said...: With all due modesty, yours truly, ahem, predicted on this very blog that O would pick the Dem slate. Part of his plan to stay in charge. The transformative president wants a transformative post-presidency. We'll never get rid of him. Come to think of it, that might be the one reason to go all out for Trump.; 9/21/15, 10:46 AM
mikee said...: Hillary is still the only woman who can be elected the first woman president this election cycle. And if she picks a Hispanic for VP, she will win in a landslide, unless she is in prison, because no Republican can say a bad word about her for some reason.

Biden lost his last public debate to Sarah Palin. Imagine him up against Hillary. She'd demean him so far down only his hair implants would be left above the stage.; 9/21/15, 11:45 AM
Unknown said...: It looks like Papa Doc is trying to anoint Baby Doc (and I don't mean Joe Biden). This is how Third World countries do politics. We don't need that here. I hope it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of the American people and they react with disdain and disparagement. In the old days I would have guaranteed it. Now, I'm not so sure.; 9/21/15, 11:52 AM
rehajm said...: He's forming a Gore style 'progressive' opportunity fund. He's not going anywhere until 'goals' are reached.; 9/21/15, 12:11 PM
Paul said...: None of my liberal friends like Hillary. She is a ghost candidate running on support that is a mile wide and a millimeter deep. All her "supporters" will switch to Biden once Obama endorses him. Anyone who thinks she will win in a landslide is delusional.; 9/21/15, 1:16 PM
Sammy Finkelman said...: I think this theory is all bunk.; 9/21/15, 1:43 PM
JAORE said...: Obama hold the leverage here.

His endorsement, in the primaries, is valuable. But more importantly, one presumes, along with the endorsement, comes the framework of his ground game structure. Since Joe B hasn't got one in place, that would make up MILES of ground on Hillary.; 9/21/15, 2:05 PM
Louis said...: This would seem uncharacteristic of 44.; 9/21/15, 2:37 PM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: I wonder if Joe Biden understands that if there is any reality to this story it is because these are the terms being offered Hillary Clinton, agree to serve just one term and make Deval Patrick your VP.; 9/21/15, 4:38 PM
Louis said...: I wonder if Joe Biden understands that if there is any reality to this story it is because these are the terms being offered Hillary Clinton, agree to serve just one term and make Deval Patrick your VP.

That would be nice, actually. The dragon empowers the beast; 9/21/15, 4:43 PM
Paul said...: If Joe Biden kisses Obama's ring, every will know Bidem's term will be just another 4 years of Obama.; 9/21/15, 5:44 PM
cubanbob said...: Paul said...

If Joe Biden kisses Obama's ring, every will know Bidem's term will be just another 4 years of Obama.
9/21/15, 5:44 PM

Any Democrat elected will be a third Obama term if not worse.; 9/21/15, 8:45 PM
Stoutcat said...: So if Obama decides to screw over Hillary by endorsing Crazy Uncle Joe, but only on condition that Biden choose "Coupe" Deval as his veep... what's to stop Biden from screwing over Obama when it comes time to announce running mates?; 9/21/15, 11:49 PM
Ctmom4 said...: Wouldn't Patrick be humiliated by that deal? I would be. I thought the VP was going to be Julian Castro. Hispandering is all the rage this season.; 9/22/15, 12:32 AM