There must be a new meme going around because I’ve seen at least FOUR different people say today that it’s common knowledge that Hillary Clinton blackmailed Barack Obama into making her Secretary of State. The theme seems to be, she refused to endorse him at the convention unless he gave in because that how “the Clintons operate.”
Something as extraordinary as this would be hard to keep secret given how folks talk in Washington, so I thought I’d do some Googling to read more about this amazing conspiracy.
Here’s what I found:
After the race was over, Heilemann and Halperin report that Hillary Clinton initially turned down Obama's offer to become secretary of state. But in a late-night phone call, he tried to change her mind, telling her that he and the country needed her. "At that point she says, 'You know, there's one last thing that's a problem, which is my husband. You've seen what this is like. It will be a circus if I take this job. There will be a new controversy every day that you'll have to deal with. And Obama says to her, 'I understand. But I want you so badly that I'm willing to live with your husband,'" Heilemann told Cooper. "It's this extraordinary moment. On the one hand you have Hillary Clinton saying something she says to almost no one, admitting that her husband is a problem, at the same time Obama comes back and shows vulnerability to her," Halperin added. "He says to her, 'Given the economic crisis, given all I have to deal with, I need your help.' And that bond, I think, that trust that was built in that call, according to the people who were familiar with the call, built up enough that overnight, she was able to change her mind and take the job."
I’m pretty sure if the conspiracy theories were true, we’d have heard from SOME source in Washington just dying to spill their guts by now, especially since it would have harmed both Clinton and Obama if this were true.
I’m just posting this diary as a reminder for anyone who would like to make up their own facts about what happened in 2008.
Also, just because it’s a fun video to share, here is Hillary Clinton nominating Barack Obama at the convention:
x YouTube VideoEdited to add: Someone mentioned they were glad I didn’t attribute this new lie to Sanders’ supporters. I honestly don’t believe a true Sanders supporter would say this. This lie is meant to hurt DEMOCRATS in general, especially Clinton and Obama.
Although the first mention I saw on Facebook today was from someone CLAIMING to be a Sanders supporter, his other posts look more like someone who wants to make trouble for Democrats in general by stirring stuff up. A few people have repeated it on DK today, which is why I wrote this diary — just to share information.
I’m assuming this new “claim” is coming out of Red State or some such place where reality is what they make of it!
One more edit: Big thanks to everyone who helped this land on the Rec list — wow! Again, peace to everyone who wants to elect Democrats this year. We’re all in this together, even when we disagree over how to get there!