Jun 27, 2008 8:48pm
Unity
EmailUnity, unity unity.
Latifah sang about it. U. N. I. T. Y. ("Who you callin’ a ….")
And then Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton visited Unity, NH, as well today.
Read about that HERE. Watch our World News report HERE.
George and I chatted about the visit on the World News Webcast — watch HERE.
Thursday night we looked at the tensions remaining between the two camps. Watch HERE.
I’m taking a week off — my first since last Summer — so I hope you’ll welcome back to the blog ABC News’ Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein of The Note, who’ll be filling in for me next week.
Happy 4th of July.
- jpt
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
I get the sense that Obama looks at this unity effort as just one more item to check off before he gets back to his so-called “real” campaign.
He’s mistaken if he thinks he can link up with Clinton on a one time basis and continue to hit her supporters over the head with insults and threats to try to bring us together.
Clinton deserves to be asked to consider the VP slot. If he fails to do this, he can forget this lip service about unity.
Posted by: bromfield22 | June 27, 2008, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
I appreciate Hillary’s willingness to support Obama, but the guy is still arrogant and snide — everything he does is finger pointing!!! Point and make snide remarks. Point and make snide remarks!
========================================
Obama, the architect of Bittergate!
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | June 27, 2008, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
Thanks, Jake! Have a great week off – and hope it gives you some perspective. 2008 is a very important election, and you’ve done a lot to keep us informed.
Posted by: benintn | June 27, 2008, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
WestCoastMessenger,
the fact that you use the words of Karl Rove, the guy that represents the worst and most destructive of the Republican right wing, says it all.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | June 27, 2008, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
I am Clinton supporter, as every one knows
Obama + Hillary = no experience + sniper = no experience sniper
Obama can buy Hillary by money, but he can not buy voters by money.
Think big, think about the county, vote for McCain, not because of the Iraq war, you blame every thing for the goverment and turn the country down. We can not have both peace and oil.
The democrat takes the money from the middle class and give to the lazy people.
The Repulican forces the lazy people to work for the rich.
Vote for John McCain or Obama, it is you choice.
I will vote for John McCain.
Posted by: Kevin P | June 27, 2008, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
where is the 300 million battery
Posted by: rodney | June 27, 2008, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
The 300 million betteries will run out for couple days if we don’t have oil for one day. Don’t lie to yourself
Posted by: Kevin P | June 27, 2008, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
glad to see hillary behind obama we have had enough of the republican leadership—–aur country has some serious problems to solve—-mccain has had 30 years to do something—i do not believe all of a sudden the leopard will change his spots.
Posted by: rodney | June 27, 2008, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
you don’t belive the leopard, so can you trust the deer?
Posted by: Kevin P | June 27, 2008, 10:44 pm 10:44 pm
Have a great week off Jake, We will be sure to keep Rick busy! :o)
Posted by: IslandGirl | June 27, 2008, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
kevin—that is what mccain has offered for a better battery to power cars—but we will still need to charge. oil is becoming a limited item—–renewables are the answer–along with oil ,solar and wind power—–i live in pa 30 miles north we have a nuke plant—50 miles south another nuke plant—60 very large wind generators are under construction—-within 5 miles of me are two coal fired generators in operation—and two more not operating–do not know why –they should be.
Posted by: rodney | June 27, 2008, 10:49 pm 10:49 pm
Happy 4th of July, man.
Did you know that this holiday, which wasn’t declared a legal one until 1941 (interestingly, well after McCain was born), used to be total unhinged mayhem? Things got so out of control that there was a public movement to make is “safe and sane” in the early 20th century. That’s when fireworks got regulated.
Posted by: tungsten | June 27, 2008, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
Rodney, why people are so worry about $10 U.S for a gallon of gas? How about you?
Posted by: Kevin P | June 27, 2008, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
Kevin:
If you are so concerned about the gas prices then why are you voting for a republican? You do realize the war in Iraq is the main reason the gas prices are what they are?
Posted by: IslandGirl | June 27, 2008, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
IslandGird, I don’t concern about gas price at all, because I think $4 per gallon right now is still OK for me. I just wonder if you want free gas? If then you should support McCain to stable Iraq and bomb Iran, Shouldn’t you?
Posted by: Kevin P | June 27, 2008, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
I really don’t think Obama cares about unity and that is ok with me because I don’t . I’ll be voting McCain not because of Obama but because of the party which I no longer belong to.
Posted by: Bishop | June 27, 2008, 11:55 pm 11:55 pm
This party can never be unity again until the all the selfish and jealous leaders are gone.
Posted by: stock_craft | June 28, 2008, 1:28 am 1:28 am
Have a terrific holiday JPT! I rarely watch tube news anymore, but your blog has become a daily read. Your straightforward reporting and your deft style are all too rare and much appreciated. Many thanks.
Posted by: JM Hanes | June 28, 2008, 4:08 am 4:08 am
I am a Hillary supporter and very much impressed at the flawless performance of Hillary at the Unity event. She still has the brains, charm, and wits. Clearly she is the best to lead this country but unfortunately the Democratic Party bosses used all the levers to make her look the second best. I understand in her own interests, Hillary has to publicly speak in favor of Obama’s candidacy. She has to think of her future.
In the mean time, the Hillary supporters might as well sit on the wall and watch the political drama. If Hillary is on ticket with Obama then, we have to vote Democratic. If not, we have a decision to make. Abstain or vote for McCain.
Posted by: Kris | June 28, 2008, 7:55 am 7:55 am
Kris
OBAMA 08
with you or without you
Posted by: Omentum | June 28, 2008, 8:07 am 8:07 am
Have a great vacation, Jake!!!
Posted by: phillygirl64 | June 28, 2008, 8:36 am 8:36 am
omentum,
Good luck to you and your candidate and the Democratic party machinery.
Pelosi & Company have been in power for two years. What have they accomplish?
Even if Obama gets elected, things are not going to change much. He already flip flopped on so many issues. One wonders how many mouths he has. But again we, as a nation should not be surprised if Obama gets elected because the electorate proved they are gullible in the way they have elected Bush for two terms.
Posted by: Hillarysupporter | June 28, 2008, 9:07 am 9:07 am
Sorry for the typing error. My letter shold read
Pelosi & Compnany have been in power for two years. What did they accomplish?
Posted by: Hillarysupporter | June 28, 2008, 9:09 am 9:09 am
Hillarysupporter
What can you accomplish with the decider in charge.
I am not naive to think the country will change once Obama swears in. What I do believe is that we will get on the right track. With McCain… we stay on the same track with acceleration. McCain is Bush on steroids. NO THANKS
OBAMA 08
Posted by: Omentum | June 28, 2008, 9:16 am 9:16 am
Anybody that won’t vote for Obama because Hillary lost helps explain why america is ripe for exploitation to continue to get screwed over. They’d rather ignore years of republican arrogance, corruption and subversion of the constitution because they believe Hillary was slighted. Wake up, the election is bigger than any of the candidates including Hillary. This election is about punishing those that exploited us, our country and constitution for personal and political gain. It is about breaking away from those evil doers and restoring america to the status that it deserves. The people that did this are not patriots no matter how many flag pins they wear or length of military service.
Posted by: Mess Host Messenger | June 28, 2008, 9:24 am 9:24 am
what unity? After everyone trashed Senator Clinton and President Clinton during the primary season if anyone expects unity they are out of their mind. What change? hanging on and getting support from Old Guards in the Democratic Party is not a change. Change is when you boldly say let us get out of the hold of middle eastern countries and let us get energy independence. Change is when you say you can provide healthcare to the uninsured through the millions in campaign contribution one colected. Change means winning the election without spending and wasting money on campaign.
Posted by: clintonalltheway | June 28, 2008, 10:08 am 10:08 am
“You do realize the war in Iraq is the main reason the gas prices are what they are?” O really, Islandgirl? OPEC limits production and China is buying more and more oil for its HUGE population. You mean, those two small details have NOTHING to do with the fact that limited supply with increased demand leads to HIGHER prices? Go back to school, IslandGirl. At least, don’t gloss things over and claim that prices are affected by a single determining factor. It’s actually more complicated than that.
Posted by: Jeff | June 28, 2008, 10:18 am 10:18 am
Me,my family members and friends long
time democrats we voted for Hillary on
primaries BUT we will NOT vote for Obama
in november.
Obama is untrusted for this position.
Posted by: Nicholas | June 28, 2008, 10:27 am 10:27 am
Have a good vacation Jake. Will miss your comments.
Posted by: Lisa S | June 28, 2008, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Have a great vacation!
Posted by: OxyCon | June 28, 2008, 10:54 am 10:54 am
I love Hillary and supported her from day one–but I will not support her this time and vote for Obama.
Obama continues to prove he is just not qualified to lead this country.
He won’t take a stand on difficult issues.
And I think he will flip-flop on Iraq too. His pretty smile and pretty prepared speeches just aren’t enough for me to vote for him.
I trust McCain-his patriotism and his strength to take a stand on tough issues.
Posted by: riley | June 28, 2008, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Have a nice vacation, Jake Tapper!
It makes no difference if Hillary endorses him or joins him on the ticket, no way will I vote for a second-rate, corrupt politician.
NOBAMA.
Posted by: Juju | June 28, 2008, 11:24 am 11:24 am
I have watched the news clips from the Unity event, and despite the words that came out of their mouths, you can tell by their body language that everything appeared to be staged, and that both were somewhat unconfortable.
There did not appear to be anything genuine or unified at all about the event.
You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him (or her) drink.
Posted by: Lee | June 28, 2008, 11:30 am 11:30 am
Pumas
you are now Murphy supporters.
and you know what?
Murphy is in fact Maccain supporter from 2000. even though she is pretending to be a ardent hillary supporter.
Don’t be deceived by her.
Posted by: cloud123 | June 28, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
I know the unity is not genuine.
Hillary is still thinking she could be a better president.
But still she is smart and mature enough to see the reality and do her best in that context.
Posted by: zenni | June 28, 2008, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
she still thinks that because she would have been the best president.
Posted by: w | June 28, 2008, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
Hillary supporters,
if you want hillary in white house in any future,
better help to elect Obama this time,
then wait for 4 years…
if he is really nuts, all DEMs including Obama supporters will vote for hillary in 2012.
if he is great POTUS
then you guys will be happy too.
and hillary can come in 2016 (she will be only 68 years old)
But if obama loses this time thanks to Dem for Maccin, 18 million obama supporters will never vote for hillary.
maybe hillary will agree with me
Posted by: zenni | June 28, 2008, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
zenni,
omentum said obama does not need or want hillary supporters.
does obama need hillary supporters?
Posted by: w | June 28, 2008, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
Pumas
you are now Murphy supporters.
and you know what?
Murphy is in fact Maccain supporter from 2000. even though she is pretending to be a ardent hillary supporter.
Don’t be deceived by her.
Posted by: cloud123 | Jun 28, 2008 12:14:46 PM
——————————-Lol
Lol Nice try! We are well received makes no difference who she deceived, looks like it’s YOU!
Posted by: HP Boston | June 28, 2008, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
I do not think that the Democratic party can unite until Obama makes amends for the damage he did to the Clinton legacy, and to Bill Clinton. Many of us are appalled at the way Obama’s campaign smeared Bill Clinton as a racist. It crossed the line of decency. You do not take one of the greatest presidents of this century, twist his words and call him a racist, without consequences. You do not take the Clinton presidency and throw mud on it without consequences. Clinton’s was probably the best presidency any of us will see in our lifetimes, and the Obama campaign held it up to ridicule.
The Obama campaign’s low tactics paid off for them. Most of his supporters think Bill Clinton is a racist. They think his presidency was a joke. Obama’s campaign did not need to do this, but it did.
It is one thing to play politics with another candidate — that’s the way politics works— but to trash Clinton and his presidency the way they did; that was simply mean.
Obama has to make this right. Everyone knows he did wrong. His campaign wants to say the primary is over, and that it’s time to move on. But you do not smear a great president and a great presidency without paying a price.
Obama’s supporters say, Hillary lost, get over it, stop whining. But this goes beyond the primary. Obama’s entire campaign focused on destroying Bill Clinton, to remove him as an effective political force. They engaged in more than simple politics.
Obama has to make this right. He has to admit what he and his campaign did; and he has to publicly apologize. If he is big enough to do this, then maybe he is worth our support.
Posted by: David H | June 28, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Who would want to unify with the Clinton fanatics.
Posted by: disambiguattes | June 29, 2008, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
who would want to unify with clinton?
barack obama
Posted by: w | June 29, 2008, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
David H – look at Keith Olbermann’s special comments on all we have had to forgive the Clintons for in just this primary. He lists 16 events. Hanging on to the Clintons is some kind of Stockholm syndrome for her loyalists.
Posted by: disambiguattes | June 29, 2008, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
I see on CNN that Clinton supporters defaced cars in Florida last night. Not anyone I want in the Democratic party.
Posted by: disambiguattes | June 29, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
lets not say they are clinton supporters,
seems like some type of set-up trouble makers.
probally obama supporters trying to stir things up.
Posted by: w | June 29, 2008, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
I am a clinton supporter….but not with Obama!!
Posted by: michafaith | June 29, 2008, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
Jan Wenner’s (Rolling Stone) interview on CNN where he says he supports Obama because Obama ‘gets’ Bob Dylan brings it all into perspective. The Boomers want to be validated for blowing in the wind and the millenials want to be validated for blowing up Iraq.
Whatever happen to clambakes, fast cars and a memphis shuffle? sniffle sniffle…
Posted by: len | June 29, 2008, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Don’t write in Hillary! If the diebold machines count all write in votes for Hillary as a vote for Obama..It’s a one line code and you’ll be sorry.
It’s important to cast a protest vote..we’ll have to live with it for 4 years..Obama wouldn’t be better than jmac anyway.
Posted by: calli | June 29, 2008, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
I will not vote for Obama with or without Senator Clinton on the ticket. He’s a poser and has split the Democratic Party. I loathe him and fear an Obama administration far more than a McCain administration.
I won’t vote for McCain happily but I won’t vote for the Obamacrat at all.
Posted by: kenoshaMarge | June 30, 2008, 10:18 am 10:18 am
Zenni said: Hillary supporters,
if you want hillary in white house in any future,
better help to elect Obama this time,
then wait for 4 years…
if he is really nuts, all DEMs including Obama supporters will vote for hillary in 2012.
if he is great POTUS
then you guys will be happy too.
and hillary can come in 2016 (she will be only 68 years old)
But if obama loses this time thanks to Dem for Maccin, 18 million obama supporters will never vote for hillary.
maybe hillary will agree with me
I couldn’t have said it better myself. The news media likes to play this one way saying Hillary’s supporters won’t vote for Obama. NEWS FLASH this thing goes two ways not one way. I have had about as much as I can stomach of these threats by Hillary’s supporters. I strongly suggest you all help unify the Democratic Party and put Obama in office. Hillary lost fair and square. Obama beat her PERIOD. GET OVER IT!! Let Obama lose this election because of Hillary supporters voting for McCain and I GUARANTEE ALL OF YOU she will never set foot in the White House. We 18 million + strong Obama supporters will make sure of that. He doesn’t have to ask her to be his VP either. He is the Democratic nominee and he can choose who he feels will work best with him.
Posted by: Dennis Orlando, FL | July 1, 2008, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm