Americablog re Hillary VP vetting process.

[Beregond2]

Could Hillary and Bill even survive the Vice Presidential vetting process?
by Joe Sudbay (DC) · 5/22/2008 10:25:00 PM ET · Link
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Two rumors circulated today. One is that Obama has begun the process of selecting a Vice President. The other, which seems to have gained steam through the day, is that Bill Clinton wants Hillary to be Obama's Vice President.

While I think Hillary as V.P. is a horrible idea, all the buzz got me wondering: could Hillary even survive the Vice Presidential vetting process? Some background, courtesy of Marc Ambinder, about Jim Johnson who is leading the search for Obama -- and the vetting process:
Johnson, a former CEO of Fannie Mae who is currently vice chairman of Perseus LLC, a merchant bank, also vetted vice presidential candidates for Walter Mondale, whose campaign he chaired. On the eve of the convention in 1984, Mr. Mondale was set to choose Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, only to find irreconcilable political problems with the business dealings of Ms. Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum. Mondale chose Geraldine Ferraro instead. Ironically, questions about Ferraro's husband, a real estate developer, would dog her throughout the general election campaign. Mr. Johnson said later that the experience if 1984 had taught him to start much earlier and vet much more thoroughly.

The vetting process entails a rigorous schedule of interviews focusing on everything from politics to potential embarrassments -- Did they ever employ a nanny on whose behalf they did not pay Social Security taxes, for example; did they experiment with drugs or people in college? -- and potential candidates are required to give the search team access to their tax returns and other financial records.
This sounds pretty rigorous -- and the potential V.P. nominees have to comply.

Hillary always claims she's fully vetted, but that's not true. And, the vetting process includes the spouse.

Basically, this means Obama's vetting team would have access to all the Clinton's records -- all the stuff that hasn't become public. The Clintons would have to open up the library funders and foundation donors. They'd have to name everyone who has paid Bill Clinton to speak or do any other work. They'd investigate all of Bill's dealings with Ron Burkle, for example. And, for sure, they'd have to investigate a lot of other rumors that swirl about.

The Clintons can keep their own secrets when they run the show. But, this won't be their show. They won't have Howard Wolfson and his team stonewalling reporters who are asking prying questions.

If the Clintons want the V.P. job, they can't say no to any question asked. And, it's pretty clear that Jim Johnson knows what questions to ask. That seems like a risky proposition for the Clintons. Sure would be fun to be a fly on the wall during those interviews.

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. Well she might lie although we know that's not possible

She might have reveal Bill's financial connections on his Library........LOL
but she said she wouldn't do that until after she got the nomination.....LOL

What a great Post..... Thanks.

[ampad]

2. Hillary lie!

Surely you jest. Yes this is a great post rec

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. "Hillary we need to look into you and Bill's financial connections"

"Also Hillary we need the rest of your records from the White House
which you only partially have released"


"Hillary we need your phone transcripts on travel-gate."


"Hillary? Would you be willing to take a lie detector test?"


"Hillary? Oh course we need to look into your spouses record also"

"Hillary? Has he ever lied under oath and been convicted of a crime for that?"



Hillary? Did Bill Clinton ever know Rev. Wright"

[ErinBerin84]

3. haha

"did they experiment with drugs or people in college?"


Sorry, I'm twelve. It's just hard to imagine someone asking in a straight face. "Now tell us...did you experiement....um..."sexually", in college?" Can you imagine getting asked that in a job interview?

[Cha]

6. You're twelve?

really?

[ErinBerin84]

8. a little more than a decade older, but essentially, yes

I guess it really just made me think of the fun questioning that is going to go down this weekend at the McCain BBQ.

[Cha]

9. So you're 22...I didn't think

you were "12" by your posts but you wrote you were so I had to ask.

Thought maybe you were a little political prodigy or something:)

[ErinBerin84]

15. I think that I have the political analysis skills of a 16 year old,

so I guess that would make me a prodigy if I were 12! I'm actually 23. And on the college experimentation front, I recently decided that George Bush's administration had a direct influence of the amount of drugs and alcohol I consumed in college, especially after the 2004 election.

[PM7nj]

4. She would never survive.

There is so much dirt that is public knowledge, could you imagine what is hidden? Obama has been very nice to her. The Republicans wouldn't be.

[Cha]

5. That's the breaks when you're dealing

all kinds of shit not up for public consumption.

The only way they could have gotten in is through hilary as pres which she couldn't deliver.

[FrenchieCat]

7. She ain't gonna pass mustard.

All that stuff that Obama never mentioned is still there, in the bag(gage)!

[highplainsdem]

11. You're kidding, right? If Hillary is on the ticket, it will be because Obama knows he needs her,

and as much as it might amuse his supporters to imagine him subjecting her to humiliating interviews, it isn't going to happen.

For that matter, I believe the Clintons know just as much about Obama's background that he'd prefer not to have brought out as he knows about theirs.

If she's on the ticket, it will be because he asked her. I can't imagine her asking him if she could be on the ticket.

But if it amuses you to fantasize that he's in a position to humiliate her, go ahead.

At the moment he's in a position to lose the GE without her help.

[emilyg]

12. Cheers.

[cliffordu]

13. kicked

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

14. For the first time, I think it is a good thing that HRC is on the short list

"Basically, this means Obama's vetting team would have access to all the Clinton's records -- all the stuff that hasn't become public. The Clintons would have to open up the library funders and foundation donors. They'd have to name everyone who has paid Bill Clinton to speak or do any other work. They'd investigate all of Bill's dealings with Ron Burkle, for example. And, for sure, they'd have to investigate a lot of other rumors that swirl about. "

She'll never make the cut