Barack and Michelle Obama
It’s almost two weeks away from the Democratic National Convention in Denver and media pundits are discussing Sen. Hillary Clinton and her supporters’ perceived behavior in Denver. Some of Clinton’s surrogates who are finding it difficult to grapple with her loss plan to make a call on her behalf for the VP slot. This is the highest point of lunacy. Sen. Clinton has already come out backing Obama after the hard fought Democratic primary race.

Why then are these surrogates and so-called concerned Democrats trying to create a split within the party at the convention?

The discussion right now should center around the lack of health insurnace for millions of people, the Iraq war, the economy and foreclosures.

It is unfair to Obama’s campaign for the media to make Clinton the centerpiece of discussions about the convention barely days before the Illinois senator accepts the historic nomination of his party.

Obama’s campaign cannot afford to go into Denver with the conversation hovering around Clinton and what her supporters want. The media should be offering serious analysis of Obama’s platform and how his administration will fare in a nation where a lot of people feel disconnected from government.

The Clintons have been an important part of the Democratic Party and until Obama appeared on the scene, were the darlings of the party. They had their time like all other major political figures.

Former president Bill Clinton would have backtracked on some of the comments he made on the campaign trail about Obama. The former president hinted this in an interview he conducted with one of the major networks during his recent Africa visit.

But where we are now it’s not about the Clintons, even tough their role cannot be dismissed in the party. It’s about a new campaign led by Obama which has energized a lot of people, especially youths across all races to be more involved in the political process.

The Democrats cannot afford stalemating at the convention between supporters of Clinton and those of Obama. The focus should be on capturing the prize in November, not fighting each other.

Sen. Clinton has publicly urged her supporters to back Obama against GOP nominee John McCain. She has appeared with him on the campaign trial and her husband, the former president, has signaled he will do whatever it takes to get Obama elected.

Well, if the Clintons truly mean what they have said about Obama — and I believe they do — they should call on their supporters and surrogates to stop the destructive tactics of trying to get Sen. Clinton on the VP slot. The danger of pushing a meaningless effort like this is that it creates the appearance that the party is not united behind Obama.

The Clintons should come out and make a strong statement asking those disgruntled supporters to back off. This nation is going to witness a landmark nomination Aug 25-28.

The Democrats should come out of Denver united, not divided. The mere appearance of a divided party could easily threaten the chances of the party capturing the White House in November.

Politics demands of those who get involved to learn how to fight back and take charge when they are being misrepresented. Obama needs to do just that and take control of his party before it ends up in particles.

I’d like to see Clinton and Obama issue a joint statement on this issue. Perhaps the media will then lay the matter to rest instead of fanning the embers of a possible conflict.

The Clintons will be speaking at the convention, a well deserved invitation. What else do these supporters want?

The most ridiculous reason they are giving to media outlets that they have decided to make their claims for a Clinton VP news is that former Sen. John Edwards prevented Clinton from capturing the nomination.

How crazy of an idea is that? Because reports of Edwards’ infidelity are now being reported, the former North Carolina senator is been conveniently used as the scapegoat for Sen. Clinton’s loss.

I find that absurd, a very desperate attempt and a blatant refusal to accept the fact that Obama’s campaign did inspire milllions of people.

Had Edwards not joined the race, Obama would still have been the nominee. The unconventional elements of his campaign surpassed any of the other Democratic contenders in the race.

Edwards has his own issues, evidently cheating on his wife while she was ill. But that has nothing to do with whether Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama would win the nomination.

Obviously, Edwards’ recent infidelity news will threaten any chances he had to become the next attorney general in an Obama administration. That’s a no-brainer. I would advise him not to show up for the confirmation hearing. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Larry King’s show, said she did not buy the idea that Edwards prevented Sen. Clinton from becoming the first female presidential nominee.

Bankole Thompson, a radio and television analyst, directs editorial expression of the Michigan Chronicle. His latest book, “A Matter of Black Transformation,” deals with Blacks and globalization. E-mail bthompson@michronicle.com, or read his blogs on www.michronicleonline.com.