So, long-time friend of Obama's campaign tsar David Axelrod, Chicago-native and seriously super-connected former Clinton campaign official Patti Solis-Doyle is hired this week by the Obama campaign.
Obama and all of his key surrogates have been going out of their way for the last few weeks to praise Senator Clinton for her historic candidacy and scold people at rallies for booing her.
So, why, are anonymous Clinton donors and insiders running to the press over the last couple of days with vulgar, hateful screeds like this:
"You don't hire Patti Solis Doyle for her operational expertise," said the bundler. "You don't do that. This is someone who failed dramatically at her job. You only bring her on to f**k someone else."
And this:
Hiring Solis is the "biggest f**k you I have ever seen in politics."
Now, contrast this with the official statement from Clinton spokesperson Mo Elleithee:
"Patti will be an asset and good addition to the Obama campaign. After nearly two decades in political life, she brings with her the ability to tap an extensive network that will be a huge asset to Senator Obama. As Senator Clinton has said, we're all going to do our part to help elect Senator Obama as the next President of the United States."
There have been all sorts of rational, not-so-rational and downright loony theories on what this all means. See here for a few.
I am really having a hard time understanding this and can't imagine that the Obama campaign had any malevolent intentions. He knows how important party unity is in this election, which is why he has been going out of his way to praise Clinton every chance he gets.
Why the anger? Why the conspiracy theories? Is it really just as simply as being wounded and dealing with grief?
Or is it as
the CBR puts it?
I guess the rule is, Obama can hire former Clinton aides, but only those who remain well-liked by Clinton supporters?
If you can help me get it, I would appreciate it (please be constructive about it though) :).
