As Sen. Barack Obama appears poised this week to lock up his party’s virtual nomination; campaign staffers have devised a plan to allow his rival to bow out gracefully without offending her die-hard supporters who want to see a woman as commander in chief.Previous proposed arrangements to unify the Democrat party have failed largely because Sen. Hillary Clinton has refused to take a subordinate role to Sen. Obama, such as vice president or cabinet officer.
Under the terms of a settlement still in negotiation, Sen. Clinton would quit the race and endorse Sen. Obama in exchange for a pledge that President Obama will grant her a charter to the U.S. island territory of Puerto Rico, whose Democrat primary Sen. Clinton won in convincing fashion over the weekend.
“Sen. Obama is eager to help Mrs. Clinton break through the glass ceiling,” said an unnamed Obama staffer, noting that the presumptive nominee has always liked his opponent, and in staff meetings even refers to her as “sweetie.”
If Sen. Clinton agrees to the plan, President Obama would issue an executive order declaring that Puerto Rico is “Absolved from all Allegiance to the U.S. President, and that all political connection between it and the United States, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as a Free and Independent State, Puerto Rico has full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.”
As the charter holder, the former First Lady could serve as governor, according to an Obama staffer who has seen a draft of the agreement, or she could “transition the territory to a monarchy, name herself queen and put her own face on the currency
No comments:
Post a Comment