So, because she wasn't picked for VP she should just sit back and do nothing for her party or the ticket. And this is after Hillary said the most important thing to her is to insure the Democrats take back the White House.

Well OK then. You must be right and she must be wrong.

This is going to be a tough election and  everybody needs to be out there fighting to insure we win win it, not just Obama and Biden.

wanted to see Hillary in the White House, not just any woman.

Should all the other VP candidates have shunned them? You think 2 dems should fight the entire GOP? Two versus team?

No wonder we lose.

Here's how I see it.

1) Hillary has every right to pummel the daylights out of Palin -- Palin is stealing her lines and pretending to be the "next best thing to Hillary" while she is nothing AT ALL like Hillary.  Hillary does have a self-interest here (Hillary is NOT a Republican prop!!!!), though I know she will do it so women (and men) will know the truth.

2) I don't know if, at least right now, the Men can go after her without McCain crying that daring to speak the truth is sexist, even though Palin is on record as calling that "whining."

Why don't you let the Democrats involved figure out the best way for them to win this election?

She can't make up her own mind, if she wants to campaign for the Democratic party?

Gladitor, why do you think Senator Clinton is so weak?

All you do is complain about Senator Clinton on these boards?

I sure wish you respected her more, instead of always dissing her ability to decide for herself.

I think that the new generation of feminists who rejected Hillary Clinton and supported Obama are actually the ones best poised to push the Palin debate and point out the differences in Obama's agenda and McCain's when it comes to women. During the primary, I heard a lot of talk about post-feminism. Palin may be the catalyst for defining exactly what that term means.

Having the "old guard" feminists out there will only go so far against Palin. She's 44, has a young family, she represents the newest face of far right women. I think Obama's got to contrast that with women of Palin's generation who think that her message is all wrong... on women's issues, on the economy, on education, on healthcare, on supporting the working class etc.

Thing is, I think this obsession about women voters swinging to McCain due to Palin is a simplistic interpretation of Palin's impact which is being dramatically overblown by the media. Obama will win pro-choice Democratic and Democratic-leaning women in a landslide of epic proportions frankly.

It's simple: identity politics in America are so deeply stupid that only someone with lady parts can really go after a woman, just like only a black guy can go after another black guy.  So if Obama wants to take down Palin, he needs to use female surrogates to do so.  For better or worse, Clinton is probably the highest-profile ovary-having Democrat around, so she's a natural choice.

It's pure biology, folks -- sadly.

In the NY Times today, Obama Camp Turns to Clinton to Counter Palin, Clinton's spokesman Mo Elleithee captures the situation better:

Advisers to Mrs. Clinton said that she stood ready to help the Obama-Biden ticket, but they urged the campaign not to overestimate the impact Mrs. Clinton could have, noting that she had other commitments this fall, like campaigning and raising money for Senate candidates. Obama aides said the Clinton trip had been in the works before Ms. Palin was named the running mate.

Still, Mo Elleithee, a Clinton spokesman, said he believed she could make a difference with some voters who feel lost in the current economy and who want to see a federal role enacting universal health insurance.

"Anyone who was inclined to support Hillary Clinton typically did so because of her focus on middle-class, bread-and-butter issues," Mr. Elleithee said. "Her message for Barack Obama on those issues could certainly help the Democratic ticket at the ballot box."

The Obama campaign mistakenly thinks this is about women, when it is really about "bread-and-butter issues". Palin's threat is there, not in her gender.

Democrats underestimated Sarah palin.

Don't you mean "misunderestimated?"

of the talking points is that Hillary supporters wanted to see Hillary in WH.. not any woman.. I disagree.. she had atleast 15% of her base.. 60+ women voters who genuinely wanted to see a woman in white house..

Are you daft?  I'm pretty sure that 99% of women would like to see a woman in the White House.  That doesn't mean that they're dying to vote for an anti-choice, pro-violence fundamentalist Christian ex-beauty pagent sellout.  She's the white female equivilent of Alan Keyes: remind me how well Keyes does with blacks, will you?

It's in both Obama and Clinton's interests to get her out there defending her legacy from that poacher.

Hillary is already on the campaign trail for Obama and, as in any campaign, will serve as a good surrogate for Obama/Biden reaching out to women voters.

That said, the contrast in her role as a surrogate whose not on the ticket campaigning against an opponent who is presents a minor problem.    Obama/Biden will just have to find a way to compensate for it.  They made a miscalculation, they'll have to overcome it.

"Democrats NEED to win this thing.. but they need to win it the right way.. its Obama's battle.. its Bidens battle.. its our battle as supporters and its Hillary's battle as a surrogate.. but its not her job to be an attack dog and tear Sarah palin apart and eviscerate her loyal base of women and men who like women in higher positions and see them equal.. i.e non sexist men.. just my two cents!"

You know the difference between Democrats and Republicans, and why I find it difficult to ever consider myself a Democrat, in spite of leaving the Republican party in 2004.... you guys are cannibals.

I can never imagine ANY Republican ever advocating the position being advocated in this diary against their candidate.

Let me tell you why you're WRONG gladiatorsback, Palin has HIJACKED Hillary's base and message and PERVERTED it in order to get votes.

That means 2 things:

1. Hillary has to fight back to tell the idiotic MSM that Palin is perverting her message and is stealing her image without actually adopting any of her ideas.
   
2. Hillary Clinton is a Democrat who spoke directly to women, she is the only Democrat who can attack the Palin and avoid the "Sexist" tag. As a Democrat, that is what she has to do.

This election is as much D vs R as it is Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin. If not, then why does the RNC make ads attacking Obama?
2. Hillary Clinton is a DEMOCRAT, she i

Its not just Hillary going after Palin. The point is that all of the female democratic leadership is coming out with one voice.  I like this approach.

Of course, it's everyone's battle, not Obama's.

It takes a village, after all.

or made hillary do anything?  from the things i've heard, both through the media and close personal contacts with her "campaign," hillary feels compelled to defend her own legacy.  you obviously know different.  so can you provide something besides speculation to support your claim?  or are you just out of the loop?

i can't say i know too many hillary supporters who think she can be bossed around.  you are unique on that front...

Sorry, but picking Palin instead of Hutchinson or Snowe reaks of "any broad'll do".  It is an insult to Hilary.  It insinuates that her support was based on a chromosome and not on her experience, track record, policy stance, leadership, etc.  Hillary should kick Palin's teeth down her damn throat for her.