Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville minced no words in March when he called New Mexico governor and former presidential candidate Bill Richardson a traitor for endorsing Barack Obama. A number of people once considered shoe-in Clinton supporters wound up endorsing Obama or switching sides. But Richardson seemed to be the only one who received that harsh term.
This week, some reports have suggested that Patti Solis Doyle, Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, took a position in the Obama camp out of spite. Solis Doyle will become the chief of staff for his vice presidential candidate. That’s perceived as a bad sign for Clinton’s prospects.
Solis Doyle had departed from the Clinton campaign a week after Super Tuesday, to supposedly deal with personal obligations. But speculation around Solis Doyle’s management, internal squabbles and bad blood followed that exit. Hence, the suggestion that the hiring of Solis Doyle, and her agreement to join Obama, sends a bad message. Some Clintonites are reportedly upset that she had been in talks with the nominee.
But the ire over what Solis Doyle or Richardson were supposed to do or not do is frankly annoying. For Solis Doyle, staying on one side of the fence for eternity would not have made sense for her own career, or for a party that wants a winning team.
The subtext is that Richardson and Solis Doyle owed the Clintons and stepped out of line—that they owe their positions not to their abilities or hard work but to the patronage of white others. As a presidential election approaches, a party that wants to land the Hispanic vote would do better to not simply play show and tell with Latinos.







