Upsetting The Apple Cart

Let's hope this never comes to pass, but if you really want to consider the most chaotic Presidential campaign scenario for 2008, you can't help but imagine the effects of an assassination of a Democratic convention-nominated Obama.

To be extremely clear about this, I abhor the use of violence in politics, no matter what the beliefs of a candidate. Political assassinations and attempts have scarred our Republic as long ago as Andrew Jackson's administration. Considering LBJ's ineptitude, Andrew Johnson's impeachment, and TR's progressive politics, these events have changed our country's path, though rarely for the better.

Still, one has to consider this unspoken possibility. Not that any major media source has touched this possibility. Nor do I think any of them will.

Talking with my partner about this earlier today, I was shocked that he considered this to be a very realistic scenario. Neither he, nor I, are opposed to a woman or ethnic minority President. But he cautioned me that some are not so open-minded.

Were Obama to be nominated, and then assassinated, what would the likely outcome be?

Well, first, you'd assume the Democrats would turn to Hillary to run in his place. The question here is, would she attract a large sympathy vote? Or would many who turned out for Obama now fade away, having rejected Hillary in the first place?

Could Hillary, with whatever sympathy vote, manage to beat McCain?

Or would McCain win, but be forever weakened by the shadow of his slain opponent?

We'd better hope nothing like this happens. There's simply no telling how explosive and unpredictable the political landscape could become, were the first minority nominee for President by a major party to be killed during the campaign for the November election.