TV Ringmaster Jerry Springer: He Says Hillary Should Be Obama's Veep

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Former Cincinnati Mayor Jerry Springer, whose TV show in Chicago is to culture what cutoffs are to couture, popped up on MSNBC Tuesday as a political analyst pushing Hillary Clinton for vice president: "The only conceivable reason she's not selected . . . is because Obama can't handle her."

Springer is a Democrat whose show is famously uncouth, a fact that MSNBC host Dan Abrams overlooked. Instead, Springer was portrayed as a radio talk show host. What? For a time, Springer was a radio talk show host. But his stint on Air America in Ohio ended with low ratings. Before he became a national figure, he was a local TV anchorman and commentator in Cincinnati, where he was a City Councilman and the mayor. But he's best known as a broadcast raunchmaster non pareil. Still, back home in Cincinnati Springer is seen as someone with impeccable political instincts. And Springer says that Obama should pick Hillary because she is the only and obvious choice. He says she got the votes from Democrats in the primaries.

"The people have decided, the people have voted . . . The people have decided."

Springer contends that Obama, if he passes on Hillary because he "can't handle her," instantly diminishes his presidential prospects. His take: If he can't handle her, he can't be the leader of the Free World.