Pillory Hillary?
This is guest blogger Wile E Coyote.
I have a question for our Democratic readers (assuming we have some).
I don't much care for Barak Obama's politics, but grant that he is intelligent and skilled as a politician. He has spent 20 years in Illinois and local Chicago politics, which suggests he understands process and people. He made it on his own in a tough arena, which suggests grip and organizational skills.
Can someone explain to me the appeal of Hillary Clinton? Her six years as a Senator have been undistinguished. Her other experience has been as the wife of Bill Clinton. The only substantive policy matter she handled -- healthcare -- was an utter fiasco. She has a tin ear and a shrill voice when it comes to communicating with people.
I understand there is a national political machine behind Hillary that wants to return to power, just as there was one behind George W Bush. But, it seems to me that Obama has the same and more positives as Hillary, with a lot fewer negatives. Why would the average person support her?
Please enlighten me.
I have a question for our Democratic readers (assuming we have some).
I don't much care for Barak Obama's politics, but grant that he is intelligent and skilled as a politician. He has spent 20 years in Illinois and local Chicago politics, which suggests he understands process and people. He made it on his own in a tough arena, which suggests grip and organizational skills.
Can someone explain to me the appeal of Hillary Clinton? Her six years as a Senator have been undistinguished. Her other experience has been as the wife of Bill Clinton. The only substantive policy matter she handled -- healthcare -- was an utter fiasco. She has a tin ear and a shrill voice when it comes to communicating with people.
I understand there is a national political machine behind Hillary that wants to return to power, just as there was one behind George W Bush. But, it seems to me that Obama has the same and more positives as Hillary, with a lot fewer negatives. Why would the average person support her?
Please enlighten me.
posted by LadybugUSA at 10:06 AM
13 Comments:
I have not yet made up my mind about Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton, so I may not be the best person to answer your question. My impression is that her appeal is based on her positions on issues, not her legislative record. She takes a moderate-left position on most of the issues: Iraq, health care, immigration, taxation, environment, and so forth. I disagree with your belief that she has a shrill voice. All in all, I think she represents, to Democrats, a good, solid, middle-roader who can win elections and who won't do anything rash.
I'd like to turn around the question, though. I have never understood the hatred for Ms. Clinton spewing from the right. As you note, she doesn't have much of a legislative record on which to rely. Her positions on most issues aren't extreme. I am torn between two hypotheses to explain this hatred:
1. The right hates her because she really could win.
2. The right hates her because the right thrives on hate. I realize that this is a fairly nasty hypothesis, but the right seems to demonize everybody they disagree with. The best argument against this is that the right has not yet, as a group, demonized Mr. Obama.
Personally, I think Hillary is more intelligent and especially more politically skilled than Obama.
That's just my opinion. It's not really based on anything other than my impression that Hillary avoids obvious gaffs better than Obama.
Chepe noyon...
Mrs. Clinton's stated positions are not her real beliefs.
She is Marxist, collectivist and narcissistic.
The right does not hate her. The right fears her for all the proven historical reasons to fear and resist collectivism.
Hillary's negative numbers run around 47-50% in several polls. Republicans are only around 33% of the population.
It isn't just the Republican, or the Right, that views her so unfavorably. (By the way, on one of the polls, Al Gore and Kerry fared just as badly.)
The Left dislikes her because she isn't Left enough for them. But given a choice between her and a conservative, I think they'd vote for her. The negative numbers I've quoted, however, are for those who say they would never vote for her.
But terry, WHY is Ms. Clinton "Marxist, collectivist and narcissistic"? What statements of hers do you rely upon to draw those conclusions?
She is supported because she will very likely win. The polls may not reflect this but she has proven that she can crush opponents. She is not liked by the far right and far left because she portrays herself as a centrist and pragmatist.
We do our country a great disservice by treating candidates as a popularity contest on American Idol. If I vote for her, it will be because she appears the most qualified to perform the tasks required of the top executive officer. It will have nothing to do with liking her, her cleavage, her voice, etc.
It is too early for me to make a decision but, I do think she is highly qualified, smart, hard working and very talented.
CN,. she has a long history of espousing Socialist leanings - Her address in San Francisco included:
"Many of you are well enough off that ... the tax cuts may have helped you," Sen. Clinton said. "We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." (June 2004) - Who gets to define the common good?
Her health care program was pure socialist.
Her College days enforce that.
I truly believe that the lady is a socialist, pure and simple. I don't hate her. I'm not against her because she's a woman. Heck, my Mother was WOMAN (JOKE)
I oppose her because she does not believe in a free market. She does not believe in small government. She does not believe in the basic philosophy of our government, that power resides in the people and the people allow their leaders to temporarily share that power.
I'm no fan of Hillary - in fact I have no real liking of any Democratic candidates at the moment.
The appeal that Hillary has is that her experience goes beyond just her time as a Senator. She was probably the first, and only, "First Lady" to directly involve herself in the running of the country. She already has 8 years of close experience with her husband as president, along with a great deal of experience in his previous political dealings.
It's quite unusual... I always thought popular politicians took on vapid, blonde trophy wives but obviously Bill did not do that.
And as for the argument that she's Marxist, collectivist and narcissistic, that's just right wing propaganda aimed at smearing her.
But, as I have said, I don't particularly support her or like her. I would much rather have Gore enter the race.
Hillary is the most popular presidential candidate from either party. Source.
Mr. Flomberg, you have offered a single quote in which Ms. Clinton favors a more progressive income tax structure. That doesn't make her a socialist. And the remainder of your post is a collection of assertions without any evidence to back them up.
What evidence have you to offer to substantiate your position?
Coyote here.
Editor's note -- I have rejected a comment for gross sexual stereotypes.
I mention this so the blogger in question does not think the cyberdog ate his homework.
Chepe - simple - Google the words Hillary marxist some of the 685,000 results are:
www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39611fde5615.htm -
elephantintheroom.townhall.com
apnews.myway.com/article/20070722/D8QHUJ480.html
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1611379/posts
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pLvbtff6xQ
www.usasurvival.org/ck061903.shtml
fetchingjen.blogspot.com/2007/ 02/hillary-marxist-in-democrat-clothing.html
Mr. Flomblog, your post proves that some people BELIEVE Ms. Clinton to be a marxist. Have you any evidence that she actually IS a marxist?
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