Hillary to PBS: I Knew All Last Spring

CLINTON EXPECTED THIS SCENARIO, 1 YEAR AGO

Democrat Hillary Clinton told PBS interviewer Judy Woodruff today about a remarkable display of clairvoyance that found the New York senator in the spring of 2007 planning a Texas showdown with Barack Obama on Tuesday.

During an interview with PBS’ “Newshour” program, Woodruff asked Clinton what happened in a race where only months ago she was viewed as the frontrunner and the presumptive nominee, only to be eclipsed by Obama.

“None of this is surprising to me,” Hillary Clinton told Woodruff. “You know, last spring when I looked at how the race was shaping up, I knew that it would be a close contest and I assumed it would be with Sen. Obama and at that time I said, ‘We have got to start thinking about Texas. We have to start thinking ahead.’”

Clinton also said she really doesn’t like the front-runner label, even though the primaries in Texas and Ohio on Tuesday will determine whether her Democratic presidential bid will continue.

“I think it is great that this has been a close contest. I don’t have any problem with that. I don’t think I’m entitled to anything,” she said. “I hate being a front runner.”

–

“It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies.” - A. Calwell

Indeed Clinton saw far enough into the future nearly one year ago, that she planned a short-sighted campaign which ran out of money and had a flurry of staff shake ups. For Texas, she was so forward-thinking, she neglected to allocate proper resources and set up a sufficient ground organization in the state.

Just last week, when discussing the Texas delegate nominating system, she said:

“I had no idea how bizarre it is,” Sen. Clinton told reporters last week. “We have grown men crying over it.”

SOURCE: Clinton: Saw Texas Shootout with Obama Coming
SOURCE: Two-Step Vote Could Trip Up Clinton

Published in: on February 29, 2008 at 9:51 am Comments (0)
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One Millionth Donor & Clinton Superdelegate

When Barack Obama first joined the Senate, he went to Senator Hillary Clinton for advice. She told him, “Work hard and keep a low profile.” He’s working hard, but far from keeping a low profile.

Barack Obama gained his 1 millionth donor early this morning, and has already added another 8900 in less than 24 hours. A sizable surge in donations came as an aftermath to last night’s debate.

In other news, Senator Obama has also hit the 200 mark in superdelegates.

  • Obama has gained 30 publicly declared superdelegates since Super Tuesday, and Clinton has lost four. Clinton still leads with 56 superdelegates more than Obama.

Two of the latest endorsements were from Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, the first former presidential candidate to endorse Obama and Georgia Rep. John Lewis, a former high profile endorser for Senator Hillary Clinton. (more…)

Published in: on February 27, 2008 at 10:38 pm Comments (0)
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MSNBC Ohio Debate, Fit for A President?

Hillary Clinton insisted on more debates, and now she has had them. The problem is, for the night of her last showdown, she was tired, testy and temperamental.

The debate did little to hinder Barack Obama’s momentum, but gave us some interesting insights into the mind of Senator Clinton.

Trip Ups & Slip Ups

THE MEDIA
Hillary began by complaining that the debate questioners always give her the first question. She referenced a comedy show to suggest that the media have favored her rival by adding:

“…And if anybody saw ‘Saturday Night Live,’ you know, maybe we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and needs another pillow.”

That set the tone of the evening, the audience groaned and there was still more to come.

NAFTA
Senator Clinton told us she never, ever supported NAFTA. Obama claimed that was inaccurate. The moderator, Tim Russert, pulled out a few quotes where Senator Clinton did indeed sing the praises of NAFTA. Senator Clinton adjusted her story.

NEW JOBS
The moderator inquired about Senator Clinton’s promise to provide 5 million new jobs as President. He cited the fact that while running for Senate she promised 200,000 jobs for upstate New York but after her election, the region lost 30,000 jobs. Her reason for failing to deliver?

“I thought Al Gore was going to be President.”

TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
Senator Clinton gave no clear reason for her unwillingness to release her tax returns to show where the $5 million she loaned her campaign came from. When pressed, she finally said she might release her tax returns before she becomes the nominee, but not before March 4th because she “a little busy right now”.

She did however plug her website and encourage people to donate to her.

FOREIGN POLICY
Senator Clinton did a fine job of generally answering a question about the successor of Russia’s current leader, Putin. When asked if she knew the name of the successor, she replied,

“Medve.. Medevev… Whatever”.

WORDS DON’T MATTER
Senator Clinton tells us words don’t matter all the time. Last night, she felt otherwise and took a long moment to claim Obama should use ‘reject’ rather than the word ‘denounce’ concerning Farrakhan’s praise of him.

Senator Obama quickly laid her wordplay to rest, saying “if the word ‘reject’ Senator Clinton feels is stronger than the word ”denounce’ , then I’m happy to concede the point, and I would reject and denounce Farrakhan’s endorsement.”

THE FIGHT..?
Senator Clinton wants us to know she is a fighter (she mentioned it 3 times). She even fought the moderators last night leading MSNBC host Brian Williams to plead for a commercial break.

WILLIAMS: And Senator, I need to reserve…
CLINTON: No, but I have — I just have…
WILLIAMS: I’m sorry, Senator.
CLINTON: No, wait a minute. I have to…
WILLIAMS: I’ve got to get us to a break.
CLINTON: The question was about invading.
WILLIAMS: Television doesn’t stop.
CLINTON: Invading Iraq.
WILLIAMS: Can you hold that thought until we come back from a break? We have limited commercial interruptions tonight, and we have to get to one of them now.

Lack of “presidential” decorum aside, some battles should not be waged.

—

The point is, road-weary or not, we see the same old politics from Hillary Clinton that she is sure to continue as President.

    Success in Washington is not about who yells the loudest. An unwillingness to release your tax returns now seems like a harbinger of things to come: continued secrecy. A minor slip of “whatever” about a foreign leader’s name is patently disrespectful. Shifting blame to Al Gore for the failure to deliver on a promise of creating jobs is some strange kind of scapegoating at best. And passionately telling Americans one thing is true, only until someone proves you know otherwise is called dishonesty.

    That leaves us with the final question. Where exactly is the change?

    FULL TRANSCRIPT OF DEBATE

    VIDEO OF DEBATE

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      How to Smear Opponent in 6 Easy Steps

      BEST USED WHEN LOSING TO OPPONENT

      1. Give impression that you are “absolutely honored to be here” with rival candidate during televised debate.

      2. 36 hours later, yell “Shame on you!” repeatedly at candidate and accuse him of spreading false information. Conveniently forget that you already saw the items provoking your feigned ire, weeks ago. Ignore the facts. Appear visibly angry. Wear red suit.

      3. Next day. Mock candidate’s core platform of using hope and inspiration to engender change. Use language like this, which appears to make candidate’s 20 million supporters look delusional:

      “I could stand up here and say, let’s just get everybody together, let’s get unified, the sky will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing, and everyone will know we should do the right thing, and the world will be perfect,” Hillary Clinton told a crowd. “… You are not going to wave a magic wand and have the special interests disappear.”

      4. Following day. Send out a picture from your campaign showing rival candidate wearing traditional garb during foreign visit. Encourage divisiveness and the association that the candidate is part of extreme religious organization. Exclude the pictures where you have worn such garb yourself. Make sure your campaign does not deny orchestrating the scheme, in case they get found out later.

      Include this line in the email to media: “Wouldn’t we be seeing this on the cover of every magazine if it were HRC?”

      5. Continue to paint rival candidate as “the black” candidate. Use African-American campaign manager as voice against black candidate in order to avoid any claims of racism. Continue the theme of “shame”.

      Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams responds: “If Barack Obama’s campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed.”

      6. Same day. Imply that candidate is so incapable, he would need a beginner’s manual for essential elements of his Presidency.

      Hillary Clinton said today that unlike Obama, she would not “need a foreign policy instruction manual to guide [her] through a crisis.”

      —-

      These six easy steps will help you effectively lead a smear campaign. If you are envious of your candidate’s appeal, be sure to yell out in front of reporters:

        Enough with the speeches and big rallies!

        Such remarks will not reveal your annoyance that rival candidate gathers larger crowds and support.

        If you can complete these 6 steps in less than 96 hours - your effectiveness may be increased.

        Disclaimer: The above steps may result in decreased support from your constituents and/or increased support for your rival. In the case of either, consult high-priced advisers for next plan of action.

        Published in: on February 25, 2008 at 7:19 pm Comments (2)
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        Clinton’s Angry Tirade Forgets the Facts

        A FLIMSY PREMISE FOR A CHALLENGE

        “Meet me in Ohio — let’s have a debate about your tactics.”, Hillary Clinton says.

        Hillary Clinton lashed out at Barack Obama today for two mailers sent out from his campaign. She calls the allegations in them “false”.

        • One mailer says she supported NAFTA originally. (She did support it, just scroll down below).
        • The other mailer mentions that her health plan will force people to purchase it even when they cannot afford it. (You decide, scroll down).

          HILLARY ON HEALTHCARE:

          Senator Clinton blasted Obama’s mailer and said a democrat should not attack another democrat on health care plans. WATCH VIDEO

          However, Hillary failed to mention she also sent out mailers in Wisconsin blasting Obama’s health care plans. You can read the mailer HERE. Hypocrisy, much?

          Hillary does say her health care is mandated. WATCH VIDEO. Unfortunately she doesn’t think Americans know the definition of mandate.

          man·date - noun, verb: to order or require; make mandatory

          Hillary said earlier this year:

          Pressed a third time on the wage-garnishing question, Clinton said, “we will have an enforcement mechanism — whether it’s that (wage garnishing) or it’s some other mechanism through the tax system or automatic enrollments.” (more…)

          Published in: on February 23, 2008 at 6:37 pm Comments (4)
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          The Anatomy of Fiscal Responsibility

          HILLARY CLINTON’S CAMPAIGN SPENDING BLUES

          Hillary Clinton planned only for a race that would end by February 5th. A lack of contingency planning and fiscal resourcefulness has left her scrambling ever since, to the tune of 11 straight losses to Barack Obama.

          • Did high-priced consultants and lavish hotels seal her doom? At the end of January, the senator had to lend her campaign $5 million and still had $7.6 million in outstanding debts.

          Jan 2008 spending -

          • $100,000 for party platters and groceries before the Iowa caucuses
          • $25,000 for rooms at the Bellagio luxury hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
          • $217,000 for car rentals at Hertz and Enterprise
          • $5 million for top consultants including:

          - Mark Penn, chief strategist, and team collected $3.8 million in January - total billing: $10 million
          - Howard Wolfson, communications director, earned $267,000 in January - total billing: $730,000

          • $2.3 million to Mandy Grunwald’s firm for advertising (Grunwald is a long-time media adviser to both Bill and Hillary Clinton)
          • $11,000 on pizza…!
          • $275,000 to a firm to attract black voters in South Carolina (she lost to Obama by a large margin)
          • $95,000 for sandwiches to deliver to Iowa caucuses (she lost to both Obama and Edwards)

          So far, $106 million has been spent on the failing campaign and the donors aren’t happy:

          “We didn’t raise all of this money to keep paying consultants who have pursued basically the wrong strategy for a year now,” said a prominent New York donor. “So much about her campaign needs to change — but it may be too late.”

          Political analysts also say that Hillary Clinton’s spending priorities are what crippled her competitiveness.

          Barack Obama has spent his own share of mega-funds. The difference? His expenses for consultants are nearly half that of Hillary Clinton’s. He also invested more of his money than Clinton in media, polling and voter outreach which clearly paid off. Clinton spent $23 million on “other” expenses to Obama’s $15 million. Obama also continues to out-raise Clinton in donor contributions.

          • Perhaps there is something to be said for Barack Obama’s stance that “good judgment on day 1″ trumps being “ready on day 1″.

          SOURCE: Donors Worried by Clinton Campaign Spending

          ALSO READ: A Rundown: Is This How Hillary Will Lead Our Country?

          Published in: on at 11:16 am Comments (0)
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          Hillary Charges Interest on Her Campaign Loan

          SOME CLINTON DONORS WILL PAY INTEREST

          In January, Hillary Clinton’s campaign was struggling for money, prompting her to loan the campaign $5 million out of her own pocket. Since then she has seen an influx of donations from sympathetic supporters. Questions raised about where the $5 million came from have been largely unanswered.

          Senator Clinton said she would only release her tax returns to the public if she wins the nomination.

          THE GOOD NEWS:

          Clinton makes a profit from her generosity.

          Campaign finance documents filed on Wednesday show that Hillary is charging her campaign an interest rate of 1.26 percent.

          So, who pays this interest? Donor contributions, of course. Just $63,000 (or $5250.00 a month) if paid back at the end of 1 year.

          Mitt Romney also loaned his campaign funding from his pocket. He did not charge his campaign interest.

          SOURCE: Clinton to be paid interest on campaign loan

          RECORDS FOR ALL CANDIDATES: Finance Reports - Federal Election Commission

          Published in: on February 22, 2008 at 3:50 pm Comments (0)
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          The Great Debate & Clinton’s Borrowed Empathy

          HOW TO XEROX LINES FOR SYMPATHY VOTES

          The debate finally happened last night and for the most part, it was a civil affair. CNN Videos

          The two candidates maintained they have similar goals, with different ways of achieving them — Hillary, the way she’s always done things in Washington; Obama, a new way, with transparency and involving the American people.

          Highlights?

          • Obama confronted Hillary about implying his supporters are delusional. +1 Obama
          • Hillary tried a zinger for her plagiarism attack saying “Change you can Xerox” and got booed by the audience. +1 Obama
          • The two senators forced the healthcare issue with Obama saying that mandates don’t work (for example in Mass), and Hillary saying without mandates there can be no universal healthcare. +1 Obama (Universal mandates or the penalty of garnished wages won’t work. Obama’s plan is mandated for children and aimed at affordability for all others.)
          • Hillary reprimanded McCain on the Iraq war, Obama reminded her that she voted for it. +1 Obama
          • Obama says he will meet with our enemies in the first year without preconditions, Hillary says she will meet, but not in the first year and with preconditions. +1 Hillary (Only for first year new President, other priorities.)
          • Hillary says she is ready on day 1. Obama says he has the right judgement on day 1. +1 Obama

            Obama has clearly improved at debating, so Clinton didn’t gain the ground she expected. Jeffrey Toobin, Senior Analyst at CNN said,

            “Obama seemed more presidential. He is looking beyond Hillary Clinton at this point, thinking about John McCain, and is just more comfortable.

            Hillary Clinton got reflective and said the following in response to a question about her own life, which made her seem soft and compassionate again: +1 Hillary (more…)

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            Hillary’s White House Experience? Read Her Book

            HILLARY CHANGES HER LIVING HISTORY

            Taken from this article, an oldie but goodie.

            At the core of her highly disciplined campaign message is her claim that her “experience” in the White House and the Senate makes her uniquely qualified to move right into the Oval Office. According to Hillary, her two term co-presidency with Bill specially prepared her for the next Clinton administration and gives her exceptional credentials that no other candidate can match.

            So, what exactly was it that Hillary did in the Clinton White House that gave her all of that experience?

            Well, obviously there was the health care fiasco, Hillary’s secretive, expensive and utterly failed attempt to socialize the health care industry. Surely, she can’t be referring to that.

            It seems that in her book “Living History,” published in 2003, the former first lady doesn’t really claim to have been an influential co-president working and learning at her husband’s side after all.

            No, that’s all new. (more…)

            Published in: on February 21, 2008 at 12:27 pm Comments (0)
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            The 11th Win - Democrats Abroad Give Obama Another Win

            AMERICAN VOTERS ABROAD VOTE FOR OBAMA

            In addition to Barack Obama’s recent string of 10 wins in a row, he now can add another win to that tally: the Democratics Abroad Primary.

            The Global Primary covers over 164 countries around the globe. Voting began on February 5th and continued until February 12th. Once again, Obama won a landslide victory with 65% of the votes. Senator Clinton won 32% of the votes.

            Democrats living in other countries voted by Internet, mail and in person, according to results released by the Democrats Abroad, an organization sanctioned by the national party.

            “With the U.S. image so badly damaged by the present Administration, American Democrats living overseas were eager to have their voices heard,” said Christine Schon Marques, International Chair of Democrats Abroad in Geneva.

            Hillary Clinton has not had a nominating win in over 2 weeks. Democrats Abroad holds 4 superdelegate votes. A total of 14 delegates, each with a half vote, will attend the Convention.

            SOURCE: Obama Wins Democrats Abroad Global Primary

            AP SOURCE: Obama Wins Democrats Abroad Primary

            Published in: on at 11:59 am Comments (1)
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