Clinton's "35 Years Of Change" Omits Most Of Her Career

McClatchy Newspapers:

To hear Hillary Clinton talk, she's spent her entire career putting her Yale Law School degree to work for the common good.

She routinely tells voters that she's "been working to bring positive change to people's lives for 35 years." She told a voter in New Hampshire: "I've spent so much of my life in the nonprofit sector." Speaking in South Carolina, Bill Clinton said his wife "could have taken a job with a firm . . . . Instead she went to work with Marian Wright Edelman at the Children's Defense Fund."

The overall portrait is of a lifelong, selfless do-gooder. The whole story is more complicated -- and less flattering.

Clinton worked at the Children's Defense Fund for less than a year, and that's the only full-time job in the nonprofit sector she's ever had. She also worked briefly as a law professor.

Clinton spent the bulk of her career -- 15 of those 35 years -- at one of Arkansas' most prestigious corporate law firms, where she represented big companies and served on corporate boards.

Neither she nor her surrogates, however, ever mention that on the campaign trail. Her campaign Web site biography devotes six paragraphs to her pro bono legal work for the poor but sums up the bulk of her experience in one sentence: "She also continued her legal career as a partner in a law firm."

The full truth doesn't fit into the carefully crafted narrative the campaign has developed about Clinton, said Sally Bedell Smith, the author of "For Love of Politics," a study of the Clintons' partnership.

"She wants to be seen as someone who has devoted her life to public service," Smith said. "I suppose if you say it enough, maybe you can get people to believe it."

Spokesman Phil Singer said the campaign highlights Clinton's side work because it discovered early on that voters didn't know about it.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Read the whole story: McClatchy Newspapers

Comments

[ImayAgree]

11:54 PM on 02/04/2008

I don't think they are Obama supporters they are Repug moles who want to insult the Clintons. Every sentence they write is out of the republican strategy book. Independen­ts? Nah . If someone voted for Mcain in the 2000 primaries in NH and Obama in 2008 who is she/he going to vote for in November??
True Progressiv­es should not talk the way these people do. Please think about it. I will support whoever wins the nomination­. BTW I live in Florida and the Party said our vote was wotthless because the Republican Legislatur­e advanced the primaries to Jan 29.

[not one of the sheep]

08:53 PM on 02/04/2008

Who owns you baby?

[DeeperTruth]

10:59 AM on 02/04/2008

If I had started volunteeri­ng in politics when I was a teenager, and I had been as dedicated and involved in politics as Hillary has, ever since, I would say, I have been working in politics for 20 years.

If I did AIDS volunteer work in Africa, would you try to tell me, that I actually wasn't involved with AIDS work, just because I didn't get paid?

When Hillary was a teenager, she was organizing to try and help the children of migrant farm workers.

What have you done like that?

She has dedicated and devoted most of her life to helping better the lives of people in our country.

But no matter what she does, she is criticized­. She is misunderst­ood, she is demonized.

One of the best places all those who want "Hope" and "Change" to begin, is to see the reality of this woman and all the good she has done.

Obama supporters are the worst towards Hillary - the ugliest - the meanest - the grossest in distortion and misunderst­anding.

REAL "Change" and "Hope" should begin in you.

You want "Unity"? Try not demonizing anyone.

You shouldn't need someone else to tell you about it.

I have plenty of inspiratio­n in my daily life, plenty of hope and change. It begins with you.

I don't need speeches about it.

What impresses and inspires me? A woman who had devoted her life to helping others. Even while people have demonized her all the way. That's hope.

Real hope for an America that can get it's priorities straight.

Hillary inspires me! Yes, 35 years of dedication to helping others, even withstandi­ng all the ugliness of politics.

[IkeChicago]

07:54 AM on 02/04/2008

Good news, feminist and activist Joan Biez just endorsed Barack Obama.

[IkeChicago]

07:32 AM on 02/04/2008

In California­, Obama gained two points on Clinton overnight to lead 46 percent to 40 percent, with a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points. Obama wiped out a 1-point Clinton advantage in Missouri to take a 47 percent to 42 percent lead, with a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

The two rivals were deadlocked at 43 percent in New Jersey, with 10 percent still undecided. Obama had a 17-point edge in Georgia, aided by a more than 3-to-1 edge among black voters.

http://www­.reuters.c­om/article­/newsOne/i­dUSN034586­6120080204­?pageNumbe­r=2&virtua­lBrandChan­nel=0

Obama is finally bring it home.

[Purple Girl]

07:04 AM on 02/04/2008

EXACTLY...­.SHE IS A CORPORATIO­NIST, A MINION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FUCKING US FOR DECADES - LIKE 80+ YEARS WORTH!!
We are still victims of the Last great fall in th eUS- the great Depression­. the corporte Bankers came in with the passing of the 'Federal Reserve'- first major fucking of the citizens and it has only grown it's membership from there.
But never had they reached the pinnacle of Power until Cheney,Rum­my ,Wolfie stepped into 'Public life'. They have been a frieght train for Change from a Democracy to a Corporatio­nist Society!
Not only have they Privatized many services that should be a Nations responisbl­ity to it's citizens (health care, Military), they have even Gutted the Free Market/Cap­itolism.
They do NOT want soveriegn Nations - they want a BOARD to be the ruling Power- here and around the world. They will own and Run everything­! They'll give you a check and you will hav eno choice but to pay it back in you everyday life- They'll have US coming and Going- Profits, Profits Profits!!
HILLARY HAS BEEN INDOCTRINA­TED.But I think WE can still save Obama.
They really should have the logo of their Corporate Sponsors tattooed on their foreheads- the Mark of the Beast

[Orikinla]

06:34 AM on 02/04/2008

Jealousy is written all over those attacking the Clintons.

Look at your life and compare and contrast what you have achieved before 40 with what Bill and Hillary Clinton achieved in their 30s.

Can you beat this?

42nd President of the United States
In office
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001
Vice President(­s) Albert Gore, Jr.
Preceded by George H. W. Bush
Succeeded by George W. Bush

----------­----------­--

42nd Governor of Arkansas
In office
January 11, 1983 – December 12, 1992
Lieutenant­(s) Winston Bryant (1983-1991­)
Jim Guy Tucker (1991-1992­)
Preceded by Frank D. White
Succeeded by Jim Guy Tucker

----------­---
40th Governor of Arkansas
In office
January 9, 1979 – January 19, 1981
Lieutenant­(s) Joe Purcell
Preceded by Joe Purcell (acting)
Succeeded by Frank D. White

----------­-----
Attorney General of Arkansas
In office
1977 – 1979
Preceded by Jim Guy Tucker
Succeeded by Steve Clark

----------­-
Born August 19, 1946 (1946-08-1­9) (age 61)
Hope, Arkansas
Political party Democratic
Spouse Hillary Rodham Clinton
Children Chelsea Clinton
Alma mater Georgetown University
University College, Oxford
Yale Law School
Occupation Lawyer
Religion Baptist

[Orikinla]

06:19 AM on 02/04/2008

Jealousy is written all over those attacking the Clintons.

Look at your life and compare and contrast what you have achieved before 40 with what Bill and Hillary Clinton achieved in their 30s.

[ljsfolly]

05:23 AM on 02/04/2008

With the Supreme Court stacked with republican­s will the republican challenge the clintons with the face of the 22 amendment? How can we be sure he doesn't stay out of the oval office and he has already done 2 terms? It can be as simple as that and she has no way to convince anyone he won't have a say or a desk in the oval next to hers. Why is this not a factor?

[stoprollingover]

03:34 AM on 02/04/2008

Both sides are getting way out of control.

REPEAT AFTER ME:

I prefer Obama, but I will support Clinton if she is the nominee.

I prefer Clinton, but I will support Obama if he is the nominee.

I WILL vote, and I will vote the Democratic ticket in November.

I will not even think about voting for a Republican in November.

REPEAT. REPEAT. REPEAT.

P.S.
If I do vote for a Republican­, my punishment will be eternal hell-fire and damnation for making it possible for Republican­s to put three more right-wing justices on the Supreme Court, thereby ruining my precious country forevermor­e. AMEN

[IkeChicago]

01:10 AM on 02/04/2008

Hillary, busted. Caught in another lie, when will it end Hillary, when will the lies end. Obama will not attack you on this lie, you can bet the Republican­s were waiting on your to get nominated. You can fool us but not the Republican­s, they already have their play book on you.

These journalist are piss poor, they should have know that Hillary was lying and should have called her on it, too bad we the people are just finding out about Hillary's umpteenth lie.

[oshpd1]

11:39 PM on 02/03/2008

About Hillary experience­, 35 years?????­??

Hillary's claim to "35 years of experience­." Subtract her years spent as first lady of Arkansas and in the White House, and her time working as a lawyer in the Rose Law Firm and in other jobs. As Reason Magazine's Steve Chapman reported in November, Hillary Clinton has "just under eight years of experience in elective office -- one more than John Edwards and four fewer than Obama." And, to boot, Hillary the Feminist has her man to fight her battles.

How can Hillary and Billary keep talking about her 35 years experience and expect us to believe them? Liars before and liars now and liars in the future. The sad thing as I see it is they believe their own lies. How sad for them and how sad for the people who believe their lies.

[PJay]

10:46 PM on 02/03/2008

I appreciate Huff Po bringing attention to this.
I hope there's enough time till Tuesday to make a difference­.

Hilary gets on my last nerve!

NO MORE CLINTONS!
NO MORE BUSHES!

I've never missed an election and I've always voted Democratic Party, but if hilary is the nominee, I may have to stay home or vote for someone else (not McCain). I'll write in a candidate, but I won't vote for hilary.

And I know many who feel as I do.

[Tsunami]

09:53 PM on 02/03/2008

Barack talks in Platitudes­. Because the electorate is very naive, they think he is intelligen­t. And the media has been trying to GET HILLARY for a generation­, so they continue to kiss up to the O while degrading Hillary. As soon as the O has the nOminatiOn­, it will mean nothing as they will then expose the national audience to the Rezko dealings, O's drug use, etc. McCain for Pres!!

[trinity29]

08:27 PM on 02/03/2008

Although I am an Obama supporter, it really saddens me that Huffpo goes after Clinton the way it does. No one is clean in politics and I am under no illusion that Obama is God and can do no wrong. There are plenty of issue-base­d reasons to criticize Clinton and of course I am ok with Huffpo's support for Obama. But the regular bashing of Clinton to the point where they completely mislead with headlines is just embarrassi­ng.