Clinton Campaign Response To New York Times Rejected

The Clinton campaign is fighting back against a Sunday New York Times report by Patrick Healy that suggests her campaign is not only deteriorating, but that she is foreshadowing her exit through valedictory statements.

Armed with hundreds of signatures from campaign staffers and volunteers, the campaign attempted to respond with a letter to the editor in the Times, but says it was rejected on the grounds that they hold "valuable space" for "ordinary readers." A Clinton aide pointed out that "This letter is a mere 218 words, and signed by 503 people - thirty three times as many people as the story cites, and all of them by name." Clinton staffers and volunteers also submitted individual letters, which the Times has yet to accept.

Below is a copy of the letter and the list of signatures.

(Update: NYT editorial page editor Andy Rosenthal responds, saying he didn't run the letter because it was a thinly disguised "press release." Citing the letter below, TPM's Greg Sargent talks to a Clinton insider about the campaign's apparent new strategy of running against the media.)

To the Editor,

In regards to Patrick Healy's story on Sun, Feb 24, 2008, "Somber Clinton Soldiers On as the Horizon Darkens"

The unnamed advisers and aides the story relies on speak for nobody but themselves.

The rest of us - thousands of her supporters, friends, members of her staff and volunteers - are working tirelessly each and every day and night, because we believe in Hillary. We believe she will win the nomination. We believe she will win in November. And we know she will make the best President of the United States.

Hillary is a voice for countless Americans across the country who need a champion, a problem solver, a president. That's what she's done her whole life. That's what inspires us. Those of us who have had the honor of working for Hillary Clinton - as First Lady, as Senator, and as a candidate for the Presidency - are awed by her passion and her service. We all strive to live up to her example, to do our best every day to serve this nation.

Millions of Americans across the country have already cast their votes and made it clear that they want Hillary Clinton as their president. Millions more have yet to have their chance. These are the opinions and voices that matter.

Signed,

Hillary Clinton staff & volunteers (Listed Alphabetically)

Huma Abedin, Barbara Adair, Emily Aden, Caroline Adler, Jonathan Adler, Jon Adrabi, Alexandra Agius, Nahiyan Ahmad, Edward Allen, Scott Andes, Mishan Araujo, Kat Atwater, Rob Bachmann, Angela Baker, Isaac Baker, Kate Balcerzak, Kris Balderston, William Ballard, Liza Ballantine, Erik Balsbaugh, Dave Barnhart, Nathan Barr, Sarah Barton, Katie Bassler, Kamyl Bazbaz, Kate Beale, Shaun Beaulac, Eric Bederman, Hank Bennett, Adrienne Lee Benson, Michelle Bensignor, Ronda Bernstein, Jay Biba, Nick Black, Eric Blackwell, Nina Blackwell, Andrew Bleeker, Lane H. Blumenfeld, Traci Blunt, Greg Bohne, Swathi Bojedla, Chad Bolduc, Fredrick Bolinder, Reva Bottles, Sari Bourne, Michael Brasher, Jackie Bray, Justin Brennan, Seth Bringman, Rickey Broadway, Erica Brooks, Alvin Brown, Catherine Brown, Christina Brown, Sasha Bruce, Justin Burchard, Case Button, Emily Buttrey, Colleen M. Byers, Emily Cain, Meredith Cabe, Jeannie Carlson, Tony Carrk, Jay Carson, Tronn Carson, Nick Casey, Carolyn Cavaness, Georgiana Cavendish, Guy Cecil, Michel Chaghouri, Theresa Chalhoub, Robin Chappelle, Daniel Felipe Chavez, Daniel Isaac Chavez, Catherine Chen, Brad Cheney, Dennis Cheng, Cynthia Cho, Lenore Cho, Lillian Choi, Pam Cicetti, Sarah Clark, Nick Clemons, Daniel Cloudt, Meagan Coffman, Dana Cohn, Caroline Cole, Ellen Connell, Marina Costabile, Sean T. Conway, Sam Cooper, Stephanie Coronado, Brynne Craig, Peter Daou, Darrin Davis, Stephanie Davis, Jon Davidson, Nicole Davison, Trevor Dean, Mary deBree, Elizabeth deGrazia Blumenfeld, Kristian De Meo, Mike Delany, Drew Densmore, Phillip de Souza, DiBartolomeo, Robert Dible, Allison DiRienzo, Alexander Djerassi, Mary Beth Dolecki, Ryan Donohue, Lorianne D'Orazio, Katie Dowd, Jonathan Drobis, Anna Dudek, Jay Dunn, Pam duPre', Lauren Durham, Abe Dyk, Jessica Eaton, Dana Edelstein, Cleon Edwards, Nancy Eiring, Mo Elleithee, Katie Ellis, Adrienne Elrod, Will Elwood, Andrew English, Naomi A. Eskin, Miguel Espinoza, Daphne Evans, Leecia Eve, Chris Falvo, Benjamin Farley, Anne C. Fauvre, Matt Felan, Daniel Felipe Chavez, Lance Fiasconaro, Joseph Figueiredo, Rosalind Fink, Mike Firestone, Christopher Fitzgerald, Paige Fitzgerald, Ashley Floreen, Michael Florio, Larry Fogel, Sabra Foley, Scott Freda, Josh Friedman, Michael Fuchs, Kimberly Fulton, Bethany Gardiner-Smith, David Garten, Kathleen Gasperine, Ann Gavaghan, Paige Gebhardt, Sarah Gegenheimer, Ethan Gelber, Audrey Gelman, Stephanie Gent, Kate Geyer, Harold Gist, Olivia Gobert-Hicks, Adam Goers, Aaron Goldman, Joe Goldman, Rebecca Godlewicz, Aaron Goldman, Ana Gonzaga Bedayo, Jessica Gonzalez, Meghan Hays Goodman, Stefanie Goodsell, Matt Goodwin, Christopher Gowen, Laura Graham, Timmothy Green, Valerie Green, Doug Greven, Caroline Grier, Mandy Grunwald, Crystallyn Guest, Tulin Gurer, Nicole Haber, Carolyn Hahn, Jon Haines, Greg Hale, Carrie Hall, Patrick Hallahan, Sarah Hamilton, Diane Hamwi, Monica Hanley, Aaron Harris, Doug Hattaway, Maggie Havemann, Emily Hawkins, Clay Haynes, Meghan Hays Goodman, Catherine Hazelton, Christina Henderson, Eric Hersey, Karen Hicks, Elisabeth Hire, Melissa Ho, Trent Holbrook, Micah Honeycutt, Alex Hornbrook, Christie Houlihan, Jason Houser, Annie Hughes, Kathryn Hurlbut, Sarah Hurwitz, Dana Hyde, Brandon Hynes, Regine Irele, Walker Irving, Carmella Isabella, Christina Iskandar, Katie Jack, Darrell Jackson Jr., Nancy Jacobson, Rafi Jafri, Keya Jayaram, Irene Jefferson, Jordan Jiloty, Lauren Jiloty, Graeme Joeck, Keren Johnson, LaToya Johnson, Lily Johnson, Maia Johnson, Sean Johnson, Cassandra Jones, Monica Jordan, Michael Kanick, Lane Kasselman, Ioanna Kefala, Matthew Kehres, Connolly Keigher, Elizabeth Kelley, Dana Kelly, Rachel Kelly, Corley Kenna, Thomas Kerr, Michelle Kessler, Murad Khan, Yekyu Kim, Jarard Kings, Jaclyn Kinney, Sabrina Kirkwood, Barthelemy Kiss, Eric Kleinfeld, Ben Kobren, Brenda Kole, Chaitanya Komanduri, Meredith Kormes, Josh Kram, Thomas Kroeger, Michelle Krohn-Friedson, Laura Krolczyk, Jessia Krupke, Stephanie Kujawski, Lorna Kurdi, Erika Soto Lamb, Roger Lau, Betsy Lavender, Chris Lavery, Hyun J. Lee, Hilary Lefebvre Perry, Joyce Lenard, Michael Lenihan, Nicholas Lepham, Jeremy Lerman, Rebecca Leventhal, Lindsay Levin, Fabien Levy, Judi Levy, Mark I. Levy, Ann Lewis, Kidron Lewis, Judy Lichtman, Ricki Lieberman, Carly Lindauer, Arielle Linsky, Jon Lipshutz, Susan Liss, Lach Litwer, Emily Lockwood, Catherine Loeffelman, Phyllis Love, Jon Lovett, Bari Lurie, Matt Lurrie, Tamera Luzzatto, Dawn Mabery, Sharyn Magarian, Chad Maisel, Samantha Maltzman, Jamie Mannina, Jonathan Mantz, Lindsay Marsh, Capricia Marshall, Lindsey Marshall, Marlon Marshall, Mather Martin, Chelsea Maughan, David Mauro, Molly McAndrew, Michael McCray, Robert McDaniel, Cecil McDonald, Kevin McGhaw, Mary McKenna, Matt McKenna, Camellia Meehan, Ebony Meeks, Kelly Mehlenbacher, Sheila Menz, Nick Merrill, Susan Merrell, Luz Mendez, Noah Messing, Dana Messinger, Matt Michaelree, Michael Miller, Michaela Miller, Stephan H. Miller, Cheryl Mills, Kim Molstre, Mike Monroe, Nicole Montefusco, Lauren Montes, Robby Mook, Brie Moore, Minyon Moore, Linda Moore Forbes, Bobby Moran, Patricia Morris, Dana Morrissey, Dan Morocco, Kate Morrow, Shelly Moskwa, Annie Mullaly, Michael Muller, Tim Mulvey, Deirdre Murphy, Maxwell Nacheman, Bob J Nash, Erika Nelson, David Nerio, Sarah Nolan, Jed Ober, Jessica O'Connell, Eric Oginsky, Daniel O'Hara, Johna Ohtagaki, James Orintas, Gina Ormand, Brendan O'Sullivan, Mildred Otero, Yaël Ouzillou, Saskia Pallais, Maura Pally, Andrea Palm, Nick Panagopolous, Katie Parker, Adam Parkhomenko, Jennifer Parsons, Amee Patel, Shraddha Patel Tewary, Jon Patsavos, Amelia Pelly, Laura Pena, Karli Penders, Jessica Perez, Karen Persichilli Keogh, Darren Peters, Chelsea Peterson, Laura Phelps, William Pierce, III, Amanda Piter, Michael Pleyte, Jen Polenzani, Kyla Pollack, Ben Pollara, Daniel Pollock, Matt Porter, Dara Poster, Chad Radock, Jamie Radice, Jason Rahlan, Russel Rampersand, Candace Randle, Tara Rangarajan, Amy Ransom, Mona Raphael, William Reese, Philippe Reines, Nancy Richardson, Alex Richmond, Sam Ritzman, Joleen Rivera, Adam Robinson, Megan Rodman, Fabiola Rodriguez-Ciampoli, Maria Isabel Rodriguez, Miguel Rodriguez, Rose E. Rodriguez, Traci L. Rodriguez, Tori Roth, Frank Rothman, Stefanie Roumeliotes, Victoria Ruan, Ali Rubin, Emma Ruiz, Isaac Ruiz, Rishi Sahgal, Jordan Salberg, Melissa Salmanowitz, Heather Samuelson, Edgar Santana, Joshua Schank, Nick Schmit, Ron Schneider, Beth Schoenbach, Dan Schwerin, Jamie Scott, Talley Sergent, Andrew Shapiro, Geri Shapiro, Stella Shaw, Saul Shemesh, Elisa Shyu, Avra Siegel, Phil Singer, Dana Singiser, Dawn Smalls, William Smart, Ace Smith, Ashley Smith, Carson Smith, Edward Smith, Jamie Smith, Natasha Smith, Kate Sokolov, Maya Solis, Patti Solis Doyle, Emily Solon, Jonathan Soohoo, Phil Spector, Uday Sreekanth, Tali Stein, Susan Stern, Haley Stevens, Heather Stone, Katharine Stoltenberg, Kathleen Strand, Burns Strider, Erin Suhr, Katie Sullivan, Stephanie Sutton, Michael Szymanski, Kyle Lynn Taylor, Matt Tepper, Richard Thayer, Emily Thomas, Meigan Thompson, Nora Toiv, Lucé Tomlin-Brenner, Caroline Torosis, Michael H. Trujillo, Cristina Trutanich, Lyn Utrecht, Angel Urena, Dan Utech, Lona Valmoro, Melissa Vanzant, Sarah Venuto, Teresa Velmain, Aaron J. Ver, Luis Vizcaino, Rachel Vogelstein, Tony Wagner, Charlotte Waldo, Mark Walsh, Lindsey Walters, Denene Wambach, Vanessa Weaver, Ervin Webb, Jr., Enid Weishaus, Geoff Wetrosky, Brian Whitehurst, Antoinette Whitmore, Courtney Whitney, Josh Williams, Maggie Williams, Carol Willis, Jeanne R. Wilson, Laurie Wingate, David Wolf, Howard Wolfson, Travis D Worl, Eric Woodard, Coety Wyse, Simon Zewdman, ###

Comments

[WallStreetNobody]

I am getting tired of Hillary's politics. Bill Clinton was the greatest President in most of our lifetimes. As a President and a statesman he was superb, as a politician he fights dirty just like the Republicans. I'd rather have a President who doesn't stoop down to the level of the Republicans and can still be as a superb a statesman as Bill Clinton. That man is Obama.

[faretheewell]

With all due respect, Bill Clinton squandered his second term and may well have handed this nation over to the bushivicks through his inability to admit that he had screwed up. If he had confessed early to his indiscretions, the odds are great that it would have been a tempest in a teapot. Instead, it consumed this nation and led to a major distraction for far too long.

[naschkatze]

The problem with your endorsement of Bill Clinton is "the greatest President in most of our lifetimes". You need to get out of that mode of thinking: every generation, just because it is a separate generation, does not necessarily have a great politician or president. Sometimes they get skipped. Contemporary historians rate Bill Clinton as average in the long line of presidents we have had when it comes to policy. When it comes to character he is down there in the cellar jostling with GWB for last place. I happened to be under 3 years old when the last great president, FDR, died, and I am hoping that all of you of the younger generations will get your chance to have a great president in Barack Obama.

[stonepier]

Hear! Hear! The only thing that makes Bill look 'great' is that W is so - unbelievably - bad. Bill was pretty good. He brought together good people and we all happily expected his 2nd term to roll right into another 8 years for Al Gore - which it should have - except that Bill had serious zipper problems. What a waste.

And the consequences have been so severe: this useless war, huge deficit, loss of international respect, and (perhaps worst of all) 2 more on the right-hand-side of the Supreme Court. So thanks a lot, Bill.

Hillary is showing very poor organizational skills. Her campaign is a mess. She skids around from one persona to another on a daily basis. Ready on Day 1? I don't think so.

A president needs to bring together a great team, listen, evaluate, develop policy, and communicate with the people to build consensus, teach if necessary, inspire, and lead. Obama can do this. And we know he can beat McCain.

I wish we could just get on with it.

[the964kid]

Bill Clinton wont be remembered as 'the greatest president in our lifetime' after how he behaved in this campaign. All he did is remind us what was wrong with his years in the white house.

[krissymax]

This isn't a news story but typical Huffpost BS reporting. You forgot to mention that the New York Time's endorsed Hillary over Obama stating that his message is too amorphous and that of Obama the Time's Editorial Board thought NOT YET!! Good luck to the Dem party in November, because they are going to need it!

[anghiari]

Bet they regret that...but she is New York's state senator...

[andyboy]

krissymax,

I have one rule and it always seems to work.

It's the opposite of whatever you say.

Hasn't missed yet.

[Independent007]

Krissy,

McCain will lose to Obama in a LANDSLIDE.

[RonNYC]

LOL!

[ObamaEdwards]

Teacher! Teacher! Um, um, teacher! My essay does NOT deserve a C, because I spent a whole day working on it. That's at least a B for merit, and then I really, also, BELIEVE my essay, so that's like a bonus point or two, so I think, really, I should get an A, or a B+ at the very least. Teacher...!

[monique]

Try to make some sense. I know it's hard when you are so obsessed with your candidate, but please try.

[Zhonni]

Don't be silly!!!

If you support Obama, you must be obsessed with him or a little delusional?

[GomezAdams]

The MSM has already hand picked Obama, just like they did with GWB.

The Times is pretty much a joke, since Judith Miller.

[trailrunner9]

Funny how the Times first endorsed McCain and Clinton and then hung them both out to dry. You got to wonder what's going on with them.

[lornejl]

They are trying to sell newspapers, just a guess.

[dnweindeb]

Maybe they’re schizophrenic, or actually rather stupid. Try as I might, I simply can not understand why The New York Times hired that grinning schmuck Kristol, whose only claim to any kind of significance is his consistency: his consistent 1) smirk, 2) bloodthirstiness, and 3) erroneous statements.

[trailrunner9]

I also agree with you that this election in its entirety was entirely contrived by the media. The media increasing controls thought in this country, no more blatantly evident than their hand in steering this country into an immoral war that continues to this day. We are in big trouble with the media in this country. They virtually shut out who they don't want and make the public believe that they are in control. It's pathetic.

[anghiari]

Actually I disagree with both of you...blogs, youTube and the internet in general has reduced the possibility that the media can totally drive anything anymore. There are still millions of Americans who do not have access to the internet and they may be fooled, but the media knows unless there are massive changes they are going to be obsolete doing business as they have always done it!

[payingattentionandoutraged]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm really tired of people telling me that I haven't made up my own mind - that I am a mindless follower of the media - and implying that I can't think for myself. I have watched the debates, examined the candidates and the issues, and made up my own mind based on who I believe is the best choice to undo the damage done to our country and our world by the current administration AND who speaks, votes, and behaves in a manner consistent with my views and opinions.
Obama '08

[andyboy]

trail,

So why are you buying in so comepletely?

[artsandminds]

Yes, that same NYT that endorsed Clinton is now “hand picking Mr. Obama”, get a grip. Why is it that Clinton supporters can't grasp how anyone would want to vote for Obama on the merits of his campaign? I will NOT vote for Clinton because she voted for the Lieberman legislation that was a prelude to the war, saying if she knew then what she knows now she would not have voted for it (BS), then turns around and signs Mr. Israel (Lieberman’s), next legislation for a prelude to attack Iran, which by the way was written by AIPAC. Sorry fool me once, not twice. Clinton supporters seem eerily familiar to Bushies in their ability to turn a blind eye to their candidate whenever it is convenient.

[1dogs2]

Judith Miller was a disgrace to her entire profession, but when I learned not to believe everything I read in the NYT was many years ago during the Columbia U. revolution, when I would see what was happening on campus and read pieces in the NYT the next day that bore little to no resemblance to what had actually happened.

If it is the MSM that has chosen Obama (that's certainly not why this Illinois voter has chosen him), they've clearly made a better choice than their last one.

[naschkatze]

I disagree most vehemently. HRC and Giuliani were the two annointed by the press initially. The East Coast press, I might add. When Giuli fizzled, the media put on a full court press to get McCain nominated even though the Republican Party is not happy with this. Obama has had to fight every step of the way. It was Hillary's to lose and she has done so.

[MikeMidCity]

Well who wouldn't sign such a letter when it is brought around for you to do so.

"Sorry Hillary I can't sign it because it was me who leaked the story.", said the former campaign worker.

[ACunningham]

Hillary has some 700 part-time and full-time staffers working for her. And, all she could do was to have 33 sign a petition. Let's do the math here...!!!!

.

[HacksawJim]

Who the hell cares? The Clintons are disgusting and everyone knows it. I can't wait to watch her concession speech when she loses next week!

[iPolitics]

She's going after the newspaper that endorsed her. It's also one of the paper that has actually gone after Obama in editorials which is tough considering his superior candidacy

[hank48188]

All Hillary has to do is stay in until the convention, by then people will know who Obama is.

[Ping]

Easier said than done.

[andyboy]

hank48188,

Keep repeating that. It's a bit long for a mantra but whatever works for you.

I counseled another troll how to meditate. He stands in the corner of his basemant "apartment" (it's his Mom's house) and repeats, "America will never elect a black man!".

Try clenching and unclenching your fists too, that seems to relieve some of the violent urges.

[hank48188]

I bet you're living in your Mother's basement too!

[JUSTME]

That's right. More than a year of watching and listening to Obama, and we still don't know who he is! Evidently, we Obama supporters are not only delusional, but pretty damn stupid, too! This does not bode well for the nation since there are millions and millions of us--including United States senators, newspaper editors, scholars, jurists, as well as ordinary working people and just about everybody under 30.

Sure are a lot of dumd people in America!

[stonepier]

Who is he? He's a guy who spoke at the 2004 Dem. convention and had everybody who heard him saying WOW! He's a guy who got where he is entirely on his own merit. He's a guy who can beat McCain by a far greater margin that Clinton, as polls consistently show.

Look at him. He's a real person with a real family. He writes his own books & speeches. He speaks with authenticity & authority.

Nobody's perfect. We all get that. But the true ability to inspire & to lead doesn't come around that often. He's got it.

[ObamaEdwards]

Yes, they will. They will know he is a mature and brilliant leader who makes decisions in the interest of the country. He's also patient, VERY patient, and tolerant of others, or he would have swatted Clinton down like a mosquito weeks ago. She's lucky she's running against him. She's also lucky she won't get the nomination, because the GOP is NOT tolerant. They wanted her to be the nominee all along, because they plan to eat her for dinner. Obama's popularity has inadvertently shielded her from that.

[hank48188]

Obama likes to give himself credit for his great decision making, claimed he was against the war when he didn't have a vote, but now votes for ALL FUNDING, Too spineless to take a stand. When Obama found out from his wife about a house for sale he sought out supporter TONY REZKO for his help. Everyone in the Chicago area knew in 2005 that Tony was under investigation by the FEDS for political corruption, he is IN JAIL, trial starts next week. Obama could not afford the House, but with the help of his wife, Michelle, who is on the City Historical Commission, and Tony Rezko they hatched a plan to split the parcel with Obama buying the House for the reduced price of $1.65 million and Rezko would buy the vacant lot for $625,000. Seven months later Obama bought 1/6 of the vacant lot back from Rezko to make his yard bigger. I don't know where you live but in most places that would be viewed as a corrupt deal, what did Obama offer for the "favor". It you think that is the type of judgement a President should have vote for Obama, this all happened AFTER he got to the Senate, in 2005

[naschkatze]

If she stays in until the convention and looks for a fight even though Obama has clearly won the states, delegates and popular vote, she will find very, very few supporters because most of the Democrats in Denver will support party unity going into the November election. Do you think the convention is going to hand the nomination to Clinton by such totalitarian means? Clinton and her supporters will just make further asses of themselves, and let them walk out. Under the scenario I have just drawn, we will not need The Clintons.

[IRIE]

BWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I used to like the Clinton's until there true colors came through. They are a joke!

[EinChicago]

Wow. You sound exactly like the nader herd in 20000 when they were making statements like "I used to like Al Gore until I saw his true colors and how he was the same as Bush".


The stupid have fallen for it again.