Clinton: Gore And Kerry Lost Because They Were Viewed As Elitist

Speaking to reporters in Pennsylvania on Sunday, Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said that previous Democratic nominees lost in the general election because they were viewed as out of touch with the nation:

Pressed on whether she truly believes Obama is an elitist, Clinton called him "a good man," but recalled the narratives of the 2000 and 2004 president election.

"You don't have to think back too far to remember that good men running for president were viewed as being elitist and out of touch with the values and lives of millions of Americans," she said.

Clinton later reiterated the argument at a CNN sponsored forum. Watch the video:

At the same CNN forum, Barack Obama said that he thought Gore had won the 2000 Election. Watch the clip:

Related: Clinton Says It's Not Relevant Last Time She Went To Church Or Fired A Gun

Comments

[SEQUOIABISON]

Et Tu Brute, Hillary keeps violating what Reagan called the Eleventh commandment of politics, thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow party member. But I guess all is fair in love and war, and I am just praying the Fat Lady is warming up for a full Aria next Tuesday.

[Strywever]

And she will do her damndest to make sure Republicans think the next Democratic candidate is elitist, too. Is there no end to the damage she's willing to do the Democratic Party?

[Gem4Obama]

I didn't catch all of the Obama appearance on this thing called "CNN Compassion Forum" but I did see ALL of the Hillary segment. It was amazing, in that everything that came out of her mouth seemed to be a calculated LIE, aimed at giving the people in the audience what they wanted to HEAR. (I am starting to think Randi Rhodes was right on the money in her assessment). I bet that if some enterprising investigative reporter were to do some research, at least 2/3 of what she said was fallacy/fantasy aimed at pleasing the crowd and all Pennsylvanians.

[gmcc]

yeah, Obama's part was all lies, too.

[KISSman]

Hillary lives in Fantasyland. She still thinks it's 1992 and she's running for president at a time when the Clintons were not filthy rich. It's simply impossible for a woman who made over $100 million over the last several years to be more in touch with the common person. Unfortunately, being that her core base is the lesser educated and the uneducated, she can probably hoodwink a great deal of them.

[natasyenehc]

Ahhh the Clintons --

Accuse your opponent of your own sins / shortcomings - that way it can;t be thrust back at you.

Seriously people - in American politics today you can"t get more elitist than the Bush and Clinton families.

Hilary Clinton has taken the most money from lobbyists more than any other Dem or Reps senator.

They"ve got a hundred mil in the bank, Bill flies in rich dude"s jets, and she dares call a man of the people, elitist ?

Wow, I say. That"s even more pathetic than telling lies.

[Gem4Obama]

Precisely Natasyenehc..(Love the name "Cheney Satan") LOL. The Clintons...aka "Billary" are using very Rovianesque tactic they can use. They probably paid him a few billion to BUY his playbook. Sheesh this gets "curioser and curioser" as each day passes.

[tlcutter]

Obama is a damned fool and that tells you all you need to know about the intelligence of his followers.
He is the best liar to take to a podium in decades. Baa on little sheep, baa on.

[ConcernedAmerican]

Remind me to laugh at you on November 3rd.

[lvdragonlady]

And the dem. wytch is not a liar??
ok fine!!

[dm92]

He learned how to lie while ducking sniper fire!

[Gem4Obama]

Hahahahahahahah! This is why I like to come to the HuffPo forums. Some of you guys have the best and quickest wit I've ever seen!!!! Love it dm92!

[sherylsworld]

Voters should be aware that Senator Hillary Clinton is a named defendant in a Civil Fraud case and could possibly be charged with Criminal Perjury Charges. The Trial Date will be set on April 25th, just 3 Days AFTER the Pennsylvania Primary.
The Case is filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
You can verify this on the court website at:
WWW.LASUPERIORCOURT.ORG
In the Civil Column, click on CASE SUMMARIES
Then enter this case number: BC304174

Born in PA

[butchie65]

sherylsworld, yours doesn't come through for me. Here is one I have, don't know if it's the same. Go to http://www.paulvclinton.com/Latest

[Swift2]

Sorry, folks, it's true. The Democratic party was painted as elitist -- pretty good trick, seeing as how the GOP's policy's are all for Lord Plushbottom and his pals -- and that's how the GOP won -- or came close enough that they could cheat. Kerry was "French," right? He didn't understand real Americans. He was on that surfboard thing, and he looked stupid when he went out hunting. I hate that elections are decided on this basis, but they are, and that's why Obama's gaffe was so bad. He can turn it around, and it's time that Hillary turns it around, too. But if we lose this, this is the only way it can happen: to be portrayed this way.

[dawlishgal]

It didn't help either that neither Clinton campaigned with any sincerity for either Gore or Kerry. They sat on their hands and hoped for Bush to win in order to keep the seat warm for Hillary. Same reason they are campaigning now for McCain to be the default choice if she doesn't get the nomination. McCain is old and less likely to run again in 2012 than Obama would be if he wins the nomination and the election.

The Democratic Party, if they had any sense, would bounce out the narcissistic Clintons who care for nothing but their corporate pals and their own power.

I'm sure the higher-ups in the party know this, and they would give anything to throw the Clintons out with the trash. The Clintons have done nothing for the party anyhow....look at the way they lost congress and the way they pushed through REPUBLICAN stuff like NAFTA (stuff that they promised in their campaign that they would oppose) and voted for REPUBLICAN stuff like the Iraq war.

Her campaign promises are absolutely UNBELIEVABLE, given the way she bungled Healthcare and lied about NAFTA. .

[misspeach2008]

Seems to me that given how much Bill is "helping" Hillary, Gore and Kerry should be glad he didn't campaign for them very hard.

[zitlight73]

The last two elections were stolen pure and simple, in Florida and Ohio, the American people did nothing and the government they received is a product of their slothful, will-full ignorance. If that happened in almost any other country there would have been hell to pay. I got news for you folks it's about to happen again in this nation that is more concerned with NASCAR and American Idol than they are about the genocide being done in their names in the Idiot's War and the destruction of their Bill of Rights. Bush may or may not leave office next January but his policies will live on if Clinton or McCain take his place.

[PacoDeLambera]

Calling Obama elitist is racist.

He just finished paying off his college loans. The Clintons cashed $100+ million in the past few years.

“Elitist” is a euphemism for “uppity.”

[eej]

At this point HRC is destroying any chance she can win in the general election. It doesn't matter if she squeaks through with the nomination. She's dug her own grave with despicable comments like this. She should be taking on the Republicans who are truly the other side, and demonstrating how good she is at that. Instead she's ripping apart her own party. She would attack anyone and sacrifice anything to win, I think.

[DeanLowe]

Of course it is, everything said against Obama is racist.

[butchie65]

Just like the Rep in Kentucky calling him, "boy," today. Talk about a racist. Guess I don't go there this year, was planning on it in June. He can stick it, I'll spend my money elsewhere. He better shut his mouth, things aren't good out there for tourists this year.

[Gem4Obama]

THIS is racist...I dare you to dispute me and say its NOT!

Why isn't this news? Why hasn't this NOT been played out in the MSM like Obama's remarks???

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Secrecy_and_propriety_in_Kentucky.html

"U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, a Hebron Republican, compared Obama and his message for change similar to a "snake oil salesman" [at a Northern Kentucky Lincoln Day dinner].

He said in his remarks at the GOP dinner that he also recently participated in a "highly classified, national security simulation" with Obama.

"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

An aide to Davis, Jeremy Hughes, declined to comment on the remark, and didn't dispute the accuracy of the quote.

UPDATE: Davis apologizes."

YET NO MSM COVERAGE ON THIS!!!!!

[Gem4Obama]

Its a ploy strictly out of the Herr Karl Rove Playbook.

Its called PROJECTION: "Projecting one’s undesirable feelings or behaviour onto someone else."

[jnratliff]

Didn't Jesus say kill others before they kill you?
It is the new christian/republican moto. kill first kill often the cowards at home are behind you!
Just ask anyone on fox snews!

[IAM4CLINTON]

This Florida poll out today is revealing- and proves that Hillary is the stronger general election candidate- note that Hillary wins FL against McCain while McCain wins against Obama-

Florida: McCain vs. Clinton Rasmussen McCain 44, Clinton 45, Und 11 Clinton +1
Florida: McCain vs. Obama Rasmussen McCain 53, Obama 38, Und 9 McCain +15

[ajax2]

It proves nothing.

[castlerider]

A Clinton Victory will mean a rethug takeover of the House and Senate in 2010, Just like what happened in 1994.
Think about it. Clinton's scorched earth politics have already made profound enemies, and she will absolutely succeed in making a heck of a lot more people hate her then to like her..

[tattery202]

Who cares about Florida? Obama re-writes the electoral maps where Florida isn't even a battleground state. THIS is why he can beat McCain and Hillary can't. She will be fighting them on their terms.

[lvdragonlady]

Oh, now it is Obama who did this?
Is wasn't the state moving it primary up against the rules?
Damn you people amaze me sometimes....

[ApolloniaCreed]

Why are all the Clinton supporters flooding the site with boot-legged and cherry-picked polls? Fascinating...

[lvdragonlady]

Trying to justify their candidate, I guess.
Trying to make her look good.....

[eej]

As Cokie Roberts said this morning, this will change before November.

Obama has not even begun to run against McCain. Hillary has done her best to keep him busy defending himself against his own party.

[stujo4]

Cokie Roberts is a big ass liar.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/04/07/roberts/

[skip4Obama]

none of these general election polls mean anything. for clinton folks this talking point is meaningless....

[bodi1313]

Al Gore LOST the the election becausen he LOST his home state of Tennessee. Had he won his own state, Florida would have been irrelevant.

[jnratliff]

Al Gore lost because the supreme court stuck it nose into it and appointed the bush bastard and his evil sidekick five deferment dick.
Now look what a mess we are in. But criminals back criminals and that is what we have in washington today career criminals. The only difference is the republicans are murderers as well as theives! Kill all the Iraqis you want they don't give a shit, after that is what it means to be a good christian republican!

[disgusted48]

Tennessee is a backward state. The barbeque is good though.

[IAM4CLINTON]

Hillary is abolsutely correct- the vast majority of the general electorate (unlike the Dem primary electorate) are middle of the road, hardworking and patriotic americans- they simply will not vote for a en elite, left wing wing Obama- Obama as the nominee will go down just as Kerry, Gore, Dukakis, etc did in the past. The Clinton brand has won 2 general elections fair and square- including states such as FL, Georgia, Ohio and Michigan- as someone who passionately believes that only a Democratic president can clean up after the GWB years- my gut is that it will take a Clinton again to win and then successfully restore our country's fiscal position

[portwes]

That's BS!

The "elitist" smear won't work this election: America "elected" a good ol' back-slappin' beer drinkin' buddy type two times, and he has practically single-handedly ruined this country from which we may not be able to recover.

If by elitist you mean someone who is a whip-smart, well-educated lawyer who can think and chew gum at the same time, well, Hillary and Obama BOTH fit that category, and I think American voters are ready to elect someone like that.

[EinChicago]

"America "elected" a good ol' back-slappin' beer drinkin' buddy type two times, and he has practically single-handedly ruined this country from which we may not be able to recover."

but teh key word is still; "elected." That's the one thing Obama can never be.

[Changeizgood]

Yea, but someone who feels the American Peoples pain and will say it to you tone deaf idiots on Capital Hill, whether you like it on not. You think We the People have been doing a Irish Jig, while our country's slowly torn apart by the Status Quo Elitist, that pose as the common soul of America. BUSH iT!!

Hillarity and McSane are so far away, they need to go away.

Barack on Team America, our voices are being heard and YES WE THE PEOPLE ARE PISSED OFF, NOT JUST BITTER.
We intend on carrying out our plan to get rid of all you clowns that have crapped down our American necks for the last twenty years. So take your retirement or be fired!!!

THE BLUE TSUNAMI RIDES AGAIN!!!!
Can't wait til NO Vember, to get rid of the members.

[HLMerkin]

So you have corned the market on "middle of the road, hardworking and patriotic americans"

Amazing how you connected to the internet using the technology that the 'elite' created.

[ajax2]

To ask middle class voters to vote their own economic interests first, (which Obama asked them do to in PA.) is populist. That's why the corporate candidates McCain and Hillary and their minions are in attack.

[ApolloniaCreed]

HRC, is that you? I think your time would better be spent making these arguments to the Supers... the pledged delegate, popular vote, and states won are already a lost cause...

[Bluesue]

I live in Pennsylvania and Obama is absolutely correct about these small towns. There is nothing here for people except the empty promises.

And Hillary is a hypocrite. She should look at her own husband and what he said. In December on Charlie Rose he said much the same thing and as related in another article on HuffPost, he said much the same thing when he was a candidate in 1991.

And more investigation is needed into what Bill has been up to. He accepted money ffrom a company now accused of collaborating with the chinese government in the crackdown on Tibet according to yesterday's LA Times What else is buried in those millions?

The way the media is carrying on about Obama you'd think he bit the heads off small puppies on air.

[LakeClaytor]

You ALL are freaking crazy. Oh, so the gubmint ruined your life somehow? How is that by the way?

And NOW you want the Gubmint to give you your due?

Obama is a joke. What does he stand for, other than a racist maniacal theology similar to that of the KKK?

Change? What kind of change? What a bunch of idiots.

[REAGANRIGHT]

Hey B.O. , get over it and dont be bitter Gore lost in 2000!

[Argoth]

And you don't be bitter that your favorite president, George W Bush, is the worst president of all time with support in the single digits...

[REAGANRIGHT]

only time will tell, not the narrow view on this site. and dont be bitter if it turns out bill is the worst.

[Gem4Obama]

Gore WON!!!! Bush stole it...thanks to an UNPRECEDENTED SCOTUS decision that said their decision applied ONLY o the present case (Bush v Gore) and no other situation in later years can use bush v gore as "precedent'.
And the fact that Scalia and Uncle Thomas should have recused themselves for various reasons just makes the whole thing uglier and "curioser". Gore won!!! Bush Stole!!!