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

[GuyInNC]

let me remind the Obama supporters that they have spent the last three days defending what Obama said in San Francisco by saying it was true and needed to be said and we need to have a national discussion about it like adults.

But, Clinton says something here that is completely true. That Gore and Kerry lost because they were VIEWED as elitists. And, you all attack her.

You don't even see that you are two-faced and operating on a double standard.

[jj]

The only people I know up to this point who've accepted the 'Gore/Kerry Elitists' line were Republicans.

Nice to see their lines of attack have become conventional wisdom within the Clinton campaign.

[GuyInNC]

they made fun of Kerry as elitist when they ran the ads of him wind surfing ad the public bought.

They did it to Gore by belittling him on his environmental positions and the public bought it.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Have you bothered to watch the news the last day or so where they show BOTH Bill Clinton and JohnnyMac saying virtually the same things about how poorer people often vote against their own-self interest of ending poverty, and LONG before Senator Obama ever did. The media's also been saying the same for years.

And, if you believe it's "...completely true" Gore and Kerry lost because they were elitists, instead of that Florida and Ohio were 'fixed' and each election stolen, you're a republicant anyway.

YOUR self-delusion will never equal others being two-faced.

[IslandGyal]

GuyInNC,
That's all good, since we are learning from the best, the Hil-liar-y Clinton camp.

[ddlrid]

While the selections seemed to be close, Gore and Kerry did not lose. The races were stolen: in Florida & the Supreme Court in 2000, and in Ohio in 2004. Besides, what Clinton was spouting was republican talking points...and she never saw the irony of using the same talking points against Obama in the same breath. Or maybe she did and that was her intention.

[abigail1]

I support Obama and I think that what she said was partly true. I do believe that the media portrayed them that way and that some may have believed it However, I think that it is incredibly inappropriate for Hillary Clinton to insult past Democratic presidential nominees like that, and can't understand what she has to gain from it.

I also think it is incredibly ironic that she who professes that "popular vote is all that matters" in her quest to continue the primaries would say that Al Gore lost.

But Gore and Kerry are not Obama. Both grew up privileged, as did Hillary Clinton, Barack did not.

[RAND7044]

Kerry lost becuase he refused to stand up for himself and call the draft dodger and chicken hawk out on their fear mongering bullshit. Gore lost becuase (1) it was STOLEN from him, and (2) he was saddled with all of her husbands bullshit!

[THEhillbilly]

I hope that kind of snivelling about the failure of the Democrats' attempts to overturn the last two elections will go on forever. It gets funnier as time goes by and dumber people parrot it.

[jsmedia]

of course, you mean the success of the Conservative party to overturn the will of the people

[busybeez]

That's what I thought when Hillary said that tonite, how dare she say Gore lost because he was an elitist and out of touch. Everybody knows Gore lost because of Hillary's lying, impeached husband. I bet Tipper screamed when she heard Hillary say that. The Clintons have absolutely no shame!

[Barbarossa03]

She's really fighting for that Al Gore endorsement isn't she. Just in case you forgot Hilary it was John Kerry that endorsed Obama so take the shot at him, unless of course your bitter that gore didn't endorse you off the bat.

[GuyInNC]

she didn't take a shot at either Gore or Kerry. She said they were VIEWED as elitist. Because the repugs painted them that way.

[jsinclair]

She said they LOST because they were viewed as elitist. She also said that people perceive Democrats as out of touch with their lives and concerns.

Nice Republican talking points.

[Indepatriot]

It's time for the gloves to come off. The neoCon psycho and her lying, cheating, ivy-league hillbilly meal- ticket will stop at nothing. The DNC needs to put both of these rabid dogs down now. I know their trying to be as fair as possible about this but the clintons don't care if the Whitehouse is lost because of their blind ambition. It's a matter of principle now. This isn't about protecting Obama, as he's more than capable of doing that himself, this is about the Democratic brand name.( i'm an Independant ) Pelosi/Reed/Gore/Carter/Dean/Kerry must do this now or risk the Dems being branded as no better than the Rethugs. Will someone with some sack please put an end to this!

[jeersforfears]

Hillary is a neo-con? You wild and crazy guys on Huffington Post push the envelope, that's for sure!

[THEhillbilly]

Thank you for writing "Rethugs." Without that sort of thing, the other clues that you're a little kid might be overlooked. By the way, kid, the White House can't be lost. Someone will be elected. Just take my word for it. It's pretty funny that you claim to be an "independant" (sic).

[Indepatriot]

Hillbilly, How about a few other terms for the "Republicans" Grand Old Perverts/Right Wing Scumbags/Chickenhawk Hypocrites/Racist Wide Stance Warmongers/Thieving Lying Hood-Wearing Closet Queens/ F#ck America First While Wearing A Flag Pin Party/F#ck Off AndFend For Yourself Party/ As a McCain supporter you've got some nerve calling anyone a kid. Need yourself a daddy to take care of you? Please inform my child-like mind as to what exactly McCain has to offer anyone other than the rich neoCons he's sold his once -credible soul to in order to gain the nomination.Or try this one; name one thing Bush has done that's helped one working-class American? Your boy McCain is campaigning on a continuation of Bush's policies, including "flip-flopping" on his once admirable stances against torture and W's tax cuts to the rich. I'm Indeed a proud Lefty Independant, so please enlighten me as to why I should vote for Sen McCain. There are 2 kinds of Republicans; Millionaires and Suckers. Which one Are You?

[Sorrymanyou]

First and foremost, Obama was brilliant tonight. He articulated how his faith would guide his policies perfectly. He came across as sincere and honest. The same can not be said for the Senator from NY. she was robotic and polished and political to the core. The fact of the matter though is that this is just about the end of the road for HRC. She is (and has been) embarrassing herself and crushing any chance she might have in 4 years should Obama somehow not win the general. How silly can you be to diss the most well regarded democrat in the land (Gore) when he has yet to endorse? STUPID and indicative of how her whole campaign has been run. Bottom line: when she wins PA by less than 10%, she should step down the very next day and stop this madness.

[IngeniousGirl]

He was brilliant, coherent and thoughtful, well versed in his faith instantly connecting the question to the answer. HRC was unintelligible, she couldn't even remember a bible story until she remembered "Ester". In any event the win for Americans is he condemned torture and rendition and he committed to eliminating poverty with caveat of preventing people from sliding into poverty and then detailed exactly how he would attempt to bring 1 out of 6 children out of poverty.

[ArgusPanoptes]

Someone should remind HRC that Gore actually won the popular vote in 2000 despite having to carry Nader and the baggage of Clinton fatigue on his back while Bill Clinton could become President in 1992 only because Perot took away votes from Bush Sr.
Here is an article from the New York Times from the 1992 Presidential contest
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFDC173FF93AA35753C1A964958260
It is ironic that the very people (who in Republican circles symbolised the draft dodging, Ivy League educated, flower children elites who were demonstrating against America in foreign countries while patriotic, small town folks were dying in the Vietnam war) who were once accused of "elitism" by Republicans have themselves joined forces with their tormenters in levelling the same charges against a charismatic and credible candidate from their own party during the present election cycle.

[Sabreen60]

Actually Obama said that he thought Al Gore won.

[iPolitics]

The Clintons throw Gore and Kerry under the bus. Shocking! Both were better people than either Clinton.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

You bring the TRUTH. They lost because neoCONS 'fixed' Florida, then Ohio, respectively. Bill's not an idiot, but like his wife he's saying ANYTHING to try and win, even if it's another LIE.

[thatvisionthing]

And New Mexico...

[mimsnpips]

The 3 stooges Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea will stop at absolutely nothing to get her the nomination. Pathetic. Now Bill is trashing his own VP, and Kerry. Really loyal to the party these 3. Sorry Chelsea, gotta include you with mommy & daddy.

[GBecker]

Knowing how beloved Al Gore is, I can't believe she scored any points with her declaration that he didn't win because he was deemed an elitist.

[nk007]

To the Huffington Post:

I am wondering why the Clinton comments are played in full while Obama's comments are not? Is this part of the pattern to deprive pwoplw from hearing Sen. Obama's response to Clinton's self-serving Republican talking points? I hpe this is a technical issue. Otherwise your posting is patently unfair to Obama. We never get to see his complete response

[RRonin]

simmern4u suggests Hillary is a closet Republican. She was an out and out Republican before she hooked up with Bill. And she taught Bill how to win by embracing Republican policies and themes ("The era of Big Government is over"). If McCain is BushLite then Hillary is McCainLite.

[hubbstan]

I think American people should thank Hillary for working so hard to prepare Obama running against Republicans in Nov. with HER republican style attacks.

I have to give Obama some credit for reminding us that Al Gore did win, with a sense of humor.

[GuyInNC]

Gore didn't win. He would have if they counted the votes in Florida. But, we don't like to count the votes in Florida anymore, do we?

[margi]

So Al gore lost because is was elitiste. But when he ran with Bill he was not elitiste?
how selective HRC is. She will not win the nomination , today she sealed her faith. Obama is the nominee watch the next few weeks.

HRC think rural America is not smart to see through her smoke screen. She's about to be surprised by what voters in PA have in store for her.

Obama is consistantly calm , but I have to admit the way he smacked her down is amazing

[jsmedia]

I agree. Superdelegates are watching. While they may have been worried about Obama's comments, they will be more put off by Hillary's attacks on fellow Democrats. And unlike Kerry or Gore, Obama answers every attack head-on and unafraid. That is the spirit America needs.

It is a shame because both Clinton's have lost a bit of their luster in this fight. Obama, while not perfect, remains presidential.

[jj]

CLINTON'S ATTEMPTS TO ATTACK ON 'BITTER' FLOP IN CAROLINA

In Goldsboro, close observers noticed a (light) smattering of stickers being worn by attendees. "I'm not bitter!" read the simple rectangular label on the lapels of a couple dozen in the crowd. The campaign says that the stickers are evidence of outrage at the grassroots level.

Yet it's unclear how spontaneous the sentiment was. A boxful of the stickers was spotted at Clinton's first event of the day -- being whisked backstage.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/12/882730.aspx

[meta]

So they ran out and printed up stickers just like the old school? No wonder her campaign is broke.

[Sabreen60]

Also her hometown newspaper and the Allentown newspaper came out Sunday (after all the stink she made) and endorsed Obama!!!

[moda31]

is there anyone she won't insult for political gain? yeah all those people that gave Gore the popular vote win sure wanted to make it known that they felt disrespected by his elitism. i'm glad she's more than happy to accept the conservative framing of these men as elitists, and assist the republicans in doing the same to this year's likely democratic nominee, rather than stick up for her fellow democrats. jesus, i hate to say it but she really is a cow, she seriously needs to just go ahead and officially register as a republican, she's just as bad as joe lieberman.

[rzan]

Her whole demeanor is one of elitism. The expensive clothes, the really snotty attitude. Can't stand listening to her.

[ksjohnso]

...and the entitlement to the nomination. Remember Bill Richardson endorsed Obama because of this. Her camp claimed that he owed her his support due to appointments during the Clinton adminstration.