New York Times Blames Hillary For "Mean, Vacuous, Desperate" Campaign

Despite Hillary Clinton's victory in Pennsylvania Tuesday, the New York Times, the paper that endorsed Clinton in January, fired off an editorial for Wednesday's paper that chastised Clinton for taking the "low road to victory."

The Pennsylvania campaign, which produced yet another inconclusive result on Tuesday, was even meaner, more vacuous, more desperate, and more filled with pandering than the mean, vacuous, desperate, pander-filled contests that preceded it.

Voters are getting tired of it; it is demeaning the political process; and it does not work. It is past time for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to acknowledge that the negativity, for which she is mostly responsible, does nothing but harm to her, her opponent, her party and the 2008 election.[...]

By staying on the attack and not engaging Mr. Obama on the substance of issues like terrorism, the economy and how to organize an orderly exit from Iraq, Mrs. Clinton does more than just turn off voters who don't like negative campaigning. She undercuts the rationale for her candidacy that led this page and others to support her: that she is more qualified, right now, to be president than Mr. Obama.

Read more about Hillary Clinton's victory in the Pennsylvania primary.

Comments

[JackNasty]

Hillary is "Mean, Vacuous, Desperate".

Why shouldn't her campaign be?

[HatingTheGame]

Oh oh look out. Now Hill-Billy will sick their neocon friend King Rupert after them --- he'll be asked to chew them up, and spit them out as canary cage lining.

Sigh.

[FJRinLA]

She hasn't lost the NYT support; the NYT is just covering its ass for helping keep her alive to this point. They know she doesn't mind this label or this assignment of responsibility at all.

In fact, this editorial continues to provide The Clintons cover for their real objective and goal of their activity which is not the nomination but the defeat of Obama so they can remain titular leaders of the DEM Party which they don't mind condemning to another 4 years of wandering in the desert for the pleasure.

[missjabez]

It's pretty bad for a Democrat if she (or he) loses the support of the New York Times.

[patch61]

your just jealous.........................i think sen.hillary clinton was civil....!!!!!!

[Beachrunner]

I'm beginning to believe that Hillary really IS mentally ill . . . how else can she be staying in a race she is doomed to lose?

[missjabez]

I'm no shrink, but I don't think Hillary is mentally ill, per se. Her behavior is more indicative of a personality disorder. While her lack of conscience and ethics seems downright socipathic, it's possible she's a Narcissist. Her win-at-any-cost strategy may derive from her obsession with self, her conviction that she can do no wrong. Her reaction to Obama also suggests some self-esteem issues. But the primary characteristic of the Narcissist is the belief that rules do not apply to her, that in fact, the rules should be changed to her benefit.

[ColumbusMike]

It's time that we ALL work together--both Hillary and Obama supporters--and take a stand. The blogasphere has enormous power and it's time we ALL agreed on one thing: that we will not stand by and see our party destroyed. This is not THEIR party that is being torn apart--it is OUR party!! We make the contributions that pay the bills for the campaigns.

Yes, i know--Obama supporters blame Hillary and vice versa. I have my own opinion, but it's irrelevent--the damage is being done. The only way to stop it is if we stop arguing over who is to blame and make it clear that we won't tolerate it from EITHER candidate. We need to tell them that we want a RESPECTFUL campaign, and if they want our contributions to continue, they should listen.

WE can stop this. We can be more honest with ourselves and acknowledge that SOMETIMES people on the other side of the fence have valid points. We can acknowledge that some of the things we echo on the blogs are just talking points and spin. We can confess that we all love our candidates so much that we are willing to ignore their shortcomings. And then we can unite about that ONE issue and try to get our fellow bloggers and commenters to join the cause of saving our party.

If you agree, please post similar sentiments wherever you post, and lets try to get a movement going. Anybody with me??

[missjabez]

Your attitude is noble, but it's not that simple for me, pal. The Democratic party best represents my political views, but I've been disillusioned by its weakness and lack of cohesion. Yes, I know, we could all unite and elect a Democrat for president, ANY Democrat, blah, blah, but I am no longer willing to vote for whoever the Democratic party nominates. I never had a problem with voting for the Democratic presidential nominee in the past. But I would have a MAJOR problem supporting Clinton or voting for Clinton. There is no way I could do it. I wouldn't vote for McCain, but I wouldn't vote for Clinton,either.

[Lempira]

If you are able to do that then you should become president

[ColumbusMike]

lol. I just cannot believe that I'm the only one who is interested in seeing a Democrat win in November, and we cannot do that if we are divided. Isn't it worth a try, at least?

[CTtransplant]

ColumbusMike, I agree with you...however, the problem is this: Clinton's win in both PA and Ohio were the direct result of playing dirty politics...for which she gained $3.5M in contributions overnight. Apparently, her supporters believe she should be rewarded (why they would support a campaign that handles their money so poorly, and on top of it has no hope of winning, is beyond me!) for this. The Clinton campaign has also proven that it does not play by the rules until it benefits them to - and chose to change the rules when the rules do NOT suit them. How do you propose to get her supports, then, to agree to a campaign of honor and integrity when it appears they have none?

[john85msy]

It's amazing to see how something new and positive can be attacked and potentially destroyed by one of it's own family members.

[missjabez]

Oh, are you talking about Bill's antics? He's just sideline entertainment. But I'll agree, his behavior has done nothing to help his wife's campaign.

[Lempira]

if we loose him it will be because we didn't deserve it

[john85msy]

Obama's good enough to be Americas POSTERCHILD for what American democracy stands for but he is not good enough to be President of these United States of America?

[lakeqi]

Hilary's supporters may not necessarily be neo cons, but they are all most certainly neocon enablers. So what if McCain wins, theres not a whit of difference between him and Hilary. lukewarm liberals like Thom Hartmann are afraid of who MCain will put on the Supreme Court. McCain isnt the problem its the weak dems in the senate who don't have the sack to filibuster. Conversely hoping that Hilary will win instead of McCain is a waste because Hilary will just nominate someone recommended by Sean Hannity or the like.

[dimples109]

what happenend to my post. I'm out

[dimples109]

this is what turns voters off, I am a first time voter, Hillary cast doubt on whether Obama is electable, well one thing she forgot she has a high negative, this election is not about the people. it's about money and power, she is riding on her husband coat tails, after watching all the cable news network, Joe Scarborough, Tim Russert, David Gregory, Pat Buchanan were all salivating Obama losing, they were circling the wagons it was pathetic the way they were carrying on, Hillary the closet Republican, Hillary doesn't give a damn about nobody but herself, the Democrats have given John McCain the nomination on a sliver platter, so when he wins in the fall, be ready for him to continue the war in Iraq, keeping the tax cuts for the wealthy, oh yeah did I mention the Supreme court, the list goes on and on, I was inspired to vote in this election, but not anymore, to Hillary, winning means by any means necessary , even if it means destroying your own party, , I will continue to pray for Obama, because one day good will overcome evil, A merica does'nt want change, just the status quo. Hillary is going to rue the day, her campaign got so devisive and negative, God sees and hears everything, so watch out, he says vengeance is mine and I will repay. and I'm going to sit back and watch. because I will not be voting.

[LivingStardust]

What did you expect from a mean, vacuous and desperate woman?

[HopeGirl]

Better clothes. Doesn't she know that polyester doesn't breath? Stinky.

[AnnieinOR]

LOL!!!

[SheTiffanyHussein]

Her wardrobe is one of the most dishonest things about her.

What millionaire dresses like that?

[HopeGirl]

Calling all Hillary supporters...

Hill's less than fantastic 8 point/8 delegate count 'win' in Penn will give her more air time. Please support that air time by toddling on over to Hill.com and give her your money, lots of it, as much as you can-sell a car or a house, get a 2nd job but give Hillary more money.

She needs it. She is in debt over 10 million. Her and Bill and her gang are used to a certain lifestyle, suites, jets, meal, polyester is not as cheap as it used to be. They got Mark Penn to pay off and Wolfson doesn't come cheap.

She is in it to win your money now., She can't win anything else, she knows it and you should know it. But all you listen to is her yappity yap and the balloons are pretty. Speaking of those balloons...they aren't cheap either.

Hillary can't get out until you pay off her campaign debt.

So, do the right thing, do it with a flag pin on, but do it. Give her money, enough to get out of the race. She did not do all of this for HER, she did it for YOU-so time to pay up the bar bill and get a ride home.

[orangedude]

No, she is running an ugly Rove-style negative campaign for herself and only herself. You are delusional.

[mathme]

You didn't read HopeGirl's post, did you?

[AnnieinOR]

five star reality check for HRC and Co

[BMW121]

I am a LOVER of this post. Well said!

[SheTiffanyHussein]

She still owes Joe Wilson for his plane ticket.

[lisakaz2]

The problem is that this tactic still works well enough for HRC to keep it going. It disgusts me but enough ppl either vote for her because of it or in spite of it. I don't know which. I want to know how many really said they voted for HRC because of race. Tell Ms. Ferrarro since she thinks Obama has such an advantage.

[paranoid]

I cannot see how "big States" make a difference when it's total votes and delegates that do count right? This I can win the big states is just another way for hillary to say I can still win. She cannot unless the super delegates turn againest the majority of the party. Then the party will implode and Mac will win the house.

[GravitonX]

Race is the electorate nullifier. You forget that Hillary is an attorney and a good one. She is moving to cripple Obama and force a mistrial, setting the stage to retry her case. Winning, for her, at this point, is really just secondary.

[WillieLynch]

She failed the Bar in Washington DC

[Seankelly]

Obama and his supporters ran a negative campaign in PA - the Liberal Elite media attack Clinton whatever she does, even when she wins by 10%. The Liberal Elite should be asking why can't Obama win in PA, Ohio, Florida (swing states) not continue their Hillary bashing.

[AnnieinOR]

She did this all on her own - Obama did not make her a saber rattler who would threaten to nuke the middle east off the face of the earth.

An admitted liar - who went before the public and lied with a straight face that she and her child had been shot at, and then went on a talk show and laughed it off, as if it was no big deal to lie to the voters.

That we should take the word of a woman who takes money along with her impeached husband from China, Canada and Colombia to push sending our jobs over to foreign countries while claiming that she is against Free Trade. When asked about it by a reporter, again laughed it off

That we should support a woman who will say anything against her own party, i.e: Texas Dems, Richardson, MoveOn, latte-drinking yuppies, blacks, anyone who defends Obama.

[FrankBlackFrancis]

I'll continue to bash hillary because she can't catch Obama's pledged delegate count. This was a failure for her. She needed at least a 70/30 split in PA and everywhere else. She didn't, she's lost and the Times is right for once.
"Liberal elite" spoken like a true neo-con.

[Seankelly]

anyone who supports Hillary is a neo con??? The liberal elite are the media pundits who openly support Obama and the rich Liberal section of the DEM party who constantly look down on us, the working class DEM voters

[nyyankee70]

The rich liberal section? Are you living on OUR PLANET? Did you forget that Hill and Bill are worth over $100 million? She doesn't care about you and the other working class idiots who have bought into her lies. She will just use you to win and forget about you shortly after. Good luck with your wasted vote.

[DragonMama]

You really think Hillary, who has *never* been working-class herself and counts amongst her "35 years of experience" several years sitting on the union-busting outsource-pushing board of Wal-Mart, understands where you come from as a member of the working class better than Obama, with his single-mom/grandparents raising him as a black man in an overwhelmingly non-black state and then community organizer (ironically enough, working with some of those same folks who lost their jobs due to Wal-Mart pushing the factories to move to China) does?

She took some acting classes and is extremely cautious with how she portrays herself (and then when Obama does a slight slip-up that can be contorted and interpreted negatively, slams him as "inexperienced" for it). This does NOT mean she "knows where working class folks are coming from". "She's worked the night shift too" - yeah, really... when? And when has she done it because it was what had to be done to pay the bills, instead of what had to be done to further her ambitions?

Fighting for personal ambitions is not the same as working to keep food on the table and a roof over your head (or those of others).

Yes, Obama and Clinton are both lawyers, but their legal careers are as different as those of two architects, one who designs mansions and one who designs municipal bridges.