Inside the Head of a Hillary Devotee

When John Edwards' confession hit the MSM on Friday it knocked off the front pages Hillary's campaign appearance for Obama that afternoon in suburban Las Vegas. The Edwards/Rielle Hunter "news" -- ignored by the MSM which, as one journalist put it, would touch it only with "tongs" -- had a second ill-timed impact on Obama. With two weeks to the Democrats' convention in Denver, Obama did not need Howard Wolfson, Hillary's chief flack during the primaries, to speculate that had Edwards come clean before the Iowa caucus in January 2008, Hillary would have won the caucus -- she came in third behind Edwards -- and she, not the first-place winner, Obama, would be the nominee.

That scenario is highly debatable -- Obama, not Clinton was the voters' second choice -- but it still made the headlines and gave Hillary's dead-enders a double grievance (against Obama and, now also, against Edwards). Later in the day Wolfson backtracked, acknowledging exit polling "tells something different," but sticking to his "gut" feeling that had Edwards confessed in a timely manner, "we would have done better in Iowa."

As the Edwards scandal unfolded last Friday I was preparing to interview Simone DuBois, the Hillary devotee who videotaped the "Unity" event in Los Altos Hills, California that has since been seen around the world. In it, Hillary, standing on the steps leading to a supporter's patio and yard, seemed to encourage her backers to develop a "strategy" for the convention that could result in a roll-call vote. Hillary described the opportunity for them to express themselves at the convention as a "catharsis." (See my earlier post on the subject.)

DuBois, 44, grew up on a farm in Iowa, and lived around the country and in Europe before moving to Oakland, California not quite three years ago. A Hillary backer from the start of the nomination battle, she calls the Senator from New York the smartest, most prepared person to be president.

I first saw DuBois's video on August 2, and my post about it appeared the next day. DuBois was one of the hosts at the fundraiser (attended by both Obama and Clinton supporters) designed to retire some of Hillary's debt. When she saw Hillary that day, DuBois recalls, "I put my hand on my heart and said, `You absolutely inspire me. I hope that when you are feeling down and blue that you'll think of all of us out here that have worked on your behalf and still care about you very, very much.'"

DuBois can't seem to find anything positive to say about the presumptive nominee, Obama -- her second choice in the primaries was Joe Biden; "I love Biden." Early in our conversation, DuBois said she "leans" toward voting for John McCain, but was also leaving open the option of writing in Hillary's name.

That Hillary lost Iowa, DuBois says, was no surprise because it was easier for the younger Obama enthusiasts to make it to the caucuses. As evidence, she cites her 67-year-old mother whose Iowa house sits on a gravel road. She had just broken her wrist, but promised her daughter that she would caucus. Keeping that promise required her to drive 12 miles in the dark. On arrival she was directed to an entrance across an iced-over parking lot. DuBois has a list of other grievances that she believes were perpetrated by the Obama camp, aided by Howard Dean and his DNC. Working as a monitor for four precincts during the Texas caucuses, she says that packets went missing--taken, she implies, by the Obama people. A letter of complaint about the Texas caucus sent to Howard Dean by registered mail went unanswered, she adds, as did additional letters she and her compatriots sent him. On May 31, when the DNC's rules and bylaws committee met, she complains that delegates were unfairly allocated. "I think they absolutely handed it to Obama." She derides Obama as "selected" and "the anointed one."

Since her You Tube hit the charts, she has been bombarded with ugly email: "I'm a racist and everything else." Just after the primaries ended, in the front yard of the house she shares with her girlfriend -- who has not decided whether to write in Hillary's name or vote for McCain, but will definitely not vote for Obama -- she placed a McCain sign "right behind" her Clinton sign. She describes her neighborhood as "liberal," and says a neighbor left an unsigned, typewritten note on her doorstep complaining that "your lawn signs give the impression, anyone except a black man." The writer denounced McCain as anti-woman and pro-war. "Please reconsider this." She wrote him/her back: "You know nothing about the diversity in our families; this is our property and one of us at least has decided to support John McCain ... We're open to a discussion, a dialogue." No takers as yet. (DuBois went from "leaning" McCain to voting McCain by the conclusion of our hour-long conversation.)

DuBois, who describes her work as "sales," attributes her support of Hillary to time spent in Syracuse and seeing how hands-on the new Senator was in upstate New York. Hillary's performance during the debates closed the sale. "She was just so strong." She says that she concluded that Hillary "has one of the greatest minds that could really turn this country around."

Her personal interaction with Hillary, before the "Unity" event, consists of shaking her hand and exchanging a few sentences at rallies during the nomination battle. While visiting her family in Iowa, before the caucus there, she first met Hillary at a "sale barn."

"She has an energy ... she gives you that one-on-one focus, she just really pays attention, and she's just really smart and she's caring." That enthusiasm resulted in Dubois ringing doorbells for Hillary, hosting phone banking and letter writing to superdelegate parties at her home. DuBois campaigned outside BART stations, stood "for hours" on corners holding signs, raised money, cofounded a group called the East Bay Iron Angels

She plans another protest, this one in San Francisco, on August 17. Her protests in Denver a week later will be peaceful -- but the messages on protest signs will be strong: "Denounce Nobama's Coronation." She will not be moved by her critics. "I hear all the time, `Get over it, you guys lost, quit whining'; you should see the hate mail I get, just from the video ... Why ... not put my candidate's name in nomination. ....What would it hurt to have her name in nomination?"

If she could give Hillary advice it would be to concentrate on her work in the Senate, and not work for Obama. "Why should she? It'll only help him" She will be "ecstatic," she says, should Obama lose in November, and on election night her house would become "Hillary headquarters for Oakland, California ... I will just take it upon myself for the next four years to just start strategically saving money, tap into my friends to have them save money, and to make this happen in 2012."

In the meantime, she works for McCain -- hosting a barbeque at her house for her East bay Iron Angels. She invited s McCain surrogate, Michelle Gray, who had quickly tried to recruit DuBois, to speak. She gets email from McCain's people asking her to do phone banking. She'll probably go to Oregon to work for McCain "I hear that Oregon is getting close ... within three points."

She has told McCain's people that she hopes McCain, if elected in 2008, will be a one-term president, losing to Hillary in 2012. She says she has been straightforward about this and McCain's aides have responded, "We're happy to have you now."

DuBois says a vote for McCain would be the first time in her life she has voted Republican. Before she would look only at Democratic names; if her research found a Democrat coming up short, she would "leave it blank. I wouldn't even look at any other party." She is no longer a straight-ticket voter. "I have changed my entire outlook on political life."

She also has sworn off MSNBC, and she seems skeptical also of CNN, which used to be her home page. She admires FOX News, which she claims to have just started to watch this year, and Bill O'Reilly "I think [Obama's] uncomfortable with himself. Let me ask you this: he says he will go meet world leaders with no preconditions, then why can't he sit down with Bill O'Reilly....I think he's scared."

She says that she "discovered" Obama's church soon after the New Hampshire primary, "way before the story broke. ... I'm telling my friends, `You guys gotta go look at his church website, it is really racist; you have to check it out.'" She says she didn't think of bringing Trinity and Reverend Wright to the attention of Hillary's people. "Fox News covered it a year before; it just never got picked up. I mean Sean Hannity was covering this ... months before but it never got picked up by the MSM." She also suggests -- no evidence offered -- that John Edwards endorsed Obama because Obama's people knew about the affair and threatened him. Asked how it serves Obama that the story broke this week, she responds that Obama "doesn't want Edwards in his cabinet."

Of the people whose names remain on her email list, none will vote for Obama, she says happily. One-third will stay home, 1/3 will vote for McCain, 1/3 will write in Hillary's name.

As for Obama selecting Hillary as his VP, she hopes he doesn't. "What's in it for her? ... She only helps him." The possibility of Obama naming another woman as VP does nothing for DuBois. "I don't think there's anybody better qualified than Hillary. Why would you pick another woman, for what reason, to pander?" She seems not to see anything odd about the "Hillary or Bust" position; that only one female Democrat is qualified to be on the national ticket.

When asked if she worries that voting for McCain could result in the overturn of Roe v Wade, she answers, "I don't see it being overturned. I think the Republicans make way too much money on it. It's a cash cow for them ... Send out a letter with Roe v Wade in the first sentence and you got a couple of million."

Comments

[Countdown09]

I have a friend who reminds me very much of this women. At first I could not understand why she took Hillary's loss so personal, why she was so angry and willing to take her anger out on O bama. Then I realized this is NOT about Hillary, it's about "them". They have successful projected themselves onto Hillary. She didn't lose, they lost. If this was about Hillary, if these women really cared about Hillary they would not be behaving in this way, this is not good for Hillary in the future. I'm already seeing a ground swell of Obama supporters promising Hillary will suffer for the actions of women like DuBois.

[Womanvoter4Obama]

I agree. I really was about them and not Hillary. I do believe there was a LOT of projection going on in this campaign and I can't imagine what it must have been like for Hillary to carry the weight of that on her shoulders. I can see how she might feel she owes these women something, but I believe she's given much more than ever expected.

I saw at the Democratic Committee meeting in Florida there was going to be no hope of being some Hillary supporters on board. Absolutely no hope and that's well within their rights but I also have the right to say..shut up and vote McCain. I'm sick of hearing your caterwalling about the great Hillary. Its' over. Cast your vote for McCain. I know there's nothing I can say that's going to sway you..so..d­o it.

[loper2008]

She lives in California. Who cares? Every election their Democrats who vote for Republicans for whatever reason. We don't need 100% of Democrats to win.

That being said, women like DuBois are sad. They believe in silly conspiracy theories about Obama and Howard Dean. They hate Obama as much as Republicans hate HRC and for completely irrational reasons. They have turned into what they claim to be fighting against--monstrous bigots. We will win without them and then they will have to reflect on the real cause of their hatred because it certainly has nothing do with Obama.

[UncommonSenz]

After whatever happens at the convention (and I truly hope it won't be as petulant and divisive as the PUMAs on the board have been) I hope the "Clinton was robbed" storyline simply fades away. it was once a legitimate story- now it is recycled pap, especially since polls clearly show that the overwhelming majority of Clinton supporters have in fact moved to Obama.

Notice there is not one mention above of an actual issue where McCain's position is closer to Hillary's. Not one.

People have the luxury of voting for any candidate for any reason they choose. Fine. But we as a nation cannot afford to have so much coverage given to people who are not examining any issues- just going on pure emotion. It is no longer "news" to say that people like the one in the article are bitter and hate Obama. So what? I'm still bitter that the Rockies got smoked in the World Series- doesn't make it newsworthy.

If they have issues with his platform, let's hear them. If they think McCain has a superior position on ANY issue, then let's debate that. This country really needs honest, vigorous debate. The far left has already done this with Obama on many specific issues.

But enough of the emotional whining. So she won't vote for him... good for her. But giving a soapbox to someone who cannot even articulate one single issues-based concern just keeps us further away from finding real solutions.

[wilburr0g]

Issues don't matter. The support for hillary is only because she's a woman.

[Countdown09]

Well said UncommonSenz!

[chs1965]

I am glad this says "inside the head". It could not have been "inside the brain" as it appears that none is present.

[Johnnn]

What have you Obama people done to the Democratic Party? Since when do we coronate a nominee? I want a roll call state by state! Obama might get the nomination by the time we get to West
Virginia. That's how I remember Democratic conventions from my youth. That's what I want. If you don't like it go text message yourself.

[reliant1]

1992 convention - educate yourself

there is always a roll call. duh.

the question is who's names will be on it? they must request their name be placed for it to be called.

who's names were called in 1992?

why did hillory tell both opponents that unless they endorsed billy, released their delegates and refused to allow their names to be called - they would not be allowed to speak at the convention.

what happened in 1992?

a coronation.

unanimous 1st roll call for billy.

she was tough and she wanted a unity roll call and she sure as hell got it.

[Johnnn]

I don't remember Hillary having so much clout in 1992. That tactic wouldn't work with me. If I'm a rival candidate I will get my delegates to nominate me, then I'll go up, thank them for their support, and decline the nominate..­.after making the speech of my life. If
someone in the party tries to tell me I won't be allowed to speak unless I release my delegates, I would get a copy of the party platform, roll it up tight, and tell them where to stick it.

[Johnnn]

I say good for her! The Democratic Presidential Primary system is a travesty! The caucuses should be abolished. Working people and the elderly have no time for caucuses. The proof, by the way, that
racism has nothing to do with not liking Obama is that the justified criticisms of Obama do not apply
to Colin Powell. The Hillary people, such as me, would easily vote for Powell. He IS experienced, not
too liberal, and not too young. Why are people so quick to fall for hero worship? I support Hillary
because she brings the hgihly competent Clinton Administration back. What does Obama bring?
A movement of dreamy young people and rich white liberals.

[UncommonSenz]

Just look at the ISSUES. Have you looked at the platforms of Obama and Hillary? They are nearly identical.

Instead of attacking the people that support him, how about his policies. Vote (or don't vote) for whomever you like. But ignoring issues-based decisions in one of the most important elections in a generation is a travesty. Look how that turned out for us with Bushco.

[Poststep]

It's not about issues. Just look at the last 8 years.

[Countdown09]

Johnnn - I dare you to read the article regarding how Hill ran her campaign (link below) and come back here and "honestly" say she would be the better person to run this country. The abilities (and lack of) show in running their campaigns is the BEST indication if not only indication of what we could expect in from them in leading this country and managing an administration.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200809/hillary-clinton-campaign

[Johnnn]

That article is a lot of inside baseball but I give you that Hillary's campaign was a
mess. I have had discussions with friend's over whether or not a candidate's executive
ability over a campaign organization translates into effective leadership as President.
You will want to think "yes it does" but I've heard differing opinions on that. Look at all
the disappointing Presidents we've had. They were the winning candidates but their
tenure as President fell short.

[reliant1]

highly competent? billy doesn't get a 3rd remember - it's one of those annoying rules.

hillory can't lead a campaign past feb without going broke.

do you know what happens after most caucuses? there's a primary vote. we caucused here and then a few months later we had our primary.

what's your opinion on billys 1992 convention coronation - strong armed by hillory? that was ok?

prove that obama only has dreamy youth and rich whites...h­e's leading with the hispanics, aa, asians, men and he's gaining a whole lot of women.

[Poststep]

Hills and Bills had 16 years to do away with the caucus system while they were king and queen of the Democrats.

[tel8034]

It seems as if the PUMAs have a lot of idle time on their hands these days, so why couldn't they find the time to ensure that Hillary won the caucuses?

Hillary's campaign memos disclosed that her campaign was too BROKE to be able to compete in the caucuses..­..........­....... Even if they were primaries she would not have had the money to compete in every state.

Hillary was SO SURE OF A VICTORY, that she never had a plan for AFTER Super Tuesday.

Besides it was Hillary who said CAUCUSES DON'T MATTER ..........­........ They mattered to Obama and he WON.

[Shott3r]

People are so damn selfish. That's all it comes to. People bitter that "their girl" didn't win when it was so clearly "her turn" are willing to sacrifice the rest of the country out of spite. Idiocracy - it's happening. And though no one admits racism, there is unconscious bias in people of all races, and it seems that a lot of people can't wrap their minds around Obama because of it, even though they find every other justification. Hillary [hell anyone] would be much better than McCain, but Obama would be better than Hillary. It's obvious to anyone who takes the time to think.

Hopefully, sense prevails. But given that this is America, and after the last two elections, I have a sinking feeling...

[american2008]

Oh my God! This woman is insane!

[Openeyes]

Ok, so you spent the day with a crazy person - what is your point? Surely not that all Hillary devotees are demented.

[BachelorJohnnyCool]

I don't understand why so many of Senator Clinton's die-hard supporters are convinced that she would win in 2012. A lot can happen in four years. Many people thought Senator "Joe-mentum" Lieberman would be the nominee in 2004 and look how that turned out.

[Countdown09]

The PUMA's of which I suspect Ms. DuBois is a member, have ruined any chance of a future Hillary Presidency. Unless they can go to the convention and act like real democrats.

[texastrixie]

Don't be disingenuous. This is the only chance Hillary has at the nomination. That is why her voters are so ticked. She is at the upper age limit (millenials are never going to vote for anyone over 50 until they are 50). Although the boomers are between 42 and 62, even most of those in their 40's won't vote for anyone over 50. Look at all the seasoned candidates that were in the Democratic field. No one except Hillary came close. If Obama wins (please Lord please), Hillary will seem ready for a nursing home in 2016 (at least to voters). So that's one reason why they are not making nice - they know that really there is no 2016. And if she thinks she will viable in 2012 if Obama loses, she is sorely mistaken. She really needs to blame the guy who trashed her campaign - the original twerp with the zipper problems. Hillary Clinton might just have railroaded Al Gore in 2000 and run herself - if she hadn't had to deal with horny hubbie.

[timm0]

I had no idea that the line between 'avid supporter' and 'wildly lusting, obsessed, stalking lunatic' was so very thin.

[benjaminblue]

It's sad that progressive women -- justifiably proud that Senator Clinton's near-victory seemed to smash irrational stereotypes -- are now doing all they can to reinforce the old prejudice that women are nothing but a bunch of crybabies, reacting emotionally and immaturely to an outcome they do not accept.

How will their "demonstration" against Senator Obama and the Democratic Party bring about meaningful, positive change for America or the world?

Senator Clinton will still be violating the spirit of the 22nd Amendment if the women's ploy is successful and if she runs again in 2012. I still won't vote for her (because of the spirit of the 22nd Amendment), and the negative backlash to the Clintons' insistence upon a prominent role in causing upheaval at the 2008 Convention will only hurt, not help, the party again four years from now.

Women will have much more success in four years (or eight years) if they choose to endorse a candidate without the Clintons' baggage or their apparent willingness to go against the spirit of the law.

We've had far too much fringe-of-the-law, seat-of-the-pants decision making by "the Decider," and Americans are not willing to have four or eight more years of the same. It is time to restore America, so it is again a nation of laws.

[SpoxLogic]

This about explains it all:
"-She also has sworn off MSNBC, and she seems skeptical also of CNN, which used to be her home page. She admires FOX News, which she claims to have just started to watch this year, and Bill O'Reilly "I think [Obama's] uncomfortable with himself. Let me ask you this: he says he will go meet world leaders with no preconditions, then why can't he sit down with Bill O'Reilly..­..I think he's scared."

'Nuff said.

[Micah616]

And they wonder why people think that they are racists.

[GeorgeKaplan]

Rubbish... People do not think that .... you do.

[chefrasta]

Also tell your fellow devotee of the cult of Hillary to read this if she thinks McCain wont overturn womens rights
Life Sentence
by Sarah Blustain
Stop kidding yourself: John McCain is a pro-life zealot.
Post Date Wednesday, August 27, 2008
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=3483eb20-9228-4700-9557-57a47a676e0b

[hopeless277]

Talk about a cult of personality! I guess the fact that Hillary LIED TO HER only enhances her aura. Well, she can join the Taylor Marsh brigade in Denver. At the speed Obama is backtracking on his promises, it really does not matter who wins in November, the country will still be in the clutches of a NeoConman.