Hillary's Macha Problem
The following piece is published on the author's blog, WitnessLA, as well as OffTheBus.
It has been clear for some time that, whenever she debates her democratic rivals, Hillary Clinton is determined to position herself as the toughest guy in the room. But, now that---rightly or wrongly--- she appears to believe she's headed for a lock on the Democratic nomination, her advisors admit that she's begun campaigning beyond the primaries to the general election. This means that, instead of merely trying to out-macho Obama and Edwards, HRC is now focused on demonstrating that she's a manlier man than Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney. This would all be fine and dandy if it were not for the fact that Hil's way of proving she is ultra buff---politically speaking---has some very unfortunate downsides.
A prominent example is her vote late last month for the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, a nasty, war-mongering little measure that urged the State Department to declare Iran's 125,000-member Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. This Dick Cheney-dream of a move is the rough equivalent of, say, Russia declaring the U.S. Marines a terrorist group. In other words, it's a stance that is provocative at the least and, at worst, a back door, tacit agreement that it's okay for the President to order tactical strikes against Iran's military training bases without Congressional approval. Obama and Edwards both came out against the resolution (although Barak wasn't there for the vote). Yet, Hilary has declared that her YEA vote was simply to "put some teeth into all this talk about dealing with Iran." Right, Hil, just like the Iraq war resolution.
More recently, there has been Hillary's waffling on torture. In last week's interview with the Washington Post, she gave a stupendously fuzzy answer when asked what she thought about torture in general, and the CIA's special interrogation methods, specifically: "It is not clear yet exactly what this administration is or isn't doing," HRC said. "We're getting all kinds of mixed messages. I don't think we'll know the truth until we have a new president. I think [until] you can get in there and actually bore into what's been going on, you're not going to know." When a full transcript of the interview was released, we saw that Hil also said the US should draw a "bright line" about the torture issue, a specifics-challenged stand that doesn't really differentiate itself from that of George "We don't torture." Bush.
This past Monday, when she was on The View, Hillary was again questioned on the torture issue and had a brand new opportunity to say "No waterboarding," no "rendering" people to countries that do practice torture. She didn't take it.
Hey, in some ways, Hillary's macha routine is understandable. Certainly, any woman who wants to be taken seriously as a candidate for the presidency is going to have to prove to a jittery American public that, when it comes to protecting the country and its citizens, the girls can be every bit as tough as the boys. And, after watching decorated war vet John Kerry be unjustly smeared in the 2004 general election as an effete, chardonnay-sipping weakling, incapable of forceful leadership, Hil has clearly decided that some sort of preemptive pugnacity---all delivered with her trademark campaign-trail smile---is the way to go. Frankly, I suspect that if it was legal, she'd show up to debates wearing a nicely cut skirt and blazer, and packing a 9 mm side-arm.
Hillary's badder-than-thou strategy is making itself felt on the domestic policy side of things too. For instance, in an effort to bolster her tough-on-crime creds---which she figures she'll need if Rudy Giuliani gets the Republican nomination---Hillary co-sponsored a lousy piece of legislation called the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007. The bill, which passed out of the Senate late last month, and will soon come up for a vote in the House, capitalizes on national gang hysteria by adding another layer of penalties that will push more juveniles into the federal court system.
The Hardcore Hilary routine is all the more depressing because, if nearly eight years of George Bush should have taught us anything, it's that tough-mindedness and bad-ass-talk are not at all equivalent, and mistaking one for another can lead a country down a mighty dark and dangerous road.
So, listen-up, Hillary, here's the deal: Real leadership consists of more than muscle-flexing, and it isn't focus-group-driven. It is never bad for bad's sake. Truly strong leaders act with a sense of clarity, restraint, wisdom and commitment---and not because they think they ought to look tough.
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I can't belive Americans want to go down this same old dreary road and put those lying Clintons back in the White House. Havn't we yet had enough of these white trash hillbilly people?
maybe people bash her because they are tired of beimg told that she is the only candidate to beat the other party. any candidate can beat the other party if enough people vote.
THIRD-PARTY - If we took our 30% and the right-wing 30% - Then
we could throw all the BUM's Out of Washington ...
After what the DEM'S didn't do about the WAR and - no over-sight
and what they just tried to do - tax the poor subsidize the rich-greedy
big-ag - big-insurance - big-cheap-slave-labor ...
~~ What diff does it make - Who is shooting you in the FACE ??? ~~
THIRD-PARTY
mvpeach10
IF THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO WIN BACK THE WHITE HOUSE, they had better stop
their attacks on Hillary Clinton. Yes, she's playing to the general election
as well she ought to. Anything she says during the pre-nomination period will
be used against her by the Republican swift boaters. Be smart for a change
instead of ideological, and maybe there will be a Democrat in the White House
who will fill several vacancies sure to come up on the Supreme Court in the
next 4-8 years. Bush has already put young right wing religious fanatics on
the high court, and it constitutes a majority. We have to be prepared to replace
any future vacancies with people who are not beholden to the Christian right
extremists. We know what Islam does in each country where they dominate. Bush
has been doing the same thing. It must be stopped. Only a Democrat in the White
House can stop it. BE SMART FOR A CHANGE. PICK A WINNER. HILLARY IS OUR BEST SHOT.
Let me translate this blog for those who aren't willing to wade through it.
Clinton: b-a-a-d.
Obama: g-o-o-o-d.
The rest is just window dressing.
Let me also point out that:
Clinton: A Democratic nominee
Obama: Will get to make a nice speech at the convention. After he can sulk or throw his support for Hillary. We will see if he picks the high road or a low road. His future political chances will depend on that.
IF THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO WIN BACK THE WHITE HOUSE, they had better stop their attacks on Hillary Clinton. Yes, she's playing to the general election as well she ought to. Anything she says during the pre-nomination period will be used against her by the Republican swift boaters. Be smart for a change instead of ideological, and maybe there will be a Democrat in the White House who will fill several vacancies sure to come up on the Supreme Court in the next 4-8 years. Bush has already put young right wing religious fanatics on the high court, and it constitutes a majority. We have to be prepared to replace any future vacancies with people who are not beholden to the Christian right extremists. We know what Islam does in each country where they dominate. Bush has been doing the same thing. It must be stopped. Only a Democrat in the White House can stop it. BE SMART FOR A CHANGE. PICK A WINNER. HILLARY IS OUR BEST SHOT.
Yes, absolutely! Of course! Your argument makes perfect sense! We should ignore what she's saying "just to win the general election" because it's only lies told to fool the great unwashed. We should be confident that she's lying to "them", but it truly one of "us"...
Let's get someone elected with the label "Democrat"! Who cares if they're a crypto-republican? So long as our team stats reflect a win!
That argument makes me want to vomit. Most blind Hillary supporters make me want to vomit. (And I'm not wild about Obama's supporters' arguments either, btw)
This argument doesn't hold much water, as Supreme Court vacancies only usually come up when a judge decides to leave the bench due to illness, retirement, or death. Which of the justices in particular do you expect to become terminally ill or die in the next 4-8 years? They're all there for the next 20, so get used to it.
Clinton's supporters are obviously blind to the truth about her, or don't want to face reality. If elected president, I doubt if she will renounce Bush's actions for an all powerful executive branch at the cost of the legislative branch. She also will likely pick up Bush's practice of "signing statements". This is the price the country will pay for having a two family monarchy continue for another four to eight years.
Women leaders in the past have shown they can be as tough as any man...no one would ever question Maggie Thatcher's, Golda Meir's, or Indira Gandhi's toughness, ever.
That being said, I think you are parsing Hillary's words WAYYYY to much.
We don't need anymore spin stuff from the Bush clan or Clinton clan. No more of the same XXXX. What we do need is someone who is not owned by the Defense industry or the health care industry. We need a new perspective, my god we just had another cowboy (HRC would be a cowgirl) stand up in front of our country yesterday on TV and tell us we are headed to World War III and the shit head laughed about it.
We need new thoughts we don't need a Dem. neocon preaching the same tired Cheney - Bush BS stuff trying to show how tough she is. All we need is more, we're kicking ass in Iraq, Mission Accomplished, bring hm on, it's a small price to pay and of course the always good "Stay the course"
No thanks, get on board the Obama Rocket......
Thanks for pointing out the obvious. I remember when she co-sponsored flag burning legislation. The fact that she doesn't feel comfortable running as a woman simply stating that she would do things differently speaks volumes. The impact that the gang legislation would have on African American and Latino communities is too much to ponder especially when you combine it with the mandatory drug sentencing.
WHY the surprise ? THIS is who she has ALWAYS been, only the diatribe changed to suit the theme at hand. There is no difference between the angst of first presidential campaign of her husband as she denounced her husband's accusers re: Jennifer Flowers et al. affairs and the angst she displays against her competitors at any other given time, including the latest of her own pres campaign. Hillary is all-too focused upon her competition and all too little focused on a clear vision for a future socioeconomic health of the USA which will restore strength and democracy through restoring the US Constitution/Bill of Rights to its rightful place underpinning EVERY policy and decision made for the leadership of the USA citizen people and for the vision of the USA future well-being, restored integrity and good reputation in the world. Hillary acknowledged this her posture when she decried "change as impossible and unrealistic in the current power structure", she being unable to see beyond the competitition; likewise, her husband defined his policies by his political opponents' positions, policies, demands, intersts, etc. so that he was 'he best republican the democratic party ever had' producing republican leadership from the dais of the democratic party. His wife clearly thinsk the same way, with much the same limitations, utterly lacking the creative vision to see the USA nation in the midst of its 21st century surrounds and challenges and define a vision to restore the USA to whomshe was Constitutionally under FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK/LBJ...before the mad dogs of money-power hijacked the nation and drove her into the mire of socioeconomic inqualities which are antithetical to Democracy. US Constitutional Democracy cannot exist whilst the political games are rigged and fixed to produce a ruling elite, the precise thing the US Constitution was written to preempt, the very thing the USA was established by the Founding Fathers to prohibit.
Cut HILLARY to shreds and you will have the White House in Republican hands for another 8 years. She must play to the general election rather than to the nuts on the extreme left of the party if she hopes to get elected, and even then she needs to do what Bush never did do--Lead from the center so that all the diversity in our country can begin to come together for the sake of preserving the strength of our nation as the leading power in the world. Be smart. The next century we are confronting a growing military and economic power in China, and an insane, violent Islamic onslaught. It's time to join together as a country to confront these dangers, but no Republican will do that. They are primarily interested in advancing the interests of the top 10 percent of the population at the expense of the rest of America
Rather I would suggest you pay attention to HRC's affiliations and track record BEFORE she gets the nomination so we don't end up with another president who fooled half the people.
It's not the top 10% you should be worried about---pay attention to the 4000 CFR'ers that HRC serves.
The problem, mvpeach10, is that Hillary's foreign policies and pandering to special interest business groups will differ not one iota from Cheney/Bush. So you'll have a Democrat instead of a Republican selling the US down the river.... will that make it all so much more palatable?
Maybe he would but needs to play catch up in countering the well oiled machinery of the Clinton campaign. It is very difficult to convince people of your worth in this country without continuing publicity and workers. If people want someone who is ready to reverse the years of damage to our country they will have to go out and work for it.
To quote Thomas Paine: "THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
The apologists for Hillary Clinton who claim she is where the american people are could not be more wrong. Do you honestly believe that a majority of Americans want to go to war with Iran? I know the neocons and AIPAC crowd want this but I doubt the majority of Americans really wish this to happen.
I agree with bassnman - we need a radical change. Our politicians now are so comfortable with taking big money, underhanded deals, etc.
stuffing their own pockets and tax you more or
take away some beneficial programs. There is no accountability. Every year the budget figure is higher than the last; we hear about
mismanagement, but they press on nevertheless,
until we are all bled dry! And to top it all off, they are getting their regular scheduled pay increases and not just 2.3%!!!! It is like they are hurting for more. Vote 3rd party and send a message.
As Liberals and Progressives continue to pull away from Hillary and her disturbingly neocon-like war-mongering, perhaps conservatives will flock
to her (yeah, right).
Where have all the Progressive politicians gone?
No money in it, I guess.
The cackling calculating family-values beard for Bill Clinton will say or do anything to be president. Like her "husband," she will do nothing as president for anyone other than corporate or moneyed political groups. But to Ms. Fremon's point, Hilary has too much blood on her hands, like the lamentable Mr. Kerry and all those others that voted for the war in Iraq and try to blame it on Bush. Yea, he pulled the trigger, but they gave him the loaded gun knowing what he was gonna' do. To butch up your national security bona vides with the blood of thousands of American service men and women, to say nothing of the 10's of thousands of Iraqi children is real evil. People have instinctive denial when it comes to issues like this so that it doesn't reach their core because if it did they probably couldn't live with themselves. Both Clintons are narcissists, so I'm sure Hillary doesn't lose any sleep over all those dead and maimed babies, and unlike Lady Macbeth, doesn't even see the blood on her hands.
That's bona FIDES...look it up.
Hillary as Lady Macbeth...now that's a new level of misogynist bullcrap that we have reached. Honestly, the Hillary haters grow ever more bizarre and delusional in their attacks.
This Hillary Clinton bashing is getting old. Wake up. She's the best chance the Dems have of regaining the White House. Can't the extreme left ever wise up enough to allow the Dems to reclaim power? They shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly. Really now. Calling Hillary Clinton Lady Macbeth just shows the stupidity, the hyperbole, the myopic view of the left in the party. I'm so sick of it. It's the same group who call Israel terroristic and Hamas just fighting for justice. Oh give me a break. The left wing of the party is as stupid and self-defeating as the right wing of the Republican party. We need a third party for intelligent and rational Americans.
Your last sentence actually had nerit.
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