Hillary Is Still the Best President That Wasn't

The same day a fourth grade student asked President Obama why do people hate him a Gallup survey found that far more people like Hillary Clinton than Obama. The question and the poll implicitly asked and answered the youngster's troubling question. Obama is plainly not liked by a lot of people. The stock reasons they don't like him are racism, personal and political jealousy, partisan politics, fear of change, and just plain contrariness. With the sole exception of racism, these are the same reasons many Americans have disliked other presidents.

Hillary's popularity is a far different matter. The stock explanation for her popularity trounce of Obama is that she's not a sitting president. Therefore she has none of the burdens and problems of the office that reflexively stir tensions, create divisions, and engender animosity, even blind hatred toward a president.

That much is true. But there's more. The more is Hillary. Millions still have a deep respect, admiration, and appreciation for her tireless work as a women's rights advocate, her fight for health care reform, civil rights, and international diplomacy. Before the Democratic Party bosses and much of the media ganged up against her, she was the clear presidential choice of most rank and file Democrats and millions of voters who spanned all racial and ethnic lines. Despite being outgunned and out spent during the primary campaign war with Obama, she still retained much of that support.

Her positions on health care and corporate reform, her mea culpa for her early support of the Iraq war and willingness to oppose it later, her experience in international relations, and her hands on administrative experience in White House policy affairs insured the allegiance of millions of voters to her. She was the one Democrat who could beat any GOP contender, and hit the ground running once in office. Millions of women also saw Hillary as the gender Obama. Her presidency would have marked a historic presidential breakthrough for women. She would have been a role model and inspiration for millions of women young and old. She would have proven that women can hold the world's top political power spot and govern as well if not better than a man. And do it with the grace, dignity and class that had been sorely missing from the Oval Office for years. Her administration would have been savvy, moderate, and capable of skillfully navigating and winning the blood battles with Congress.

Obama knew all this about her. He wanted and needed her experience to shore up his paper thin resume on foreign policy issues. He also needed to remove the one Democrat who posed any real reelection threat to him in 2012. Obama quickly took that possibility off the table by back rooming her at the State Department to keep her out of the media and domestic policy limelight.

When asked whether she might be a candidate in 2012, Clinton dutifully says no; that she's happy at her post. She's telling the truth. But to millions of voters, Hillary was the best candidate in 2008. As the Gallup Poll shows a year later, to millions, she's still the best presidential candidate that wasn't.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press) will be released in January, 2010.

Comments

[NikkiT]

Thank You, Earl for your comments. I couldn't agree with you more. I am a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton's and will remain so for many years to come. She is the strongest, hardest working, diligent, loyal and smartest woman in America today. So, it was heartbreaking, to say the least, to watch first and foremost the party elders rip her apart, and not just the ole' boys club of Dean, Kerry, Carter, Kennedy, McGovern, Leahy, Richardonson and Edwards. But also WOMEN like Brazille, Pelosi, McCaskill, Napalatano, and Kennedy/Shriver - all these women claim to want more women in politics - yet when they had the opportunity to get behind the first woman President - they ran. And Pelosi was downright nasty. As women in America today face the same discrimination - they chose the younger, charming, less experienced male over the older, wiser, more experienced female. Then there was pure sexism by the media. The likes of Olbermann, Schult, Beck, roland Martin. And finally, in spite of having the most ACTUAL votes and neither candidate having enough pledged delegates, the committees decided how to distribute delegates for FL and MI to ensure Obama's win. After that I left the Democratic party. I hope Hillary runs in 2016 (we know she won't in 2012 because of her loyalty to the party she loves that dissed her) - screw her age, she'll remain hard working and she will be younger than Biden, Pelosi, and Kerry.

[2Bfair]

Earl Ofari Hutchinson,

Can you provide a link to back up your reference to Hillary's "mea culpa for her early support of the Iraq war and willingness to oppose it later"? I've asked and no one has responded.

Thanks.

[Mark Kraft]

"her mea culpa for her early support of the Iraq war"

Mea culpa, of course, means "my fault" in Latin.

Hillary Clinton never acknowledged any fault in supporting the war on Iraq, nor did she apologize for it and say she's sorry and she was wrong.

[Sandra Stipp]

I voted for Hillary to get into the primaries and I was vastly disappointed when she didn't get the nomination. Hillary is such a brillant woman. It is a shame she is not our current President. However, the choice between Pres. Obama and McCain was a no brainer. I stand 100% behind Pres. Obama and hope that he makes American a better country to live.

[2Bfair]

There is no doubt that HIllary is smart. But I believe she lacks integrity, good judgment and the skills of effective leadership. We are fortunate the the American people were wise enough not elect her.

[wreckdiver]

"I believe" you're wrong, and that the "opinion" of anyone obsessed enough to post 12,000 comments attacking the Clintons should be ignored.

That was easy.

[LanceThruster]

Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

----

"Sherman, set the WABAC machine to the 2000 Democratic Presidential Primaries."

"Yes, Mr. Peabody."

----

What? We don't have wayback machine?

Oh well.

[BocaMom]

If Hillary was President, she would certainly have learned one important from Bill that President Obama seems to be oblivious about: It's the economy stupid!

If President Obama doesn't fix the economy soon and bring down the unemployment from 10% to under 6%, we will lose the Congress and White House for sure!

[Mark Kraft]

As if he has the power to do that so easily... He can't do a lot of additional stimulus, due to budgetary constraints, nor can he fix the fact that there's an excess of production worldwide, with a shortage of consumption, and high energy prices that are driving up the price of goods, while reducing profits.

Obama *should* look at fixing the tax codes so that the rich pay more and the poor and middle class less, as they are more likely to spend a greater percentage of their money than the rich. Restore capital gains taxes back to what they were in the Reagan years. Hell... give Ronnie credit for it!

[2Bfair]

The corporations rule both the Republicans and the Democrats, and the corporations are making huge profits. Why would they want anything to change. And when they don't make huge profits, they rob the US Treasury. The banks, the healthcare providers and drug companies, the defense industry, the oil companies are rolling in wealth, while average Americans lose jobs, savings and homes. IT will take much more than President Obama to fix it.

If Americans want change, we need to replace every incumbent in Congress with a Representative or Senator who serves the people not corporations.

[memi]

Hillary was by far the most prepared, experienced, knowledgeable and intelligent candidate for the Democrats. As it happened, in full view of everyone, the everyday woman-bashing by the misogynist media fratboys with huge assists by the Obama campaign ("racist" card played nonstop, rumors, caucus rigging) had their desired impact. They were pushing the woman off the stage prematurely, demanding she throw the towel when, in fact, she was AHEAD of Obama in the primaries. Don't forget Texas fiasco of primary plus caucuses and try to hire a metaphysician to explain the numbers there!). Then they stole her Florida, Michigan delegates. No one asked Kennedy in 80 to get off the stage and quit fighting a losing battle with Carter! The Kennedy guy just went on and on. Water under the bridge. But Obama owes his Indecisive Presidency to his lack of specific policies (which unfortuantely persist), brand-charisma fostered by the Axelrod Public Relations co. and the Rahm arm-twisting. He defied public financing and spent half a billion for advertising vs. 1/5 of that for McCain and still Hillary was ahead of Obama in August 2008--before the Market fell....

[kathy001]

I don't see Hillary's position as SOS as backdooring her. I can not think of one single person I would rather have occupy that position. Just because it keeps her out of the public eye doesn't mean she isn't one of the greatest assets this country has.

But, frankly, I think losing Hillary in the Senate was a devastating loss. She was a powerhouse and she was gaining ground. She would have been another Ted Kennedy. I wish she could have seen how valuable she was to us in the Senate and decided to stay there instead of running for President.

[2Bfair]

Hillary has made history by being the first person to serve as "first lady" for two presidents, kinda.

[Cakey4814]

What did I say that was so bad that he keeps getting scrubbed? I disagree with Hutchinson but apparently can't write the reason why..

[SierraL]

And if Mrs. Clinton would have won, the article would have read..."Barack Is Still the Best President That Wasn't"...geez!

[SEQUOIABISON]

Thanks for your comments Earl but this liberal has no buyers remorse whatsoever. I think the voters finally made the right choice.

I am very happy with Hillary in the State Dept, especially now that she is carrying out the diplomatic policies of her president and of course I am ecstatic that Obama is occupying the white house and would be even happier if we can eliminate term limits for the executive branch, at least until a republican gets elected.

[Amina]

I so agree with you Sequoiabison. I have no buyer's remorse as well. Mr. Hutchinson, Hillary didn't win so LET IT GO!!!

[BocaMom]

If Obama doesn't fix the economy and get Americans back to work, I am voting for Hillary in 2012!

[biglith]

You'll have to write her in.

[2Bfair]

too funny

[seawolf77]

America missed out on possibly her greatest president and this from a man who is probably misoginistic and a bit of a jerk when it comes to women. But this was truly a great one who made great sacrifices for her family and her country and she was right about every one of them. God bless you Hillary and please reconsider running in 2012. Save us from SARAH!!!!!!!!!

[JimR]

Yes, let us all bow down and pay homage to Hillary. All Hail Hillary! All Hail HIllary!

Give it a rest. SHE LOST.

[Mark Kraft]

Don't worry. President Obama will clobber anyone who runs against him.

[Mark Kraft]

Hillary Clinton's behavior as:
- A women's rights advocate? She badgered a rape victim on the stand, accusing her of lying and leading on her attacker. She got on 60 Minutes with her husband, the candidate Bill Clinton, saying that she knew Bill hadn't had an affair with Gennifer Flowers, after she sued Bill. When Ms. Flowers released her tapes, Hillary falsely claimed that they were doctored and fraudulent, interfering with a lawsuit in progress.

- her fight for health care reform? What she proposed not only was decided on in back door meetings with HMOs and the like, but was also substantially worse than the Baucus Bill... a huge federal giveaway to the managed care industry responsible for rejecting care for consumers. It was so unpopular that it killed healthcare reform for a generation, and was rejected by most Democrats.

- international diplomacy?

Hillary Clinton was a tireless advocate for invading Iraq, repeatedly claiming they had weapons of mass destruction, despite the fact that national intelligence estimates -- what should've been her official source of intelligence -- said there was no evidence of such WMDs. Just weeks after another national intelligence estimate said that Iran had shelved their nuclear weapons program, she claimed they did have a nuclear weapons program, despite evidence to the contrary. Even President Bush had backed off of this position, but she kept with it. She used Iran fearmongering as a way to push Democrats towards the failed neoconservative policies she had supported.

[EWeiss]

"her mea culpa for her early support of the Iraq war and willingness to oppose it later"...

Does not exist.

[wonketteRAWKS]

Great insight Earl!