The Monster: A Loyal Clinton Soldier Turns in His Badge
She has no idea.
She has no idea how many times I defended her. How many right-leaning friends and relatives I battled with. How many times I played down her shady business deals and penchant for scandals -- whether it was Whitewater, Travelgate, Vince Foster, Cattle Futures, Web Hubbell, or Norman Hsu. She has no idea how frequently I dismissed her husband's serial adultery as an unfortunate trait of an otherwise brilliant man. For sixteen years, I was a proud soldier in the legion of "Clinton apologists" -- who believed that peace and prosperity were more important than regrettable personality traits.
And then she ran for president.
After seven years of George W. Bush, America is hungry for change. Big change. And let's face it -- Hillary Clinton, the party standard-bearer and former White House denizen -- isn't it. But even after voters coalesced around Barack Obama, handing him eleven straight primaries (twelve, if you count Vermont), she refused to accept the possibility -though math, money and momentum were clearly against her -- that the Bush/Clinton Family Band might not be #1 on America's Billboard chart anymore.
So, rather than step aside and become the hero of her party, she made a strategy decision to go negative in advance of Ohio and Texas. Not just negative -- personal. She cynically chided Mr. Obama's message of hope. She played the victim card. The gender card. The Muslim card. She cried "shame on you, Barack Obama" for his campaign tactics, while (if we're to believe Matt Drudge) simultaneously floating a picture of him in Somali garb to stir up questions of his patriotism.
She accused Mr. Obama of his own shady business deals (the irony of which nearly ripped a hole in the fabric of space/time). She accused him of being two-faced on NAFTA, when it was her campaign that had winked at the Canadians. She demanded that he "reject" the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, but remained silent when Rush Limbaugh stirred up votes for her in Texas. And she crafted the now-infamous "3am" attack ad -- which used scare tactics to highlight Senator Obama's perceived lack of experience in foreign affairs. Straight out of the ol' Atwater/Rove playbook. Of course, all of this paled in comparison to her husband's patronizing, racially insensitive comments earlier in the primary season.
Was this the same Hillary Clinton whose husband ran on the idea that hope was more powerful than fear? The wife of a president who had less foreign policy experience than Barack Obama when he was elected? And exactly which crisis is she referring to when she claims to have more experience? And while we're at it, where the hell are those tax returns?
It's clear that Hillary's back in this thing, at least for the time being. But at what cost? Short of some cataclysmic event, there's no way either she or Mr. Obama can reach 2,025 delegates in the remaining contests. That means she's accepted the inevitability of a brokered convention. A convention she'll almost certainly enter with fewer delegates than her opponent. That raises some important questions:
Will she subvert the will of the voters? Will she turn Denver into a series of shady back-room deals and arm twisting? Will she dispatch her husband to pressure superdelegates into switching allegiances at the last minute? Are we in for, as one pundit put it, a good ol' fashioned "knife fight?"
And if she does manage to secure the nomination, what about the scores of disenfranchised Obama supporters (many of them young people with little loyalty to the Democratic Party)? How will she bring them back into the tent? Hillary seems confident that this can be remedied by offering Mr. Obama a spot on her ticket. Really? And what would his motivation be for accepting? Playing third-fiddle to Bill?
However, if Mr. Obama goes on to secure the nomination, she'll have handed his rival a treasure trove of sound bites. All John McCain has to do between August and November is play clips of Hillary questioning Obama's experience and belittling his platitudes. In a way, she'll have become Mr. McCain's second running mate.
She's proven that she cares more about "Hillary" than "unity." More about defeating Obama than defeating the Republicans. She's become a political suicide-bomber, happy to blow herself to bits -- as long as she takes everyone else with her.
On Friday, one of Barack Obama's foreign policy advisors, Samantha Power, resigned after calling Senator Clinton "a monster" during an off-the-record exchange. It was an unfortunate slip, but one that echoed the sentiments of many Clinton apologists like me -- who've watched Hillary's descent into pettiness and fear-mongering with the heartbreak of a child who grows up to realize that his beloved mother has been a terrible person all along.
Are the conservatives right about the Clintons? Will they do and say anything to get elected?
I don't know.
All I know is...I'm through apologizing.
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Excellent article... you said it all. As for the comments, that's another story. None the less I enjoy reading the 3 am jottings that seem to make it here. Why do we have to vote for her, why does she deserve this presidency. Obama is just fine for me. The Presidency involves surrounding yourself with wise people and this guy will do it. We know exactly what the Clinton's will do. The media is so pro Clinton because they know that they will have a treasure trove of news for the next 8 years. War upon war and rumors of war. No they can't have it this time! Please. Give a small gift to Obama to keep the $$ coming in to fight against her. If I could I would go to PA. and knock on doors. I truly would. Please world give us Obama this time... won't Chelsey be 35 then and we can elect her.
Only people who've never bothered reading Obama's record could refer to him as an "American Idol" president. Only those lacking imagination have a hard time understanding that voters are attracted to his Intellect and his ability to convey an honesty lacking in most politicians. Chris Matthews had it wrong, he should have been asking Obama's detractors to tell him what THEY know about him. Apparently, they no nothing about him. They're content to spew Clinton's talking points.
Let me get this straight,
A man who writes, "The Big Book of Porn," and ``The Spider-Man Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual Quirk Books'' is:
DISAPPOINTED IN CLINTON?
Just the other day I was comparing Joseph Conrad's seminal work, "Heart of Darkness" to "The Big Book of Porn."
Little did I know we had a Pulitzer Prize author in-the-making amongst the elite ranks of this blog!!
Clinton got the Pulitzer Prize author fired for calling her a monster.
Who are you?
-General Public
Well written, Seth. There is no way the superdelegates will overturn the millions of voters and the youth movement toward Obama and risk the chance of losing these voters in future elections.
Seeing the latest interview with Nancy Pelosi, you can tell she would endorse Obama in a minute if she weren't chairing the convention. She is visibly disgusted with Clinton's antics,and specifically cited Clinton praising McCain as a political. Pelosi has twice called Clinton's Florida-Michigan gambit absurd and undemocratic.
Howard Dean suffered severe blows from the Clintons in 2004 and in his run for DNC Chair. They recruited Wesley Clark to defeat him. They tried to block his election as DNC Chair. They didn't want Dean to win because it would hinder their control of the party.
Neither of these individuals can openly endorse Obama, but these the kinds of people that Clinton is counting on to swing the Convention her way. How likely is it that Dean and Pelosi will seat the January Florida-Michigan delegates? How likely will Pelosi rally the 230 House members to vote for Clinton at the Convention? What about Dean's DNC Super Delegates?
Clinton has angered and embittered so many party members that her dreams of Super Delegates are a fantasy. Many of those Super Delegates are itching for the chance to destroy the Clintons' stranglehold on the party. Many others are sycophants who support the Clintons for what they can do for them, but will abandon them when it becomes obvious that Obama is the new power.
Clinton's nasty, cynical campaign shows what years in politics, married to an equally ethically amorphous politician, can do to your soul. She may be shocked to find out that while she has many devouted soldiers, she has made many enemies in the Democratic Party who would enjoy a lot of schadenfreude in watching her fail.
You have summed up my experience rather nicely. I never met Hillary Clinton; I met Bill once. I almost lost my job defending her. I worked for a federal agency. When our department secured an agreement with a NY research company, the Public Affairs Office sent a message to all the communications groups that Hillary Clinton's photo or name was not to be used in the press release. It is customary for the Senator of the district involved in such deals to be featured in press releases, but after the Bush administration took over, Karl Rove got involved with all federal agencies. Our jobs were threatened if we violated these orders. I was a writer for the department involved--not the communications group--so I stuck my neck out and placed a press release on our website that featured Senator Clinton (or any Democrat).
Now, I feel betrayed. I'm a 60-year old, white female, and I now see that Senator Clinton cares nothing for her country much less her Party. She's counting on Howard Dean and the old Democratic establishment to pull her through because she can't win on her own. She's trashed Obama and she's acting like the man who wouldn't allow her on press releases--Karl Rove. She's played the feminist card, the race card, the victim card, and so many others. I consider myself a feminist, but I no longer consider Senator Clinton a feminist. Her camp insisted that Samantha Powers resign, yet Geraldine Ferrari is still in her camp, and she's accusing those of us who now support Obama as being racist against her. The Clintons seem to feel a sense of entitlement, and I'm tired of it. They need to bow out and let Obama concentrate on winning against John McCain. I hope the super delegates will honor the people's wishes and the one who has the most delegates. I urge all of you to call your Democratic Party and find out who your super delegates are. Call them and tell them to honor the person chosen by the people.
She's bad, but Obama is worse. Sad thing is we had really good candidates, but the Obama "American Idol President" fervor was too strong. He is a corporatist, a republican loving empty suit.
Who said, "the republicans are the only party of ideas for the past 16 years""?
" Ronald Reagan is an American hero and an inspiration"?
"I can get the most republican votes"?
I DON'T WANT A PRESIDENT THAT THE REPUBLICANS LIKE. I don't want to make nice with them, as he always says. I want to have them tried for war crimes and put in jail for subverting democracy and the Constitution.
His wife built her fortune evicting poor people from their homes if they couldn't pay their inflated hospital bills. And he had the nerve to say about Edwards "do we want another trial lawyer in the White House?"
He has been absent for more votes in the Senate than present and when he is there, he usually votes "present", not for or against. He will not make a real stand on anything.
He uses the world "Change" like Rudi used 9/11. What change? What will he change? Let's see some concrete substance, not just catch phrases, sound bites. Saying the word Change a lot does not make it happen. What's the change? No more Bush?
McCain will beat him and it will be the end of America. I think it already is. I got sick watching him on Ellen. What's next? Dancing with the Stars or American Idol?
You would think America would have learned where smugness and arrogance leads. He has no humility. He is cocky and brash. He is the perfect president for the dumbed down Americans that love him, but he will lose.
The media has been pushing for him from day one, because they are told to by their bosses Murdoch and Mellon Schiafe. Why? Why does the media love Obama? Because he can't beat a rethug.
You have just spewed a whole lot of nonsense from some conservative hit piece. I suggest you get your news elsewhere because you are completely misinformed.
"You would think America would have learned where smugness and arrogance leads. He has no humility. He is cocky and brash. He is the perfect president for the dumbed down Americans that love him, but he will lose."
That's probably why Clinton's biggest support still comes from non-college educated Americans making less than $40k a year.
I.e., the same type Americans who voted Bush into power in 2000. Chew on that for a bit.
Do you have any evidence for your allegations, or do you assume, like Hillary Clinton, that all politicians are corrupt, and the fact that there is no evidence against him is evidence in itself?
After seeing Clinton celebrate Walmart, and then she her use labor unions for her political purposes, I am even more amazed at her duplicity towards the very values she pretends to defend publicly as she exploits and manipulates them privately.
Mr. Grahame-Smith,
I feel the exact same way, and there are growing legions of us that have gone through the same exact thought process.
I am disgusted by Hillary and her campaign and will never recover from it.
But she IS a monster.
Why should Ms. Powers resign?
When did telling the truth become a liability?
It is 3AM do you know who that Monster in your closet is?
Funny how you say Clinton supporters are constantly asking about having Obama on the ticket.
Do you realize that practically no Obama supporters want Hillary on the ticket? For good reason.
She has become a toxic presence in US politics. If she cared one whit about her country, she'd go back to New York and help out the state that needs her badly at the moment.
Of course, New York is no more "her state" than Illinois or Arkansas. It was just a convenient place for her to run for the Senate as a carpetbagger.
She needs to drop out of the race right now before she becomes the most hated politician in America after George Bush. She's already a very close second.
I agree PopeRatzo- she is toxic. The Clintons are just looking out for themselves- first, last and always-- desparately trying to have a do over. administration. It would be a nightmare having her in the White House with even more power to kneecap her critics. (And there would be many!)
Hillary supporters- turn the page- let's move on - please!
I understand that many of us, particularly women want to see a woman in the white house. I know I do. Just not this woman. All I can see is her campaign reaching back to the old days and "fighting the battles", blah, blah, blah. She is not the one. You did not reveal any new information about Hillary we did not already know, but you affirmed our position on this election. Thank you.
Pay attention. There is not much difference between the methods of the Clinton people and the Rove people. Do we really want anymore of this?
Very well written. I'm sorry that you (and many others) are so late in your discovery, but better late than never. The clintons have become a national embarrassment and a Democratic Disgrace.
I can't wait until America rejects these horrid people for the last time in Denver.
The best years America had in my lifetime where the Clinton presidency.
Prosperity, peace and the respect of the world. He left us with a pile of money, biggest budget surplus in American history. What is wrong with you people?
Obama is a liar, a coward and an empty suit. He has no accomplishments and he skips most of his Senate votes. He is as conservative as McCain. We will lose for sure with him as the nominee.
Doglove, I agree that her husband's administration were good years by most measures. But do not fool yourself; the Clinton's have always looked out for themselves first. The Clintons are an extremely polarizing couple who have alienated far too many of the players who are needed to repair what Bush has destroyed over the past seven years. She will not win in a general election. I will still support her if she becomes the democratic nominee, but she will not win against McCain. Do not buy into the Obama hate the she has incited.
Doglove- it's Hillary that's running this time - not Bill. And Bill didn't inherit the deficits the next President will get this time around. One Clinton admin doesn't guarantee the same results as the next one - the playing field is much different.
Obama has accomplishments, but don't count on the Clinton campaign nor the press to provide them for you - they're having way too much fun dividing us by race, gender, etc...not to mention getting Republicans to vote for her now when they'll be certain to vote for McCain in November. But your comment is the only one I've read that thinks Obama is "as Conservative as McCain". Please go check some facts.
Bill left us with NAFTA after he promised to oppose it. She left our workers without government
The full effects of their treachery didn't kick in until the Bush administration, but make no mistake about it, Bill's "success" in getting NAFTA and Hillary's "failure" to get healthcare were very popular with their corporate pals Why, exactly, do you think the big healthcare corporations give more to Hillary than to any other andidate, including Republicans? How many jobs have been shipped overseas, no matter how many concessions and how much improvement in our workers' productivity. It's the health insurance thing...an
Anybody who thinks that the Clintons are for the "little guy" ought to take a good hard look at their records.
Besides that, do you think we would have had Bush for 8 years if Clinton had managed to keep his pants zipped to the extent that he could have campaigned successfully for Gore and Kerry to follow him into the White House?
Don't kid yourself..
Hate is an awful word to ever use but I begginng to feel hatred toward Hillary Clinton. She is showing her viteperative vitriolic divisive ways. Shame on you Hillary Clinton for working to sabatoge the Obama Candidacy and what until up until recently has looked like would be a Democratic rout of McCain in November. Listen close... AMERICA DOESN'T WANT ANOTHER CLINTON IN THE WHITE HOUSE. And what backing you have has been largely aquired by being dishonest, racist, and egotistical. Give it a break and get the hell out of the way of history.
If Hillary was a man, she'd be Bill Clinton and everyone would love him, as all of his supporters do. I happily count myself as one of them. I am a devoted Clinton supporter who also is a Democrat as opposed to a Democrat for Clinton. My loyalties are with the Clintons now. When Hillary and Bill speak, they speak to me. There are millions of other voting Americans just like me, and we are not going to be turned aside, we are not going to be Obama-ized. We know who we want and we want Hillary Clinton to be the nominee for President. If there isn't a Clinton on the ballot in November, McCain will probably be the next President of the United States. Obama cannot be elected without Hillary's support and Hillary cannot be elected without Obama's support. I hope everyone on both sides understands that. Hillary and Bill keep bringing up the "Dream Ticket" scenario because their supporters continue to ask them about it. I will not vote for Obama unless Hillary endorses him. Is that clear?
How do you excuse all the things mentioned above? You ready to vote for McCain then?
Bill and Hillary may speak to you, but when they want money they get it from big corporations.
It was big corporations (and not our workers) they favored when they pushed through NAFTA in spite of Bill's promise to oppose it. You may think that Hillary wants universal health coverage, but the big healthcare corporations give her more money than any other candidate, including Republicans. What do you think HIllary is saying when she speaks to them?
Same big healthcare corporations that lied about her original plan and killed it dead, leaving us with no effective universal healthcare, for a decade and a half (time that she claims as part of her "experienc
Of course, it is entirely possible that YOU WANT our government to continue to be in the pockets of big corporations. If that is what you want, that is what you will get with a resumption of the Clintons' presidency.
"Of course, it is entirely possible that YOU WANT our government to continue to be in the pockets of big corporations. If that is what you want, that is what you will get with a resumption of the Clintons' presidency
You're right dawlishgal - and it is called fascism! Seem harsh? Don't take my word for it--
go to dictionary
If you are not concerned enough for yourself- consider what a nightmare lies ahead for our children if we don't rise up and stop this- NOW!
. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT AT 3 AM!
You sound very threatening: "I will not vote for Obama unless Hillary endorses him. Is that clear?" I can see why you support Hillary. Plus, do you want 8 more years of Iraq (and possibly Iran) war? Do you hate Obama so much that you will rather have an Iraq/Iran war (which is based strictly on ideals of Bush and his cronies and which has resulted in the death of about 4000 Americans and 1 million Iraqis)? Obama isn't that bad, is he?
If you chose McCain over Obama, then I'm led to believe that you are only supporting Clinton because she is a woman and that you know little about the values of the Democratic Party.
You know Faxus, everyone here keeps talking about how much they don't want 'another Clinton Presidency".
I remember the Clinton years as prosperous, positive, inspirational and filled with hope and respect and admiration from the world.
He left us with the largest budget surplus in history, and the world loved us. Why do all these supposed democrats here talk about the Clinton years as if they were terrible?
Are they corrupt? Of course, what politician is not? I truly believe Obama is so much worse. And he can never win. McCain will clobber him and then we will all be reminiscing over the wonderful nineties.
Why do democrats hate the Clintons? Or is this just blatant misogynism?
Obama is an empty suit, he votes present in the Senate more than for or against. He misses half his votes. He talks of loving republicans and bombing Pakistan.
I keep asking, what is the change? Just a new face, that's all. The American Idol president, a perfect product for the dumbing down of America.
So her spending more taxpayer money than any other US Senator on luxurious office space speaks to you? Her $8 million book advance just in the nick of time before she would have to undergo scrutiny from an ethics committe in the Senate speaks to you? Her war chests built on political promises and pardons for crooks speak to you? Her lust for power and her marriage of convenience speak to you? Special favors in the commodities market to make enormous profit speaks to you? And so on and so on.
I didn't think Republicans enjoyed the Huffington Post, but welcome.
Seth:
PERFECTLY written! Thank you.
You have put into words what I have been thinking for months.
About 6 months ago, I said to myself, "self: it is going to take two Clinton's to clean up this mess left by GWB"......
After living in AZ for 10 years, I can not say I would vote for McSame, but if he is up against her.......
I am going to stay home for the first time since I've been old enough to vote:(
Thank you Seth
From an Obamacan
If that happens, write in Obama.
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