Why Hillary Makes My Wife Scream

My wife Barbara has begun yelling at the television set every time she hears Hillary Clinton. This is abnormal behavior since Barbara is a meditative practitioner of everything peaceful and organic, and is inspired by Barack's transformational appeal.

For Barbara, Hillary has become the screech on the blackboard. From First Lady to Lady Macbeth.

It's getting to me as well. Last year, I was somewhat reconciled to the prospect of supporting and pressuring Hillary as the nominee amidst the rising tide of my friends who already hated her, irrationally I thought. I was one of those people Barack accuses of being willing to settle. I even had framed a flattering autographed message from Hillary. But as the campaign has gone on and on, her signed portrait still leans against the wall in my study. I don't know where she belongs anymore.

At least Hillary was a known quantity in my life. I knew of the danger of her becoming more and more hawkish as she tried to break the ultimate glass ceiling. I also knew that she could be forced to change course if public opinion was fiercely opposed to the war. And I knew she was familiar with radical social causes from her own life experience in the Sixties. So my progressive task seemed clear: help build an anti-war force powerful enough to make it politically necessary to end the war. Been there, done that. And in the process, finally put a woman in the White House. A soothing bonus.

But as the Obama campaign gained momentum, Hillary began morphing into the persona that has my pacifist wife screaming at the television set.

Going negative doesn't begin to describe what has happened. Hillary is going over the edge. Even worse are the flacks she sends before the cameras on her behalf, like that Kiki person who smirks and shakes her head at the camera every time she fields a question. Or the real carnivores, like Howard Wolfson, Lanny Davis and James Carville whose sneering smugness prevents countless women like my wife from considering Hillary at all.

To use the current terminology, Hillary people are bitter people, even more bitter than the white working class voters Barack has talked about. Because they circle the wagons so tightly, they don't recognize how identical, self-reinforcing and out-of-touch they are.

To take just one example, the imagined association between Barack Obama and Bill Ayers will suffice. Hillary is blind to her own roots in the Sixties. In one college speech she spoke of ecstatic transcendence; in another, she said, "our social indictment has broadened. Where once we exposed the quality of life in the world of the South and the ghettos, now we condemn the quality of work in factories and corporations. Where once we assaulted the exploitation of man, now we decry the destruction of nature as well. How much long can we let corporations run us?" She was in Chicago for three nights during the 1968 street confrontations. She chaired the 1970 Yale law school meeting where students voted to join a national student strike again an "unconscionable expansion of a war that should never have been waged." She was involved in the New Haven defense of Bobby Seale during his murder trial in 1970, as the lead scheduler of student monitors. She surely agreed with Yale president Kingman Brewster that a black revolutionary couldn't get a fair trial in America. She wrote that abused children were citizens with the same rights as their parents. [75] Most significantly in terms of her recent attacks on Barack, after Yale law school, Hillary went to work for the left-wing Bay Area law firm of Truehaft, Walker and Burnstein, which specialized in Black Panthers and West Coast labor leaders prosecuted for being communists. Two of the firm's partners, according to Treuhaft, were communists and the two others "tolerated communists". Then she went on to Washington to help impeach Richard Nixon, whose career was built on smearing and destroying the careers of people through vague insinuations about their backgrounds and associates. [all citations from Carl Bernstein's sympathetic biography, A Woman in Charge, 2007, pp. 67,69,70,75, 83]

All these were honorable words and associations in my mind, but doesn't she see how the Hillary of today would accuse the Hillary of the Sixties of associating with black revolutionaries who fought gun battles with police officers, and defending pro-communist lawyers who backed communists? Doesn't the Rev. Jeremiah Wright whom Hillary attacks today represent the very essence of the black radicals Hillary was associating with in those days? And isn't the Hillary of today becoming the same kind of guilt-by-association insinuator as the Richard Nixon she worked to impeach?

It is as if Hillary Clinton is engaged in a toxic transmission onto Barack Obama of every outrageous insult and accusation ever inflicted on her by the American Right over the decades. She is running against what she might have become. Too much politics dries the soul of the idealist.

It is abundantly clear that the Clintons, working with Fox News and manipulating old Clinton staffers like George Stephanopoulos, are trying, at least unconsciously, to so damage Barack Obama that he will be perceived as "unelectable" to Democratic super-delegates. It is also clear that the campaign of defamation against Obama has resulted in higher negative ratings for Hillary Clinton. She therefore is threatening the Democratic Party's chances for the White House whether or not she is the nominee.

Since no one in the party leadership seems able or willing to intervene against this self-destructive downward spiral, perhaps progressives need to consider responding in the only way politicians sometimes understand. If they can't hear us screaming at the television sets, we can send a message that the Clintons are acting as if they prefer John McCain to Barack Obama. And follow it up with another message: if Clinton doesn't immediately cease her path of destruction, millions of young voters and black voters may not send checks, may not knock on doors, and may not even vote for her if she becomes the nominee. That's not a threat, that's the reality she is creating.


Tom Hayden is with progressivesforobama.blogspot.com and author of Writing for a Democratic Society [City Lights, 2008].

Comments

[jatu707]

All I have to say is that, after watching the speech last night, is that Obama has the Abercrombie and Fitch vote sewn up.

[ghostwriter5]

Yeah a bunch of guys suckered into paying exhorbitant prices for crap clothing that advertises itself. You'll be cool if you buy our product..g­ood sales pitch..ver­y effective.

[timtimes]

FWIW, I agree completely. Today's "I'm gonna nuke Iran if they attack Israel" statement puts her right next to the neocon nutjobs.

How about letting Israel do what Israel needs to do and we just stay the hell out of it? They've got plenty of weapons that we sold them and they've stolen enough military secrets (and continue to do so) that they are able to nuke anybody they want on their own.

To my nutjob Christian friends (many....M­ississippi­) try and remember that it is you who are always telling me that the Jews are God's chosen people. As such, don't you think he ought to be looking out for them instead of us?

Enjoy.

[ires]

It's all about the vote...the Jewish vote. All that spill from that toxic mouth should be taken with a 'grain of salt.' The Hitleris will still this election!

[BlueAsh]

Did you peep through my windows last night, Mr. Hayden? Your wife was not the only one. There are so many women--career, middle-aged, feminist women--who reacted the same way.

Maybe you can illuminate to us what is going on inside the Dem. Party, or Al Gore, or Edwards, or Carter ... What is it that kept these people from taking a stand?

[susannine]

My husband just emailed this article and I laughed out loud. Neither he nor I recognize me anymore. Last night I too was screaming at the tv and at my poor husband who was abnormally calm. Can you imagine having to listen to her gloat for the next two weeks? For the love of God are people in Pennsylvania out of their minds? Her voice makes my skin crawl. She lies. She and her husband WILL say or DO anything to get her elected.

And if I hear one more time that Obama doesn't know how to "close the deal" I may go stark raving mad. The man halved a twenty point lead in a state that was about as Hillary friendly as it can get.

[southsideirish]

PART 2

Second, the grotesque flirting between the Clintons Joe Scarborough, Pat Buchanan, and Fox News. Last night, Terry McAuliffe even praised Fox News for calling the election first with repeated chants of "Fair and Balanced!"­--Stephani­e Miller put it best, "It's like I'm in some parallel universe..­."

Finally, when Clinton supporters say things like they won't vote for Senator Obama, and seem to so hotly, argue that we are all "just deluded." We "don't get it." We are "just whining." He wasn't "vetted." OR THAT, "IT' S JUST POLITICS. DON'T BE NAIVE."--I hate that one.-- What they are really saying is, they excuse bad behavior. It doesn't matter that if, say, John Edwards was still in the race doing the kinds of thing Senator Clinton is doing, they would be infuriated. It doesn't matter because it's NOT John Edwards, it's the Clinton brand. WE'RE CULTISTS..­. The Clinton supporters are just pragmatists, pragmatists willing to excuse anything, including a loss in '08 they helped to create. (Don't buy into the, "GOP would do much worse" crap the HRC fans are touting. Of course they'd do worse. But the HRC supporters have given them the "See-even-­Democrats-­say-he's-a­n-inexperi­enced-blac­k-radical-­who-can't-­win-indust­rial-state­s," trump card. And the Clinton Camp certainly didn't HAVE to do that.)

All in all, the Clintons may claim great campaigning. But when this is over, it still comes down to "bad government­."

[obamanation31]

wow! the Clintons have become part of the vast right wing conspiracy. Their moto is: If you can't beat them, join them.

[peggio]

I'm not the only one that screams at the television. Whew, my Cocker Spaniel has been looking at me as if I was his person gone mad. I feel a little better and yes, a little bitter. I too was at the convention, or rather outside in 68 and grew into trying to change things through a corrupt system rather than never see them change at all.
I've never been a fan of Shrillary & only voted for Bill because the Brown campaign just didn't work out! I spend too many hours a day writing to my "party elders" who are mostly my youngers waiting for a grown up to step in and tell Hillary that it's over. Still the pain in the pit of my stomach that increases with each new lie or dirty trick makes me certain this two headed monster will stop at nothing, including allowing McBomb to win rather than Obama.
So, thanks to Mrs. Hayden & all the other tv screamers for making me resolute in my opposition to a continuation of the Bush/Clinton dynasty!

[Bperiod]

"..making me resolute in my opposition to a continuation of the Bush/Clinton dynasty!"

Wow...than­k you for at least saying this out loud...not enough people talk about this. Feels good to know I'm not the only one. John McCain is GWB2 and Hillary would be the continuation of 2 families in the Whitehouse (counting Bush Sr. as VP) for 40 YEARS!!! C'mon people....­.Wake up!

[greenwitch]

It's an American version of The War Of The Roses.

[mambomary]

Tom Hayden is a smart and insightful dude and I'm glad he still keeps a "flattering" autograph from Hillary on the wall of his study. But the use of his wife Barbara to make his case against Hillary after she kicked Obama's ass in Pennsylvania was obviously manipulative and self-serving. He doesn't want you to think he's a sexist. I think the word "opportunistic" is more applicable to this rather creepy guy, as his former wife Jane Fonda surely must know. Where would he be without her?

[tresbienz]

Using his wife Barbara? It would seem to me that he is simply reporting her behavior -- behavior that seems to have a solid parallel to the behavior of this 54 year old white female in Texas. And, I am many things, but sexist just isn't one of them.

It makes no logical sense that the more than 50 percent of voters in American who have voted for Obama have all done so based on sexism. Would we then make the equally ridiculous claim that all those voting for Clinton are racist? This is such a silly argument. Can't we discount a candidate because of stands on issues which matter to us?

I would be incensed with any Democratic candidate, male or female, who dared to use the Republican tactic of "be very afraid" flashes of Osama bin Laden in their ads. Less than a year ago, I was a clear supporter of HRC. She has shown herself to not be the woman I want in the White House -- and, I am just feminist enough to believe it's fine for me to say, "not just any woman will do for this job".

[MizFlagPin]

Who is really in control of HRC's camp and bid for the White House?

As I listen to the lies, spin, lies, denial and desperation cominng from the HRC camp, I am beginning to suspect that HRC owe some big people. Her promises that she could deliver by winning the WH may be what's driving her to go so negative. Thus the appearance of desperation.

Who do you owe Hillary? What did you promise them?

[pkrbkr]

Screaming at the television in our home became so common we finally turned it off. I will not vote for Senator Clinton for all the reasons Mr. Hayden discusses. No money, no canvassing, no yard signs, no bumper stickers. She and her husband are appalling. They almost destroyed the Party in the 90s; I guess this is their chance to do it finally and completely.

[godsbreath64]

Well, great then. Enjoy the McJeb administration. We wont.

[going2ireland]

You will be living with whoever is the ultimate winner of the position of POTUS. Do you think Hillary can beat McCain? Please tell me why.

[pkrbkr]

The Democrats will have to do better than, "She is better than Senator McCain." They have gone to that well one too many times.

[pkrbkr]

What makes you think the Clintons would be any better? Twenty years of two families. This oligarchy needs to end.

[southsideirish]

PART 1

My wife does the same thing. What's worse is, she has to deal with her, her supporters, and the MSM CREATING another bad narrative: in a state where Senator Obama was trailing by 25 points, where he closed the gap to 10, it's turned out to be not enough. (Thanks, Chuck Todd.) This should've been a pretty good night for the Senator from Illinois. Instead, it's a "crushing defeat among white, catholic, blue collar" voters. I mean, "he can't close the deal." What's the matter with him? (Of course, no one's asked why Senator Clinton can't either.)

Then there's the negativity­...

First, the campaigning has become reprehensible. I don't care what Mike Barnicle or the Clintons think. This campaign IS tougher then anyone has ever had it whether there was stronger rhetoric in other campaigns or not. Why? Because even in 2004 the "blogosphere", the 24-hour-news-cycle, and the print media wasn't where it is today. Then, we were dangerously skating close to tabloid and out of control spin. Now we're in it up to our eyeballs, and people are being force fed this crap, non-stop without even a moment to breath. So, yeah... It IS worse. The negativity is MORE potent. And anyone who says otherwise is a liar or a fool.

[momofsix]

I wholeheartedly agree with everything you say. My kids think I'm a crazy lady because I yell at my tv, my car radio and even my computer. Last night MSM was a joke, before the polls closed Chuck Todd and Chris Matthews kept saying she really needed a 15-20 pt lead to raise money and justify continuing on. then all of a sudden an 8-10 pt lead was a blowout. Also the radio and PA election co. is reporting 8.62 pt spread but nothing has been said on tv.

[enoughalready]

The Clintons are like the Bush family in so many ways. Turn the institution on it's ear to win at any cost. My husband and I turn the TV off when we see her face and that kackle of laugh is a nightmare!

Hillary's statement on Iran this past week are so frightening I really wonder why the pundants aren't running with this story. She's a hawk, plain and simple. She scares me!

I want a smart President that is thoughtful and strong but who can deal with our allies to bring them back as friends to work together to corrent the down-swing in the international economy and to global warming issues. Hillary is lightening rod!

We listen daily to these political pundits that seem to want to keep this going for their own ratings. It's hurting our party. The super-delegates and leaders in this party need to stop this now. HIllary can't get the delegate count to win this at this point. She wants to change the rules - if that happens I will be gone from this party - one that I have supported my whole life. Rules matter and fairness matters!

Obama 2008

[randyjet]

I supported Edwards to begin with because of his positions. I looked at both Clinton and Obama's web sites and positions, and Clinton had by FAR the better positions on virtually all areas. She is to the left of Obama on most issues. It is really incredible to see nothing but FLUFF and image being propounded by Obama supporters besides getting their facts wrong. I had some respect for Tom which is why I read his article. I had hoped for something other than personal attacks that simply ignore facts and mirror the rightwing smears of Clinton.

Tom, you know better about the Panthers and are outright lying. Charles Garry and his firm were the lawyers for them. It is even worse when you try and conflate the fact that the Panthers were defending themselves against LAW BREAKING cops, and the terrorist, Stalinist Weathermen who were bombing. The FACT that Obama sat on a small board with Ayers who is unrepentent and who STILL thinks he did right, is indicative of Obama's tolerance of terrorists. I remember when it was a scandal for political candidates to be members of country clubs that had no black members. It surely is even worse when you take assistance and sit on the same board as Ayers. If McCain sat on a small board with a Nazi there would be a justifiable outrage. The SAME standards apply to US!

[ah2323]

You're lost. Free Republic is thataway.

[momofsix]

Well you sound intelligent , so you should know that most people don't pick who else happens to be on a board and in fact many boards are just advisory and don't meet more than once a year. They just use names of prominent citizens( and yes, Bill Ayers is considered a prominent and productive member or society in the chicago area.) to help raise money for their cause.

[randyjet]

You DO get to choose who you sit with on a board since they usually select their own membership. Obama could have refused the offer as well which is what I and most decent people would do. There are many racists, rightwingers, and other extremists who are also productive and prominent. That is part of our problem. It does NOT excuse not using your own judgment and just brushing off the criminal past which is not so past. You can hardly criticize McCain for his associates if you show such a lack of judgement in the Ayers case. The case of Rev.Wright pales in comparison to this. He only threw verbal bombs, Ayers threw REAL ones and tried to kill real people.

[Stoyver]

NAFTA-lovin' Hillary sat on the board of Walmart Corporation and supports tax increment financing for corporations. Hillary is also a supporter of the DLC and Senator Joseph Lieberman, did you find that on her web site next to her hard left position statements on the issues? I didn't think so.

[Mojane]

You looked at both their web sites, but did you actually read them? "Fluff"? Really? Go back to Obama's web site, go to Issues, read all of them, then come back and tell us it's "Fluff" Dare ya.

Jaysus.

[ah2323]

I know it's a cliche, but "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Hillary has never been for anyone other than Hillary. She's the very media caricature of the grasping pseudo-hippie turned yuppie. If the circumstances were slightly different--and she had charisma--she could have been the female Charles Manson.

[greenwitch]

Only without all the wanton sex...or any sex. Obama better lock his house at night.

[TRex86]

Hillary epitomiozes the decline and fall of the Boomers. Maybe the marijuana did cause brain damage. She was an OK fellow traveler with radical causes back in the 60's when it was trendy. Now she is a disgusting, triangulating, sabre-rattling, Red-baiting opportunist. She is willing to trash the Democrats' chances in November to make the case for her "electabil­ity." I don't know what's more infuriating, her use of a former Weatherman to smear Obama or her snuggling with the excerable Scaife to win his endorsement.
Obama will be nominated anyway, and she will say, "I told you so," not "I made it so" when McSame wins the election. She has no moral compass and knows no shame. Cackle. Cackle.

[cowboyfan88]

I love it........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­.....

[haiku1]

Thing is, Clinton doesn't care if she ruins Obama's prospects. Either she gets the nomination and she then gets out the elbows to dispatch McCain OR a damaged Obama gets the nomination and he's so wounded by all these attacks (the media will help) that he loses in 2008. Hillary then has the way clear for 2012. If an unweakened Obama wins in 2008, then she will probably be too old to run 8 years later and she will have missed her chance. It's all about her, you see, not about the country and what it needs. No wonder we're all upset.