Sen. Clinton Urges Democrats to Speak Up

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR2006020801511.html

Sen. Clinton Urges Democrats to Speak Up

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday accused Republicans of "playing the fear card" of terrorism to win elections and said Democrats cannot keep quiet if they want to win in November.

The New York Democrat, facing re-election this year and considered a potential White House candidate in 2008, said Republicans won the past two elections on the issue of national security and "they're doing it to us again."

She said a speech by presidential adviser Karl Rove two weeks ago showed the GOP election message is: "All we've got is fear and we're going to keep playing the fear card."

In that speech, Rove suggested Republicans can prevail in 2006 by showing Democrats had undermined terrorism-fighting efforts by questioning Bush's authority to allow wiretapping without getting court approval first.

[dave29]

1. all we have to fear is the fear card itself

that and cartoons

[Mass]

2. LOL - Who is afraid exactly?

She should call the DLC and tell them that.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. That's a bit of the ole pot calling the kettle black, methinks.

Why doesn't Hillary speak out against the Iraqi war? Is she deliberately hoping I will not vote for her nor work for her in '08?

[jobycom]

9. You mean like, aside from the times she's spoken out against

the Iraq invasion? Cause she's called for troop withdrawals, attacked Bush over the no-bid contracts, blasted him for not sending enough troops and equipment to do the job, and said that the IWR vote was wrong. I guess she could strip off her clothes and song "Lola," but I'm not sure that would get anyone's attention, either.

She's spoken out against the war and Bush's handling of it since the beginning, but all the Hillary bashers just grab the quotes they want, post them out of context, and pretend she's some Bush supporter. She's been very careful not to speak out against or vote against the troops, and that's opened the door to those with an anti-Hillary agenda. Sad to see.

[coalition_unwilling]

12. The best way to stop the war is to stop appropriations for it

She continues to vote for the continuing off-budget appropriations. All the rhetoric questioning Bush doesn't make a hill of beans, when set against her votes to continue funding, combined with her original vote in favor.

[Andromeda]

27. So you're going to vote Republican then?

If she gets the nomination? :eyes:

[coalition_unwilling]

30. Probably won't vote (or will vote Socialist). After all, what's

the difference between two war-mongers?

[Lerkfish]

4. "and considered a potential White House candidate in 2008"

considered by whom?
republicans and conservative media, that's whom.

[wtbymark]

5. We are speaking up - you're not listening

Deaf corporate apologist

[steely]

23. Right - hand me the mike for once

[rodeodance]

6. good for her

[rodeodance]

7. why we have not captured or killed the tallest man in Afghanistan."

"I take a back seat to nobody when it comes to fighting terrorism and standing up for national homeland security," she said.

Referring to fugitive al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Clinton said, "You cannot explain to me why we have not captured or killed the tallest man in Afghanistan."

She added, "Since when has it been part of American patriotism to keep our mouths shut?"

White House spokesman Ken Lisaius responded: "It sounds like from reports that the political season is certainly starting early for some."

[rodeodance]

8. "Since when has it been part of American patriotism to keep our mouths shu

[humbled_opinion]

15. Consider this...

Are the Afghani people really that short? She may have insulted them %-)

[Andromeda]

28. So now we should expect riots...

from the vertically challenged Afghans?

There aren't too many people in the ME who are over 6'4" so I don't think that's going to insult anybody.

[FormerRepublican]

10. DLC or not, I agree with her. We should NOT keep our mouths shut!

And since when is breaking the law a means to keep Americans safe? Lord, I wish Rove were a law abiding citizen instead of a corrupt criminal - then he might actually understand how stupid his logic is.

[Mass]

11. I think we all agree with her - Happy to hear her say that.

[JudyM]

13. Time for another Eminem video... maybe by August this time.

[Malva Zebrina]

14. Thje basic premise of Bush's assault on our civil liberties is the fact

that he was given "war powers"

We now have been mesmerized into believing that we are, in some fashion, "at war"

With who? We are NOT at war with Iraq and we are NOT at war with AFganistan, so who is it exactly that we are at war with? Al Queda? Hmm, then if that is so, Bush let him escape and has kept him in the forefront , even though he said he is not concerned about him (WHAT?)

So who the hell are we at war with? Hillary, do you have an answer to that?

and now, since you gave him the "war powers" to do with American citizens what he likes, how can you possibly, Hillary, blame him for exercising what YOU gave him?

Isn't it about time you fessed up and admitted that you made a mistake in giving this dolt powers of war that he now claims can give him war powers over American citizens?

Fogedda boutit Hillary. I, and many like me are sick of being jerked around by manipulators such as yourself.

You voted to GIVE George Bush war powers. YOU voted for that in spite of all the evidence before you and in spite of all the thousands upon thousands of people who recognized what Bush was REALLY after and who wrote to you to warn you and to beg you. WE knew it. How come you did not? Are we smarter than you? You bet.

You caved and I question your motives and I question your ablity to parse the facts. You are "old" Hillary Clinton. You are supporting a war that has already been lost. And everyday we Americans lose the lives of troops YOU sent there because YOU supported Bush the war mongerer in his fake war. You supported killing and murder on false pretenses and don't give me the crap that you were "fooled". I wasn't "fooled" because I kept up with the facts. You, who have far more money amd far more access, claim to me, an ordinary citizen , that you were "fooled"? Get off it.

And I see now that you have,in your largesse, given $10,000 to Casey, a pro-life candidate, so he can win against Santorum. Swell lady and thanks a lot from the women in Pennsylvania. And, if I remember correctly, Bill Clinton also sought to help Mary Landrieu win in Lousiana--and look what we got from her, because a Democrat is better than a Republican in the Senate. Yeah--

[sandnsea]

16. So Hillary gets into the WaPo

Isn't that interesting. How can her words get in the media, without any additional "Dem Leader" snark, but nobody else's words can. Hmmm.

[leftstreet]

18. Jack Murtha can only get into the HuffPo n/t

[blm]

17. And when they speak against Bush, ol' Bill will show up on TV and say how

he supports Bush's military decisions, and gee....he never heard about the Downing Street Memos so he can't speak to that.

[WhiteTara]

22. Bill doesn't want to jepordize his trips on

Poppy's boat!

[Demeter]

19. Ladies First, Dear.

It would be nice to hear some unfiltered, direct speech from Hillary.

[sundancekid]

20. Hill, we have met the enemy and they look like you and your DLCers

is you deaf, Hill?? spending way too much time with Bill triangulating again!!

No sign of Dem "all we have to fear is fear itself" cards from where I look. Nope, not a one, even from you, ma'am; but damn, some of your buds at DLC (can you say Vilsakless) are actually WARNING Dems NOT to mess with the fear tactics of the wiretap spying scandal by BabyBush the III (turd) ... which damn side of your mouth do we get to hear next??? and where from this time??? at another not-so-subtle Billary podium snatch???

[brentspeak]

21. For once, Hillary is saying the right thing

It's usually the marginalized Dems, like Conyers or Dean, who point out how the Republicans try to win votes by scaring the public. H.Clinton is a much more prominent politician, and this message needs to get out there.

[PVK]

24. Hillary, call Vilsack. eom

[AngryAmish]

25. We have to crush them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NVMojo]

26. well, she is right on this ...just like Michael Moore was in F-9-11

when he addressed the abuse of the fear card by the Bush leg humpers.

[godai]

29. To start with, you can't be afraid of losing an election

We'll never get the repubs to stop using the fear issue in this endless phony 'war' until someone challenges the premise that we need constantly to be afraid of terrorist attacks. While we need to be vigilant, we don't need to live in fear and run to daddy (*) to protect us. FDR had it right, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Is Hillary or and other Democrat willing to run on a no-fear agenda? I doubt it, because their advisors will worry about a terrorist attack, staged (anthrax II?) or real, after which their campaign crumbles. It's likely that there won't be a terrorist attack, we're so over prepared at this point, and we could see how people would vote, for the fear candidate or for someone who inspires trust and a brighter future. We need to essentially blame * for 9/11 not give him and his successors credit for protecting us. I have my doubts that this will happen and, instead, the hope of the DLC candidate in 2008 will be that another close election will swing the Democrats way, as the culture of corruption has it's day in court.

You can't ask Rove and Co. to stop using the fear issue. They will never do that. You need to make fear a negative by inspiring voters with confidence.

First things first, the Democrats need to win a House of Congress in 2006.

[Neshanic]

31. Don't you have some X Boxes to confiscate? Miss Mouse roars.