Hillary Clinton rejects front-runner label

[journalist3072]

Source: MSNBC

Hillary Clinton rejects front-runner label
Democratic ’08 hopeful emphasizes jobs, health care, education

DES MOINES, Iowa - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday rejected the front-runner label, but acknowledged increasing fire from rivals in both parties — which she said she will largely ignore.

-snip-

Most national polls have shown Clinton atop the field of Democratic contenders, and recent surveys have shown her gaining ground in Iowa. She also has a financial edge over all the other candidates.

She was asked if she is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

“I consider myself someone who is working as hard as I can every day to earn the support of Iowans and that’s what I’m going to continue to do,” Clinton said. “I’m well aware that no one has voted, that no one has caucused.”

Clinton said many voters remain unconvinced.

“I’m not taking anything for granted,” she said. “We’ve got a long way to go before that happens.”



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21393314/

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So much for the talking point from the anti-Hillary contingent here on DU, that she thinks she's inevitable.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I am not a supporter, but she's smart to avoid the arrogance

of acting like the inevitable winner. Obama and Edwards both hit her on that this week, and it's a good response by her.

[journalist3072]

2. Well, they were being disengenuous when they hit her on it, because she's never acted like the

inevitable nominee.

She's shown up at all of the debates, continues to engage the voters, and put her policy proposals out there. That is NOT the mark of someone who believes they are the inevitable nominee. So Obama and Edwards are full of crap.

[rodeodance]

3. wise move

[Kolesar]

4. She has taken the anti-war Democrats "for granted", twice

With her feigned ignorance voting for bush's war (the IWR) and that stupid resolution against Iran.

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. feigned ignorance? Evidence, please n/t

[Kolesar]

28. The "evidence" is in my sig line

Mrs. First Lady just decided to ignore her constituents who wrote to her and become a war monger. That was her plan to take the anti-war Democrats for granted. Like we are going to vote for Giuliani or Mccain :sarcasm:

[earthlover]

5. Her SUPPORTERS and her CAMPAIGN are painting her as INEVITABLE....

And she...ever so innocently....does not mention it herself.

Can't even take a stand on whether she is inevitable!

This is so much bs. I am getting sick of it. Half of the time this place friggin REAKS with polls and inevitable talk from Hillary's gaggle of supporters. The media have appointed her the nominee ever since before 04 for cryin' out loud. The Reps are fighting amongst themselves as to who can run best against....not the Dem nominee...but Hillary! Lots of the talk here is whether supporters of other candidates will support her in the general election, as if it were a foregone conclusion. People wonder who her VP will be, and ponder her opponents as good VP material...anything to lower their credibility as Pres candidates.

And here we have Hillary...."not I said the Hillary...."

I think I want to puke!

[Fredda Weinberg]

7. If politics makes you puke, perhaps you lack the intestinal fortitude

And a vacation from DU might make you feel better. The grown ups are running the show well for a change, so there's no need to be nauseous.

[Neshanic]

8. Very nice, tell someone to take a hike, as far as the grownups

running the show, that's the problem.

It depends what your definition of "grownup" is.

Another killing the messenger example.

For her now to be coy about her not being the front runner with a big blushed face, after having her rammed down our throats is sickening. Maybe she's scared of peaking too fast and wants to slow that titanic thing that is the Hillary machine down.

Oh and to be on record again, I vote for the chosen one no matter what.

From the flamebait wing of the gay no choice faction of the Democratic party with warm regards.

[Fredda Weinberg]

9. I find long walks restoring, don't you? And yes, I've vacationed from

DU for 3 years at one point, after my mother passed away. We're real people and shouldn't feel ill over politics.

If you need to flame, please know that I've been online since Usenet - ah, those were the days! Clinton conspiracy theories, Mena Airport and other crap ... whooo, kids who shouldn't have had keyboards got all the privileges.

Well, some of us have been working a long time - and supporting reasonable, victorious candidates - for progressive causes and seeing results. If you don't fine that reassuring, I'm afraid any further discussion would irritate you.

Peace.

[Neshanic]

10. Sorry, but I am not telling someone to go. You are.

[Fredda Weinberg]

14. Who am I to give orders? You've been here long enough to know that

DUers care about each others feelings and time outs are good things.

No one should feel physical discomfort over ideological issues. Leave that to fundamentalist religion and dysfunctional families.

[earthlover]

19. No time for a vacation. Too much bs to fight. Right here. No time to stop fighting!

[Fredda Weinberg]

21. I bid you peace. At the end of the

day, we should be on the side side.

[AdHocSolver]

22. Your ad hominem attack on earthlover shows that you have learned nothing from history.

In 2004, the Democratic party leadership anointed John Kerry the "only electable candidate", and essentially cut short the primary battle between the Democratic candidates. This was the absolutely dumbest, most self-defeating strategy one could imagine.

All the excitement the primary contest would engender, not to mention the free publicity from the media, was snuffed out in one simple act of gross incompetence. On top of that, the party leadership appointed the most lackluster (I won't go so far as to say boring) candidate to go up against George "who would you rather have a beer with..." Bush. Thanks to this winning strategy, we got four more years of George Bush.

Here comes Hillary trying to depict her nomination as "inevitable". So, all Democratic voters should think that she would be the only winner against whichever Republican gets nominated, and vote for her. As with John Kerry's selection in 2004, a Hillary candidacy would be another formula to ensure eight more years of a Republican presidency.

Moreover, Hillary would energize the right so seriously, that we could even lose Congress. That possibility makes me want to puke.

Beyond that scenario, I don't see Clinton having the ability, let alone making the effort, of doing what needs to be done to correct the problems this country has endured for the past seven years. Hillary supporters maintain that her past attempts at healthcare reform, when Bill was President, would give her an advantage of prior experience.

Pardon me, but I see it differently. Giving that job to Hillary, who had no real leverage to negotiate with, seemed to make it of secondary importance to Bill's administration. The complete failure of the attempt merely emboldened the insurance companies to screw Americans even more. Bill and Hillary squandered their chance to promote meaningful healthcare reform. From observing her campaign, I don't see any evidence that she has learned anything from it.

[Fredda Weinberg]

25. Attack? Please, that would violate DU etiquette

You write

Here comes Hillary trying to depict her nomination as "inevitable".

But where's evidence for that? Now, that's not personal ... this is a political board and we should be able to discuss subjects like adults. No one should be feeling personally assaulted.

But seriously, where did HRC make such a remark?

[earthlover]

30. This was a meme spread by everyone around her, she doesn't have to say it!

You implied I was not a grown up, you said I lacked intestinal fortitude and you suggested I take a "vacation" from DU! There is no need to get personal on this board. We can discuss the issues calmly without ad hominum attacks....can't we? That would be the mark of maturity.

Apparently because I had the timerity to point out that many of Hillary's gaggle, the media, and the Republican candidates all have spread the meme that Hillary's nomination is inevitable I get slammed.

I did not say Hillary herself said this. Of course she could not say it. She is not stupid. But everyone around her does and that is pretty much obvious.

I do find it pathetic the irony surrounding her statement....it's about as pathetic as Bush saying he never actually said Saddam was responsible for 9/11 even though everyone around him spread the meme with vigor.

Hillary did not actually say she was inevitable. So what? It has been one of the dominant memes of this campaign so far wilthout her actually saying it.

[emilyg]

13. Go puke and stop lying.

[earthlover]

16. Typical Hillary gaggler....accusing someone of lying....ok, where?

[earthlover]

23. emilyg, you told me to go puke and called me a liar. WHERE DID I lie...2nd call....

Do you commonly call someone a liar without cause? Not exactly a nice thing to do....fighting words, in some places....

[emilyg]

26. Accept my apology. I certainly over-reacted.

[earthlover]

29. apology accepted....:-)

[AdHocSolver]

17. The Republicans want Hillary because she provides them with the only chance to win in 2008. n/t

[bigwillq]

11. Good call on her point and she's right

"I’m well aware that no one has voted, that no one has caucused.”

[msongs]

12. there is NO front runner until votes are actually counted nt

[humbled_opinion]

15. Can't wait till she's in the WH...

She is a more divisive creature then even Bushie is...

This is going to be loads of political fun...


Can you imagine the political witch hunts.. against her and Bill...

Maybe a first fellow affair or Hillary the Lesbian getting her coochie attended to by some hot young female intern as bill watches from slightly cracked door of the Oval Office... lipstick stains on stockings DNA evidence and all...

or better yet...

Repukes will tell us how Hillary is undoing everything Bushie did to protect America.. then the inevitable Al-Qaida attack .... Its all Hillary's fault.... Remember how under Bush we didn't suffer so much....

Bottom line it is time for a real change and fresh politics... Its time for Obama everyone knows that is the truth.

[journalist3072]

18. Do you have any brain cells? eom

[Maccagirl]

24. Do you have any memories of '93-'01?

The Clinton's rode the tiger and got swallowed whole and spit out-and Hillary wants the rest of us to go through it again-not going there.

[humbled_opinion]

31. Enough for existence...

But that is beside the point.... I am tired of hoeing these long rows just to be disappointed again and again...

[illinoisprogressive]

20. Maybe pretending she is not the frontrunner will actually come true. Oh please!!!!

[rayofreason]

27. She does not tak "anything for granted"...

..which is why the primary battlespace is so well prepared.

She will take the primaries alright, but November???