Getting to know the real Hillary Clinton

[William769]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Patti Solis Doyle describes Sen. Hillary Clinton as a kind, pleasant, intelligent woman with a great sense of humor and a strong maternal instinct. She ought to know. Solis Doyle is Clinton's campaign manager -- the first Latina to run a presidential campaign in the United States -- and has been at her side for 16 years. "She is the most famous person that nobody knows," claims Solis Doyle. If they did, she is sure the Democratic candidate would not have an image problem.
In fact, the senator is so well-known that she can be referred to on a first-name basis. It is in part her name recognition that has put her in the lead among Democratic presidential hopefuls. A year and a half before the election, Hillary also enjoys a comfortable lead among Latino voters, with 59%, and among women, with 52%. Yet there are constant questions about her electability. More than half of the voters overall say they would not vote for her.

I spoke to Hillary about those mixed signals coming from the polls during an exclusive interview in Washington. "What do you attribute that to?" I asked.

"Well, this was my experience in New York -- people who said they wouldn't vote for me or that they had already made up their minds about me," she said. "But I believe that's what a campaign is for. I cannot meet everybody personally, but I can try to meet as many people as possible and have the ripple effect."

So far, Sen. Clinton thinks it's worked. "As I've campaigned over the last six months, I've gained support. I've had more and more people say to me, 'You know, you're not what I thought you were,' and I'll say, 'Thank you so much, because I want you to judge me for who I am, not who you heard I was or what you thought about me based on second- or thirdhand information."'

http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/salinas/v-printerfriendly/story/93781.html

[mkultra]

1. im cold on hillary

I have to be honest and say that im kind of cold on Hillary. I loved Bill and thought the policies where great but Hillary seems very stilted to me and its hard to get comfortable. Add to this the irrational hate from the right and she seems like a doomed candidate.

I think we may be getting ourselves in the same trap the we got in with Kerry. He had serious image problems that made it possible for the right to smear him. Hillary has the same magnitude of image difficulty.


Im resting in the Obama/Edwards camp for now but i will surely vote for Hillary if she wins the primary. The difference is pretty mild for me. I might volunteer for Obama or Edwards but i don't think i would for Hillary.

I welcome counter discussion.

[jmp]

2. Hillary vs Kerry

I think we may be getting ourselves in the same trap the we got in with Kerry. He had serious image problems that made it possible for the right to smear him. Hillary has the same magnitude of image difficulty.

That's not possible. Kerry was unknown to most Americans, so defining him was pretty easy. Most American's have been well aware of Hillary for the past 15 years, and just about every piece of dirt and outright slander Republicans can think of has already been hurled her way.

They can't do any more damage to her image. Only she could do that.

[mkultra]

3. Disagree

I don't think thats true. The swift boat attacks were completely fabricated. They can make something of this level up or start smearing hear with comments about blue dresses.

[sandnsea]

13. They will do that to anybody

The question is, who has the policies you're willing to go through that to implement. For me, HRC doesn't. We have to have monumental change.

[hijinx87]

4. hillary's name recognition in darn near 100%

for better or worse, she is an established commodity. I don't think
she is vulnerable to swiftboating.

the theory, at least, is that due to the circumstances surrounding her
national image during the first clinton term, her negatives have reached
their high water mark, and are receding. depending on how you want to
slice it, national polls could be said to support that argument.

[ShortnFiery]

5. Her negatives are only now peeking out - no thanks to FOX who is supporting

her with Rupert Murdock's fund raising support.

I don't like HRC, that's no secret. However, the right wing can HATE HRC like they've never hated anyone before. If HRC wins the nomination, it will be one long "night of the long knives" 24/7.

Further, many people are TIRED of the DLC's Darlings, especially "The Clintons." We're tired of the seemingly endless scandals that will continue if HRC wins the Presidency. Albeit the RW is hooked on Clenis, if the man can't keep his pants zipped, we WILL hear about it again 24/7, with glossy JPGs if not iWatch videos. :scared:

I'm so damn tired of those two parasites as well as their beloved DLC. :shrug:

[hijinx87]

6. fine. whatever.

her national appeal is undeniably increasing, so it must be a damn
conspiracy of some sort.:eyes: of course. whatever contradicts
one's cherished preconceptions around here is automatically the work
of the enemy.

honest disagreement is getting harder and harder to find these days.

[Alamom]

7. There is none......

honest disagreement is getting harder and harder to find these days.

:hi:

[ShortnFiery]

8. You're probably right. The DLC will have to learn for a THIRD Presidential

Election, that their selected darling of the political ruling class CAN NOT win the support of us "little people." (2000, 2004 and perhaps - 2008?) :shrug:

[William769]

9. For someone who supports Obama, I'm surprised you used the DLC in vain.

:rofl:

[ShortnFiery]

10. Au Contrair William, it's HRC's photo you see all over the DLC's website. nt

http://www.dlc.org/

[William769]

11. Yes and I'm proud of that fact.

That still doesn't answer about Obama ties to the DLC. There goes that deflecting again.

[ShortnFiery]

12. Oh, that's not the point. HRC is DLC Royalty along with

her "husband," Bill Clinton. They are the RULING Class and it's damn frustrating that us "little people" will not get in line behind them like the Republicans do their illustrious leadership. :eyes:

[William769]

15. The point is the Democratic party is the big tent party.

Why should the DLC not be part of it.

P.S. Danm your good at deflecting.

[ShortnFiery]

17. DLC Part of it? My dear William, right now, the DLC seemingly OWNS the Democratic Party. nt

[William769]

23. So I guess you are saying every on in Congress is DLC?

If thats not what your saying then what you posted isn't true.

[Maribelle]

20. Has the DLC prevented you from forming a like-minded organization?

I would bet money on it, that the DLC would love to see another group just as dedicated and effective as they are working for the Democratic Party. I think they would welcome it with open arms.

[Maribelle]

21. That's not true. Rove thought she might be running in 2004, remember?

Republicans were bashing Hillary all over the place before Kerry won the nomination.

Republicans are terrified of Hillary.

And what on earth makes you think if any other Democratic member wins the nomination the RNC will not fire their filth everywhere they possibly can? They will, you know. It already drips from their mouths. They are dying for democratic skin under their nails.

[Dawgs]

14. Uh, you do know she voted for George Bush's war?

[William769]

16. No I don't know that.

I do know what she did vote for though, as does the rest of America does.

[ShortnFiery]

18. Right, don't you dare burn an American Flag in front of her!

:rofl:

[Dawgs]

19. Huh?

I'm not sure you're making any sense.

She TRUSTED Bush to not go to war. Is that what you're thinking?

[rinsd]

22. This is the crux of the matter..

So far, Sen. Clinton thinks it's worked. "As I've campaigned over the last six months, I've gained support. I've had more and more people say to me, 'You know, you're not what I thought you were,' and I'll say, 'Thank you so much, because I want you to judge me for who I am, not who you heard I was or what you thought about me based on second- or thirdhand information."'