Clinton: "I'm your girl."

[calteacherguy]

I didn't get a chance to watch the debate, but this is the media's interpretation:



Clinton mostly ignored her rivals, instead touting her ability to challenge Republicans.

"For 15 years, I have stood up against the right-wing machine. And I've come out stronger," Clinton said to applause from the crowd. "If you want a winner who knows how to take them on, I'm your girl."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/08/politics/p001904D76.DTL&type=politics

First, is that a valid interpretation of Clinton's strategy now? And, is this a reflection of why she has so much support? In other words, is it less about the issues for Clinton and more about the perception that she would be the most effective campaigner against the Republicans? If so, do you agree that she would be the most effective?

[MonkeyFunk]

1. I largely agree

and that's probably the main reason I like her - she's taken more shit than any person should ever have to take, and instead of walking away from public life, she decided to keep on fighting.

In 2000, if ANYBODY in America could be forgiven for wanting to take a break, it was Hillary Clinton. But instead, she decided to do something unprecedented - run for the Senate. And she did it in one of the hardest states in the country in which to do so.

Then, despite everybody's expectations and predictions, she applied herself as a humble, hard-working junior Senator and by all accounts, has done a great job and has won the respect of even her most ardent political enemies.

More vicious, horrible lies have been promulgated by famous, powerful people about her than anybody else in public life - and at every turn, she's fought back. She never once went on TV and cried or bitched about her treatment - she stood up to it and gave it back to them.

I admire her for that.

[calteacherguy]

2. I hear you, but do your really think anyone else running for senate in NY had a chance against her?

All I'm saying is, it wasn't a really difficult thing to do given her position, perhaps?

[MonkeyFunk]

3. yes indeed

she was tied in the polls with Rick Lazio a few months before the election. And when she ran, she expected to run against Rudy Giuliani.

New York is not an easy pickup state. It elected George Pataki governor three times in a row, and Al D'Amato to the senate for 3 terms.

It's a big state, and only the City is reliably liberal.

[calteacherguy]

6. O.K., fair enough. nt

[napi21]

5. Hmmmm, take a look at Liddy Dole in comparrison. She also

was in the position to get elected BECAUSE of who she was married to, but did SHE do as well?

IMO NO! Hillary really HAS done a good job in the Senate...on her own! Liddy is still the Senator from NC who is Bob Dole's wife.

[fujiyama]

48. Then again...

the republican party is largely made of sexist men...I can't imagine many of them even considering a woman as president.

That and to Hillary's credit, she is a MUCH better politician than Elizabeth Dole....

[liberalnurse]

27. I support Hillary just for that very reason.

Now, Hillary knows this, I know this and now, the world knows that she has successfully fended all the republican's attacks for more than 15 years.....Yea, thats a reason why I will support her. Fine tuned experience. :applause: :woohoo:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

4. I think it's a meaningful, ownable niche

When she made that statement earlier this year about knowing how to deal with "bad guys," the media snickered and spun it as if she meant her husband. But it was clear she was referring to people like Gingrich, Scaife and Ailes. And the Clintons did prevail throughout Bill's terms, and Hillary's senatorial campaigns.

It's not the complete gist of Clinton's strategy, but it's a claim she can make, a claim she can own, and in a political environment where the Dems had the football pulled away in two consecutive presidential elections, it's a claim people want to hear.

[avrdream]

19. And maybe this is why she is popular in some circles.

People KNOW she isn't going to back down when the Republicans come hitting their nasty-ass-dishonest-bullshit.

You just watch.

[opihimoimoi]

7. LOL, none of the others can make the same statement...she being the only GIRL....

[Andromeda]

8. She's had more experience battling Republicans

than the other candidates. She's tough, smart and not afraid to stand up to the right-wing bullies. You have to campaign hard to win and if she doesn't show the fearless side of herself she won't win.

I wouldn't say it's less about the issues for Hillary but in order for her to be effective she has to come across as a confident, decisive persona ready to take charge.

You can have all the good ideas in the world but if you can't convey a strong message and let any weakness show through, nobody will listen to your ideas.

[sandnsea]

9. Where's she been the last 6 years?

I haven't seen her taking on Bush or his Iraq war lies or any of the rest of the right wing bullshit. In fact, I've seen her target a variety of Democrats more than she has the Republican agenda. The only time she says a word about them is if they come after her personally. She does nothing to really take on their agenda and expose it for the lies and failed policy that it is. I don't think she would be effective at all.

[calteacherguy]

10. Good points.

Thanks for presenting the "alternative" POV.

:thumbsup:

[MonkeyFunk]

11. I didn't think they were particularly good points

They're only "true" if you ignore the hundreds of times she's spoken out against this administration.

She very deliberately did NOT grandstand as a freshman Senator - she kept her head down and did her work. Did she lead the charge against the administration? No. But she wasn't in a position to do so. but she she has said many, many negative things about this administration.

[calteacherguy]

12. "She has said many, many negative things about this administration."

You mean like when she voted for the war?

[MonkeyFunk]

13. I never said

she opposed this administration on every single issue. That's a red herring.

I said she spoke out against this administration often, and in fact, she's done so repeatedly on the war, too.

Edwards, Biden and Dodd also voted for it, but I don't see one one-hundredth of the outrage about Hillary expressed toward them.

[Forkboy]

14. The outrage is related purely to their standing in the polls.

Clinton takes the most heat,Edwards the second most,Biden a little,and Dodd none.

Hillary is getting the most attention,hence she draws the most attention.If Dodd were in first we'd have fifteen "Dodd sucks corporate ass!" posts here a day too. :shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

16. I suppose that's true

I shouldn't have been surprised at the total non-sequitur of bringing that vote up in response to my post - I've seen the other threads started by the OP in this forum, and clearly he has some sort of ax to grind with Clinton.

It was my error in believing he was sincere in his desire to discuss this rationally.

[sandnsea]

40. Only when it's popular and safe

She was all "stay the course" in Nov 2003, when it wasn't popular to be against the war. Where was she on FISA? She says she should win because she can beat them. Show me when she took them on when it didn't serve her agenda?

[rodeodance]

15. yes, I think keeping to the task during her Freshman years was good for her.

[wyldwolf]

17. "I haven't seen her taking on Bush or his Iraq war lies or any of the right wing bullshit"

Aside from her most recent bouts with the Pentagon, here is a short list for you:

2007

Clinton criticizes funds for tutor firms

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday criticized the Bush administration for outsourcing teaching to private tutoring companies, arguing that many firms have close ties to Republicans.

"This is Halliburton all over again," the New York senator said.

In Iowa, Clinton Calls Bush Reckless

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), toughening her tone during a second day of campaigning in Iowa, accused President Bush of trying to pass the problems in Iraq on to the next president and described his actions as "the height of irresponsibility."

2006

Senator Clinton Attacks Bush and the Iraqi Government

Calling for “a fundamental change in course” in Iraq, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton presented her most comprehensive criticism yesterday of the Bush administration’s handling of the war, and she said the current government in Iraq had so far failed to be part of a solution.

Clinton blasts Bush on war

The NY senator speaks out against administration’s war on terror, urges Dems to challenge GOP

Ignoring GOP criticism that she's too angry for prime time, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Wednesday walloped Karl Rove and President George W. Bush for "playing the fear card" on terrorism and for failing to kill "the tallest man in Afghanistan," Osama bin Laden.

Sen. Clinton attacks Bush on health care

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Clinton embarked on a busy campaignlike week Monday with a new attack on the Bush administration, this time over the issue she failed at 12 years ago - - health care.

On a trip through central and western New York, the Democrat accused the White House of botching the new Medicare prescription drug program, driving up medical costs and leaving 45 million Americans uninsured.

She also launched a pre-emptive strike at President Bush over any health care plans he may offer in his State of the Union address next week.

"I would sum up his message to American families in three words: 'On your own,'" she said in a stop at Rochester's Strong Memorial Hospital.

2005

Sen. Clinton Blasts Bush on Eavesdropping

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday called President Bush's explanations for eavesdropping on domestic telephone calls "strange" and "far-fetched," launching a blistering attack on the White House ahead of the president's State of the Union address.

"Obviously, I support tracking down terrorists. I think that's our obligation. But I think it can be done in a lawful way," the New York Democrat said.


GOP Angered By Sen. Clinton's Critique of Bush

Clinton's attack on the president came Sunday during a speech in Colorado.

"I sometimes feel that Alfred E. Neuman is in charge in Washington," Clinton said during the inaugural Aspen Ideas Festival, organized by the Aspen Institute, a non-partisan think tank.

The former first lady drew a laugh from the crowd when she described Bush's attitude toward tough issues with Neuman's catch phrase: "What, me worry?"

In her speech Sunday, she accused the president of damaging the economy by overspending while giving tax cuts to the rich, depriving U.S. soldiers of equipment needed to fight the war in Iraq and cutting funds for scientific research.

Sen. Clinton Criticizes Bush Administration Policies on HIV Prevention Strategy, Access to Reproductive Health Services

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday criticized the Bush administration for putting too much emphasis on abstinence in the fight against HIV/AIDS and restricting women's access to reproductive health services in developing countries, Reuters reports.

Rodham Clinton also criticized the Bush administration for its decision to cut funding for international organizations that discuss or provide abortion services, saying that 20 million women worldwide undergo unsafe abortions each year, 68,000 of whom die as a result, the Associated Press reports.

[Kahuna]

18. One thing about Hilllary. You KNOW she won't roll over for anybody.

While she turns me off a lot because I don't trust her, I think she will wipe the floor (and scratch the eyes out) with whomever emerges as the republican nominee.

[MonkeyFunk]

20. If a male politician fought as hard as she did

he'd be lionized here as a kick-ass/take-names kinda guy.

When a woman does it, it's characterized as "scratching the eyes out".

We've got a long way to go in our attitudes.

[avrdream]

21. Don't worry, Monk, you'll have your revenge.

Hillary will be a great President and both Republican and Democratic voters will end up saying so.

[MonkeyFunk]

22. she's not even my chosen

candidate. I'm still deciding between her and Obama.

I just think it's strange to see so many "innocently" sexist descriptions of her here on DU.

[durrrty libby]

31. You are indeed correct about the many sexist remarks on DU

Last night there were dozens of references to the word shrill and Hillary

Of course the users feigned innocence, but they are all haters and transparent.

And what is up with women using sexist language? They have issues, to say the least

As you may have discovered, the OP of this thread is a big hater. He started some idiotic
threads after the debate, and personally I don’t give him the time of day, but I very
much enjoyed your thoughtful remarks about Hillary. She would make a fine president

[Kahuna]

23. She is a female though, right? Or haven't you noticed?

:eyes:

My attitude is just fine, thank you. Maybe yours needs an adjustment. You need to lighten up. Can you tell me what possible difference it makes if I say, "kick ass" or "scratch eyes out?" NONE! The answer is, NONE. So the next time, i'll say a man will scratch eyes out. Will that make you happy? Fine! Obama will scratch out the eyes of anyone who gets in his way. :shrug:

[xchrom]

24. ok -- here's the deal -- i'm a clinton critic, a big one --

but she would be more than able to handle ANY republick party candidate they threw at her.

when it comes to campaigning and dealing with the right wing -- she is enormously effective.

my two cents.

[Major Hogwash]

25. First of all, this 1 phrase, just this one all by itself, was so bad I won't support Hillary.

I won't go into all the specifics about why Hillary would lose in a General election except to say that in October of 2008 it will be the 10th anniversary of the impeachment of President Clinton.
And the MSM will fall all over themselves reliving that impeachment.

If Hillary's credentials consist of 8 years of sleeping with the last Democrat President, that will be the number one issue next October.
Not Iraq.
Not the economy.
It will be Monica, Monica, Monica, 24/7, during the entire month - just a few short weeks before the election.

Just to remind the voters what a sleazebag Bill was.
That's not really my opinion of him, but that's what the MSM and the Republican echo chamber will say about him.
And they will say "are you really going to let this sleazebag back into the White House by voting for his wife?"

If any other woman would have made this statement, it may have went over better.
But Monica is Bill's albatross, it's hanging from his neck until the day he dies.
And if Hillary gets the nod, the MSM will point to that albatross around Bill's neck every single chance they get.

[CTyankee]

36. Of course they will. They will also fight dirty against any of the other candidates.

It was John Kerry's big mistake to not even consider that the repubs would deride his Purple Heart, for instance (and I'm not comparing it with what you said). My point is that any candidate we put up will be subjected to worse than Swift Boating, we can be sure of it.

So we know what we're up against and we'd better be prepared for anything and start fighting back. One reason I like John Edwards is that he and Elizabeth took no crap from Ann Coulter and didn't let anything stop them.

A sad but true fact of life...

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Name A *Single* Thing She's Stood Up For And Won

Unless you count Republican favorites like the Iraq War, "free" trade with China, the "Patriot" Act, the first no-predatory lender-left-behind bankruptcy act, etc.

As far as I can tell, she has not stood up for a single thing and won. Nada. Nor has she run against any but a third-tier opponent.

Perhaps someone has evidence otherwise - I'll wait to see it.

[beaconess]

28. Name a *single* thing ANY Democratic senator stood up for and won in the last 6 years

That's not how the Senate works - especially for the party in the minority.

[MannyGoldstein]

29. But She's The One Making That Claim - Which Seems To Be Utterly Unsupported By Any Fact

Actually, some Democrats have stood up and not won. But Mrs. Clinton, as far as I can tell, has NEITHER stood up NOR won - and she has the gall to claim that she's done both. Very disturbing.

But perhaps someone can find a single instance to support her claim - I'm waiting.

[beaconess]

34. Delete

[rinsd]

41. She has stood up for 9/11 rescue workers that got fucked by the Bush's EPA and Rudy's OEM

Just in the last couple of weeks, she took on the Pentagon over withdraw plans for Iraq.

But really why bother?

You're such an obsessive Hillary hater, you bought a domain name.

[ronnykmarshall]

42. word!

[mdmc]

30. she WILL be the next president

:cry:

[beastieboy]

39. Yep.

[Mutineer]

32. She ain't mine.

But yes, you're right, she will be the next nominee. And if she is, our chances for winning this election go down greatly.

[w4rma]

33. ... at the expense of the Democratic Party. (nt)

[Totally Committed]

35. I'm sick of this "post-feminist" self-affacement. It made me sick to hear a woman

running for POTUS refer to herself as a "girl". Does she think that "softens" her? Was that a bow to the still-paternalistic views of a large majority of white male voters? Was it an appeal to societal mysogyny still present in this country? Was it a "signal" (nod, nod, wink, wink) that she's never be TOO powerful, TOO strident, TOO castrating as a POTUS for the charming "angry white male" demographic? Was she just trying to soothe them?

It's no secret that I do not support Mrs. Clinton's candidacy, but it is not, and never would be, because she is a woman. So it was with great horror and sadness that I heard her refer to herself as a "girl". Made me wanna puke, it did.

TC

[AnotherGreenWorld]

43. "Don't ask me, I'm just a girl" (Simpsons reference)

[Totally Committed]

45. I've never watched the Simpsons.

So, I wouldn't get that reference at all. Sounded like capitulation to the OWB (Old White Boy) Network to me.

TC

[AnotherGreenWorld]

46. Obviously you'd have to see the show.

http://snpp.com/episodes/1F12.html

[calteacherguy]

51. I was wondering when someone in this thread would bring up her use of the word "girl"

It would be really strange to hear a male candidate say "I'm your boy." In Obama's case, unimaginable.

[coco77]

37. I was angry when Tweety tried to make this an issue..

Men have been saying "I'm your boy" or " I'm your man" for years and no one has anything to say about that these people are trying to make an issue of her being a woman. I want to know what's the big deal about her saying "I'm your girl" this is petty bullshit.

We all know that she is a female so what? We have a long way to go before the election and this petty stuff is turning me off and I am beginning to tune out. It is bad enough that they are trying to pick our candidate for us and they are picking and choosing shit like this for petty people.

[donsu]

38. WOMAN - she's a woman not a girl - gritting teeth

shame on Hill for calling herself a girl

[TwilightGardener]

44. No you ain't.

[smalll]

47. I think this makes real sense: she knows how to fight and how to win -

The Former First Lady of the United States, Senator from New York, Madame Inevitable and Inexorable, Our Destiny, Our Fate, O Fortuna Iperiatrix Mundi (Empress of the World) - Our Girl - Hillary Rodham Clinton!
Hillary is 44.

Booyah!

Now I will admit, for the first time today, I started to worry about something: she's doing so well now with polls, endorsements, debates, money and everything else, I start to wonder whether we have to worry that she's "peaking too soon." Still, booyah.

[calteacherguy]

52. Will "My Girl" be her new campaign song?

Trying to broaden her appeal to the sexually threatened male voter demographic, perhaps?

The Temptations - My Girl lyrics

I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside,
I've got the month of May.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl. (My girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl. (My girl)

I've got so much honey
The bees envy me.
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl. (My girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl. (My girl)

Ooooh, Hoooo.

Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey.

I don't need no money,
Fortune or fame.
I've got all the riches, baby,
One man can claim.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl. (My girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl. (My girl)

Talkin' bout my girl.
I've got sushine on cloudy day
With my girl.
I've even got the month of May
With my girl.

[AtomicKitten]

49. She's speaking to people who've followed the story.

Not all conversations about the Clintons are negative. Without reading any of the responses on this thread because I just want to respond to an issue that is dicey and very unsettled for me, she was talking to those that remember and are still furious and offended by what the GOP Wrecking Machine did to the Clinton in the 1990s. It really was quite vile. And now we have seen how the GOP leads. We have watched Faux News crap on our consciousness by their very existence not to mention their empire 'o slime.

Hill's just saying she has kicked 'em in the nuts so far and has every intention of continuing to do so in the future.

If that appeals to you, you can pay for it at the front register.

[IndianaGreen]

50. Isn't that what Monica told Bill, "I'm your girl?"

What a perfect example of the manipulative side of the Clintons. :puke:

Our country deserves better than an unbroken string of Bushes and Clintons!