Clinton selling substance over style in Iowa

[calteacherguy]

The speech was a lot like school. Within the first five minutes of the almost hour-long presentation, she had given the percentage for the disparity in pay between new jobs created now and those created ten years ago (21), the dollar amount that the average family's income has fallen over the same period (1000), the percentage by which corporate profits have increased because of slow growth in wages (64), how much of the income gains over last six years have gone to the wealthiest 10% (all), the last year at which income inequality was as great as it is now (1929), the cost of the Iraq war per day ($300,000) and the number of home foreclosures in the past year (1.3 million).

And you thought her husband was wonky.

Hillary Clinton may not get angry on your behalf like John Edwards or inspire you like Barack Obama. But Iowans do not take their role in the electoral process lightly, and Clinton is counting on their level of seriousness to help her turn around the one state where she struggles to maintain the lead that has come so easily in the rest of the country. The key thing that Iowa polls do have in common with others is a belief that Clinton shows the most leadership and is the best Democratic candidate to handle Iraq and protect America against terrorism, and the Clinton campaign believes those qualities will eventually win out.

<snnip>

They cheered her proposals to help middle class families pay for college, to assist homeowners "trapped in unworkable mortgages," and to put an end to international debt. In a scene repeated at every event, a good chunk of the crowd lingered and pressed in upon Clinton, giving her books to sign and posing for pictures. Even teenage girls squealed, "We love you, Hillary!"

Cedar Rapids resident Robin Clark-Bridges said she was planning to support Clinton in the caucuses because of her experience — both in the sense of policy and politics: "She's been raked over the coals. I'm amazed she's willing to go through it again." Robin's husband Dan agreed.

more....
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1670104,00.html?cnn=yes

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Did She Mention That The Disparity In Wages For Today's Jobs

is because she and Mr. Clinton engineered outsourcing on an astonishing scale?

[calteacherguy]

2. No, she stuck to facts. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Clever Comeback. But Wrong.

The Clinton's permanent "free" trade status for China has decimated middle-class jobs, and Hill's shilling for expanding H1B visas merely has the effect of slashing the wages of engineers and other technical professionals.

[Dawgs]

3. "Clinton selling substance over style"

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Thanks for the laugh. I was feeling down today.

[Colobo]

4. Watch Obama's new NH ad, cal. It's much more substance than style.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/ChhK

It's what others can't and won't offer, and what America needs.

[calteacherguy]

8. Yes, I can see he's making an effort. I agree with him on that issue.

Clinton bargains for better fuel economy

Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton makes campaign offer to Detroit automakers: tougher fuel economy standards in exchange for health care aid.

June 9 2007: 10:02 PM EDT

DETROIT (Reuters) -- U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Saturday offered a double-barreled campaign message for the struggling U.S. auto industry: accept tougher fuel economy standards in exchange for federal help with the costly burden of retiree health care.

<snip>

In what she called a "win-win" policy prescription for Detroit, Clinton advocated reducing average fuel consumption and shoring up the payroll of an industry that has lost over 150,000 jobs in the past three years.

She repeated her backing for stricter U.S. fuel economy standards in pending legislation aimed at the heart of the still truck-heavy lineup offered by Detroit automakers.

General Motors Corp. (Charts, Fortune 500), Ford Motor Co. (Charts, Fortune 500) and Chrysler Group have lobbied to slow the proposed increases in fuel economy standards.

<snip>

Clinton said the U.S. automakers would have to accept the changes, but said in exchange the government could also help offset the retiree health care costs seen as the ailing industry's single biggest liability.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/09/news/clinton_automakers/index.htm

[Cha]

5. Don't be fooled, Iowans, by

hillary's so-called "substance"..that's dlc talk for "corporations benefit".

[saracat]

7. This from the gal who has mastered the art a vagueness and polished to a fine point? Please.

Hillary is legendary for not committing to anything! There is no "there" "there" and she is NOT going to win IOWA ! All she sells is "celebrity.I'm married to Bill Clinton! Yay! I am famous" Name recognition is NOT substance.

[calteacherguy]

9. Do you have one shred of real evidence for any of those assertions? nt

[saracat]

10. She isn't married to Bill Clinton? She doesn't use that as leverage? As for the rest,

try reading the newspapers!

[ElizabethDC]

11. BTW, did you notice from the article that she's had Q&As at some events?

Just thought I'd let you know that she *is* taking questions. NewHampster posted in GD today that she took questions for over an hour at an event he was at in NH today.

[saracat]

13. I am glad to hear that!

[Broke Dad]

15. Little Hill did not take questions on 4 of her 5 stops in Iowa

We do now want to hear Little Hill's take on the Bush failures. We in Iowa know what they are.

We want to be able to ask tough questions. 4 of the 5 "Middle Class Express" stops by little Hill had NO Q & A.

Discipline? How about dictatorial? How about "my way or the highway" like her 1993 health care proposal? Control freak!

Plus we are getting bombed with flyers in our mailboxes. Every other day. Please . . . that is so DLC and old school . . . apparently money to burn on recycle of fireplace starter material!

ABC!

ABC!

ABC1

[ElizabethDC]

19. "Little Hill"? Okayyyy.

:eyes:

[Raejeanowl]

14. I Think You're Underestimating Her

I personally think she is vague because she IS the consummate, cynical politician already. Not a compliment. I don't support her, and I don't know what I plan to do if she wins the nomination.

You'd be unwise to dismiss her on the point you've chosen, i.e., your assertion that there's no substance behind the smoke, and that she's been kept afloat solely by her borrowed spousal celebrity. Said spouse has always given her credit for being his intellectual superior generally and at policy analysis specifically.

[saracat]

16. I think she is a good politician and I do not think that is praiseworthy.I do not underestimate her.

I do not mean to infer she is "kept a float solely by borrowed spousal celebrity." But she certainly uses it to both attract attention and evade concrete answers.She is a consummate gamesman.She will both say and NOT say anything to get elected. Much of her attraction for uneducated voters is "who" she is as a opposed to what she stands for.

[calteacherguy]

18. More assertions without anthing to back them up, and insulting ones at that.

"Much of her attraction for uneducated voters stems from who she is, not what she stands for."

How would you know? And how do you explain her attraction for a great deal of highly educated voters? She's in 2nd place among that group, and still moving up.

[saracat]

20. Ya Know what? Google Hillary vagueness and you will find so much stuff you can't read it all.

Start with Carl Bernstein's book. She is "renowned for vagueness".She "uses" Did you not watch the debates? How many times did she say"I am NOT going to answer that? "I do nor engage in hypothetical" ? "I can't answer because no one knows what the state of the world will be" I am not going to make any commitments". She uses vagueness as a political "tool' so as not to be "caught" in anything .It gives her an ability to "shift" with her audience. Some may say she is just a good politician.I say this is duplicitous.
When I say the voters are "uneducated", I do NOT mean they don't have college degrees.I mean they are "uneducated" as far as her positions go.

[calteacherguy]

17. Please explain to me how her detailed policy proposals are "vague." nt

[journalist3072]

12. She knows the issues inside and out. She's ready to lead, point blank. eom