Hillary served as President of the College Republicans.

[Emit]

Hillary Rodham took her parents advice and pursued an academic career. Her undergraduate studies took place at Wellesley College for women in Wellesley, Massachusetts. This is the college where another famous female politician, Madeleine Albright, graduated in 1959. Hillary Rodham had always been interested in politics, and now she took an active role in the school government. For a time she served as President of the College Republicans. She was deeply affected by the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. She had met him in person when her youth minister, the Reverend Don Jones, brought her to hear King preach in 1962. Encouraged by Professor Alan Schechter, Hillary Rodham attended the Wellesley in Washington program and before long she became a dedicated Democrat. By that time she was selected valedictorian of her Wellesley class. About this transition she would later say “I have gone from a Barry Goldwater Republican to a New Democrat, but I think my underlying values have remained pretty constant; individual responsibility and community. I do not see those as being mutually inconsistent.” Her final thesis in college was on leftist organizer Saul Alinsky.

http://www.hillary-rodham-clinton.org/education.html

I mean, doesn't make her a "bad" Democrat, or anything, but, I never knew that about her. Wonder what year that would've been, just out of curiosity?

On edit, I changed to title to avoid allowing this thread to appear as flame bait.

[babylonsister]

1. Yep. From wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Rodham_Clinton

After graduating from high school in 1965, Rodham enrolled in Wellesley College where she majored in political science.<13> She became active in politics and served as president of the Wellesley Young Republicans organization during her freshman year.<14><15> However, due to her evolving views regarding the American Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War, she subsequently stepped down from that position.<14> In her junior year, Rodham was affected by the death of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom she had met in person in 1962,<8> and became a supporter of the anti-war presidential nomination campaign of Democrat Eugene McCarthy.<16>

[NoPasaran]

12. The Wellesley College Young Republicans must not have been much of an organization

If their president was a freshman.

[Quakerfriend]

2. Yes, tis true. I don't know what year, however.

[Cleita]

3. She was also on the board of Wal-Mart. n/t

[NMDemDist2]

5. 'course that was in the Sam Walton era, before WalMart jumped the shark n/t

[Cleita]

6. Really. I think ole Sammy was riding the shark. n/t

[NMDemDist2]

16. by all accounts I read, Sam was a good guy. It's his spawn that have

made WallyWorld the nightmare it is today

[Cleita]

20. Letters of Incorporation or whatever it is that does it in

Arkansas, sorts of sets up the bylaws of how the company will be run. Sam did that.

[blm]

55. Walmart jumped in 70s when Poppy Bush and Jackson Stephens set it up with Chinese

industrialists ready to go along with global fascist agenda.

[Debi]

4. Yeah, but I think she's earned her place in the Democratic Party

As a former republican myself, I think we're all entitled to wake up and move away from the dark side :7

[Disturbed]

8. Yeah, she moved alll the way to Repug LITE.

She is appealing to conservative Dems, Moderate Repugs & Swing Voters.
Triangulating her way to the top.

[Emit]

11. Maybe she can advertise the fact that she held this position to curry favor from the repubs

If she wins the primaries, of course.

:shrug:

[HughMoran]

10. She'll never be accepted by many here

I'm afraid we are going to have a lot of turn-over here when she gets the nomination.

OTOH, many of these people posting inflammatory or other expose's about Hillary may be Democratic trolls trying to make her look more acceptable to the "non-leftists". I'm not normally a tin-foil hat type person, but I am really beginning to wonder what the deal is here...

[kysrsoze]

62. Not me. I lean to the left and I'll tell you straight up that her right-wing lips can kiss my @ss

I don't want her to be considered "acceptable," b/c I don't think she is. She is a corporate shill and will do little for the average American if elected. Sure she won't be quite as vicious as @sshole Bush toward those outside the "elite," but that's not saying much.

[Breeze54]

43. That's why you don't see the difference!

Maybe you're still a republican?

[Emit]

48. Lol!

:rofl:

[Debi]

53. Hahahahahahahaha

Thanks for the laugh :rofl:

[MethuenProgressive]

7. Yup, while studying Political Science, she became a Democrat.

I'm glad to see you went to her site to read what you did.
But if you saw it on her site, why would you wonder if it was true?

[Emit]

14. It was a rhetorical question -- you know, to stimulate discussion. n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

17. "Is it true... ?" is rhetorical?

Flame bait.

[BlooInBloo]

21. Of course it is.

EDIT: Not.

[Emit]

23. True!

I already knew the answer -- and assumed some also knew the answer -- and was putting it out for discussion. Why is that flamebait? Would it have been better to post, "OMG!!!! This is SERIES -- Hillary was once President of the College REPUGs at Wellesley College! Everyone panic now!"

Nothing wrong with reading up on the woman I'm likely gonna vote for in the General election, is there?

[Emit]

26. Just for you, I edited the title.

Do you still consider the topic flame bait, or is the fact that our number one Democratic contender used to be a College Republican President a taboo subject on DU?

[BlooInBloo]

30. Too bad you couldn't find it within yourself to do it simply for the sake of the truth.

[Emit]

31. Oh, please, BlooInBloo.

I doubt I'm really savvy enough to purposefully post a good flame bait.

edited to add a word

[Breeze54]

9. “I have gone from a Barry Goldwater Republican to a New Democrat"

There it is! She hasn't changed her spots since.

-------

"New Democrats"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrat

In U.S. politics, the New Democrats are an organized faction within the Democratic Party that emerged in the 1980s and came to prominence after the 1988 presidential election. The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) is their central institution. They are identified with center-right social/cultural positions and neo-liberal fiscal values.<1><2> Current New Democrat politicians belong to the DLC, as well as in some cases, The House New Democrat Coalition and the The New Democrat Network.

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=85&subid=108&contentid=253475">Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Accepts Position as Chair of the DLC's 'American Dream Initiative'

:puke:

[MethuenProgressive]

19. Check your facts - she said it in the 60s, not the 80s

'New Democrat' back then meant Kennedy Democrat.

[Breeze54]

42. She is a member of the DLC!!!

Right of center. That's not a "Dem"! That's republican!

[TahitiNut]

46. Yep. That's a journey of about 1/8"

:eyes: ... to the right.

[bvar22]

50. Barry Goldwater Republican = New Democrat (DLC)

Actually, Barry Goldwater Republicans had more integrity, and I respected them for it.
They told you UPFRONT exactly what they believed and what they would do if elected.
They STOOD honestly on their issues. They were not duplicitous Triangulators.

[gateley]

13. I heard her talk about it recently. But she's in good company -- the Dems

have benefitted from many R's who came on over to our side. Webb comes to mind, and I know there are a lot of others. I admire her and others who have made the change. She should be commended.

[Breeze54]

15. She's only a 'Dem' in name.

[Disturbed]

22. Not to worry Dems. If she gets the nom, most Dems will vote

for her. No Dems want another Repug. Pres., esp. with the Supreme Court in peril.

[scarletwoman]

24. I won't. (nt)

[MethuenProgressive]

25. That's what the GOP is counting on.

The only way the GOP can beat Clinton is with Democratic help.

[gateley]

27. I hear that a lot and I think it's not really justified. She's contributed a lot, too. nt

[Horse with no Name]

18. Webb=FISA

No thank you.
But he has given a few good speeches. I'll give him that, but a few good speeches isn't enough to save the country from what ails it.
Once a Republican, always a Republican and they can ALL KMA.

[gateley]

28. Okay, I'm a newbie here and I'm still trying to learn all the acronyms. So could

you enlighten me on FISA?

I have heard similar comments regarding Webb, and I admit that I based my opinion on a great speech I heard him give, but my gut feeling was he's a good person.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the definition of FISA.

[Horse with no Name]

33. Read about FISA to your hearts content

http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fisa/

[gateley]

34. Ah. Not even sure I need to read past what it stands for. Think I know. Thanks! nt

[HCE SuiGeneris]

40. Where's the link to KMA?

:evilgrin:

[Prophet 451]

37. FISA = Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

Wiki article

[Breeze54]

45. Here's your Welcome gift! -- 'DU Glossary'

DU Glossary
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358x190

ie. DINO - Democrat In Name Only.

DLC - Democratic Leadership Council, an organization of centrist Democrats.

[madrchsod]

29. high school

i really dislike republican high school girls....

[L. Coyote]

32. She may lead millions and millions of Rs down the same path.

[ElizabethDC]

35. It was in the late '60s. She graduated from Wellesley in '69. n/t

[CoffeeCat]

36. "Democrat" and "Republican" mean nothing...

....to me anymore.

Those political labels were important when our country wasn't in complete
shreds with the Constitution going down the toilet and our civil rights
threatened.

There are many Republicans who understand that Bush is a piece of trash
and that he's gone too far. Conversely, there are many Dems (like Hillary)
who pound whatever war drum that the neocons are currently beating.

Way back when we had a democracy, the issues most discussed were social
and domestic. Our biggest battles with Republicans were about abortion,
welfare, education, the national debt, job creation. There are distinct
differences between Democrats and Republicans on those issues.

Now, our country is in peril. We have an executive branch that has usurped
the Constitution. Our nation tortures people. Habeas Corpus is dead.
Our government can wiretap us without a warrant. Our police can taser
us if they don't like our opinions. We no longer have free and fair
elections. Furthermore, we're smack dab in the middle of watching
the neocon/PNAC game plan play out.

Last night, I watched Bill Maher's panel discuss the Iraq war. We always
expect that one Republican warmonger will excuse away and rationalize Bush's
warmongering. Last night, I had to squirm through the show, as I watched
ONE of three panel members tout the Iraq war and give props to BushCo's
Iran-war propaganda. That person was Democratic Congressman, Rahm Emanuel.

Revolting, isn't it?

Since our country is in the ditch, it almost seems silly to argue about
how many tax dollars should go toward Head Start programs. That would be
like passengers on the sinking Titanic--engaging in a rousing debate about
which toothpaste they should use while the water rises.

What matters now is WHO can lead us out of this darkness. Who has the
cajones, the integrity, the intelligence and the vision to identify
our situation as a colossal, Constitutional crisis--and get us the hell out.

At this point, I don't care if that person is a Republican, Democrat,
Green, Libertarian, or an alien from the planet Zoidnopper.

Most of the Democrats and Republicans are in cahoots on the grand demise
that is currently happening. Ever wonder why the loudest voices against
BushCo crimes are on the blogs? Our government has been stolen from us
and the the vast majority of the Dems are enabling all of it. They're
not helpless and wimpy. They're part of the problem...part of the
elite, corporatist-based political machine that has drown our
democracy.

I don't care WHO saves this country....I just want it to be saved from the
greedy, selfish power-grabbing warmongers that have control of it now.

I'm an American FIRST, and I will vote for whomever stands up to the
neocons, gets our democracy off of life support and wakes me up from this sickening nightmare.

[Emit]

57. That, TwoSparkles

deserves its own post.

[CoffeeCat]

59. Thank ya Emit...

...that was nice of you to say!

:)

[alfredo]

38. She won that election too. Hmmmm

[Emit]

39. lol. n/t

[alfredo]

54. She's tough. She knows how to win. That doesn't mean she will be

a good president, it just mean she knows how to win elections.

[Puregonzo1188]

41. Whatever happened to David Horowitz's accusation that during her college years she was head of

a group seekng to free some Black Panther. This doesn't seem to fit with it.

[Raejeanowl]

44. More Recent Is More Relevant

If any of us had to account for every position taken, avowed, averred or announced circa college age, we'd all be heartily embarrassed.

[PDenton]

47. I knew that long time ago

Which is one reason I'm deeply suspicious of Hillary Clinton. Haven't we had enough of "new Democrats"? The ones that talk about Community only until they get elected and somebody chastises them for not being right enough, then they move right? And people still aren't happy?

I'd like to see more Democrat populists on the ticket. I think Edwards is as close as you can get. If I had to pick a political stance, I'd say I'm a slightly progressive populist, economic issues are my main concern now days. The Clintons seem to be the exact opposite of a populist, but maybe I'm wrong. I just don't think so.

[Indenturedebtor]

49. No they're not populists AT ALL

Hillary is neither a Dem or a Puke. She's a Corporatist.

What did the headline read? "Big Business Loves Hillary".

Since the spectrum has shifted so far right "Centrist" = 90's repuke. She'll say anything to get elected, and once in power will be mostly concerned with placating her campaign bankrollers just like all the other politicians. We need a PERSON of integrity first who believes that they should be elected on their beliefs like Kucinich, Edwards, to some extent Obama... Hell even Mike Gravel says what he thinks. She's a triangulating climber.

Would I rather a "centrist" corporatist over a neocon? Sure, but I don't wanna vote for her unless I have NO other choice. I'd rather have a true populist left leaning Democrat who believes in what he/she is saying.

[dailykoff]

51. Yeah I'm sure she's ready to "individual responsibility" us out of Social Security.

Thanks for letting us know about this.

[fujiyama]

52. That's interesting

but not something people should hold against her now. She obviously underwent a political transformation in college, like many young people do during those years.

[cgrindley]

56. So what?

I used to write speeches for Social Credit politicians. That was a long time ago, and besides, it was for money.

[Emit]

58. You mean these Social Credit politicians?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Social_Credit_Party

Very interesting. What brought you into that kind of work? Or out of it, as you say that was a long time ago.

Politics is always fascinating in that sense. My MIL just changed her party affiliation last year -- from Repug to Dem. And she volunteered with me on my district team as a poll watcher.

[Rosemary2205]

60. Hillary has always been a "Goldwater conservative"

she has a liberal moment every here and there but the left has moved much farther left and the right has moved much farther wackoid so it leaves both sides taking shots at moderates like Hillary. And Hillary has never tried to hide her stance IMHO. She triangulates, yes, but she's always been up front about her core values.

[Naturyl]

61. "Individual responsibility" is code-speak

It means anti-welfare. Given that her husband destroyed welfare "as we know it," hearing her use the king of all right-wing buzzwords is no surprise.