Hillary ‘08 – The Iraq Factor and Being the ‘First Woman’
by Pamela LeaveyDuring the ‘04 election I always enjoyed reading David Yepsen’s column in the Des Moines Register. I didn’t always agree with him, but he’s certainly got a strong take on the Iowa caucus process and he does a good job of parsing the candidates. On Saturday, Yepsen’s column was based on an interview with Hillary Clinton during her first visit to Iowa this weekend. Among the subjects they discussed were the “first woman issue” and her Iraq War vote. Here’s a few quips:
When I sat down for an interview with her on Friday night at the Drake Diner in Des Moines, some of the questions I had were the “first woman” issues: How does she deal with voters who may not be ready to vote for a woman for president, particularly one who elicits such hostility from her foes? What does she say to caucus-going Democrats who might be for her but for their questions about her electability because of these gender and polarization issues?
I got part of my answer before the trademark milk shakes and french fries arrived. A stream of people, including many younger women, stopped by to shake hands, get an autograph and wish her well.
Clinton said they were evidence of how “there’s a very big upside” to her gender. “It’s a big plus but I’ve got to demonstrate that I’m the person who should be president. I’m not running as a woman but I’m proud to be one.
“I want people to vote for me on my merits but that includes who I am as a person. I’m a woman, I’m a mom, and I’ve been through a lot of the same experiences that women have been through. I think a lot of women have a feeling that maybe in their lives and their mothers’ lives they were told they couldn’t do something like this,” Clinton said.
Now “there’s lot of excitement and eagerness to be part of a campaign to elect the first woman president. I sense that. I’m getting so much feedback from people all over. I had a man at the airport say to me, I’m so glad you are doing this because I have two daughters,” she said.If Clinton can attract these new people to vote or caucus for her next year, it could provide an important counter to her opposition.
Personally, I think Yepsen has a point on this. As a woman, I have to say it was huge to have Nancy Pelosi finally break through the marble ceiling in Congress to become the first woman Speaker of the House. While I have certain doubts about Hillary on other levels and find her positions to often be too centrist for my taste, I’ve long felt that it was high time we had a woman president in this country. As a mother, I’ve tried to instill in my daughter the importance of going for her dreams, that she can be all she wants to be. So, who I am to say that Hillary should not go for hers?
It’s a wide open race at this point, regardless of what the pundits predict. Hillary will need to spend some serious face time in Iowa, as Yepsen notes, to be able to catch up to those who have already been courting the Iowa caucus go-ers. Yepsen also points out that John Edwards is the early frontrunner there, followed by Barack Obama, Tom Vilsack and then, Clinton. However, he also says, “if Clinton can come from behind in Iowa and beat her challengers here, she could cement her status as the national frontrunner and perhaps cruise to the nomination, as John Kerry did in 2004.”
On Thursday, Yepsen parsed the latest Iowa polls and offered Hillary some advice on Iraq:
Move left on Iraq. Her biggest problem may be her position on the Iraq war. Many Democrats don’t like her vote for it, and these peace Democrats are finding better champions in Edwards or Obama. Anti-war activists will need some reassurances and explanations from her.
Did she get the note? Did it register? Possibly it’s starting to sink in. I’ve long suspected that Hillary would start to shift her stance on Iraq, as her people see that she’s going to have a problem voters who believe it’s time to change course in Iraq and bring our troops home. And, apparently Hillary decided to do a few acts of contrition on her Iraq vote, while in Iowa:
She met with key activists and held a raucous town hall meeting with 1,500 cheering backers and hundreds of journalists.
“I have said clearly and consistently for quite some time that I regret the way the president misused the authority,” said Clinton. “He misled Congress and the country on what he was seeking and what he intended to do.”
The responsibility Clinton said she accepts was helping clear the way for Bush’s path in Iraq.
“I take responsibility for having voted to give him that authority,” she said. “My focus is on what we do now. That is the proper debate.”
So, here’s my note to Hillary on Iraq. She’s absolutely right, the focus is on what we do now. It’s actually long over due, as John Kerry has pointed out so many times in the past. And I would suggest to Hillary and the rest of the pack, that plan to watch, the plan to support is the plan that John Kerry is proposing – Set A Deadline. The candidate that jumps on that plan for Iraq, will win my support, and the no doubt the support of the many hundreds of thousands of voters who voted for a change last November.
Personally, I’m not looking for Hillary or the rest of the pack to jump on board Kerry’s plan right quickly, but I’ll be here reminding them all that when Kerry stepped out of the race on Wednesday, he gave them all a gift. He stepped up and said he would make it his mission to end this war based on lies. He’ll take the heat to pave the way for things to be easier for the next president. A smart Democratic candidate will accept that gift and they’ll woo the anti-war left with support of his plan, while coming up with some damn good domestic initiatives that people can sink their teeth into and say, yes, this candidate speaks for me.
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I remember watching Sen Clinton on the David Letterman Show I think when she was promoting her book. Her position on Iraq then was that the President’s reasoning for us to go into Iraq to establish an democracy was sound, more like she bought the neocon line. She went further than what I thought was the reason, that Iraq was endangering our national security per WMD and 9/11. I don’t think the neoncons are very sound thinking at all.
I think she does have to move way left to appeal to many. But I want someone who believes in it and does not just give lip service for votes. I want the real deal like we have with Kerry.
Hillary is in the same game as the neocons or thereabouts. The Clinton’s are part of the whole thing. I think they are invested in Iraq like so many of them in both parties. The lure of power and wealth gets to most of them. The same old game Kerry tried to bust with BCCI and the other Democrats fought him. The goddamned war profit game. It’s insanity to put the Clintons back in the WH. They did as much to get us to this point as the current administration. They just covered their tracks more. I cannot believe what I’m witnessing.
Teresa
I don’t think that Dems will play down low enough to bring up any of that during the primaries. Clark is too chumy with Hill and Bill and Biden, Edwards, Obama, Richardson, none of them will go there.
With JK out we can only hope for the best. I’m going to post about who’s doing and saying what and withhold any personal endorsements of any candidates for the time being.
The Clinton’s peed on the Presidency and took all the dignity from the office that was left. They took us into the sewer.
This is a big game to them. They laughed at how easy it was to dupe the people when he got in and boy, howdy, would she be laughing now if they get away with it.
I don’t want to go through more of their sexual sickness. The lie of her family values screams. Where is everybody? She has a dysfunctional family and no morals and no honesty. I thought we were ready to leave this behind.
If by some quirk of fate she were elected, it wouldn’t make any difference, but I won’t vote for her, if nominated.
This is what bothers me so much about my country. The lack of self respect. The continuation of this National Enquirer drama. I’m disgusted beyond measure.
She’s at the bottom of the heap and that’s low considering politicians.
And I see that Hollywood is picking our leaders! Fantastic! Liz Taylor. Seven failed marriages. She certainly knows people.
Pamela
That’s wise. Just try and report the facts. Things are going to change drastically before it’s over.
Teresa
I’m one of those folks who comes from the when Bill lied, no one died place. I think part of it was a set up honestly. The right is well known for that sort of stuff.
A friend from Austria said to me the other day that Hill in the WH is the ultimate revenge. In a way it makes sense to me. Bush should be impeached for his lies. Bill did what many men in power do. Doesn’t make it right but crap like this has been going on since the world became civilized. Thank god(dess) we’ve evolved quite a bit since the Roman era.
As for Liz Taylor, well she’s no activist celebrity but it was a quirky little story on a Sunday. I’ll be curious to see who various hardcore liberal activists in Hollywood lean towards.
I’m sick of the whole goddamned game. I don’t care what happens to these people and I’m not interested in revenge. What I am interested in is a step into the future and a decent person in the White House. I want far away from all of them. Grade B melodrama.
I’m not talking about that hideous man’s sex. I’m talking about his desecration of the office. His hubris, his popstar attitude, his complete disregard for the dignity of his position, his humiliation of the public and the trust of the fools who put him there. He’s as big a phony as you can get. This is not what I want.
It beyond policy. The President is the representative of our country in the world. If that’s where we are, then I’m ashamed. I had hopes that there would be a departure from the Clinton crap and with Kerry coming, I was overjpyed. But now I see the truth. I still will harbor some hope that a dignified person will hold the office next, but it sure as hell ain’t the Clintons. It’s beyond embarrassing. It’s tragic.
And I’ll tell you one more disgusting thing. The race and gender game going on. The support of a man just because he’s black, and the woman, because she’s female. These are not reasons to elect and they do nothing for evolution and advancement. I’s rather wait until we’re ready to vote according to merit and what race and gender they are, is secondary. This just sets us back even further. I’m shocked at how little things have moved. In fact, I think we’re going further backward by the minute. These people are ludicrous. Our country once had class and style. Great speakers. I didn’t want to admit how bad it is now, but I’m afraid I’ll have to. Unless this is a temporary dip.
I’m jubilant that Kerry is free from this prison. He has no business with them. I want freedom from them too, and if they don’t get the hell out, I will.
Teresa
Dems want the Rock Star vibe, I have never understood that. The one thing I do know, however is as a single mother and a small business owner I fared far better under Bill than I have under Bush 1 or Bush 2. With the perfect candidate gone for me, I’m trying to keep an open mind on the election while also catching up on lot’s of personal stuff that has gone by the wayside for a very long time now.
Pamela
I understand you have reasons for going with the Clintons. We all have to survive. Go ahead. Really. Do it fearlessly. It won’t make any difference. The times dictate, not who is in the WH.
This is my choice. I won’t vote for any of them. They will not get a penny of my money. And most of all, I pray that they will get none of my attention. Maybe that will be the end result. I will be free like Kerry to walk away from them all. Can’t wait.
I’m afraid it might be an illusion that those good times are coming back with Bill, though.
Teresa
As I said before I’m not endorsing anyone at this time and most likely won’t for some time to come.
So I’m not going with the Clintons when I state that I was better off when Bill was in office. That’s simply a fact of the past for me.
The economy tends to do better under a Democratic president, be it Bill or any of them in recent history.
If you hadn’t noticed I used part of this post to push JK’s Set A Deadline proposal. I will look for the candidate when the time is right who I feel most mirrors JK’s stance on the issues.
Other than that I’m a blogger with no allegiance to any candidate who still has a loyalty to JK and the work he is doing in the Senate.
Pamela
Good news.
I just thought that after what just transpired in these last years, the suffering would not have been in vain. It’s too soon to tell.
When they invaded Iraq like a Hollywood movie, I couldn’t believe it was happening. I kept saying, “go back, go back’. I couldn’t believe it was real.
I feel the same way about this Clinton reel. The suckers are falling for it and I just want to say the same thing in reverse. “Don’t go back”.
Clinton threw you all crumbs and behind the scenes stole all the money and got us here today together with the current robber barons. The media consolidation and the change of laws on Wall Street so the theft could proceed bigtime. One of the biggest stock market scams ever. the amount of money transferred to the rich is beyond belief and Clinton with his people were instrumental.
There is a controlling group behind these machinations and if they want this ripoff to continue it will. The Clintons will assure that. I think there is a war among these factions and I don’t know who will emerge in charge, but I do know we have no say in the matter. Plus the inequity will cause problems for them. They’re stealing from the hand that feeds them.
There is so much money around this Iraq game and they will do what they will. If they want to make the people believe in the crumbs again, they will, but I think the morsels will be much smaller this time around.
Like trained monkeys everybody jumps. The people, the political pawns, and even the international money houses who control the game on the surface.
So, like I said, it’s beyond anybody’s control. For me, all I want is a person with some appearance of dignity to represent my country. Simple request. That’s all. I don’t expect anyone to solve my personal problems. I can do that on my own
Teresa
When you are small business owner you can’t just solve your problems when they are economy based. JK knows that, that is why he fights so hard for small business.
I’ve seen a lot of people who used to be clients go out of business in recent years because of the economy – while BushCo claims it’s great. I see a repeat of similar circumstances that we had with Bush I that caused many small businesses to go under, including my first business.
I know a lot of people who feel that the economy was better under Clinton. Struggling people not rich people. Right now I care about the stance the candidates are takiing about the issues that effect the now and the future. The past is the past – we can not change that. We can only hope that whoever the Dem nomineee is will work had to make it better.
Hope so.
Kerry will be there to continue, and some of the new ones will be helping you small business people. So it should be OK, no matter who wins.
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