Post-Run Interview with Hillary
By LisaB on June 16, 2008 at 3:30 PM in Barack Obama, Clinton, Current Affairs, Democratic party, Democrats, Gender Bias, Hillary Clinton, general election
John Heilemann interviews Hillary Clinton for an article in the NY Magazine. It is quite interesting, offering some new perspective and some post mortem thoughts not found elsewhere (yet). I think what Heilemann says here will gradually appear elsewhere. He says that by losing, Hillary has at least gained something: stature and respect. I think he’s absolutely right and all the PUMA activity is evidence of exactly that.
Here is what Hillary said about herself and one of the reasons we still want HER.
Clinton, in fact, makes no bones about the matter when we speak. “I’m not a very comfortable public figure,” she explains. “I don’t particularly like the attention. I like the work. I like the sense of forward movement and progress. At the end of the day, what I’m interested in is what we’ve done that actually moves the agenda forward.”
Heilemann also says the democrats may have a new group to worry about, a la the Reagan democrats - the Hillary democrats. And, as to whether or not Hillary would be Obama’s VP - as many of us hope she does NOT do, Heilemann offers this:
If the call doesn’t come from Obama, Clinton will return to the Senate—where, in many ways, she will instantly become the first among equals. “She’ll be greatly, greatly enhanced,” says former senator Bob Kerrey. “She’ll have the most valuable e-mail list in the Senate. She’ll be the most heavily sought out person in the Congress as an endorser, a fund-raiser. Everybody is gonna want to have her come and campaign for them. She’s gonna be at the very top of everybody’s list.”
In this sense, if Obama wishes to marginalize her, he may offer the VP.
Also quite interesting is the fact that Hillary allowed herself to go on record as pessimistic about Obama’s chances in the fall. This is backed up by a discussion of the relative coalitions both candidates forged and should serve as a warning to the DNC, but is not likely to. Given Gov. Strickland’s unwillingness to endorse Obama and Gov. Rendell’s recent experiences with the Obama campaign (and the fact it was reported), it seems something is going on.
It’s worth your time to read this; even the accompanying pictures are good.
I just got throgh skimming this article and I think its dead on. Hillary is a lot stronger now than she was before. I pray she does not accept as a position on the ticket with Obama, she is better than him.
This new poll up on fox:
Obama’s negatives have gone up significantly:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353459,00.html
this is among dems too …very very interesting
I believe that was an April 30 article.
IF Hillary accepts the VP slot, I still won’t vote for this elitist. Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGxzqwRJUzM
Obama can speak in Urban lingo to talk to African Americans, but when Typical White People say similar things they are labeled as racist.
Dubya dumbed-down society. In general, people do not expect to look up to a president. Instead, they want someone who can speak street language to them. Welcome, Dumb Fuck Obama, the democrats version of Dubya.
This just is NOT the way a person running for POTUS should talk. PERIOD.
Oh My God. How presidential-like is that? And how does Barry spell that.. “d-o-l-l-u-h-s”?
What drives me nuts is the way he says “divisive”. He doesn’t prounounce the “I’s”.
Is he trying to say dismissive or divisive? I don’t know why, but it’s worse then fingernails on a chalkboard, LOL.
Ditto… I will not vote for an Obama/Clinton ticket either.
I know that they will blame it on her either way, yet worse if she was on the ticket. yet at some time Obama has to become responsible for his actions… and then again maybe not. He hasn’t had to so far and he is the presumptive nominee…..
go figure.
Hillary or McCain ‘08 (or both)
This article contains the same patronizing “It’s all Hillary’s fault” psychobabble that’s become standard for her (and only her) in this election. The writer naturally forgets to mention the criminal conspiracy of media corporations as they continue to suppress Obama’s shadowy connections with Iraqi agents and organized crime, while creating firestorms of controversy over innocuous comments from Clinton like the RFK assassination fiasco.
And no mention of the DNC padding delegates into caucus states to allow Republicans to vote against Clinton and wield more influence than an Ohio blue collar democrat. No mention of Obama getting more delegates from Texas when Clinton won by 100,000 votes. No mention of Obama getting more delegates from Nevada when Clinton won there.
All of this reads like the sequel to George Orwell’s book 1984. And the hardest part is knowing how easy it would be for all of us to browbeat Clinton back into this race and force the DNC to withdraw that bogus nominee declaration. But here we are contributing to the woman’s eulogy in June.
(Click on my screen name for info on a campaign to get Congress to investigate the media for FCC and anti-trust violations.)
Good observations about the article and easy toleration of it.
Can’t see how this cowardly and immoral Congress is going to do any good with that investigation, though .
Pelosi verges on being a traitor; she has sold out and the bagman’s name is Felix Rohatyn.
I don’t know how much more disgusting he can get. Panhandling for the last $5.00 that someone might have is pathetic. He got to go home to his McMansion after that little fundraising speech.
Let’s Raise Hill!!
Only, nobody has won the nomination, so how could a loser be determined?
The goal posts have been moved once again…
No V.P.
I was firt open to the idea of Hillary being V.P., but not any more. There is no benefit for her whatsoever with an Obama train-treck whether he loses or wins in Nov.
The hard-core leftists will make George W.’s white house look pretty.
You are so right! He will only marginalize and demean her, using her as a puppet and the one to blame for all the mistakes he is sure to make in the future. Stand up for yourself, Hillary, and screw party unity. When people treat you like crap, you need to stand up for yourself and say “NO DEAL!”
If she is offered the VP and decides to take the offer? It would lead me to believe she either has inside information and believes she can navigate for the country being CLOSE to the trainwreck
or
she thinks he will have to step down by NOV and as VP she would be right in place to step up
if she DOESN’T take it (and is offered it)
THAT might worry me.
I’m telling you the kids are JUICED in O drool.
Hillary for Majority Leader! Obama is probably going to lose the GE, but Dems will win in Congress. PLEASE don’t go on that loser’s ticket.
Nobama. Not now. Not ever.
I’m totally onboard with her getting the VP spot if she gets the universal healthcare portfolio unmolested by Obama. That would worthwhile because I don’t know how else we get universal healthcare in the next decade. If Obama won’t make the commitment to her handling the universal healthcare program, screw him. It’s the only way I vote for him.
Sorry lorelynn…it is a fantasy of yours to even think he would have her do anything as VP that will overshadow him.
Keep Obama away from the White House…
Hillary or McCain (or both) ‘08
What exactly is the worth of an Obama commitment, anyway? Has he ever kept his word on anything?
Not that I know of, even in terms of the corruption, how does he deal, dirty?
Meaning he will take the money, but if it turns out, for the moment anyway, to be against what he feels is best for him, does he renege?
No honor among thieves?
Is he screwing over the DNC, too?
LOL
Sure, he did. When he signed a pledge not to campaign or participate in the Florida and Michigan primaries.
He gave a press conference in Floria and ran some ads on cable, both in contravention of the rules. So, no, that doesn’t really work, either.
All About The Benjamins And Lack Of
Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to
announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through
Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is
elected President of the United States.
Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult
challenges — including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing
our economy, and solving the climate crisis. Barack Obama is clearly
the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to
America.
I’ve never asked members of AlGore.com to contribute to a political
campaign before, but this moment and this election are too important
to let pass without taking action.
That’s why I am asking you to join me today in showing your support
for Barack Obama by making a contribution to his campaign today:
https://donate. barackobama. com/support
Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows
change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill.
It begins when people stand up and take action.
With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will
bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our
country’s most pressing problems.
If you’ve already contributed to Barack Obama’s campaign, I ask that
you consider making another contribution. If you haven’t, please join
the movement right now:
https://donate. barackobama. com/support
On the issues that matter most, Barack Obama is clearly the right
choice to lead our nation.
We have a lot of work to do in the next few months to elect Barack
Obama president and it begins by making a contribution to his
campaign today.
Thank you,
Al Gore
LIVE TONIGHT — 8:30 p.m. EDT: Watch streaming video of Al Gore and
Barack Obama at a rally in Detroit, Michigan:
http://www.BarackOb ama.com
Yeh, I’m gonna run right over and donate, not
These people who endorse Obama have lost all credibility with the American people. I now look forward to the GOP attack ads in the Fall (like they did to Childers, and Cazayoux in TN, MS where they linked them to Obama (photos ready?) and Wright - only now they can add Rezko, Ayers, Auchi, Pfleger, Meeks, Farrakhan, and even Michelle Obama to that list. Look forward to cleaning both houses of Congress and the DNC of these roll-over and play dead Obamacrats.
Al…. STFU!
Where is a barf bag when you need one!
PUMA
Thank you, fred, for posting that.
Yes, we face difficult challenges, but:
(1) we cannot realistically bring the troops home within four years, without creating even more damage in Iraq and Afghanistan.
(2) Our economy will not be able to be fixed in four years. It will take longer to really fix the problems.
(3) we cannot fix the climate problem without the agreement of China, India, much of South America and India and that is not going to be resolved in four years by anyone.
Obama does not have the experience to deal with any of these problems, let alone all of them.
I will not donate to Obama.
I will not vote for Obama.
Like that fat elitist swine and hypocrite is going to have any sway with either independents or working class Americans.
Screw U Al Gore! If you are so concerned about global warming why are you supporting a candidate that puts out so much non-stop hot air.
Didn’t Al Gore invent hot air?
Dear Al,
With all the Obullshit that has been tossed around by your new buddy, can’t you just process all that manure into carbo credits and sell them for greenbacks?
Love and Kisses
A No Longer Supporting the Corrupt DNC in anyway Democrat.
Jeremiah
P.S.
I just made another donation to Hillary to pay off her campaign debt. Sorry i cant open my wallet to the Party that promoted Mysogony and racebaiting to get their darling selected.
J
“I just made another donation to Hillary to pay off her campaign debt. Sorry i cant open my wallet to the Party that promoted Mysogony and racebaiting to get their darling selected.”
mi·sog·y·ny
race baiting
Dammit, i was trying to sound like an ignorant hick that was clinging to guns with one hand and religion with the other to explain whey i didnt bother to spell check.
Thansk a lot for blowing my cover.
I think I will donate to McCain.
Obama Flip-Flop on Gun Control? Or New Politics? Or Both?
Barack Obama appeared at a fundraiser in Philadelphia last night where he delivered the following remark:
“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.”
A couple thoughts from McCain HQ on this. First, Barack Obama has a long track record as a proponent of stringent gun-control regulations–to the point that a questionnaire filled out by his staff, and with the candidate’s handwriting on it, stated that Obama favored a ban on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of handguns. Can we assume that Senator Obama now opposes efforts to ban the possession of handguns?
Second, would Obama be carrying a concealed weapon to this fight? Will he have a permit?
And finally, we’re having second thoughts about our proposed series of town halls.
Will Al Gore have a gun tonight?
Lots of hope going on here.
You folks may want Hillary but the Democratic party and its politicians DO NOT WANT HER. Hell even most of the senate Dems won’t even talk to her.
They have repeatedly communicated this to her supporters by their lack of support for her and her bid for the presidency.
If anyone thinks she’ll be allowed to run for president in ‘12 or if Obama stumbles before November forget about it.
Obama already turned the DNC into a sock puppet organization and the Congressional Dems are behind Obama like a bunch of geriatric goosesteppers.
The party you folks knew is dead.
AMEN RWC …..
I will vote for McCain
Hillary or McCain ‘08
Unfortunately I think you are right.
I like this statement on page 7 of that article:
Naturally, the answer depends, first of all, on whether Obama decides to offer her the VP slot. For all the talk of her trying to muscle her way onto the ticket, one senses in her a genuine ambivalence about whether she wants the job. If Obama does offer it, however, she will have no choice but to take it. She is all too aware that if she turned it down and he lost this fall, she would be blamed even more loudly than she will be already, even though in her view his downfall is foreordained, and has nothing to do with her.
Hillary knows what we know at NQ. NOBAMA!
I read that article at nymag before the blog entry here disapeared and I must say, it was fantastic. I like that Hillary basically admits that she knows Obama will lose. And she gives the reason all of us know. The same reason why Gore and Kerry lost. They could not connect with hard working middle Americans and hispanics (amongst others).
At the same time, she knows that she will get blamed for Obama’s loss in November, especially if Obama offers VP and she says no. So she’s likely to take it if asked even when she knows their prospecs aren’t good.
I hate to see her attached to an Obama ticket.
One vote sector everyone is ignoring when they talk about groups that will not vote for Obama are the Catholics all over the country.
I would hate for to do that to herself first of all. Secondly I would hate to have to work against anything she is directly involved with.
I will not vote for Obama. Period. Even if she is on the ticket. No how. No way. NObama!
One vote sector everyone is ignoring when they talk about groups that will not vote for Obama are the Catholics all over the country.
And that’s before they find out Obambi supports partial birth abortion.
Obambi opposed legislature that would provide medical care for fully developed aborted babies.
Hillary and all the other Dems in the Senate supported the legislation.
Obambi in the Illinois state senate killed a bill that would protect a baby born fully alive.
Hillary as VP seems unlikelier than ever. Obama just hired Hillary’s fired campaign manager Doyle as VP staff chief. See Clinton Bundler on Obama’s Doyle Pick: The Biggest ‘F— You’ Ever at the NY Observer and Obama Hires Solis Doyle: A Bad Omen For VP Hillary at HuffPo.
ok i read they parted on good terms
she could also be a “signal” to Hill fans that he’s considering her
then they read what the voters think here and on the orange satan place
nah
what am I thinking? LOL
Ain’t politics strange…?
Obama is just using Patti to get Hill’s votes…
BREAKING PREDICTION!!!
BREAKING PREDICTION!!!
BREAKING PREDICTION!!!
Doyle was hired because Richardson is going to be the Vice Presidential Nominee!!!!
It’s just another Pander, this time to the Hispanic Community.
Or hafe we forgotten the false trumped up outrage over her leaving by socalled in the pocket obama hispanics.
BREAKING PREDICTION!!!
BREAKING PREDICTION!!!
BREAKING PREDICTION!!!
Sorry, but the writer is full of shit. Clinton didn’t lose–the primary was STOLEN, and without a serious analysis of what REALLY went on the primary season, such an article is a waste of time.
Bill’s “erratic behavior”? Are you kidding me this is a good article?
Yeah, can you imagine falling for that crap, and thinking it’s what really happened, she LOST the primary?
Those Washington people must feel they really are in charge, if the start believing they’re effective.
Bill and Chelsea went to some far away counties in Oregon and Those counties went to Hillary. Now tell me Bill is erratic. No NO NO. They were a big enough hit to gain the votes.
This Pennsyvanian PUMA GIRL will never vote for Obama….not even if he tries to kiss our A** and put Hillary on as VP. Which he would only be doing to get our vote.
This is the kind of UNITING BHO has done.
He has united ALL PUMAS whether in NC, FL, MI, TX, CA if you call PUMA you UNITE us!
Indeed. Although I have not officially signed up because I read their rules and they say no swearing. This is a habit I have not broken…… so I’m holding off joining officially. I am there in spirit and we’ve already changed our party out of the sheer shame of “being known as a DONKEY” any longer.
I read the article- good piece, intriguing- thanks for the link.
BUT- Did anybody else’s blood boil at the description of his guards? “When the chat is over and the nominee strides toward the freight elevator to make his exit, his Secret Service agents brusquely shoo away Clinton’s aides: “Stand aside for Senator Obama! Make way for Senator Obama!”
WTF??? Who is he? The king? Stand aside?? Make way??? My ass- I am standing in his way and millions are ahead and millions are lined up behind me blocking his way to the White House!
Maybe they drank the kool-Aide, too, maybe it’s prereq to work with Obama…
I want to know how many Nation of Islam people Obama has on staff. He has one Senate staffer that is Nation of Islam. How much larger is their influence than this? Do you think the Chicago move will change any of that?
That’s because he’s had more death threats than any candidate in recent history.
*sigh*
He’s given out a few death threats too.
yeah the jig is up..wait and see. we’ll show you how the jig is up.
Yeah, that pissed me off too.
Unbelievable.
The guy’s the f**king Mafia man, simple as that…
Sorry, but it’s true.
I have always said that Hillary needs to stay as far away from Obama as possible.
When he blows up he will be taking all those that are working in select positions for him. I dont think it will be the Chicago crew….I think it will be the DNC crew.
We’re definitely a force, and a huge one.
Just dust us off your shoulda bro.
Hillary is far too good to be on an Obama ticket.
He is so toxic that her reputation would be impugned.
She has done so much good. Why team up with the Bubonic Plague of Democracy?
I’m a conservative former-Republican
I remember being 18 years old and relieved that I backed out joining the Air Force because it was Nov 1992 and Bill Clinton just got elected.
So lets just say I was not a fan of Hillary.
When this election’s campaign opened, I had viewed her candidacy with some alarm.. until Obama came along.
Watching Hillary be the target of every hateful and malicious attack by the Obamas (I am from Chicago and understand what the Obamas are about) and the media .. I was disgusted by it.
Thank God for SNL because were it not for the shock of a comedy truly mocking the Media, I don’t think they would have done any negative stories on Obama.
I am not surprised at the nastiness of the Obama faction of the Democrats… I know you guys seem to think that the Republicans have some sort of monopoly on playing dirty adn that Democrats are pure.. but from my POV the Democrats are pretty ruthless when they want to be.
The thing that concerned me the most was watching Obama go as low as he could go.. and not get called out on by Press. This is Mr New Politics? This is Mr Uniter? This is Mr. Bridging Gaps?
I have a new opinion on Hillary Clinton now.
I admire her fight. I admire her devotion. I recognize the wrong that has been done against her by Neo-Marxists. Justice is due to her.
I’m sure Hillary Clinton and I will continue to diametrically opposed on every political view, but I have no anger toward her anymore.
Hopefully this experience can lead to some mutual sword and shield dropping.
The arrival of the Clintons in 1992 seemed to have exposed the bitter partisan riff that was boiling beneath the surface of American civil life…. a boiling which became thermonuclear with the election of Bush II.
Hopefully we can use this oppurtunity to turn off the fire as we recognize that while we may not want the same policies, we both love our country and we need to work together to do what is best for its future.
Ok this is getting too corny. I hope no one views this as an attack on Clintons.. I was simply explaining my POV.
I thoroughly enjoyed it Sir.
I am honored to lower my shield and sit toe to toe with an honest foe. Agreed our policies may differ but I have seen the ruthlessness of both sides. It’s the extremes in both camps.
Being moderate used to mean like road kill (back when I was way out in left field) Now I’m appreciating the peace making center through a shared value (or two) both important ones.
Honor and Country
Agreed. Thank you both for sharing.
I’ve always been very liberal policy-wise (McCain’s web site literally makes me shudder), but there’s something to be said for basic human decency and standing up for our Constitution and country.
Thank you.
I think what this whole thing has exposed is the deep fundamental corruption of the News Media.
Obama would never have been able to railroad his way to the nomination if the Press didn’t put him on his shoulders and carry him safely across the water.
Wow! And thank you. That is the way we should discuss matters. Mutual respect. Simply wonderful.
Being in the middle means less turbulence — and we are all in this together being real Americans.
In the Puget Sound when the current runs fast — it is much easier to take the middle of the Sound — the current seems to run swifter on either the far left or the far right.
Thank you Vince P — you seem to share the sentiment of many of my Republican friends. Many hated the Clintons and then Bill Clinton most of all. One of my friends left the US and is now living somewhere in the Caribbean — this friend was planning to vote for Hillary Clinton in November. My Republican friends admire Hillary’s fighting spirit and feel that she would be working for the best interest of the country.
I will not vote for a Obama/Clinton ticket…why would someone do that…that would not make the freshman senator qualified…I am going to vote for the person I trust to keep this country safe…keep my family safe and yours too.
McCain ‘08
Vince-well stated.
I came into the election with a bias toward Obama. After all, he had written two books! And they were supposedly well written, and hopeful!
Hillary, I was told, was divisive. And I believed it.
But when I opened my eyes to the reality and did some independent research and came to my own conclusions, well, it turns out that Hillary is far different than the media creation that falsely depicted her.
And, well, Obama is far different than the media creation that falsely depicted him.
One was far better. One was far worse.
There’s no way in hell I could ever vote for Obama.
Count me as one voter who didn’t know much about Senator Clinton before the primary. Months and years ago, I heard politically knowledgeable people close to her remark that the more people get to know her, the better they like her. I wrote this off as political puffery at the time–hey, people said it about the repellent Barky-O, too. But in Hillary’s case, it’s proven true for me and for many others.
Count me as one voter who looks forward to getting to know her better, and to supporting her whatever she decides to do, whenever and wherever it is.
And I’m looking forward to reading her memoirs! I can’t wait to get an insider’s view of this so-called process 20 years from now.
Many of us were truly tuned in to her. One guy said he thought she was speaking to him when he was watching her speeches on TV in his easy chair. I can understand that because she was..she was speaking to us all. I miss the Hillaryisms. She is quite a gal. She won inspite of his money, his cheating, the media, on and on..they finaly had to say he had enough delegates to win (which he doesn’t) and kick her to the curb.
She is an amazing person. When she spoke, even tough men cried. She touched so many peoples hearts. How can they do this to her. To know her is to love her. For those of us who understnd her and her heart, we were once supporters and are now fanatics. We will avenge this rip off of the election. Come fall, we will never have to look at BO’s ugly face again.
I think the article explains why Hillary is not very likeable, and doesn’t make a great candidate, and also why she lost to the much more likeable and popular candidate: Barack Obama.
You lost us all with the blatant lie in your first 2 words!
Those you see following the Obamessiah are not Democrats, though the species may try to look similar. They are in fact nothing but JACKASSES!
P.U.M.A.
Choke on your cafe latte, fucking troll.
You have no idea what you are talking about what-so-ever. And you are WRONG. The hoopla in this election was that she was running and that brought out the voters in droves. Now she’s gone and it’s really quiet. No one wants to participate and if they do they will vote against the thug Obama. GET IT!
From Andy Martin announces news conference in NYC today!
“I challenge Senator Obama to sue me for defamation if he truly wants to perpetuate the myth that he had no ties to the Muslim religion. I will waive all of the traditional First Amendment defenses (”Public figure,” “actual malice,” etc.) and will interpose only one defense in support of my claims: truth,” Martin will state at his news conference.
Those you see following the Obamessiah are not Democrats, though the species may try to look similar. They are in fact nothing but JACKASSES!
P.U.M.A.
Ahmen brotha
this shit is deep. I feel the hope.
PUMA!!LETS ROLL
I have to say, that Martin is really upping the ante by giving up the traditional First Amendment defenses.
If Obama does not respond to Martin’s challenge (of course, he probably won’t since, uhm, uhh, you know, when was the last time Obama accepted any challenge), then it says a lot to me.
whatcha mean? he’s announced today that he’ll visit Iraq (but he’s not sure when though). that petition on Citizens for McCain must have got filled up. he’d look like a pussy for opting out.
After all the crap they piled on Clinton over her RFK comment, what will they accuse her of NOW, if she takes VP???? Hilarious….
Barak Osama–that’s easy. They’ll accuse her of plotting to m-word Obama, and sympathetic media will argue that Obama must really believe in the best qualities of humanity to put someone who would clearly m-word Obama on the same ticket.
Obama really is g-d. You see!
I have to go but I wanted to post this in this thread
Are American Voters as Stupid As Democrats Bank On?
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3506
I think it is pretty right on..
Great Article…Let’s throw them all out!
This is what they mean by the party is not the party we used to know. It’s a circus of fools.
30yrdem-not any more; Ya gotta love this one.
“http://www.dsausa.org/pdf/widemsoc.pdf”
Great Link Teak!
WOW - Love how they gloss over the fact that Socialism failed in country after country, and of course it is not their fault.
Hmmmm Now where did I hear that blame someone else meme before?