Since the Norman Hsu campaign finance scandal first broke weeks ago, conservatives have wondered when liberal media members will get concerned about how this might impact the presidential aspirations of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
If Sunday's "The Chris Matthews Show" is a barometer, the news is not good for Hillary supporters.
As The Anchoress accurately reported Saturday, NBC's Andrea Mitchell made a statement concerning the Clintons that was absolutely shocking:
Up until now, Bill Clinton has been a complete plus among Democratic primary voters for Hillary Clinton. But now, with the Norman Hsu money-raising controversy, for the first time there's a real concern in the Clinton camp that this is real baggage from the Clinton White House years. There's a lot of stress, a lot of damage control, a lot of finger-pointing - and in fact, stress is so high that there was a shouting match observed among Clinton staffers in public last week.
Contrast this with Mitchell's statements about former President Clinton on September 5's "Today' show as reported by the MRC's Tim Graham:
Well experts in both parties say he is the best political strategist in the business and now he's got another book that is sure to be a bestseller. So how will that affect the political fortunes of his wife at a critical point in the campaign? He's not the typical candidate's spouse.
[...]
Barack Obama is attracting big crowds. But for Democrats, Bill Clinton has more star power than any of the candidates, perhaps even his wife.
[...]
And so far what he is doing is a big asset to his wife's campaign. In fact, Hillary Clinton is getting her biggest crowds when her husband is campaigning at her side. But her aides say that she is running on her own record, even if, for now, the former president is one of her biggest assets.
What a difference ten days make, wouldn't you agree?
This raises an important question: Does this scandal have the traction yet to really stick to Hillary, or will she prove just as Teflon-coated as her husband?
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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They're both a drag..
September 16, 2007 - 13:04 ET by Gary HallMay I suggest that both Hillary and Bill Clinton would serve as a drag on her campaign, if the media did it's job.
Teflon - heck. I suspect that the media will let it "slide" even if we find out that Bill is having an affair with Hsu. They'll say that it shows - balance in his life.
Gary,
September 16, 2007 - 17:56 ET by Dave RIf the MSM was actually doing its job, there would be no Hillary campaign.
Not only that, but WJC would have never been elected to a second term.
"I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!”- Rick Roberts
Agreed. As far as Bill is
September 16, 2007 - 20:50 ET by robert108Agreed. As far as Bill is concerned, if the MSM had done its job, he wouldn't have won the first election with his 43%.
That's not Teflon...
September 17, 2007 - 09:34 ET by heldmywThat's a thin coating of viscous, slippery, slime. Watch a Clinton move and you can follow the trail...
Oh how I'm hoping, Noel
September 16, 2007 - 13:05 ET by BlondeDoes this scandal have the traction yet to really stick to Hillary
9 - 1 the MsM will cover for her highness, though.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
looks like even the MSM is
September 16, 2007 - 18:30 ET by TruthMongerlooks like even the MSM is bailing out now...
Let's see how Hilary does on her own - she's pretty wiley ya know...
Rush had an observation
September 16, 2007 - 13:10 ET by USA4freedomRush had an observation the other day, noting that the NYT was complaining about the
Clintons and the fund raising?? I wonder could someone playing with the long
knifes?? Hmm..
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
LOL -- The Anchoress I
September 16, 2007 - 13:12 ET by Jack BauerLOL -- The Anchoress
I love cheap shots. And that's a good one.
Jack
September 16, 2007 - 13:15 ET by Noel SheppardJB,
Actually, The Anchoress is a conservative blog. Check the link. She got an e-mail message yesterday concerning what was going to be on today's show. I didn't report it until I saw it for myself. ns
ns -- pardon my dimness.
September 16, 2007 - 13:20 ET by Jack Bauerns -- pardon my dimness. Gotcha!
I misread and was laughing at the thought you'd called her an Anchoress so I just bashed out my stream of unconsciousness.
Well experts in both
September 16, 2007 - 13:21 ET by MidAmericaWell experts in both parties say he (bill clinton) is the best political strategist in the business and now he's got another book that is sure to be a bestseller.
And who might these experts be? bill never got above 50% of the popular vote and then lost control of congress after his first term because of his weakness as a strategist. hillary's high negatives are partly because of the extreme dislike of bill by lots of people and they don't want him back.
Slick Willy's stragedy
September 16, 2007 - 21:10 ET by MikeBSlick Willy's stragedy worked real well for Algore and for John F'ing Kerry (who served in Viet Nam, you know), now didn't it?
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
MikeB....
September 16, 2007 - 23:23 ET by MrShya heads-up: you mispelled (and did I mispell misspell? :p) strategy "straged...... oh, I get it! :p
love it! :) (even if it WAS a typo, then it's a true Freudian... )
It's amazing, and scary, to think I worked for a few hours on a NY-based campaign team in 1992 for Mr. Icky and the Icky Shuffle Camp.... I was young and stupid, what can I say....
and I think they're doing the Icky Shuffle (or the Icky Sidestep :p) now... both Ms. Icky AND the adoring MSM.
MrShy, nope, there was no
September 17, 2007 - 13:59 ET by MikeBMrShy, nope, there was no misspelling there, or rather, there is, but it was intentional. Bugs Bunny always said he needed a "stragedy" to deal with Elmer Fudd. Perhaps I should have put it in quotation marks.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Oh I get it
September 16, 2007 - 13:50 ET by SportPoliticsThe stress is so high on the poor little people in the Clinton campaign. The reporters would be mean people to actually make a case of Hsu, they might cause emotional breakdowns in the Clinton staffer camp.
Better to just say this is leftovers from years ago, as if it all happened years and years ago, something that was buried but reared it's ugly head in an unwelcoming and stressful manner, best to be put behind us again.
Soon we can proclaim the grey lady Hillary the honest dealer she has proven herself to be, and now of course everything is clean and aboveboard with the implemented backround checks, and we hope they aren't an invasion of privacy, or too pushy, and hope they don't put off potential donors. These backround checks are nothing compared to how Bush has been spying on you for years, and Hillary is going to stop that. See, we know she wasn't nosing into private supporters lives, she's for privacy and freedom.
-
September 16, 2007 - 23:07 ET by dahliatraversand Hillary is going to stop that
... right after she finishes reading through those FBI files.
Dirt
September 16, 2007 - 13:56 ET by directorblueThe facet of the Clintons that never ceases to amaze is just how much dirt there is on them. There was a story in the New York Sun a day or so ago that highlights the Clintons' odd relationship with a reputed slavetrader and, coincidentally, immensely wealthy Dubai sheikh, the reported "largest campaign fraud in history" and, of course, Hsu and other folks linked to Chinese nationals.
I know, directorblue, and
September 16, 2007 - 14:19 ET by motherbeltSomehow the dirt is always around them, never on them. Isn't it amazing how the Clintons hobnob with all these people who end up convicted of various frauds and crimes, and yet their hands always seem to come up clean?
This is more evidence that
September 16, 2007 - 14:16 ET by motherbeltThis is more evidence that a month is forever in politics. Fortunes change (and change hands LOL)overnight. It's hard to say right now whether this will really stick to Mrs. Clinton. But her media acolytes, led no doubt by Steffie, will be out in force with their cans of PAM, doing their darndest to keep that from happening.
The cynic in me
September 16, 2007 - 14:20 ET by KC MulvilleBill may be a better asset than you realize. Sounds to me like they're going to let Bill voluntarily take the fall for this, especially if it gets worse. First, he's not running, so he can keep the dirt off Hillary. Second, he already has the naughty boy image, and no dirt can make it any worse. Third, it also reinforces the idea of Hillary as Bubba's victim. As if Heroic Hillary would have it so easy if she didn't have to keep cleaning up Bill's mess.
Let's be clear. Hsu contributed the money to Hillary's campaign, not Bill's. Don't let them redirect the focus.
By the way, does Andrea Mitchell have direct access to Hillary, or does she take her orders through buffers? This is exactly the kind of media "plant" that we've come to expect from the Clintons.
I saw it the same way; if
September 16, 2007 - 14:28 ET by robert108I saw it the same way; if the MSM isn't successful in covering up the Hsu scandal for Hillary, she can always shift the blame to Bill, and Andrea Mitchell is just making the preparations for that move, IMO.
Hillary took the money from Hsu, and that should be emphasized, over and over again, until it sticks where it belongs.
Bill and Hsu
September 16, 2007 - 14:40 ET by River CityFriday on Fox and Friends (I mentioned this Friday on another item) it was mentioned that Bill thanked Hsu for something about a year ago. Bill was at the Kennedy Center. That was all I caught of it. Maybe Bill is more involved in this than we know.
“Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.” Ronald Reagan
OMG, please, no. I can't
September 16, 2007 - 14:37 ET by motherbeltOMG, please, no. I can't take any more lip-biting and voice-breaking. I wouldn't put it past them to have Bill fall on his sword for this, but on the other hand, how many times are people going to believe that she can be oblivious to this crap and still be smart enough to be President? They say Bush is dumb, but I don't see him being repeatedly fooled by those closest to him.
Bill Maher's Question
September 16, 2007 - 14:47 ET by River CityWhen Bill Maher asked Hillary why anyone should vote for her since she claims to have been fooled by George Bush he nailed it. Why can't people see through her lies? Maher had the guts to ask Queen Bee the perfect question and of course she blew him off. "Oh Bill, it is soooooo much more complicated than that." No Hillary it isn't. If you can be fooled by George Bush, the person you think is the most STUPID human being on the planet, how are you going to deal with PUTIN?
“Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.” Ronald Reagan
I Heard That
September 16, 2007 - 17:28 ET by Del DolemonteI heard a replay of that part of Maher's show, but lost my lunch when I heard her reply, which was prefaced by her hideous cackle.
Her non-response didn't make me toss cookies, the cackle did.
KC
September 17, 2007 - 02:53 ET by old croAs was reading down the comments, I was formulating my reply when I came upon yours. If I may expand a little... The MSM and Hillary are playing all the negatives out on this campaign to collect in one big bag (Bill's). Toward the end they will toss it and Bill over the bridge, wipe their hands clean, and reply "What negatives?"
"The average American's day planner has fewer holes in it than Ray Charles's dart board."
-Dennis Miller
Scandal magnet
September 17, 2007 - 08:55 ET by KC MulvilleNo, I don't think they'll toss him over. If they actually win, they'll keep using him to draw all the dirt. Besides, I don't think this is Hillary trying to use Bill, since they work together. If they do this, it'll be with his OK, even if he puts up a fight publicly. He may go away for a time publicly, but he isn't going anywhere in reality. They need him too much.
On the other hand, the true cynic in me is wondering if this is another old fashioned deal ... Bill gets to roam freely in exchange for accepting the dirt. Now I don't mean that in the strictly sexual sense, as if he will go off hunting Hollywood starlets. (I'm actually going to give him a pass on the sexual jokes - if others want to, go ahead.) I suspect that Bill wants to do a lot of things without having to clear it with Hillary. Bill wants to get a Nobel prize. I'll bet that Bill wants to write a "this is how you do politics" kind of textbook. Bill doesn't want to live in Hillary's shadow, and this may be the price they want him to pay.
Then again, that's when I'm at my most cynical.
Problems in Camp Hillary
September 16, 2007 - 14:36 ET by River CityAdd to these issues the fact that the leader of her Iowa campaign was fired and it is starting to look like there are some internal rumblings. They may not all be connected but they still show there are signs of stress in camp Hillary.
“Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.” Ronald Reagan
MSM coverage: Ianthe
September 16, 2007 - 14:49 ET by maggieqpublicMSM coverage: Ianthe Jeanne Dugan and Brody Mullins at the Wall Street Journal are doing a nice job covering the Hsu story… no wild accusations, just regular revelations of small details. And in contrast to the Clinton scandals of the 1990’s, there are plenty of participants and small details to pursue in the United States. Drip, drip, drip.
Various bloggers have uncovered interesting details as well. This story takes off in too many directions to run its course any time soon.
As we have come to expect, this may not stick to Hillary, but she and her supporters may be in a defensive posture for some time on this one.
All this comes at a time when Hillary does not feel secure enough as a candidate to push back against the folks at moveon. No wonder her people are unhappy.
What? ... WHAT??! HsuGate
September 16, 2007 - 17:38 ET by BritcomWhat? ... WHAT??! HsuGate is all Willy's fault? Is that the best they can come up with? BOOM! There goes that trial balloon down in flames. Where was Hillary when the checks were being deposited, in "San Clemente"? (that's a Nixon excuse for you kids) Is that a Chinese made robot-clone standing next to Hsu in that fundraiser photo? LMAO
Good Lord, these MSM types are such blatent hacks for the Dems. Where does it all end? The cat is out of the bag and there they are saying, "Don't look, don't look, its not a cat"
Hello! This is not 1992.
And furthermore...
September 16, 2007 - 19:03 ET by goldenthroatBritcom,
I am waiting for Shmillary to place the blame on this one on her mythical 'vast right wing conspiricy'. It will be interesting to see how she attempts to sidestep all this as the revelations of Hsu's donations to not only her but her other demoncratic cronies pans out.
Thank God there are some in the media who are not willing to let this one slide - but then again, I have some real estate at the base of Mt. St. Helens I'll sell ya...
"Yeah, that's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan
Goldenthroat, I believe you
September 16, 2007 - 21:22 ET by MikeBGoldenthroat, I believe you came up with a spin they can actually use. Hsu is really an agent for Carl Rove. Everyone "knows" that there is a "culture of corruption" in the Republican Party, and that the Democratics are pure as the driven snow. Therefore, Rove had Hsu infiltrate the Democrat Party, commit some felonies and get caught, then go on the lam for 15 years just so he could make some illegal campaign contributions so blatant that he would get caught. I am still figuring out how to blame the fact that these contributions weren't vetted by Hillary's campaign, unless all of these campaign workers for Hillary are also Rovian agents planted around Hillary. Yeah, that works. This whole thing is a Rovian plot to discredit Hillary. And, while she is the smartest woman in the world, she just couldn't keep a close enough eye on her campaign staff to keep that evil genius Rove from pulling a fast one on her.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Objects in the mirror are more devious than they appear.
September 16, 2007 - 18:42 ET by Conservative_in_mass.To echo what Brit said previously, careful with this one, the shell game players are spinning the damage control.
I would love nothing more than to see the "Shill Hil" campaign implode. However, I don't think thats going to happen. What I see these insincere, scheming Bas$%rds doing with the uncomfortable "Hsu" problem is sticking it on Bill's foot.
He may still be the standard bearer for most of the lib-tard movement...but he's not running. So by shoveling all of the sludge onto him, the spinmeisters are attempting to keep Hillary's campaign "clean".
In fact, the Hillary operatives in the MSM (guys like Stephynosafuss) will probably have Hillary portrayed as the VICTIM of Slick Willy's questionable judgement before long, not as a benefactor of it.
They will take a page out of the Lewinski book; Bill's bad behavior and how it so troubles his wife. These people will do whatever it takes to get Hillary elected, even if it means that the "stainmaker" has to take one for the team.
Do not underestimate the devious resourcefulness of the Clinton machine.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
hey m_in_m...
September 17, 2007 - 00:07 ET by MrShywe need a "stainremover" !
Shillary's face alone, on top of that heinous, grating voice, just screams of complete, cold, nasty, solely-driven b*tch...
shy
September 17, 2007 - 08:54 ET by Conservative_in_mass.We can always "shout"it out. I agree with your Hillary observations, veeerrrrry scary indeed!
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
She's teflon on this. Let's
September 16, 2007 - 19:34 ET by GregEShe's teflon on this. Let's move on dot org.
Anything to be back in the news
September 16, 2007 - 19:46 ET by ThreePuttinDudeFercryinoutloud Andrea, its because of Bill she even has a campaign. This woman was nothing until the "disgraced, disbarred impeached ex-president" let her in on the action.
What positive marks does she have on her resume'? I know the negative column has many entries. sheeeessshh what a load she is (hillbilly)
Becareful now we do notice
September 16, 2007 - 20:32 ET by tkeefeBecareful now we do notice we said Billy Boy might be a drag on her campaign didn't we? Setting up their spin to put this on him as to not tarnish her anymore than is humanly possiable. You do have to remember with these people nothing is as it appears.
Hillary has claimed that
September 16, 2007 - 21:30 ET by jdhawkHillary has claimed that she had no idead that Hsu had a felony want on him. That is simply BS. She is an ex-president's wife. For that reason, she has full time Secret Service protection. With that protection comes the vetting of anyone that comes in contact with her.
So, there are only two questions regarding this BS.
One: Did Hillary tell the Secret Service to ignore the felony want on Hzu?
Or two: Did the Secret Service not do its job properly and did not discover that there was a felony want on Hzu?
Either way, the Secret Service looks like a bunch of buffons. They either covered for the former first lady or didn't do their job in the first place.
The correct answer is that Hillary told them to ignore the felony want on Hzu because he was gathering millions for the party and her campaign.
There should be a independent council to investigate this matter. Well, Mr. President? Republicans?
Yahoo? Are there any conservatives with a back bone out there?
Forget that the serial
September 16, 2007 - 21:33 ET by jdhawkForget that the serial philanderer is responsible. That is classic Clintoon triangulation at its best.
And, of course, the drive by media is out there spreading it thick . . .
The Secret Service knew... or should have known.
September 16, 2007 - 22:14 ET by BritcomOo! Oo! I like that angle, good work.
The bait
September 16, 2007 - 22:35 ET by BritcomNo, no. Yall are still takin the bait. This is not a "Bill" or "Hillary" problem, this is a "Democrat" problem, they are all guilty of graft, corruption, and coverup. From Chappaquiddick to Katrina, they are all Corrupt, Corrupt, Corrupt. That is the buzz word to plaster across thier faces on the TV ads: The Party of Corruption and then replace their stoopid donkey with a giant TERMITE. LOL
Thank you!
September 16, 2007 - 23:01 ET by Scout FinchHillary wasn't the only Democrat to receive largesse from Hsu!
If, as Newsweek stated, Larry Craig was a Republican problem, certainly Hsu is a Democrat problem. To say the very least.
-
September 16, 2007 - 23:11 ET by dahliatraversBig time. Democrat Senators, Democrat Congressmen, even Democrat state party machines.
Perot pretty much laid out
September 16, 2007 - 23:16 ET by MrShyPerot pretty much laid out the red carpet in '92 for Mr. Bites Lip to get into the White House thru the side door, with that 43% popular vote....
What scares me is that this
September 16, 2007 - 23:24 ET by RESTLESS 1What scares me is that this election could go the same way as '92, with Ron Paul playing the part as Ross Perot. Sarcasmo would argue me that Rudy would play that part as his social liberalism could turn off conservative voters. I argue that Republicans will not line up behind a Paul third party run because of his policy on Iraq.
Btw, maybe someone knows, but if Paul were to see the nomination going against him, can he pull out of the Republican primaries and run as a third party candidate. I don't know if maybe there is some rule against that.
if bloomberg runs that could
September 16, 2007 - 23:37 ET by Conservative Voiceif bloomberg runs that could complicate things for sure.
RESTLESS,
September 16, 2007 - 23:38 ET by Dave RLOL (not really)-If the republican voters fall for that BS a third time, I might seriously contemplate leaving the country.
I'm not much of a conspiracy buff, but I'll go to my grave believeing that that little mouse-eared Texan was a closet Clintonista.
I cannot fault many conservatives for voting for Perot the first time, as he nearly had me sucked in at one point, but the second time?
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice........
"I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!”- Rick Roberts
I believe that about Perot
September 16, 2007 - 23:47 ET by RESTLESS 1I believe that about Perot as well. In fact, I could swear I saw him in the background when clinton gave his acceptance speech. You didn't have to remind everyone that he is a Texan though. :(
RESTLESS<
September 17, 2007 - 00:01 ET by Dave RSorry. Should have said mouse-eared weasel. :-)
"I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!”- Rick Roberts
"Should have said
September 17, 2007 - 00:06 ET by RESTLESS 1"Should have said mouse-eared weasel."
Much better. ;>)
Dave R
September 16, 2007 - 23:56 ET by MrShyI actaully think the political landscape, and the people/citizens, is a lot different now than it was back then... and really, pre-9/11.
The country is indeed very polarized and divided now, and maybe a bit from Bush, but not in the way the left would have u believe. To quote GW himself in those first days after the tragedy... "you're either with us or with the terrorists". I think he knew (yeah, "dumb Bush") that this will divide our country along very base lines of beliefs... religion, and more importantly, people's core opinions about war.... the for's and the against's, no matter what the dangers are in the world.
So, to conclude, I think there won't be nearly as many "middle" people, as there were not too many in 2004, either.... even if the Independent candidate is PRO-war, people are more educated in knowing that the Indie party can't win, and now is not the time to play around... a time of war and real crisis.
MrShy,
September 17, 2007 - 00:13 ET by Dave RI see your point, and I sincerely hope you are right.
My problem with republican voters is that many of the less-informed ones allow the MSM to manipulate them rather easily.
I recall some polling data that came out shortly after the last mid-term election. Many conservatives stayed home because of the Foley scandal, a story I believe the MSM timed just for that purpose.
Libs aren't the only ones out there who can lose sight of the "big picture."
"I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!”- Rick Roberts
Yeah DaveR, you may be
September 17, 2007 - 00:23 ET by MrShyYeah DaveR, you may be right... and well, young'uns are young'uns, on both sides of the aisle, and can be very impressionable.
Toasters
September 17, 2007 - 07:10 ET by ahusserPlease vote for any Republican nominated whether a RINO or not. Or there will be at least 4 more years of the Soprano's or worse in office. I am sorry I hate that other party so much that if the Republicans nominated a toaster for Prez I would vote for it.
All the more reason to
September 17, 2007 - 13:48 ET by BritcomAll the more reason to nominate a Reaganite instead of a divisive RINO. You do want the Social Conservatives to show up on election day don't you? Is a pro-life, pro-family candidate too much to ask for?
It will stick, only if
September 16, 2007 - 23:20 ET by Conservative Voicethe republicans have backbone and use it to remind the public do we want another four years of Clinton's corrupt politics?
I would like to see the
September 16, 2007 - 23:30 ET by RESTLESS 1I would like to see the Republican candidates hammer this hard during their debates and on the campaign trail. If this is allowed to go away, I don't know if anyone will care about it during the run for the White House once the candidates are known. It does seem a long time the keep this issue in the forefront though, especially since I don't think we'll get much help from the media. It is up to us on the internet, talk radio, and the candidates themselves to make this stick until the end.
I would like the Democrats
September 16, 2007 - 23:35 ET by Conservative VoiceI would like the Democrats to take back their party as well and hammer Hillary Scam Clinton as well.
That would be fun to watch,
September 16, 2007 - 23:43 ET by RESTLESS 1That would be fun to watch, but unfortunately, I don't think most democrats have a problem with this whole affair. Those that do will be silenced. Some of her rivals may try to use this against her, but some gory fate will surely await them if they do. Alas, I have absolutely no faith that democrats have any decency at all anymore. (except for my Mom).
CV
September 16, 2007 - 23:40 ET by Dave R....only if the republicans have backbone...
And therein lies the rub.
"I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!”- Rick Roberts