At the top center spot of Wednesday's front page -- above those debating Republicans -- The Washington Post spotlights its interview with Hillary Rodham Clinton. The headline is "Clinton Cites Lessons of Partisanship: Senator Says She's Best Equipped to Unite America." (Washingtonpost.com changed its header to "Clinton Cites Her Resilience.")
Since when has Hillary been either a uniter, or a centrist? Post reporters Anne Kornblut and Dan Balz offered little skepticism (and no account of her consistently liberal voting record) in their account of her remarks, summed up with this: "I intend to win in November 2008, and then I intend to build a centrist coalition in this country that is like what I remember when I was growing up."
Kornblut and Balz failed to quote any candidate's critique of her, Democrat or Republican. They failed to note that when Hillary was growing up in the 1960s, a "centrist coalition" might have been easier since the Republicans were deeply entrenched in the congressional minority, and even many Republicans were get-along, go-along liberals. Today's GOP is much stronger, and much more conservative. In the primary political adventure of her co-presidency in 1993, with Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, did she "build a centrist coalition" with her 1300-page health-care plan? No, she utterly refused to compromise, and her party went down to blazing defeat in the fall elections. They failed to note her blazing attacks on a "vast right-wing conspiracy," which tended to be a bit polarizing.
Inside the Post, the headline was "Clinton Discounts Rivals' Depiction as Polarizing Figure," but again, the Post cited no rival or even its own polling that would underline her polarization problem. At least Hillary admitted that she's viciously dished it out, as well as taken it:
"I actually think that in a way, the fact that I've been through so much incoming fire all these years is an advantage," she said, adding: "It's been my observation that when you're attacked continually in American politics, you either give up or get disoriented or you either lose or leave -- or you persevere and show your resilience."
..."I really think my experience uniquely equips me to be president at this time, both having gone through it, having been on the receiving end of it and -- in campaigns that were hard-fought -- maybe on the giving end of it . . .," she said.
"The overall assessment, given all of the mistakes that I made and all of the lessons that I've learned, is that we've got to put an end to it, but you can't just hope it goes away," she said. "You can't just wake up and say, 'Let's all just hold hands and be together.' You've got to demonstrate that you're not going to be cowed or intimidated or deterred by it, and then you can reach out and bring people who are of good faith together."
This last quote seems to suggest the real Hillary: conservatives who would question her ethical misbehavior or slam her socialist policy proposal are not "people of good faith." But she's not a polarizer, she says. Reporters in general cite her "resilience" as a political plus, but don't ask -- resilient by doing what? In 1998, that "resilience" was shamelessly maintaining for seven months that Bill Clinton was utterly innocent of any dalliance with "that woman," Monica Lewinsky, and then when the DNA evidence confirmed that she was running a campaign of lies, Hillary pretended to "gasp for breath" in disbelief.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
HIllary's Makeover
October 10, 2007 - 08:11 ET by BourbeauHillary the centrist? Hillary the uniter? Hillary's for a $5,000 bond for every baby? Hillary's for government retirement accounts? Hillary's for ending the war? Hillary's battle tested (tough job being first lady and poll watching senator)? Hillary the universal health care provider? Yep, and the list goes on, presented to you by the unbiased main stream media. This woman has schnookered the electorate and they're buying it, hook, line and sinker. Now we hear how the Iowans are getting more, and more confortable with this phoney socialist. And the press and cable media are her chief enablers. Let's not dig into the details; let's not look at who surrounds her; let's not challenge her unwillingness to be 'grilled'. Let's just marvel at how cagey she is, and how so well run her campaign is. By the way, don't even challenge ourselves to ask why anyone, whose never led anything other than a bunch of bureaucrats and lobbyists, would be seasoned enough to lead our country. Nope, lets not go there, it'll ruin this glorified odyssey of the netroots and their enablers (read George Soros).
Centrist aka Stalinist
October 11, 2007 - 16:59 ET by BigSpoon65BigSpoon65
Every idea this woman has, communist Russia has already tried it and proved it doesn't work. Perhaps if she actually read books in college instead of marching in so many protests she would know these things. I must admit her team has done a great job veiling the venomous snarling gutter mouth Hillary we had come to know her as when she was first lady. Now she just cackles that insidious laugh when she feels that urge to bite someones head off. Just like Pavlov's dog, ask her a tough question or disagree with her and the conditioned response is now "the cackle".
Hillarites
October 10, 2007 - 08:15 ET by AgnosticUnder the Presidency of the current Jr. Senator from New York all non-Hillarites will be of no importance (Liberals, that is you as well as conservatives). There will only be room for those who stand in awe of everything that is Clintonesque! And, of course, Hillary will be the central figure of the US of Hillary and therefore by definition will be a Centrist.
This is easy.
This is what I think is so
October 10, 2007 - 08:16 ET by rimskyThis is what I think is so bad about Hillary.. that she tries to cloak her obvious liberal, socialist agenda as being centrist. And that she so unabashedly presents herself as being someone who 'cares.' AS IF!!! The ONLY thing she cares about in her hard heart of hard hearts is power.
Yea, build a centrist party
October 10, 2007 - 08:42 ET by Conservative in the ArtsYea, build a centrist party by sending out the PC police and sending everyone to "re-education" camps. This is right up there as "There are no gays in Iran!"
You've got to demonstrate
October 10, 2007 - 09:13 ET by motherbeltYou've got to demonstrate that you're not going to be cowed or
intimidated or deterred by it, and then you can reach out and bring
people who are of good faith together." - HRC
In other words, when you get criticized, you dig in your heels, refuse to compromise, and bring together (note the qualifier) "people who are of good faith." (Translation: those who agree with you.)
Wow! And George Bush though he was a uniter!!
OK, I will bite
October 10, 2007 - 09:20 ET by 10ksnooker$50k a year for my vote. Who wants to bid higher?
Centrists defined == center of the communist party.
The centrist coalition
October 10, 2007 - 09:39 ET by zhombreThe centrist coalition Senator Clinton seeks is one in which all her policy proposals slide through a Congress composed of a energized Democratic majority and a moribund Republican minority that rolls over and plays dead on command (OK well maybe some token resistance is accepable as long as it doesn't become lese majeste towards Pres Hill and the liberal consensus); and in addition, nobody says boo while Bill Clinton polishes his legacy and campaigns for a Nobel Prize ("If Al Gore gets one, I deserve mine too goddammit!")
Say What
October 10, 2007 - 09:44 ET by okiehawk44"I intend to win in November 2008, and then I intend to build a centrist coalition in this country that is like what I remember when I was growing up." -- she was a Republican then I believe.
Okie, I thought she went to
October 10, 2007 - 10:24 ET by bassndudeOkie, I thought she went to school in England and Russia. That explains why she is comming up with all these brilliant ideas for national 401(K), 5 grand a baby, "free" health care and Im sure there is more to come.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Centrist My Eye
October 10, 2007 - 09:52 ET by mattmTO be a centrist you have to be pro-abortion, anti-military, pro-nationalized healthcare, anti-tax cut, pro-gay, anti-traditional values, pro-muslim, anti-Christian...etc.
In otherwords, to be a centrist, you have to be a Libocrat.
The Clintons
October 10, 2007 - 09:53 ET by iveseenitallUniter, my butt. The Clintons have divided this nation more than any politicians I've seen in my lifetime. Every one of their speeches and interviews is peppered with " us vs. them". I'm part of the "them" and I don't like it at all. Moreover, Hillary will do all in her power to stiffle my free speech and invade my happy home. If she's elected, we will all be living under communism for the first time in our lives. Mark my words...
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
A Uniter?
October 10, 2007 - 10:00 ET by philhoeyLike Stalin - perhaps :(
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
Centerist?
October 10, 2007 - 10:05 ET by MCPO AirdaleThe Politburo had centrists just like Mrs. Bill Clinton in the eighties.
Balloon popping
October 10, 2007 - 10:05 ET by KC MulvilleHillary's campaign, like her husband's presidency, is a request to unify under their leadership, and then trust her to lead us in the right direction. But in this country, we don't "unify" first and ask questions later. We live under a political market: you tell us what you're selling, and we decide whether we want to buy it. You can't demand that we buy whatever you're selling, just because you're the one who's selling it.
Hillary's plans are all standard liberalism, and the American public won't buy that. When we resist her, she reacts as if we're just being partisan and stubborn. She wants to create a centrist coalition, but it's not an ideological compromise. She just wants the people on the other side to give up.
When did politics really begin getting personally ugly?
October 10, 2007 - 10:26 ET by Mark_for_SenateEnter the Clintons...
To know and not do, is to not yet know
I Think I'm a Centrist, Therefore I Am One
October 10, 2007 - 11:04 ET by NoMoreClintonsAll of these left-wing liberals think that their ideas are mainstream or centrist. This dangerous evil witch is no exception.
"This dangerous evil witch is no exception."
October 10, 2007 - 11:17 ET by vrwc13"This dangerous evil witch is no exception."
...an insightful description of Hillary.
v
“legislative fix” (communism)"it takes a village" (socialism), pro-choice (baby killing), experienced (carpetbagging senator), "i'll take that money" (anti-capitalism) empty pantsuit running on on someone's coattails
but not civil:( A
October 10, 2007 - 11:20 ET by TruthMongerbut not civil:(
A service of the new NB respect police
TM: Hillary - civil? Maybe or maybe not...
October 10, 2007 - 11:28 ET by vrwc13...but is it true?
v
"We're going to take things away from you on
behalf of the common good." by Hillary Clinton
6/29/2004
:) like senator craig -
October 10, 2007 - 11:33 ET by TruthMonger:)
like senator craig - innocent until proven guilty
A service of the new NB respect police
TM: Let's go to Salem and
October 10, 2007 - 11:38 ET by vrwc13TM: Let's go to Salem and have a trial!
v
"(We)...can't just let business as usual go on, and that means
something has to be taken away from some people." made by Hillary Clinton
6/4/2007
Messing with witches is
October 10, 2007 - 11:40 ET by TruthMongerMessing with witches is serious business - I don't have anywhere near the expertise, myself...
A service of the new NB respect police
Just know that our "Father"
October 10, 2007 - 11:44 ET by vrwc13Just know that our "Father" is greater than theirs.
v
i knew i read that
October 10, 2007 - 11:45 ET by TruthMongeri knew i read that somewhere
A service of the new NB respect police
Yup
October 10, 2007 - 11:36 ET by well99You notice how the Kos Kretin tried to play himself off as a centralist.Those left wing yutts are ashamed or hidding from the fact they are extremist.They dont want the people to know that so they hide behind being a "centralist" like many real people in this country.I am a centralist and Hillary damn sure aint one.Left wing elitist hypocrite is what she is.
Let's list some of
October 10, 2007 - 11:11 ET by MikeBLet's list some of Hillary's "centrist" positions, shall we?
A $5,000 "baby bond" to each child born in the U.S.
"I'll take those profits" from companies who earned them.
"It takes a village" idiot to raise your children. Apparently, the government can do a better job of raising your children than you can.
Does she not want to do away with the Bush tax cuts? Not only can the government to a better job of raising your children, apparently, it can also do a better job of spending your money than you can.
Hillary is not a centrist. She is a marxist-socialist. She has used her rhetoric to divide, not unite. She is as big a liar as her husband, she just doesn't have the personality to get away with it.
She has lied about her cattle futures deal, the Rose Law Firm billing records, the Whitehouse Travel Office firings and IRS persecution of the fired employees, the FBI files that they shouldn't have had, her part in Whitewater, the hiring of what's-his-name Livingstone, about her being named after Sir Edmund Hillary, and on and on and on. She lies about things big. She lies about things small. She lies about being the world's smartest woman. Then, when questioned about her lies and/or criminal activity, then the world's smartest woman becomes the world's most forgetful woman.
Hillary is neither a centrist nor a uniter. A pox on her.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Hillary's new campaing slogan...
October 10, 2007 - 11:23 ET by vrwc13"It's the unity, stupid!"
v
...and in case you missed this the other day...
More "fun" with Hillary the Hideous:
October 8, 2007 - 11:12 ET by Dave R
I ran across this interesting little quiz on Boortz's website this morning. Thought I'd share it with all of you.
1) "We're going to take things away from you on
behalf of the common good."A. Karl Marx
B. Adolph Hitler
C. Joseph Stalin
D. None of the above
2) "It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few,
by the few, and for the few...and to replace it with shared
responsibility for shared prosperity."A. Lenin
B. Mussolini
C. Idi Amin
D. None of the Above
3) "(We)...can't just let business as usual go on, and that means
something has to be taken away from some people."A. Nikita Khrushev
B. Jose f Goebbels
C. Boris Yeltsin
D. None of the above
4) "We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to
give up a little bit of their own...in order to create this common
ground."A. Mao Tse Dung
B. Hugo Chavez
C. Kim Jong Il
D. None of the above
5) "I certainly think the free-market has failed."A. Karl Marx
B. Lenin
C. Molotov
D. None of the above
6) "I think it's time to send a clear message to what has become the
most profitable sector in (the) entire economy that they are being
watched."A. Pinochet
B. Milosevic
C. Saddam Hussein
D. None of the above
Answers:
(1) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/29/2004
(2) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
5/29/2007
(3) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/4/2007
(4) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/4/2007
(5) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
6/4/2007
(6) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton
9/2/2005 When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.
centered around...
October 10, 2007 - 14:32 ET by wizardjr"Centrist coalition..."
Yeah, centered around Lenin and Trotsky.
Hillary the last to know?
October 10, 2007 - 14:44 ET by celatorIs Hillary Clinton the last person in the US to not accept the fact that she is a socialist zealot, and has been since her college days?
Every utturance she makes, every pronouncement she proclaims, and every position she takes now, and for the past 30+ years, was born in the far left fringe of the political spectrum. She was saying the same things she says now at the height of her radical student days at Wellesley, for goodness sakes.
She really hasn't had an original thought since then, and the wacky left continues to pull the puppet strings attached to her, and force her to dance mechanically through this never ending political campaign.
Hillary knows exactly what she is
October 10, 2007 - 17:29 ET by ThalpyIt is her insidious plan to have all of us attached to HER strings. Saul Alinsky, her mentor and professor, would be proud .
"I intend to win in
October 10, 2007 - 17:46 ET by bigtimer"I intend to win in November 2008, and then I intend to build a centrist coalition in this country that is like what I remember when I was growing up."
Oh puhleeeeze....
....ROFLMAO!!!!
Hillary "...like what I remember when I was growing up."
October 10, 2007 - 18:14 ET by vrwc13As a child, Hillary Rodham was involved in many activities at church and at her public school in Park Ridge. She participated in a variety of sports and earned awards as a Brownie and Girl Scout. She attended Maine East High School, where she had participated in student council, the debating team and the National Honor Society. For her senior year she was redistricted to Maine South High School, where she was a National Merit Finalist. Raised in a conservative family, she volunteered for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater in the United States presidential election of 1964. Her parents encouraged her to pursue the career of her choice. Wiki
I think she is confusing the old "Moral Majority" with her new "Centrist Coalition." At least they both repeat one letter twice. Other than that, I don't think they have anything in commom.
edit: Centrist Coalition = Moral Majority minus morals, add socialism
v
"We're going to take things away from you on
behalf of the common good."
"It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by the few, and for the few...and to replace it with shared responsibility for shared prosperity."
"(We)...can't just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to be taken away from some people."
"We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to give up a little bit of their own...in order to create this common ground."
"I certainly think the free-market has failed."
"I think it's time to send a clear message to what has become the most profitable sector in (the) entire economy that they are being watched."
- (all) Hillary Clinton
Hillary the Uniter?
October 10, 2007 - 23:27 ET by pbthinkerAbout the only thing Hillary will unite is the far left wing Democrats and the left wing Democrats. One thing's for sure, she will bring a new tone to Washington, it's called shrill.
Democrats: Specializing in "high tech lynching" since 1987.