Klein Can't Comprehend Why 'Fairly Moderate' Hillary Riles Republicans

February 12th, 2008 2:25 PM

How deep into the Dem mindset is Joe Klein? The Time columnist can't figure out why Hillary Clinton drives Republicans round the bend. Klein candidly admitted so today, chatting with Brian Williams on MSNBC.

BRIAN WILLIAMS: On the Republican side, does John McCain blunt back the attack, the insurgents on the right?

JOE KLEIN: I think to a certain extent he will. He'll have a lot more -- you know Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee would give him a great assist. Because the Republicans are completely berserk for reasons that kind of escape me about Hillary Clinton. She's not a wild lefty, she's a fairly moderate person. But she's the enemy, and if she materializes on the Democratic side, you're going to have a united and fierce Republican party.

View video here.

That Klein believes Hillary Clinton is "fairly moderate" -- she who wanted to nationalize health care before nationalized health care was cool, she of the historical disdain for the military, she of the "it takes a [big government] village" mentality -- goes a long way in explaining why Republican aversion to Clinton escapes him.

But surely our readers can further elucidate Joe as to just what it is about Hillary that drives Republicans wild.