'Today' Heaves Hillary in Right-Wing Briar Patch

June 29th, 2006 7:51 AM

If she was watching 'Today' this morning, you can imagine Hillary Clinton using her best North-Korean-parliament rhythmical clapping in response to what she saw.  It might be 'ronery' in her Georgetown or Chappaqua spreads, but it's always heart-warming to know you've got friends at the highest-rated morning show.

The premise was that while Hillary has been a long-time bogeywoman of the right, "these days Clinton's biggest critics aren't necessarily in the GOP." It was noted that "she was recently booed by Democratic audiences for arguing against timetable to pull US troops out of Iraq."

The segment also noted her "split with liberals" in her support for an amendment prohibiting flag burning."

And who popped up next? Why, Markos Moulitsas of the Dem-left Daily Kos. We were informed that Kos "is one of many liberals critical of Clinton." Kos accused Hillary of political calculation in repositioning herself toward the center. The irony of course is that Kos' criticism helps Hillary achieve the very end he decries.

We were then treated to a clip of Hillary advisor Howard Wolfson making seemingly contradictory statements. On the one hand, he assured us that "Senator Clinton is acting from the heart." But with his very next breath, he observed that - pure coincidence, no doubt - "her positions do reflect where the majority of Democrats are and where the country is."

Team Hillary couldn't have boosted her repositioning strategy as well with a $1 million of ads of Hillary in front of a field of flags. Thanks, Today!

Finkelstein lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning public-access TV show 'Right Angle.' Contact him at mark@gunhill.net