When two mainstream media outlets like CNN and the New York Times converge as they did on Thursday's "American Morning" and discuss Hillary Clinton, you might expect sugar-coated discussion of the leading Democrat presidential contender. But that wasn't the case when "American Morning" co-host Kiran Chetry interviewed New York Times correspondent Don Van Natta Jr., who is the co-author of a new book on Hillary Clinton entitled "Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton."
They began their discussion with the revelation that Hillary's campaign "would not allow her to be interviewed" for the book. Van Natta described the situation by stating, "She's hypersentitive. She really didn't want us to do the book. We heard that when we began our reporting that she had angst about the book, and she really went out her way to put road blocks in our way to do the book..."
When Chetry asked Van Natta about Hillary's Senate record and how it plays into her campaign, he gave what might be seen as a surprise answer, at least in part.
VAN NATTA: We found two Hillaries actually. One Hillary is diligent, hard working, intelligent. The other Hillary is somebody who doesn't take well to criticism, is afraid to admit a mistake. On her Iraq war vote, for instance. We go into a great bit of detail about the Iraq war vote and show she voted for it. As the war went south, she has retreated from it, and she's played fast and loose with the facts in her own legislative record.
The rest of the interview dealt with "horse race" issues such as Hillary's polling numbers in general, and in the areas of likability and among women.
Here follows the full transcript of Kiran Chetry's inteview of Don Van Natta, Jr.
KIRAN CHETRY: Well, what kind of president would Hillary Clinton be? A look at her Senate record and political past might be the best way to judge, and that's what Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr. have done in a book that's out, 'Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton.' Don Van Natta is here with me now to talk more about Hillary. Thanks for being with us.
DON VAN NATTA JR., "THE NEW YORK TIMES": Thanks for having me.
CHETRY: It was interesting because I read much of the book yesterday on the plane, and it struck me how positive Hillary is portrayed in your book. I mean, you tell the story from her childhood on up, and yet her campaign would not allow her to be interviewed. She refused interviews and many close to her did as well. Why?
VAN NATTA: She's hypersensitive. She really didn't want us to do this book. We heard when we began our reporting that she had angst about the book, and she really went out of her way to put road blocks in our way to do the book, and it's too bad, because I think it's a fair book, it's down the middle, it's a rigorously reported book. And unlike any other book, we go into a lot of detail about her Senate record, which is the record she's running no to become the next president.
CHETRY: And what did you find there?
VAN NATTA: We found two Hillaries actually. One Hillary is diligent, hard working, intelligent. The other Hillary is somebody who doesn't take well to criticism, is afraid to admit a mistake. On her Iraq war vote, for instance. We go into a great bit of detail about the Iraq war vote and show she voted for it. As the war went south, she has retreated from it, and she's played fast and loose with the facts in her own legislative record.
CHETRY: Let's take a look at a couple of the poll numbers in our latest CNN poll, showing that while Clinton is leading in the polls among the Democratic contenders, she seems to consistently have a problem that crops up, which is the likability. And on this New Hampshire primary voter poll, Barack Obama getting 40 percent for likability. Edwards, who's run behind in many of these polls, 20 percent. And Hillary Clinton just at 14 percent likability. Why?
VAN NATTA: That's a terrific question. I think that people feel she doesn't really connect well. You know, she got off on the wrong foot with the American people in 1992, when she was defending Bill Clinton on the Gennifer Flowers allegations. She was kind of abrasive and seemed brittle. And she's had to really work hard to connect with people. She has this song contest now that she's doing, and she's really just trying to lighten up and connect. And it's a big issue for her campaign.
CHETRY: The other interesting thing, though, is she is doing extremely well among women, especially among low-income women, a two-one advantage over Barack Obama, when asked who they were going to vote for.
VAN NATTA: Yes, and they're counting on the women's vote. It is really the thing that they're hoping will catapult her to the presidency.
CHETRY: And speaking of the presidency, after countless interviews, and all the research you two did, can Hillary Clinton take the White House?
VAN NATTA: I think she has a terrific chance. If she's the Democratic presidential nominee, she really has a great chance to make history.
CHETRY: Don Van Natta Jr., a very interesting book, 'Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton.' Thanks.
VAN NATTA: Thank you very much.
