First thoughts: Hillary's final hurdle?

Posted: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:28 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Julia Steers
HANOVER, NH --
*** Hillary’s final hurdle? So far this campaign season, Clinton has cleared -- at least right now -- three important hurdles: 1) the past Clinton baggage; 2) questions about her gender; and 3) her Iraq war vote. But her Democratic rivals now are focusing on what may be her final hurdle: electability. Yesterday, when he endorsed Obama, former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Gordon Fischer touched on this when he said that Obama had the best chance of winning the White House and helping downballot candidates. Also, in reference to President Bush’s comment that Clinton will win the Democratic nomination, a Dodd spokeswoman said: "I can understand why the President would want Senator Clinton to be the nominee." Ouch. Of course, Democrats -- right now -- believe that Clinton is the most electable candidate. In this month’s NBC/WSJ poll, 54% of Democratic voters said Clinton has the best chance of defeating the Republicans in 2008. But dig a bit deeper in the poll and you'll notice a ceiling for Clinton. For instance, when matched up against the least known major GOP candidate (Huckabee), Clinton nabs just 50%.

*** Bill’s power: Just how powerful is Bill Clinton? It appears, according to the Politico, that he helped kill a GQ article by Atlantic Monthly writer Joshua Green that wasn’t all that friendly to the Clinton campaign. Whether it’s helping rack up congressional endorsements for his wife, preventing labor groups from endorsing other candidates, or even helping to kill negative stories, this is Bill’s real power in this race: leverage.

*** Land to the rescue: A week after James Dobson criticized Thompson, Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention comes to Thompson’s defense. Land tells CBN’s Brody: “I’ve received phone calls and emails from Southern Baptists about Senator Thompson. They are all furious at Doctor Dobson. They just feel that first of all there was a mischaracterizing of his positions. Do I wish that he supported the marriage protection amendment? Of course I do. To say that he is for 50 different views of marriage in 50 different states is a gross mischaracterization of his position. Secondly, do I wish that he attended church every Sunday? As a Baptist pastor, of course I do. But does that make him a person of unbelief? That’s harsh and unwarranted.” Land's likely support for Thompson has been on display for months. Dobson may have a large audience, but Land (a Southerner) may be a more important ally in a GOP primary.

** Let the Borat jokes begin: The Giuliani campaign is raising money in Kazakhstan from Americans living there.

*** Trouble for the Dems? Before tomorrow’s Democratic debate on MSNBC, moderated by NBC’s Tim Russert, we’re taking a look at some potential problems for Democrats in 2008, even though they’re in better position than they’ve been in years. Yesterday, we looked at some cautionary data regarding independents (a must-win group for Democrats and a group that's BIG here in New Hampshire). Today, we examine some of the disenchantment with the Democratic-controlled Congress. Per this month’s NBC/WSJ poll, only 23% approve of Congress’ job. More importantly, the Democratic Party -- for the first time in nearly a year -- has a net-negative rating on the feeling thermometer (34% positive/38% negative). “Dissatisfaction with Congress has dragged down the image of the Democratic Party,” pollster Neil Newhouse (R) told First Read. Of course, the GOP’s rating is even worse (31% positive/47% negative). And, by a 47%-35% margin, voters say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress to a GOP-controlled one.

*** Meet the new boss, same as the old boss? Still, did voters expect more change from a Democratic Congress? Yes, it did pass a minimum-wage hike and has been a check on the White House. And, yes, Bush has thwarted much of what the Democrats have wanted to do. But the facts are this: Gridlock, party infighting, and the Iraq war all continue. The Democratic front-runners are promising change. But with Congress unable to deliver on change -- so far -- could such a message end up falling on deaf ears?

*** Another labor cattle call: It wasn’t too long ago that a handful of labor unions -- including SEIU, the Carpenters, the Farm Workers, and the Teamsters -- broke away from the AFL-CIO and formed their own federation, Change To Win. The reason for the split: Those unions though the AFL was too focused on politics and not enough on organizing. Well, today Change to Win gets a dose of politics when Obama, Edwards, and Clinton (in that order) address the group in Chicago. This front-runner cattle call comes just a day after the United Auto Workers -- an AFL member -- went on strike against GM.

*** On the trail: Elsewhere, Biden is in Boston; Huckabee is in Arkansas, where he attends the commemoration ceremony of Central High’s 50th anniversary of integration; McCain is in Texas, where (among other things) he participates in a roundtable discussion on Israel in Houston; Obama, after addressing Change to Win, campaigns in Portland, ME; and Romney raises money in California.

*** Another "Super Tuesday": For more on these things -- and much, much more -- tune into another round of MSNBC’s all-day Super Tuesday political coverage.

Countdown to LA GOV election: 25 days
Countdown to Election Day 2007: 42 days
Countdown to LA GOV run-off (if necessary): 53 days
Countdown to Iowa: 111 days
Countdown to SC GOP primary: 116 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 133 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 406 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 483 days

EMAIL THIS

Comments

"Hillary’s final hurdle? So far this campaign season, Clinton has cleared -- at least right now -- three important hurdles: 1) the past Clinton baggage; 2) questions about her gender; and 3) her Iraq war vote."

1) wrong
2) wrong
3) wrong again.

Just because it isn't mentined ( yet, and should be again) does not mean the hurdle has been cleared. What nonsense!

karen, Millburn NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:45 AM)

I have said it before, and I will keep on saying it...I want more and that means Senator Obama. HRC doesn't give me much, and I expect continuing partisan politcs & a huge scorched earth attack from neo-cons with HRC as the nominee or President.

Chuck, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:50 AM)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/opinion/25brooks.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

Someone says that you can't win without the center. They are correct.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:53 AM)

i can't believe anyone half educated or with any sense of moral obligations to this country could vote for hilary? her husband did nothing but get rid of American jobs with NATO, do nothing about our terrorist attacks during his presidency in Kenya, Tanzania, and at the world trade center (1st attack) and numerous threats by osama and al queda, get head in the oval office and then commit purgery, and then the clinton family moving to new york from arkansas and are living for free off of taxpayers money and still charging the secret service a monthly rent the same as their mortgage, while being accussed of an entire list of suspicious deaths directly linked to the clinton family over the years and yes being accussed of overseaing one of the biggest drug drop locations in mena, arkansas while being governor and working with president george bush sr. hillary is even worse. she flip flops on the war, she's very outspoken, helped the smoking ban in new york (because our government now loves teling us adults what to do and how to live our lives), she's for murdering our babies, and doesn't have any respect for our troops. front runner, please God help us. I'm not a Bush fan at all, but i would really like someone that's at least half honest running our country for at least 4 years. remember people, we are at war and this is a holy war to a lot of muslims overseas and in this country. we need a strong leader, definately not hillary, please.

bubba (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:58 AM)

The Clintons were scum bags then & they're scum bags still.

American Voter (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:01 AM)

From the comments I've seen and from the position of MSM, I am not so sure that the Clinton campaign and Democrats in general aren't prepared to just put on blinders and simply run around the electability hurdle and head full speed for the General Election...where of course the hurdle appears...again...for real, carried there by disgruntled Independents and Republicans who otherwise may have voted democratic or at least stayed home on election night and gotten drunk.

Can't win the general without the center.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:02 AM)

Clinton clearing the hurdle of her baggage four months before voting begins, huh? Did Bill Clinton threaten to pull an interview with you guys :-)

If America boots the Democratic majority in Congress because not enough has changed (won't happen), then everyone would need to go back to civics class, or perhaps math class. Not a single important thing on the Congressional agenda has been withheld just because of Democratic votes, and all of it would pass if not for Republican congressman, senators, and a Republican President. The American people understand that, which is why Republicans trail by twelve points in the general Congressional ballot; people realize that with nine or ten more seats in the Senate, ten or fifteen more seats in the House, and a Democratic President, this country has the ability to actually move forward in a very significant way over the next few years to enact policies 70% of the public agrees with.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:04 AM)

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008_florida_democratic_primary
Tuesday, September 25, 2007

New York Senator Hillary Clinton holds a twenty-five percentage point lead over Illinois Senator Barack Obama Florida’s Presidential Primary. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state found Clinton at 47%, Obama with 22% support, and Edwards the top choice for 11% of Likely Primary Voters. Four percent (4%) of voters prefer one of the other candidates while 15% are undecided. A month ago, Clinton led by nineteen points." To those who call themselves democrats but say that they won't vote for her,
"Clinton is viewed favorably by 86% of Democratic Primary voters, Obama by 67% and Edwards by 62%."
That would put you in the 14 percentile. Wail away.

Leading in all 4 (3 by double digits) in the state primaries.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:04 AM)

"Hillary’s final hurdle? So far this campaign season, Clinton has cleared -- at least right now -- three important hurdles: 1) the past Clinton baggage; 2) questions about her gender; and 3) her Iraq war vote"

you guys are starting to sound like van (not a good thing) your claims of hillary clearing the 3 "hurdles" some would say is greatly overstated. so I suppose everyone should kick back and wait for your declaration of hillary as president, probably sometime latter this week maybe? your shameless biased coverage of this election cycle has reached a new low, if you look at the posts on your own blog it is unquestionably clear that clinton is the most divisive candidate ever to run for office, she is the only dem candidate that many dem's and independents will not vote for under any circumstances, not exactly a feather in her hat, and the only dem candidate that will cause the repubs to descend on the polls like a swarm of locusts to vote against, you can keep trying to shove her down the throats of the voters and the voters will keep spitting her back up

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:05 AM)

Clinton has cleared -- at least right now -- three important hurdles: <<<<

Cleared hurdles? Guys, she hasn't even gotten to the track.

HP Waldorf, Albany NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:06 AM)

Someone says that you can't win without the center. They are correct.

You need a left guard, and a wide receiver too.

V. Lombardi, Green Bay WI (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:08 AM)

Now we understand the triangulation. Hillary was with him before and she will most stay the course. Bush/Cheny lite. Also explains why the right wing papers have not done a hatched job on her so far they think she is the best democrat to continue Bush policies:

This is the most recent version of this article. View article history.
Examiner Exclusive: Bush quietly advising Hillary Clinton, top Democrats
Washington, D.C. (Map, News)

- President Bush is quietly providing back-channel advice to Hillary Rodham Clinton, urging her to modulate her rhetoric so she can effectively prosecute the war in Iraq if elected president.
In an interview for the new book “The Evangelical President,” White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten said Bush has “been urging candidates: ‘Don’t get yourself too locked in where you stand right now. If you end up sitting where I sit, things could change dramatically.’ ”

http://www.examiner.com/a-953145~Bush_quietly_advising_Hillary_Clinton__top_Democrats.html

grace, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:08 AM)

Oh you silly liberals. Do you really thing Hillarity is going to get a free pass? When the DNC announces that she is in fact the nominee then the GOP is going to attack with all guns and it will cover every scandal that ever came up under her and her husband as governor and as POTUS.
Just wait. It is going to get very ugly for the Clinton machine.
She will prove to be too unelectable.

Rick, Germany (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:17 AM)

Seems somewhat premature at this point to claim that any hurdles have been cleared. Whether any of the hurdles have actually been cleared will not really be known until the actual votes are cast and counted (hopefully accurately).

MIke RC, Rockwall, Texas (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:19 AM)

*** Hillary’s final hurdle?..."electability"
If Hillary isn't electable.....then no Democrat is. She has the experience, she has the star power, and she has the "juice" to win the Presidency.
Why do you think the CANTservatives, and people who pretend to be Democrats attack her so vehemently, and with so much vitriol?
I'll tell you why...because they are scared $#!+less of her, that's why! They know that if she gets the nomination, she'll win hands down.
Obama simply could not, and would not win. Period.
He has neither the experience nor the gravitas.
I am a lifelong Democrat. I never voted for a republiCANT in any general election.
But, I will vote for whoever the republiCANT nominee is, out of protest, if Obama gets the nomination.
The G.O.P. will eat him alive. We've already seen him trip over his own words all throughout this campaign. He's another Michael Dukakis. Remember him?
The Democratic party has to stop nominating WIMPS, and start nominating people with STAR POWER and PIZAZZ.
The alternative to Hillary is 4 more years of republiCANT rule in The White House, and this country simply cannot afford that.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:20 AM)

THIS IS FOR BUBBA: FIRSTLY, BEFORE YOU CRITICIZE HILLARY, LEARN TO SPELL, IT IS NOT "PURGERY", ALSO HOW ABOUT THE 90'S! WE WERE ALL MUCH BETTER OFF THEN THAN TODAY...I BET U VOTED FOR MR. BUSH, WHO OF COURSE IS A VERY "HONEST GUY". GET REAL..

FOX (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:21 AM)

oh my, look at this background on a certain pal of Lazio and Obama endorser Seabrook. It seems that Bloomberg and Lazio aren’t the only Republicans that he’s big buddies with. He’s also friends with convicted felon and bribe taking ex-state senator Velella (R). I think Team Obama maybe should start vetting their endorsers. But when this is obviously the only Labor endorsement that theyre going to get, phonies can’t be choosers:

Velella Got Ride to Freedom From Guards’ Union Chief
By KEVIN FLYNN and PAUL VON ZIELBAUER

Published: October 7, 2004

Most released inmates have to ride the city bus off Rikers Island, but former Senator Guy J. Velella was driven from the jail last week by the president of the correction officers’ union, who took him to meet his family at a favorite Bronx restaurant.

Norman Seabrook, the president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, said he extended the courtesy because Mr. Velella, a Bronx Republican, had been a loyal friend to the union.

Advertisement

But the ride was another instance in which the treatment of Mr. Velella appeared to be at odds with that afforded the average inmate. Ordinarily, prisoners must take a city bus or licensed van service over the bridge to the mainland, because private cars are not allowed on the island.

Last week, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg ordered an investigation into the circumstances under which Mr. Velella received one of the few early releases from prison granted each year by an obscure panel of mayoral appointees. The panel, known as the Local Conditional Release Commission, serves as a local parole board. It released Mr. Velella on Sept. 28, just three months into a yearlong sentence for conspiracy to accept bribes.

Though about 7,000 cases were eligible for review this year by the panel, Mr. Velella and two other men convicted with him were three of only five people who have been released.

Mr. Seabrook said that Mr. Velella, 60, had called him several times from prison, complaining that he could not sleep, and the union president offered to give him a ride home to the Bronx. “That man has carried a lot of pieces of legislation in Albany for us,” Mr. Seabrook said.

He said he drove in the pouring rain to the island, where only people with special passes are allowed, picked up Mr. Velella at the visitors center, where released inmates are left, and then drove him to the Pine Tavern in the Bronx. Mr. Velella’s wife and son were waiting there, Mr. Seabrook said, and they chatted for 10 minutes before Mr. Seabrook left. Mr. Velella said he was looking forward to a shower in his home.

City officials had been quoted in initial news reports as saying that Mr. Velella had departed the prison by bus shortly before 3 p.m. A Correction Department spokesman, Thomas Antenen, said that most released inmates do take the bus but that the agency had not specifically monitored how Mr. Velella left.

“We dropped him at the visitor control center,” he said. “We don’t track his movements after that. And Mr. Seabrook, of course, has access to that as president of the union.”

dem dem (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:21 AM)

So much hate, division, mistrust in our country today. So ready to hate Hillary. I ask myself which candidate would make good, common sense decisions about all the important issues. And she's it.(Ron Paul is great but the republicans won't give him a chance) George Bush is in the pocket of big business.(oil, military/industrial complex) I don't believe Hillary is. Not really. She wants to get elected . You have to play the game. Her heart is still in the right place (unlike GW) and her motivation will be for the most good for the most people. So easy to cynically scoff at that. With regards to election hurdles, I say w/o cynicism that the biggest one may well be ensuring a fair vote count.

PJ (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:25 AM)

I think the media is deceiving the American people by muddying the waters between the Democratic Primaries and the General Election.

It's easy for Clinton to clear hurdles among Democrats, but that stilld doesn't mean a general election electorate would support her, and I'd bet the farm that the media already have internal polling showing that she in fact would kill the Democrats in Congress and be in a tightly contested election, which is what the media cadre wants. A close election provides for "great television," right?

If the Democratic Primaries reflected anything about the General Election then Walter Mondale wouldn't have only won 1 state, and John Kerry would have been more competitive in southern and midwestern states than he was, since he won the TN, VA, and GA primaries.

Hillary may be sailing among Democrats right now, but she would kill them come General Election time.

framecop, Raleigh, NC (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:25 AM)

And you libs talk about President Bush and free speech? Bill CLinton is that powerful he can force a magazine to kill a story about them? I keep reminding you libs out there, the Clinton's don't care about anything, they just care about themselves. What a bunch of morons they are. Must have been one heck of a story, let some other magazine who's strong enough to withstand the Clinton stare run with the story.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:27 AM)

In Iowa - John Edwards beats Repubs in matchups!

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=275a3c34-9cad-41b4-a76e-78799cfa229d

annefrank (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:27 AM)

To respond to 'bubba'...
Since everything you said is either urban legend or outright lie, who should ever listen to you? I remember President Clinton being lambaisted for going after Bin Laden with cruise missiles in the 90's quite well, and the moronic attacks then, now folks like you forget it ever happenend. Wake up!
I, as a person of integrity and conscience, can't wait to vote for Hillary Clinton, she is by far the best for the job.

Bill K (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:28 AM)

Good morning America, yes Bush continues to "suck". That is all.

Z (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:28 AM)

I agree with Z, Bush does continue to "suck".

X (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:29 AM)

karen.....say it, and get used to it.
PRESIDENT HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
Being a Clinton-Hater doesn't make you a spokesperson for the mainstream.
In fact, just the opposite is true. Clinton-Haters are USUALLY neo-con extremeists.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:29 AM)

"Whether it’s helping rack up congressional endorsements for his wife, preventing labor groups from endorsing other candidates, or even helping to kill negative stories, this is Bill’s real power in this race: leverage."

That is exactly what I said. Without Bill Clinton, her campaign would be at best a Romney, I believe. Sen. H.R. Clinton proponents will say that she is succeeding completely on her own merits. If this were the case, why is she even using Frm. President W.J. Clinton? (it's because they know that isn't a true statement).

Nicholas, Minneaps, MN (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:29 AM)

So Bubba, I guess you're not going to vote for Hillary? It's also apparent you get all your mis-information about Hillary from Fox Noise. You're comment about her and her husband is 100% off base and wrong. I would factually rebut every single mis-statement of yours [everything you said] but it would appear a waste of time given your virtolic diatrob evinces a lack of intelligence on your part or ability to hear opposing viewpoints.

Pat, Huntington, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:33 AM)

vanreuter, NY NY--
Hi Van. I'd like to introduce you to
bubba (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:58 AM).
As you can read from his post bubba has many misconceptions about the Clinton's in general and Hillary in particular. He seems to hold many urban legends to be truth. I disagree with him on just about everything he believes about the Clinton's. But the fact is, neither you or I are going to convince him otherwise. There are a lot of bubba's out there. The most positive thing about the bubba's is that they are not Bush fans and that given the proper alternative they would vote for a Democrat that they feel is offering the best course of change for this country. This country needs a President with a landslide victory and a mandate to move forward. We can't handle another photo finish election with a congress that is paralysed. We need the bubba's for this. We need a candidate with broad appeal and low negatives.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:37 AM)

Yesterday it was Hilary as the front runner. Today, it is Hilary's final hurdle. So should we just skip our state primaries and have the other candidates pack up and go home? Why do you insist that the nominating process is over? There must be lots of people who like me have not formed a definite conclusion about whom to vote for. I want to hear from all the candidates as often as possible before I make my choice.

So, please let the games continue with impartial commentary.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:38 AM)

Any Democrat who believes Clinton is the most electable Democrat lives in a world with little contact with independents and moderate (to liberal on social issues) Republicans. Clinton may be able to win the general election, but she is only more electable than Gravel, or Kucinich. People can argue who is first through fifth, but the idea that Clinton is most electable is a joke!

People who believe she can win over the independents point to her landslide Senate victory, which included carrying several (not all) GOP counties. Again, pointing to this as proof she can win over the center is uninformed. She had no real candidate in her Senate race. Even Rupert Murdoch endorsed her and threw a large fund raiser for her. There was never any doubt she'd win the question was only how large the romp. And yet think about what she did in that race that was never in doubt, she spent more to win by an overwhelming landslide than any other Democratic candidate nation wide. It was obscene. The goal was to win in GOP areas to "prove" she was electable. But the fallacy in that argument is that someone voting for Hillary Clinton for re-election to Senate in NY against a candidate who the RNC, and regular GOP power houses within the state are not even helping, even without Clinton's massive campaign spending is meaningless. And Clinton spending an obscene amount in an effort to increase her margin of victory exposes a very unattractive character fault. It was selfish, and showed a lack of being a team player to hoard her campaign largess when candidates locked in tight races could have used some of her money. Candidates with excess campaign funds (from both parties) routinely donate money to candidates within their party who are in a tight race. Could Darcy Brunner running for congress in Washington, or Harold Ford, or Chris Shays opponent won their races if Clinton had not been so concerned with increasing the level of her landslide? We'll never know, because she didn't care enough about increasing Democratic victories as being able to make the false argument that her win in some GOP areas of NY prove she can win the general.

Denny, Ames (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:40 AM)

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:04 AM)--
How does she fair in the General election Van? That is all that matters.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:42 AM)

John Edwards wins in Repub matchups -

Missouri - http://surveyusa.com/2008H2HMO0907.htm

Ohio - http://surveyusa.com/2008H2HOH0907.htm

New Mexico - http://surveyusa.com/2008H2HNM0907.htm

annefrank (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:42 AM)

Clinton-Haters are USUALLY neo-con extremeists.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY

Merle, I wish that were true. But in many areas of the country many Democrats don't like Clinton, and a large number of independents (the voters who actually decide the election)hate Clinton. Most of the reasons people hate Clinton aren't valid, but whether hate is justified or irrational, or in between the two doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Molly, Iowa City (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:45 AM)

Uh, Bubba, when Bill Clinton rained cruise missiles on the al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and went on TV to warn us they were the most dangerous terrorist organization out there your GOP buddies denounced him from the floors of Congress as trying to distract attention from Monica Lewininsky. That's what was REALLY important then. Maybe if Republicans had taken a break from the destruction of all things Clinton al Qaeda wouldn't be so important now.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:49 AM)

Helllooo Pat! Seems you're not aware of the Clinton-Murdoch merger - and you certainly won't find anything about it on First Read.
Fox News is making nice with the Clintons now - Murdoch bought Hillary and Fox News attack dogs smear John Edwards so Hillary can appear to remain above the frey.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0707/Defending_Hillary_from_the_left.html

Hillary won't commit to a position on media consolidation - and Murdoch will want something in return for promoting her....

Margaret, NYC (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:51 AM)

you want to see how Hillary Clinto treats her people in Iowa?

remember me Register
Readers Online: 164 Home
About Us
Contact Us
Submit News
Wiki
View News
Newsletter and Digests

advanced

Top Story Clinton campaign volunteer treated badly, and switches to Obama
By Kathy Miller
I came to Iowa as a die-hard Hillary Clinton supporter/volunteer, who was ready to help elect the first woman president of the United States.

I had extra time to spend in Iowa before a trip to Fargo, so I decided to volunteer for a week before I went to Fargo and for two weeks afterward. Within the first couple of days of arriving, I had seen three field workers cry because of the abuse they took. The volunteers were segregated and treated like second-class citizens. I left after my first week, hoping things would change, but they did not.

I was ignored, even though I asked many people for work to do. So I decided to leave the campaign as a volunteer, knowing that I have been supporting the wrong candidate.

As a former state president of College Democrats and having worked on numerous campaigns, I have never seen people treated so badly. I have officially changed my views: I believe Barack Obama will be the best president of United States. - James Henson,
Oklahoma City, Okla.

SOURCE: Des Moines Register

Better be careful of working for that woman, talk about a woman with a whip and a chair

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:52 AM)

Exactly Bubba! we're lifelong Democrats, worked in both Clinton campaigns - but we don't condone dynasties or adultery.

http://www.alternet.org/stories/62812

Richard, Palatka, FL (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:55 AM)

karen, Millburn NJ: 'Hillary’s final hurdle? So far this campaign season, Clinton has cleared -- at least right now -- three important hurdles: 1) the past Clinton baggage; 2) questions about her gender; and 3) her Iraq war vote."
1) wrong
2) wrong
3) wrong again.
Just because it isn't mentined ( yet, and should be again) does not mean the hurdle has been cleared. What nonsense!'

Thank you, karen,!!
You're ABSOLUTELY RIGHT !!
Hillary is still crooked !!
That baggage is still there !
And it shows when she is sued by Peter Paul and Norman Hsu is brought to justice.
She ain't done nothin' and she WON'T be the nominee !!

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY: 'I am a lifelong Democrat. I never voted for a republiCANT in any general election.
But, I will vote for whoever the republiCANT nominee is, out of protest, if Obama gets the nomination.'

Wow !!, J. Merle Stanley, so you WON'T SUPPORT OBAMA if he gets the Democratic nomination ?
You'd rather have Rudy than Obama ??
How about Fred Thompson over Obama ?

'I will vote for whoever the republiCANT nominee is, out of protest, if Obama gets the nomination'

If Clinton supporters refuse to support Obama, when he gets the nomination, Obama will win with independent (and even) Republican cross-over votes !!

J Merle, you sound a little desperate !!
Are you SURE you're as confident in Hillary as you make out to be ??
Hillary's negatives are as high as EVER !!

'I will vote for whoever the republiCANT nominee is, out of protest, if Obama gets the nomination'

Merle, I think you're gonna get your chance to 'protest' next November !!
Poor, Merle broken hearted already ;-)

Hillary Clinton, 15 years of dishonesty, scandal and divisiveness

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:57 AM)

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY--I intend to vote for the ultimate nominee of the Democratic party. I don't think it should be Hillary but only because her high negative numbers mean no victory or low margin victory. She is a highly qualified candidate that would do this country proud but she needs to get elected first. I enjoy your posts a great deal and respect your opinions. But I hope that you will vote for whoever the nominee is. From what I can see it seems that it will be Hillary anyway. The Republican party, President Bush and the MSM have already declared it.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:00 AM)

PJ: 'So much hate, division, mistrust in our country today. So ready to hate Hillary...'

Why do you thin that is, PJ ?
Why does Hillary inspire 'hate'
Is she divisive ?

'...I ask myself which candidate would make good, common sense decisions about all the important issues. And she's it....'

Really, PJ ?
Hillary voted for the Iraq war !!
Was that a good common sense decision, PJ ?
Hillary supported the Iraq War !
Was that an important issue, the Iraq War ?
Hillary supported the Iraq War !!
That was the MOST IMPORTANT deciscion in her lackluster political career......
SHE BLEW IT !!

How about accepting dirty money from Norman Hsu ?
Was that a good decision ?

'...George Bush is in the pocket of big business.(oil, military/industrial complex) I don't believe Hillary is....'

Guess, again !!
See: NAFTA, WTO, outsourcing, offshoring jobs......

Back to the drawing board, PJ !!
Better luck next time !!

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:06 AM)

Ummh I am sorry she got over what hurdles?

Clinton Donor Scandal Widens
By Hill Truth

Hillary Clinton's donor scandal woes have widened to include links to Chinese mobs, scams involving the ex-first lady as a front, and required donations to her campaign. A Laguna Beach investment firm filed a lawsuit against Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, claiming he defrauded investors out of at least $23 million and required them to donate to Hillary Clinton.

According to the lawsuit filed by Briar Wood Investments, Hsu persuaded the company's operator to do business with him by taking him to Democratic Party events where New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton praised Hsu.

As a condition of doing business with Hsu, he insisted that investors make contributions to certain Democratic candidates, including $30,000 worth of checks to Clinton's campaign on a single day.

The Clintons have been linked before to donors who used them as an access point to acquire more money, power and political favors. For example, there is the story of Roger Tamraz, a Lebanese oil financier, who was wanted by Interpol for embezzling nearly $80 million dollars from a Middle Eastern bank.

Crystal (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:08 AM)

The "jerri's" amongst us are terrified of Hillary, desperate to spread as much smear & fear as possible. It won't work this time, she's above it. We're above it. Get ready for a new improved America. Bye bye neo nuts.

PJ (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:09 AM)

you paid operative hillary backers try to cover up the fact that edwards is the only electable dem, always has been, and outside your beltway circle most people have not lost sight of this all too important fact, so keep your regurgitated drivel clogging up this blog, it has, and will change nothing, hillary can not win the general election

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:14 AM)

Hillary needs Bill to carry her baggage for her. I'm surprised he can still walk after all of that heavy lifting.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:18 AM)

jerry, you've printed a letter to the editor from August and labeled it "top story". If a campaign volunteer was treated badly who did it, and how did the campaign respond to this allegation? Why do you think Mr. Henson was personally abused by HRC? If true then the organization certainly needs to deal with it, but you give us nothing to judge if it is true, why it happened, who to blame, or if the campaign is aware of any problems. In other words you give us nothing.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:21 AM)

SENATOR Clinton our next PRESIDENT.

WOMEN are the MAJORITY:

65% of women vote.
62% of men vote.

82.5 MILLION MOTHERS (mothers hate war)

152 MILLION WOMEN
148 million men

YES we have a new PRESIDENT coming to a Country near you!!
The repukes have no one to claim as the second coming of CHRIST this time, we got the DEVIL and our Country is a disaster as is IRAQ. IMPEACH!

H P Boston (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:23 AM)

....."Merle, I wish that were true. But in many areas of the country many Democrats don't like Clinton, and a large number of independents (the voters who actually decide the election)hate Clinton. Most of the reasons people hate Clinton aren't valid, but whether hate is justified or irrational, or in between the two doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Molly, Iowa City (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:45 AM)....."

You're wrong Molly.
People who pretend to be Democrats say they don't like Hillary.
They say it because they know she'll win it all if she gets the nomination.
They don't want that to happen.
They want The Democratic Party to put up another patsie, like Obama, instead.
I'm telling you here and now....if Hillary gets the nomonation, she'll win the Presidency.
Obama would lose, and he'd lose BIG.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:25 AM)

Have not been on this site for several days ---but nothing is new and I have not missed anything.It is still the same old same old---republicans scaring the democrats against Hillary---the same talking points coming from Bush and Rove. being fed to the scairdy cat party(the Dems)Reminds me of Saddam and the WMD.The right has gone after all the Dems and will smear whoever wins the primaries.It gets quite hard to be in a party of wimps that are so frightened of lies and smears.This past week Mi has been swarmed with the republican candidates----ooooooh this is so scary

HMT-MI (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:25 AM)

Interesting...at least the dems have some candidates with different views, color and sex...the reps have a bunch of white, tight and way to the right bush wannabes to yap about...lmao

Rick, WS, NC (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:27 AM)

Bubba my ass, its Jerry again folks, same lies and viciousness against the Clintons. And his big fat lying ass finds a purpoted story about how mean Hillary is to her voluteers. What a big lier you are Jerry. Just like your idol W.

F StLouis (Sent Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:27 AM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=378424