Patti Solis Doyle's rise and fall

Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:14 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
First Read friend Josh Green of the Atlantic Monthly -- whose GQ article Team Clinton infamously spiked -- has a very good piece on Patti Solis Doyle's ouster as manager of the Clinton campaign. Do read the entire article, but here is the gist:

"For the many people in and around Washington who obsess over the latest machinations in Hillaryland, the firing of Solis Doyle—and she was fired, several insiders confirm—is a big deal, but for reasons somewhat different from what the media coverage has suggested. Her title of 'campaign manager' implies a loftier role than the one she actually played. She is the furthest thing from a Rove-like strategic genius (Mark Penn inhabits that role for Hillary), so her leaving doesn’t signify an impending change of strategy, as some reports seem to assume. Rather, Solis Doyle, who began as Clinton’s personal scheduler in 1991 (and who, as it happens, coined the term 'Hillaryland') was Clinton’s alter ego and was installed in the job specifically for that reason."

More: "Her performance in Clinton’s past races and especially in this one reflects all the good and the bad that the alter-ego designation carries. I’ve always felt that the most revealing thing about Solis Doyle is her oft-repeated line: 'When I’m speaking, Hillary is speaking.' It is revealing both because it is true and because it conveys—and even flaunts—an arrogance that I think is the key to understanding all that has gone wrong for the Clinton campaign."

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Comments

The only reason they kept Solis Doyle was because of the Latino vote in California. If they had fired her before the primary, the Latino community might not have voted for Clinton. It is a game all the candidates play.

Ann Upstate NY (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:30 PM)

Doyle was Hillary's alter ego? I guess she didn't have one then.

Carol Levens, Scottsdale AZ (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:31 PM)

I see major problems where Hillary Clinton is concerned. Her campaign, her husband. Everything seems to have gotten completely out of Senator Clinton's control. What's going on? I guess they weren't banking on Senator Obama being such a threat and for this campaign to be lasting this long.

Not good as we the voters continue to read these stories.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:36 PM)

Carol L in AZ...thanks for the midday laugh. Good one.

Steve, san Diego (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:39 PM)

HRC created this mess. Instead of lying about the firing, she should have been honest.

I wonder how she will react on Mar 5 when she finally declares her campaign over. Do you think she wonders what life will be like as the junior Senator from NY again?

Jesse, Fallon NV (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:43 PM)

Does she have time for a tell all book before the election? Watching the racist sexist democrats battle to sexist racist democrats has been so much fun. That's what happens when you make it about race and gender of character.

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:43 PM)

Not the first campaign shake up and it won't be the last. Had it been Obama's manager it probably would have been spinned by the media as a plus. Go Hillary!

molly (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:45 PM)

This election is about leadership and the choice is clear. Either you pick a Leader in Obama or an opinion poll follower in Mrs. Clinton.

1) On the three biggest votes in her Senate career she voted as a follower not a leader; The Iraq authorization (Didn't even read the security report), No Child Left Behind, and the Iran escalation. This shows a lack of leadership.(Funny enough she has flip-flopped on two of these positions).

2) Mrs. Clinton can't run a campaign on day one, how does she expect to be President? She ignored all the small states on Super Tuesday hoping name recognition would carry her, she overspent in Iowa & New Hampshire (a problem she also had with her Senate campaign), she advertised only in Large states, she left South Carolina before the polls closed and didn't thank her staffers there, She did not organize in the Post Super Tuesday states because she was supposed to win, and then she blamed all of her problems on her campaign Manager: What leadership!!!!!

3) Finally her current campaign slogans were stolen from Obama, saying ‘change’ and calling her supporters a ‘movement’. In fact the only leadership she showed in the race was the first to begin campaigning for President. Everyone points out she won California, New York, & New Jersey, but one of them was her home state, the other a neighboring state, and she had been campaigning in California since 2006.

Simply stated, Mrs. Clinton is no leader, no Margaret Thatcher, no Sandra Day O’Conner, No Eleanor Roosevelt, and is less qualified for the Presidency than Nancy Pelosi.

Trey, Muncie, IN (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:46 PM)

"...an arrogance that I think is the key to understanding all that has gone wrong for the Clinton campaign."

check.

South Carolina wiped the smirk off their faces.

Their main First Read Troll left the blog and has disappeared into the mist... that would be freezing mist on the sidewalks of NY.

It is hard enough walking with a tail between your legs without that damned black ice.

Mark Thieme (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:47 PM)

Do we really need to put someone back in the oval office that is this arrogant. She is a focus group manufactured candidate to begin with. If they really understood Obama they would have understood that Hillary needed to show who she was warts and all. She has changed so often in this campaign it is hard to even stand listening to her anymore. The contradictions are staggering. Also, her ability to bring in people that can best perform the task at hand needs to be examined here. Doyle was in place because of loyalty and that brand of chronism (sp?) has not worked out so well in the Bush white house has it. It is time to move beyond this drama and divisive politics. We need to change the language to this post-partisan reality that Obama is offering.

Matt San Francisco, CA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:49 PM)

The Hispanic base for Clinton has been very loyal, especially here in New Mexico. I guess after February 5th she didn’t need Patti Solis Doyle anymore because California, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado caucuses and primaries are done. Wait until the word gets out to Texas. There will be hell to pay. Maybe New Mexico’s Super Delegates shouldn’t be too committed to HRC.

Joe Barela, Rio Rancho, NM (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:50 PM)

Pat, Boston Mass.
Why don't you go over to Ted Kennedy's house, and suck some raw eggs in a dark closet.
Oh, I forgot, you can't.
Too many SKELETONS hiding there!

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:51 PM)

Leave the Hillary machine alone. It is getting very old and obnoxious and arrogant.

kate anderson, iowa city, IA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:51 PM)

Pat - from that perspective, its a good thing the Democrats have had a competitive race. Had Clinton sailed to an easy nomination, none of these shortcomings would have been realized, until it was too late.

I think competitive nominating races are great. The winner demonstrates an ability to compete well in the general election.

Obama's team has demonstrated that. And conversely, if Clinton goes on to the nomination, it will be because that campaign was able to fix some problems along the way. The winning candidate will owe some gratitude to the other side for helping that campaign prepare.

On the campaign manager shake-up, the timing is odd. It does raise the specter of Clinton's campaign thinking it has Latinos in the bag, and now trying to re-engage African-Americans. I doubt that's the case, but appearances are important. I read this morning that a Latino super delegate fired out a public e-mail expressing his disapproval of the move.

Its also interesting that Clinton brought in the woman accused of removing the files from Vince Foster's office. Clinton had to know that would get people talking. I think it may be intentional - get the conspiracy theorists rehashing that stuff, and then Clinton can fall back into impeachment defense mode, with the idea of rallying Democrats with them.

Nothing like re-inventing the VRWC to get the base back in line.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:53 PM)

Senator Clinton is ready to lead on Day 1. As long as Day 1 is a nice warm sunny weekend day and everyone can relax by the pool. If there are any problems, that claim goes up in smoke. What we've seen the past month has been a disaster and is certainly not what I'd want to see from my President.

California Indy (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:53 PM)

Boy Hillary has really upset the Latinos read the below question is who's next, The American People? Hillary will do whatever for a vote now she wants a African American, what a joke she is. Vote for no more bagge Ohio & Texas.

February 12, 2008 -- A prominent member of the national Democratic Party has circulated a sharp e-mail saying the removal of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle was disloyal to Hispanics and should give "pause" to superdelegates and voters.

The e-mail from, Steven Ybarra, a California superdelegate who heads the voting-rights committee of the DNC Hispanic Caucus, was sent to fellow caucus members in the hours after word broke that Solis Doyle - the most prominent Latina in Clinton's campaign - would be replaced by another close Clinton loyalist, Maggie Williams, who is black.

The e-mail noted that Clinton, who is looking to Latino voters for a boost in the Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4, scored heavily with Hispanics in her California win.

"Apparently, loyalty is not a two-way street," he wrote. "Latino superdelegates like myself . . . will have cause to pause."

Ybarra told The Post yesterday that the loss of Solis Doyle, a child of Mexican immigrants, just weeks before the Texas primary, where 36 percent of the population is Hispanic, was "dumb as a stump."

Anthony, Ocenaside, Ca (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:54 PM)

hmmmm... replace a latino with an African American going into VA, DC and MD... is that just a coincidence?

ya know (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:55 PM)

Hillary wont need the Hispanics in Texas cause she has just about every repub I know voting for her in the democratic primary....so they can have the candidate they want to run against.

That bites, Keller, Texas (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:57 PM)

J. Merle, Don't be a sore loser.

Kate anderson, You're right, the Hillary machine is "getting old and obnoxious and arrogant". But then it always has been.

Monica L. -DC (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:57 PM)

This really does go to Senator Clinton's weakness. She chose a woman who was her scheduler as her Campaign Manager. The woman who kept her datebook. She chose her because she was loyal, not because she was qualified. Doesn't this remind you of George Bush and his many appointments like "Brownie" to FEMA? The Clinton's trust almost no one. Who is she going to trust to run the government agencies?

S. Ruff (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:59 PM)

"No one could have predicted Barack Obama’s sudden rise, though the Clinton campaign was slower to recognize it than most."

Talk about arrogance.

DC insiders, be them journalists or pols, missed the Obama phenomena because of a combination of cynicism and a lack of attention. Go back and look at your records from 2004 and 2006. How many Senatorial & Gubernatorial campaigns - esp tight campaigns in purple/red states -- did Obama campaign in during last weeks of those elections and how many did Clinton campaign in? Politicians were begging Obama to bring his political magic to their campaigns. And who knows? He might even have helped put a few candidates over the top. Look at the number of people who came up to him during campaign rallies for OTHER PEOPLE telling him to run for the presidency. DC insiders didn't believe what they were seeing with their own eyes. It wasn't only Clinton that expected her to be inevitable -- you all did as well. But those of us who saw Obama up close early on knew this run was possible.

evie (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:59 PM)

Without knowing the behind the scenes info it's hard to know if this was a good move or not. But on the surface it seems like poor timing to jettison "the first latino to run a presidential campaign" when you have Obama steamrolling across east-west-north-south of America winning race after race with a must win in latino heavy Texas the only thing (along with Ohio) in Obama's way from nailing this thing shut. Plus you add to that momentum the learning curve of Obama's campaign and I think he is going to mute the Clinton advantage among latinos and may make whatever margin of victory that Clinton gets in Texas insignificant. Clinton is going to go a whole month in between victories and is raising money at a 50% disadvantage to Obama. I think by mid-March I think the attrition is going to wear her campaign out.

Joe, Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:02 PM)

"This suggests to me that for all the emphasis Clinton has placed on executive leadership in this campaign, her own approach is a lot closer to the current president?s than her supporters might like to admit."

Enough said.... Obama 08

Matt San Francisco, CA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:02 PM)

Just saw on MSNBC how a Latino superdelegate and some others are not very happy that Solis-Doyle was removed from her former duty has campaign manager....that could bode quite well for Obama.....

Lucieann Hope, Port St. Lucie, FL (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:02 PM)

to all of the people who stated there will be a backlash in the hispanic community from the firing of Patti Dolyes, you obviously think the hispanic community lacks intelligence. The results over the weekend and most likely today clearly indicates a change was needed. Let's go Texas - Let's help our girl get back on track!!!!!

Liz brown (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:10 PM)

I thought this paragraph was the crux of the piece:

"Rather than punish Solis Doyle or raise questions about her fitness to lead, Clinton chose her to manage the presidential campaign for reasons that should now be obvious: above all, Clinton prizes loyalty and discipline, and Solis Doyle demonstrated both traits, if little else. This suggests to me that for all the emphasis Clinton has placed on executive leadership in this campaign, her own approach is a lot closer to [George W. Bush’s] than her supporters might like to admit."

Todd, Wheaton, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:10 PM)

Mark Murray, you are right, this was an interesting article with the one caviet that Josh Green might be a tad bitter, but the facts and information is there.

"As much as Clinton touts her own “executive experience” and judgment, she made Solis Doyle her campaign manager because of Solis Doyle’s loyalty [and discipline], rather than her skill, despite a trail of available evidence suggesting she was unsuited for the role."
and
"This suggests to me that for all the emphasis Clinton has placed on executive leadership in this campaign, her own approach is a lot closer to the current president’s than her supporters might like to admit."
--I love it, because it's true. It is the exact impression I had gotten of her campaign, and one of the many impressions that worries me about her potential administration.

i.m.r.

Nicholas, MN (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:11 PM)

If the media could get the story straight, maybe the peanut gallery would know what they are talking about.
Don’t think that many of the writers haven’t their own bent.
The idea is to focus on the issues, and not the soap opera...nuts.

American Citizen (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:13 PM)

Give the woman a break. Obama says lots of good things but there are no real facts there. Lots of turkey but no stuffin.

linda (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:14 PM)

These comments attacking Hillary are no less than toxic. You have no concept of the term civil debate and represent a regression in American politics and society in general. Why don't you actually discuss and/or criticize the plan, instead of her. Perhaps you will find that she is working to improve our country and deserves praise for subjecting herself to the vitriol of anonymous commentators such as yourself.

Dave, Chevy Chase MD (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:14 PM)

You people are so pathetic. You just listen to your own drivel from one another and fool yourself into believing it's the truth. It is disgusting what passes for journalism these days. You make up snide comments and then suddenly they become facts. Why would you believe this guy that says she got fired? Where's his proof? Just because he says it, it's true? Give me a break. If this is Obama's base, I'm frightened. This is the kind of attitudes that drive a movement like Nazism and Facism. "Our guy is right and everyone else is evil!" Let's try looking at both these candidates as human beings. Let's try making a decision based on qualifications and policies, not a bunch of back stabbing and character assasination. My guess is not a one of you making these comments have ever spent one minute in a room with Hillary or Bill Clinton. Where do you get off making all these judgments about people you really and truly know nothing about. You only know the biased and oppinionated garbage you read on blogs like this. Bash Bill all you want. My guess is 80% of you posting on this blog have slept with somebody you shouldn't have, told lies, cheated on your taxes, made racist or sexist remarks, told ethnic jokes. Because you sure seem to be able to dish it out toward Senator Clinton. And, yes, she deserves to be addressed as Senator Clinton. Try to behave like Americans and not a bunch of riled up frat rats.

some one with a morsel of maturity (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:15 PM)

Obama is simply a black version of Howard Dean. If Dean had black votes, he would defeat John Kerry 4 years ago and would have the same national movement as Obama has. After 4 years, we now know what Dean is really made of. Obama fans will soon realize that Obama is simply a talker and a liberal.

Dong, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:19 PM)

Why does Hillary insist on delaying the inevitable? She's a sour scary old lady with nothing new or convincing to say. Republicans love to hate her, Independents love to move against her, and Democrats love dramatic change.

Here's an idea...I think we need to have Barack Obama be our first black president and then Michelle Obama can be our first woman "former-first-lady" president (in 'bout 9 years from now of course)!

Kevin (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:19 PM)

Hillary isn't honest in her own life, look at her marriage and her belief in the past. Come on the worst we can find on Barack is that he might not have used drugs as much as a full blown addict. I like honesty vs the machine she believes in, I didn't inhale, I did not have sexual relations, Clintons turned the economy around (it was the wave of tech stocks), my campaign leader stepped down (how about I fired her after I got CA and NM), Hillary I am doing fine financially (thank God I have 5 mill to loan my campaign) 5 million wow no wonder why you don't mind taking health insurance premiums out of the people's paycheck.... not everyone has 5 mill in their bank account... oh yea what about White Water.... maybe the 5 mil came from that. CLINTON MOVE OVER.

TL (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:20 PM)

In Texas today. Latinos/as pissed at the Clintons big time.

Washington folks don't get the Latino demographic. Latinos are looking for a candidate who won't leave them when the dust settles.

They (as a political demographic) do have a long, clear, memory.

Even with the expected huge (and cynical) republican turnout for Clintons... the tide is turning. Fast.

BTW, check my post of last weekend that predicted major news out of the Hillary camp. This was it... sooner by a day than expected, but this has been brewing since SC.

muy malo

Mark Thieme (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:26 PM)

Let's look at the Clinton's and see how often they were right on day one: Whitewater, Vince Foster, Iraq vote, No Child Left Behind, Monica L. et al, Patti Solis Doyle, Big State Strategy.....Hmmmm. All superdelegates are probably pledging to her now to avoid the backlash machine that is the Clinton's. Hopefully, they will jump ship at the last minute and reflect the will of the people they are suppose to serve.

Pamela, Detroit, MI (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:27 PM)

The strategy:
Hire an African American, get her picture in all the news cycles, then call and ask the National Council of Negro Women to host a small group discussion on yesterday in washington, and let the press get that into the news cycle and this sums up their strategy to get the African American vote today. The Hillary campaign is insulting both the African American and Latino voters.

loris bay (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:35 PM)

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:36 PM)

Hey Pat. Saw your post above. It does certainly look like a Clinton campaign implosion does it not?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:38 PM)

Hillary is no Bill Clinton. While she thinks that she has what it takes to be president, She is far from being able to assume the role of "Commander and Chief" of the Armed Forces. She might be doing a good job as the U.S. Senator from Arkansas (oops I meant New York with Arkansas being the state she couldn't afford to return to once her husband left office)which means that her resume does not qualify or quantify her to be President. Go Obama!

Anthony Howell, Washington, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:39 PM)

Just another example of insider favoritism and political spoils expected from many of Clinton's "support" once she was supposed to become president. Clinton is more of the same.

CJ (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:48 PM)

Hilary Clinton's campaign woes including financial shortcomings is one indicator of her(lack of!) experience. Obama's display on the other hand is telling us what he can accomplish when he is President with access to the best intellect, and the resources of America!

Nathaniel Smith, Bridgetown,Barbados (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:49 PM)

I'm so tired of people saying that Obama doesn't have a detailed plan like Hillary does. Don't they realize that great leaders inspire those around them to do great things? Hillary is a micro manager and will try to everything herself instead of motivating all lawmakers to make significant changes that are necessary to move this country forward. Look back to the great leaders of the past who accomplished great things and you'll see they didn't walk through a detailed "to do" list. Think bigger Hillary!! You'd make a good assistant but you'll never inspire us.

David, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:53 PM)

Looks like Mrs. Clinton voted wrong on the Iraq war,looks like she has voted wrong again,this lady has very poor judgment.

John Nettles ,Ridgecrest,Ca. (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:54 PM)

I'm an Obama supporter but I think that some of these comments are a bit too cynical.. I think that Hillary has a genuine rapport with the National Council of Negro Women built up over years of interaction. Yes, I hope that Obama wins the nomination but I do believe that Hillary deserves our respect, and if she wins the nomination, our support.

mkb, Vienna, VA (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:55 PM)

Wow. That article is tough to read. Hillary Clinton's loyalty to apparently incompetent people (in important positions) does sound an awful lot like Bush's. Does this mean Solis-Doyle and Williams will be placed in important positions in the Hillary Clinton administration, even if they're not qualified to handle them? Ouch.

Lynn (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 3:57 PM)

Why hasn't America come to terms that the country needs someone who is a motivator! Obama is that person!

Naresh (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:00 PM)

Lets give Senator Clinton a break here. Losing is a perfectly good reason to change Campaign Managers and both of these women are capable operatives that have been around her for years. The majority of casual voters with normal lives (that would be no one that posts here regularly :) will have no idea who is who and when they came or went.

GObama!

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:05 PM)

I am a midwest conservative and I can tell you that we Republicans are concerned about the death knell that is so obvious in the Clinton camp. We are akin to Mickey in Rocky 3, with Obama like Clubber Lang and McCain playing Rocky Balboa ("He'll murder ya ta death inside a three rounds"). We really want a punch drunk club fighter (Hillary) for the Italian Stallion to go against to cap his illustrious political career. Please tell me the Clinton machine isn't going to "blow it" (no pun intended). Even though we know Obama has absolutely NO meassage besides "change", this guy scares us because he has so many blind naive followers!

Bob Korschgen, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:07 PM)

This is all politics and Hilary is trying to win. As an Obama supporter I don't see anything wrong with her moves. She has to try and get back some of the black votes she once had, and she already got the Latino vote. I hope Obama will make strides to get the Latino vote as well. Its politics, the Latinos cannot take it personal. I sure hope Obama gets the nomination, but if Hilary does I will still vote for her in November, and I am African Amaerican. No hard feelings in politics.

STAVY, Philly (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:07 PM)

STAVY, Philly (Sent Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:08 PM)

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