The Clintons: Ouch!

Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:20 AM by Mark Murray

Maureen Dowd skewers Bill and Hillary in her column today. "Obama also allowed Hillary supporters to insert an absurd statement into the platform suggesting that media sexism spurred her loss and that ‘demeaning portrayals of women ... dampen the dreams of our daughters.’ This, even though postmortems, including the new raft of campaign memos leaked by Clintonistas to The Atlantic — another move that undercuts Obama — finger Hillary’s horrendous management skills.”

“Besides the crashing egos and screeching factions working at cross purposes, Joshua Green writes in the magazine, Hillary’s ‘hesitancy and habit of avoiding hard choices ‘exacted a price that eventually sank her chances at the presidency.’ It would have been better to put this language in the platform: ‘A woman who wildly mismanages and bankrupts a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar campaign operation, and then blames sexism in society, will dampen the dreams of our daughters.’”

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Comments

Who is Maureen Dowd?

Need to know (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:27 AM)

the clintons are even annoying after they leave. I dont see obama putting in a statement that the media was racist. I dont think the media was sexist, if thats the case then they were racists too, oh and they were also discriminating because of McCains age, also maybe we should include the fact that they favored Romney because of his hair.....please, the clintons are a joke.

Devastating McCain Video
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/devastating-mccain-video/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:28 AM)

I don't care what Obama says, a woman should have the right to choose who she goes to bed with.

Janie Grantberg, Oak Ridge, TN (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:28 AM)

What? And I always thought Maureen was a big supporter of Clinton's.....

New Indi (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:29 AM)

Oh !!!! brother sexism spurred Hillary's loss. How about interpretations , publications and weighed down data knowledge as a cause that spurned Hillary's loss.

Jasper Zeigler Jr - Montco Pennsylvania (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:31 AM)

Many had said all along that Hillary's claim to being ready day one for the Presidency was tainted by her inability to manage a large bureuacratic organization. If one is unable to make decisions quickly and with some authority they have no business running for President.

There is a happy medium to this skill. Even though one must be able to make decisions quickly and with some authority there is a very fine line that if crossed damages the end results. Without considering as quickly as possible all the information and facts before making a decision then one begins to shoot from the hip. And when one does that then their ability to lead is damaged by numerous errors some of which can be catastrophic. Hillary could not make decisions, McCain shoots from the hip, Obama evaluates, considers and then makes decisions. It is clear which of the three has the skill and leadership ability desired in the Presdiency.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:31 AM)

The Clintons are absolutely disgraceful. Anyone could see that the problem with Senator Clinton's campaign was her sense of entitlement, and the attitude that the nomination was owed to her. For her to have screwed up her own campaign the way she did makes me grateful indeed that she did not win the nomination. We cannot afford four more years of sheer incompetence in that office.

sotiredofignorance (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:32 AM)

Thats it cirle the wagons Koombia,,,,Koombia

What_you_Selling (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:33 AM)

Once again, Hillary refuses to take responsibility for her own failings. If it was up to me she would have no place at the convention. She should not have a place at the grown ups table. By the way, I am a 44 year old single working mother. I never supported her. She continues to embarrass herself.

"A woman who wildly mismanages and bankrupts a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar campaign operation, and then blames sexism in society, will dampen the dreams of our daughters.’” I agree this is a much better statement for her.

Kristi, Texas (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:35 AM)

Amen Ms. Dowd. The Clinton's are back stabbers and I won't rest easy until the convention is over. The Clinton's have never cared about this country, only their own political careers.

Shannon Charlotte, NC (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:37 AM)

Hillary can you please show some class and dignity with you loss and stop your so-called cathartic garbage that your supporters need for you to be a spoiler. Please stick finger down throat. Talk about women scorn! You should have shown that towards Bill when he cheated on you. Face it you blew it and your and Bill egos can't take it. It simple throw your support 100% behind Obama. Stop your pathetic whining! Us Democrats need to be UNITED PERIOD!

Juan, Ft, Lauderdale, Fl (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:38 AM)

This is not new...Maureen has been slamming Hillary ever since she started riding O-force One on a regular basis.Like so many journalists..she too has swallowed the Kool-aide.
I can only imagine what kind of nastiness surfaces on this blog today about Hillary and her supporters...

I will be so glad when it's November 5th! (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:39 AM)

I just knew it. She is still trying to sabotage Obama. What a piece of work the Clintons are.
Makes you wonder how much the GOP is paying them.

Disgusted (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:39 AM)

‘A woman who wildly mismanages and bankrupts a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar campaign operation, and then blames sexism in society, will dampen the dreams of our daughters.’
--------------------
I've not been a fan of Dowd lately, but the last paragraph of this is SPOT ON. What a legacy, Hillary. Chelsea must be so proud.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:39 AM)

[‘A woman who wildly mismanages and bankrupts a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar campaign operation, and then blames sexism in society, will dampen the dreams of our daughters.’” ]

Amen.

MI Chick (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:40 AM)

Will all of you bitter old white women please stop blaming someone else for your gals fall? If it bothers you that much go vote for John Mccain and then explain to your daughters and granddaughters what clinton and mccain had in common besides race and age. Go ahead.

Michelle O. Chicagos East Side (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:40 AM)

Dowd really knows how to magnify a politician's weak spot until it completely overwhelms the rest of the picture. She is a cartoonist. I read her column today, and came away hating the Clintons, but I know there is more to them then their egotism. Give the Clintons a rest, its time to focus on re-building the country.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:40 AM)

Maureen Dowd's columns amount to nothing more than fluff. Fluff doesn't ouch.

Amy, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:44 AM)

So can we please stop talking about Hillary now?

This psuedo-controversy is quite over.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:44 AM)

Gotta' love Maureen Dowd - I think she nails the Clintons in this article. I hope Obama has something up his sleeve to make sure that Bill and Hillary don't run away with the convention...they could really hurt him..

Colleen, Ithaca, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:45 AM)

Truisms sometimes are best said now and reflected upon later as better judgment that saved us all.

BJ, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:47 AM)

Hillary's surrogates and a minority of her followers dampened the dreams of our daughters first and then Hillary bought it and fell in line. It makes me cringe with sadness.
Ferraro decided to re-fight the 60's and 70's instead of looking forward and building on what had already been accomplished. And now we have Hillary whining and trying to placate some has-been feminists who are still fighting the old battles not the new.
I am 56 years years old, consider myself a feminist. I have two grown daughters whose perspective is a result of earlier battles. They don't see a need to whine, blame men, burn their bra, jump up and down, scream or cry.
They realize there is still work to be done and believe in gender equality, racial equality and equal pay, but are willing to work for it rather than whine for it; stand next to men and learn from them in the work place and business world; work from within to balance work and family; network with other women and mothers to achieve their goals; be united and not divisive.
This is the new feminism..a new generation building on what was given them. This the 21st century ladies...stop looking back.

Jen, MI (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:47 AM)

That's the bottomline that not too many of the Clinton supporters seem to want to acknowledge. Clinton ran a bad campaign.

They mismanaged money, despite raising incredible amounts. They reportedly had no plans for a race still in doubt after Super Tuesday. They completely ignored states that weren't favorable to them for a while, which allowed expected losses to become huge landslide losses. And let's not forget their "message of the week" problems.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:48 AM)

Okay, that's history, but how about McShame and his clueless management style.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:50 AM)

I am glad Maureen Dowd nailed the Clintons. I am happy she called them out on their BS. We don't want restoration of Clintons in Denver

Bee (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:53 AM)

Hilary got caught in the crossfire between warring factions in the Democratic Party-the Clintons and the Kennedys. This was supposed to be John Jr.'s year, but, tragically, he was killed. The Kennedy's were geared up to wrest control of the party from the wing that they consider too centrist, so they backed the Obama and coerced the super delegates into backing him for nominee. I don't believe that it is sexist, but a power struggle between conflicting agendas. However, I believe that the party will lose this election, because pulling left is a recipe for disaster, (see Nancy Pelosi refusing to hold a vote on drilling, and telling party members to blame it on her). The reality is that Obama is an empty suit, and, if God forbid, he gets elected, history books will include a chapter on what was once the Democratic party.

Donna, Lincroft, NJ (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:54 AM)

Hillary Clinton and her self-absorbed husband are the reason Hillary lost, she did it to herself with her arrogant sense of entitlement and pompous elitist attitude, it showed through

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:55 AM)

Michell O. - "Will all of you bitter old white women please stop blaming someone else for your gals fall?"

No problem. We'll present our displeasure to you Obamanuts at the ballot box, when we vote for John McCain.

And, have a nice day.

Bitter Old Rural White Woman with a Gun (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:55 AM)

"A woman who wildly mismanages and bankrupts a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar campaign operation, and then blames sexism in society, will dampen the dreams of our daughters.’”

Probably the most accurately written statement of the year, about Hilary.

I love how Hilary would say that Obama doesn't have the experience to lead, or have the ability to make a tough decision. Pretty much, if you want to know where Hilary's short comings are, just listen to all of her accusations about Obama, they reflect all of her weaknesses.

Maybe now, all of those angry Clinton supporters will see that it was her inability to take control of her campaign and the ability to make tough choices, and not the claims of sexism or the Obama campaign. Perhaps they should ask for their money back, I know I would if that was the Obama campaign.

I know who I want to answer the White House phone at 3 am, Barack Obama.

Obama/Biden 08/12

Shawn M. Philadelphia, PA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:00 AM)

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:50 AM)

Brian:

McCain has no management style. In order to have a style there has to be some type of outline or guideline as to what steps will be followed to manage a project or to make decisions. McCain shoots from the hip. Some may say well that is a form of management yet it is not. Management means to manage. Shooting from the hip manages nothing except to get the person who shoots from the hip into some serious trouble at some point.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:03 AM)

Diane from Illinois (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:06 AM)

Hillary Clinton is nuts!

Does she actually believe that if she somehow manages
to steal the rightful nomination from Obama, that his
own 18-million voters are going to support her?

She would suffer the biggest landslide loss since
LBJ mopped up the floor with Goldwater in '64.

This is one more bit of proof that this spoiled, whiny-brat couple are only out for themselves, and
nothing else. If they can't have it, they'll make
sure nobody else can have it, either!

But, just maybe this is what we actually need to be
finally and forever rid of The Clintons.

JIM WHITTAKER, Hemet, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:06 AM)

This is simply another reminder of why Obama can't put Hillary on the ticket. How inappropriate is it for her to focus AT THE CONVENTION on what happened to her campaign during the primaries? Obama has to do what he can to soothe Clinton supporters, but, my goodness, these concessions are going to give the MSM lots of fodder for denigrating Obama (as if the MSM needed more fodder).

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:07 AM)

Bitter Old Rural White Woman with a Gun (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:55 AM)

That's it Bitter. Take it out on Obama by giving the country another incompetent neo-con President in John McCain simply because you can't handle the truth. And the truth is, Hillary mismanaged her campaign terribl and partly as a result tha tshe thought she had the nomination sewed up prior to the beginning of the primaries. People like you remind me of those who always blame the neighbor kid for starting fights when in fact it was your own kid that starts them all the time. But as these parents who can't handle or face the truth, neither can you.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:08 AM)

This is not a defense of Hillary Clinton. I remain an undecided Independent. But I think Obama was naive not to recognize the need to reach out to her supporters (not just her fundraisers) early on. May have made no difference in the end, but he should have made the effort to embrace them instead of just assuming they'd fall in line behind him. A lot of people have a lot of fond nostalgia for the Clinton years, scandals aside. Obama beat them, he could afford to be magnanimous and gracious.

Sarah, Escanaba MI (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:08 AM)

Bitter Old Rural White Woman with a Gun,

Go ahead vote for your senile John mcCain

bb (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:10 AM)

‘A woman who wildly mismanages and bankrupts a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar campaign operation, and then blames sexism in society, will dampen the dreams of our daughters.’”

That quote sums it up quite nicely. All along I've wondered if Hillary can't even manage her campaign..and ends up tens of millions of dollars in debt....how can she run the country?????

And I still do not understand how it would be beneficial for her delegates to be seated at the convention...wouldnt that just be reopening an old wound for most of them?? Besides, she should be the one blamed for their bitterness towards Obama...she gave them false hope that she actually had a chance to win this thing and that it was a close race when in actuality she had lost months before the primaries ended.

Angie for Obama (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:10 AM)

Bitter Old Rural White Woman with a Gun (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:55 AM)

Michelle won't be president, but again she is not running to be president, but McCain is.

BTW he left his crippled wife after she waited for him to return from Vietnam. If he can't stand beside her in her ordeal, how he is going to represent or stand up or by the American people?

Michelle Zee, Bitter Woman with a Gun with Enough Sense NOT to Vote For McBush! (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:10 AM)

Jen, MI - Thank You -- You've summed it up for me. I agree with you there's a change in the dynamic for women -- it is time to look forward and move forward -- just as African-American's can't continually blame racism for all the ills of our society - we as women cannot continue to blame sexism for our faults and mishaps -- we have to be poised to advance despite the obstacles and adversities - we have to shoulder the blame as well as take the credit - we have have to strip away excuses if we want to be valued for our character - we have to be determined to succeed - there's no other way. If I want to leave this world better for my daughter - I must show her how to overcome and take the licking and keep on ticking - Ms. Dowd's piece was very good - I am a 44 year old African American Woman - just an fyi

Lauri Smalls, Providence (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:13 AM)

"bitter old white women" Michelle O. Chicagos East Side (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:40 AM)

888
Your comment is offensive. I see, tho, you have taken your name from Michelle Obama. That explains your crassness.

FON (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:14 AM)

I just knew it. She is still trying to sabotage Obama. What a piece of work the Clintons are.
Makes you wonder how much the GOP is paying them.
Disgusted
--------------------

Its the Clintons...the GOP doesn't have to pay them, they feel they are above the world and do this on their own.

John, MI (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:14 AM)

Finally people are speaking out! Mrs. Clinton never showed the ability to use her brain and willpower which is what Maggie Thatcher so successful and still wear a skirt and carry a purse!Mrs. Clinton never demonstrated any ability to lead without using some sexism to back it up. No management skills, and no accounting skills. How could someone like that lead this country? There are many women out there who could lead. She is not the one.

RAF, Kentucky (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:18 AM)

Lets face it. The phone rang at 3 am, and Hillary was asleep.

Robert, West Greenwich RI (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:22 AM)

I remember reading the comments on this blog during the primaries and had no doubt that Hillary supporters would vote for McCain before Obama because they were all about Hillary winning and did not care about democrats. They would rather see McCain place 2 to 3 conservative supreme court justices who will strip them of their rights on the court than vote for a democrat. If McCain wins they will get what they deserve.

James, New Orleans (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:25 AM)

Dear Bitter Old White Woman with a Gun,

We are tired of being pressured into having to listen to you nearly destroying this man because the rest of democrats did not want to here about "closing the deal" and Middle America…..They are not the only ones voting!!!! How did you think you made all people feel with your distasteful comments of a candidate that you could have join tickets with? Now you're (Hillarets) are upset because he will not select you and your ideals. Now you want to destroy his chance of winning. Well, I have good NEWS and some bad NEWS... The Good NEWS is HE is the candidate...the Bad News is you will not be on the ticket.....Now Go Home!!!!....Before she looses her Senate Seat!!!

The Real Truth!!! (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:26 AM)

Who is Maureen Dowd?
Need to know (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:27 AM)
** **** ** ****
A columnist who wants grow hair on Obama’s chest.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:26 AM)

Bill and Pillsbury doughgirl Hillie have had their time in the sun and man I wish they'd just fade away!

subgruvet, ok (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:27 AM)

OUCH !!!!!!

but so true espically the part about how th media will react..right guys ( First Read) you can't help yourselves the Clinton's are catnip

Lyn (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:28 AM)

Why are we still talking about this, god the Clintons need to let this go I can’t believe we are still debating this Hillary lost get over it and unite this is crazy....Hillary ran a ugly campaign, it was very nasty towards Senator Obama and they gave McShame all his talking points!!!let’s not forget!!!! Enough already the Clintons should fall in line and unite and stop trying to force their way onto his ticket.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-westen/catching-the-wrong-john-w_b_118064.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

Sheryl, Houston TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:30 AM)

I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Dowd. I NEVER thought Hillary The Wronged Woman Who Stood By Her Man was a much of a feminist, anyway.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:33 AM)

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