Hillary Clinton is almost as adept a politician as her husband. She can go into a room and almost make you feel that she's in total support of you. Notice I said almost:
(AP) Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton told the nation's leading gay rights group in an unpublicized speech that she wants a partnership with gays if elected president.
Clinton also said she opposes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the military that was instituted during her husband's presidency.
Emphasis mine. If Hillary is so eager for a "partnership" (AP's word, not mine) with the gay community, why was the speech "unpublicized"?
This is classic Clinton campaigning. Bill was the master by courting the gay vote in 1992 than selling them out by instituting the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Bill could talk to a group and they would believe that his first executive duty would be to implement your agenda. Hillary, on the other hand, is just not that good.
Clinton's numbers have been dropping precipitously of late and she has got to be sweating it. She has no choice but to grovel to the base that includes the gay community, anti-war activists, pro-abortion types and tax and spenders to gain the nomination. It can't help that the Associated Press labeled the speech "unpublicized."
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. you go hillart get all the votes you can
cleo at 10:06PM on Apr 19th 2007
2. Well .. Is She Good for the Gays?
Scott's posting rightly points out that her sub rosa courting of gays, as did her ally Bill before her, certainly makes it easier to back away later from commitments made, and gives us all reason to doubt.
I would add a broader point: Her position on the Iraq War indicates that she is not good for ANY Americans, adn thus not for gays either. The kerfuffle over whether she should apologize for her vote authorizing the Iraq War is beside the point: apology without a vastly reconsidered worldview that led her to cast that vote in the first place would not be credible. Her insinuation that her vote was based on faulty intelligence is disingenuous -- how come millions of the rest of us got that decision right having even less information than she? But she has recently made it quite clear where she stands -- continue the occupation of Iraq indefinitely with at least 75,000 troops (in interviews with NY Times and othe rmedia). An imperial America is not good for any of us, not just us gay Americans.
Walt Senterfitt at 10:07PM on Apr 19th 2007
3. How would she do with broader issues appealing to all voters, rather than making promises to each fringe group separately?
Steve Bonomo at 10:14PM on Apr 19th 2007
4. I have a friend who really likes Hiliary... I am undecided as yet. I think she's a smart woman but her agenda doesnt quite make it with me. The Iraq issue is a big factor with me. My son is a soldier and is currently in Iraq, where a couple of days ago his lieutenant's brains were splattered all over him...he's just 21 years old, and the conflict in Iraq is NOT a legitimate AMERICAN ISSUE, the Iraq conflict should NEVER HAVE BEEN PART of any American Soldiers resume. As a MOTHER,As AN AMERICAN, As LONG AS I LIVE AND BREATHE...that will be MY OPINION ON IRAQ. They are currently in a "CIVIL WAR" its their F****ng WAR NOT OURS
Kim Backus at 11:15PM on Apr 19th 2007
5. Hillary is obviously an adept politician. She has had to be to stay alive. But the good both Clintons did while in office is often forgotten because of the smokescreens created by the Republican machine - and of course by Bill's stupid extramarital mistakes.
Because I'm well aware that there isn't a candidate out there who doesn't try hard to position him/herself strategically on the issues, I have no problem with those that take issue with Hillary's chummy-ness with any special interest group. But I get mad when critics get their facts wrong. Bill Clinton actually DID sign an executive order in the first 100 days of his administration ending discrimination against gays in the military. It was only after the uproar that ensued, led by the Democratic chair of the Armed Services Committee, Sam Nunn, made it clear that legislation would soon follow to permanently make the discrimination into law that Clinton was forced to make a compromise. When asked why he'd used up so much political capital trying to take on such a contentious subject, Bill replied "because it was the right thing to do." He was right then, and he's right now. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is an ineffective band-aid of hypocrisy that even Clinton's Joint Chiefs' chairman agrees today is wrong and unnecessary. That Clinton had the courage to sign an executive order barring the discrimination took guts at that time in history. Hillary is right to say she would take on the issue again as President.
I believe that both Clintons arrived in Washington in 1992 determined to do a lot of good, and that it was only after it became obvious they couldn't institute the policies they believed in (like Universal Health Care, which we all now clamor for, and could have had 12 years ago)without playing the political game, that the double-speak, cover-your-ass, extremely CAREFUL and slippery Clintons started to emerge. You can't hold a politician to a standard of 100% integrity and then make it impossible for them to institute policies they believe in without jumping through 500 hoops. You may long for the straight talk and clear thinking of a Harry Truman, but when it's coupled with an simplistic, black-and-white vision of the world, watch out! I think history will prove George W. Bush to be among the worst, if not THE worst president we've ever had, in terms of his effect on the country. But we got exactly what we paid for. Although he made many campaign promises to the contrary, he showed us exactly what he believed in and what his priorities were in his first term. And he hasn't changed, hasn't waffled, hasn't budged in the face of facts and advice - even from Republicans - that don't agree with his limited vision. And still the Red states elected him again anyway, probably because he didn't "flip-flop" and admit he made mistakes... until he owned up to exactly that after the election.
Some critics say that Hillary "changed her mind" on the war. God, I hope so. The fact that John Kerry "changed his mind" in 1969 after performing valiantly in Vietnam make me think MORE of him, not less. If Hillary has to mince a few words to explain why she voted to approve the use of force in Iraq, that's okay with me. In the face of what was supposed to be a reliably serious threat, I'm sure many Democrats felt they HAD to authorize Bush to use his best judgement concerning the invasion, even if they doubted his wisdom. It was not a time for partisanship. What's important now is what's obvious: years of bungling have eradicated any hope of a positive end to that conflict, and she's come up with what she feels is the most humane and honorable way to deal with our obligations, not only to the Iraqis, but to OUR OWN TROOPS.
I'm not sold on Hillary for President in '08, but I'm willing to keep an open mind and listen to her. I think she's been around long enough for us to be able to figure out what she believes and what she stands for, even if she has to play to many different audiences for the next year and a half. The words she uses may be chosen for their appeal to a particular crowd, but I think if you listen, you will see that her "big message" is fairly consistent. And if she uses a few words that indicate she might see shades of grey in the important issues of the day, that means she might make decisions based on more careful consideration of the facts, not just on impulse alone - a valuable asset to have in a President.
David Snyder at 9:02AM on Apr 26th 2007
6. Once upon a time I liked Hillary but she like McCain have become so slimy trying to appeal to all they have lost more... Never forgot Bill's disappointment for gays. Stop courting special groups, Hillary. Just say what you mean and stand by what you say. That I would respect and vote for!
Coyote at 3:54AM on Apr 20th 2007
7. Scott,
Lets face it. If she is the Nominee, The fags are in Hill's bag, man.
Gee, I think she may win SF and West Hollywood, too. It is really mute.
As a Democrat, I am more concerned about the alliance of The Church/Evangelical/Bob Jones-Southern Baptist/Methodist, think the world is 6,000-y.o. Crowd, which cost Kerry dearly in '04.
What happened there anyway? A life-time Irish Catholic (albeit divorced), runs against Mr. born-again at 40, Proti, Blueblood Fake and The Church endorses him over thier own Son?
Now, are there any fewer abortions? No.
Would the gays be married under Pres. Kerry? No.
Would Cheneys lesbo daughter have a $200,000 job? No.
Would Kerry's daughter have a lesbian, domestic partner and test-tube (no daddy anywhere) kid? No.
Will either or any change after 2008? No. So why all the useless banter? Why do waste valuable resources on personal choice issues?
Gays and abortion should not matter at all...ask the Lincoln Logs ...(gay repos and proud of it, all 6 of them).
So, simply, if she or Edwards can break this weird,
fundemental triumverate, they win. Stump the Christian Vote and the rest will follow.
We need a few southern states this time to win, easily.
Forget about Obama. Never happen.
Hey, I worship God, too, but what ever happened to separation of Church and State, anyway?
Since when does someone call your Church, the whore of Baylon, and you vote for the person for Pres.?
Weird.
Gays, Blacks, Unions, California, New York, Washington State, who cares? The demos got a lock on that one.
Vatican City???????
Manfred at 4:11AM on Apr 20th 2007
8. I hate that we are over there working harder than the Iraqis. However, with the increasing power of the insurgents and Osma bin Laden, we don't have much of a choice. We can choose to fight terrorists over there or here on our homeland. We haven't had an all out war on our soil. 9/11 would just be a small taste of what those people would do. I don't think Hillary has the military knowledge needed to end this conflict. I think McCain would get us out quicker than anyone else but right now he just doesn't have the confidence of the people. I don't know who I am voting for...I just wish we didn't have a divided country.
Marie at 4:13AM on Apr 21st 2007
9. I can't seriously say that I am suprized with Hilary's actions. I think that her intentions were made clear when she ran for senate for the state of NY when she didn't even live there. In moving there simply to get the vote she proved she was self serving. As for Iraq, another blogger posted that she is not good for ANY american because she voted for the war due to faulty inteligence. My question is, is she good for the people who died in 9-11? Even if Iraq didn't make the bombs it has pretty much been proven that Sadam was selling government rations to make money for himself, buying big mansions and funding terrorism. I don't blame her for seeing that something needed to be done.
My mother is a lesbian and I am friends with many gays. I don't think she'd necessarily be BAD for them, but I don't think her motives or promises are completely honest or that she's looking out for our best interests. I want a president who wants to be it because they love America and they want to see her done right, not because they just want to be president and have power.
Angie at 5:22AM on Apr 20th 2007
10. Hillary's real strength.
From http://www.solidpolitics.com
A new FOX/Opinion Dynamics poll shows Hillary Clinton beating Barack Obama by 21 points.... But the real news in the poll is Obama's weakness among registered Democrats.... In a three-way race between Hillary, Obama and Edwards, Clinton holds a narrow 5-point lead over Obama among independents... But among Democrats, Clinton holds a commanding 27-point lead.... Many states prohibit independents from voting in primaries or caucuses.... This means Obama and Edwards have a lot of ground to make up in the next nine months....
Bill at 10:30AM on Apr 20th 2007
11. Hillary will go antwhere or do anything to get anyones vote. She ran Imus down for comment, because obama went to Rutgers ahe was going, but she thought better because she acceoted $8000,000. dollars from the very same rap group that were saying the same thing.This woman is two faced, not to be trusted, she can be against somethings but if you hand her a dollar she will agree, I don't think this kind of judgement should be deciding our fate.She has only ONE plan, Hillary first to satisfy her personaly, maybe if your lucky the country would get a chance. She is pure EVIL. Talks out both sides of her mouth.
jane at 12:13PM on Apr 20th 2007
12. HILLARY IS JUST LIKE BILL WAS AND STILL IS TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR GET THE BUCKS AND VOTES THEN TO HELL WITH THEM THEY NEVER DID LIKE MILITARY PEOPLE ALWAYS LOOKED DOWN ON THEM
bill at 7:31PM on Apr 20th 2007
13. Hillary will nail this bunch just like Bill. But your type can get behind rudy the frist conservative switch hitter. Back whichever one of these loser It don't matter.
average joe at 10:07AM on Apr 25th 2007
14.
First of all, a "gay" vote is a misnomer.
A vote is just a vote. A gay man doesn't cast a gay vote, anymore than someone who humps a dog would cast a canine vote.
So let's stop classifying those who engage in immoral (male to male or female to female sex) as gays and lesbians. They are just men and women engaged in sinful, immoral conduct.
Who they choose to have sex with, I don't care. Although I do care about them--as people. Always. No exception.
Therefore, they can stop telling me about their immoral sex life everytime they shout about a gay/lesbian lifestyle. Their 5 minute sex routine does not constitute a "lifestyle". It's a five minute physical release, and then some.
I can hate it. I don't hate them. And hating a certain activity (i.e. immoral sexual conduct) is not hate speech against a person. It's against conduct forbidden in the bible.
We are a Christian nation. And if someone wants to engage in homosexual conduct. Let them go back into the closet. Because frankly, I don't want to hear about it anymore.
I like chocolate. I crave/lust after a good hershey's bar every now and then. This does not make me a chocolate woman. It makes me a woman with a sugar addiction.
Got it? Now go back into the closet if you want to hump a same sex being. And I'll go back into my refrigerator and finish that gallon of chocolate ice cream.
Peace be to you all.
mediatorwong@aol.com
Stephanie at 1:50AM on May 11th 2007