Search
About This Blog
Resources
Blog Roll
- Captain's Quarters
- Cliff Schecter
- CNN's Political Ticker
- Conservative Grapevine
- Crooks & Liars
- Daily Kos
- Drudge
- FactCheck.org
- Huffington Post
- Instapundit
- Little Green Footballs
- News Bloggers
- Political-Buzz
- Power Line
- RedState
- Slate - Trailhead
- Swampland
- Talking Points Memo
- The Daily Dish
- The Plank
- The Young Turks
- Wonkette
The Hillary Papers

Now that news organizations have had some time to scour the 11,000-plus pages of Hillary Clinton's datebook from her time as first lady, more than a few stories are popping up questioning the credibility of Clinton's claim that her time in the White House should be looked upon in the best possible light as the nation contemplates her bid to return there.
From Reuters we have, "First lady records show Clinton promoted NAFTA." Salient bit:
Demorcatic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton now argues that the North American Free Trade Agreement needs to be renegotiated, but newly released records showed on Wednesday she promoted its passage.
From The Atlantic's Matthew Yglesias comes "Hillary and FMLA." Here's the intro:
Dana Goldstein notes the collapse of Hillary Clinton's argument that she played some kind of key role in passing the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The Associated Press chimes in with, "Clinton Schedules Show Drop in Policy Role":
Hillary Clinton's daily schedules show that her formal policy role in the presidency of her husband, Bill Clinton, shrunk once Congress shelved the health-care plan she helped craft in the administration's first two years.
The British paper The Telegraph adds, "Hillary Clinton papers sink experience claims":
Hillary Clinton's boasts that she gained major foreign policy experience as First Lady have been undermined after 11,046 pages of her White House schedules provided scant evidence to back up her claims.
From The Washington Post comes, "In HIllary Clinton's Datebook, A Shift":
HIllary Rodham Clinton arrived in the White House with a schedule befitting a president, packed with policy sessions, meetings with senators and trips to promote an ambitious political agenda. But after the collapse of her health-care plan in 1994, she retreated to a more traditional first lady's calendar of school visits, hospital tours, photo ops and speeches on a narrower set of issues.
And rounding-out this little round-up is The New York Times which reminds us that the documents themselves were "released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request and a lawsuit." More analysis:
The documents offer no support for her assertions on the campaign trail that she helped negotiate the Irish peace accords or facilitated the flow of refugees in the Balkans, but neither do they disprove them. There is no evidence to back up her assertion that she helped pass the Family and Medical Leave Act, the first legislation Mr. Clinton signed as president in February 1993.
Now, I know what you Clinton supporters are already saying. "Media conspiracy!" My point with this post isn't to say that Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be president, just that maybe not as qualified as she so often claims on the campaign trail.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 9)Shirley1:52PMMar 20th 2008
If you view the papers, her schedule says she "dropped by" the Nafta meeting. None of the above reports are accurate. They are partial. She was in Ireland and had a major roll there. She did help with the Family and Medical Leave Act. That was her idea. She could not pass it because she was not the president. And David, what makes you think anyone would trust the media now. They are busy trying to repair Obama's reputation.
PROUDAMERICAN2:02PMMar 20th 2008
The recent controversy with Obama’s lies and America learning of his 20-year relationship with his mentor, radical anti-American, Jeremiah Wright, could provide some super-delegates with a justification for "disregarding the will of the people": THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN FEBRUARY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT OBAMA’S LIABILITIES. Obama lied about Pastor Wright, Farrakhan, the NAFTA Meeting, Exelon, Tony Rezko and William Ayers. What else is he hiding? If Hillary wins more pledged delegates and more popular votes from here until the convention but does not fully make up her pledged-delegate deficit (a very likely outcome), she can argue that the liability of Wright makes Obama unacceptable and that voters have shown that. Obama has divided the Democratic Party. Hillary is a candidate of action. Barack is a candidate of lies.
monica2:03PMMar 20th 2008
THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR EVERYTHING. CLINTON DID WHAT SHE FELT WAS APPROPRIATE DURING HER TIME AS FIRST LADY. LET'S FOCUS ON HER CURRENT AGENDA AND LET'S GET HER IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND SOON AS POSSIBLE..WE CANNOT MAKE A MISTAKE CHOOSING SOMEONE WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE WHO NOTHING BUT AN "MTV GENERATION" CANDIDATE.
I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SENATOR CLINTON 100% !!!!!
david knowles2:05PMMar 20th 2008
Shirley,
Thanks for your comment. I assume that you have evidence for your claims. Click on the Atlantic story, for instance, to read a whole lot of evidence that Hillary had zippo to do with FMLA.
diana2:18PMMar 20th 2008
OBAMA is a liar and a racist....You say that Hillary lied about having experience...but Obama lied about having good judgement....a person doesn't have good judgement if they stick up for a person who HATES America...what kind of judgement is that....
OBAMA SUCKS!!!!
Davidg2:22PMMar 20th 2008
It's still more than Obama has ever done.
You try organizing a high tea for a bunch of Senator's wives and tell me how easy it is!
SusanM2:22PMMar 20th 2008
Not only is she not qualified to answer the phone at 3AM. She can't even find the phone. Then lied about where she put it.
JP DUNBAR2:24PMMar 20th 2008
In response to inexperience, race, affilation, etc, I take from the words of PD Thomas's blog on CNN's 360 website. He stated, "Just as an additional thought…we as Americans should by now be desensatized to what African Americans can do. Tiger Woods unseated every white male at the top of the sport of Golf; Venus and Serena Williams unseated Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert-Lloyd; Dr. Condoleeza Rice unseated Madeline Albright; Oprah Winfrey unseated Phil Donahue
ALL of these people came into an industry without a boat load of experience and surrounded by the right people were able to not only succeed, but raise the level by which the game was measured. Why is it still shocking that yet one more African American will step into a game, and raise the standard by which it is played?
We live in a nation where everyone is hilighted depending on the spin of the moment. We started out with White Women as the swing vote; then we moved to African American’s, on to Hispanics, and now white men. For all intense and purpose, Barak single handidly represents all of them, so why are we making him ‘divide’ them? His ancestry is white, black, hispanic, old white men, old white women, young white men, young white women, old black men, young black men, old black women, young black women, national and international. The list goes on and on.
In all that we do or say negatively against him, he still wants an opportunity to represent us. Why cannot we cut him some slack for those specifically around him for whom he still wants to keep company with. We have not marred him with our wicked ways…let us not hold the words and deeds of others against him."
So eloquently stated!
Shirley2:28PMMar 20th 2008
David,
Thank you for leading me to this article. I will research this further. It will not change my mind about Obama, but I will further investigate. I was going on my memory of information reported by the media from the 1990's. I do know one thing. In the Clinton era, I was a single mother of 3 with 1 job. No welfare! No child support! During the Bush Sr. and Jr. reign I was working 2 jobs. Same job, same house, same amt of children. Same lifestyle. When Bush Jr. was selected within 1 year I was working 2 jobs again. At that time I only had 1 child at home. Once again, I will research, but it will not change my mind about Hillary. America had it alot easier during Bill's Presidency. As a woman, I did not agree with his personal, private screw-ups. I very much agreed with the job he did for MY AMERICA!
CarolJ2:32PMMar 20th 2008
Oh Please..you are going to judge Obama's entire life/record by three
30 second sounds bites by a retired preacher. One clip is more than 20
years old. Obama did not lie. He was NOT there when those comments
were made. He was out of town and his schedule proves it. Hillary
has been lying from day one and continues. Her experience isn't worth
spit. No wonder her campaign is a mess. Can't stay on message, can't
budget her funds..how about those $100K fruit platters. Can't manage her staff. You want her to run the country?? Also for all the drones
who think she can get us out of a war she voted for.. Give me a break.
Shirley you are a true Clinton supporter..now the spin is she "dropped by" The NAFTA meetings..didn't really support it..LOL..
Clinton supporters - Believe anything..excuse everything.
Hillary Clinton-Liar From Day One
tufanf2:37PMMar 20th 2008
tufanf@bellsouth.net
Miami, Florida
TO: JP DUNBAR: Congratulations. Well stated. Real intelligence. Thank you. Obama is a decent, caring, moral man. I support him wholeheartedly and what he stands for. I have never been out of the U.S., in my life, except to go to the Bahamas a couple of times. I am an American, white woman, and I truly love my Country. Again, I support Obama. He should not be held responsible for what someone else says. In my opinion he will make a great President, and help to bring up our standing abroad, which we badly need.
SusanM2:40PMMar 20th 2008
Lois..Obama gave a excellent very forthright interview about Rezko to the Chicago Tribune. Very candid...not something you hear too much from Hillary and her crew..she still thinks she actually had something to do with bringing peace to Ireland..now the records say otherwise. Imagine that. Check this out..the man has addressed Rezko and Wright..Straight forward and candidly.
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Chicago_Tribune_Obama_Addresses_Rezko_in_Uncommon_Detail
cassandra2:41PMMar 20th 2008
it is ridiculous to believe that as first lady Hillary Clinton accumulated all of the "ready on day one" experience that she so readily proclaims. the document released speaks for itself. as for Barack Obama, i have attended many churches both predominently african american and predominently white over the years, and can unequivocally state that polititcally offensive comments have been made in both venues. the "black church" historically has been the refuge for african americans. a place where the social ills and racial injustices that are sadly a fact of this country's history, were and still are discussed. mainstream america would like these realities to fade away as though never prevalent or relevant but the discussion of them does not make one unpatriotic. many people have laid down their lives in an effort to bring the nation to a higher place of equality for all and universal justice...this actually is the utmost patriotism since this is in fact what the country professes to desire...unless that is in reality a lie. we cannot correct the ills of society if we do not confront them. some people are more "diplomatic", perhaps more "politically correct" in their expressions but the sentiments are the same and the message should not be lost in the presentation.
bette22han2:42PMMar 20th 2008
DUNBAR: WHATS YOUR RELATION TO THIS LIAR. HE LIED ABOUT RESKO, HE LIED ABOUT NEVER HEARING WRIGHT SAY ANYTHING BUT GOOD ABOUT GOD., AND THEN ADMITED HE LIED ABOUT BOTH THINGS. AS A GIRLY MAN YOU CAN NOT STAND THE THOUGHT OF A STRONG WOMAN RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. YOUR EGO JUST WON'T TAKE IT. WELL I FEEL JUST AS STRONG ABOUT AN ARRROGANT NARSISTIC LIAR SUCH AS OBAMA, AND FURTHER MORE I FEAR HAVING HIS WIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.I DO NOT CARE IF THIS WOMAN HAS JUST NOW BECOME PROUD OF THIS COUNTRY. I WANT HDR COLLEGE PAPERS GIVEN TO THE NEWSCASTERS SO WE CAN SEE THE REAL MICHELLE OBAMA. WHERE ARE OBAMAS PAPERS FROM HIS TIME IN THE ILLINOIS AND THE SENATE. HOWARD DEAN IS HOLDING UP THE MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA RE DO, BECAUSE HE KNOWS HILLARY WILL WIN. HE IS ALSO SITTING ON THE SCANDAL OF OBAMA AND LARRY SINCLAIR THAT HE HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR 6 MONTHS. I HAVE THE HEADLINE AND I AM FORWARDING IT TO THE TIMES.
Peggy2:43PMMar 20th 2008
DavidG..high tea...for the wives of Senators..are you kidding me..her staff does all the work...she just shows up. ROFL
Hako2:54PMMar 20th 2008
Here's some real news David. CNN reported this again today: Democrat officials insist Obama and his camp are blocking attempts to allow voters in Michigan a re-vote. They are accomplishing this by "sand-bagging". The Obama camp is basically not responding to requests to meet and work an agreement out. Obama claims they have "concerns" about procedure. Thats code for " trying to run out the clock". This should tell Michigan, and every other state, what Obama and his campaign are really about.
He protested Michigan's original vote because only Hillary was on the ballot, but NOW, he wants to keep them from having a perfectly legal re-vote. This is not the campaign of "Hope"....and I am sure he will have to pay a price for it. If he tries to block Florida voters as well, he will surely lose in the fall......assuming that he could even win the nomination now.
lindsey3:04PMMar 20th 2008
These papers remind us all that Hillary's judgment should be questioned. Obama is thrown under the bus because his pastor made remarks that make people feel uncomfortable, but Hillary gets in bed every night with a man that lied to the entire world and that's o.k. Maybe Bill Clinton just wants to get back into the White House so he can relive old times and great memories of late nights in the Oval Office.
Hako3:04PMMar 20th 2008
Your desperate attempts to denigrate Hillary wont work David Knowles. The same for Tommy and his "fishing expeditions". Bad Karma.....for you as individuals, and for the Obama campaign.
suzanne3:04PMMar 20th 2008
Shirley2:28PMMar 20th 2008
David,
Thank you for leading me to this article. I will research this further. It will not change my mind about Obama, but I will further investigate. I was going on my memory of information reported by the media from the 1990's. I do know one thing. In the Clinton era, I was a single mother of 3 with 1 job. No welfare! No child support! During the Bush Sr. and Jr. reign I was working 2 jobs. Same job, same house, same amt of children. Same lifestyle. When Bush Jr. was selected within 1 year I was working 2 jobs again. At that time I only had 1 child at home. Once again, I will research, but it will not change my mind about Hillary. America had it alot easier during Bill's Presidency. As a woman, I did not agree with his personal, private screw-ups. I very much agreed with the job he did for MY AMERICA!
*******************************
Right on Shirley
Hillary 2008!
Latest Politics Headlines
- Obama meets with Karzai, a leader he's criticized
- McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap
- Iraqi leader: US should leave as soon as possible
- For better or worse, McCain wedded to town halls
- McCain adviser Gramm quits after 'whiners' remarks
- Foes no more, McCain, Romney warm to each other
- Today on the presidential campaign trail
Most Commented On Posts
Most Recent Comments
Politics Video
'Team Obama' watching you?Barack Obama's presidential campaign is turning into a machine. CNN's Tom Foreman reports. (July 18) | |
Obama's overseas tripMcCain criticizes Obama as the presumptive Democratic nominee heads overseas. CNN's Candy Crowley reports. (July 18) | |
Shinedown 'Devours' Politics on New SongBrent Smith, lead singer of Shinedown, tells AP Entertainment about their controversial new single, 'Devour.' According to Smith, the song was written for the troops in Iraq. (July 17) | |
Bill Clinton ready to campaignThe former president says he is ready to campaign for Barack Obama and responds to Jackson's comments. (July 17) | |
Diplomats in IranPresident Bush is reportedly now ready to station diplomats in Iran for the first time in almost 30 years. (July 17) | |
| « See More Politics Video | |
Declare Yourself is a campaign that encourages young Americans to register and vote.
REGISTER TO VOTE NOW AT:www.declareyourself.org
obama fan1:44PMMar 20th 2008
finally we have proof shes not qualified to answer the phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!