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The Meanest But Most Intriguing Hit Piece on HIllary
James Lewis wrote "Hillary's Oedipal Problem," a scathing review of some of the most damning features of her life. I try to avoid pillorying Hillary while I'm criticising her, even some of the most verifiable facts Lewis reports are gross indictments and are consistent with much tamer efforts to establish that, temperament-wise, she's not the kind of person most progressives can vote for.
Lewis reports that Hugh Rodham, Hillary's father,
replicated the barracks experience in his own home, commanding loudly from his living room lounge chair (from which he rarely rose, except for dinner), barking orders, denigrating, minimizing achievements, ignoring accomplishments, raising the bar constantly for his frustrated children ---"character building," he called it."
Lewis here is quoting Carl Bernstein's book. In it, no less a fair witness than Senator Bill Bradley confirmed what many people have reported, that Hillary is an uncompromising, intensely hostile person when she is opposed. The quote from Bradley is, "At one meeting with Democratic senators, Hillary openly threatened to 'demonize' any member of Congress who opposed her plan..."
I won't go on, but there's much more of this sort in the article.
I don't agree that this is just character asassination and that it will split the party. Hillary has to address criticisms of her temperament now, or she will be destroyed in the general. It will be ten times uglier than anything we've ever seen or heard of in politics, because, as the above and many other quotes illustrate, there is much solid evidence and opinion of fair witnesses to back up attacks against her for being self-defeating and destructive of the interests of the people.
There needs to be much more vetting. She could survive this if she would confess her inadequacies. That would change everything, and he could then pick her for VP. She's a brilliant and experienced politician whom he could mentor and be mentored by. Wouldn't that be a complete gas!
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Comments (11)
I think her actions, not those of her father, are relevant here. The success of the next president will depend on one thing; building relationships.
All things being equal, building relationships and trust. Not just nationally, but internationally.
While it may be true that Hillary has 35 years of experience, it is absolutely the wrong kind of experience for what America needs right now.
Everything connected to the Clintons ends up in a state of division or complete destruction.
May 2, 2008 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can we please not talk about this? According to the New Yorker, she still has trouble opening up due to her father (she's supposed to be really nice when she gets comfortable with you, even more personable than Bill). This is something I think we should just leave alone out of sympathy.
May 2, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
O man.
I almost feel sorry for her.
May 2, 2008 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
What on God's green earth are you doing quoting American Thinker? Honestly... I'm no Clinton supporter, and she's got a lot of shit in her closet, but this isn't a lot better than quoting those awful emails that were going around about Obama, claiming them as evidence. Your source is as important as the information that you're citing.
May 2, 2008 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I'm as pro-O as it gets, but James Lewis and American Thinker are jokes and this piece is wingnut bullshit. If O gets the nom this douchebag will write the same kind of trash about him. This kind of garbage is the opposite of what the Obama campaign stands for.
May 2, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Scalfin: Apparently, she's extremely nice, but not when she's opposed. Then, as Bill Bradley said, she wants to demonize the opposition. This trait is very well documented and it speaks to her ability to create the kind of consensus needed to make substantive change. She seems not to have that right stuff.
May 2, 2008 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
The article is a little crazy. Amusing criticism. Imagine if Obama had the same commie history as Hillary......
May 2, 2008 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ugh... what a load of tripe in a Repub hit piece. Psycho-babble, guilt by association, innuendo, hearsay and no first-hand research to back up a word of it. This kind of character assassination deessed up like historical analysis has no place in decent relevant political discourse.
Fellow Obama supporters, do you know what your candidate stands for? It sure aint this.
I sincerely hope this piece gets no more recommendations. It deserves zero discussion among thoughtful posters here.
May 2, 2008 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
The problem is that Hillary doesn't see her temperment as a problem....she just sees it as her being a "fighter". It's just like the way George W. sees his stubbornness as resoluteness.
May 2, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you must cite something, cite the New Yorker:
[quote]Late last year, as the Democratic race was tightening, there was an argument within the Clinton camp over whether to go on the attack against Obama—an argument won by the proponents. When I described to Greg Craig the Clinton campaign’s skepticism toward the idea of transcending partisanship, he said, “You’re getting to that five per cent of Hillary that I don’t like—which is to see in every corner a conspiracy or an opponent that must be crushed. Look at her comment ‘Now the fun part starts’ ”—Clinton’s announcement in Iowa that she would begin attacking Obama’s record. “There is a quality of playing the embattled, beleaguered victim that I find unappealing and depressing.” He added, “I want a President who is looking to move the country with positive inspirational ideas rather than to fight off the bad guys and proclaim victory by defeating the forces of reaction. I would like us to inspire the forces of reaction to join us in treating people better, and lifting more vulnerable people and people in jeopardy out of their vulnerability and jeopardy.”[/quote]
May 3, 2008 12:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
gman:
so the bill bradley quote is of no relevance? pLEASE RECONSIDER.
May 3, 2008 2:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
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