In the runup to last week’s Pennsylvania primary, we heard so much about Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama’s comment about the bitterness of rural voters in he Keystone State that the media paid relatively little attention to Bill Clinton’s approximately simultaneous attempt to justify his wife’s misrepresentations of a trip she took as First Lady to Bosnia. His arrogance kept us from hearing more about the Clintons’ deceptions.
This past week, with media focus on the latest rantings of Jeremiah Wright, the Illinois Democrat’s former pastor, and some of the Senator’s other radical personal associations Hillary emerges as the sober alternative to her suddenly controversial challenger. Indeed, some leftists believe Wright is being paid to keep talking.
With this preacher in the news, the media has been giving short shrift to Mrs. Clinton’s own scandal. It seems she’s improving in the polls not so much because of her focus on issues (as she claims), but because she is the only Democratic alternative to Obama.
To be sure, a few bloggers took note of her inability to use a convenience store coffee machine. But, that story didn’t garner as much attention as Geroge H.W. Bush’s curiosity about a supermarket scanner. Guess, it’s only a story when a Republican seems out of touch with the modern technology we common folk use every day.
As Ms. Hillary escapes a media onslaught to which she would fall victim were there an (R) after her name, John F. Harris and Jim Vandenhei list some issues Obama would like the former First Lady to address (Via Volokh via Glenn). As they note, her rival’s supporters might argue that not all “Clinton controversies” have been “fully ventilated.”
They address her husband’s last-minute pardons, her brothers’ strange activities and unsavory associations, her failure to do much to reform health care in the past fifteen years (while claiming experience in government and assuming the mantle of leadership on the issue). Obama may have controversial friends, but her husband appointed corrupt ones to federal office, with her former law partner Webb Hubbell tapped for a top Justice Department post, shortly before being hauled off to the hoosegow.
While we’re all asking questions about Obama, we shouldn’t neglect those Ms. Hillary needs to answer. While she has released her White House schedule, she hasn’t been forthcoming about other documents from her White House year (that is, about that experience she touts) that her husband’s library is withholding. And we still don’t know all those funding that library.
This past week has been a good one for Mrs. Clinton, not so much because of speeches she has delivered or policies she has put forward, but because the media has started to scrutinize her opponent more severely. I wonder how she’d do if the focus were on her. Or if she had a rival with fewer shady associations.
Dan, I’m sure glad you included a link to the truth about President George H. W. Bush’s experience with the grocery scanner. I was there and witnessed the demonstration of the advanced scanner. Later, I lost what little respect I had left for the mainstream media when print editors and electronic news directors let a false story become historical “fact”.
[I link the snopes piece debunking the MSM narrative in the post. –Dan]
I didn’t watch the video of Senator Clinton having problems with a public coffee maker (because the transformer for my computer speakers got unplugged and I was too laxy to get up and fix it). But I read about it. She has my sympathy. I’m not isolated from much of the real world like she’s been since Bill won the Democratic nomination in 1992 but I have had similar troubles with various convenience store dispensers.
Some people do become all thumbs when confronted with certain tasks. (I, for example, cannot to this day start a lawnmower by pulling the rope and use a mower with an electric start.) For years people have refused to believe stories that Dick Nixon had to call in aides whenever he wanted to use a ballpoint pen because he couldn’t operate one. But on two (maybe three) occasions I witnessed his problem firsthand and had to get the pen ready for him to use. (At times he didn’t depress the top far enough for the point shaft to click into place. Or he held the top down so long that when he released his finger the point shaft slipped back into the pen.) He fared very well with felt tip pens which required removal of a cap. (I have one that he used but it has long since dried up and sits inside a shadow box frame.)
As to whether Hillary has been adequately “ventilated” (as you phrased it), I can’t argue with you too much. Except to say that she’s been investigated, poked and prodded so many times since her days as Arkansas’ first lady, that I doubt anyone is going to find something we don’t already know. I’m sure that’s why many voters, most recently in Pennsylvania, who said they didn’t find her trustworthy still voted for her — she’s a known quanitty, warts, faults and flaws not withstanding.
Obama has been getting — and I’m guessing will continue to get — most of the probing of late. For so long the national media thought he was their golden boy. Once the Rev. Wright controversy loosened some of the veneer covering his carefully constructed image, some of the media took their responsibility seriously and started peeling back the veneer. The flaws were sufficient to cause the media to look for more.
My thing with those machines, if that’s the type I think it is, is the whole stopping when it’s 2/3rds full. If you do that, it won’t fill the cup as much as I like it. If you don’t stop it, it overflows.
There was a coffee vending machine at Continental which looks like one that drops a cup and then fills it. My first time, I didn’t realize that you had to put a cup under the spout and my coffee went down the drain. I did it twice more, over the years, when I was distracted by talking to people.
But, we don’t want Hillary attacked right now. We want her going up in the polls while Obama sinks, further splitting the Democrat party. If and when she gets the nomination, then we trounce, and remind everyone of the unending corruption of the Clinton years. And she goes down in flames.
Personally, I think the GOP should send out mailers in the shape and pattern of the White House china that says something like, “they’ve already taken half the set, can America afford to put Hillary back in the White House?” and then on the other side list all the scandals shes been involved in.
But as for the convenience store coffee machine… I’m sure I’d have trouble figuring one of those out too. I like to think I qualify as a “common man”, but I’m still not going to get my coffee from 7-11.
I saw the coffee machine video, I thought it was amusing but then I’ve never used one of those either…so I don’t think it should be some clue to elitism. They are just distractions from the real issues and they act as entertainment, people like to be entertained.
The idea of scandals is the last thing she needs right now, so all of this has helped her get back on message and above the fray. I think one of the reasons why her campaign started to tank was having Bill get so involved and his blow ups remind people of his lack of discipline that lead to past scandals.
I do believe she can handle them better than Obama though, she has had to deal with scandals before and faced the media before on them. This fact of this Wright flare up is an example of Obama’s lack of experience in that area. I guess dems better hope that Rezko or Ayers doesn’t become a big issue….hate to see the floundering there.
The best weapon against Hillary is to let her speak!
I thikn the Bill O Reilly interview was great beause she boldly said “I’m going to be robin hood” (paraphrase)
“I’m going to surrender Iraq and I dont care what Iran thinks about how weak that makes us”
Keep talking Hill’
Vera’s as bitter as the coffee coming out of that machine but it’s not because she’s clinging to her guns, God and Martini – it has more to do with that insufferable fool, Mr. Obama and his entourage of idiots.
As for Mrs. Clinton and the coffee machine – if she’s not one to bake cookies and have tea parties with dictators – why should we expect her to know how to use a damn coffee machine?
I’m guessing Hillary can make a mean martini – chilly, strong and slightly bitter – just like Vera.
Cheers, darlings…
Vera, darling, I still think you are tops!
Regards,
Peter H.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/1924872/Michelle-Obama-Barack-has-hit-boiling-point.html
Michelle Obama: Barack has hit boiling point
Barack Obama is struggling to contain his anger and frustration over the constant barrage of questions about his character and judgment, his wife has revealed.
He is said to be itching to turn all his fire on John McCain, the Republican candidate, who is benefiting most from Mr Obama’s protracted tussle with Hillary Clinton.
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This guy is a joke. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.. the best word to describe him is “brittle”
And btw what happened to all the Happy Talk about not campaigning negativity.. and he’s going to rise above it.. he’s The New Politics.
I never believed that crap to begin with.
But hey.. all you reporters.. why aren’t you challenging the Obamas to live up to the basic premises of their campaign?
Is he capable of getting “unity”? Nope
Does he have a history of “working across the aise”? Nope
Does he campaign any less agressively? Nope
Is he “beyond racism”? Nope.. he wallows in it
This guy is an embarassment.
Sorry, that position has already been filled — by President George W. Bush. He entered the White House above it, and has remaided above it ever since. He proved it is entirely possible to bring a new, respectful tone to Washington — its just not possible to get Democrats to behave in kind.
#9 – Though I’d really like to see GWB end his presidency by taking on the DNC, MSM, WH Press Corps and all the other libtards, removing the gloves and just cutting loose. After 8 years of this BS, he reserves the right to put them in their place.
Screw the “respectful tone.” Fight fire with fire, I say. Unload it, George!
Regards,
Peter H.
Bingo! Here’s another interesting issue in this race. When the spouse gets too involved in the campaign – it always hurts the candidate. Examples, Teresa Heinz, Michele Obama, Bill Clinton. On the other hand Cindy McCain, like Laura Bush before her, is somewhat in the background as wife. She isn’t out there campaigning on her own, with her own bombastic views.
I respect that, I’m not looking for a twofer deal with my president. I really like the fact that although Dick Cheney is the VP, his wife continued her own separate career. I know that is not really and option if you are First Lady, but give me a classy Laura any day over power grabbing, Hillary, Teresa, Michele and now Bill.
Michelle Obama’s mouth is what started getting me very concerned about the dangers of a B Hussien Obama presidency.. now i’m confident that her mouth (along with other things) will doom his chances.
Peter,
Your wish is my command