US Features
PROFILE: Clinton vows to bring new set of pants to White House
Feb 6, 2008, 9:31 GMT
New York Senator and US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton waves to the crowd during her primary night event in New York, New York, USA, on 05 February 2008. EPA/STEPHEN CHERNIN
Washington - Hillary Clinton wants to go back to the White House, and she insists that if she prevails in her bid to become the first female president she will not be overshadowed by her popular husband in running the affairs of the country.
'In my White House we will know who wears the pant suits,' she joked on a late-night comedy talk show on the eve of the biggest day yet in the campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, in which she picked up wins in eight states.
Clinton, 60, is no stranger to the role a spouse can play in policy decisions. She broke the traditional role of first lady by weighing in on important issues during Bill Clinton's 1993 to 2001 presidency before spinning her experience into a career as a senator from New York.
She is banking on that experience to persuade voters she is the right candidate for the White House after eight years of George W Bush.
Clinton handily won reelection in 2006 and was widely seen as the heir-apparent for the Democratic nomination in this year's presidential run, but ran into Barack Obama, a charismatic African American senator from Illinois whose message of change has excited voters and threatened to derail her long-held aspirations. He was able to pick up wins in more states than Clinton on Tuesday, but her wins in large states and the party's system of awarding delegates proportionally means the race will continue.
Analysts briefly wrote off her campaign after she lost the initial contest in Iowa, but she made a strong comeback victory in New Hampshire, aided by an emotional moment that helped her break her image as distant and cold.
Obama, 46, has campaigned by stressing the need for change, a strategy that has caught on with voters who fear Clinton would continue the political partisanship and bickering of the Clinton and Bush years.
That view was exacerbated by comments on the campaign trail by Bill Clinton, whose harsh criticism of Obama's campaign turned off some voters who believe Hillary's political style is polarizing, a characteristic the Republican nominee will likely pounce on in the general election.
She has responded to Obama by stressing that she has experience in bringing about change, though the two appeared to be setting aside their animosities during a debate in California last week. Her usually guarded 27-year-old daughter, Chelsea, has joined her on the campaign trail to counter Obama's appeal to younger voters.
Clinton had name recognition like few other candidates heading into the race to succeed a president whose popularity has been undone by the war on Iraq and weakened economy. She has pointed to the prosperous economic times under her husband as one of her strengths.
As first lady, Clinton took an usually active role in shaping policy, mainly through her high profile yet unsuccessful effort to push a universal health care plan through Congress.
She could also be haunted by the scandals that rocked the Clinton administration, including the Whitewater investment debacle dating back to the time in the Arkansas governor's mansion, and the marital problems caused mainly by Bill Clinton's infidelity, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal that led to the former president's impeachment.
Clinton's run for Senate in New York brought criticism since she had not lived there long enough to justify her candidacy, and many believed it was merely serving as her launching pad to the White House. But she worked hard for her constituents, rarely missing a vote in the Senate and winning reelection with 67 per cent of the ballots.
Opponents have tried to exploit her position on the Iraq war, which she now opposes after voting for the resolution approving the 2003 invasion.
She now says she would begin withdrawing US troops within 60 days of taking office. She has also stressed the economy, backing a moratorium on home foreclosures to adress the subprime mortgage crisis, and health insurance.
Clinton has bested Obama in fundraising, a key measure of a campaign's viability, bringing in 115.6 million dollars last year to his 102 million. She has also relied on her strong support among key Democratic constituencies such as labour unions and Hispanics.
If Clinton gets the nod as the party's nominee, she could face a close race against Republican frontrunner Senator John McCain, with several initial polls showing him beating her in a national contest.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
and the only reason her lame husband enjoyed economic success is due to the fall of the Soviet Union and the drastic reduction in defense spending that resulted.
Americans are morons for buying ththe Clinton crap.
Sandy Berg(l)ars?
Looks like the same set of pant to me....
what has the Clinton's done for the American people? Lies, more lies, and more lies, they are only out for themselves, and padding their pockets, what has Hillary done for the American people, postering and more postering. Don't we want a change? Do you want to see for the next 4 years another monopoly in the government we need to breath, for 4 years we had Bush Sr. then for 8 years we had Clinton, then another Bush for 8 years, Do you want another Clinton! who will be worst than her husband? Let change, get someone new NO MORE BUSH/CLINTON.
she has a bigger schlong then I do, and more chest hair as well.
SP4 said something by the way, I didn't even read it but I it must have been bad.
Looks like your intimidation is showing!!!
Some of you guys are hilarious...Clinton lies, Bush kills. And you supported which one.
I particulary like the comparison about no military spending. Of course Bill didn't start a war either now did he. Yeah, yeah he was too busy doing the donkey walk with interns. But then again on the other side of the house it was republican senators chasing men interns, picking up guys in airport bathrooms and people claiming to be the religous right turning a cheek. Wow, did I say that, turning a cheek?
Speaking of Rush's brain. That half that he is using, has that half been damged by drug abuse?
I'm cracking myself up. Republicans are great comedy relief during the TV writer strike.
Ok SP4. Say somthing incredibly smart so we can all wish we had your brains, entertain me, please!!! Actually all you ditto heads feel free to chime in also. Come on I insulted Papa bear and his 'true conservative' gay friends.....have at it! Oh yean, don't forget to go after my grammar and spelling, it is your only defense.
She needs something to hide her 'STRAP-ON'................
And so it is !!
Great comments for a change from the old spewing about King Bush and his cohorts!!
...what does Rush have to do with this article? I guess I missed it...
Nothing of course. The democrats need to exhume Rush every so often to harden their resistance to the right. Curiously enough, Rush is more of a threat to the Repubs than he is now to the democrats. He and the other right wing mouthpieces are dissing McCain.
Officially, she has not been president, and 'acting' like a president is not against the law in the strictest sense of the term. Everyone knows she was first lady, period. Which wife has not had a bit of the ear of former presidents?
I will continue to seek out who I believe to be the best for the highest office in the land. The first priority is to judge who will faithfully uphold the Constitution; party loyalty has no place in this matter. The second priority is which individual will put the welfare of the American people above any agenda; economic status has no place in this matter. The third priority is who will help to render justice fairly and equitably; race, gender, age, has no place in this matter. Honesty, strength of character, wisdom, all remains as important today as they have in the past. Our greatest leader will be our greatest servant and will seek to unite our peoples and our friends around the world. Clear vision and a willingness to listen are keys to getting the job done. In times of trouble, our leader will join in the trenches. In times of depression, our leader will inspire.
You see, we must not lose sight of whom we are, what made us great, the things that will deliver us into a more secure and peaceful future.
I vote for Democracy.
Let's look at her resume' and see how she measures up:
Personal Privacy - she helped obtain 500 FBI records on her political foes while at the White House
Chinese and Russian campaign funds - Hillary continued her husbands methods, using legal and illegal aliens to bundle money for her campaign. This after the Clintons pimped influence to the Chinese and the Russians for campaign funds in the 1990's.
Yes, the platitudes above are laudable, but the person in question has demonstrated, again and again that she has no respect for the law. Even now, her husband is using his influence to gag the National Archives release of documents to the Clinton Library in order to keep them from the public.
Find me someone in all of America who has respect for the law!
Some of the greatest platitudes have inspired some of the greatest nations.
Can we all now shake hands and makeup?
Wait one moment, isn't there a current president who has sworn to uphold the Constitution? We the people deserve better. It would be a change for a change.
page: 1
NoharnessFeb 6th, 2008 - 11:55:58
Quoting the article:' Clinton, 60, is no stranger to the role a spouse can play in policy decisions. She broke the traditional role of first lady by weighing in on important issues during Bill Clinton's 1993 to 2001 presidency before spinning her experience into a career as a senator from New York.'
The United States has no need for 'Presidents for Life'. That's why we have the Twenty-second amendment which reads,'No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.'
OR ACTED AS PRESIDENT. Hillary Clinton most certainly has 'acted as President.' She and her husband both have bragged about this as a fact. The two of them have acted together as President for eight years, two terms. They are now running for an unconstitutional third term.
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