Back Again for the First Time: Hillary Clinton in 2008
Hillary Clinton is running for president. I have no doubt about it, and will bet anyone large amounts of money that she will be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 2008. While the 2008 presidential election is three years away, the possibility of another Clinton in the White House is, well, intriguing. Today many Republicans and conservatives fear that Hillary will not only get the Democratic nomination, but will win the election and become America's 44th president.
Results from one recent poll showed that six in 10 voters believe that the United States is ready for a female president, and 53 percent thought Hillary Clinton should try for the job. No one can argue that she is a celebrity politician who can and will raise lots of money and, not surprisingly, early polls put her ahead of Kerry and other Democratic presidential hopefuls. With high name recognition and political skills that are immense by any measurement, Hillary Clinton will be tough to beat.
I, however, want to point out the advantages for conservatives of Hillary being at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2008. First, Hillary Clinton is a very polarizing politician. Either you love her or you hate her. This ensures that, if nominated, Hillary cannot count on any support at all from about 45% of the electorate. While she will have rabid support among Democrats, America right now is an increasingly Republican country. She will have to find some way to appeal to Republicans in order to win and, given her husband’s history, it seems unlikely that many Republicans will vote for her. Second, if Hillary is the Democratic nominee for president, political opponents can relive all of her husband’s scandals. From Monica to pardons for well-connected Democratic fundraisers, there is no shortage of bad memories (for her) to relive. Finally, a Hillary nomination ensures that the failures of her husband’s administration will be revisited, specifically its inability to combat terrorism. All of these debates favor conservatives and the 2008 Republican presidential nominee (whoever that may be).
On the other hand there is an inherent danger that Hillary can overcome all of this and actually be elected. Both Clintons are skilled at political repositioning. Bill Clinton ensured his re-election in 1996 by finally signing landmark welfare reform pushed by conservatives in Congress and angered many in his party by implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Similarly, Hillary is trying to highlight her moderate credentials. Hillary supporters point to her vote to authorize force against Saddam Hussein, her labeling abortion as a "tragic choice,” her increasingly use of the language of faith and morality, and her recent vocal opposition to illegal immigration as proof that she is not as radical as some portray her. Americans need to realize that Hillary’s moves to the middle are just words. Ambitious politicians like Hillary will say what they think will get votes. Whether they actually believe what they say is another matter. Don't fall for it.
To blunt this move to the middle, conservatives must be ready to remind the rest of America that this is the same woman who tried to bring one-seventh of the U.S. economy under government control by nationalizing the health care system, who is ranked as one of the most liberal senators in the country, and who, when proposing to roll back the Bush tax cuts said “We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.” The old Hillary's love affair with socialism is summed up in the opening of P.J. O’Rourke’s review of Hillary’s It Takes A Village To Raise A Child: “The village is Washington. You are the child.” The new Hillary is the same as the old with the dangerous difference being that the new Hillary is able to put on a cloak of moderation to hide her true beliefs.
Hillary Clinton’s move to the middle is all talk and no substance. Be sure to consider that come 2008, and remember, actions speak louder than words.
Any comments or questions can be received at whyyouareaconservative@gmail.com
~ The Conservative Guy
Results from one recent poll showed that six in 10 voters believe that the United States is ready for a female president, and 53 percent thought Hillary Clinton should try for the job. No one can argue that she is a celebrity politician who can and will raise lots of money and, not surprisingly, early polls put her ahead of Kerry and other Democratic presidential hopefuls. With high name recognition and political skills that are immense by any measurement, Hillary Clinton will be tough to beat.
I, however, want to point out the advantages for conservatives of Hillary being at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2008. First, Hillary Clinton is a very polarizing politician. Either you love her or you hate her. This ensures that, if nominated, Hillary cannot count on any support at all from about 45% of the electorate. While she will have rabid support among Democrats, America right now is an increasingly Republican country. She will have to find some way to appeal to Republicans in order to win and, given her husband’s history, it seems unlikely that many Republicans will vote for her. Second, if Hillary is the Democratic nominee for president, political opponents can relive all of her husband’s scandals. From Monica to pardons for well-connected Democratic fundraisers, there is no shortage of bad memories (for her) to relive. Finally, a Hillary nomination ensures that the failures of her husband’s administration will be revisited, specifically its inability to combat terrorism. All of these debates favor conservatives and the 2008 Republican presidential nominee (whoever that may be).
On the other hand there is an inherent danger that Hillary can overcome all of this and actually be elected. Both Clintons are skilled at political repositioning. Bill Clinton ensured his re-election in 1996 by finally signing landmark welfare reform pushed by conservatives in Congress and angered many in his party by implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Similarly, Hillary is trying to highlight her moderate credentials. Hillary supporters point to her vote to authorize force against Saddam Hussein, her labeling abortion as a "tragic choice,” her increasingly use of the language of faith and morality, and her recent vocal opposition to illegal immigration as proof that she is not as radical as some portray her. Americans need to realize that Hillary’s moves to the middle are just words. Ambitious politicians like Hillary will say what they think will get votes. Whether they actually believe what they say is another matter. Don't fall for it.
To blunt this move to the middle, conservatives must be ready to remind the rest of America that this is the same woman who tried to bring one-seventh of the U.S. economy under government control by nationalizing the health care system, who is ranked as one of the most liberal senators in the country, and who, when proposing to roll back the Bush tax cuts said “We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good.” The old Hillary's love affair with socialism is summed up in the opening of P.J. O’Rourke’s review of Hillary’s It Takes A Village To Raise A Child: “The village is Washington. You are the child.” The new Hillary is the same as the old with the dangerous difference being that the new Hillary is able to put on a cloak of moderation to hide her true beliefs.
Hillary Clinton’s move to the middle is all talk and no substance. Be sure to consider that come 2008, and remember, actions speak louder than words.
Any comments or questions can be received at whyyouareaconservative@gmail.com
~ The Conservative Guy
posted by The Conservative Guy at
10:52 PM
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