Clinton's ambition at Democrats' expense

Gary Hart writes in today's Huffington Post that Hillary Clinton's ambition is harming the Democrats:

"It will come as a surprise to many people that there are rules in politics. Most of those rules are unwritten and are based on common understandings, acceptable practices and the best interest of the political party a candidate seeks to lead. One of those rules is this: Do not provide ammunition to the opposition party that can be used to destroy your party's nominee. This is a hyper-truth where the presidential contest is concerned.

"By saying that only she and John McCain are qualified to lead the country, particularly in times of crisis, Hillary Clinton has broken that rule, severely damaged the Democratic candidate who may well be the party's nominee and, perhaps most ominously, revealed the unlimited lengths to which she will go to achieve power. She has essentially said that the Democratic party deserves to lose unless it nominates her.

"As a veteran of red telephone ads and "where's the beef" cleverness, I am keenly aware that sharp elbows get thrown by those trailing in the fourth quarter (and sometimes even earlier). "Politics ain't beanbag," is the old slogan. But that does not mean that it must also be rule-or-ruin, me-first-and-only-me, my way or the highway. That is not politics. That is raw, unrestrained ambition for power that cannot accept the will of the voters.

"Senator Obama is right to say the issue is judgment, not years in Washington. If Mrs. Clinton loses the nomination, her failure will be traced to the date she voted to empower George W. Bush to invade Iraq. That is not the kind of judgment, or wisdom, required by the leader answering the phone in the night. For her now to claim that Senator Obama is not qualified to answer the crisis phone is the height of irony if not chutzpah and calls into question whether her primary loyalty is to the Democratic party and the nation or to her own ambition."

Comments

[tangobaby]

Tara,

I thought you'd like to know that the story about Nancy Pelosi wanting Hilary and Obama to tone down the mudslinging and work together for the benefit of the Democratic party was on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle the day before yesterday. Granted, Pelosi's the hometown girl, but it just goes to show that Gary Hart is not the only one who is concerned about what is going on in the Democratic Party.

We can't afford to have another election stolen or this party splintered. The Democrats finally have a chance to show that they have more humane answers to fix what's broken than the Republicans, not more rhetoric.

Right now the estimated total "burn rate" of the war in Iraq is $12,000,000,000 per month. The interest alone (on the borrowed money to finance the war) is estimated to approach $816,000,000,000 - that's $816 billion. McCain cannot be the answer to help us get out of this incomprehensible morass.

[Carol]

Tara, I recently came across your site and you are very impressive. It is not easy to stand one's ground and you do it with style and grace. I will be coming back to read you on a regular basis. You appear to have many passionate readers, I am thrilled to join the throngs.

[Laura]

I respectfully disagree with Christine. I don't think we have to accept the debased level of discourse that dominates our current political situation. I think we can vote against the outrageous lies and the cynical manipulation of the electorate that Rove and, unfortunately, now Hillary, are so good at. I want toughness against our enemies, not thuggery against our compatriots. Those who think nothing of sowing hatred and fear and ruining the reputations of their political opponents, solely for the sake of gaining power are anathema to me. We don't need those people in power, no matter what their gender.

[christine]

I think people need to realize that we are talking about a contest for the highest position in america, not miss congeniality. I want my president to be tough and nasty and positive. Barack is just not strong enough to me. Hart seems more concerned with how hillary is venturing beyond his idea of a female candidate. She is just doing what every winning polition does. And once again no one has explained why we are divided and how he will unite us.

[Denise Mares]

Check out this blog post for a different take: http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/blog/main/2008/03/07/214821

[holli]

This has become too negative for me - and there is no balance whatsoever or place for me on here. I'm an independent, and the two candidates I'm looking at are a Republican and a Democrat - but neither one are Barack Obama.

If Barack Obama has been running a positive campaign lately, then I've lost my mind. He has quite a few things he needs to clear up before he'll get my vote to turn over the power of the presidency. In my opinion he has not been fully vetted.

McCain may be trying to win over the conservative Republicans, but his entire career has spoken of a man who fights for what he believes in, not just throwing out a few lines over and over to please the voters.

I don't believe Hilary Clinton rode in on her husband's coat tails.. that is the kind of thing that would only be said about a woman. It's really disappointing.

I'll check back after the elections, Tara. Much love to you.

[Laura]

I am so disgusted and angry with Hillary Clinton, I could spit. If I saw her, I'd be mightily tempted to spit on her! She has demeaned herself thoroughly and irretrievably by her thuggish, manipulative and dishonest campaign. I've admired the Clintons for a very long time, argued for Bill against detractors through the 90s and after, was proud of Hillary for beginning her run for the White House...and have watched in stunned depression and horror as she shows her true colors. How about her latest transparent ploy to steal votes from would be Obama supporters by hinting that she might choose him to be on her ticket if she gets the nomination!! She thinks people are stupid enough to fall for that trick----and judging from the past two elections as well as the Ohio primary, many of them are. I've written to her campaign headquarters decrying her behavior in this campaign, but since she obviously thinks that her means justify the ends, she'll ignore all of us who have done likewise. But, oh wait----Obama has more delegates! Talk about an inconvenient truth.
Write on, Tara. Your blog is not a newspaper. It's your place to express yourself. And you do a superb job of just that.

[Dorian Fletcher]

I have been turning off the election commentaries; etc. I am so very tired of the arguing and back-biting. My concern is that all of the in-fighting going on with our Democratic candidates is going to play into the electing of John McCain. God help us. Ms. Clinton seems to have Karl Rove hidden in a closet somewhere, providing negativity. Get it together, people!

[Kimberly Ann]

Great comments by Mr. Hart. I too am concerned that she's staying in the race for the wrong reasons. Let's hope that this kind of behavior doesn't make things all the more difficult in November (though it probably will). Love, love, love your blog header, by the way. Gorgeous.

[rochambeau]

Obama has kept dignified so far, it will be to his benefit. When a person has to use the tactics that Hillary has resorted to, it makes her appear childish and like she has lost control.

On another topic!!
Can't wait to see the "goods"

xox
Constance

[deirdre]

I feel so sad watching what's happening in this campaign. It would have pleased me tremendously to vote for a woman in a presidential election, but I just don't feel Clinton is the one. Our country has been divided, terribly, for too long. We need someone who is more measured in their approach and carries less baggage. Obama seems the obvious choice.

I have great hope and great worry about this election. The stakes are so great.

[Di Overton]

I listen to her in disbelief. Let's hope the American people see right through her.
Can't wait to see what you found at The Ham Fair, I am so envious.

[tinker]

I suppose it's all part of the political game that's gone on for who knows how many years, but I just find it terribly sad that candidates always seem to turn it into 'me versus them,' and throwing mud all over each other. It's probably naive of me, but I would so much rather they would just stick to, 'here's what I have in mind, if you vote for me,' and just let voters decide on the basis of the issues.
Maybe some day...
xo

[The Decorated House]

LOL....no politics from me tonight. It's a miracle that there are 2 people running for the office who could do a great job. And they are in the same party! :)

Hey, let's talk shopping. I want to go with you! I'll be back to see pictures.
Have a great weekend!
Donna

[Gillian]

I'm not sure, but, aren't they ALL power hungry?
Perhaps Hillary was speaking of McCain's experience to do the job, and not so much a slight against Obama.

Again, what do I know, I am up the land of ice and snow!!!
And tonight, as predicted, we are expecting 30 cm of the white fluffy stuff.

Hope you are doing well!!! xo

[Patricia]

I know Barack is your man (and he will probably be mine too) but a little balance is needed. As a journalist I would have thought your posts about the elections would be less consistently biased. You can be for Barack - that's fine - but the constant Clinton bashing is surprising considering your journalistic background. Barack's campaign doings are not perfect either but it does not seem you will be informing your worldwide readers about any of those. We all have to choose one candidate over another and we should have substantive reasons for that choice - but that does not mean that we have to bash the other candidate relentlessly with no measured balance. I think one can choose a candidate and not put blinders on regarding that choice - he's all good - she's all bad. I am very disappointed Tara. That's it for me. Take care and good luck.

Tara responds:
First of all, Gary Hart wrote the piece; not me. Secondly, I publish a variety of opinions on my blog, including those with whom I disagree. I have never said Hillary Clinton is all bad; I've said I don't like the way she's running her campaign by listening to the advice of Mark Penn (and neither do many Democrats like him or his advice, including some of her own staffers). A week ago, I would have voted for Hillary if she were the nominee. In the past week, her outrageous behaviour - which is well-documented all over the press - has caused me to rethink that position. I have met Hillary Clinton and her husband on more than one occasion and worked in Bill Clinton's campaign. But just because I supported Bill in 1992, doesn't mean I have to support Hillary in 2008. Second, if your opinion is that because you disagree with me - and you're a Democrat too - then that just shows this election is ripping apart the Democratic party, as Gary Hart and many other Democratic leaders have suggested. If you choose not to read my blog because I support a different presidential candidate than you - one that you said you may vote for - then that seems a bit extreme, but it is your right. And if you want to read only positive things about Hillary or about John McCain, I suggest you go to their websites or to Fox "News" for the latter. My blog is not a daily news site with a staff to cover every story, although I sometimes write about news. I also write about my opinions. And it is my considered opinion that Barack Obama is what this country needs to unite us, not divide us. We have had ENOUGH of the political games and negativity and people sending us into needless wars.

And thank you, everyone else, for all the email you sent regarding this particular comment.

[Christine]

This is so typical - a woman is bringing down the house for her own ambition. How about someone telling Barack Obama to drop out of the primary because he is dividing people. It seems very clear that the media are saying that a black man can unite people, but a woman divides people. I wish people would be more direct with their language. Like who exactly is Obama going to unite? Why don't people specifically like Hillary - because she is an uppity woman? God, we are so living in the past it is unbelievable.

[Judy in KY]

I feel ready to scream... but I know she won't listen. There are rumors that in Ohio that Republican voters asked for Democratic ballots (they can cross over in Ohio) and voted for Hillary on purpose, just to bring Obama's numbers down. Dirty tricks! Does nothing every change?

[Tammy]

She rode on her husband's coat tails long ago for her own ambition why would anyone think she's in this for anything but herself now. Maybe that is why she's getting the votes, she took good notes on manipulation from other politicians. ;)

XXOO

[tangobaby]

And the media just plays into all of this and makes the circus even more spectacular. Are politics in other countries this absurd? And to think that we are trying to export our version of "democracy" to other parts of the world. Sheesh.