Balkinization  

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Stop the Stop Hiliary Movement

Mark Graber

I was struck during recent visits to Borders and Barnes and Noble by the number of "Stop Hiliary" books and articles on display, not all by conservatives. Senator Clinton is probably not my first choice for president, but her demonization in the popular press and the lack of any liberal outcry against it are disturbing. True, she's ambitious, but then again, so is every other elected official and candidate for office in the United States. No doubt she has cut some corners as, again, has pretty much every elected official in the United States, including the sainted John McCain (does anyone remember the Keating 5). In short, while Senator Clinton is flawed, the flaws strike me as partly the inevitable flaws of democratic politicians and partly the less than inevitable flaws of our present not-so-democratic system. Certainly, in terms of honesty, intelligence, and decency, Senator Clinton towers above the present occupant of the White House and any Republican likely to run for the presidency in 2008. Democrats should also not fool themselves. Senator Clinton is being targeted largely because she is perceived as a frontrunner. The Republican attack machine will turn as viciously on anyone who is nominated (remember what happened to the war hero v. draft dodger in 2004). Maybe the left ought to begin practicing defend its own rather than trying to find the perfect candidate.

Comments:

Maybe the left ought to begin practicing defend(sic) its own rather than trying to find the perfect candidate.

There's something to this, but: how public a forum must one's views appear in for it to actually be right. Professional, pundit, prominent blogger, where's the line? Surely I can tell my friends whatever my opinion on Hillary is. Also, do you think this applies to every year if not equally than at least somewhat?
 

Is it too late to switch from Hiliary to Hillary?
 

Maybe the left ought to begin practicing defend its own rather than trying to find the perfect candidate.

So, more than two years out from an election, it's my obligation to sit quietly and accept the candidate that big donors have anointed for me? No, thank you.

Her position in favor of the Iraq war and on conflict with Iran, not to mention the history that makes her a proven turnout generator for Republicans, combine to make Sen. Clinton an potential electoral and policy disaster for my party.

I'm going to continue to make that case as openly, often, and clearly as possible between now and the nominating convention in 2008. To me, primaries are not some formality; they are a mechanism to test the candidates and come up with the best possible candidate.

Democrats are counting on votes from disenchanted, previously Republican-voting citizens in November 2008. I cannot imagine a candidate less likely to gather those votes.

Because Sen. Clinton has amassed something like three times the amount of money available to any other likely candidate at this point, it is incumbent on Democrats who do not wish to have her candidacy forced on the party to make some noise so that this potential disaster can be averted.
 

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
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