People, everything you need to make your friends & associates step back and perhaps rethink their vote for Hillary Clinton is right here. Yes, it's come down to this. I'm willing to stoop to this level of making a dirty laundry list. I can no longer stand silent. Hold me back! Hold me back!
In his recent New York Times op-ed, Nicholas D. Kristof discussed the electibility factor of both Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He was generally objective, but then he made this curious statement: "It’s also true that Mr. Obama has received more gentle press scrutiny than Mrs. Clinton, and if he were the nominee, he would be buffeted, investigated and swift-boated in a way that he hasn’t been (but that Mrs. Clinton has).”
I would rephrase this. Mr. Obama has not received as much pertinent backlash from press scrutiny than Mrs. Clinton because he has a relatively clean slate, and what isn’t clean from his 47 years as a human being has already been written or spoken about—even some of the sillier fine points that have been made big deals of already. (“HE WANTED TO BE PRESIDENT IN KINDERGARTEN EVEN THOUGH HE SAID HE DIDN’T BECOME AN ILLINOIS SENATOR 11 YEARS AGO! LIAR! HE DID DRUGS AS A COLLEGE KID! EVIL! HE DID 5.5 HOURS OF WORK AS A JUNIOR LAWYER FOR SOMEONE WHO LATER BECAME A SLUM LORD! SCANDALOUS!”)
And, problematically, when someone asked at a Q&A if he “inhaled,” he replied, “I thought that was the point.” And then, when the supposed “slum lord” who donated some money to Obama’s campaign got charged for something or other, Obama’s camp acknowledged that and then gave that money to charity without scathingly decrying the guy’s existence. He’s still sketchy on that kindergarten thing, however.
The comparison to what might possibly come up from Obama’s past to the absolutely bullet-riddled conglomeration of Hillary and Bill Clinton’s past is frankly ludicrous. If Obama was guilty of even one of their countless skeletons, say, purposefully lying in court or concealing documents at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars, it would still technically pale in comparison. Yet, we all know that that one sin would cost him everything at the hands of the media.
As to why Mrs. Clinton’s former press scrutiny (and the vast body of documented crookedness, hunger for personal power, poor judgment, and disregard for others) somehow counts as presently irrelevant to today’s press attention is beyond me. Caught off guard at my own sudden, surprisingly indignant descent into Clinton distaste after the ridiculous ruckus they raised over Obama this winter, I said in total bewilderment to my boss, “How in heaven’s name did we so quickly and willingly and completely get over all the schmarminess and crookedness of the Clintons’ past? It’s like all that drama never existed for us between 2000 and now.”
“Easy,” she said. “George W. Bush.”
Okay, true. Forgot about that little factor. But then this: why in heaven’s name has there been such limited “press scrutiny” on behalf of the forgetful public about Hillary Clinton’s claim of “35 Years of Experience” that we seem so eager to believe? Oh, I’ve heard some clarity here and there on it. But not much. I did hear one commentator point out simply that her math is odd, considering that Obama has actually spent far more time as an elected lawmaker than her (11 years to her 7), and arguably more real, hands-on public service. But few echoed him. I did hear a few distant voices saying something or other about her years as First Lady not quite counting for all she’s actually counting them as. But those voices were generally drowned out. After all, we must remember her words, “We are the president.” Two-for-one! One-for-two!
Honestly, I’m utterly baffled as to why the mainstream press is not so interested in reminding the amnesiac public of her murky past. Perhaps they want to respect our memories—surely we haven’t forgotten, correct? Or are they perhaps afraid to do so? No one wants the ClintonsChelsea. Well, I won’t go so far as to suggest that. Perhaps they just don’t want to be accused of joining in with the scary neo-con bilge-spewing machine that has already compiled volumes upon volumes of the Clinton’s Scariness. Perhaps the Club of Clinton Hatred has hamstrung the effectiveness of their arguments by way of the bilge-spewing factor. Name-calling seems to have that effect on good arguments.
threatening to boycott their televised debates due to an announcer’s rude comment relating their campaign’s use of
Thus, I’m going to ruin my blog by desisting from my previous decision to desist from all preoccupation with the negativity that the Clintons so disarmingly inspire. I feel I must for the health and well-being of what’s left of voting America. There’s just so much out there, but I feel somehow obligated to remind us all of just a few tidbits I’ve gleaned that I sincerely wish would get aired out more publicaly for voters to reconsider, lest they keep saying anything so foolish as “You wouldn’t want someone who’s only driven for 3 minutes when you can get someone who’s been driving for 20 years.” (Oh God, spare me from this pain!)
Point #1: Just Ask the the Lil People
First, we turn to some very depressing quotes as easily recalled by former White House staff and Secret Service guys (the people who would know about Hillary’s experience in the White House better than anyone). I apologize for the abusive and distasteful use of the uppercase number key symbols. But they prove a major point: sheer hypocrisy. The fact is that Hillary cares nothing for “the little people.” She cares most about herself. That potentially spells more trouble than even George W. Bush, who cared most about Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.
"Where is the G*d@mn f**king flag? I want the G-d@mn f**king flag up every f**king morning at f**king sunrise."
- Hillary to the staff at the Arkansas Governor's mansion on Labor Day, 1991 (Inside The White House by Ronald Kessler, p. 244 )
"F*#k off! It's enough that I have to see you sh#t-kickers every day, I'm not going to talk to you too!! Just do your G*d@mn job and keep your mouth shut."
- Hillary to her State Trooper bodyguards after one of them greeted her with "Good morning." (American Evita by Christopher Anderson, p.90)
"If you want to remain on this detail, get your f**king @$$ over here and grab those bags!"
- Hillary to a Secret Service Agent who was reluctant to carry her luggage because he wanted to keep his hands free in case of an incident. Many other instances like this! (The First Partner by Joyce Milton, p.259 )
"Where's the miserable c*ck s*cker?"
- Hillary shouting at a Secret Service officer (The Truth About Hillary by Edward Klein, p.5 )
"Put this on the ground! I left my sunglasses in the limo. I need those sunglasses. We need to go back!"
- Hillary to Marine One helicopter pilot to turn back while en route to Air Force One (Dereliction of Duty by Clinton military aide Robert Patterson p. 71-72)
"Stay the f**k back, stay the f**k away from me! Don't come within ten yards of me, or else! Just f**king do as I say, okay!!!?"
- Hillary screaming at her Secret Service detail (Unlimited Access, by Clinton FBI Agent in Charge Gary Aldrige, p.139)
"You know, I'm going to start thanking the woman who cleans the restroom in the building I work in. I'm going to start thinking of her as a human being."
-Hillary in a moment of enlightenment (The Case Against Hillary Clinton by Peggy Noonan, p.55)
Point #2: More Enlightening Hillary Quotes Speak for Themselves
No comment necessary.
"The only way to make a difference is to acquire power"
- Hillary Rodham Clinton to a friend before starting law school (I've Always Been A Yankee Fan by Thomas D. Kuiper, p.68)
"We just can't trust the American people to make those types of choices…Government has to make those choices for people"
- Hillary Clinton to Rep. Dennis Hastert in 1993 discussing her expensive, disastrous taxpayer-funded health care plan (I've Always Been A Yankee Fan, p.20)
"As women and as lawyers, we must never again shy from raising our voices against sexual harassment." - Hillary Clinton, at a 1992 American Bar Association luncheon praising Anita Hill
“Who is going to find out? These women are trash. Nobody’s going to believe them.” –on Bill Clinton’s so-called “bimbo eruptions”
“We’re all going to have to rethink how we deal with the Internet. As exciting as these new developments are, there are a number of serious issues without any kind of editing function or gate-keeping function.” —First Lady Hillary Clinton in 1998, days after the Monica Lewinsky story was reported on The Drudge Report
"I'm not some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette" — Hillary Clinton while being questioned about Bill Clinton's infidelity
“If I didn’t kick his ass every day, he wouldn’t be worth anything.” –on Bill Clinton
"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president" - Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents (Blood Sport:The President and His Adversaries by James B. Stewart)
“Every nation has to either be with us, or against us. Those who harbor terrorists, or who finance them, are going to pay a price.”
- Hillary Clinton after September 11, 2001 when President George W. Bush and the war had high approval ratings
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members … It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002, in spite of having never read the intelligence reports
“He ran a gas station down in St. Louis... No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century.” –introducing a quote by Mahatma Gandhi
"I have said that I'm not running and I'm having a great time being pres –being a first-term senator" — Hillary Clinton on her presidential ambitions
"God bless the America we are trying to create."
Point #3: A Few of Them 35 Years of Bad Experience in Bullet Points
Third, we turn to a brief laundry list of Hillary’s track record included in her 35 Years of Presidential-Like Experience. Preface by the succinct Laura Hubka, a “little person” from the demographic that Hillary likes to think of as her guaranteed supporter.
“HRC has been telling America that she is the most qualified candidate based on her 'record,' which she says includes her eight years in the White House as First Lady and her seven years in Senate. Here is a reminder of what that record includes:
- As First Lady, Hillary assumed authority over Health Care Reform, a process that cost the taxpayers over $13 million. She told both Bill Bradley and Patrick Moynihan, key votes needed to pass her legislation, that she would 'demonize' anyone who opposed it. But it was opposed; she couldn't even get it to a vote in a Congress controlled by her own party. (And in the next election, her party lost control of both the House and Senate.)
- Hillary assumed authority over selecting a female Attorney General. Her first two recommendations, Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. She then chose Janet Reno. Janet Reno has since been described by Bill himself as 'my worst mistake.'
- Hillary recommended Lani Guanier for head of the Civil Rights Commission. When Guanier's radical views became known, her name had to be withdrawn.
- Hillary recommended her former law partners, Web Hubbell, Vince Foster, and William Kennedy for positions in the Justice Department, White House staff, and the Treasury, respectively. Hubbell was later imprisoned, Foster committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign.
- Hillary also recommended a close friend Craig Livingstone, for the position of director of White House security. Livingstone was investigated for improper access of up to 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies (“Filegate”) and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, both Hillary and her husband denied knowing him.
- FBI agent Dennis Sculimbrene confirmed in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing 1996, both the drug use and Hillary's involvement in hiring Livingstone. After that, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office, after serving seven presidents for over thirty years.
- In order to open “slots” in the White House for her friends, the Thomasons (to whom millions of dollars in travel contracts could be awarded), Hillary had the entire staff of the White House Travel Office fired; they were reported to the FBI for 'gross mismanagement' and their reputations ruined. After a thirty-month investigation, only one, Billy Dale, was charged with a crime mixing personal money with White House funds when he cashed checks. The jury acquitted him in less than two hours.
- Another of Hillary's assumed duties was directing the so-called 'bimbo eruption squad' and scandal defense:
- She urged her husband not to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit.
- She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor.
- After $80 million dollars of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting his affairs.
- Then they had to settle with Paula Jones after all. (And Bill lost his law license for lying to the grand jury.) (And Bill was impeached by the House.)
- And Hillary almost got herself indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice, avoiding it mostly by repeating 56 times under oath: 'I do not recall,' 'I have no recollection,' and 'I don't know.”
- After Hillary left the White House, but later had to return $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork she had taken with her. Oops. (This may seem trivial, but it seems to represent her documented ‘owning’ of the White House and all therein.)
- Hillary decided to seek election to the Senate in a state she had never lived in. Few disagree that this was clearly with the intent to seek a path to presidential candidacy. (Yes, this seems out of place in this list, but the point is that her most viable experience can’t escape the questionable motivation that seems to consistently mark each step of the way.)
- In the campaign for the Senate, Hillary played the 'woman card' by portraying her opponent (Lazio) as a chauvinistic, sexist bully picking on her.
- As the junior Senator from New York (strange how she never gets referred to as such by the press; only Obama gets this “junior” title), Hillary has passed no major legislation. She has deferred to the senior Senator (Schumer) to tend to the needs of New Yorkers, even on the hot issue of medical problems of workers involved in the cleanup of Ground Zero after 9/11. (Note: In the San Francisco debate, she attempted to pwn Obama by saying that she “co-sponsored” a bill on the environment before Obama was even in the US Senate. The jolly applause that followed was straight-up weird. A smart law school student in his mid-20s calmly pointed out what anyone else who knows anything about Senate bills knows: “Do people know how easy it is to co-sponsor something? There, I co-sponsored 5 things. Done.”)
- Hillary's one notable vote; supporting the plan to invade Iraq, she has since disavowed.
- The Clintons demanded that the National Archives withhold from the public until 2012 many records of their time in the White House, including much of Hillary's correspondence and her calendars in spite of ongoing lawsuits to force the release of those records.
In his article "Clinton Amnesia," columnist Andrew Sumereau lists more of the better known 'scandals,' easily identified by just a few words each:
- Whitewater,
- Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan,
- Rose Law Firm,
- 1000% profit Cattle Futures,
- Castle Grande,
- The McDougals,
- Web Hubbell,
- Tyson Foods,
- Lippo Group,
- Vince Foster,
- David Hale,
- Paula Jones,
- Jim Guy Tucker,
- Chinagate,
- James Riady,
- Mike Espy,
- Billy Dale,
- John Huang,
- Ron Brown,
- "No controlling legal authority,"
- FBI filegate,
- Missing subpoenaed Rose Law firm files reappear in White House,
- Charlie Trie,
- Bruce Babbitt,
- Maria Hsia,
- Kathleen Willey,
- Sidney Blumenthal,
- Vernon Jordan,
- Juanita Broderick,
- Pardongate,
- Marc Rich.
"Each scandal attached to each of the above names and events is both serious and abounding with investigative possibilities," Sumereau says. "And so many remain unresolved. Surely a rich harvest awaits the intrepid journalist investigator, but major news media will never take on the Clinton record. The treatment of Sandy Berger's theft of classified pre-9/11 documents is only the most recent and egregious example of a media scandal written in water [and never mind that he's currently one of Hillary's foreign policy advisers--the whole crew is just itching to be back in the White House]. Former associates and supporters of the Clintons that prefer Obama are catching on to the media double standard with chagrin. Poor Bill Bradley has been reduced to begging ineffectually on MSNBC for the list of donors to the Clinton Library to be released. He is metaphorically talking to a wall. For the pugnacious and relentless foes of Scooter Libby, the Clinton Administration scandals simply did not happen.
Again, Laura Hubka: “Quite a resume. Sounds more like an organized crime family’s rap sheet.” I think that's enough for one mile-long post.
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