According to
the new TIME coverstory - Hillary has managed to hack off the left while continuing to annoy the right. Regardless she still manages to be the only one who can pose a threat against the top Republican candidates.
Her negative ratings (44%) were lower than either Kerry's or Gore's. In hypothetical matchups with the preseason GOP favorite, John McCain, Hillary is the only big-name Democrat to make a real race of it, with McCain edging her by just 2 points among registered voters. By comparison, McCain would trounce Kerry by 10 points and Gore by 9.
With all of her faults - how is it that a politically astute person could still stand up for Hillary?
I must say I'm very nervous. I've read KOS for years, worked in many ways for progress in our government - and shouted to the moon, and today, I'm using my KOS debut to address an issue that seems to come up frequently in political conversation, in all the political news programs (including this Sunday), and even here on Kos and admit to the world that despite my dedication to my progressive roots, opposition to the war, and favoritism to civil rights - I'm still just nutty about Hillary.
I'm not just saying that because I have a thing for petite blonds in pantsuits - her policy and her political moves are compelling. I truly believe, despite the flag burning amendment and Cindy Sheehan that Hillary is still on the right side of issues that are important to me and important to the country.
So let me start at the beginning.
HILLARY MYTHS DEBUNKED
1. Hillary is polarizing.
Ok, a trained monkey could run as a democrat in today's political climate and be polarizing. Right now America is in a position where it doesn't know where to turn or who to trust. You see consistently in polling that Americans favor the new-comer/challenger in many races because they want to kick everyone out of office and start over again. People aren't tired of partisanship they're just tired of BS - they are tired of being lied to - they are tired of the double-speak - and that's on both sides. Because of this Hillary has a disadvantage to her that many democratic governors do not have. But - the bottom line is it isn't Hillary that is polarizing it is America that is polarized. In 2000 the election was too close to call - in 2004 similar (and thats with 10 million more evangelical's voting). The US is polarized and Hillary reflects that electorate in all of her political match-ups.
2. Hillary is too liberal
This is a commonly used political tool to attack any and all opposition against republicans. The reality is that she isn't too liberal - and is her husband's kind of democrat which is far more moderate than someone like John Kerry (who I actually sent money to, voted for etc). Independents and swing voters I think are more inclined to look at the facts (let us pray) when running targeted comparative ads in a match-up in those target swing states. In those instances with the right message and firm stances on issues I think she can easily knock a hole in the "too liberal" myth.
Those who consistently say that Hillary is too liberal are republicans who will never vote democrat anyway and are not the votes Hillary needs to win. Those are the folks who generally follow up the name Hillary with "socialist" and talk about a health plan from 10 years ago.
3. Hillary has lost the Liberals
I love this. Honestly I do. I know more liberals who are pissed as hell at Hillary because of the flag burning amendment vote and the Iraq vote back in the day that everyone voted for...
*editors note: this statement intends to point to irony which i find amusing. the fact that both the left and the right are angry with Hillary is amusing to me. now to continue with the diary.
The fact that Hillary has managed to keep conservatives pissed and also piss off liberals is fantastic - probably frustrating to many, but honest to God I find the funny there. Though its no joke in an election year. That said - those are only concerns in a Primary election and in a match-up between someone like our beloved Cindy - who is out there fighting the progressive fight - and Hillary - Hillary is going to mop the floor with any libby that tries to run against her for two reasons - 1. better at the game and 2. not enough liberals hate her. While our party begins to fall apart the way the republican party has.
That said - in a general election match-up between John McCain and Hillary - liberals should come home to Hillary and the only votes she'll need to win are moderates. She'll never pander to her liberal base nor should she. Sorry, guys, she has more important fish to fry and she'll always remember us when it comes time to actually sign or veto the big issues.
If we were the mainstream we could have a victory with a more progressive candidate, but we're not the mainstream - we're just the educated and well informed.
4. Hillary can't win
This is a great rumer that I know conservatives circulate and many democrats pick up on. It goes back to the whole polarizing issue too - basically these are republican contenders and the RNC coming together to discourage the DNC from running Hillary claiming she is not viable. Take away someone's presumed viability from her own party and you can end up with an even less viable candidate.
So, while everyone likes to SAY Hillary is not viable - she actually is more viable than any other candidate in the race or that we could come up with. (I have a conspiracy theory that this is the way we ended up with Kerry as the nominee in 2004 - because Howard could have really posed a threat but we were "talked out of it" by republicans who whispered like little devils in our primary ears... "he's not viable he's not viable" but i digress)
The fact is that of all democrats who could pose a real threat to any and all republican contenders including if GW ran again - is Hillary. Additionally, we're talking about someone who has the political mind, expertise, and machinery in place to run, run hard, and run competitively.
_And last but most importantly - of all people who have first hand understanding and experience in facing the right wing attack machine - it is Hillary. She knows their litigation, their tactics, their games, and their agenda and I believe she can not only circumvent each attempt she can bring to light these kinds of "governing" tactics in the end.
Besides, Right Wingers are going to come out in full force to work for their candidate in the republican primaries- its going to be a powerful mad-grab for the likes of Sam Browback (R-KS) (who spent last week at the Iowa state fair) and Bill Frist (who himself was taking people's blood pressure last week at the Iowa Fair as well... bless his little right wing heart) and the R's will be split between viable action like John McCain and Rudy Tuty Fresh and Fruity (R-NY) and we'll get to watch the downfall of the republican party live in prime time every night! That said regardless of who it is on the republican general ticket they will come out of a primary bruised and bopped around like McCain's wack-a-mole.
And regardless of who it is in that general election the right-wingers will accept their victory or defeat prepared to turn their -anger and hate- energy to a full attack on the Democratic contender.
Who, I ask, who has faced this group before? Who has faced their litigation, their anti-life, anti-children, anti-families, anti-working class, anti-American policies, who has seen up front and person what these people can and will do to get what they want??? And who has beaten them in the end???
I'm sorry I didn't hear you....
HILLARY!!!
So... now that you've heard all of my roomers dispelled and top 4 Hillary myths.. why not look past the few things that we can't expect her to "flip flop" on and be grateful for the other 100 things she has done that are progressive attempts at helping our country get back on its feet? Oh and put Edwards in as Vice... cause really does care about working families ... like for real...
That said.. the more I hear about people talking about 2008 - or even outcomes in 2006 the more insane I get because its too early to know anything and anyone who tells you who the nominee is going to be is a moron.
But from what I have seen and what I know... I'm still backing her... but... Iowa is a ages away so people who keep talking about this are crazy - so TIME magazine needs to shut up and focus on 2006!!!! There are a number of people (Lamont, Lampson, Darcy, or even Debra Bowen) who could have used that TIME magazine cover to talk about their work for a better America. Still though... of all candidates I'd die to work for at any point ever in any campaign Hillary would be my top one ... Because I do believe she is genuinely in this for the good things she can do.
ed note: I hope I did ok in my first attempts at a dKos diary. I know I have a lot to learn and there are such great people on this site who I'm sure will be sweet enough to help in learning the ropes - youth and passion are always awesome but not always appreciated I know, but I hope to do my best.