Comparison To Clinton Is Dismissed

Washington Post ^ | May 8, 2007 | Anne E. Kornblut

[KingofZion]

There was a time when advisers to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) looked abroad for proof that women can get elected to a top leadership role in the modern world: Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister; Angela Merkel, the German chancellor; and Michelle Bachelet, the president of Chile.

But as presidential candidate Ségolène Royal was defeated by a conservative man who had been France's chief law enforcement officer, the Clinton campaign was quick to dismiss comparisons between their candidate and her Socialist counterpart across the Atlantic. "Other than the fact that they are both women, they don't have much in common," said Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director.

Unlike Royal, who emphasized her charm and femininity rather than her strength on foreign policy, Clinton has proven her national security bona fides, her advisers said. They argued that unlike Royal, Clinton does best among her own gender. An Ipsos exit poll on Sunday found that Royal lost the women's vote by 4 percentage points, while 2008 polling in the United States has shown a gender gap in which Clinton performs stronger among women, particularly those younger than 60.

Clinton advisers said that, if anything, Royal proved that a woman must run with a focus on her credentials. Clinton allies saw the race as evidence that the New York senator is running the right kind of campaign, a substantive one -- even if it means she is sometimes accused of lacking charisma.

[KingofZion]

The authors got one thing right - Hillary definitely doesn't have any charm. But they left out the very important common element - both Hillary and Royal are shrill socialists who would implement disastrous policies if elected.

[sionnsar]

And if Royal had won HRH HRC would have been trumpeting it.

[Dilbert San Diego]

As far as the “women’s vote” is concerned, you really have to look at the voters in more detail.

For example, single professional urban women voted heavily for Kerry in the last election. But married, suburban/small town women, especially those with children, voted heavily for Bush. Women have different life circumstances and political opinions, just as anyone does, and won’t vote for Hillary just because she’s a woman.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

...”Clinton does best among her own gender”....and what gender might that be?

[outofstyle]

Clinton has proven her national security bona fides

I was not aware of that. Oh well. You learn something new every day.

[kevkrom]

”Clinton does best among her own gender”....and what gender might that be?

I didn't know that "bull dyke" was a standard response category.

[lowbridge]

Comparison To Clinton Is Dismissed

So orders the Washington Post.

[tumblindice]

“(Hillary) is sometimes accused of lacking charisma.”

Only by people who hear her speak, and are reminded of a squealing gate hinge.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

One difference is that no one would want to see Hillary do this:

[avacado]

[Tulsa Ramjet]

I'm glad you pointed that out. If not, I would have. Where in the world do her aides get off by saying that? "Unlike Royal, who emphasized her charm and femininity rather than her strength on foreign policy, Clinton has proven her national security bona fides, her advisers said." What the statement should have said was: "Unlike Royal, who emphasized her charm and femininity rather than her strength on foreign policy, Clinton, who has no charm or feminity, has unsuccessfully tried to create national security bona fides, her advisors admitted."

[Rummyfan]

"Other than the fact that they are both women, they don't have much in common," said Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director.

I've seen pictures of Royal in a two-piece swimsuit, so I'm not sure I'd even go along with the first part of this statement.

[Rummyfan]

Clinton has proven her national security bona fides

Mouth agape... when did she do that?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Nope.

Segolene Royal is attractive enough...

...that Hillary would like to date her.

[Raycpa]

I don’t care how liberal women are. They are not going to vote for a woman to be in charge of our military.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

...Clinton has proven her national security bona fides..Hmmmm, how so?...Maybe the author means Bill has proven his bona finds interns?

[SoCalRight]

No comparison? The lesson she’ll take from the results in France is to be more mannish,like Sarkozy, throw in a little get-tough-on-illegals. It’ll make her supporters wince but they’ll let her do it. They’d call it “immigrant-basing” if anybody else did it.

[KC_Conspirator]

Total bunko, if they GOP was smart, and there are not many indicators that they are, they should go study the French election and learn something from it.

[ErnBatavia]

[lilylangtree]

That was my first thought when I read the post. The hildebeast would be bragging out her ying yang if Royal got elected. Must have that diversity in politics.