NY Times blistering critique of Hillary Clinton is journalism at its finest

Hot Air ^ | 7-20-15 | Jazz Shaw

[afraidfortherepublic]

There was a brief time this year when it almost seemed like the nation’s biggest newspapers, including the Gray Lady, were going to be giving Hillary Clinton the same level of required scrutiny which should apply to every candidate for elected office. It came when they actually covered the email server story and went into a fair amount of depth on it. Of course, it would have been embarrassing in the extreme to not do so, since everyone else on the planet was talking about it. But all good things must come to an end, as they say, and New York Times reporter Amy Chozick is “balancing” the coverage back out with this hard hitting background piece on the former Secretary of State. The title alone sets the tone in case you had any doubts.

Hillary Clinton Draws Scrappy Determination From a Tough, Combative Father

Mrs. Clinton has made the struggles of her mother, Dorothy Rodham, a central part of her 2016 campaign’s message, and has repeatedly described Mrs. Rodham’s life story to crowds around the country. But her father, whom Mrs. Clinton rarely talks about publicly, exerted an equally powerful, if sometimes bruising, influence on the woman who wants to become the first female president…

If Mrs. Rodham, a homemaker who never attended college but who raised her daughter to be confident and caring, is forming the emotional core of Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 campaign, invoked as the inspiration behind her decades of public service, then Mrs. Clinton’s father quietly represents the candidate’s combative, determined and scrappy side. The inspiration, friends said, that toughened his daughter up to not just withstand but embrace yet another political battle.

“He was such a force in the family, and there’s a lot of him in Hillary,” said Lisa Caputo, a friend and former White House press aide who knew Mr. Rodham. “The discipline, the tenacity, the work ethic, a lot of that’s from him.”

The piece is a real tear-jerker which portrays the father as at least a borderline abusive parent (which I suppose they have to do since he was a Republican) while still managing to find the positive side for Clinton since he toughened her up for the hard task of being president. But for all of the silky praise they manage to slide into this thinly disguised Clinton campaign advertisement, there is at least some interesting information about her family. I’ll confess, I don’t recall ever digging into her parents’ biographies very much and the elder Rodham seems like an interesting character.

For one thing, Clinton’s dad seems to have been a surprisingly sensible sort considering how far the fruit fell from the tree. He was definitely not a spare the rod type when it came to discipline on the home front and his opinion of Democrats certainly wasn’t too far off base. This was pointed out by Bill Clinton during the eulogy after he passed away.

When Mr. Clinton eulogized Mr. Rodham, he described him as “tough and gruff” and said he “thought Democrats were one step short of Communism — but that I might be O.K.”

Mr. Rodham seems to have disagreed with the idea that Bill was “O.K.” and was perhaps still trying to save his daughter from a bad influence even when she was walking down the aisle.

At his daughter’s wedding in 1975, Mr. Rodham was hesitant to give the bride away to Mr. Clinton, a penniless Southern Baptist Democrat. “You can step back now, Mr. Rodham,” the minister finally said.

If you can put aside all of the flowery, Go Hillary undertones, it’s actually an interesting piece on the Rodhams if you’re looking for something to read today. But as far as political coverage goes, it’s pure propaganda.

[afraidfortherepublic]

For the list?

[afraidfortherepublic]

In case anyone is confused — the headline is meant to be sardonic.

[mrsmith]

Marketing psychobabble: the media’s highest art.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Underneath all of the hair primping, Hillary too is a Gray Lady.

[afraidfortherepublic]

She’s no lady!

[Red Badger]

he “thought Democrats were one step short of Communism — but that I might be O.K.”

Unfortunately, Mr. Rodham, you were only half right............RIP.................

[Red Badger]

Only Huma knows for sure..................

[Michael.SF.]

Bill Clinton: "he (Mr. Rodham) “thought Democrats were one step short of Communism — but that I might be O.K.”

So Mr. Rodham was right before he was wrong.

[onyx]

I’d BUMP it to the TOP, but it’s already at the top!

[afraidfortherepublic]

LOLOLOL!

[Gaffer]

To consider this hag as any kind of ‘victim’ of an abusive whoever is patently absurd. She lies - constantly. The real wonder would be if any semblance of truth slipped from her evil lips.

Oh, look at me. I was the helpless victim of a patriarchy that idolized sexual servitude and the inherent insufficiency of females as a whole.

Lies. She was born bad, period. She knew everything she wanted to destroy and everything she wanted from everyone that touched her life - and those that didn’t. Above all, she knew human nature, likeability (she has none, BTW) and the power of illusion and deceit. She knew exactly how to trap that handsome two-peckered Billy Goat Bill. Those diamond shaped target pants from which the goat would be inextricably drawn until he tapped it.

Smart lady. Still evil in my opinion. Still can’t believe anything she says or anything her minions say about her.

[envisio]

“”thinly disguised Clinton campaign advertisement”””

Thats what it is. Thats what all her interviews are. Thats what all media articles about her are. They can’t give her money. They can’t come outright and say VOTE FOR HILLARY. They do the next best thing. Prop her up on a pedestal... tell everyone how wonderful she is... ignore negative news.

[envisio]

“””the headline is meant to be sardonic”””

sardonic.

Yeah, that clears it right up.

[afraidfortherepublic]

likeability (she has none, BTW)

I have to disagree on that, considering the reactions of NYers who met her on her long ago "listening tour" when she was running for Senate. A lot of (otherwise) conservative FReepers (ladies) were bowled over by her charm and likeablity. I know I found it hard to believe, but it happened, nonetheless. I remember the posts.

[Liz]

Hillary told Iowans of spending hours as a schoolgirl
in her local library during summer vacations.

Hillary's school picture--late 50"s---about 11 years old. (CREDIT--NPR)

==================================================

Here's the house where Hillary and her two brothers grew up.

Hillary Clinton's father, Hugh Rodham, paid for his
family's home on Wisner Street in Park Ridge, Ill.,
outright.....with money he'd saved as the owner of a
drapery business. (NPR credit)

==================================================

SOURCE Tamara Keith/NPR /June 16, 2015
"Growing Up In Protected Americana, Hillary Clinton Looked Outside The Cocoon"

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/16/413927185/growing-up-in-protected-americana-hillary-clinton-looked-outside-the-cocoon

===============================================

Studious Hillary was dreaming of her Prince Charming....and then she met Bill.

Wearing a pig hat in Arkansas means something.

[Gaffer]

I’ve been here a while too. But I cannot remember a single instance of an FR lady here being impressed by Frau Hitler’s charm and likeability. If there were, I’d certainly like to know who they were for starters and secondly if they are still here.

[bicyclerepair]

Definition of d-bags.

[trisham]

With all due respect, I doubt that.

[Liz]

At his daughter’s wedding in 1975, Mr. Rodham was
hesitant to give the bride away to Mr. Clinton, a penniless
Southern Baptist Democrat. “You can step back now, Mr.
Rodham,” the minister finally said.