Democrats Fawn Over Hillary at 2004 Strategy Meet

New York Post ^ | 073002

[InvisibleChurch]

Hillary Rodham Clinton stole the show at a New York gabfest of 2004 Democratic presidential wannabes yesterday with a passionate defense of her husband's policies and a sharp attack on President Bush's team as pals of the rich.

Clinton, who insists she's not seeking her husband's old job, hit similar themes to three Democrats who do want to run - but she got a much louder, more visceral response at the Democratic Leadership Council.

"She's more effective than pretty much anybody but her husband . . . She's just got it," said Los Angeles Council Member Jack Weiss.

"I wish she would run. She's very charismatic," said Maine state Rep. Lisa Tessier Marrache.

The DLC, which bills itself as the home of centrist "New Democrats," served as Bill Clinton's base when he ran for president, and Sen. Clinton's speech was the keynote at its national meeting.

Sens. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), Tom Daschle (S.D.) and John Kerry (Mass.) also spoke yesterday, with Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) and Rep. Dick Gephardt (Mo.) to follow today.

Sen. Clinton says she won't run for president - aides say vice president isn't on the horizon either - and pollsters now generally omit her from 2004 surveys. When included, she's second to Al Gore.

But the response she drew yesterday underscored the fact that none of the real 2004 wannabes was able to make the same kind of emotional connection with a friendly, receptive Democratic crowd.

Without mentioning Bush by name, Clinton denounced the president's portrayal of the go-go 1990s as an era of "binge" excess that left America with a giant "hangover."

"Now some have recently called that record a binge. Young people able to afford college, and they call that a binge? Millions climbing out of welfare into new jobs, and that's some kind of excess?" she fumed.

She painted Democrats as friends of ordinary folks and Republicans as supporters of special interests whose response to insider trading and accounting fraud is: "Don't ask, don't tell."

Behind the scenes at the event, much of the chatter was about Gore's decision to skip the forum hosted by the DLC, whose founder, Al From, has been sharply critical of Gore's populist "us-against-them" rhetoric in 2000.

"We're not into class resentment and warfare," From said - though in fact, all of the Democratic wannabes joined Clinton in using populist rhetoric to blast Bush as a pal of the rich.

Kerry said the Bush tax cut was "irresponsible and unfairly structured." Daschle said it was a tax for "the wealthiest" Americans. And Lieberman said Bush favors "special favors for special interests."

All of them, along with Clinton, said they oppose making the Bush tax cut permanent but, although they said it was a mistake, they declined to call for repeal of the president's tax cut.

Although the speakers denounced corporate scandals, DLC spokeswoman Karin Kullman acknowledged the group has taken donations from both companies and hasn't returned them.

She said the donations weren't recent but declined to specify the amounts.

Alone among the presidential hopefuls, Kerry sought to make foreign policy a central disagreement with Bush, arguing the president has mishandled the war on terror and failed to make the case for invading Iraq.

[Texagirl4W]

Add to your comments all the millions of dollars we spent for her and daughter (I can't even stand to type their names) to take vacations all over the world. I would just like to know what the dollar amount is for those 8 years of them traveling on our dollars.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Right on target, Texas Girl. And the list does go on and on. Calling secret service agents "pigs". Working for commie lawyers as an intern. Amazing memory losses in front of investigators. Multimillion dollar book deals before the Senate rules applied. Registering for gifts for her new DC home. Her actions vis a vis Juanita Broderick i.e. accessory to rape and to cover it up. And I'm sure that if we turn over the rock that is Hillary! we will see lots and lots more squirmy things scurrying around looking for cover. I say let's turn over that rock!

[TracyPA]

I agree-bad move on Lazio's part invading her space in the debate. Just like Gore did to Bush in their debate. The press will be on Hillary's side, but they always underestimate Bush. Dick Morris said Hillary has lousy political instincts. Every word she says will be scrutinized in a presidential election.

Remember Bush beat Ann Richards-a VERY popular Texas governor.

[Pagey]

bttt

[Political Junkie Too]

Based on the clips that I saw, she relied on typical Democrat style: accuse your opponent of doing what you yourself are actuall doing. For instance:

• She said "Republicans don't have an original idea, they just blame others."
• She painted Democrats as friends of ordinary folks [which ordinary folk is $18MM Terry McAuliffe's friend] and Republicans as supporters of special interests [like environmentalists, unions, teachers, gays, blacks...] whose response to insider trading and accounting fraud is: "Don't ask, don't tell [don't call Robert Rubin, don't expel Torrecelli]."

-PJ

[Mudboy Slim]

"She painted...Republicans as supporters of special interests whose response to insider trading and accounting fraud is: "Don't ask, don't tell."

Puh-LEEEZE!! It was her hubby's SEC which totally ignored rampant Corporate Corruption...ROFLMAO!! I'm increasingly convinced that all it takes to be a DemonRAT Minion is Absolute Ignorance, and all it takes to be an Effete DemonRAT Elitist is an uncanny ability to lie thru yer teeth!!

FReegards...MUD

[backhoe]

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