Why Electing Hillary in ’16 Is More Important Than Electing Obama in ’08

[Beacool]

By Jon Favreau
2/26/16

A former Obama ’08 speechwriter explains how and why Secretary Clinton is a lot more compelling than you might think.

I hear you’re still not Ready for Hillary.

I get it. I didn’t start off as her biggest fan either. During the 2008 campaign, I wrote plenty of less-than-complimentary words about Hillary Clinton in my role as Barack Obama’s speechwriter. Then, a few weeks after the election, I had a well-documented run-in with a piece of cardboard that bore a striking resemblance to the incoming Secretary of State.

It was one of the stupider, more disrespectful mistakes I’ve made, and one that could have cost me a job if Hillary hadn’t accepted my apology, which she did with grace and humor. As a result, I had the chance to serve in the Obama administration with someone who was far different than the caricature I had helped perpetuate.

The most famous woman in the world would walk through the White House with no entourage, casually chatting up junior staffers along the way. She was by far the most prepared, impressive person at every Cabinet meeting. She worked harder and logged more miles than anyone in the administration, including the president. And she’d spend large amounts of time and energy on things that offered no discernible benefit to her political future—saving elephants from ivory poachers, listening to the plight of female coffee farmers in Timor-Leste, defending LGBT rights in places like Uganda.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/26/why-electing-hillary-in-16-is-more-important-than-electing-obama-in-08.html

This is what Favreau is referring to when he mentioned his disrespectful mistake.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/12/obama-favreau.html

The Hillary he describes is the Hillary that I know. The Hillary depicted by conservatives, the Left (many right here on DU) and the media is a caricature of the real person.

[MaggieD]

1. DU rec!

[Control-Z]

4. Yup.

K&R

[RobertEarl]

2. Send them back

That's what H said about the poor homeless children who came to the US seeking a future.

[Beacool]

7. The issue was that these children were being sent alone and many didn't even have family here.

Do you think that any country is going to encourage another country to send their kids unattended??????

[RobertEarl]

9. These are poor homeless kids

And you want to tell them we can't take care of them?

AFAIK the US supplied weapons for the war they were trying to get away from.

And you abandon them? I just HATE hearing any Democrat even go there. Sickening.

[RobertEarl]

11. Another issue

H voted to drop bombs on and invade Iraq killing untold numbers of children

Send her back..... send Hillary back. Make her go away, please!

[FangedNoumenom]

12. Those are children..

fleeing Honduras due to the illegal coup that took place in 2009. The same illegal coup that Hillary's state department aided. Femicide has doubled since the coup.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/02/22/1488999/-Honduran-Fascism-and-the-Clinton-Connection

[RobertEarl]

15. Blood on their hands

No wonder Bernie about blew a fuse when she stood there and defended the idea we can't take care of homeless child refugees we helped make homeless.

And then we read excuses for it on DU! Sickening!

[djean111]

3. Gee, this is the third or fourth time this condescending piece of twaddle has shown up -

is it replicating or something?
Oh, and nope.

[Beacool]

6. Hillary will be the nominee, and hopefully president.

Favreau was not her supporter in 2008, he wrote his opinion and observations after getting to know her. Pity that you disregard him right off the bat.

[djean111]

8. And I should ignore how much I hate Hillary's stancers on war and fracking and cluster bombs

and the TPP and increased H-1B visas, to name just a few things? Pity you think I would ignore those issues because of a puff piece.

[CoffeeCat]

30. Now, now--You're must succumb to these planted fluff pieces

Are you even trying to think positive?!

Once you get beyond HRC's warmongering, endless lying and the fact that she has sold our democracy to Wall Street--she really is a very sweet humanitarian with a beautiful heart.

It's' a shame that you're so closed minded.

When HRC isn't plotting murderous wars for profit or taking "donations" from powerful Wall Street sociopaths, you can find her knitting sweaters for homeless kitties or making crafts out of seashells.

[djean111]

31. I find that I must stick to my principles. Sigh.

And I am unrepentant.

[CoffeeCat]

35. I don't think you're trying hard enough

How 'bout now?

[djean111]

36. Bwah! Thank you for the smile!

Full disclosure - never going to try. Goes against the grain.

[Beacool]

38. I don't give a fig what you do.

I'm just stating that Hillary will win the nomination. What you do is up to you.

[CoffeeCat]

27. Everything I've read about HRC indicates

that she's much, much worse in person.

I get it. The flacks are currently in overdrive--because beyond Hillary's little bubble of support--is intense lack of support for her. Ranging from those on the left, who detest her policies and her dishonesty--to those on the right who believe she's the ant-Christ. It's no wonder that these fluffy flack pieces are happening now.

It's a tough sell--convincing the public that a warmongering neocon and corrupt, corporate sellout is actually sugar and spice and everything nice.

No one is buying this nonsense.

[Beacool]

39. Don't believe everything you read.

Besides, it sounds like you've never met her.

[connecticut yankee]

28. Consider the alternative

How does "President Trump" sound?

[CoffeeCat]

32. Sounds like he'll be the President because

she'll have a depressing effect on Dem turnout; and her 52 percent negatives/untrustworthiness are a recipe for disaster.

Her lack of cross-over appeal and her inability to attract Independents doesn't help either.

Why do you think so many of us have been clamoring for Bernie? She has no pathway to the nomination. Her negatives are too high and she cannot bring together a big enough coalition to win.

It's frightening.

[djean111]

34. A little too soon for that boogeyman, doncha think?

Pledge-y thing iteration 750 or so. Gets tiresome, has no effect but irritation.

[litlbilly]

21. they just keep puting it up after it sinks. the desperation is dripping from them now.

[roguevalley]

5. nothing was more important than electing Obama in 2008 IMHO

[artislife]

18. I know. How is this not a slap in the face for those of us who voted for him? nt

[roguevalley]

42. it isn't and supposing intent for another person from their

very pointed post doesn't cut it. No matter how it turned out to be, NOTHING was more important than putting Obama in the White House. NOTHING. IMHO of course.

[Beacool]

41. I think that he's saying that because we now have to contend with a Republican majority

in Congress and the Tea Party. In 2008, Congress was still in the hands of Democrats. This year there's an urgency to not let the WH fall into Republican hands.

[BernieforPres2016]

10. Oh boy, the puff piece from one of Chelsea's subsidiary companies is linked again

Great stuff. I'm sure Chelsea being on the Board of Directors of IAC which owns the Daily Beast has no influence on their coverage of Hillary.

[ymetca]

13. If I had ever witnessed

a single instance of HRC standing for something other than her own self-aggrandizement, I might for a moment consider this post to be something other than low propaganda it is.

"She shows up early, stays late and pretends to care". Great employee, I guess. Not a leader, however.

[Beacool]

14. Hillary IS a great leader.

And she does care. That you don't care for her, is a different issue.

[hobbit709]

25. I wouldn't follow her out of a fire.

I'd be looking for an alternate exit that didn't have a paybox on it.

[CoffeeCat]

33. A caring warmonger and corporate sellout. Yep. She's a walking Hallmark card. (nt)

[INdemo]

16. OMG

Give us a Break

[INdemo]

17. OMG

Give us a Break

Next you are going to tell us Hillary is the John F. Kennedy of 2016

Give it up Hillary supporters Hillary Clinton is neither a liberal or a progressive
She is a far right Corporatist.

[Beacool]

40. Bull, but you're entitled to your opinion.

[Doctor_J]

19. Is this from cha or Steven Leser?

Why do so many democrats hate liberals?

[reformist2]

20. I didn't see a reason. Was it that she is oh so hard-working?

[UglyGreed]

22. Third time this has been posted

http://iac.com/about/leadership/board-directors/chelsea-clinton

http://iac.com/brand/daily-beast

[tk2kewl]

23. so now she is the uber-obama?

[peacebird]

24. She lies. She thinks rules are for other people. She is for the 1%, not the rest of us.

She is a corporatist neocon warhawk.

And if she is the Dem nominee, she will lose. At qhich point, remember to blame Debbie And the DNC.

[Ned_Devine]

26. This belongs in the Hillary group forum

I want to say more, but I'm afraid it'll be almost as offensive as this OP, so I'll refrain.

[DonCoquixote]

29. Why

why does Obama have to be torn down at the expense of Hillary? You are getting support from those who supported Obama OVER Clinton in 2008. Is there a desire to say "hillary wuz greater than obama" before she gets into office?

[BreakfastClub]

37. They've built her up into this mythical thing that doesn't resemble reality. So weird and sad. nt

[eridani]

43. Very important for the 1%

Who else will make sure that banksters emerge unscathed from the next crash?

[sendero]

44. I care about that wingnut's opinion...

... now? Not on your life.

[RiverLover]

45. She's terrific!

really.

[Mary Mac]

46. agree 100%

Bump.

[Beacool]

47. Thanks, I almost forgot about this OP.

[Mary Mac]

48. he has a new one in daily beast

Nt.