Negative Perceptions Dogging Clinton in Iowa

[illinoisprogressive]

The old girl Doesn't look so inevitable.....




CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Long before the 2008 campaign began, Liz Belden thought she would support Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). As a feminist, she believed it would be good for the country to finally elect a woman as president.

Today, she supports Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), impressed by his intellect and what she believes is his capacity to unite the country. "I want a woman president who is the right person. I'm not convinced this one is," Belden said. "My problem with her is, too many times I feel she says things for political expediency."


As Belden spoke, others around the table in a coffee shop here nodded in agreement. Their reactions to the candidate who leads the race for the Democratic presidential nomination nationally offered some insight into why Clinton is in a competitive race in Iowa, whose first-in-the-nation caucuses will begin the nominating contest next year.

Eight months ago, when Clinton made her first trip to Iowa as a candidate, The Washington Post -- with the help of Linn County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Robinson -- gathered 14 Iowa activists and county party leaders for a conversation about the New York senator and her rivals. At the time, all said they were uncommitted, but even then their coolness toward Clinton was evident.

On Friday night, 10 of the 14 returned for another 90 minutes of conversation about the Democratic race. Some remain undecided, but many more have settled on a candidate. None, however, has decided to support Clinton.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/06/AR2007100601375.html?hpid=topnews

[CK_John]

1. A caucus is subjected to group dynamics and Hillary's people know how to caucus. n/t

[aquart]

2. "The old girl"?

Would it be possible for an Obama supporter to go 24 hours WITHOUT being demeaning and snide to the first serious woman candidate for president of the United States?

[ElizabethDC]

3. This particular poster has long had a preoccupation with Hillary's age

I don't know why.

[unc70]

8. Clinton says "..., she's your girl.". Self identified

HRC uses that phrase in a recurring segment routinely included in her stump speeches and was used in at least the "labor" debate in Detroit in the summer. She also used a version of this in her Senate campaigns. I am not an Obama supporter, but I give them a pass on this.

Her use of this phrase is a deliberate, calculated example of psycholinguistic programming and probably quite effective. When a supporter of one of her male opponents hears this, they might mentally resist by thinking something like "No you're not; OTHERNAME is my boy." They want to be the voter's "man", not their "boy". For example, "Obama is my boy." has all sorts of subconscious impacts. The seeds might get planted, even if the listener makes the "boy" a "man" in revised thoughts.

[ElizabethDC]

9. I understand what you're saying, but I don't think that's the context here

this started long before HRC first used that phrase.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. I Guess The OP Is OK With Sexism

I wonder if she's ok with other isms...

[Trajan]

4. I love Obama .... I'll take Clinton in a pinch ....

I appreciate this isn't the simple political smear that is usually part and parcel of this poster's repertoire ..... And the 'Old Girl' reference isn't particularly galling to me, for that matter ....

But, that being said: What is with the capital 'D' in 'Doesn't' ? It's the middle of the sentence .....

I think it is clear that Clinton will at best run second in Iowa .... And it is pretty much 'inevitable' the her poll numbers take her to a successful conclusion everywhere else ...

I am still bothered by the capital 'D' .... It's all about the grammatical training that "Peter Pointer" provided .......

With a lot of whining, and some grammar errors along the way: it's a long time to February ....

[ElizabethDC]

5. Why do you thing she'll "at best run second?"

she's been ahead in virtually all Iowa polls as of late. (Not that I'm saying that she'll absolutely come in first, but I'm just wondering why you think it's so clear that she won't.)

[Trajan]

6. Oh .... Hell ... I don't know .....

Iowa could go either to Obama or Clinton .... Just giving the benefit of the doubt there ...

Even with a loss in Iowa ..... She is scot-free the rest of the trip ..... game;set;match ....

That is my point .....

That; and the misplaced capital letter ....

[ElizabethDC]

7. As for the misplaced capital letter

I've noticed that some posters here have some interestingly erratic grammar. I'm not sure if it's purposeful or if they're just in a hurry.

[Hardrada]

11. Oh, I think we can impede her royal progress here in Iowa.

I am not so deceived that I think she may not ascend her bloodstained throne in due course. We have nothing like a real democracy anyway. I especially object that she will continue to keep us under AIPAC and DLC vassalage.

[calteacherguy]

10. "The members of this small group are in no way representative of likely caucus participants,

and so their views should not be mistaken as a sign of who may win or lose the caucuses in January. The degree to which they are not representative of current polling in the state is apparent in that candidates such as Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) and Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) enjoy more support among them than does Clinton or former senator John Edwards (N.C.)."

[Tellurian]

13. Obama knows it's over if he doesn't win Iowa..

His numbers are nil in NH, after all the money he burned in their fireplaces..Is he even on the board in other primary states?

[William769]

15. His wife knows it also, and has said so!

[eallen]

16. I have yet to figure out why I should much prefer Clinton to Giuliani.

It is with trepidation that I imagine either of those two in the White House. If the choice is between those two in the general election, is there any reason I shouldn't just leave that spot on my ballot blank?

:hippie:

[William769]

14. To begin with, why do you use the term "old girl"? You do that quite often.

Secondly I guess you have not seen the latest poll. :rofl:

[MonkeyFunk]

17. Of course you know why...

it's a shorthand way to diminish and demean Clinton. Childish and sexist, but all too common.