Let’s get some perspective about Hillary Clinton,

[Cleita]

the Presidential candidate.

Hillary Clinton is on the bottom of my list of preferred candidates, however, should she be the Democratic nominee, I will happily vote for her in November. Saying that she has made tactical and other errors simply isn’t true. She has run a brilliant campaign and as a woman I am very proud of her for that. She has a lot more baggage to overcome than the other candidates, first of all being the only woman running against a group of men. There should have been some other women candidates IMHO. It would have been fairer and it would have been harder to play the gender card (the crying one for instance).

She has other setbacks to overcome that the other candidates don’t have. Being the wife of a former President is actually a liability for her because Americans balk at the idea of dynasty especially after the Bush dynasty Greek tragedy that has taken our country back a century or two. She has been attacked by the right for more than a decade since even before she was first lady and many rumors, even though discredited, sometimes are very hard to kill. The other candidates don’t have the same kind of slander to overcome.

I will not be voting for Hillary in the primaries because I don’t care for her corporate triangulating, her votes as Senator regarding the war, nor her health plan. However, she has come a long way in spite of the gigantic hurdles she has overcome to get where she is. So let’s give the lady her due where it is deserved and criticize her for what is important and germaine in this battle for the very soul of America. She is not evil incarnate but a person, who if elected, will probably make a very fine and dedicated President of the United States. We might find ourselves liked in the world again with another Clinton administration.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. I don't think Hillary would vote for Hillary after reading your post

about why you would vote for Hillary.

[Cleita]

3. I said I would vote for her if she's the nominee.

I will probably go out and canvass for her like I did for John Kerry in the last election, also bottom on my list but someone I think would have made a fine President as well.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. That's right, that's what you said & that's what I said.

[Deep13]

2. I take her Senate votes with a grain of salt.

Those things did not depend on her votes to pass. It is also pretty clear that she has been campaigning for president since being elected. Now, I don't approve of taking a position of public trust just to use it as a stepping stone (I'm looking at you, Obama), but it happens. Consequently, I do not think those votes are an accurate indicator of how she would act as president.

[ccpup]

7. had she been elected as Senator in 2000

and run in 2004, I would agree with your opinion that she's using her Senate career as a stepping stone (much like Mr. Took His Senate Oath in January 2005 and Started Running For President Obama). But having served a successful full First Term and having been re-elected by a wide margin, it doesn't hold as much water.

EVERYONE running for President is using their previously or presently held Public Office as a stepping stone just as anyone else would use the job they're in now to better prepare themselves for the "better" job -- although why anyone would want to put themselves in the public meat grinder that is the Presidency is beyond me -- they someday hope to get. The issue with me is one of timing and of assuring the voters, repeatedly and quite publicly, "no, I will not run for President", earning their trust enough to get their votes and then turning your back on them and doing it anyway.

Hillary hasn't done this (repeatedly not making that promise when she ran in 2006 and still being re-elected). Obama has. And, with Edwards not a sitting Senator, it's a moot point.

[Deep13]

10. HRC did a full term and IMO kept her promise to NY voters. nt

[Cleita]

8. Unfortunately, I can't considering the lives that have been

lost unnecessarily because of those votes. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt that she sincerely believed her votes were the right thing to do. Therefore, I am faulting her for not doing her homework and seeing through the lies like my Senator Barbara Boxer did.

[Deep13]

11. Because of those votes?

The Rs had a majority on the IWR with or without any Ds. Still, they all should have voted against it.

[ccpup]

14. then I anticipate you have similar reservations

about Obama as he and Hillary have voted lock-step in funding the war since he took his Senate Seat a mere three years ago this month.

[Cleita]

15. Actually, I do and his health plan as well, but

Obama isn't getting the vitriol Clinton is. If he does, I probably will put up a post about him too. Hey, he's ahead! He doesn't need me to point out if he's being treated unfairly.

[ccpup]

17. fair enough

:hi:

[demnan]

4. Very good post

I gave you a recommend for your fairness. I feel the same way. The thing I hate to see her do is lose her dignity along with this race. She is a Democrat, a lady and a Senator and if she doesn't get the nomination at least she should lose it with class.

[kstewart33]

6. Great post, Cleita. Very well said. nt

[ronnykmarshall]

9. Thank you to my neighbor up the coast!

I'm for Hillary ... duh?

And I really respect your words and honesty. It's refreshing during the mud-fest that's become DU.

[Meshuga]

12. Beautifully stated

I feel the same way about her. She is not my first choice, but she is not as bad as the negative threads about her say, in my opinion. I would have no problems voting for her in the general elections and I would be proud if she did get elected.

Not having a favorite candidate is a good position to be in. It's win-win for me when we finally have a nominee. :-)

[Rageneau]

13. Nice post. I wish all of us were as thoughtful as you.

You state valid reasons for prefering others to Hillary, and you do so without resorting to invective, insult or wild exaggeration.

Thanks, I needed that.

[HughMoran]

16. Very well stated

There is no need for some of the disrespect demonstrated here for any of the candidates - Hillary seeming to receive the worst of it. They are all good people (the Dems that is.)

[Proud2BAmurkin]

18. Agree, Hil isn't losing, Obama is winning right now. nt

nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. Well done, Cleita.