Who is Hillary Clinton's Base?

[MadBadger]

I have been trying to figure this one out. Nobody here seems to like her. I ask a lot of people and they wont vote for her, yet somebody obviously is rooting for her. Now I am not bashing Hillary Clinton, because I will no doubt support her if she gets the nomination, but I am trying to figure out, who are the people either on DU or out in the United States who are pulling for Hillary Clinton to the the nominee?

[ElizabethDC]

1. I am

:hi:

I know a lot of other folks who are, too - friends, family, etc. Most (though not all) of the Hillary supporters I know are women, but they come from different states and different generations, so I don't know if I can generalize about who her base is.

[MadBadger]

2. From my experiences on DU

it seems like she is one of the dems that you can jump on, and not have people jump on you for saying something about her.

[ElizabethDC]

10. Well, there are definitely a lot more people here who dislike her than who like her

there is a small (but growing!) band of supporters (or at least defenders) of hers in GD:P.

[JeffR]

62. I'm not, but I like your answer

Well said, Elizabeth.

[papau]

3. Moderate Democrats/feminists/competence seekers - plus on the left those that

know her background working for the causes of the left.

Not too many on the right that are in her camp (which why one sees that solid 44% that will vote against her no matter what - forget the Ras pretend numbers on the vote against - there are solid polls out there with good data)).

[LostinVA]

105. And, you just gave one of my main reasons

"plus on the left those that know her background working for the causes of the left."

It always amazes me that some posters praise much less progressive candidates over HRC. I don't agree with some of her stances or votes, but she has a pretty solid progressive cause record. Probably more so than anyone else running -- by quite a bit.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Hillary has some devoted fans here. My guess is many are security moms and dads

who like her hawkish stands on defense. they are liberal on choice, would like to see a woman elected as president, and are pro-corporate pro privitization.They are nosatalgic for the Clinton era, and feel she can bring it back.

That's my best guess, but who knows?

[GregD]

7. There are also those of us who are

PASSIONATELY OPPOSED TO HER.

[aquart]

16. Not you.

[John Q. Citizen]

38. aquart, your post is less than a pint.

But thanks for sharing that thoughful insight. It was very kind of you, as per your usual contributions to discussion.

[LostinVA]

106. I'm not a security mom

[John Q. Citizen]

146. It was a guess, not an absolute. Are you a hawk on defense?

[rinsd]

129. And Kucinich's supporters are a bunch of woo-woo hippies....

:sarcasm:

Or Kucinich and Clinton, indeed most of the candidates at this point, gain their supporters from a wide range of Democrats that are difficult to categorize in a neat little box.

[John Q. Citizen]

148. It was a guess, based on the OP, not a list of absolute criteria. I'm sure there are

Hillary supporters who like how she does her hair, and have no idea where she stands on any issue. They just trust her and don't care to know the details.

Some support her because she's a strong, smart, woman, just as some people support Obama because he's a strong, smart, person of color.

These kinds of voter judgments are true across the whole field.


My Grandmother voted for Nixon twice because she had met Pat Nixon at some event and she'd given my grandmother a thimble. She died before Nixon really started to feel the pressure of the house impeachment, which I always thought was a good thing, because my grandmother would have been horrified to realise she'd been voting for a crook.

So sussing out the base for any candidate is tricky and certainly isn't complete or precise.

[SharonAnn]

5. I am. I am so proud of her and what she's accomplished. We need her.

[John Q. Citizen]

13. What has she accomplished? Do you mean she was elected Senator?

Or she weathered an unfaithful husband and kept her head high? Or that she passed law school and the bar and became an attorney? Or all of those? Or something else?

[papau]

30. child heath care - and a few others including stopping an unneeded Flag Amendment n/t

n/t

[skipos]

6. I live in the bluest town in a blue state, and I don't know anyone who likes her

I know they exist, as she does really well in the primary polls. I know there are plenty more people who don't like her cuz she kinda stinks in the gen elec polls (compared to Edwards and Obama).

[Lone_Star_Dem]

61. OT

"I live in the bluest town in a blue state" I'm painfully jealous. :cry:

[skipos]

93. Yeah, I gotta admit, I am lucky.

It is very nice to go to a party or someplace where I don't know many people, and it is a safe bet that most people there think Bush blows.

[BuyingThyme]

8. Hillary's base 1, 2, 3.

1. People who know it's time for another Dem in the White House.
2. People who recognize the name Clinton.
3. People who don't hate women.

[nickinSTL]

36. so...by extension...

anyone who doesn't support her...
1. don't know it's time for another Dem in the White House
2.Don't recognize the name Clinton
3.Hate women

Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive, or something :shrug:

I DON'T support her for the primary...

And I VERY MUCH want another Dem in the White House, but Clinton is FAR from my first choice

I think a LARGE percentage of those in polls who currently support Clinton do PRECISELY because of the name Clinton...it's name recognition.

When it comes to the GE, maybe woman-hating would have an impact...less so in the primaries - though many people might vote against her because they fear the misogyny of the wider society...therefore believing she can't win the GE.

[BuyingThyme]

44. Those aren't logical extensions.

Just because I hate strawberry ice cream doesn't mean I love chocolate ice cream.

FYI: I like the one with the peanut butter cup pieces in it.

[nickinSTL]

53. I admit...

I deliberately took each of them to be absolutes...which they probably were not intended to be...

[Lone_Star_Dem]

63. I take exception with your #3

I know many good Democrats for whom she's not their first choice that don't hate women.

It's a much more complex argument that what you attempt to make it. Or at least it should be.

[BuyingThyme]

69. Her base does not hate women.

That has nothing to do with any body else's base.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

72. Many candidate's "bases" don't hate women

But no one feels the need to add that as a qualifier.

Why? It's a pitiful thing to say. To word it as such feels dangerously like an attempt to guilt people into supporting her. i.e., If you don't support Hillary you're not a real feminist, type of thinking.

[BuyingThyme]

73. You do not understand. "If A then B" does not mean "If B then A."

That's not a valid argument. I think it's called denying the antecedent.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

75. Did you want to discuss what you said, or not?

Why bother replying if you didn't wish to?

I can spout invalid drivel with the best of them rather than validate a discussion. If that's what you wanted from the beginning I could have just said something witty like, "illogical" and slunk off pretending I was holier than thou. You just should have let me know that was the direction we were going before I spent the time thinking we were going to converse. :shrug:

[BuyingThyme]

76. Look, I am trying to teach you critical thinking here.

If you don't understand, just say so.

CONCENTRATE: If I say Hillary base doesn't hate women, that has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not anybody else hates women.

Please try to understand that your inability to grasp basic logic has absolutely nothing to do with me, so maybe you should direct you rage elsewhere. Or, even better, be constructive and take a community college course in critical thinking.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

77. Rage?

Why in the world would I be upset? I must suggest you reread my post. I'm not in the least upset, let alone in a rage. I simply disagree with your premise for the reasons I provided.

[BuyingThyme]

78. Sorry, I thought the crack about spouting "invalid drivel" was indicative of rage.

So, you disagree with the premise that Hillary Clinton's base doesn't hate women. That's really weird.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

81. G'night Luv

I'm not in the least interested in getting into an argument with someone on the internet over something such as this. :hi:

May whichever deity you follow (if any at all) bestow their highest blessings on you.


Peace

[BuyingThyme]

85. Your argument has nothing to do with me, but

thanks for stopping by.

:hi:

[Umbram]

88. The logic is quite simple, but so is calling you on your post

Why not add the following to your list of supporter attributes:

4. people that don't kick puppies.
5. people that think Hitler was a bad man.
6. people who don't engage in sophism and then justify their speciousness by attacking the logic of others.

Oops, better strike number 6.

[BuyingThyme]

89. Well, there's a split in this country between people

who are and are not ready to vote for a woman for president, but the same cannot be said about your nonsense regarding puppies and Hitler. And, yes, you best strike number 6.

Anything else you need explained?

[Umbram]

98. Yea, and?

It's cute when there's a devilish mix between logical formalism and immaturity. No friend, I don't think I require any of your "explanation." I do admire the fact that you are quick to offer lessons to those around you though. The best you could hope for is clarification of your own point.

The original poster asked who Clinton's base is.
Your answer was so dramatically over inclusive as to be entirely worthless. Essentially it is a few necessary but NOT sufficient factors, with the last one being especially trite.

You seem quite bright - I'll assume you enjoy a good argument and are actually capable of seeing why your statement would raise eyebrows, despite being formally true in of itself.

[BuyingThyme]

99. Your post is a devilish mix of ridiculous.

[Umbram]

110. Gotcha. I have a new 1, 2, 3 list.

1. Post something barely related to the OP
2. Defend the self-contained logic of your irrelevant post while suggesting others are illogical for questioning you.
3. Bow out once someone familiar with logic challenges you.

[BuyingThyme]

116. Wow, you're familiar with logic? Great, here we go:

What is not logical in what I've said, and what is logical about anything you've said?

For instance, how is my post unrelated to the the OP? Or how has any of my "self-contained" logic been flawed? And where in the world did I "bow out"?

This should be very entertaining. I suggest you don't randomly make things up in your next round.

[Umbram]

125. OK.

Going down the list:

If you are unable to find a SINGLE logical thing that I have said then you are incapable of the Principle of Charity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_charity) which is pretty much a prerequisite to any useful debate - unless one is absorbed into their own truthiness or otherwise would rather win (in their own mind) than explore ideas. This is the intellectual equivalent of drunken barroom politics and is pointless.

I have not suggested you have said a single illogical thing. Syllogisms themselves, perfectly logical, need not be useful to a discussion. A self-contained piece of logic can be valid, yet useless in the context in which it is delivered. I am merely suggesting that your three factors have no value.

Where did you bow out? Constructively you've bowed out by being entirely unresponsive. Furthermore, I think it's fair to say that responding to my point that your original post was so over inclusive as to be without value in defining Cliton's base by posting only, "Your post is a devilish mix of ridiculous" is the equivalent of either picking up your ball and going home or ignoring the Principle of Charity.

I understand everything you have posted. That is a result of good faith on my part. Critical thinking is not a method for slashing down the ideas of others, but a method for communicating on the same playing field with an eye towards finding agreements, discovering divergent assumptions as to premises that will not allow agreements to be reached, and identification of fallacies (AFTER applying the principle of charity.)

[BuyingThyme]

127. Are you capable of addressing the facts at all?

I mean, read the drivel you just wrote. It has nothing to do with the fact that Hillary Clinton's base is made up of people who want a Dem president, recognize the Clinton name, and don't hate women. Why are the facts so inconvenient for you?

Now, being that you have absolutely no interest in the facts, what made you believe you could make a convincing argument in regards to any principle of charity? Do you even understand the concept? Did you really think you could avoid the facts while, at the same time, promoting the principle of charity? See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_charity

As far as my use of your ridiculous words to describe what you've done here, maybe you should figure out why you take exception. Then try to figure out why you tried to accuse me of what you did, going as far as to accuse me of bowing out. If you're confused, look up the word projection.

[Umbram]

131. Wow, sad.

I have ADMITTED SEVERAL TIMES that I DO NOT DISAGREE with your logic. I can't possibly admit any more strongly that:

Hillary Clinton's base is made up of people who want a Dem president, recognize the Clinton name, and don't hate women.

For SEVERAL posts I have noted that your statement is USELESS, and suggested why I think that is so. You continue to not address MY ARGUMENT that your factual statement is so over inclusive as to be WITHOUT VALUE.

My "drivel" was an attempt to make sure that we were both on the same page and an obvious attempt to move from attacking each other towards something constructive. By calling that drivel, you've transparently shown that you have no intention of having a good faith discussion. My previous post responded LINE BY LINE to your preceding post. That is a courtesy you have yet to return.

[BuyingThyme]

134. Great. USING FACTS, how is my statement over inclusive?

The fact is that it's not, but I now know you to be a person who doesn't understand the principle of charity, thus you will try to concoct some illogical nonsense about people who are not members of Hillary's base. You have to. I know you have to. You know you have to. And it just might have something to do with Hitler or puppies. We both get it.

But, anyways, where did you get the "LINE BY LINE" principle? I would like to read about it so I will be able to recognize when it's been implemented. Is this principle null and void when the lines are numbered or bulleted? Do I get to use it also, or is this another one of those things that you reserve for yourself in order to simultaneously reserve the principle of projection?

This might be a good time for you to look up the word drivel.

[Umbram]

147. Here are some for you.

We'll play by your rules.

By your method I'm not required to respond to any of your points because there is no "line by line" rule. I'll just pick the lines I like and go there.

Ok, I looked up drivel. Thanks!

Now, you look up these:
Narcissistic
Immature

[BuyingThyme]

149. Now you're on to name calling.

In the world of critical thinking, this brand of fallacy is known as an Ad Hominem or personal attack. But, again, as a follow up to tunnel-principled, Hitler-puppy projectionism, it's not unexpected.

[Umbram]

151. You must be kidding.

Recognize any of these:

"Please try to understand that your inability to grasp basic logic has absolutely nothing to do with me, so maybe you should direct you rage elsewhere. Or, even better, be constructive and take a community college course in critical thinking."

"Anything else you need explained?"

"Your post is a devilish mix of ridiculous."

"Wow, you're familiar with logic?"

"This should be very entertaining. I suggest you don't randomly make things up in your next round."

"If you're confused, look up the word projection"

"..I now know you to be a person who doesn't understand the principle of charity, thus you will try to concoct some illogical nonsense..."

"Why is this so difficult for you to understand?"

"You made it up out of thin air in order to defend your critical thinking shortcomings."

"You are a long, long way from mastering the logic debate. Start with the facts."

They were all you. They are all condescending, if not ad hominem.

[BuyingThyme]

152. I don't think you understand the concept of critical thinking.

Condescension can only be a fallacy if it's used to support a conclusion.

[havocmom]

64. me on all counts

but I am not supporting her for the nomination.

Guess that's not her base. ;)

[BuyingThyme]

68. That's not logical.

[havocmom]

104. No, your definition of Hillary's base was illogical/erroneous.

And several showed up to point out that they meet your criteria but are not in her base.

[BuyingThyme]

109. Again, what you say is not logical.

If I say HIllary's base is pro-choice, it doesn't' mean that everybody else is anti-choice. That's just silly.

Why is this so difficult for you to understand?

[havocmom]

112. We can be all those things and not support Hillary for the nomination

The OP asked who her base was. You keep insisting that anyone who shares liberal values is her base.

Well, that is lacking any logic at all. And most of the world can see it.

Hope you get those glasses soon.

[BuyingThyme]

117. I have never, ever said that anyone who shares those values is her base.

I never said anything vaguely similar. You made it up out of thin air in order to defend your critical thinking shortcomings.

You are a long, long way from mastering the logic debate. Start with the facts.

[John Q. Citizen]

70. Ditto!

[Raine]

92. Agree and

:thumbsup:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

122. yeah, and people who think obama is NOT particularly more liberal than hillary

and with much less experience

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Not me and I don't know anyone who likes her

[elocs]

11. I am not, but I am not for anybody yet.

I have a feeling that Senator Clinton's support is broad, but soft. For instance, I think that many would jump for Gore in a heartbeat if he ran. Many support her because she is a woman, because she is a Clinton, because she is smart and experienced. But she also generates a lot of negative feelings among Democrats and is the candidate who would probably bring Republicans together to vote for their own candidate, even if they do not like him. Although, Republicans tend to be more pragmatic about their votes than Democrats, understanding that either a Democrat or Republican is going to win so there is no point in throwing away their votes.

[billbuckhead]

14. People who voted for Bill Clinton and young women are her base

[ElizabethDC]

17. I know a lot of young women who are Hillary supporters

I'm a college student, so I guess that makes me one of them. (I didn't vote for Bill, though, as I wasn't old enough). A lot of my friends are Hillary supporters, too.

But I also know that my mother and a lot of her friends like Hillary, so it's not purely generational.

[MadBadger]

24. I'm also a college student

I know a lot of people that dont like her, but really dont have a reason (my mother).

[ElizabethDC]

32. The people that I know who dislike her

(other than the people on DU) are all Republicans and they all dislike her for vague reasons that they have trouble articulating. My best friend from home thinks she's too androgynous, and that's really her only complaint.

Friends of mine who are Democrats who don't support Hillary seem to be nervous about her electability in a general election.

[MadBadger]

25. Delete

[MadBadger]

29. Also, What College?

[ElizabethDC]

37. Well

I go to Georgetown. How about you?

[MadBadger]

39. Wisconsin

[ElizabethDC]

42. Very nice

I have friends at school up there. Which is odd, because I'm from Florida, but apparently a lot of us like to leave our tropical climes in the pursuit of education. :7

[MadBadger]

45. Im guessing they dont mind the cold. I'm from Jersey, which is odd because I go to in Wisconsin.

I forgot that my Grandmother's friends love her. They are the Older Jewish Generation inhabiting Boca Raton. They all like her except my Grandmother (token Republican in the family).

[ElizabethDC]

46. I hope they don't mind the cold!

I'm only in DC and I think the weather here is the most horrible thing I've ever experienced! I can't imagine how it is in Jersey, let alone Wisconsin!

That's good to hear about her support among older folks. Unfortunately, the only seniors that I know very well (my grandparents) are rabid, rabid Republicans. My grandfather regularly questions me as to how many of my professors are communists.

[John Q. Citizen]

34. Based on the issues, what is it you like about Hillary? Is it her hawkish

defense positions and the fact she will probably increase defense spending? Is it her pro insurance corporation stances on health care?

Is it that you believe she is more pro choice than the other candidates? Is it that she's Bill Clinton's spouse and you feel she will bring back the Clinton era?


Or is your support based more on personality, ie, She's an intelligent successful woman?

[Clark2008]

26. How young is "young?"

I'm a youngish woman (in my 30s) and I don't really support her. I don't hate her. I just don't think she can win.

[MN ChimpH8R]

27. I voted for the Big Dog twice

but will vote for Hillary, holding my nose all the while, only if there are no alternatives to a Repig. She has pandered too much for me to be able to stand her and her war vote explanation is completely wanting in honesty. I respect her as a person but I do not like her as a politician.

[CoffeeCat]

12. You got me...

Although I approve of many of Hillary's stances on issues (abortion, education, healthcare), she
is an abysmal failure when it comes to fighting against BushCo's war and the administration's
attack on our civil rights, our Constitution and our democracy.

Hillary has been silent on Abu Graib, illegal wiretapping, the Patriot Act, the government
being able to read our mail and email--and peek into our bank accounts. Hillary has rarely
questioned the erosion of our civil rights and the fact that Junior considers himself a dictator.

In my opinion, I understand that many like Hillary because she is in agreement with many basic
issues on the Dem platform. I guess she has a following of people who like her, her style and
that she is a Democrat. I think Hillary is a decent senator. She's served NY well.

However, our nation is in peril. This administration is dangerous. Hillary refuses to denounce
her Iraq vote and most recently, she was touting war with Iran--spouting off the same talking points
as Junior! Abortion is important and so is universal healthcare. However, if we don't have a
democracy or fair elections or our basic civil rights---then the rest of it is moot.

I really don't know who Hillary's base is.

I often wonder if the Hillary hoopla isn't media manufactured, because I am politically active
and I rarely meet a Hillary supporter. Most Dems want Gore, Obama, Clark or Edwards.

So, who is Hillary's base? I'd like to know the answer to that too.

[John Q. Citizen]

20. What is her stand on health care, other than she is in favor of it?

[CoffeeCat]

28. I am assuming...

...that she is for universal healthcare--since it was HER plan when Bill was
President.

Maybe I'm assuming incorrectly.

I always identified her as a champion for a national healthcare system. However, your point
is well taken--because she has not touted that stance in specific terms, lately.

[John Q. Citizen]

47. Her plan in the 90s was for the government to subsidize private insurance companies

for the people who couldn't afford their own private insurance. And it would have required peiople who could afford their own private insuance to buy it from private insurance companies.

At this time she has no plan out there that I know of.

[papau]

23. Did you check your "Hillary is silent" against her Senate web site "issues & speeches"?

I seem to recall some solid statements on those issue - although not at the DK level, they seemed to equal the Obama/Edwards level of "leftness" - at least that was true until Edwards in the last few weeks went into solid detail on issues mode - which I really like.

[CoffeeCat]

35. Making a speech about...

....illegal wiretapping is nice. However, I have been actively watching Hillary for the
past 4 years, hoping that she was the person who would stand up, scream from the rafters
and vociferously renounce the fact that Bush has been illegally spying on our phone calls and
circumventing the FISA courts.

Hillary may have made a speech here or there. She can come out and proclaim---in Des Moines, Iowa--
that Junior doesn't respect our privacy.

However, our democracy is crumbling. We need a Dem nominee that is at least as outraged as
most of us DUers are---about our Constitution being ripped to shred by these Nazi thugs.

Hillary has access to Larry King. I'm sure Wolf Blitzer would welcome her on his program.
She would call it like it is and lash these bastards for what they have done to our country.

She's made a few firey speeches, but she has done next-to-nothing--when it comes to fighting
the power that BushCo has amassed and trying to stop this illegal, lie-based war.

[lutefisk]

48. Maybe her support is, as you suggest, media manufactured?

I don't mean manufactured in the sense that the poll numbers have been made up- I mean the media seems to have pushed her as a done deal since day one. The question is, why?

It does seem she is getting support from the corporate media, and interestingly from Republicans, too. Maybe the media likes a controversial figure and Clinton is that. Also, the media might just be following "orders" and doing what it can to give the impression that Clinton is unstoppable, hoping that that will make her unstoppable.

The Republicans are giving her a bit of a free ride, too. It seems as if they want her to be the nominee because they know she is the one they can almost certainly defeat in the election. They are keeping thier "powder dry" for some reason. There was a thoughtful piece on the Huffington Post discussing this.

I'm one of those people who just doesn't get the Clinton fever. There is just nothing compelling there...

[illinoisprogressive]

55. The Clintons have corporate ties to media including Fox. Murdoch.

[MadBadger]

58. Well I guess Bill forgot about his ties to Fox when he took down Chris Wallace.

[ronnykmarshall]

132. SNAP!

But we all know that Bill's attack on Chris Wallace was just an act. Just another step in The Plan to take over the world!

All HAIL! The PLAN!

:sarcasm:

[Virginia Dare]

100. The whole election process is media manufactured..

unless you can master the media and the money, you're not going far, regardless of who you are.

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. I'll support her if she gets the Dem. nom. I am not a supporter otherwise. nt

[pearl]

18. My guess is Rich Donors

and James Carville.
Dear Hilary,
Who is gods name told you that the country wants 28 years of Bush Clinton Bush Clinton.
Help me.

[ElizabethDC]

21. Well, it's not just rich donors

I'm a small donor, and I know plenty of supporters of hers who have yet to contribute . . .

[ronnykmarshall]

133. Oh yeah that's me.

A REAL RICH donor. :eyes:

[mmonk]

19. Some here, her New York constituency,

and in my opinion, people in the general public who are registered democrats who go more often with name recognition and many former Bill Clinton supporters.

[MadBadger]

50. Probably true.

[Mojambo]

22. New Democrats/the DLC.

Or as I like to call them, Walmart Democrats.

[Hardrada]

31. McDems!

Walmart Dems is good too.

[illinoisprogressive]

56. I like that term. It's good.

[Virginia Dare]

102. I don't. I think it's insulting, and I'm not an HRC supporter...n/t

[Umbram]

126. Nice! nt.

[Selatius]

43. Bingo.

More free trade is not what America needs.

[John Q. Citizen]

51. They aren't exactly what I think of when I hear the phrase "her base" i would

call them her high powered connections, her brain trust, her inner circle.

By her 'base' I imagine just regular folks who for whatever reason like Hillary as there candidate. I like her, but I don't like her politcs as much, and as such, I can't support her in the primaries.

[LostinVA]

114. Funny, I'm a Democrat Socialist and I like her

As does my very lefty mom, a pediatric nurse. We would both prefer Gore, but we'll vote for HRC WAY before any other Dem candidate.

Generalizations are usually wrong, as shown over and over again on this thread.

[ronnykmarshall]

135. Bravo, m' dear.

See ya at the country club this weekend? Binky, Bunky and Bambi have been asking about you!

:loveya:

[Individualist]

128. Exactly!

[durrrty libby]

33. "Nobody here seems to like her"

sweeping generalities smell like shit

You obviously don't know your ass from your elbow

[MadBadger]

41. "Many people seem to not like her"

You could have just stated that I should have said this without resorting to making fun of me.

[William769]

40. I'm part of her base and so is all of my family!

[ronnykmarshall]

137. Same here.

My mom and step dad are hard working middle class people. They were once republicans and proudly switched to the Democratic party in the 1990's. WE are Hillary's base. Regardless what spin the anti-Hillary mob around here wants to paint her supporters.

[scarletwoman]

49. Rupert Murdoch & AIPAC, among others... (nt)

[illinoisprogressive]

52. they say it's is older women who are her main supporters. I really

don't know. I am over 45, white and married woman. I love Nancy Pelosi and she makes me proud. I cheer for her all the time and think she is the greatest. A role model for all women, even us over 45.
But, I don't care for Hillary for many reasons but, won't list them.
Suffice it to say, I wish it was Nancy running for the nomination.

[Blue_In_AK]

67. I'm an old-as-dirt woman

(well, not quite) and I don't support her either.

[JohnnyBoots]

94. I would much prefer Boxer to her as well n/t

[Madspirit]

54. NOW and NARAL and Me!...

I haven't actually decided who I'm voting for in the primary but I am absolutely considering her and I, of course, will vote for her if she's our nominee.
Lee

[illinoisprogressive]

57. may I ask why you like Hillary, Madspirit. Just curious

No snark meant. I would be curious to know.

[Madspirit]

59. Truth?

I don't particularly. I don't particularly LIKE any politician and I TRULY believe, scratch the surface and most are the same. Or you wouldn't see pictures of all of them from both parties, standing around laughing together. ...and you do. I couldn't stand by Bush and laugh. I couldn't be civil to him. It's however, required. I think she's got clout, bucks and she's not afraid to be a bitch. I think she will compromise and schmooze a LOT but I think they all do that ultimately but I think she KNOWS how to play the game and can be ruthless. I think she's astute. I think she's kinda mean. I think we need a Democratic president who knows how to fight down and dirty and being a Clinton, I think she does.

I hold politics in VERY low esteem. I think people who "believe" in particular politicians are naive. I think all we really have a choice in...IS...the lesser of Evils. So I want my Evil...to be on a Power Trip FOR me, for a change.
Lee

[LostinVA]

115. Me too, Lee!

[nevergiveup]

60. Most people I know are

Democrats and the only one who likes Hillary is a lady who knew her in high school. The rest are split between Obama and Edwards but Obama is gaining steam.

[MaryBear]

65. Anyone who ignores the hype against her

and pays attention to who she is in the world today.

[w4rma]

74. Democratic partisans who ignore the hype against her

and don't pay attention to who she is in the world today.

[MaryBear]

91. Hillary Clinton will represent and truly serve all of us.

Innuendo won't stop her. Do some more homework on this.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

66. She has supporters here.

Just as she should in any sampling of Democrats.

While her base may or may not be represented my those here on DU, she does have a good following. This early on that's really all that matters.

[AtomicKitten]

71. well, she obviously has quite a formidable one

judging from all the Hillary bumper stickers I'm seeing - much to my surprise - here in SF

[yurbud]

82. maybe those people haven't notice someone put that sticker on their bumpers

[yurbud]

83. like the pink triangle I put on Arnold's bumper

[AtomicKitten]

84. I'm sure that improved Ahnuld's image.

:thumbsup:

[ronnykmarshall]

139. I love SF!

I don't see many bumper stickers here in LA for ANYONE. The few that I've seen are for Hillary and Obama.

[AtomicKitten]

156. I've seen several Gore 2008 bumper stickers

.... in fact, one of them is on my car!

[leftofthedial]

79. republicans who feel guilty about it

[yurbud]

80. members of the Chamber of Commerce who are uncomfortable around the religious right

[Matariki]

86. I like her. I'll likely vote for her.

If it's between her, Obama and Edwards I'm leaning toward her, or Obama. If Gore enters the race, well then...

Part of it is simply the fact that I'd really, really like to see a (democratic) woman president. I admit it. She's not a progressive as I'd like, but then I'm not holding my breath for *any* candidate winning who's as progressive as I'd like.

[earth mom]

87. Dinos, DLCers and her masters from Corporate America. nt

[LostinVA]

107. I'm far from any of those

[ronnykmarshall]

140. WOW! You sure have us pegged!!

So amazing that you know SO much about me, my family and my friends.

Shit! You should take up where Miss Cleo left off. Can you fake a Jamaican accent?

[Raine]

90. No support from me or

anyone that I know. I have yet to meet anyone in person or for that matter on any internet boards other than a few here in DU who can even tolerate her.

[patricia92243]

95. Me. Female, retired, mother of gay son, homeowner, Southerener, Christian, no life insurance, etc

[OnionPatch]

96. I think most of them are

clueless Democrats who really don't follow politics that much. They aren't like people here who know every vote she ever made, etc. She's a woman, a Democrat and that's enough for them. I do know one very active liberal who really likes her. It surprised me because she's really very knowledgable about current events. She poo-poos my complaints against Hillary. She's an older woman, in her sixties, so maybe that has something to do with it? :shrug:

[LostinVA]

108. I'm far from a clueless Dem

Actually, I'm not a Dem at all: I'm a Democratic Socialist. I am aware of HRC's activities and votes from her college days until now. I suspect I am much more informed than many on here who slag her.

[ronnykmarshall]

141. Isn't that amazing?

While the comments are not predictable, there are probably some of the most insulting, narrow minded and ignorant ones I've seen on DU.

[cooolandrew]

97. The most informed voters are on this board. Away from the board it's media influence.

[LostinVA]

111. "The most informed voters are on this board"

I basically agree with that -- and, I'm for HRC if Gore doesn't run.

[Le Taz Hot]

101. I could answer that but

I'm walkin' a fine one on DU as it is.

[LostinVA]

103. I like her

I would rather have Gore run, but I doubt that would happen. HRC isn't my perfect candidate by a long shot, but I'll never have the perfect candidate.

I'm a Socialist Democrat, gay, and in education.

[bouwob1]

113. I AM

Hillary will fix the giant mess that bush has created and Bill will be the best first lady ever.

Just ask yourself

Do you feel better now than you did 8 years ago?
Do you think allot of Hillary’s policies will mimic Bills?
Do you like fiscal responsibility?
Do you enjoy going on vacation around the world having more people enjoy your company than trying to kill you?
Would you rather have supply side economics over trickle down?
Do you think America needs a middle class?
Do you want a president who doesn’t decide all policy based on book that was written 2000 years ago?
Do you want republicans to run out of bs gate scandals (everybody already knows everything about her past)
Do you want somebody that will stand up to the congress on both sides but not alienate them?
Do you want somebody in office that will listen to the majority of Americans?
Do you want to bring our troops home?
Do you want the person with the most experience out there to take over?

And last but not least

Do you just want a better America?

Vote Hillary 08

[ronnykmarshall]

142. It always takes a Clinton to clean up after a Bush!

[ShortnFiery]

145. That was a different time. If you like the status quo and corporate control of the government

vote for HRC.

[Annces]

118. I would vote for her

I think we are stuck wanting the patriarchal white male. It is time for a change. If not now, when.

[quinnox]

119. A broad spectrum

I think she has broad support among Democrats in general from the conservative to the most liberal. The DU is not a good representation of the average Dem so it is easy to get a skewed impression here. But I'd wager the closer and the more heated up the primaries get then you will see a lot of Hillary supporters join as the non political junkie people get more interested in the process. I think she is great and I'm a liberal Democrat, but not what I would call extreme left. I also think John Edwards would be good and have to say he probaly would have a much better shot as the nominee, however Hillary to me has a star quality that is quite strong.

[Enrique]

120. people who remember the Clinton presidency fondly

I think there's a lot of such people.

[porphyrian]

121. Conservatives. - n/t

[bouwob1]

123. and remember

If gore does not join the race (and I do not think he will) his 12-14% rating will mostly jump on Hillary’s side. Hillary has been losing a little ground lately but most of her losses are going to gore and Edwards. She is already leading by 6 or 7 points, add 75% of gores people to Hillary when he does not run and you have a very, very strong ticket.

The bad side is the sexist bigots who say women could not run the white house and the conservatives who hate Bill. But conservatives are very likely not to even vote in the next election do to the disgust with the Republican Party.

[MadBadger]

136. I dont know if Gore people will automatically go to Hillary

Look at the support Gore has here. I think if he doesnt run, Obama/Edwards will get many of those votes.

[tjwash]

124. I have no idea why she is so damn divisive.

There are at least twenty senators way further to the left than she is, and an equal amount way further to the right. There are also dozens of members of Congress that hail from other states that can be blasted as "carpetbaggers" as well.

I'm not a huge Hillary supporter, but I don't openly loathe her either. Take Bill out of the mix, and what I see is a boring middle of the road centrist who's biggest accomplishment is...nothing. Her stump speeches are a little more than vibrant, and her rhetoric in the press can be pretty hardcore, but really all I see whenever I watch her on CSPAN is another face in a sea of self serving Senators and Congresspeople.

Seriously. Name one major thing she has actually accomplished while Senator (besides getting elected). The peculiar thing is, the only thing, and I mean the ONLY thing I have actually heard (outside of the DU message boards), from people who do not like her as a candidate, is that "she's a bitch."

I've noticed the the rest of the Democratic field isn't working real hard to change that either. They are perfectly content to run their campaigns, and raise their money while she takes all of the hits and heat for the rest of the field.

[RiverStone]

130. Her base - DLC, corporate insiders, folks happy w/the status quo...

Not to mention she's the MSM's darling.

Given her lame position on the IWR, I have also pondered the same question regarding the origin's of her "base" - I certainly don't know one DEM (man or woman) that supports her.

Yes, I'd vote for her over any rethug - but I would not work near as hard for her as I would Gore, Obama, or Clark.

[garybeck]

138. not me. n/t

[Dr Fate]

143. I have an Uncle and 2 friends who like her. I also saw this lady...

...in the safeway parking lot with a "Hillary" canvas bag.

I also saw one Hillary bumper sticker.

The friend of mine I mentioned is a labor negotiator for management seemed to express a slight interest in her too. The other friend I mentioned is an electrician- who likes her simply b/c she pisses off all the red-necks he has to deal with.

I think my Uncle likes her b/c he really liked Bill...

Other than that, the only real passionate Hillary people I meet are at DU.

I've never seen anyone light up at the mention of her name like I see when Obama is the subject.

This is why I find it funny when the DLC/Hillary people tell me "out side of DU, everyone else just LOVES her- you are so out of touch"- for me, it's only DU where I see the passionate people who really seem to love her.

Her base? I imagine it would be some women and some moderates who get most of their news from television.

[ShortnFiery]

144. The DLC, those with over $300,000 in chump change to invest in the stock market ...

but most important allies of HRC are "the political elites" within the beltway, i.e., both representatives and pseudo-journalists. :thumbsdown:

[ronnykmarshall]

153. So glad you mentioned that.

I need to run down to the bank and get another 300,000 clams for this weeks household fund. :eyes:

[aljones]

150. I am Hilary Clinton's Base!!!!

[ThomWV]

154. Nobody I've talked to, in fact quite the opposite.

My friends tend to be very moderate Democrats, many either retired or nearing retirement age. I don't feel any compulsion to support her at all myself. I will give her lip-service support if she comes up the nominee and vote for her but I wouldn't send her a dime.

[mdmc]

155. those who don't like bush

but don't want change.

Hillary has the best shot at winning in 2008. She really has a great shot.:kick:

[WI_DEM]

157. you gotta understand that DU doesn't really represent the mainstream of the Dem party in this

country. The people on this site are by and large much to the left of most people--including most democrats. That is why DK consistently did well on DU polls in 2004 and again this time--when he didn't do nearly as well in the real primaries and caucuses.

[Generator]

158. The status quo

Eight years of Clinton lead to this travesty of eight years of Bush. YEAH I hold them responsible. They court power. They don't want to oust power no matter how fucking rotten to the core it is right before their eyes, and NO ONE knows this better than the Clinton's. Nothing will change with eight years of a Mrs. Clinton either. They will roll over and roll with the fascists once more if there is any threat to this country whether real or imagined. I don't know what day it was, but one day the Clinton's sold their soul to the devil. We will never have an open, decent country with them in power anymore than the Bushes.