Clinton Hits Turbulence

Politico: An Abrupt Shift In The Media Storyline Of Her Campaign

(The Politico)  This story was written by Mike Allen and John F. Harris.

---

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) last week flew into a sudden burst of media wind shear. After months of mostly rosy portrayals of her campaign’s political skill, discipline and inevitability, the storyline shifted abruptly to evasive answers, shady connections and a laugh that sounded like it was programmed by computer.

Clinton’s campaign attributed the change of weather to the vagrant attention span of the national news media, combined with the professional interest of reporters and analysts in ensuring a competitive race for the Democratic nomination.

But the intensity and sharp personal edge of much of the commentary was a reminder of a thread in American political culture reaching back to the early 1990s: the deep and mutual skepticism between the Clintons and the elite media.

Hillary Clinton, like her husband, can take solace in the fact she has survived and prospered amid peevish coverage from New York and Washington news organizations - stories that often echo the buzz in social circles in both cities.

This week’s stories, however, all in various ways highlighted what her strategists and independent analysts have recognized as a genuine challenge for her in 2008: overcoming perceptions that she is a politician so infused with ambition and artifice that she can not connect with ordinary voters. 

The New York Times ran a Sunday story about what it called “the Cackle” - it is actually closer to a guffaw - suggesting that it is the senator’s technique for disarming persistent questioners.

In the same issue of the Times, columnist Frank Rich pondered whether she is too cautious and contrived in a piece headlined, “Is Hillary Clinton the New Old Al Gore?” On the facing page, columnist Maureen Dowd argued that, “Without nepotism, Hillary would be running for the president of Vassar.” 

The day before, columnist Gail Collins had called one of Clinton’s answers from Wednesday’s debate “an excellent example of how to string together the maximum number of weasel words in one sentence.”

The Associated Press ran an unusually harsh post-debate analysis called “Clinton’s evasions,” with the headline: “Evasiveness on issues contradicts image Clinton seeks to project as strong leader.”

And Washington Post columnist David S. Broder complained about her “dodginess” in the debate, and many outlets mocked her answer to who she would root for in a Cubs-Yankees World Series: “Would probably have to alternate sides.”

Even Jon Stewart bared fangs on “The Daily Show,” splicing together clips from Sunday morning shows that his network, Comedy Central, calls “creepy delayed laughter” on a segment called “Hillary’s Laugh Track.” He suggested the candidate was bionic.

Such mockery represents a distinct turn in her coverage of this year. Until lately, most of it has focused on a supposedly “New Hillary:” Someone who is rapidly closing the gap between her husband's and her own political skills, which she has put to use coolly swatting aside potential rivals for the nomination. 

A convergence of factors is now putting emphasis on the supposedly “Old Hillary”: Someone who is ruthless in self-advancement, who may get tripped in the end by her and her husband’s overreaching.

The less flattering storyline was fed by recent revelations about the prominent role that fugitive-from-justice Norman Hsu was playing in her fundraising operations, and a Wall Street Journal story last week raising questions about Bill Clinton’s post-presidential business dealings with a young Italian jet-setter.

The caustic critiques were especially striking because they followed eight days of priceless, overwhelmingly positive press surrounding the rollout of Hillary Clinton’s “American ealth Choices Plan.” Clinton granted at least 19 lengthy interviews to networks, columnists and reporters, producing headlines like “Why it’s better this time” on the cover of Time magazine.

The flak comes at a time when Clinton is dominating polls, with averages kept by Real Clear Politics showing Clinton 17 points ahead of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) nationally, 21 points in New Hampshire and 24 points in Florida.

A Newsweek poll released Saturday found that while Clinton led among all Iowa Democratic voters, “Obama enjoys a slim lead” among likely Democratic caucus-goers.

Clinton aides contend that surprising result is nonsensical, but it is likely to get substantial attention in blogs and news stories this week.

The senator’s staff sounds unsurprised by the sharp turn in the coverage. “These things come in cycles, and the press is invested in making this a race,” a Clinton aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to speak more bluntly. 

“We take the long view, which is that nobody’s voting tomorrow. This is a long race, and the campaign has been built for the long haul. I’d rather be 20 points up than 20 points down.”

The Clinton aide added: “The issues that she is getting the good press on, like health care, are so much more important than the issues that we have gotten the more recent press on. We do not believe that this is a race that’s going to be decided on which candidate has the more melodious laugh.”

The spate of stories does indeed reflect an element of media groupthink, and the tendency of the political press to pile on, to switch storylines to make the coverage more exciting, and to find new twists on broad themes that have been articulated in a few high-profile news outlets.

But in the case of Hillary Clinton, there is a personal dimension. Dating back to the 1992 campaign, she and Bill Clinton were stung by the coverage of his extramarital adventures and her role in the Whitewater land deal. 

Once in the White House, both were disdainful of what they saw as the tendency of Washington and New York journalists to cover personality, political process and scandal over substance. Even late in his presidency, establishment journalists like Howell Raines at The New York Times and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post could provoke profane outbursts from Bill Clinton - attitudes that aides say Hillary Clinton usually shares.

Other campaigns note that Hillary Clinton’s problems go beyond New York and Washington mandarins. In the Rocky Mountain West, there are questions about her electability and polarization, raised in a Sunday piece in the Los Angeles Times. 

The article cited “huge negatives” for Clinton in this region: “The New York senator and Democratic front-runner was by a wide margin the most unpopular of 13 potential presidential candidates in Montana. … Recent polls in Colorado, Nevada and Arizona have found similar distaste for Clinton.”

The senator’s supporters can take comfort in the fact that the new skepticism is a backhanded but distinct compliment: The press corps thinks it knows where the train is heading and doesn’t want it to happen too fast. 

On Slate.com last week, political writer John Dickerson published a piece called “How to Stop Hillary: Six strategies for her Democratic rivals.”

[xlib]

Seems to most thinking,rational Americans that the fact the madame has ties to the likes of hsu and his backers may have something to do with this. Then again, no one but no one can pull off corrupt campaigning better than ms clinton.

[gunownerdan]

Aristocracy
a government or state ruled by an elite, or privileged upper class.

Oligarchy
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

Plutocracy
a government or state in which the wealthy class rules.

At least we get to vote for our favorite one....

[mbcsmith]

Hey LIBS. Go ahead and nominate Hilldog. She is probably the easiest to beat except for maybe Ms. edwards.

[mudrose-2009]

The day before, columnist Gail Collins had called one of Clinton%u2019s answers from Wednesday%u2019s debate %u201Can excellent example of how to string together the maximum number of weasel words in one sentence.%u201D

Like "it depends what Is is?" Can anybody listen to this woman talk without feeling ill. When she speaks my eardrums hurt. That laughter needs a pointy hat, a broom and a cauldron. Add a few pimples, warts and the true Hillary appears.

[hwy71so]

Awwwww. Poor thing.

[jon_mccain]

On Slate.com last week, political writer John Dickerson published a piece called %u201CHow to Stop Hillary: Six strategies for her Democratic rivals.%u201D

The Dixiecrats will never vote for a woman or a black man. The GOP knows this and has spent considerable time trying to destroy 3rd tier candidate John Edwards. The DNC is letting the GOP define the race for them.

[oleander8]

Has this become a posting column for Neo-Cons?

[gunownerdan]

By no means must you be a "neocon" in order to understand how dangerous the Bush/Clinton oligarchy is to the future of America.

[barbjc1]

Isn''t this amazing how the press will flip sides overnight. Anything to bump their ratings, or hits on the Internet sites, or sale of newspapers. Better check this out friends, a poison pen campaign is beginning. This only started after the big O endorsed her buddy "Obama". Interesting!!!

[Imshaken]

The US has never seen a more corrupt and incompetent candidate than we see in Hillary.

Maybe not, but we surely have seen a more incompetent president. Unfortunately, he''s still in office.

[forthepeopl1]

only when the media gets some ball and ask her in front of the media and tv the right questions than and only than will americans wake up to see she is a partner in crime with bush/cheney/clinton

[oscarez]

John Edwards is the best choice for the Democratic Party. Hillary is "Brag" and a "Flash in The Pan". Burns bright but does not last long. Edwards on the other hand is a "Holdfast". Bird dog trainers know that "Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is a better". I think when the "State Primaries" are over Edwards will be the winner.

[starleo146]

Hillary is corrupt & incompetent and has no experience that qualifies her to be president.

Your Proof for this statement IS? Hillary has far more experience than that bimbo in office.

(1) She was first lady to the Pres. for 8 years she saw first hand how the powers that be work and has certainly suffered from the consistent battering of her husband from day 1 of his presidency

(2) She has been a U. S. senator I believe for 2 terms and can certainly work with them

(3) There is no other candidate running that can claim that much experience especially o the republican side and on the democrat side as well.

(4) This is the start of mangle the bi@tch because they hate Bill Clinton.

(5) I haven"t made up my mind who I am going to vote for but she is getting a hard look from me and all the attacks already show me everyone is scared of her she isn''t a sweet little homemaker she has been in politics 35 years and watch her close

[prinzowhales]

Clinton has the support of significant numbers of neo-cons, including the proprietor of the flagship of this evil philosphy, the WEEKLY STANDARD, owned like FOX by Rupert Murdoch.

Like her husband, she is an artful dissembler. If you want to see where this War Pig, just follow her corkscrew tail...it will lead you straight to the slaughter house.

[radiob-2009]

Starleo look at all of her flip flops and hedges on issues. Drew looks better every day in this current field.

[jack3213]

Ah, with heights of popularity come the fall of stardom. Gee, we''ve seen it with everyone ranging from actual celebrities to politicians. It is a fact of life, that she will be destroyed because of herself and who she relates to. Those who favor her are women who understand self righteousness and false pride, those who have been cheated on and stayed, and those who just want a woman to reinforce they can run.Clinton is not qualified just because of her history, if anything it will show she doees not have credibility in spite of what others see. More and more negatives will flow like water doen a river...and she will get very wet.

[pugster]

I don''t see why Hillary as being Evasive. She is probably the most scrutinized candidate out there and has weathered all that scrutiny since her first day as First Lady. Meanwhile, all those Repubs have plenty of time to complain about her Clothes, Hair, Dress, showing off too much skin until next November.

[ioweign]

Like "it depends what Is is?" Can anybody listen to this woman talk without feeling ill. When she speaks my eardrums hurt. That laughter needs a pointy hat, a broom and a cauldron. Add a few pimples, warts and the true Hillary appears.

Posted by mudrose at 09:57 AM : Oct 01, 2007

My, my muddy, you are slicin''em up this morning !

You might as well get use to it. I have a feeling she will be in the WH soon.

The smell of Cowshite will be replaced by Hamamelis !

[thgdriver]

Is that the best this country has to offer?? Two from the Bush family and two from the Clinton family?? We need some new blood to lead this country forward.

[gunnerv1]

How much money did she have to return? Something to the tune of $850,000. Why do the Chinese have such an intrest in the Clintons? When is George Soros (Another Foreigner) going to be cought with his hand in the till? Yeah, Yeah, I already know about the Saudies/Bush connection, My Father worked there for 20 years.

[johnny_chaos]

Hillary is horrible. i think the upcoming election is like choosing between forced oral copulation and forced sodomy. her health care plan is awful, her voice and persona is shrill and annoying... she supports the chimps policys for gods sake. we''ll be in Iraq and with even more government oversight if we end up with her. she is EVIL! the worst case for womans rights. makes me want to scream and stab my eardrums with sharp pencils every time she talks.

I hate her as much as the average fox newsman does.
she isnt a liberal, shes another cog in the destruction of hope for this country. I''d vote for about anyone other then her. Even Huckabee, and he makes me very nervous. not exactly logical, with his total disregard for science and weird health obsession.

bush, clinton, bush, clinton... its a southern conspiracy.

where is seven-pesos when we need him?

[shanev137]

She will never be president.

[nyckate]

starleo146

Being married to Bill is not good enough - she saw/witnessed what it took but she has no real experience in government.

She is in her second term as senator - unfortunately she has not been a senator - it has clearly been nothing but a stepping stone to presidency - she hasn''t done one piece of legistlation, only worked the system to get campaign going - Schumer has done all the work for NY and she''s taking the kudos.

And if you can make heads or tails of her stances hats off to you -I''ve never heard or seen so much doublespeak from one candidate -- other than georgie that is - though I think he just outright lies while Hillary tries to play both ends against the middle.

I voted for Bill twice and would do so again - but can''t support Hillary - am going with Edwards.

[nyckate]

gunnerv1

did you know that it was Bush that completed and finalized that deal that everyone was up in arms over regards Clinton?

And are you aware that georgie''s brother Neal is already entrenched in Dubai business?

[staycalm]

BarbJC1 makes a good point about Oprah...the minute she threw her considerable weight behind Obama, the press began to turn. I have long wondered how Americans can give so much power to a large middle-aged woman who puts her mug on the cover of every magazine she owns every month! And people continue to buy it! Doesn''t that give you some hint about the size of her ego? Do you know of any other celebrity in the world who does this? Even dragon lady Martha Stewart shares covers with some of her ideas but not Oprah...she doesn''t share with anyone. Oprah is the one to watch out for. I believe she is far more dangerous than Hillary. When you hear Hillary''s shrill voice, all the health plans and baby bucks in the world can''t hide the naked ambition beneath it and you pretty much know what kind of woman you''re dealing with but when you tune in to Oprah, you think she''s just like one of you, don''t you. Well she''s nothing like you or me.
She is one of the richest and most powerful women in the world. Now for my predicition...Oprah will run for President in four years after she let''s Hillary do the ground work. All the moms and middle aged women who watch her everyday will vote for her...why? Because she makes them feel all warm and fuzzy and good about themselves and her book club selections that they read faithfully give them fodder for "intellectual" conversation at their next progressive dinner.

[johnny_chaos]

Given the choice, i''d have to go with Oprah. At least she would try and help our national self-esteem. Hillary just wants to legislate more kickbacks for her corporate handlers. not to say i like oprah, i just hate her less. a lot less. not may people make me as agro and hostile as Hillary, i hate her as much as i hate the chimp. actually, i like the chimp better. sure, the chimp is currently sh*tting all over the oval office. but i dont think he actually has a clue as too how screwed up and anti-american values he is. hillary just wants the power at any cost, and will lay with anyone or group that can help her get it. america be damned, she deserves to run the show!

[jsilver2th]

Here''s a looser columnist Maureen Dowd argued that, %u201CWithout nepotism, Hillary would be running for the president of Vassar.%u201D

Are you kidding?

Without Sexism Hillary would have been the Governor of Arkansas and already served her 8 years as President-- who do you think kept Bill propped up?

[dutchfarmer]

Mrs. Billy Clinton couldn''t hold a candle to the Honorable Ron Paul. Ron Paul has more brains in his pinky than Hillary has in her socialist body. If she debated Ron Paul on any subject, she would be the fool. Billy''s wife is the media''s darling. She ought to withdraw from the race and endorse Ron Paul.

[gmcnally2]

We are slaves in the world''s richest country. Ron Paul is the only candidate to offer a solution to set us from from the Establishment. Reformation Now!

[johnny_chaos]

jsilver2th its not sexism. hillary is a nightmare. the only reason she has a chance at being elected is she is a woman. what exactly does she stand for? mostly from what i can tell, she supports the iraq war and wants to give the insurance companys more money. how is that different from the chimp?

[johnny_chaos]

look, the clintons might as well have been republicans. NAFTA, increased surveliance, all the groundwork for the patriot act, were started or continued under them. roving wiretaps increased drug wars, unchecked police powers, all thanks to the clintons. when it was clear global warming was a threat, the clintons opened up shop. the USA sold more weapons to more countrys under the clintons than at any time in our history. the environment was neglected, the markets left unchecked, and everything was for sale. the country didnt progress, it just sold out. bill is a charismatic guy, but basically, he is a southern showman. he could have sold snakeoil. hillary is the brains behind the bubbahead for sure, but without the bill charm, its all a shrill scam. power for the sake of power, whats right be damned.

Bush sr couldnt tell the chimp what was going on. loose lips sink ships and all. the Bushs and the CLintons are working for the same masters.

[gunownerdan]

I wonder how many millions of dollars Wal-Mart has given to Hitlery.

[antoniof123]

What is so funny is this is the same thing that the media does over and over again. First one then the next and they just keep feeding it too us and the funny part we keep eating it. I mean really the President, the staff, congress and even the courts think they are in control but we all have the great equalizer death.

[xlib]

nyckate-funny you should bring up Dubai. Were you aware that while hill was being political and slamming the ports deal ole bubba was lobbying for it?? Are you aware that bubba has been working for Dubai for years?? Look it up sweetie, look it up.

[xlib]

gunnerv-soros owns the democratic party, lock, stock and barrell. He keeps them in line with his considerable wealth, more than the clintons I''ve heard.
It''s funny when the libs slam the Repulicans for being "rich and big business". Look at the average dem candidate and the ties to big money, absolutely laughable.

[xlib]

Hey hill fans, can you tell me why this woman needs to scream and become shrill when she speaks???
Also, has she ever answered a tough question? One last thing, does she know Bush isn''t running again?

[xlib]

oleander-don''t like to listen/read differing opinions? How very liberal of you, all accepting, all tolerant. Typical lib.

[ov442]

XLib, you are full of it. The Repubs have the ties that bind to the criminal enterprises of the big business wealth.
They take the bribes and they give our tax money away to them.
The Dems have no such money, or ties. Unless you call Oprah''s recent backing of Obama "financial ties".
The Clintons left the white house broke. They''ve only recently built up a millionaire portfolio from salaries and speeches, not by sleeping with the energy industry such as the Bush family Enron founders. Al Gore and Edwards are only minor millionaires. Kucinich, Dodd and Richardson have little of their own cash, Biden is barely a millionaire after 30 yrs as a senator. None of these people have any serious ties to money grubbing special interests like the Repugs do.
XLib, you are just a mouthpiece of Fox Noise just like the rest of the GOP supporters.

[ov442]

Oh and Dont use a name like Xlib to pretend you changed sides for some reason. You''re clearly a permanent GOP supporter of crime, bribery, prostitution, ***, child stalkers, hippocrites, drug users and such. Since those are the Republican politicians'' recent moral values.

[marcodele]

Someone posted we are slaves in the world''s richest country. Not true. We are slaves TO the world''s richest country: Saudi Arabia. If you think we are the most powerful country on the planet you are mistaken. There is Saudi Arabia, and many corporations, who are far more powerful than the United States.

[gunownerdan]

Aristocracy
a government or state ruled by an elite, or privileged upper class.

Oligarchy
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

Plutocracy
a government or state in which the wealthy class rules.

[tibu987]

Let me ask this question. Does Hillary have enough experience to be president?
Hillary keeps talking about how much experience she has.
I fail to see how her position as the First Lady during the Clinton years in the White House translates into the great political experience she would like to get people to believe.
I doubt that she sat in on Cabinet meetings, meetings with the military leaders, international leaders, debriefings by the FBI, the CIA, the SEC, and many other important issues.
What she may have learned is the correct way to brew tea and to serve it graciously with her little pinkie in the air.
Let''''s not be swayed by what Hillary and her backers would have you believe about her experience.
What it amounted to was a social experience and a brief term as a New York Senator from a relatively unimportant area.
Being Bubba''''s wife does not entitle Hillary to bash Obama or anyone else for the lack of experience.

[jstivers]

Who is the REAL HILARY?
This story, from CBS news, is more revealing than any story we have seen so far about THE REAL HILARY CLINTON. How soon we forget, or how soon, they hope we will forget. I have not forgotten. The Clintons are the biggest frauds to be in American politics, since Richard Nixon.
Read this story from CBS! The Teflon may be coming off SENATOR HILARY CLINTON%u2019S BID TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE. This is the THE REAL HILARY!
Have a read.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) last week flew into a sudden burst of media wind shear. After months of mostly rosy portrayals of her campaign%u2019s political skill, discipline and inevitability, the storyline shifted abruptly to evasive answers, shady connections and a laugh that sounded like it was programmed by computer.

Is the URL below THE REAL HILARY CLINTON?
View
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/09/hillary-exposed.html

[jstivers]

Is the URL below THE REAL HILARY CLINTON?
View (Since no URL''s are allowed you may have to cut and paste, but the video, IMO, is worth the extra effort:
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/09/hillary-exposed.html

[tibu987]

gunownerdan. include these also:

Fascism: A system of government characterized by a rigid one-party dictatorship (either party), forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprises under centralized government.Control, belligerent nationalism, racism, and militarism, etc.

Despot: An absolute ruler, king, with unlimited powers, autocrat, anyone in charge who acts like a tyrant.

Autocrat: A ruler with absolute power, dictator, despot, anyone having unlimited power over others.
Any domineering self-willed person.

Nepotism: Favoritism shown to relatives, especially appointments do desirable positions.

[nolalou]

tibu987,

Hillary has more political experience than many others who have been elected President, and certainly more than her main rival for the nomination that Barack Obama. She is in the middle of her 2nd six year term in the senate from NY. She represents the entire state, so how the heck do you consider that ''New York Senator from a relatively unimportant area.'' NY is one of the most populated states in the union! Her years in the White House can''t be discounted either.

Don''t get me wrong, I do think she has some shortcomings, and I''m not convinced she''s the best candidate the Democrats have this year, but I wouldn''t call her inexperienced.

[cassandragop]

Five pages with no neocon whining about the Liberal Media. I guess they only cry when they don''t get what they want. All you dittoheads put your front paws in the air and bark: "major dittoes to you, CBS". You done good. Each of you give yourselves a treat.

[coffee_guy1]

If yer look''n fer mister perfect, he got us in 2, maybe 3 wars.

[tiddsanbeer]

Electing Hillary will be even more polarizing than Bush has become. If ALL AMERICANS want true change, ALL AMERICANS must elect somebody that doesn''t start off there term with a 49/51 percent love/hate ratio, like we have seen for the last DECADE. ENOUGH ALREADY.

I think Hillary has the IQ of a dirty nutsack, but, that said, so do some of her rivals.

Therefore, it would be best for this country...and ALL AMERICANS, to elect somebody who both parties can live with, or we will continue to have a divided country and hatesites like this one.

ONE IDEA would be to require that the winner of the next presidential election must win by a 60% margin, or, BOTH candidates are thrown out of the race, and each party must submit an alternate candidate for a re-election..revote... That would cause both parties to move more towards the middle...to fight more for middle america votes...something that ALL AMERICANS can live with...then maybe we can get some progress out of our elected officials...instead of name calling like a bunch of little girls by the sandbox.

[mudrose-2009]

Clinton Hits Turbulence

And I''ll bet it went crying home to Mama.