DUBUQUE, Iowa, Nov. 12, 2007
Clinton Says She's "Driven" To Get Results
Democratic Front-Runner Says Image As Calculating Politician Comes From Pragmatic Focus
-
Play CBS Video Video Flags Tumble At Hillary Event "CBS News Raw": U.S. flags behind Hillary Clinton - usually the perfect campaign backdrop - fall like dominoes at a media availability in Waterloo, IA.
-
Video Clinton On Planted Question "CBS News Raw": Speaking to reporters in Iowa, Hillary Clinton addresses reports of a planted question at an earlier campaign stop in the state. "It will certainly not be tolerated," says Clinton.
-
Video Stumbles On The Campaign Trail Vaughn Ververs, Sr. Political Editor for CBSNews.com, discusses Hillary Clinton's stumbles along the campaign trail and what it means for her fellow democratic presidential hopefuls.
-
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a campaign stop at a United Auto Workers regional conference on Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP)
-
Photo Essay Hillary Clinton A look at a life and career full of firsts.
"It's a passion that I carry with me every single day," Clinton said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. "I also know that I live in the real world and I have to figure out how we're going to get these changes done."
The price she pays for pragmatism is to sometimes be viewed as calculating, the New York senator said.
"I see it as harnessing my passion to actually get results and make a difference in people's lives," she said. "I care deeply, but I also know I've got to build coalitions, I've got to bring people together. That's what I've been doing and that's what I will do."
In the interview, she dismissed suggestions that revelations her campaign had planted questions during campaign stops in Iowa reinforced any image for calculation.
"I think in campaigns things happen and you just go on, and that's certainly what I've done for 35 years and it's what I've done for eight years in the White House and now seven years in the Senate," said Clinton. She has indicated she knew nothing about the planted questions, but some of her rivals have cited the issue to argue she is less than genuine.
"People can look at my record," said Clinton. "My whole life, going back 35 years has been driven by my passions for improving the lives of children and families, making our country fairer and more equal and creating opportunity for people."
Clinton has forged a significant lead over her rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination in national surveys, but polls show the race much more competitive in Iowa where rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards are criticizing her vigorously.
Asked if she could survive an early loss, Clinton said, "I can survive setbacks, I've survived a lot of setbacks in my life. I don't see them as anything other than the natural ebb and flow of life and politics."
Some strategists argue that it will be tough to stop Clinton should she pull off a win in Iowa because her poll standings elsewhere are solid and would be reinforced by a win against tough competition in the leadoff caucus state.
"I don't have any illusions that it's going to be smooth sailing, it hardly ever is in life or politics," said Clinton. "I'm just getting up every day and doing the best I can and trying to reach out to as many people as possible."
Clinton also argued that she's the Democrat best able to win in the general election.
"First, I've been tested, I've been through it," said Clinton. "I have no illusions about what the Republicans will do to keep the White House."
That experience has hardened and prepared her for a brutal national campaign, she said.
"I think I have been making a lot of progress in this election because people are seeing me, they are getting a firsthand view of who I am and what I care about and what I want to do as president," she said.
Clinton said she expects the nomination to be settled quickly, probably within a month of Iowa's Jan. 3 caucuses.
"I'm running like I'm 50 points behind because I know how fast things can turn, I understand the crosscurrents in any political campaign," said Clinton. "I started out so far behind in Iowa."
Clinton said she's flattered to be in a field that includes a woman, a black man and a Hispanic candidate, but that won't determine the outcome.
"People aren't going to vote for us because of who we are, they will vote for us because what we'll do, what we've done and what difference we can make," said Clinton.
Clinton spoke to The AP after a speech to 250 delegates to a regional convention of the United Auto Workers, during which she sought to ease their worries on trade issue. A key difference between labor and former President Clinton was his pushing agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement, which union leaders argue ships jobs overseas and forces American workers to compete with low-wage workers abroad.
"When I'm president we'll have a time-out to take stock of where we are on trade," said Sen. "Every trade agreement has to be independently, objectively analyzed."
Union activists play a key role in Iowa's caucuses, and Clinton sought to bolster her ties.
"I am going to do everything I can to move toward smart trade," said Clinton. "I don't want to be in a race to the bottom."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Politics
Add a Comment See all 86 Comments
- Adults who believe in fairy tales CAN''''T be taken seriously.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:10 AM : Nov 13, 2007
In your opinion. Its sad the loss you have to believe this - Reply to this comment
- If you think we don''''t have our own jihadist right here in America, you''''re fooling yourselves. Evangelicals want to achieve the above agenda for YOUR OWN GOOD. You think bombing an abortion clinic was bad, you ain''''t seen nothin'''' yet.
How ever you vote, vote to keep the separation of Church and State
Candide are you insane. None of these things are factual. Not one person I know nor preacher I have ever heard have stated what you have stated. I have attended multiple churches and read the bible. The tenet of the new testament is to hate the sin but love the sinner. God loves you no matter what - Reply to this comment
- OMG
DID YOU ALL SEE THAT RED PANTSUIT SHE WAS WEARING???
SHE LOOKS LIKE TOTALLY LIKE A GEEK FER SURE - Reply to this comment
- Posted by Candide777
-Jankebenz is no hypocrite. He speaks something you cannot stand to hear...the TRUTH. Something you can''''t handle.
Posted by singinrick at 04:47 AM : Nov 13, 2007
LOL - That''s a great Jack Nicholson impersonation! You''re right, I can''t handle the Truth (like scientific fact), so instead, I take comfort in primitive fairy tales and man-made lies written by those who claimed to speak for God, sort of like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum. - Reply to this comment
- Top Reasons Liberals Are Afraid of Evangelicals
1) Abortion -- punishable by death
2) Masturbation -- punishable by death
3) Homosexuality -- punishable by death
4) Disobeying Your Husband -- punishable by death
5) Adultery -- punishable by death
6) Judaism -- punishable by death
7) Islamism -- punishable by death
8) Atheism -- punishable by death
9) Blasphemy -- punishable by death
10) Saying the earth revolves around the sun -- punishable by death*
*Some Evangelicals now accept the science on this one.
If you think we don''t have our own jihadist right here in America, you''re fooling yourselves. Evangelicals want to achieve the above agenda for YOUR OWN GOOD. You think bombing an abortion clinic was bad, you ain''t seen nothin'' yet.
How ever you vote, vote to keep the separation of Church and State. - Reply to this comment
- The Clintons are both members of the CFR(Council on Foreign Relations) just like Bush, Cheney, Obama, Giuliani, Edwards, Romney, Biden, McCain, Richardson, and Thompson to name a few.
The CFR has hijacked the foreign policy of both parties and their main goal is to destroy American sovereignty and our constitution leading to the formation of a North American Union with Canada and Mexico.
Dr. Ron Paul is NOT a member of the CFR and he is the only anti-war and pro-liberty candidate running for president.
ronpaul2008.com - Reply to this comment
- 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. - Reply to this comment
- Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: but he that confesses the Son has the Father also. -1 John 2:22-23
Posted by singinrick at 04:56 AM : Nov 13, 2007
Bingo -- you nailed it Rick! The reason liberals think they are intellectually superior is because they don''t go around accusing others of being the anti-christ just because they don''t agree with their own personal superstitious beliefs, AND, they respect your right to have your own superstitious belief. They just wish you''d keep it to yourself and stop trying to inject it into our government, which necessarily is tolerant of diverse beliefs. I might add that if you weren''t so insecure about your own beliefs, you wouldn''t feel the need to force them down everyone''s throats without an ounce of logic to help us swallow. You might want to ask yourself why you are so afraid of being wrong that you need everyone else to agree with you to make you feel better. - Reply to this comment
- Headline: "Clinton Says She''s "Driven" To Get Results"
Good. Maybe she should be "driven" to communist China and dropped off at their doorstep. Her policies would work great there. - Reply to this comment
- Top 10 Reasons Why Liberals Hate Christians
Posted by singinrick at 04:56 AM : Nov 13, 2007
I don''t know about "hating" Christains, but the number one reason why Christians aren''t taken seriously:
Adults who believe in fairy tales CAN''T be taken seriously. - Reply to this comment
- candide-so I guess her alliance with the chi-coms doesn''''t bother you??
As for the reference to ex coke addict, do you REALLY believe that with this biotch''''s she hasn''''t dabbled?? Oh yea, bubban didn''''t inhale and all you dimwits believed him.
Listen, just try and find anyone of the Woodstock/60''''s who hasn''''t dabbled in something. Besides, look to your own party, chock full of deviants and you love them.
As for her being practical, PLEASE. Maybe you want a socialist country, the majority of us don''''t.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Xlib at 06:26 AM : Nov 13, 2007
+ report abuse
Sparky YOU are ONE desperate Nazi and that''s a fact!! I guess you aren''t satisfied with the total FAILURE of the last 7 years huh? YOU and the rest of the Gestapo are back for more?? Want us all to follow you clowns to the bunker do you??? ROFLMAO Can you say MADAME PRESIDENT??? ROFLMAO You losers can''t beat the Clintons and the MORE you throw out this trash the HIGHER their approval get''s...don''t you remember? What am I asking? I''m asking a "ditto head" to remember something other than the propaganda from the reich... NEVER MIND!! ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush!!! - Reply to this comment
- And moveon.org and George Soros are leading the charge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by singinrick at 04:46 AM : Nov 13, 2007
+ report abuse
HEY folks!! A member of the "Toe Tappin Association" is back. ROFLMAO Here''s someone who sold their Vote to someone for no other reason than that Politician PROMISED to exclude certain American''s from our Constitution. LOL The problem? They used this poor fool like a two bit Hooker and here he is telling us who''s the bad guys in the Clinton Champaign?? ROFLMAO No offense Ricky but after Bush and the rest of this fascist administration, I hardly think YOU are someone ANYONE should be listening too. Sieg Heil Bush!! Say Ricky! Are you a Peeker or a Wide Stance Guy? ROFLMAO SIEG HEIL and AMEN!! - Reply to this comment
- Thankfully the wheels are falling off her wagon so she will not be Driven too far.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by drinuk at 06:34 AM : Nov 13, 2007
+ report abuse
LOL Yeah think? LOL Better check the facts there Sparky.. I can''t find her behind anywhere in ANY free state... maybe it''s just wishful thinking on your part??? Sieg Heil Bush - Reply to this comment
- "First, I''ve been tested, I''ve been through it," said Clinton.
Obama is criticized for his lack of experience yet he''s won more elections and has served longer as a legislator than Hillary has...... - Reply to this comment
- She is really Driven, she''s driven to quadruple her bank account, Driven to Flim Flam all over the country and finally she''s Drivin me crazy.
Thankfully the wheels are falling off her wagon so she will not be Driven too far. - Reply to this comment
- candide-so I guess her alliance with the chi-coms doesn''t bother you??
As for the reference to ex coke addict, do you REALLY believe that with this biotch''s she hasn''t dabbled?? Oh yea, bubban didn''t inhale and all you dimwits believed him.
Listen, just try and find anyone of the Woodstock/60''s who hasn''t dabbled in something. Besides, look to your own party, chock full of deviants and you love them.
As for her being practical, PLEASE. Maybe you want a socialist country, the majority of us don''t. - Reply to this comment
- Well, driven is one word to describe her but it isn''t the first to come to mind. HOw can the smartest woman in the world swear to get results when she professes to be in the dark about so many things. I would love to see those documents she won''t release. And if any lib out there says that it it common practice for a previous president to seal the documents from their presidency, well, guess that goes for firing of justices now doesn''t it??
It is unusual for bubba to have them sealed for 12 years, that''s not the norm. And why is it so hard for them to be released? If sandy berger could get confidential documents for the clintons, well, send him in. Done deal.
So, where''s the flap, where''s the outrage. We heard for 8 years how we got a "twofor" so what she did and said in those 8 years is quite relevent.
I''ll play dem-I DEMAND THAT THOSE DOCUMENTS BE RELEASED!
Maybe they stuck some where in an attic. - Reply to this comment
- never a war the ----- couldn''t lose.
jefferson davis lost his,
johnson lost his
bush will lose his.
the ----- has lost every war they started.
idiot -------- cr--ps are only good for sunday afternoon parades
in their tight-butt uniforms.
ha,ha,ha.
war, division, arrogance, ph--y christian cr--ps, cr--ked republican s--kes...
nothing good comes out of the -----! - Reply to this comment
- Have you all heard that you can support your favorite candidate by casting a NetVote at
www.netvote2008.com
...and that you can change your selection at any time? This sounds like a great way to make sure my opinion gets heard. - Reply to this comment
- you won''t find america''s enemies in the middle east...
you''ll find them in the -------- states of america.
war making, bible thumping, flag waving, ph--y christian, republican snake -------ers...
bush''s kind of people.
war, hate, arrogance, division, evangelist cr--ps...
nothing good comes out of the -----! - Reply to this comment
