Clinton Adopts Edwards' Populist Tone

Washington Post: Democratic Candidate Takes On Corporations In Speeches Aimed At Working Class

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Perry Bacon Jr. and Alec MacGillis.

---

Blasting "companies shamelessly turning their backs on Americans" by shipping jobs overseas and railing that "it is wrong that somebody who makes $50 million on Wall Street pays a lower tax rate than somebody who makes $50,000 a year," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton increasingly sounds like one of her old Democratic rivals, former senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

Eager to recapture the white, working-class voters who favored her in some of the early primaries but who have since shifted to Sen. Barack Obama, Clinton traded her usual wonky style this weekend for a fiery, populist tone in speeches in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island.

Instead of giving precise policy details, she repeatedly pointed her finger skyward, declared that Americans "got shafted under President Bush" and cast herself as a fighter, as Edwards often described himself, promising to help most Americans, not just the "wealthy and the connected."

In an appearance here Sunday afternoon, she mocked Obama's hopeful rhetoric, declaring that it is not the answer to fighting entrenched interests.

"I could stand up here and say, 'Let's just get everybody together, let's get unified, the sky will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing, and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect,'" she said, as people cheered and laughed. "You are not going to wave a magic wand and have the special interests disappear."

But her rhetoric did not go unanswered. In trying to reach the same working-class voters, Obama continued to emphasize over the weekend that Clinton was part of the White House that pushed the North American Free Trade Agreement through Congress and highlighted remarks Clinton made in support of the deal.

On Saturday, Clinton charged Obama with sending out a mailer that unfairly quoted her as saying that NAFTA had been a "boon" for America, a word that Obama acknowledged Clinton had not used. But the senator from Illinois kept up his attack on Sunday while speaking to dozens of workers at a gypsum plant in Lorain, Ohio.

"Yesterday, Senator Clinton also said I'm wrong to point out that she once supported NAFTA. But the fact is, she was saying great things about NAFTA until she started running for president. A couple years after it passed, she said NAFTA was a 'free and fair trade agreement' and that it was 'proving its worth.' And in 2004, she said, 'I think, on balance, NAFTA has been good for New York state and America.'"

The senator from New York has tried to distance herself from NAFTA, which is unpopular among workers in manufacturing who believe the deal has contributed to the movement of jobs overseas. In Ohio on Saturday, Clinton argued that while NAFTA "passed" during husband Bill Clinton's administration in 1993, President George H.W. Bush actually "negotiated" the deal. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D), a Clinton backer, told Bloomberg News this weekend that Bill Clinton told him Hillary Clinton had opposed NAFTA in 1993.

In Lorain, Obama blamed NAFTA for the loss of 1 million jobs since 1994, including 50,000 in the Buckeye State, and ridiculed Clinton's efforts to distance herself from the trade deal. "It was her own husband who got NAFTA passed," Obama said. "In her own book, Senator Clinton called NAFTA one of 'Bill's successes' and 'legislative victories.'"

Clinton is trying to assume the populist mantle of Edwards -- whom she described in December as "screaming," in his critiques of special interests -- with March 4 looming as the decisive day for her candidacy. Four states will vote that day, but Bill Clinton, among others, has said that his wife must win the two largest -- Ohio and Texas -- to continue her campaign.

Her campaign aides say wooing both working-class voters and middle-income people concerned about the economy is crucial, particularly in Ohio.

"These are the voters who are up for grabs," said Doug Hattaway, a Clinton adviser.

During the campaign, Clinton has often criticized trade agreements and the movement of jobs overseas. Over the weekend, she adopted a far more pointed tone and spent a lot of time emphasizing her populist message, reducing mentions of issues such as balancing the budget that have been standard in her speeches. She spent less time on the intricacies of her health-care plan and her proposal to withdraw troops from Iraq, heeding advice from aides who have urged her to speak in broader terms.

Clinton is seeking to get past the loss of 11 straight contests to Obama and to shore up the support of groups that have been key to her candidacy. In the states where she has performed strongly, Clinton has won among households with less than $50,000 in income, among people without college degrees and among families with at least one member in a labor union. But in last week's primary in Wisconsin, she lost all three groups.

White, working-class men, in particular, are a key voting bloc in a race where blacks have overwhelmingly supported Obama and white women have backed Clinton. A Washington Post-ABC News poll last week showed Clinton leading overall in Ohio, where she led among white men, while the candidates were tied in Texas, where Obama had an advantage among white men.

James Rivard, a Cleveland technician who was polled and whose family makes less than $50,000, said he is leaning toward Obama but wants to hear more about the economy. "My income has been stagnant for like 12 years now, but my expenses have continued to go up, while all of this capital is leaving the country every year," he said.

Edwards's campaigns in 2004 and 2008 targeted working-class voters, and both Obama and Clinton have adopted some of his language about the plight of low-income voters as they seek to win over the group. In the weeks since Edwards dropped out of the race, Clinton and Obama have enthusiastically courted his endorsement and noted their support for reducing poverty, one of the key planks of his candidacy.

At a debate Thursday night in Austin, Clinton closed with a statement similar to one Edwards often used.

"Whatever happens, we're going to be fine. . . . I just hope that we'll be able to say the same thing about the American people, and that's what this election should be about," she said.

At a Dec. 13 debate, Edwards said: "All of us are going to be just fine, no matter what happens in this election. But what's at stake is whether America is going to be fine."

[jack3213]

CLINTON IS WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHINHG.
OBAMA IS A MUSLIM.
MCCAIN IS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.
Very simple.

[jack3213]

CLINTON IS A WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING.
OBAMA IS A MUSLIM.

MCCAIN IS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.
Very simple.

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Clinton fans don%u2019t see their standard-bearer%u2019s troubles this way. In their view, their highly substantive candidate was unfairly undone by a lightweight showboat who got a free ride from an often misogynist press and from naove young people who lap up messianic language as if it were Jim Jones%u2019s Kool-Aid. Or as Mrs. Clinton frames it, Senator Obama is all about empty words while she is all about action and hard work.

But it%u2019s the Clinton strategists, not the Obama voters, who drank the Kool-Aid. The Obama campaign is not a vaporous cult; it%u2019s a lean and mean political machine that gets the job done. The Clinton camp has been the slacker in this race, more words than action, and its candidate%u2019s message, for all its purported high-mindedness, was and is self-immolating.

The gap in hard work between the two campaigns was clear well before Feb. 5. Mrs. Clinton threw as much as $25 million at the Iowa caucuses without ever matching Mr. Obama%u2019s organizational strength. In South Carolina, where last fall she was up 20 percentage points in the polls, she relied on top-down endorsements and the patina of inevitability, while the Obama campaign built a landslide-winning organization from scratch at the grass roots. In Kansas, three paid Obama organizers had the field to themselves for three months; ultimately Obama staff members outnumbered Clinton staff members there 18 to 3.

[taotxzen]

(cont)

The Clinton camp was certain that its moneyed arsenal of political shock-and-awe would take out Barack Hussein Obama in a flash. The race would %u201Cbe over by Feb. 5,%u201D Mrs. Clinton assured George Stephanopoulos just before New Year%u2019s. But once the Obama forces outwitted her, leaving her mission unaccomplished on Super Tuesday, there was no contingency plan. She had neither the boots on the ground nor the money to recoup.

That%u2019s why she has been losing battle after battle by double digits in every corner of the country ever since. And no matter how much bad stuff happened, she kept to the Bush playbook, stubbornly clinging to her own Rumsfeld, her chief strategist, Mark Penn. Like his prototype, Mr. Penn is bigger on loyalty and arrogance than strategic brilliance. But he%u2019s actually not even all that loyal. Mr. Penn, whose operation has billed several million dollars in fees to the Clinton campaign so far, has never given up his day job as chief executive of the public relations behemoth Burson-Marsteller. His top client there, Microsoft, is simultaneously engaged in a demanding campaign of its own to acquire Yahoo.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

Published on Sunday, February 24, 2008 by The New York Times

The Audacity of Hopelessness
by Frank Rich

When people one day look back at the remarkable implosion of the Hillary Clinton campaign, they may notice that it both began and ended in the long dark shadow of Iraq.

It%u2019s not just that her candidacy%u2019s central premise - the priceless value of %u201Cexperience%u201D - was fatally poisoned from the start by her still ill-explained vote to authorize the fiasco. Senator Clinton then compounded that 2002 misjudgment by pursuing a 2008 campaign strategy that uncannily mimicked the disastrous Bush Iraq war plan. After promising a cakewalk to the nomination - %u201CIt will be me,%u201D Mrs. Clinton told Katie Couric in November - she was routed by an insurgency.

(cont)

[pensacola88]

When the troop pullout is initiated, the price of oil will fall immediately to $70 a barrel and then downward to $50. The American dollar will regain value against the Euro Dollar that has been lost for the past 5 years. Inflation fears will vanish and proseperity will return. It will take 2 1/2 years to see the international foriegn exchange reversal. The Dow Jones will climb to 16,000 points in the first year. It would be a good time to pull equities out of foriegn invesments and move them back to domestic.

[jerkeedoodle]

Cool!The Decepticon transforms again.Must have the optional "Morphomatic" transmission.

[miaw77]

To Jack 3213:

Despite the hate speech spewing from uneducated bigots like yourself all over the internet, Barack Obama still leads both Hillary Clinton and John McCain in every single national general election poll (even the one conducted by FOX News).

Maybe if you spent less time spreading gossip (God forgive you) and a little more time, I don''t know, ACTUALLY READING / EDUCATING YOURSELF, you might actually make a little bit of sense.

RE: THE MUSLIM ACCUSATION - Obama is not now, and never was Muslim. Obama''s Bio Dad (non-practicing Muslim) left him when he was only 2. He only knew his Step-Dad for 4 years (age 6-10) when they lived in Indonesia. Obama DID NOT attend a madrassa there. He attended 2 schools in Indonesia - one was for kids of all religions - and one, which he attended for 2 years, was a private Catholic school.

Every news organization from CNN to Newsweek that actually bothered to research the accusations circulated by people like you sending OBAMA SMEAR EMAILS over the past year has concluded AND PROVEN that every accusation is false.

So you are either completely ignorant or a liar. You choose.

You must be very proud!

[mistered9]

bout what anyone says aboutMcCain? Obama is buying the election just like in the past. The only way we can get a honest election is to devide all money given to candaates and the one with the popular votes wins. Were in a dictatorship where money countsd.
Hero worship is strongest where there is least reguard for human interest.

[mistered9]

Hero-worship is strongest where there is least reguard for human interest,
Lets face it the election is again being bought. The Bush style wins again. This Country has turned to ductatorship quilities if you have the money honey you have the election.
Only fair wau is to devide all money given to candates and majority of votes wins, I don''t know what idiot dreamed up this idea of voting.

[omega39-2009]

MCCAIN IS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.
Very simple.


Posted by jack3213

You''ll be lucky if the old man lasts that long.

[trillion1]

We voted for Clinton the first time. She is our senator. WE now know she will say anything to get elected. Everything she told us was a lie.

[rowdytexan2]

We voted for Clinton the first time. She is our senator. WE now know she will say anything to get elected. Everything she told us was a lie.


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Posted by trillion1 at 09:31 AM : Feb 25, 2008

As will Obama, get real! Look at all the krap he''s pulled!

[jonsid2]

Clinton has yet to understand: It''s not the message - it''s the messenger.

[rowdytexan2]

"Hero-worship is strongest where there is least reguard for human interest,"

Exactly! This election has been treated like an American Idol contest! The consequences of this election are great, and competence is truly important!

For God''s sakes, we''ve just had 7 years of incompetent buffoonery in the White House!

[DCropp]

Clinton campaign, your constant changes scare Americans. It wasn''t long ago that you attacked Edwards. Now, you''re trying to mimic him to get his endorsement and votes.

Which Hillary are we supposed to believe? In nearly 30 years of voting, I have never witnessed a campaign that changes every week.

Last week, you were more kind. This week, you are attacking. What''s next? Are you going to suddenly become kind a couple days before 4 more states vote?

Hillary, why is it you can have STRONG lobbyist put together a group that runs adds against Obama (last week)? When a union decides to turn the table and run adds against Clinton (this week), it''s wrong.

Hillary, perhaps you never learned this saying. Do not throw stones when you live in a glass house. Sooner or later, someone will throw a stone back.

[xlib]

No obama stories today, cbs?? There''s a story on another site that tells about how louis farakhan just loves obama. The same farakhan that has made some really nasty speeches against white people. Of course he''s not been brought to task for it because after all, he''s black,etc,etc.
So, just why isn''t this story being run here??
As for clinton, number 1 cbs, get a new picture of the biotch. This is the same picture you ran with the other clinton stories for the past week.
As for her "adopting WHATEVER", this is news???? She''ll say anything to get elelcted and do anything to get elected. Just wait for the flack over the Florida delegates. Can''t wait.
This biotch is supposedly my senator, didn''t vote for her but she bought the election and got in. She has done squat, squat for the state. I want to know what I''m paying her for.

[juan343]

Clinton and Obama make me want to puke. McCain is a Clinton wannabe who basically is more Pro-War. All three of these fools who keep talking about how much they care about the American people, voted YEA (Yes) to authorize the Patriot Act, which undermines all of our civil liberties (urban, rural, whatever). If the average American knew what these crack pot politicians were doing to our basic rights as American citizens, I think they would be outraged (well, may be I am wrong on that point, but they really should be in my opinion).
Please, please, please. I hope a Third Party is going to emerge that will call for the Repeal of the Patriot Act, as well as oppose the McClinObama train wreck policies of bigger government, more subsidies, less civil rights, and higher taxes.
The Socialist Democratic and Socialist Republican parties will continue to ruin this country, by increasing taxes on the people that are productive citizens, thereby, creating a huge disinsentive to increase productivity.
We subsidize welfare, we get more of it.
We subsidize illegal immigration (free health care, free education), we get more of it.

[hook1950]

And what will it be tomorrow, Hillary? Just goes to prove my thinking all along, that Billary has no convictions--only a lust for power.

[briannorwood]

Hillary Chamelion...flip flop on NAFTA and then get angry that anybody would call her on it.

Hillary, it''s not your position papers, wonkish views on the issues, "35 years of experience" that people don''t like... IT''S YOU. We just don''t like you. Plain and simple.

[trillion1]

Sorry. By my clinton post a moment ago I didn''t mean I would vote for obama or mccain either. None of them is worth my vote.

[skymountain3]

Clinton will do anything to get elected.

[jack3213]

MIAW77- "SPEW" YOUR OWN BS- MAKES NO MATTER- WHEN THE MANCHURAIN CANDIDATE IS FINALLY REVEALED YOUR EMBARRESMENT WILL BE WELL WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.

[fstop100]

I thought I saw here nose grow longer when she spoke.

[drinuk]

Oh Boy!! What a choice we are left with, The Wicked Witch of the West, The Lobby Champ Obam! and a chip of the GOP block McCain, frozen in time.

We have missed out a real change with Ron Paul and no one else even comes close.

CBS; Did your all powerful unbiased news machine miss the Ralph Nader annoucement ? or did you not consider it newsworthy? Because frankly he is the best chance we have, what a dream team that would be for the American people - Nader and Paul ! Not so good for Big Pharma and Corporate America and certainly bad news for the Wall Street Crooks but for ordinary folks it would be Salvation from evil.

[shayjo-2009]

I was so happy about the Clinton''s in the 1990''s. They seemed like a refreshing change to GHWB - "41". But, as I look at what they have done through this campaign and the coldness and brazen "politics" of deception and saying "anything" to win, I became an Obama supporter. It is really very simple to me. The Bush-Clinton-Bush-?Clinton dynasty?? Haven''t we all had enough of Hillary and her snide remarks? I am a sick and tired of her and I just hope Obama wraps it up on March 4th. I will NEVER vote for Clinton and I am a pure Democrat. It will be the first election that I sit out since 1988(when I cast my first vote as a young woman full of hope and ideals)if the choice is between her and McCain. God help us all if that happens. I am DISAPPOINTED IN THE CLINTON''s. I think it is very clear that most people are. I am not one of those democrats who thinks we have "2-rock stars" in the campaign. We have only ONE sensible choice and that is Obama. I can''t wait for Clinton and her minions to be silenced this campaign season so that we can support Mr. Obama - Mr. President!!!

[shayjo-2009]

Dear badaxmofo,
I admit when I am wrong. The CLINTONS are WRONG and I was WRONG about them. But, I did get a clue, a hint, a suggestion, an epiphany that tells me that OBAMA will and can be an outstanding president. What he has done with his grass roots campaign, organization on the ground, his ability to build bridges across values, races and ideas is remarkable. Don''t you want a president who can be successful and pull us all into the process? I feel like we have a real chance to correct our course in America and abroad. More of the same is just more of the same. God bless Mr. Obama - our next President!!

[twocanpete]

Rich young ruler give away your wealth then talk to me about populism. Clinton doesn''t want to tax the rich their fair share. If she did she wouldn''t have rejected Obama''s idea of extending the Social Security witholding tax to all income. This alone would pay for universal health insurance.

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/

[easeup-2009]

Clinton criticizing trade agreements that HER HUSBAND signed?????

No one has screwed the American worker more than Bill Clinton--history will show that his China trade policy was the beginning of the end for American manufacturing.

[rogerspebble]

Once upon a time my husband cheated,and told me he would never do it again;well,he lied, and had a relationship for 12 years,and felt up other woman while in office. Oh well...he''s comming home to me anyway,so I''ll just patch things up and move on;hmmmm..I''ll run for President and use the poor old fool while my chances of winning are still great.

Sincerely,
My Readers

[citizenusa-2009]

I wish Ralph Nader would run for President. After Barack and Hillary beat each other bloody, at least there would be a Democractic alternative to the war-monger McCain.

[citizenusa-2009]

I did read today that a significant amount of Marines are being deployed from Iraq to Afgahnistan. I thought the Repubs said a draw down from Iraq would have dire consequences? So, it''s NOT okay for them to come home, but it IS okay for them to go fight in another country??? I''m really confused!!

[easeup-2009]

"I''''m really confused!!

Posted by CitizenUSA at 10:54 AM : Feb 25, 2008"

Yes. Yes you are.

[fishinfool43]

Wasn''t she all for NAFTA? Shame on her. Someone should really tell her the flip flop act is already taken in this circus.

[hawksprings]

Some posters here make a most Excellent Point.
When Obama uses other people''s material he is plagiarizing.
But when Hillary uses other people''s stuff, it''s "adopting".

Clinton Broadcast System, can you please explain the difference??

[boatdocster]

Clinton - Nice, angry, nice all within 1 week.

Copies her husbands comments in closing debate statement and now wants to reinvent her self as Edwards...

THEN criticizes Obama for using a friends lines at the recommendation of his friend!

Tells someone an awful lot about HRC, and none of it good.

[winchesterla]

We already know Hillary. Don''t we? Changing tone seems a state of desperation to win vote not principle. Perhaps these slippery vote hunters think we are so foolish and we are!!!

[feddupp]

Well, "citizen," you just GOT your WISH! Ralph Nader has announced he IS now running for President again.
I''d say "be careful what you wish for!"

[hawksprings]

Go Home Hillary!
Posted by jh6379

Amen to that.

[prinzowhales]

Ralph Nader for President! A vote for Clinton or Obama is a vote flushed down the hopper.

The de-industrialization of America has been going on for decades and now that Hillary is losing to the chameleon, Obama, she starts talking about it. To ''ell with Hillary!

[l8c6]

All the right wing neo con Hillary haters are loving this. McCain 08? Nader 08 ?

All can go straight to he*ll

[godseyesore-2009]

What else is she going to try? Desperation is apparent.

[hawksprings]

Prinzowhales,
After watching Hillary these last fews days, wouldn''t you say she''s a chameleon too?
Angry, Happy, Crying, Sarcastic, Conciliatory, Angry,
She changes her public personna more often than Brittany Spears goes in and out of rehab.
I wonder how Hillary remembers which temprament to wear each time she goes out.

[l8c6]

If you want war and privatization of the United States, the continuing erosion of the United States and the return to old world elite rule, vote McCain.

If you want to stir the hornets nest and demand real change, Vote Nader.

[drinuk]

Feddupp, Nader anouced it live on NBC SATURDAY, the other media Gods feeling left out did not cover the story.

If you really want to keep up with Worldwide worthy news broadcasting go to www.bbc.co.uk

Nader and Ron Paul would be a very sensible middle of the road direction for America, if Not for the Wall Street Crooks supporting the other three crooks.

[fishinfool43]

After watching Hillary these last fews days, wouldn''''t you say she''''s a chameleon too?
Angry, Happy, Crying, Sarcastic, Conciliatory, Angry,

some days, Prozac don''t quite work.

[truthspeake2]

Some posters here make a most Excellent Point.
When Obama uses other people''''s material he is plagiarizing.
But when Hillary uses other people''''s stuff, it''''s "adopting".

Clinton Broadcast System, can you please explain the difference??


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by hawksprings at 10:59 AM : Feb 25, 2008


Great post...and like you, I will await their answer!

[fortworther]

I heard a soundbite from Obama yesterday. It went something like this: We got CEO''s making 200 times the worker''s pay.

This sounds suspiciously like a line from am Iris DeMent song called "Wasteland of the Free." Copyright infringement?

[hawksprings]

I hope Texans and Ohioans are noticing Hillary''s instability.
It''s up to them to send her home to bake cookies.

[godofredo29]

Former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers says Clinton can''t win because she''s a woman. Go figure her saying that.