Poll Shows Erosion Of Trust In Clinton

Washington Post: Majority Of Voters Now View N.Y. Senator As Dishonest

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Anne E. Kornblut and Jon Cohen.

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Lost in the Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign's aggressive attacks on Barack Obama in recent days is a deep and enduring problem that threatens to undercut any inroads Clinton has made in her struggle to overtake him in the Democratic presidential race: She has lost trust among voters, a majority of whom now view her as dishonest.

Her advisers' efforts to deal with the problem -- by having her acknowledge her mistakes and crack self-deprecating jokes -- do not seem to have succeeded. Privately, the aides admit that the recent controversy over her claim to have ducked sniper fire on a trip to Bosnia probably made things worse.

Clinton is viewed as "honest and trustworthy" by just 39 percent of Americans, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, compared with 52 percent in May 2006. Nearly six in 10 said in the new poll that she is not honest and trustworthy. And now, compared with Obama, Clinton has a deep trust deficit among Democrats, trailing him by 23 points as the more honest, an area on which she once led both Obama and John Edwards.

Among Democrats, 63 percent called her honest, down 18 points from 2006; among independents, her trust level has dropped 13 points, to 37 percent. Republicans held Clinton in low regard on this in the past (23 percent called her honest two years ago), but it is even lower now, at 16 percent. Majorities of men and women now say the phrase does not apply to Clinton; two years ago, narrow majorities of both did.

Advisers argue that her positive ratings have dipped as she has been defined by her opponents -- a normal campaign occurrence -- and that her honesty problem reflects the pounding she took from Republicans in the 1990s. But the Bosnia incident and the way the campaign handled it have left advisers divided over what a candidate can do after such a steep drop in trust.

Some of her aides believe that after Clinton told the Bosnia story -- of having run from her military aircraft into a hangar to avoid sniper fire -- when television images of the event showed otherwise, the campaign had no choice but to say she "misspoke." Communications director Howard Wolfson first did so on a conference call with reporters, and Clinton repeated the explanation over the course of several days.

Other Clinton advisers thought that response did not come quickly enough -- and that when it did, without further explanation or talking points for surrogates to use, it only worsened the perception that she had lied. Making the situation more difficult was a split within the campaign over whether Clinton had exaggerated, or simply confused the landing with another trip. One Clinton insider announced in a strategy meeting it was ridiculous to have imagined the first lady ever having been in danger, or for Clinton to have thought she was -- a slap at the senator from New York that other advisers described as disrespectful.

At the same time, die-hard Clinton loyalists thought her communications operation did not defend her heartily enough, which press aides said they thought was impossible. "Continuing to say it did happen when it didn't happen is not a strategy," one adviser said.

The problem was exacerbated when Bill Clinton, in defending her confused memory of the Bosnia event, got key details of the incident wrong, before later saying his wife had told him to stay out of it.

Two staffers from the Clinton White House years, Lissa Muscatine and Melanne Verveer, wrote a New York Times op-ed article recalling the perils of the trip, trying to justify why Clinton had gotten the story wrong. "As has been reported, Mrs. Clinton's trip to Bosnia included a U.S.O. component with the comedian Sinbad and the singer Sheryl Crow. The helicopters that carried them to performances at American base camps zigzagged just above the trees to avoid potential ground fire, according to Carey Cavanaugh, who was then a State Department official traveling with Sinbad, and helicopters flew alongside to deal with the threat of anti-aircraft fire or snipers. These facts explain why many of us, including the first lady, believed that the conditions on the ground were precarious. We were worried about sniper fire and were prepared to rush off the tarmac when we landed," they wrote.

Senior Clinton advisers argued that the Bosnia story would not have developed the way it did if it were not for a story line about Clinton that goes back to the 1990s, when scandals involving the first lady, including the firings in the White House travel office and her financial dealings, resulted in widespread doubts about her trustworthiness. That framework, they argue, made it easier for Clinton to be perceived as dishonest, a problem that first arose in her presidential campaign in a debate last fall when she gave conflicting answers on whether she supports allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

The new poll suggests that much of her problem is with men. Nearly two-thirds of men said Clinton is not honest and trustworthy (an increase of 19 points), compared with 53 percent of women (up 12 points). Democratic men, in particular, have shifted: About four in 10 now do not believe Clinton to be honest and trustworthy, nearly triple the percentage saying so in 2006.

The percentage calling Clinton honest has dropped steeply among whites with higher incomes and levels of education. And while majorities of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents across demographic lines said she is honest and trustworthy, the class divisions remain: The percentage of white Democrats without college degrees calling Clinton honest hardly budged in two years, while those with college degrees have dropped off significantly on the question (from 82 percent to 53 percent).

Among whites, the percentage saying Clinton is honest and trustworthy has declined 10 points, compared with 26 points among nonwhites. That number has declined more sharply among liberals (down 30 points) than among moderates (down 13) or conservatives (down 4 points). Head to head with Obama on honesty among Democrats, Clinton faces a 23-point deficit overall, 17 points among whites and nearly 50 points among African Americans.

Cohen reported from Washington. Polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta in Washington contributed to this report.

[b-easy63]

SORRY WASHINGTON POST, BUT THIS TIME YOU GOT IT WRONG.

As of April 19, 2008, the polls show Hillary moving ahead of Obama. Probably a response to the new video showing Obama giving the finger to Hillary. Obama has sunk to a new low. He does NOT reflect the values of most Americans and he is NOT electable.

Posted by truth-hurts at 03:41 AM : Apr 19, 2008


did you mean this poll?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/18/ap/politics/main4026098.shtml

or the newsweek poll showing the same trend?

Word to the wise for Hillary Clinton and all Hillary Clinton supporters: Despite your platform and mantra, repeating lies over and over again will not make them true or change the reality. She''s falling and new stories about her bashing of moveon.org and saying "screwem'' concerning a segment of Democratic voters--certainly will not help her cause.

But okay, we''ll play..."Please post the link to the poll showing Hillary winning--note: any polls with Hillary or Hillary supporter fecal matter embedded in them will have to be ignored as well as abhorred as polls pulled out of your azz do not count." LMAO

[truth-hurts]

SORRY WASHINGTON POST, BUT THIS TIME YOU GOT IT WRONG.

As of April 19, 2008, the polls show Hillary moving ahead of Obama. Probably a response to the new video showing Obama giving the finger to Hillary. Obama has sunk to a new low. He does NOT reflect the values of most Americans and he is NOT electable.

[vigilaw]

I used to be a "admirer of Bill and Hillary Clinton"! I personally saw her face to face at a Alstom Transportation, Hornell, NY. tour she conducted, while taking commuter train training, at that site.

I am now in New Mexico. Gov. Bill Richardson country. Comment: I am glad the governor did not commit to the "Clintons", that was a smart move on the governor''s part.

Hillary has "shifty eyes, and looks down and to the side" (psychological profile here). But she has very good exchange of re-buttal wording on her part. Obama is a better "orator"!
I now think, if elected, she will "muff-out the withdrawal of American Troops from Iraq, even though...she says she is experienced in all facets of the Presidency! "I think she is dishonest, "she is slick as ice-skates, with her wording", and again..."she looks down and to the side with deception, when crucial questions - need answering"!

T. Vigil

[b-easy63]

The grade comes on Tuesday when Penn votes in their primary.

If she wins by more than 10% then the blush may be off the Obama rose.

Look for a big turnout.

Posted by donbl1 at 01:05 PM : Apr 16, 2008


Pundits said the spread would have to be over 20 points and she would have to do that in each and every state that is left.

[b-easy63]

CORRECTION:

Clinton faces a 23-point deficit overall, 17 points among whites and nearly 50 points among African Americans."

Does this mean when Hillary attends all those African American churches and rallies and talks about King and tries to make excuses for Bill, that at least half the audience ARE viewing her as a big fat liar? LMAO

Posted by b-easy63 at 10:35 AM : Apr 18, 2008

[b-easy63]

"Clinton faces a 23-point deficit overall, 17 points among whites and nearly 50 points among African Americans."

Does this mean when Hillary attends all those African American churches and rallies and talks about King and tries to make excuses for Bill, that at least half the audience is viewing her as a big fat liar? LMAO

[b-easy63]

Hillary Clinton is a known and well established LIAR. The problem with a liar...is that you cannot believe anything they say. Even their promises can be lies as can their explanations or excuses--there is nothing worse than a liar--because it is from that single predilection that all other crimes so easily spring...(and then the perp LIES about what they did too)

[obama8years]

BLACKSPIRIT3 - Would you be friends with a known terrorist, Obama Campaign said they were friends.

Would you sit in a church that had a white value system, preached racist commments, anti-american comments and then print a Hamas bulletin, for 20 years. Obama said he rarely misses a Sunday.
Oprah left the Church, she was smart.

Would you give Support to a pro-palestine group, the ISM, that puts up a Front for Peace, but really wants to undermine Isreal.

As you see this is more than Guilt by Association, this is what you call Involvement. SPIN IT ANYWAY YOU LIKE IT, Most People have brains and see right thru it, when there presented with the facts. And finally the media is starting to question Barack. Good for them.

[obama8years]

To Get an Excellent insight into Barack Obama Associates. Go to the CBS Search Box type "Bad Company" Here is a sample..... this is the intro, its amazingly Frightening.

Why is Barack Obama so comfortable around people who so despise America and its allies? Maybe it%u2019s because they%u2019re so comfortable around him.

He presents as the transcendent agent of %u201Cchange.%u201D Sounds platitudinous, but it%u2019s really quite strategically vaporous. Sen. Obama is loath to get into the details of how we should change, and, as the media%u2019s Chosen One, he hasn%u2019t had to.

But he%u2019s not, as some hopefully dismiss him, a charismatic lightweight with a gift for sparkling the same old vapid cant. Judging from the company he chooses to keep, Obama%u2019s change would radically alter this country. He eschews detail because most Americans don%u2019t believe we%u2019re a racist, heartless, imperialist cesspool of exploitation. The details would be disqualifying.

[blackspirit3]

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION
1 ATTEND A CHURCH AND A COUPLE GAY PEOPLE ATTEND THE CHURCH,SO THEREFORE I SUPPORT GAYISM?
I ATTEND A COUNTRY CLUB AND THEIR ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STOLEN MONIES FROM INVESTORS, SINCE I ATTEND THE SAME COUNTRY CLUB - I TOO MUST BE A THIEF?
I WORK FOR A COMPANY WHO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST HIRING PEOPLE OF COLOR, BECAUSE I WORK FOR THAT COMPANY, I DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEM AS WELL?
I SIT ON A BOARD OF 30 PEOPLE AND ONE OF THEM SAY "AMERICA CAN GO TO HELL" IF I STAY ON THAT BOARD, I SUPPORT THAT INDIVIDUALS IDEA''S ABOUTM AMERICA?
SOMEONE HELP ME DEFINE WHAT THE HELL IS GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, BECAUSE ALL AMERICANS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IDIOTS.

[omaar-101]

In order for Barack Obama to Lose this (D) Race ...

1. Obama would have to be caught on NBCs To Catch A Predator !!

2. Caught Shooting a Top Financial Backer on a Dear Hunt, like his (8Th Cousin)by Blood, VP D!ck Cheney !!

3. Or be Wanted by FOXs Americas Most Wanted for a Multitude of Unpaid, Washington DC Parking Tickets !!

Otherthan that...

OBama will be Sworn in as President of the USA !!!


Hate it as much as You want...You Loved George W. Bush so much, that You Voted his Economy Killing & War Mongering A!! in for (2 Terms) and this Man hasnt had a Clue, since being Sworn in as President of the USA !!

PS: D!ck Cheney is Baracks (8Th Cousin) by Blood & George W. Bush is Baracks (11Th Cousin) By Blood.

[omaar-101]

If Hillary was going to Win this Race, she wouldve Won a Long Time Ago !!

Shed be sitting in McCains seat...Shes Not.

You had a Choice of John Edwards and he was a White male and hes Out, also.

The Last time I checked this Country is still Majority Rule, White-Caucasian, which shouldve been a plus for Hillary Clinton !!

This Country claims that its Christian, which would favor Clinton , yet again..

Yet its Barack Obama, whose WINNING !!



Here%u2019s the most recent count from the CBS News election and survey unit: Obama LEADS OVERALL in CBS News%u2019 Delegate estimate, 1,637 to 1,495 (2,025 total are needed to win the nomination). Among %u201Cpledged%u201D delegates won in state contests (excluding Florida and Michigan), Obama leads 1,411 to 1,243 with 566 remaining to be won in upcoming contests. Among %u201Csuperdelegates%u201D who have declared support for a candidate, Clinton retains a narrow 252 to 226 lead with 317 who have yet to decide.



.

[jack3213]

I am trully amazed that people have such incredible short memories. One day one is the favorite, the next day, they''re not. On the spin of a dime one word or comment sways the voters minds, the the pendelum swings back in denial of what was once said or done. It occurs to me that the desperate people who want only a Democrat are blinded by false hope and the not a qualified candidate. The people are waiting for one of them to tell them what the think, to feel, and to do- and yet they are not aware enough to think for themselves. The fact that one is black and one is a woman is a distraction to the issues neither are experianced to deal with as people. They are not credible and they certainly are not ready to lead our country -that needs change. The change a Democrat will bring will be BAD CHANGE. I only hope those who understand this can help those who don''t. Taxes will be raised, the war will not end in the time frame they say, and they have no idea what they are doing with most other issues. Scary and dangerous.

[omaar-101]

Barack Obama is going to Win this thing and Beat (72 yr. Old) Mundane John Mccain !!

Clinton is viewed as "honest and trustworthy" by just 39 percent of Americans, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, compared with 52 percent in May 2006. Nearly six in 10 said in the new poll that she is not honest and trustworthy.

And now, compared with Obama, Clinton has a deep trust deficit among Democrats, trailing him by 23 points as the more honest, an area on which she once led both Obama and John Edwards.

Among Democrats, 63 percent called her honest, down 18 points from 2006; among independents, her trust level has dropped 13 points, to 37 percent.

Republicans held Clinton in low regard on this in the past (23 percent called her honest two years ago), but it is even lower now, at 16 percent. Majorities of men and women now say the phrase does not apply to Clinton; two years ago, narrow majorities of both did.

[omaar-101]

In order for Barack Obama to Lose this (D) Race ...

1. Obama would have to be caught on NBCs To Catch A Predator !!

2. Caught Shooting a Top Financial Backer on a Dear Hunt, like his (8Th Cousin)by Blood, VP D!ck Cheney !!

3. Or be Wanted by FOXs Americas Most Wanted for a Multitude of Unpaid, Washington DC Parking Tickets !!

Otherthan that...

OBama will be Sworn in as President of the USA !!!


Hate it as much as You want...

You Loved George W. Bush so much, that You Voted his Economy Killing & War Mongering A!! in for (2 Terms) and this Man hasnt had a Clue, since being Sworn in as President of the USA !!

PS: George W. Bush is Baracks (11Th Cousin) By Blood.

[omaar-101]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Willi
am_Fulbright

I guess Bill Clinton is an Nazi-Racist ...Huh

Talk about your Aryan Brother Bill Clinton


Obama Haters constantly bring up Rev. Wright !!

But the Clinton Lovers, Never mention nor the Media, make mention of Bill Clintons (Anti-Afro American & Anti-Semetic) Mentor...

Mr. James William Fulbright

Note: For Most of His Life and Public Service, Fulbright was a Supporter of Racial Segregation.

He signed The Southern Manifesto opposing the Supreme Courts historic 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.

He subsequently joined with the (Dixiecrats) in filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as voting Against the 1965 Voting Rights Act. ...



Note:In 1963 testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Fulbright claimed that Five Million Tax-Deductible Dollars from philanthropic Americans...

Had been sent to Israel and then recycled back to the US for distribution to organizations seeking to influence public opinion in favor of Israel.

Note: This statement led to friction with the organized Jewish community in the U.S.

Big Note: Previously the same year Anti-Defamation League, the leading Jewish Defense Organization, claimed that Fulbright was....

"Consistently Unkind To Israel and our Supporters in this country".

In response to this Bumpers received considerable financial support from the pro-Israel community.

[omaar-101]

Source: www.thehuffingtonpost.com

I guess Bill Clinton, is a Snobbish, Self Hating, Elitist Racist...Huh

As the rumination continues over Barack Obama''''''''s comments about economically-depressed small town voters, statements made by Bill Clinton on the same topic -- uttered while he was running for president in 1991 -- have now surfaced.

"The reason (George H. W. Bush''''''''s tactic) works so well now is that you have (All these Economically Insecure Hhite People) who are Scared To Death,"

Clinton was quoted saying by the Los Angeles Times in September 1991.

A couple months later, Joe Klein, writing for the Sunday Times, reported that Clinton made the following remarks:



"You know, he [Bush Sr.] wants to divide us over race. I''''''''m from the South. I understand this...


When their economic policies fail, when the country''''''''s coming apart rather than coming together, what do they do? They find the (Most Economically Insecure White Men) and Scare the Living Daylights out of them !!

[omaar-101]

Hillary Clinton: Bill, I thought that John Gatti was Teflon, but that Barack Obama is ..Platinum Plus !!

Bill: Hillary, I always Knew, you were Hot for Barack...I just Knew it !!

Bill: Im kinda Hot for Him Too.


Hillary: I''''ll Drop out of the Race, Today.

Bill: Great Idea Hill, lets invite the Obamas over, for a Little Night Cap..Hon

Hillary: Bill, You were Reading My Mind...I got Barack in My (Fave 5) !!

Bill: Dont feel Guilty, Hillary, I got Michelles Number on Speed Dial.

Hillary: Id love being in the White House, Anyway, I can get in !!

The Clintons: Sounds Like a Plan !!

[omaar-101]

If Youre not Bitter, then Get on your Hands & Knees and give Thanks To the...

Bush (Sr. & Jr.) & the Clinton Administrations for what theyve done for You and this Great Country.. then Vote for Hillary Or McCain, for More of the Same !!

All White Male Administrations and obama has to Clean up this Mess !!

1. 4009 Killed in Action US Men & Women

2. Thousands of US Soldiers that have legs and arms Dis-Membered or Amputated in the Iraq War !!

3. The over 100,000 innocent Iraqi Citizens killed under False Pretenses (WOMD)

4. Over 12 Billion Dollars per month to fund this Occupation !!

5. The Very Devalued Dollar Bill !!

6. The High Unemployment Rate.

7. All Time High Il-Legal Immigration !

8. All Time High Forecloures !!

9. High A!! Gas Prices !!

10. Canada, and Still Communist China & Viet Nam , Socialist India and Mexico getting Americans jobs.

Obama is Lying Huh

Then Dont Complain Then...

Dont Worry be Happy !!

PS: Get on your knees and thank George (NAFTA/NAU) Bush & Bill (NAFTA/COMM.CHINESE CONNECTION) Clinton, for all the Good Times, Both Presidents have Brought America.

Reference Bill & Hillarys Norman Hsu China Connection.

[pepperwood2]

Trust Me!

Why was a former top level Clinton advisor (Stephanopolous) a moderator for a debate in which a Clinton is participating?

I guess if we stop to think, use our intelligence, it begins to make sense.

The reason Hillary was so high, gitty, euphoric couldn''''t wait to give her rehearse answers is that she knew exactly what the format & questions were going to be and had plenty of time to prepare.

Everybody knows that Hillary will not agree to a debate unless it is on her terms. I''''m sure Hillary would only agree to the debate if ABC agreed to have Stephanopolous & Gibson chair the event. Now George, you were a top level advisor for the Clintons and they granted you most favored status during that time. They pulled a few strings for you and you were able to get your lucrative job with ABC. The debate were just like a trip down memory lane, Advisor George reporting to Hillary as ordered. Pretty slick trick! Just like old times eh?

In spite of that Obama came through like a champ in all the polls that are credible. While Hillary''''s cackling, gittiness, euphoria, bashing shows she is just out of touch. She came across as very unprofessional, unpresidential & so transparent.

It''s time get away from these Clinton polictics of division and get Barack to uniting Our Country & doing the work of the America People. Now run along George & take Charley with you. SO SAD!