Clinton Fights "Poor Hillary" Chorus

Washington Post: Dem Candidate Is Belittled As She Refuses To Bend, Or Bow Out

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Libby Copeland.

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At some point along the way, Hillary Clinton became "poor Hillary" and it stuck.

She went up against a charmer who once made an audience cheer just by blowing his nose (poor Hillary), and she lost states and delegates and she bet on a filly that died (poor Hillary), and nobody cares that she won West Virginia because it's over, except she can't see it because she's . . .

"Poor Hillary," write the op-ed writers and the bloggers and the newspaper letter-writers. "Poor Hillary's done," writes a gleeful reader in Portsmouth, Va., on Mother's Day. "The Billstone Around Poor Hillary's Neck," reads a New York Daily News headline yesterday. The talk show host Bill Maher has used the phrase, and the occasional CNN anchor, and, of course, the conservative yakkers who like the pure, distilled schadenfreude of those two words.

"Poor Hillary," Sean Hannity said at one point during this never-ending primary. "Running out of money, couldn't pay her staff."

"Bless her heart," said his conservative guest.

There is something about that woman -- that woman! -- that refuses to bend, and something about a large portion of this country that despises her for it. The person who once conjured a vast right-wing conspiracy now refuses to exit a race she's almost surely lost, and it Drives. People. Crazy.

"Poor Hillary" is their response, an attempt at death by condescension. "Poor Hillary" means Clinton finally is being brought low (she is forever being brought low, isn't she?), the know-everything who tries so hard but never gets enough votes to be class president. Eons ago, the smart folks at Slate likened Clinton to Tracy Flick, the hyperactively ambitious teenager played by Reese Witherspoon in the movie "Election." And it's true; somewhere in our collective gray matter, Clinton is still wearing those schoolgirl headbands from when Bill first ran for president.

The phrase goes back to those days, actually. Its first-ever publication was in 1992 when the Atlanta Journal-Constitution did a story on "the newest allegations of infidelity that are plaguing Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton."

"He's got a pretty, smart wife and a nice little girl," said Andrea Evans, 19, a National Car Rental employee in Little Rock. "Poor, poor Hillary -- that's his wife. What's he need to be looking around for? He needs to be looking to solve this country's problems."

"Poor Hillary" speaks volumes about an old truth: Clinton's wounds have always defined her. The haters are always on the lookout for her comeuppance, and the lovers love her more for what she has endured. The women who turn out to see Clinton holler for her to stick it out, tell her they like her grit.

"She felt everybody was bashing poor Hillary," says an elderly supporter at Leisure World of Maryland, recalling how a friend founded a Clinton fan club back in 1992; and that's empathy, organizing to bash back, and there's a huge gulf between that and pity. Pity never got anyone elected. (Except in New Hampshire, where Hillary cried and won the state. Or so goes the Conventional Wisdom -- undermining poor Hillary.)

Hillary hate is something profound, something that may never be fully unraveled. It is her very name, so polarizing; it is Slick Willy and Vince Foster and Whitewater and that nickname "Shrillary" and her supposed unending ambition and . . . something else, something ancient. It is Hillary Clinton stretched like taffy, the photos you see of her on right-wing Web sites with her eyes all big and crazy:

Is it about her womanhood? Or is it about this woman? Is that a false distinction? ("Poor Hillary: right gender, wrong woman," goes the headline on the Web site of a Scottish newspaper, as if you can separate the two. But it's all mixed up. And you don't find too many references to "poor Johnny" or "poor Barry," even when their campaigns hit black ice.) Republican pollster Frank Luntz once said Clinton reminds certain men of their first wives. He probably should have said "mother-in-law," our modern-day version of the witch.

Anyway, so there she is, all bruised and ugly, this alternate version of Hillary Clinton. (The shrinks would say we despise in others what we fear most in ourselves. The shrinks talk a lot.) There she is, and then you see the real Clinton on TV this week after her West Virginia win. Brian Williams tries to lead her into an autopsy of her campaign, and she keeps coming back with that smile. She looks rested. She looks like she knows exactly what she's doing.

"Made of steel," is how John Edwards describes her Wednesday, just before he endorses Barack Obama.

"We'll know a lot more on June 4th," the candidate herself says, placid as a lap cat. "I don't believe in quitting. I don't believe in being pushed out."

Or being poor-Hillary'd out.

[Razzl]

She has the chance to turn all her pain, and achieve about 95% of her goals, by joining the ticket as VP. All the hard feeling goes away, she gets to sit in the seat of power (the VP has become more powerful in our time than it had been), she guarantees the Democrats win the election, she positions herself for a better run in ''12--even against Obama--how many times in life or politics do you get to change so much in your favor with just a little compromise? That''s the real test of character here--is she willing to give up the one thing she''s losing to gain so much back?

[Torilin]

razzl
You need to remember after she offered Obama VP position it''s kind of hard to accept that VP position from same person she offered it to.
Besides that if Obama picked her as VP he''ll have to watch his back everywhere he goes.

[pam1sadge]

Why are people so hateful toward Hillary? It''s disgusting the hate people can spew! It''s sad because most of you are probably raising children, who in turn, will be as hateful as you are. Wait until Obama''s dirty laundry comes out, wait until he messes up, and wait until he probably doesn''t get elected . . . then, who are you going to hate?

[egmd]

peanutcrisp, those are my thought exactly. We see how ruthless Hillary is and how she''ll try to become president at all costs. I am afraid if Obama picks her as his VP, she will try to have him assasinated. It''s sad to think about it, but I could totally see it happening.

[juliemd]

Like John Edwards said, "the man to bring America...blah blah blah, the man who will blah blah blah, the MAN who will lead blah blah blah blah, the MAN who is our next president blah blah blah...if people in Amerika still choose NOT to see their own internal bias against a WOMAN as president...then we really do have a LONG way to go...to Freedom, Truth, and Prosperity.

[hdinsight]

Most troubling is the negativity from fellow Democrats who blame Hillary for every weakness that Obama exposes.

She may not be the Democratic nominee in 2008, but she certainly has become our culture''s contemporary version of Eve.

[boatdocster]

If she doesn''t want to be know as Poor Hillary she shouldn''t of pretended to cry both times her campaign got in trouble or played the Gender card, saying "the boys are picking on the girl"!

I don''''t feel sorry for her at all, this article should be titled Ding dong the witch is dead!

Posted by jedi0808 at 11:25 AM : May 16, 2008

Jedi0808 - Exactly right. HRC has no problem using "poor Hillary" in New Hampshire when it benefited her, but is quick to condemn the phrase when it does not benefit her.

Bottom line, as it''s always been with HRC - What''s in it for me, and the rest of us simply do not count.

Obama - 2008
W - Worst Ever

[rufisgufis]

HILLARY IS LIKE DOG FOOD FROM CHINA! BEST TO DUMP HER AND CLEAN THE SHELF OFF.

[juliemd]

Like John Edwards said, "the man to bring America...blah blah blah, the man who will blah blah blah, the MAN who will lead blah blah blah blah, the MAN who is our next president blah blah blah..."

When people in Amerika DO NOT to see their own internal bias against WOMAN as president...then we have a LONG way to go...to Freedom, Truth, and Prosperity.

[craigh9]

wait until he probably doesn''''t get elected . . . then, who are you going to hate?

Posted by pam1sadge at 11:59 AM : May 16, 2008

They will hate Hillary because everyday she remains in the race is a day of disjointed party. This year the election was a slam dunk for the democrats so if he loses its because she polarized the party so badly and didn''t give it time to mend prior to the election.

[realpatriot1]

juliemd,

The bias is primarily in your imagination. There are plenty of capable women who could lead this country who aren''t the phony, corrupt, manipulative, political hack and consummate liar that Hillary is(I forgot race-baiter).

I voted in North Carolina on May 6 for 9 out of 10 women(and only 6 men) on the ballot. All 9 won but the 10th lost, guess who that was!

[egmd]

juliemd, while I cannot speak for other men, I will say that I have absolutely nothing against a woman running for president. If someone like Nancy Pelosi or Barba Boxer were to run, they would certainly get my vote. The fact that Hillary Clinton is a woman has nothing to do with why I don''t like her.

[rowdytexan2]

Sorry, but the poor Hillary krap isn''t going to work. No one person has battled harder in a political race being totally manipulated by the press and the republicans, hand in hand with Barak Obama to keep a successful democrat out of the White House.

You should be saying Poor Obama...because come NOvember he will slink back into oblivion like Edwards, Kerry, Dukakis.

Centrist democrats will never vote for a left wing nut that will swill himself in our tax dollar. Nor will the majority of Americans, as is already proven.

Good luck with the Poor Hillary routine. Anybody that had the guts to go count the votes knows the truth.

[hdinsight]

To: juliemd -- I agree. Now, it is women who are riding at the back of the bus. A prime example of this gender discrimination against women is pay inequality. Hillary Clinton has introduced much Equal Pay Legislation, yet the Republican backed Congress shoots it down faster than you can say, "Barefoot & Pregnant." Both Obama & Clinton support measures to level the playing field with regard to wages. McCain does not.

[anappleadae]

Wll we hear poor Barack when McCain closes the door in November.

In the meantime it should be interesting to watch the relentless exposure of Obama''s criminal associations. The Republicans have always been so good at exposing a fraud, and being exposed too.

The Dems should have exposed Obama during the primaries. This will haunt the Dems in the future.

[eddynewhope]

I am a supporter of Senator Obama and like many, I must confess that I have taken my shots at Senator Clinton over the past months. I have tried to be fair and truthful, albeit sometimes less that compassionate. Hillary Clinton is a good Senator. Her statements recently (vote for McCain would be a mistake, speaking out against Bush''s "appeasement" attack) have impressed me deeply. The Clintons have done a lot of the Dem party. I hope that we as Dems can unite in order to ensure that we give the GOP leadership that has run our great nation into the ground a sever thrashing in November.

[eddynewhope]

Posted by anappleadae at 12:27 PM

B S - These fearful insinuations are a joke. They may have worked in 2004 when we were still shell shocked from 9/11, but now they sound quaint and pathetic. I''m not afraid of the GOP. Senator Obama is not afraid of the GOP. And I think it''s fair to say that Senator Clinton did a pretty *** good job vetting Senator Obama to her credit.

[realpatriot1]

HDINSIGHT,

There''s obviously been plenty of bad blood from supporters in both direction. Your own veiled reference to Hillary supposedly exposing his weaknesses and being blamed for them shows that you only see the situation one way and aren''t particularly objective.

Anyone who is not somehow in awe of the Clinton''s can clearly see that the bulk of the negativity in this campaign has been initiated by the Clinton Campaign, what you call "exposing weaknesses" when it involves Obama & "negativity" when it involves Senator Clinton.

Everyone understands that it''s fair game in Presidential politics to raise issues about an opponents record and comments and platforms. Intelligent people understand the difference between doing that truthfully and with a certain level of dignity; those who don''t tend to go by the name of Karl Rove or Lee Atwater or Geraldine Ferraro or Bob Johnson.

I don''t doubt that Senator Clinton has encountered sexism from various sources during this campaign just as Obama has encountered some extremely vicious racism. It''s annoying when it comes from the other party or the media or bloggers like some of the dimwits on here. It''s much more upsetting when it comes from the family of a former standard bearer of the party who owes so much to their fellow Democrats.

[realpatriot1]

RowdyTexan,

Anyone who votes for war mongering, right to life, welfare for the rich McCain is either a Democrat or centrist.

[eddynewhope]

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 12:24 PM

Ahhhhh RowdyTexan. We''ll welcome you back into the Dem fold when you''re ready. You, like Senator Clinton have fought a good fight. But suggesting that McCain (100 years in Iraq, war with Iran, supreme court justices that will overturn Roe v. Wade, "the US economy is goin geat", etc.) is somehow a better option for Dems is bizarre. Even Senator Clinton stated that it would be a "grave mistake" but it''s your call. Much respect.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by realpatriot1 at 12:31 PM : May 16, 2008

Well, you''re right about one thing. INtelligent people see through the BS, and see a totally corrupt primary process, and the promotion of man that will never see the White House.

Others just sit back and HOPE that this corrupt Ishlamofascist Chicago politician can do what he says when he has no proven ability to do it.

[rowdytexan2]

Ahhhhh RowdyTexan. We''''ll welcome you back into the Dem fold when you''''re ready. You, like Senator Clinton have fought a good fight. But suggesting that McCain (100 years in Iraq, war with Iran, supreme court justices that will overturn Roe v. Wade, "the US economy is goin geat", etc.) is somehow a better option for Dems is bizarre. Even Senator Clinton stated that it would be a "grave mistake" but it''''s your call. Much respect.


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Posted by EddyNewHope at 12:35 PM : May 16, 2008

No thanks. It''s this simple, McCain is somewhat better than Bush. Obama is is actually WORSE than Bush.

Wakey, wakey.

[realpatriot1]

pam1sadge,

I''m not going to be mad at anyone because he isn''t going to lose. He might if he undercuts his message by putting her on the ticket, but i don''t see that happening because the Clintons would have the knives out and the Obamas know it.

Hillary is going to try to pressure her way onto the ticket in order to make herself the presumptive nominee for next time;Edwards is playing the same game, but i don''t think either one is going to get their wish.

Obama-Webb will be unbeatable.

[rufisgufis]

Women wonder why they have a reputation of being emotional at a time when a cold,unemotional evaluation is required. First there was FlagPinGate: I have NEVER seen Hillary wear a flag pin. And then there was SweetieGate. And now I guess we have what I call FeminineGate. To paraphrase Obama: There is no feminine issue; there is no masculine issue, there are American issues. Issues that affect all Americans.

Now these ultra-feminists are all saying: "If Hillary is not the candidate I''ll vote for McCain." What a short-sighted course of conduct. What advantage is that going to secure for women? None! Because if you do, things will only get worse for women as well as blacks. So I would urge all Americans, men and women, to vote for your BEST interests instead of squandering your vote because of hurt feelings.

[eddynewhope]

"corrupt Ishlamofascist Chicago politician"

Posted by RowdyTexan2

OK - Screw you. Vote for McCain you dumbazz. You are either intellectually dishonest or a fuggin moron. You will love the GOP. They''re right up your alley.

[eddynewhope]

Hahahahahah - We''ll see about that RowdyTexan. I''ll throw some confetti for you when Obama wins in November. LOL

[hdinsight]

To: EGMD -- I respect your opinion to vote for whomever you wish, however, you said Hillary''s gender has nothing to do with why you do not "LIKE" her.

I believe it is not wise to select a Commander in Chief based on "Likeability." Isn''t that the primary reason why America''s elected George W over the more intelligent candidate? They said they "liked him more."

Hillary might not be the candidate most Americans would like to have a beer with, but I am confident she is the most knowledgeable. She even knows that we have 50 states and not 57. Isn''t that worth a modicum of respect? :D

[rowdytexan2]

Women wonder why they have a reputation of being emotional at a time when a cold,unemotional evaluation is required. First there was FlagPinGate: I have NEVER seen Hillary wear a flag pin. And then there was SweetieGate. And now I guess we have what I call FeminineGate. To paraphrase Obama: There is no feminine issue; there is no masculine issue, there are American issues. Issues that affect all Americans.

Now these ultra-feminists are all saying: "If Hillary is not the candidate I''''ll vote for McCain." What a short-sighted course of conduct. What advantage is that going to secure for women? None! Because if you do, things will only get worse for women as well as blacks. So I would urge all Americans, men and women, to vote for your BEST interests instead of squandering your vote because of hurt feelings.



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Posted by rufisgufis at 12:38 PM : May 16, 2008

Yeah, but with Obama there is racistgate, and his own stinking sexistgate! Again, no thanks!

[hdinsight]

To: EddyNewHope -- I would be very pleased if a Democrat, any Democrat, won the White House in 2008. However, given that Obama will be the eventual nominee it is highly unlikely. Instead of confetti, we might all need a very, very large box of Kleenex.

[eddynewhope]

Bwwaaaaaah! Wow. RowdyTexan - seek help. You''re fuggin nuts!

[rowdytexan2]

corrupt Ishlamofascist Chicago politician"

Posted by RowdyTexan2

OK - Screw you. Vote for McCain you dumbazz. You are either intellectually dishonest or a fuggin moron. You will love the GOP. They''''re right up your alley.


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Posted by EddyNewHope at 12:38 PM : May 16, 2008

Now you want to talk to me about emotional *****! Look at you, Mr. Picture of emotional stability. ROFL!

[realpatriot1]

EddyNewHope,

I''m also glad to see Hillary change her tone and be more supportive of the Party, but the damage to the Party is already done. Come the fall we will be seeing Republican Campaign commercials starring Senator Clinton saying that McCain will be a better Commander-In-Chief than Obama and all the other below the belt garbage she''s thrown at him. The republicans won''t have to say a thing, they can pretend to take the high road and let her do their dirty work for them like she has all year. That''s as much reason as any why putting her on the ticket would be a disaster.

[nightwatchdog]

What else can I say but "poor Hillary"? If you think about it, her temperment alone disqualifies her for the job as president, I mean, who want''s a crybaby in the oval office?

As a loyal democrat, I''d rather have John McCain as president instead of her. She isn''t a tough, no surrender no retreat canadate - she''s a whining "why is everybody always picking on me" canadate.

After 7+ years of "little boy Bush", the last thing we need is another petulant child in the white house.

Poor Hillary, she can''t cry herself to an election victory, isn''t that so sad?

[rowdytexan2]

I''''m also glad to see Hillary change her tone and be more supportive of the Party, but the damage to the Party is already done. Come the fall we will be seeing Republican Campaign commercials starring Senator Clinton saying that McCain will be a better Commander-In-Chief than Obama and all the other below the belt garbage she''''s thrown at him. The republicans won''''t have to say a thing, they can pretend to take the high road and let her do their dirty work for them like she has all year. That''''s as much reason as any why putting her on the ticket would be a disaster.


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Posted by realpatriot1 at 12:43 PM : May

LOL, more emotional stability, right? Hillary Clinton points out that she as well as McCain hav emore experience, which is true, and you Obama scummers claim she supports McCain, when every *** one of you knows better.

Whatta bunch of idiots!

[realpatriot1]

rufisgufis,

Most feminists are smart enough to se through Hillary''s ***. Her supporters like to think she''s carrying the banner for all women but many women are smart enough to see what an albatross she is for women. Look at all the eleceted officials who are women who are supporting Obama and it becomes clear that she''s not the feminist vanguard her supporters envision.

I can''t speak for other women. but no one hates her more than my wife and she is very much a feminist(just not a sexist one).

[popstom1]

Talk all the obama sshit you want he just show that he is a whinner he''s badly wouunded on foreign relations they put him on the committee and he sat
there playing with himself his experience is none
on the millitary No don''''t want the wimp obama

[newsnut123]

I do not think we need a woman president. Women are not mentally or emotionally strong enough for that position. Women are not equal to men no matter how much the liberals keep implying.

[rowdytexan2]

You people, along with Obama and his campaign have twisted and distorted words and facts! And you praise Obama for doing it.

Hillary Clinton points out that the majority is voting for her and you turn it into racism.

Hillary Clinton points out that she has more experience and you turn it into support for McCain.

Hillary Clinton points out that MLK''s dream was legislated by a democratic president and you turn that into racism.

Bill Clinton points out how Obama''s being against the war is a fairy tale, citing Obama''s own statements about it and the troop build up, which he was for when running as a senator, and you people swill that into racism!

I feel sorry for all of you that have your head so far up your racist and distortion arses, that you don''t even understand what you''re doing!

[tonyd_31]

Go Obama! You will do a fine job (worst case scenario - you can''t do anyworse then the current occupant). As a matter-of-fact, no one can do worst. For all of you who are repugnated by the thought of Mr. Obama being our next president and his chances are high, I have cheap tickets to Canada for sale. I am hoping all of the neo-cons take me up on it and go somewhere else with your silly ideas and selfish attitudes.

[jack3213]

Poor Hillary" speaks volumes about an old truth: Clinton''s wounds have always defined her. The haters are always on the lookout for her comeuppance, and the lovers love her more for what she has endured. The women who turn out to see Clinton holler for her to stick it out, tell her they like her grit. "


GIVE ME A BREAK ALREADY WITH THIS NONSENSE- NOT EVER WOULD YOU HEAR " POOR OBAMA" WHY? THE GENDER CARD IS GLUED TO HER FACE AND THAT WON''T FLY IN A WORLD WHERE EMOTION HAS NO PLACE.

[rowdytexan2]

Nor even mentioning your clear REFUSAL to see Obama''s ties to corruption, and his total support by Ishlamists, JUST LIKE BUSH!

[popstom1]

No body votes for whinning wimps GB picks on me

[realpatriot1]

RowdyTexan2,

She didn''t just say that she & McCain had more experience(which they don''t), she ridiculed him as only having given a speech. He sits on the same intelligence committee she sat on when she gained experience at not reading the National Intelligence Estimate before sending us into a pre-emptive war.

She has more experience in voting to not allow the U.N. to complete its weapons inspections before going to war. She has more experience than anyone in the Senate at filing false financial disclosures and being the subject of the largest campaign finance suit ever brought by the federal Elections Commission.

She definitely has more experience than any White House official pre-Cheney at examining the FBI files of private citizens and attempting to fire public employees she had no authority over. Did Obama milk any of these divisive issues or did he try to talk about the future?

[jack3213]

ANY WOMAN WHO PRAISES THIS WOMAN FOR PUTTING UP WITH A LOSER LIKE BILL NEEDS THEIR HEAD EXAMINED.

[newsnut123]

TO JACK3213 AMEN TO THAT!!!! SHE SHOWED HER LACK OF A BACKBONE A LONG TIME AGO!

[tonyd_31]

RowdyTexan2, first of all your assertion that she has more votes then Obama is wrong! Secondly, all the candidates agreed to the penalization of FL and MI for moving their primaries up and agreed not to campaign there. Now that she is behind in everything, she wants to change the rules. I think you are the one who is blinded and distorting reality. If it was Obama and he was trying to change the rules - then you would be the biggest critic against it......and RIGHTLY so as I would as well.

[rufisgufis]

The Clinton campaign has been thrashing about like a wounded animal every since Iowa. All of these suddenly outraged women must have been in a cave the last few months as Bill and Hillary Clinton savaged the Democratic party for their own gain. And now it''s all about womanhood. Puh-leeze. Has Hillary Clinton been asked any of these questions?
Is Hillary Clinton white enough?
Is Hillary Clinton too white?
Is Hillary Clinton patriotic?
Is Hillary Clinton wearing a flag pin?
Is Hillary Clinton a Muslim?
Did Hillary Clinton ever do/sell drugs?
Is Hillary Clinton responsible for everything her minister and all of her business associates ever did or said?
Yeah. I didn''t think so.

[tonyd_31]

jack3213, I am lost here. How can you call Bill a "loser"? He was one of the finest Presidents of modern times and the country was in a lot better shape then as it is now. He may be a lot of things but loser is not one of them.

[jack3213]

IS HILLARY HONEST?
IS HILLARY SELF RESPECTING?
IS HILLARY SMART?
IS HILLARY SELFLESS?
MMMM..I THINK NOT.

[jack3213]

WELL, TONY- I AM A MAN- AND IF I CHEATED ON MY WIFE AND RAN A COUNTRY WHERE I WAS SUPPOSE TO BE RESPECTED AS A LEADER AND THEN MY WIFE WANTS MY JOB YEARS LATER- I WOULD HAVE SERIOUS TRUST ISSUES WITH HER, TOO.