Hillary (& Bill) Clinton

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

official draft Hillary website:

September 24-30, 2003

… “Sen. Clinton Denies Pushing Clark’s Campaign” – headline posted at noon on washingtonpost.com. Except from report by Post political ace Dan Balz: “Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) today denied reports that she and her husband are the agents behind retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark's presidential candidacy, reiterated that she will not run for the White House in 2004 and said the reelection of President Bush would be ‘an overwhelming setback for this country.’ Speaking at a breakfast with reporters, the former first lady denied the rampant speculation, particularly in Republican circles, that she and former President Bill Clinton had encouraged Clark to run, partly as a stalking horse for a 2004 candidacy of her own, calling such talk ‘an absurd feat of imagination.’ Clinton said she and her husband ‘have been supportive of all the candidates,’ whenever they have sought advice, but added that neither she nor the former president will designate a favorite in the race for the Democratic nomination. ‘We are not supporting or endorsing any candidate,’ she said. Instead, she said, she will work actively for whomever becomes the Democratic nominee to try to defeat Bush. ‘I am convinced, totally, that four more years of this administration, unaccountable, no election at the end, would be an overwhelming setback for our country and I will do everything I can to elect whoever emerges from this process.’ During the hour-long interview, Clinton delivered a blistering critique of Bush's presidency, accusing the administration of ‘a shocking failure of leadership’ in Iraq since major conflict ended, of engaging in ‘happy talk’ about the economy during a period when job losses have continued, of the ‘misuse’ of scientific data on the environment that has put at risk her New York constituents who live near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. ‘I am just bewildered by this administration's priorities and values,’ she said. On Iraq, Clinton stood by her vote in favor of the resolution authorizing Bush to go to war and carefully distanced herself from recent charges by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) that Bush and his advisers had cooked up the war in August 2002 and had foisted it upon the American people. ‘Based on what we knew and believed [about the Iraqi threat], it was merited,’ she said of the vote to back the war resolution. Clinton said she had consulted with both Bush and former Clinton administration officials before the war about the Iraqi threat and said that U.S. intelligence ‘from Bush I to Clinton to Bush II was consistent’ in concluding that there was ‘a continuing presence of biological and chemical programs’ in Iraq and that former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was continuing to seek to develop a capacity to produce nuclear weapons. But she said the failure to find weapons of mass destructions calls into question the reliability of that intelligence and presents the country and the administration with a troubling question, calling it as important as anything that has come out of the debate over the last year.” (9/24/2003)

… Despite Hillary’s denials and rumors she’ll run for Dem prez nomination in ’04, New York voters weight in too – in poll – and six in 10 oppose try for higher office. But the central question remains unresolved: Does she care what NY voters think? Excerpt from report by AP’s Marc Humbert: “A growing number of New York voters, including almost six in 10 Democrats, don't want Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2004, a statewide poll reported Wednesday. The poll from Marist College's Institute for Public Opinion also found that two-thirds of New York voters take the former first lady at her word when she says she won't seek the White House next year. New York voters are about evenly split on whether they would like to see Democrat Clinton run for the presidency someday. In the latest Marist poll, 69 percent of New York voters, including 57 percent of Democrats, said they didn't want to see Clinton run in 2004. In an April poll from the Poughkeepsie-based pollster, 54 percent of New York voters said they didn't want her to run for the White House next year. During a recent visit to the New York State Fair, Clinton said she was absolutely ruling out a presidential run in 2004. While speculation has continued since that she might make a late entry into the race, 67 percent of New York voters in the latest poll say they think she will stick to her pledge to serve out her full six-year Senate term that ends in 2006.” (9/25/2003)

… Inside The Beltway gives it’s read on the new Bill Clinton biography…Excerpts: “We've picked up Nigel Hamilton's ("JFK: Restless Youth") new 785-page comprehensive biography, "Bill Clinton: An American Journey — Great Expectations," the first of a two-volume series that reconstructs the former president's background and career with some much-welcomed psychological insight. Mr. Clinton, the author explains, is the quintessential baby boomer: blessed with a near-genius IQ, yet beset by character flaws that made his presidency a veritable soap opera of high ideals, distressing incompetence, model financial stewardship, and domestic misbehavior. The Clinton White House, as a result, fed the public an almost daily diet of scandal and misfortune. "Poor Stephanopoulos, a Republican turned idealistic Democrat," Mr. Hamilton says of top Clinton aide George Stephanopoulos, "a warrior who in his heart of hearts would have been better suited to the right-wing Republican crusade. ... "At the time, however, he 'kept my anger inside to avoid demoralizing the interns and volunteers.' " If you purchase this thick, eye-opening volume, keep it on the top shelf away from the children (not that Mr. Clinton hasn't already taught kids enough in the kinky category), for Mr. Hamilton tells all unlike Hillary Rodham Clinton's current "tell-all." As for the New York senator putting up with her husband's shenanigans for so many years, the author explains that her marriage to Mr. Clinton was arranged from the start as a "political, not social, event," in which she agreed to tolerate his extramarital "relations." "It wasn't an ideal setup from the point of view of a proud woman, but it was frank, and it was pioneering, not only in Arkansas, but in modern, compassionate America," Mr. Hamilton writes. "She would not expect Bill to be sexually faithful in their partnership, but she would expect him to observe reasonable discretion — to avoid rubbing her face in his sinful escapades." An agreement, in other words? "On the basis of her understanding with Bill," the author says, "she was eventually convinced — or convinced herself — that they could make it to the very top, in the fashion of the French, as America's first modern 'power couple.' "She therefore said yes." (9/25/2003)

… InsidePolitics/WashingtonTimes.com   “Censoring Hillary”. The Chinese publisher of former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's autobiography altered the original manuscript to expurgate all criticism of the Beijing regime, her publisher says. The New York Times quoted Mrs. Clinton as being "amazed and outraged" to learn that her book, "Living History," had been cleansed for its Chinese readership. “They censored my book, just like they tried to censor me," the Democratic senator from New York told the newspaper. "The Chinese edition of Hillary Clinton's 'Living History,' published by Yilin Press, Nanjing, China, includes changes to the original text in various sections in the book," U.S. publisher Simon & Schuster Inc. said in a statement. It said 10 pages of the book had been changed, adding that the unexpurgated version, in English as well as in Chinese, were available on its Web site.  (9/25/2003)

…Yahoo.com is carrying an AP story by Ron Work, “Ex-President Clinton Visits Florida Game”. Excerpts: “JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The football players at Edward Waters College and Shaw University on Saturday night were overshadowed by a speech at halftime by President Bill Clinton. As Clinton walked across the football field to begin his speech about education at historically black schools, a roar went up from the 17,410 fans. After Clinton was introduced by the namesake of the Willie E. Gary Football Classic played, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. "We want kids and their parents and other people like Willie to support the historically black colleges and universities," Clinton said. "Every young man and woman ought to have the chance and ought to take it to go to college." When Clinton finished his 4 minute speech, the crowd began chanting, "Four more years! Four more years!" Clinton said he attended the game at the invitation of Gary, a South Florida lawyer and a benefactor of both schools. Kimberlye Simmons, office manager for Institutional Advancement at Edward Waters, said the former president's visit energized the staff and students. She said $100,000 was raised this week at a scholarship banquet. "His visit will help the morale of Jacksonville and Edward Waters College," she said. Clinton arrived about 10 minutes before kickoff under heavy security and was whisked into a private suite.  (9/29/2003)

 … Washington Times online article written by Ralph Z. Hallow, “Clark looking better than Hillary ticket”. Excerpts: “Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton may have created a force behind Wesley Clark that they will not be able to stop, political advisers from both parties told The Washington Times. "The Clark thing has already spun out of control," said Republican campaign consultant Bob Heckman. Those who spoke with The Times say Mr. Clark's presidential candidacy was endorsed to further the ambitions of Mrs. Clinton and claimed to see evidence that Mr. Clark got into the Democratic presidential race with at least an implicit understanding that he would settle for running as the senator's vice-presidential candidate, if and when she is ready to get into the race. "He could become a very credible candidate, and forget whatever plan the Clintons had for him," Mr. Heckman said. "There isn't a politician I ever met who doesn't think he deserves to be where he is." California-based Democratic strategist Gail Kaufman agreed. "It took Clark so long to get in the race, and then he shoots to the top of the heap. Now, if you're the Clintons, how ... do you get him to quit?" She noted that the soldier-turned-politician got into the contest with the public blessing of Mr. Clinton and with former top Clinton aides on his campaign team. Already top Clinton fund-raisers in New York are raising contributions for the former NATO command leader. Meanwhile, a recent Gallup-USA Today poll shows Mr. Clark, a retired four-star general from the Clintons' home state of Arkansas, narrowly leading President Bush and ahead of the other nine Democratic nomination contenders, even though Mr. Clark had entered the Democratic contest less than two weeks ago. Some political observers see in the poll results evidence that Mr. Clark is advancing Mrs. Clinton's interests by showing that none of the other Democratic candidates has much support and that perhaps only Mrs. Clinton offers the hope of beating President Bush next year, said former Reagan White House Political Director Frank J. Donatelli. Mr. Donatelli said Mr. Clark's entrance may have proved to the Clintons that none of the nine previous candidates had the deep support needed to beat Mr. Bush. "[I]n getting Clark to run, Bill Clinton could have had in mind creating an acceptable vice president to run with Hillary," said Mr. Donatelli. "Whether Clark will have that in mind is something else. "Even more pointed an indicator is the new Gallup poll, which for the first time shows signs of some vulnerability for President Bush. And if she gets into the race, they have concluded she has real chance to win in 2004 — though I still think Bush has the edge." Clark would make the perfect running mate for Hillary — he has all the national security credentials she doesn't have," said Joe Cerrell, a California Democratic campaign consultant. But Mr. Cerrell said he could see Mr. Clark rebelling against any prior agreement and saying, "Why are you telling me I should get out. I'm the one leading in the polls." As for Mrs. Clinton's entering the race, Republican presidential campaign adviser Charley Black said if the senator wants to enter the race, she will have to start campaigning now in order to build an organization and a war chest. Most agree that Mrs. Clinton, with her husband's help, would be the only candidate with a chance of competing with Mr. Bush in fund raising — even if she starts late. But Mr. Black thinks it's almost too late for Mrs. Clinton to start. Mrs. Kaufman disagreed. "How long does Hillary have?" Mrs. Kaufman asked. "With her notoriety, name ID and political apparatus, I think she can wait till after Iowa," Mrs. Kaufman joked, referring to the first Democratic caucus in January. "Actually, I think she could wait awhile and still get in," Mrs. Kaufman said. "The only people she is going to anger are the other candidates. The voters don't obviously care — I mean, if Clark can jump in and immediately be ahead of the others." Mr. Cerrell agreed that "it's not too late for her to run. She's better known nationally at this stage than her husband was when he ran against [the elder] Bush." (9/30/2003)

September 1-15, 2003

September 16-23, 2003

September 24-30, 2003

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