Hillary Clinton Oregon KGW Town Hall Pt 1 (Updated with Pt 2&3)

I’ve been looking for this. Finally, here it is! Check out Hillary’s ideas and plans. She thinks big, and she’s got action steps to back it up. Here’s Part 1 of Hillary Clinton on KGW’s Town Hall–KGW and KGW.com, News for Oregon and SW Washington, May 16, 2008. (Can’t seem to embed so there was the link.)

To recap: Sen. Clinton was gracious in rightfully, but delicately thumbing her nose at Obama for refusing to debate, or show up for the town hall saying, “that wasn’t to be.” (Why would he ever again after his previous stumbles debating her simply on the issues. It was Obama’s stance in the debates that left him open to this last week’s three-way tussle with Bush and McCain, when he declared he’d meet unconditionally with rouge nations and terrorist leaders. In same debate, Hillary said The President needs pre-conditions and why.)

Asked and answered in Part 1: Hillary’s plans for health insurance with background thinking, along with withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. She said she has been there three times, and each time was told the same story by the Iraqi government. She asserted that the only way things will change is when they see they don’t have a blank check. She would also have us engage in an intensive diplomatic effort in the region and determine how neighbor nations will help prevent civil war. (Been there three times, and I can’t push away from the computer and get off the couch?)

She assailed Bush/McCain for attacking the Democratic Party, but also said she would not meet unconditionally with rogue nations. She referred to the 1950s cold war when there were meetings at all levels to pave the way. Clinton reasoned that one wouldn’t want a meeting at the presidential level to be used for propaganda purposes by the other side, and that promise of a visit can be a spur to get it together.

In response to a question, she gave examples of how youth are getting involved with her campaign online and through issues such as aids for Darfur, and The One Campaign’s US education around the world.

 

Sexist Treatment: Sen. Clinton Weighs In

In ABC News’ “Sexism: Clinton’s Latest Vast Conspiracy?” the framing of the title says it all, doesn’t it? If you wonder about the truth of what’s being said, just read some of the comments on their website. I’ve included several below the excerpted article:

In unusually blunt comments, Clinton told the Washington Post that sexism has played a larger role in the campaign than racism and that it has cost her and her supporters.

“It’s been deeply offensive to millions of women. I believe this campaign has been a groundbreaker in a lot of ways,” Clinton said. “But it certainly has been challenging given some of the attitudes in the press.”

Clinton, the first woman to make a serious bid for a major party’s presidential nomination, said she did not think that racism was a factor in her bruising battle with Sen. Barack Obama.

Instead, she said, “The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted.”

She added, “It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments and the actions of people who are nothing but misogynists.”

Article comments, which are on the milder side of what’s out there, range from:

Based on my observations and those of others I have shared reflections with, here are the reasons Hillary will not be the Democratic nominee. Many people like myself do not empathize with “whiners” and Clinton was always whining instead of staying focused on the issues. The term is NOT a sexist term.

And:

Give the people a kinder, gentler woman instead of a power-hungry beyotch and it would be a different race. Hillary was smug and arrogant from the beginning, took too much for granted and now is crying that it’s not fair, so she pulls out the sexism card like it was the only reason she lost.

To:

I’m a male, and I have seen comments about Hillary, that my father would have slapped my face for saying. I guess it really is how you are brought up. I truly believe America is dead Morally. It used to be just politicians, now its spreading to the people.

WaPo interviewer Lois Romano, in a May 19, 2008 audio interview posted at top, asked Hillary’s opinion about why women are so “pissed off” (interviewer’s words) about the sexism in this campaign. It’s a great piece, and I encourage you to listen. (If audio player here gives you trouble, you can access it via WaPo link.)

Senator Clinton says that she will win because she is the stronger candidate, and according to the electoral map, she is the one who can win the general election against John McCain, that all people should have a chance to vote, and that MI and FL should be resolved. She is insightful in her understanding of women:

. . . every poll I’ve seen, show more people would be reluctant to vote for a woman than for an African American–which rarely gets reported on either. (LadyBoomerNYC–which is BTW the same thing I told my Israeli hairdresser last year, who didn’t believe me.)

.-.-.

Oppression of women and discrimination against women is universal. You can go to places in the world where there are no racial distinctions, except everyone is joined together in their oppression of women. I mean, the treatment of women is the single biggest problem we have, politically and socially in the world. If you look at the extremism and the fundamentalism, it is all about controlling women at its base.

.-.-.

The idea that we would have a Presidential campaign in which so much of what has occurred that has been very sexist would be just shrugged off, I think is a very unfortunate commentary about the lack of seriousness that should be applied to any kind of discrimination and prejudice. I’ve spent my entire life trying to stand up for civil rights and women’s rights and human rights, and I abhor it wherever discrimination is present.

Beautifully and presidentially spoken, Senator, with the quality, mood, and attitude of a World Leader who understands people.

My Latest Reply to DCCC, DSCC, DNC

I’m getting more appeals than ever for money from the DCCC, DSCC, and the DNC. The latest was from someone I’ve admired for a long time. I know Madeleine Albright will never see my reply, but I just had to put it out there to them, as they keep asking for my money because I’m a member. It would be more time-efficient to cut and paste these, so I don’t have to keep reinventing the wheel, but actually it helps to get things off my chest — and the landscape changes so quickly, each letter is slightly different.

Dear Madeleine,

I’ve always admired you greatly and still do. I can appreciate that the Democratic Party needs our support, but if I have any extra cash, I’m sending it to Hillary. Among the 16.7 people who have already voted for her, many of us are fuming that the DNC, Democratic Party, and Barack Obama have failed to address Hillary’s misogynistic treatment (imagine the outrage if she had brushed him off her shoulder), have favored one candidate over the other (via Brazile and Dean’s statements), and have failed to champion for FL and MI voters. We are lifelong Democrats who have been on the receiving end of insults and derision by zealots and New Democrats and The Media. Would they have stood silent if same insults were hurled at Obama? In fact, I feel as angry at my own party and it’s tactics as I did during the Viet Nam War and surrounding Presidential elections.

If the Dems don’t get it together, they’ll find a much bigger spoiler in this election than Nader ever was, with likely potential for a third party going forward. As Brazile has said, the party doesn’t need its base, it’s got new blood now.

You’ll likely never read this, but thanks,
Lady Boomer NYC