Media Matters Asks "What Clinton Fatigue?"

[wyldwolf]

In an April 30, front-page Washington Post profile of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) pollster and campaign consultant Mark Penn, Post staff writer Anne E. Kornblut claimed: "While not her campaign manager in name, Penn controls the main elements of her campaign, most important her attempt to define herself to an electorate seemingly ready for a Democratic president but possibly still suffering from Clinton fatigue." However, Kornblut did not provide any evidence that American voters "suffer[] from Clinton fatigue," either in the past or currently, beyond recounting an anecdote in which former Vice President Al Gore was said to have questioned Penn about "Clinton fatigue" during his 2000 presidential run.

Kornblut reported that during his 2000 presidential run, Gore asked Penn, who was Gore's pollster at the time, if there was "any evidence of this 'Clinton fatigue' that people kept talking about." Kornblut continued that Penn's "flippant response" -- " 'I'm not tired of him,' Penn replied. 'Are you?' " -- was "the final straw for Gore, who had long been wary of Penn and concerned that his real loyalty was to Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton," and soon after the meeting, Penn was fired. Again, Kornblut did not provide evidence to support or combat the notion that the public had "Clinton fatigue."

As Media Matters for America has previously noted, in an April 17 Washington Post article about fundraising reports from several presidential candidates, including Clinton, staff writer Dan Balz claimed: "Among Democrats, a sense of 'Clinton fatigue' has led some major fundraisers to reassess with whom they want to align." The phrase "Clinton fatigue," despite appearing in quotes, was not attributed to anyone cited in the article, and Balz did not provide any additional information to support the notion of "Clinton fatigue." Additionally, though Balz reported that Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) first-quarter fundraising was "anemic," he did not raise the possibility of "McCain fatigue."

In another April 17 Post article, staff writers John Solomon and Matthew Mosk reported that "some" Clinton donors "cite fatigue after more than a decade" of various fundraising efforts for the Clintons -- but they did not quote any donors claiming to be tired of the Clintons. Solomon and Mosk added: "Most , though, blame the defections on the enthusiasm generated by the upstart campaign of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)."

Media Matters also noted that, in a March 29 article, USA Today failed to challenge political psychologist Stanley Renshon's false suggestion that the public's views of the Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies are comparable and his claim that the public suffers from "extraordinar" Clinton "fatigu." USA Today reported that according to Renshon, "the Clinton and Bush presidencies have been 'extraordinarily fatiguing' for Americans, who may be seeking 'a somewhat calmer presidency.' " In fact, according to USA Today's own polling, Bill Clinton's approval ratings remained in the 50s and 60s through most of his presidency; in the wake of the 1998 impeachment proceedings, Clinton's approval rating jumped to 73 percent. The article also reported that Clinton's current approval rating is 60 percent and that "in the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, 71% said he was a good president -- more than double Bush's 34% approval in the poll."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704300009?f=h_topic

[Atman]

1. I've got "Corporate Media Fatigue."

Good post. Thanks.

.

[hatrack]

5. Sounds like the "Bullshit Fatigue" I've been dealing with for the past, oh, six years or so . . .

Could there be a connection?

:puke:

[musiclawyer]

2. Didn't bother to read the whole thing

But MM could note that Bill is irrelevant. Hillary is who matters and lots of people have a negative view of her. Too many to risk the fate of the world on her

[AtomicKitten]

3. the oft-repeated rumor of her demise keeps some going here

but she has yet to stumble and appears to be holding her own

[Captain Hilts]

4. "Clinton fatigue" was invented by the RNC in 2000. Sad to see Dems fall for it.

And that includes Gore in 2000.

[Tellurian]

6. Holy Joe steadily whispered; stay away..

Eight years later, it is Clinton who is running for president, and Penn, 53, is her chief strategist. While not her campaign manager in name, Penn controls the main elements of her campaign, most important her attempt to define herself to an electorate seemingly ready for a Democratic president but possibly still suffering from Clinton fatigue.

We've been held hostage for 8 long years by an administration hell bent on world domination. Gore couldn't get it done. Kerry couldn't do it. I trust no one but the Clintons to beat back the Republican Junta once again. Sure as hell, the Rovian strategists are commiserating and conniving new ways to unethically and illegally dominate this next election, either by overt or covert methods. There isn't a candidate in this race better equipped to take them on and win, than President and Senator Clinton. They are dedicated heart and soul to bringing the White House back to the People. You can take that to the bank!