Hillary's 'Me Too' Problem

[illinoisprogressive]

Hillary Clinton has a Me-Too problem, and it was illustrated perfectly at last night's Democratic presidential debate in Philadelphia.

Here's the problem. Clinton allows Barack Obama and John Edwards (and sometimes even Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd) to dictate the policy proposals of the Democratic field. By and large, she puts forward relatively moderate ideas that rely heavily on conventional thinking—until one or more of her competitors takes a more bold, populist stand. Then Clinton immediately embraces the new stand, and the competitor or competitors have nothing on which to run against her.

I wrote a comment on David's post on this yesterday, regarding opposition to Michael Mukasey's nomination to be attorney general. Clinton announced she opposed the nomination, though she was following Edwards, who was following Obama, who was following Dodd. "So is this how a candidate maintains frontrunner status?" I wrote. "Make sure there is not an inch of difference between her and any other candidate? In a word, mimicry?"

That doesn't strike me as true leadership. And yesterday's debate had a moment that illustrated this perfectly. Clinton was asked by Tim Russert if she supported New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's proposal to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. According to Russert, Clinton had told a group of newspaper editors that the idea made sense. Clinton responded approvingly, saying, "What Governor Spitzer is trying to do is fill the vacuum left by the failure of this administration to bring about comprehensive immigration reform." Illegal immigrants are on the roads and will get into accidents. It's a reality, she said, and we ought to have a system to handle it.

But then Chris Dodd criticized the idea, saying that a driver's license is a privilege and not a right. Clinton instantly said, "I just want to add, I did not say that it should be done." Dodd pounced: "Wait a minute. No, no, no. You said yes, you thought it made sense to do it." Clinton responded by trying to explain that Spitzer's plan included three different kind of licenses. She promptly got lost in the weeds and accused the assembled of playing "gotcha." With that, it was off to the races.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2007/10/5998_debate_reaction.html

[Colobo]

1. Very good read.

[TwilightGardener]

2. She plays it safe. Being a leader means possibly stumbling, possibly

alienating some constituencies, not always being able to poll and focus-group first. It's risky. I would hope that if/when she's elected, she will act more like a Dem leader and less like a permanent candidate.

[Kagemusha]

3. What do you mean, "problem"? This is shutting off any avenue for disagreement.

From the left, anyway. It's absorbing opposing arguments rather than confronting them. Yes, it **IS** how frontrunners maintain their status, as candidates, and as parties. It works when you can make it appear like you are in the dominant position, as Republicans spend a great deal of effort doing. Hillary is making the other candidates look like Hillary-lite - why go for Hillary-lite when you can get the real thing?

And what political defense is there against this? That Hillary is a bad person?

If people are satisfied with Hillary - and the polls say they are - this is not a "problem" - it is a strategy for victory, and it will succeed.

[superkia]

6. The polls reflect the percentage of coverage given to the...

candidates. Look back say 8 months ago and look at the percentage of advertisement that each of the candidates have received, it matches up to the polls. Take two similar products ( democratic candidates ) and give one a large percentage of advertisement and the others smaller amounts or none and watch the sales of each product. Its pretty simple to realize thats what is happening in the polls but maybe the people who support the candidate in the lead of these polls doesn't want to face reality and want to believe their candidate is best only because of this advertisement? I work in the restaurant business and you could put a picture of a pile of shit all dressed up with garnish and it would sell, its pretty amazing how you can determine what people choose by some simple advertising.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. The problem with it is that it is all superficial - if she wins, we lose

because we didn't nominate someone to lead the party or the nation, but someone who by habit and inclination will go along to get along.

A loser.

Someone who will get her butt kicked in the general, because when she's out there on her own with no one to steal from but Mike Huckabee, we are fucked.

[Renew Deal]

13. Bush did this to McCain in 2000

All of a sudden Bush supported campaign finance reform.

[IndianaGreen]

4. But when it comes to the neocon agenda, Hillary leads the charge

right behind Joe Lieberman.

[Froward69]

8. to guard against that

accusation She picks the absolutely Wrong side of the issue of drivers licenses to illegals. either she is differentiating herself from the neo-con charge or pandering to the Hispanic vote. either way it is a national security issue and fully 80%+ are against it. regardless of party affiliation. the Independents decide elections. they will decide against her on this one. She cannot back up the truck either. She will loose the GE.

[Skip Intro]

5. Doesn't seem to be a problem so far.

assuming there is any truth to it

[PurityOfEssence]

9. How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?

The Firesign Theatre knew the type...

[MethuenProgressive]

10. So now Democrats are against immigration?

I was suprised to hear Obama and Edwards spouting off the anti-immigrant Republican talking points.

[Renew Deal]

12. Obama said he supported it.

So what are you talking about?

[Renew Deal]

11. Mimicry is what Hillary AND her supporters are doing.

Just read around DU. The common theme from Clinton people is that there is no difference between Hillary and Obama.

Hillary is obviously trying to run on soft characteristics rather than issues. "You already like me and there is no difference between me and ObamaEdwardsDoddBidenETC so vote for me."

I find it disturbing and disgusting.

[AtomicKitten]

14. She comes across as slippery.