Thoughts about Hillary Clinton

Submitted by Adam Wolenc on 2005, November 13 - 5:09pm.

Many of you have emailed me about calls to oppose Hillary Clinton.

I'm still going through a backlog of emails from you all, but so far I have gathered that we have two opinions we need to reconcile. One says that Hillary is entirely reprehensible and should be immediately opposed. (Note that no serious candidate has come forward yet). The other says that Hillary is far from our views but opposing her would be political suicide for PDA at this time. Somewhere in between lie the concepts of pressuring Hillary with threats of opposition (the stick), or working with her to move her to the left (the carrot).

PDA National is calling for our opinion and is interested in our plans to address this matter. Please share your thoughts about 1) what you think of Hillary, and 2) what we should do about it, here.

login or register to post comments | previous forum topic
( categories: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton )
Hillary Opportunist.
Submitted by Lewis Beyman on 2005, November 16 - 1:54am.

My gut feeling is that Hillary is an opportunist and relatively reactionary. She is a person I don't feel is trustworthy.

I like the Green Party and they have run some decent candidates but they have not gained any traction.

What would be best to further a progressive point of view? This I think should be the question that every progressive ought to try to answer rather than a narrow agenda. What will work? Sometimes I despair at the narrowness of view. Have not people heard of the concept of a United Front? Progressives represent no more than 20% of the NY electorate. We are small and weak and can ill afford splits and petty squabbles. We need electoral reform and as long as the Republicrats dominate there will be none.

I do agree with Greenfield that we have to start working now to oppose Hillary. (Or not) We have to work/think strategically!!!

login or register to post comments
Hammer Hillary from the left
Submitted by Jason Adam on 2005, November 20 - 1:00am.

H. Clinton is not going to move to the left on any issue that progressives care about unless groups like PDA act like a credible threat. Acting like a credible threat means that we run someone against her in the Democratic Senatorial primary (I'm assuming she'll run again) in 2007. Even if our candidate doesn't win, it will send a message. Mrs. Clinton and her Democratic Leadership Council ilk can't be left to assume that they automatically have the left's vote just because the Republicans can be expected to govern further to the right.

login or register to post comments
Hammer Hillary from the left
Submitted by Michele Nelson on 2005, December 6 - 9:05am.

I concur. We need to let Hilary know that progressives on NY do not agree with her hawkish views and that our vote is not taken for granted. 2006 is an opportunity for progressive New Yorkers to voice their concerns. It is also an opportunity for us to win back Congress and, if we are lucky, impeach Bush and Cheney.

login or register to post comments
We MUST oppose Clinton in 2006
Submitted by Zack on 2005, November 22 - 6:03pm.

It's essential that we run a progressive, anti-war candidate against Clinton in the 2006 senate primary. There's a real opportunity to send a message that the behavior of the Democratic Party leadership during the past 6 years is simply unacceptable, and that there's a political price to be paid when the so-called 'opposition' party refuses to offer any alternatives. Clinton and the rest of the mainstream Democrats will continue to take progressives for granted until and unless they are forced to pay attention to us.

New York state Democratic voters are a pretty progressive group, and in a two-person primary race there would be none of the 'better of two evils' thinking that makes third-party general election campaigns so problematic. Amongst these voters, the group that opposes the war in Iraq is neither small nor weak, but they will have no opportunity to voice their opposition if no one runs against Clinton in the primary.

If a candidate with Clinton's terrible record -- on the war, on issues of corporate power, on civil liberties, etc -- runs unopposed in New York next year, then our political system truly is broken. On the other hand, if there IS a primary contest then Clinton's celebrity status guarantees that national attention would be paid, and there would be a genuine opportunity to publicize a progressive message and score at least a symbolic victory.

login or register to post comments
A Progressive Alternative- John Tasini
Submitted by Michele Nelson on 2005, December 6 - 9:03am.

I will let you all judge for yourselves, but Tasini seems like a viable candidate. My concern with challenging Clinton has always been that if there is a weak turnout of support for her opponent, then our progressive agenda will be viewed as weak and, more importantly, would be exploited as such. But he may just be able to get the support. And, since Cindy Sheehan is going to endorse him, he is likely to get a lot of media coverage.
For more information, please see the following article. If you cannot access it here, you can find it at The Nation's website.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20051205/cm_thenation/141206_1
[editted by admin to make link active]

login or register to post comments