Hillary’s Book Backfires

Newsmax.com ^ | Tuesday, June 10, 2003 | Christopher Ruddy

[Zavien Doombringer]

Despite the media frenzy helping to put Hillary’s new book, “Living History,” onto the best-seller lists, her PR efforts have backfired on her political ambitions.

The intent of Hillary’s “Living History” was to rewrite history and create a fairy tale version of her life with Bill Clinton – a story that would mask her and her husband’s greedy climb to power.

The purpose of this rewrite of history was also clear: to recreate Hillary as her own “lady” – a viable presidential candidate of her own.

But the publicity so far for “Living History” indicates that she and her handlers may have badly misjudged public opinion.

For one thing, the book has reminded Americans that she was, and remains, in the shadow of her husband, an impeached former president.

Bill Clinton’s coattails did not work well for Al Gore, who should have glided into the White House in 2000.

Gore lost, and press reports say that Gore and his wife, Tipper, blamed Clinton and his scandal-riddled administration for the loss.

Watching Barbara Walters, one might believe that the Clinton “scandals” were all about sex. During my years covering the Clinton White House, I never reported on Clinton’s bedroom politics.

But the litany of real Clinton scandals are almost endless: Travelgate, Vince Foster’s death and office cover-up, Waco, Whitewater, Madison Guaranty, Chinagate, Lippogate, illegal fund raising, Cattlefutures-gate, Ron Brown’s death, pardongate and on and on.

Even the so-called “sex scandal” was really no such thing: The scandal was about a sexual harassment lawsuit and the Clintons' efforts to obstruct justice in that case.

As it turned out, it was a minor scandal, but one a very timid and inept prosecutor named Ken Starr latched onto.

While Hillary and her husband were never indicted, it is outrageous for her to claim, and for reporters like Barbara Walters to meekly accept, that the investigations “never found anything.”

As it turned out, dozens of the Clintons' aides and associates had to resign, were indicted, went to jail or were referred for criminal indictment.

Hillary would like to whitewash this chapter in her and her husband’s history.

But her new book does serve to imbed in the public’s mind that Hillary Clinton, both as first lady and now as senator, was upstaged by a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky.

This book gave Hillary a tremendous opportunity. It was time for her to have the public forget about Monica and focus on her own achievements.

Instead, Hillary put Monica back into the headlines, with all of Bill’s women problems.

For sure, Hillary is smarter and more disciplined than her husband. It was clear to me, during my years covering the Clintons, that she actually ran the White House. Bill Clinton was too busy with other matters, as the Monica transcripts so well demonstrated.

The spin from this book should have been a repositioning of Hillary. It should have revealed her as the gray power behind her husband – and by doing so, subtly suggesting to the American people that she, too, could be president of the United States.

But Hillary bungled this one.

Even her critics must admit that Hillary has shown remarkable political skills. She helped her husband become governor of Arkansas and stay in office. She helped him win the presidency in 1992 and salvaged his presidency during his first term.

She herself then ran for Senate in a state she had no connection with – and won in a landslide, beating a well-financed Republican. Hillary even won in many Republican districts.

Make no mistake about it: Hillary is a force to be reckoned with, but her book may have just laid the groundwork for her undoing.

[Zavien Doombringer]

More Fuel for the fire...

[freedomlover]

to recreate Hillary as her own “lady”

This is as far as I could make it.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

[Zavien Doombringer]

Man, not that clip again, Rush killed it on his TV show a few years ago...

Hey, did anyone forget about Ron Brown? Didn't he possibly know something about a scandal?

[Zavien Doombringer]

You may be presumably right, I hope not, but you may be...

[hunter112]

I'm just wondering if Hillary isn't planning on the sympathy of sheeple watching everybody pile on about her book. Whenever the Clintons seemed to come under attack, their popularity numbers would rise.

Maybe her book is just bait, I guess I hope the world really finds a way to ignore it. That's the best way to handle lies.

[Billthedrill]

Ruddy left out one of the greatest political crimes of the 20th century, the expropriation of highly confidential FBI files on no fewer than 900 political opponents, the copying of that data to a party database, and the subsequent use of that data to blackmail, intimidate, or ruin such opponents as Henry Hyde. Liberals currently pretending to be shocked at the excesses of the Ashcroft-requested surveillance seem to have conveniently forgotten that one.

[princess leah]

There ought to be a political action group called "Bill's abused women" and fund them to attend every political rally Hillary or Bill speak at and make sure their presence is always a reminder to the American public of what a disgrace the Clinton's are to this country!

[parcel_of_rogues]

"Hillary even won in many Republican
districts."

Sorry Chris but even a cursory examination of the red/blue county map of NY from 2000 senate race shows this to be total BS.

[rs79bm]

Both Bill and Hill are some of the most corrupt people America has ever known. On top of that, Bill was one of the absolute worse Presidents ever, and Hillary was one of the worst first ladies ever. Evidence is documented in a million pages worth of books, such as stealing Whitehouse furniture and Silverware on the way out, trashing Air Force one on it's last trip, and ordering the killing of Vince Foster. Not to mention that Bill is the epitome of a male slut. How Bill ever got elected is one of the worst tradegies ever seen. How Hillary ever became first lady is one of the worst tradegies ever seen. How she right now is overseeing the daily events of NY is an even greater tradegy. For if it not for these people getting elected, they would have long been rotting in jail for having been caught doing something illegal, or have been shot by someone for all the misdeeds they have done over the years.

[martin_fierro]

Ruddy left out one of the greatest political crimes of the 20th century, the expropriation of highly confidential FBI files on no fewer than 900 political opponents, the copying of that data to a party database, and the subsequent use of that data to blackmail, intimidate, or ruin such opponents as Henry Hyde. Liberals currently pretending to be shocked at the excesses of the Ashcroft-requested surveillance seem to have conveniently forgotten that one.

And to think ol' Chuck Colson went to Stony Lonesome for wrongful possession of just TWO files.

[TC Rider]

Gore lost, and press reports say that Gore and his wife, Tipper, blamed Clinton and his scandal-riddled administration for the loss.

How could he blame “One of our greatest Presidents".

[Zavien Doombringer]

[b4its2late]

and in five years time, no-one will remember much about all this flap.

But they will for the next year which will hurt all demorats and she'll end up being the savior in 2008.

[kellynla]

That is why we and the conservative media are here. To remind anyone who might forget the history behind these leeches. Hitlery Klintoon has more baggage than Delta Airlines and as long as I have a breath in my body I will never forget nor will I allow anyone else to either.

[1smallVoice]

I disagree because of Giuliani who will unseat Hillary in 2006. Knowing this, she has to run in 2004 to have any chance.

After Bush's second term watch for Powell or Condi Rice to be groomed for 2008. Hillary running against a black woman after losing her senate seat to Giuliani? Nope 2004 is her only chance.

[Paulus Invictus]

Some bright Freeper with all the smarts, should take each one of her statements about the past in the WH (and before) and then put the facts next to such statements. It would be a good reminder of the fictional nature of this effort at rehab of the dirty Klintoon image and their immoral characters.

[KneelBeforeZod]

news max needs to wait a bit before gloating... if this thing takes a dive, then jump all over it.

[Types_with_Fist]

I agree. Someone as ruthlessly ambitious as Hitlery CAN'T Wait until 2008. Look for a contrived scandal against Bush, media complicity and a moderate, independent candidacy by some turncoat to drain off votes from the GOP.