Posted on 04/10/2005 11:37:03 AM PDT by HAL9000
ALBANY, N.Y. — Claiming Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is running for the White House on a path "paved with her lies and distortion," New York's GOP chairman has kicked off a national "STOP HILLARY NOW!" fundraising effort to thwart her 2006 re-election bid.
"This is not merely a race for New York," according to the fundraising appeal sent out by Stephen Minarik. "It's a race for America."
"Stopping Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most important thing you and I can do as Republicans in the next two years," Minarik wrote. "You could say it's our duty as Republicans."
Minarik's fundraising letter, dated Friday, promises a Republican "truth squad" that will "monitor Hillary's appearances and expose her lies."
The New York GOP letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, represents an escalation in the fundraising war over Clinton's re-election bid. While Minarik had sent out similar missives to New York Republicans, the Friday appeal marked his first foray into the potentially more lucrative national anti-Clinton market.
Clinton's little-known Senate opponent in 2000, then-U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio, raised more than $35 million in just six months, thanks in large part to so-called Hillary haters. Then-New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was the party's original Clinton challenger in 2000, but he quit the race in the face of prostate cancer.
Clinton has countered with fundraising appeals of her own, including a March 31 e-mail warning potential supporters she is "the No. 1 target for the right-wing attack machine" that is "boasting about their `Swift Boat' style ads" to be used against her.
On Saturday, Clinton was in Minnesota, raising money for her own Senate re-election campaign at a $1,000-a-person private event and headlining a $100-a-person dinner for Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
"I'm worried about my country," Clinton told about 2,000 people attending the DFL dinner at a Minneapolis hotel. "I'm worried we are not living up to the expectations and accomplishments of those who came before."
While Clinton has said she is not looking beyond her own re-election effort, many attending the dinner said they wanted the former first lady to run for president in 2008.
"She's tough. She certainly ought to be a candidate," said Minnesota state Attorney General Mike Hatch said. "I like her. I am absolutely for her."
Minarik is trying to block a 2008 campaign, by beating Clinton in 2006.
In a nod to a more conservative national audience, the GOP leader's new fundraising appeal raises the issues of abortion, the war in Iraq and religion. He has not touched on those subjects in letters sent out in more liberal New York.
"I'm sure you've seen or heard about Hillary's devious attempt to remake herself as a moderate following the results of the 2004 elections," Minarik wrote.
"In a cynical effort to fool Americans," Clinton "plays all sides in the abortion debate, distances herself from Democrat attacks on President Bush's policies in Iraq and suddenly discovers a new appreciation of `faith-based' organizations," he added.
In his four-page letter, Minarik refers to Clinton six times as either a "radical liberal" or "ultra-liberal." She is also the "darling of the wealthy liberal left — especially the Hollywood left" and has a "vast network of far-left contributors."
To help readers understand the message, "STOP HILLARY NOW" or simply "STOP HILLARY" — always in capital letters — appears nine times in the four-page letter.
Complicating Minarik's anti-Clinton effort is the fact that the state party has yet to come up with a big-name challenger to take her on in 2006. Minarik's mentor, Gov. George Pataki, has said he has no interest in being a senator and just last week, Giuliani's top political aide said the former mayor was too busy with business interests to run for office next year.
Like Clinton, Republicans Giuliani and Pataki are considered potential 2008 presidential candidates.
Edward Cox, a Manhattan attorney and son-in-law of the late President Nixon, is considering a run against Clinton for the Senate seat as is Adam Brecht, a little-known former Wall Street public relations executive. There has been some speculation that Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro may also be eyeing the Senate race, although she first faces a re-election battle of her own this year.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
I remember when this first his Free Republic but forget what the hand signal means. It's hilarious. She doesn't have a clue! Beth
There is no meaning to that one other than to mock them, I have used it myself in the past. Have no idea what it means but it feels good when you do it to someone. lol
The NY GOP should face this accusation with PRIDE...
i.e. The Swiftys told the TRUTH and WE plan on telling the TRUTH TOO..
Yeah.. what have the Swiftys to be ashamed of..
Played correctly.. Hillary might have released to death blow herself.. SHES LIEING ABOUT THE SWIFTYS WITH THAT STATEMENT.. and plans futher lies about other things..
BUT "WE" in the New York GOP plan on telling the TRUTH...
Might not work on NY'ers though.. they love lies so dearly..
almost as much as they love TAXES..
NAH!..... won't work.. nevermind
I honestly don't think we will beat Hillary in NY in 2006 barring Rudy running against her, but even so hopefully we can deplete her warchest a little and make her fight for it. Granted the clintons can raise alot of money but im confident than if she's on the ticket in 2008 we'll easily outraise them. (not that it really matters since the media will be MASSIVElY in the tank for her like they were for kerry essentially giving them probably billions in free advertising).
Less for others.
You said it.
Yep, I said it.
You said what?
I still believe that Bertha Butt will NOT be the nominee in 2008.
Being feared is Not good if you want to be President.
And there is a big difference between fear and hatred.
Snicker...
If the world knew what was best for it, it would start an international Stop hitlery campaign.
Yep, you did.
Wow! EXCELLENT parodizing, Tubes! I love it.
If I recall correctly, that is the hand signal POWs are supposed to use if they're being forced to pose for the pictures (and are being tortured as well, I think).
Thanks for ordering.
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