'Today' Suggests Conservatives Softening on Hillary

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Are you a conservative? Someone who historically has harbored, shall we say, a decided aversion to the former First Lady turned senator and presidential candidate? Do you find that in recent times your feelings toward Hillary have undergone a change? Do you perhaps see her in a more kindly light?

'Today' ran an unusual segment this morning suggesting that, indeed, conservatives may be "softening on Hillary." With David Gregory narrating, we were first treated to the bad old days. Hillary making her infamous "vast right wing conspiracy" allegation to Matt Lauer back in 1998. A clip from The Clinton Chronicles, which spun the darkest theories about the Clintons.

But then, as evidence of how things have changed, a clip of Chris Ruddy of the conservative NewsMax.com stating that "there's a view now that not only was Bill Clinton not so bad, he was pretty good. [Conservatives] don't have the same level of anger toward her that they once had toward him."

Continued Gregory: "Some conservatives credit Mrs. Clinton for working to shed her liberal image dating back to her push for universal health care. They also note her stand on the Iraq war, which has made her a target for liberals, not conservatives."

Her campaign staff was, naturally, only too happy to reinforce the notion. Senior aide Howard Wolfson was shown stating "our country has looked at the Clinton years, they've looked at the Bush years, and they've found the Clinton years to be a whole lot better in many areas."

But some dissonant notes were sounded. Chuck Todd, NBC's newly-named political director, suggested that the anti-Hillary forces haven't gone away, "they're just hibernating." And ground-breaking conservative fundraiser Richard Viguerie [shown here], analogizing to Samuel Johnson's observation that nothing so concentrates the mind like the prospect of a hanging, said that "conservatives would see the possibility of a President Hillary Clinton as an impending hanging and it would definitely focus our mind and attention."

So how about it? Has NBC spotted a trend, or is it simply trying to prepare the path for the next Clinton presidency?

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Learning-to-love Hillary? ping to Today show list.

[Leofl]

One Word BULLSHIT

[Eddie01]

Marketing. Ad Copy.

[Luke21]

This is banana nut bread lunacy. We still despise Clinton.

[Savage Beast]

I'd as soon watch mindless fiction or children's cartoons as something like Today.

[BamaAndy]

That would be a "no," Mattie.

[Ramcat]

Repeat it enough times and you know what happens!

[Menehune56]

David Gregory narrating. Hmm...

MSM spin trying to make Hillary out as the moderate dem, which she is obviously trying to be.

[RichInOC]

I never hated her and Bubba, exactly, but no, I've never changed my mind on what I thought about them (lying crooks), his administration (a torture to watch and listen to, and a disaster for the country) and the prospects of her getting a term or two as president (see above re: Bubba's administration--in other words, hell no, never again).

[Paloma_55]

They do this as a propaganda method to sway moderates. The moderates (gullible) will say to themselves "Wow, if the conservatives can tolerate her, then maybe she ain't so bad!?"

[chimera]

Sounds like a preemptive strike to blunt the (possible) impact of the consulting contract payoff-endoresement scandal that is brewing. The Clintons refined the technique of having the media carry their water of a distracting story as a smokescreen for a more serious scandal. Hillary! is already in the deny-defend mode on that payoff-endorsement flap.

[LiveFree99]

Plenty of time to go after the Beast, why start too early?

[timydnuc]

Rename that show "Clueless At 30 Rock".

[governsleastgovernsbest]

That's essentially the theory that Chuck Todd put forward in the segment.

[OldEagle]

In her dreams.

[deaconjim]

Hillary would switch parties if she thought it would get her elected. She's already morphed into a conservative evangelical Christian. She doesn't have far to go.

[Emmett McCarthy]

NBC and the Today Show are just carrying out their assignment in a staged "triangulation" for Hilary. Of course, if Republicans can't come forward with a genuinely conservative candidate, the chances for her to actually win increase greatly.

[Dick Vomer]

yeah it's getting towards Lent.... I don't f'ing hate her..... I just hate her.

[metmom]

'Today' Suggests Conservatives Softening on Hillary

Only in the brain, if true. Not this one.