Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. talks with Linda Monahan during a luncheon stop at Chez Vachon in Manchester, N.H., Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Posted on 12/15/2007 5:50:10 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Edited on 12/15/2007 5:53:28 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
PLAISTOW, N.H. - Despite having spent the morning inching along an icy sidewalk, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton insisted Saturday that she knows when to dig in her heels and when to compromise.
After going door-to-door to meet voters in Manchester, Clinton attended a rally in a high school gym, where she spent more time than usual focusing on her resume.
Repeating her recent suggestion that, unlike her rivals, she has worked for change rather than merely hoped for or demanded it, Clinton argued that only she has experience doing such work.
"That work means knowing when to find common ground and when to stand your ground," she said. "If you are too unyielding, then you are likely to end up with nothing to show for it. If you are too compromising, you may very well give up your principles and your values. You've got to find that balance."
"We need a president with a lifetime of experience in making positive change," she said, citing as examples her work for the Children's Defense Fund after college, her unsuccessful universal health care plan while her husband was president, and her work as a U.S. senator to expand health benefits for National Guard members.
"This is what I have done during my life. This is what I believe in," she said. "I believe that I have an obligation, a responsibility and the honor to use the talents God gave me, that my parents helped to nurture, that my teachers helped to develop, on behalf of those who maybe aren't quite so fortunate."
Later, taking questions from the crowd, Clinton told a woman who asked who was financing her campaign that she also has the best record of taking on special interests. Former Sen. John Edwards, who does not take contributions from lobbyists, has tried to portray Clinton as beholden to special interests because she does not refuse such donations.
"I do take contributions from people who are legally able to give them," Clinton said. "And I've taken on more special interests than anyone who's running and I've paid a price for it, because, of course, I have taken the incoming criticism from those special interests.
"I guess I'm just absolutely clear in my own mind and heart that I will do what's right because I've always tried to do that," she said.
Clinton also defended her 2002 vote authorizing military action in Iraq and her recent vote to label the Iranian National Guard a terrorist organization. The woman who asked her about the votes said she supports Clinton but has friends who question whether the votes amount to a pattern of pushing the country into war.
"I know this has been turned into a political issue, and I thank you for asking about it, but I do not favor war," said Clinton, who said her case is strengthened by word from military leaders that since the Iran vote, Iran has stopped sending so many dangerous weapons to other countries to use against Americans.
"I also believe we have to get tough in a diplomatic-pressure way with Iran, and I think that helps us do it," she said. "If it saves American lives by labeling them a terrorist organization, I'm going to label them a terrorist organization."
In Nashua, a voter who confronted Clinton 10 months ago in Berlin about her Iraq vote questioned her again, prodding her to declare the vote a mistake and saying that he found her initial answer "evasive and condescending."
"I like your programs but sometimes I think you come off as cold and politically calculating," said Roger Tilton, who said his two daughters support Clinton. "There's this disconnect ... what do I tell my daughters?"
"Your daughters sound very smart to me," Clinton said. The crowd, which had started hissing at Tilton, burst into applause.
"You can look at my record of 35 years and you see consistency, you see positive changes that have helped people," she said. "I can't be anything other than what I am, and I do the best I can."
Earlier, Clinton went door-to-door in the state's largest city, carefully approaching about a dozen snowcapped homes, many decorated with wreaths and holiday lights.
Though a barking dog drowned out her front-porch conversation with one man, another canine saw an irresistible opportunity in Clinton's visit. While Clinton chatted with homeowners Dianne and Dan Lehoux, their dog sneaked into the kitchen and scarfed down two of the chocolate Christmas cookies the couple had just baked with their nephews.
"Now I have to call the vet!" said Dianne Lehoux, who nonetheless described Clinton's visit as "amazing."
"I was shaking," she said.
Dan Lehoux, who said expanding health care coverage is his top issue, said he appreciated that Clinton was willing to go door-to-door.
"It tells you she's out meeting people. She's actually out discussing what matters with normal folks," he said.
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. talks with Linda Monahan during a luncheon stop at Chez Vachon in Manchester, N.H., Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. finishes her door-to-door campaigning in Manchester, N.H., Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Someone needs to count all of the lies in that spiel.
I can’t count that high.
I'll give her that credit.
I hope the dog is OK..
Skrew Hillary’s political health. ;-)
(laughing) "Yeah, do you dumb &^%$# yocals know what I will do to you if you don't vote for me?"
Oh, look at me! I'm leaning forward to show this woman that she is important to me. I know this because someone taught me this. I wonder just how far I am supposed to lean...I wonder if this almost-horizontal lean is good...
For all the wrong, un-American things, I would have to agree with her.
Hill’s problem is her ideology. She hates the country and people she wants to be emperor to.
She can’t even keep her own husband on a leash!
I took the liberty of highlighting one item, which contains a certain error of omission.
She has done so much for change, as in changing over the House and Senate in 1994 without having been elected to any office whatsoever.
I am so disappointed.
Damn, she looks very old. She better get the word out to the MSM not to do anymore close-ups.
“You can look at my record of 35 years...and you see positive changes that have helped people.”
LOL...what record is she referring to...her Rose Law Firm records, her cattle futures records, her Travel Gate records, the FBI records on Republicans? Her record over the past 35 years shows that she is a grasping harpy that has helped only herself, even putting up with public humiliation from her HINO just to get this crack at the presidency. Surely US voters don’t want to take on the roll of Enabler to her sick ego-driven power trip.
She called General Petraeus a liar. Does she stand firm on that assessment?
They sound like people who would be outsmarted by their dog.
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