In Tampa Visit, Clinton Refuses To Criticize Palin

tbo.com ^ | September 8, 2008 | By WILLIAM MARCH and CHRISTIAN WADE

[ovrtaxt]

By WILLIAM MARCH and CHRISTIAN WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2008

TAMPA - In her first appearance in Tampa since losing the Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly endorsed Barack Obama Monday, but refused to criticize the newer woman on the presidential campaign scene, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Barack and I may have started on two separate paths, but we are on one journey now," Clinton said.

The crowd and the speakers at the event appeared to consist largely of former Clinton supporters who now back Obama, but her speech was aimed at convincing those who don't, or who may be wavering.

She reprised lines from her speech at the Democratic National Convention two weeks ago saying, in effect, that anyone who supported her ought to support him.

Referring to her 35 years working in politics and public policy issues, she said, "I haven't done that to see us squander this opportunity. This is bigger than any one person – it's way bigger than Barack and me."

Clinton spoke to a crowd estimated by organizers at about 2,300 at the All People's Life Center in East Tampa, following two previous stops during the day in Florida – a forum in Kissimmee and a presentation to unions in Orlando.

Several times, she declined to discuss Palin, chosen by John McCain as his running mate, who has been criticized as lacking experience. Instead, she shifted the discussion to differences between Republicans and Democrats and the errors she said Republicans including President Bush have made during the past eight years.

When an audience member shouted out during her speech, "Tell us about Palin," she responded, "I don't think that's what this election is about,"

"This election is about the differences between us and the Republican Party. Anybody who believes that the Republicans, whoever they are, can fix the mess they created, probably believes that the iceberg could have saved the Titanic."

Asked by reporters after her speech whether she considers Palin qualified to be president, she again declined to answer directly.

"I'm going to stay focused on the issues and I'm going to keep talking about the issues because I think that's what matters to the American people," she said.

She added that having Palin on the ticket is "a great milestone for our nation."

"The Democrats did it in 1984; it took a while but the Republicans got around to doing it this year," she said. But, she added, "That's not the determinant as to who should be our president."

But Clinton also couldn't help referring to her own quest for the nomination, and to the fact that Florida was one of her strongholds.

When an audience member shouted, "I love you Hillary," she responded, "I love you too -- I especially love Tampa and Hillsborough County for supporting me in the primary."

Clinton also said she thinks Florida Democrats are no longer angry over the national party's sanctions and the candidates' boycott of the state over its too-early primary.

"All of that is in the past," she said. "This election is about the future."

Several attendees at Clinton's speech said they have made the transition to supporting Obama, although some said it took them some time.

Cindy Bauer, a lifelong Democrat from Tampa, said she was "very disappointed" by Clinton's loss. "It took a few days, but I got over it. … There's too much at stake for the future of our country," she said.

Bauer said McCain's choice of Sarah Palin only solidified her decision to support Obama. "Anyone who tells me that I shouldn't get an abortion if I choose to, that's it," she said.

Chris Cernosek of Tampa, a no-party voter who couldn't vote in the Democratic primary, said it was tough seeing Clinton lose the nomination and acknowledged, "I was on the fence at first."

But she sees Clinton as an influential role model for younger women, and brought her two daughters, ages 7 and 11, to the speech. "It's wonderful to see women playing such an important role in our nation," she said.

State Rep. Arthenia Joyner and former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman, both ardent Clinton supporters, spoke prior to Clinton at the event, endorsing Obama.

But not all Democratic women who supported Clinton have boarded the bandwagon.

Julie Harris, a longtime local Democratic Party activist who worked in Clinton's campaign, wasn't at the rally, but said in an interview Monday she's backing McCain.

"I'm looking at the top of the ticket and find him to be very inexperienced," she said. "Maybe I've become more conservative as I've grown older."

Clinton, however, said she's not concerned that significant numbers of her backers won't get behind Obama.

That concern, she said, "is certainly receding. There is an enormous amount of focus on this election … and that's because women as well as men know what's at stake."

Former Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson has dismissed the notion that Clinton would take on Palin.

"Some might enjoy the spectacle, but don't expect Hillary Clinton to play along," he wrote in his New Republic blog. "It wouldn't be good for the Democratic Party, or the cause of women's rights."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com. Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

[ovrtaxt]

Well she's smarter than Obama. Not saying much, but there you go.

[scooby321]

2300 thats more than Barry did in two stops. I bet Super delegates are dying.

[jpf]

“but refused to criticize the newer woman on the presidential campaign scene, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.”

Because unlike Obama, she's got her future to think about.

[Texas Eagle]

When an audience member shouted out during her speech, "Tell us about Palin," she responded, "I don't think that's what this election is about,"

Ruh-roh. Somebody is figuring it out.

[Texas Eagle]

When an audience member shouted out during her speech, "Tell us about Palin," she responded, "I don't think that's what this election is about,"

Ruh-roh. Somebody is figuring it out.

[mabelkitty]

And she won’t criticize Palin.
She doesn’t want people to start throwing darts at her and Bill, and she doesn’t want to driver moderates to Palin (which they will do).

[Atlas Sneezed]

When an audience member shouted out during her speech, “Tell us about Palin,” she responded, “I don’t think that’s what this election is about,”

---

As far as I am concerned, Palin is 100% of what this election is all about.

[DouglasKC]

She is playing it exactly right. If she criticizes Palin and Palin’s popularity stays as high as it is until 2012 than she has no chance of beating her. However if she stays nice and neutral and takes the high ground she does herself a favor.
]

[Chet 99]

It looks like Hillary is just going through the motions of demonstrating party loyalty. In public, she’ll do the bare minimum to support him. In private, she’ll try and undermine him at every turn.

[Yossarian]

Clinton is a savvy professional politician, and seems to somewhat learn from her mistakes. That makes her all the more dangerous.

Thank God Barry Soetero knocked her out.

[RockinRight]

Bauer said McCain's choice of Sarah Palin only solidified her decision to support Obama. "Anyone who tells me that I shouldn't get an abortion if I choose to, that's it," she said.

Abortion, abortion, abortion. Is killing babies all these "women" care about?

[TruthWillWin]

Why would she criticize Palin? She is starting her 2012 campaign.

[ovrtaxt]

And Operation Chaos.

[library user]

Exactly. The best thing Hillary can wish for now is to look forward to running against McCain/Palin in 2012.

[Loyalist]

As far as I am concerned, Palin is 100% of what this election is all about.

Given his recent outbursts, I'd say Barack Obama agrees with you.

[Southack]

"Clinton also said she thinks Florida Democrats are no longer angry over the national party's sanctions and the candidates' boycott of the state over its too-early primary. "All of that is in the past," she said. "This election is about the future."

She propagandizes so effortlessly...the primaries of 3 months ago are "in the past" and don't matter, but whatever Bush did 8 years ago is reason to support Dems.

Oy vey!

[ovrtaxt]

Maybe she’ll play her cards right and score a spot as Palin’s 2012 VP?

[ladyjane]

Any pictures of Hillary in the past few days?

She’s been out of sight since she withdrew from the campaign. She was probably having some plastic surgery. It’s been healing and she’s ready to get back to D.C.

[XR7]

Palin's Glasses Bring Sexy Back

When Sarah Palin gave her speech at the Republican National Convention, all eyes were not only on her, but her glasses as well.

By KTRH's Becky Chosed

Monday, September 8, 2008

While most critics called Palin's speech at the RNC a home run, others are saying her glasses stole the show.

"She won the hearts of America with certainly those glasses she had on," Editor in Chief of 20/20, a magazine about glasses, James Spina said. "She certainly made her stance as someone who wears eyewear because it's iconic to her look."

People Who Make Glasses Look Good

The now sought-after Palin frames will cost you around $375, excluding the lenses.

"As you may have noticed they were not invisible on her. She's in the rimless style that has a lot of attention going to the temples, they're jewel-like cut in the lenses, and a pretty dramatic shape," Spina said.

And Palin's not the only one sporting sexy glasses says Spina, "More and more people are treating their glasses like an accessory."

Spina says not only are glasses trendy, but sexy too, "It is sexy, it's a way to strongly identify your own personality. And guys look great in them and women look beautiful in them."

[ken21]

is hillary doing this for:

1. identity politics

or

2. she wants oba mao to lose?