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.

[Types_with_Fist]

Yes, I am suspecting this as well. But, if this "scandal" doesn't take, they'll come up with another.

[InvisibleChurch]

the republicans will run jeb bush vs Hillary! in '008 ... who will want to vote for a xxxlinton instead of a bush if the economy comes back strong and much of the terrorism has been dealt with?

[beckett]

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...

He also left out my nominee for the most overlooked scandal of the Clinton presidency, two million acres of scrub land in southern Utah which Clinton turned into a "national monument" called Grand Staircase Escalante. Wouldn't you know it? The second largest soft-burning coal mine in the world just happened to be located on that land, which is now out of operation as a direct result of Clinton's act. Funny how its biggest competitor was a coal mine in Indonesia owned by mega-wealthy Clinton campaign donor and alleged co-conspirator James Riady and some of his buddies in the Chinese military.

Clinton's priceless gift to the American people
The scrub lands of Grand Staircase Escalante

[MrsEmmaPeel]

The term given to the illegal foreign donations to Clinton from the Indonesian Lippo group.

Of course! Thanks.

[NJJ]

I believe Dick Morris had an observation that I have not seen repeated. It was that the images of Hillary claiming she did not know of his infidelity, when she said, will be repeated in the future, just as Bill's wagging of his finger were.

[Lucy Lake]

Pinging you to # 39.

[Fawnn]

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.

...Grand Staircase Escalante. Wouldn't you know it? The second largest soft-burning coal mine in the world just happened to be located on that land, which is now out of operation as a direct result of Clinton's act. Funny how its biggest competitor was a coal mine in Indonesia owned by mega-wealthy Clinton campaign donor and alleged co-conspirator James Riady and some of his buddies in the Chinese military.

And the name "James Riady" just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? Comes up in everyday conversation all the time! < /sarcasm >

With the exception of the 1961-era Billy sol Estes scandal linked to Johnson because of their friendship, and to Kennedy by association, until recently the press didn't emphasize the names of those involved in Democratic scandals. The mainstream press still doesn't.

I think the only reason we don't hear a lot more about Spirew Agnew is because the mainstream press loves getting more milage out of Watergate. They love to vilify McCarthy and Ollie North every chance they get. When it comes to the Clintons, they martyr Susan MacDougal; otherwise, names are seldom named.

By thinking that she, too, can get by without naming those names, or taking any personal responsibility for any failure during her and her husband's political careers, Hillary's book does seem to bringing those things -- and names! -- back into the spotlight. I never thought I'd ever say this, but: Thank you, Hillary.

[gypsy-joker]

you know the real tragidy is if the son of a bitch could have ran for a third term the bastard probable would have won......at that thought i must now go puke

[Fawnn]

re your post #12: Great point re the FBI files! Puts things in perspective, doens't it?

(Take a look-see at my post #47 for some other info about names.)

[Republicus2001]

Now these 86 people have perished in strange circumstances . Why would so many people who were so close to Mr. Clinton die in so many ways ?

It's even stranger that NOT ONE friend of Dubya has blown his brains out...

[Stultis]

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

In truth, however, algore's real problem -- well, one of his problems -- was his utter refusal, throughout the campaign and previously, to use the word "liar," or any recognizable cognate thereof, in referring to The Rapist. (I still shudder to think he nearly won in spite of it all.)

[Republicus2001]

The dead White House friends score:

Clinton - 86
Dubya - 0

Jeesh what a wipeout!