Hillary Slams Bush with Drinking Reference

Newsmax.com ^ | July 30, 2002 | Carl Limbacher

[Paul Atreides]

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton attacked President Bush yesterday using an anecdote about hard-drinking President Ulysses S. Grant, in an episode that left some suspecting the reference was a not so subtle dig at Bush's own past drinking problem.

Delivering the keynote speech at a forum for presidential candidates before the Democratic Leadership Council in New York City, Clinton complained about Bush's recent criticism that the prosperity of the 1990's was "a binge" that had left America with "a hangover."

The former first lady responded:

"I am reminded of what Abraham Lincoln once said, when his commanders complained about Ulysses S. Grant's binges. 'Find out,' he said, 'what brand of whiskey Grant drinks because I'm going to send a barrel to each of my generals.'"

"Clearly Hillary Clinton has picked up on [Bush's binge reference]," observed WABC Radio's Paul Alexander late Monday, after guest Craig Crawford, who publishes The Hotline and who attended the DLC conference, related Clinton's Grant anecdote.

"Could the former first lady be suggesting that the current president is drinking?" speculated the radio host, who also doubles as lead political reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine.

"She's at least saying he wasn't sober in the past," Crawford added.

"Bringing Grant in, there are meanings here," interjected Alexander's radio partner, John Batchelor. "For a Democratic first lady to tell a Grant story is alarming to me."

"Clearly [the Clintons] are going to use the binge-hangover metaphor here," observed Alexander. "That's what they're going to do."

"She had a good time with it today," confirmed Crawford.

[onedoug]

She's the one who seems drunk.

[Paul Atreides]

I did a search of the title and didn't see it come up in the results.

[Republicus2001]

Hillary's been a taxaholic for years, who is SHE?

[vrwinger]

No, I think Hillary was suggesting we go back to the "binge" of the 90's - Huge stock market bubble, public confidence in the White House at an all time low, Interns unsafe to walk the halls, etc...

[Itzlzha]

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton attacked President Bush yesterday using an anecdote about hard-drinking President Ulysses S. Grant, in an episode that left some suspecting the reference was a not so subtle dig at Bush's own past drinking problem.

Ah, Senator Hillary...standing as a "dyke" against the tide of corruption I see...

We know where YOUR finger is, where's your HUSBAND'S?

Shake hands with either of them and you'll smell like a worker on Cannery Row for a week....EEEECH!

[azhenfud]

I kinda thought her statement "I am reminded of what Abraham Lincoln once said, when his commanders complained about Ulysses S. Grant's binges. 'Find out,' he said, 'what brand of whiskey Grant drinks because I'm going to send a barrel to each of my generals.'" was more on the complimentary side - like whatever Pres. Bush is doing, find out, because it must be working well.

Sounds like she could be telling her Democrat collegues "instead of complaining, shut up, find out why Bush is popular, and imitate - since you can't create"...

[justshutupandtakeit]

Seems like every commentator in the article missed her meaning. It wasn't about W at all merely saying that if the "prosperity" of the 90s (like Grant's victories) were the result of booze then the country needs more.

Is it mandatory to have a lobotomy in order to be a quoted political commentator?

[justshutupandtakeit]

No, see 27.

[dead]

She was referring to Clinton's economic performance, not Bush's. Bush was the complaining commander in her lame analogy.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Delivering the keynote speech at a forum for presidential candidates before the Democratic Leadership Council in New York City, Clinton....

Does that put the lie to her claim to not be running?

[azhenfud]

It was a bad analogy, even for her....

[Zathras]

The Dyke Speaks!

[jws3sticks]