Stop Hillary Now
By Gary Aldrich (04/15/05)
Is it too soon to get agitated about the possibility of Senator Hillary Clinton running for president in 2008? Not according to Stephen Minarik the head of New York's GOP. In a recent fundraising letter he wrote, "It's a race for America ... stopping Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most important thing you and I can do as Republicans in the next two years."
Minarik went on to remind his readers that it is the duty of Republicans to stop Hillary's presidential quest by running her out of the U.S. Senate. It might be helpful if the GOP would focus on a few good candidates who could replace her, but it's a step in the right direction to remind voters who Hillary and Bill really are.
For members of the "Vast Right Conspiracy" as Hillary described anybody in 1998 who offered spirited opposition to the Clinton Administration's dysfunctional antics, it's perfectly clear why Hillary should not be president. The eight years of Bill and Hill are burned into the memories of those who then called for Clinton's removal from office.
But in Bush's campaign leading up to his win in 2000, it was made clear that Bill Clinton's troubles culminating with his impeachment in 1998 would not be mentioned – Clinton's abuse and misuse of high office was not suitable fodder for discussion at any official campaign function during the 2000 Republican National Convention. Heroes of the movement to impeach Clinton were not invited to participate and were made to observe from a distance, lest campaign officials or the candidate himself be tainted by close association.
Predictably, members of Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth would be treated in a similar manner four years later.
Nevertheless, when voters were asked why they did not vote for Al Gore, among the chief reasons was the "character issue." Bill and Hillary Clinton's characters were the issue – and Gore's rubber-stamping of the Clintons' conduct proved to be his Achilles heel.
Other reasons why Gore was defeated included the Clinton Administration's handling of the Elian Gonzales matter in Florida. Cuban refugees, who fled Fidel Castro, did not appreciate that a five year-old little boy was being covered by an automatic weapon wielded by a hyper-ventilating federal agent. This agent and his heavily armed paramilitary strike team were sent there by Janet Reno to collect Elian and send him back to his puppet-daddy in Havana, where fathers have no rights.
This dangerous federal government overreaction – reminiscent of the horrible tragedy at Waco, Texas, where 20 babies and their mothers died for following a religious fanatic, reminded citizens why the "right to bear arms" might still be important.
National Rifle Association president Wayne LaPierre was later credited with helping to defeat Gore by reminding voters that Bill, Hillary, Al Gore and their political allies were among the nation's most active gun control proponents.
The elements that supplied the passion for the opposition to Al Gore have faded partly because then candidate and now President Bush behaves as if none of that matters to the country.
I know in his heart that George Bush and his father and mother were disgusted with the politics and behavior of the Clintons. They were raised differently – that is to say, they have class, discretion, and moral direction which they truly follow. In contrast to the Clintons, the Bush family believes in Democracy and Capitalism and they have steadfastly fought hard-Socialism and Communism.
Moreover, George Bush's current lineup of appointments, for example John Bolton to the United Nations and Condoleezza Rice's as Secretary of State, underscore his commitment to Democracy and a strong United States.
The Republican Party hierarchy would do well to remember what so many citizens in this country will have forgotten by 2008 – that Hillary's politics and conduct will not have changed. She is still the dedicated hard-lefty she was when she tried to force national health care down our throats, and take away our guns.
Attempts to showcase her liberal voting record since she has become a Senator will fall flat, just as Senator John Kerry's horribly liberal record was ignored by the national media. It was the Swift Boat Veterans who altered the course – not boring political statistics.
What will be effective if Hillary is to be defeated in 2006 and again in 2008 is to inform voters not only about her actual political agenda , but also her actual atrocious conduct. The fear is that Hillary's strident antics - airbrushed by the passage of time – will be hazy when it's important to teach new voters in 2008 why character matters — voters who were a mere 10 years old when George Bush was elected.
These same voters were wearing diapers when the Clintons came to town, and young voters tend to vote for Democrats. The new chummy, photo-op laden relationship between the Bushes and the Clintons will not be helpful when it comes time to draw political and character distinctions.
Who will teach new voters in 2008 about the true nature of Hillary and Bill Clinton? Hopefully, enough "Clinton Haters" will be around to do that – but they won't be invited to any White House parties by the current administration. That kind of "messy work" appears to be beneath their dignity. But they are the ones to enjoy the fruits of the victories such grassroots activists provide and if this work is not done, it is doubtful that Hillary can be defeated when she runs.
There may not be a South Lawn barbecue party for Conservative political activists who work to keep Hillary from power – but they will march forth with a passion because they know the country will be better off without Hillary in the White House.
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