 'divisive' is a deadly one to have hung around one's neck. And for many, Rich's pardon was the quintessential resume of Clintonian corruption.
Hillary Clinton promptly over-reacted. Her campaign spokesman, Howard Wolfson, said there was no room in the campaign for "personal insults" and that since Obama had devoted many worthy words to the topic of civility in national discourse, he should hand Geffen back his donations. Obama declined to do this and his campaign director Robert Gibbs happily told the press, "It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when he was raising them $18m and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom."
This, and the Oscar triumph for Gore, have left Mrs Clinton distinctly frayed. Again, she is adamantly refusing to apologise for her 2003 vote in favour of the hugely unpopular war in Iraq. Obama wasn't in the Senate in 2003 and was on record anyway as opposing the war. Another of Mrs Clinton's rivals for the Democratic nomination, John Edwards, has
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| With Barack Obama gaining ground on her, Hillary had better learn to smile under fire |
|
|
said he regrets his vote. Seventy-four percent of Democrats say Iraq will be a factor in their 2008 vote, according to a February Gallup Poll; 50 per cent say it will be a major factor.
But Mrs Clinton is defiant. Asked about her vote for the war at a New Hampshire town hall, she said: "If the most important thing to any of you is choosing someone who did not cast that vote or said his vote was a mistake, then there are others to choose from."
Since there are indeed others to choose from, this was not a smart thing to say, as her husband could have told her - though he probably kept his mouth shut.
The most ill-tempered politician in America is former prisoner-of-war and now US Senator John McCain, seeking the Republican nomination. Back in the 2000 primary season, Karl Rove lit the fuse and McCain exploded, right on schedule. With Barack Obama gaining and John Edwards still in contention, Hillary's numbers are not as robust as they were. She had better learn how to smile under fire, or she'll soon be in real trouble. 
FIRST POSTED MARCH 1, 2007
|
