HILLARY'S LEADERSHIP COLLAPSE
Media And Colleagues Note Hillary's Lack Of Leadership
Before, During, And After Debate
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Before And After Democrat Debate, The Media Was Quick To Criticize Hillary For Never Leading:
NBC's Chuck Todd: "We can't sit here and say Clinton's been a leader in the Senate either. She's not gone out there to try to marshal the troops as well either." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
Todd: "None of the senators have that much. They have sort of -- they put out bills that get voted on, so they can say they introduced a bill. But they haven't really tried to corral the Senate, say, you know what? I'm - that's it. I'm - I'm not on the campaign trail until I get this done." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
After The Debate, MSNBC's Chris Matthews Accused Hillary Of Not Taking A Position "That Might Offend Some Interest Group Within The Democratic Party." Matthews: "Hillary Clinton did what she always does, what her husband always does is refuse to pay a price for political office. To always defer to someone; always avoid taking a position within any interest group that might offend some interest group within the Democratic Party. It seems the whole tactic of the Clintons, never take a stand that offends anybody in the whole room full of Democratic Donors and then you get elected because you don't offend anybody." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
Lack Of Leadership: Hillary Refused To Answer Tough Questions:
MSNBC's Chris Matthews: "Both on the issue of a potential Israeli strike on Iran and the issue of what are you going to do to save the Social Security system. In both cases she said I will not answer the question. I haven't heard politicians do that before. That's a first." (MSNBC's "Post-Debate Coverage," 9/26/07)
Hillary Refused To Answer Question About Israel Attacking Iran. NBC's Tim Russert: "Senator Clinton, in 1981, the Israelis took out a nuclear reactor in Iraq. On September 6th, to the best of our information, Israel attacked Syria because there was suspicion that perhaps North Korea had put some nuclear materials in Syria. If Israel concluded that Iran's nuclear capability threatened Israel's security, would Israel be justified in launching an attack on Iran?" Hillary: "Tim, I think that's one of those hypotheticals, that is ..." Russert: "It's not a hypothetical, Senator." Hillary: "Better not addressed at this time." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07)
When Asked About Her Plan For Fixing Social Security, Hillary Repeatedly Avoided The Question And Refused To Offer Any Specifics. Russert: "But you would not take lifting the cap at $97,500 off the table?" Hillary: "Well, I'd take everything off the table until we move toward fiscal responsibility and before we have a bipartisan process. I don't think I should be negotiating about what I would do as president. You know, I want to see what other people come to the table with." ... Russert: "So, Senator, a simple question, a simple question: What do you put on the table [for solving Social Security]?" ... Hillary: "I'm not putting anything on the proverbial table until we move toward fiscal responsibility." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07)
Reliving History: Matthews: "Bill Clinton never took a position on reform of any entitlement program. ... [I]t's a very cynical move because you're saying to the public I am not telling you anything I intend to do." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
Hillary Dodged Question On Clinton Library Donors. Russert: "[W]ould they voluntarily, the Clinton library and Clinton Foundation, make their donors public?" Hillary: "Well, you'll have to ask them." Russert: "What's your recommendation?" Hillary: "Well, I don't talk about my private conversations with my husband..." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07)
Hillary Refused To Answer Questions Leaving "A Pile-Up Of Unanswered Questions." "In the earlier debates, when she [Hillary] refused to answer what she said were hypothetical questions, she was praised for her experience and judgment, especially compared with Mr. Obama. But tonight, there seemed to be a pile-up of unanswered questions. No doubt there is a YouTuber out there now who is stringing those non-answers together." (Katharine Q. Seelye, "Post-Debate Wrap-Up," The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, www.nytimes.com, 9/27/07)
"Her Final Answer Captured The Dynamic, When She Was Asked Whom She Would Support In A (Hypothetical) World Series Between The Yankees And The Chicago Cubs. Well, She Said, Gazing At The Ceiling, She Would Have To Alternate Between The Two." (Katharine Q. Seelye, "Post-Debate Wrap-Up," The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, www.nytimes.com, 9/27/07)
Other Democrat Presidential Candidates Criticized Hillary's Lack Of Leadership:
Edwards Attacked Hillary's Social Security Plan, Calling It "Politician Double-Talk." Edwards: "You cannot solve this problem just by setting up a bipartisan commission... [T]he American people deserve to hear the truth. They have heard so much politician double-talk on this issue." (Former Sen. John Edwards, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07)
Sen. Chris Dodd Was "Stunned" At Hillary's Unwillingness To Tackle The Social Security Issue. Sen. Dodd: "So, I'm rather stunned that we had, sort of, this vague, unwillingness to be clear about what you would specifically do on a major fiscal issue in the country." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
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