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Hillary Clinton’s Plan for Victory

By Daniel Koffler / March 5, 2008

James Fallows reports:

In a live CNN interview just now, Sen. Clinton repeated, twice, the "Sen. McCain has a lifetime of experience, I have a lifetime of experience, Sen. Obama has one speech in 2002" line. By what logic, exactly, does a member of the Democratic party include the "Sen. McCain has a lifetime of experience" part of that sentence?

By the same logic, one supposes, that leads a presidential candidate from one party to cut commercials for a candidate of the opposing party. I'm willing to be corrected on this point, but I doubt there is another instance in postwar American history of a candidate literally endorsing the nominee of the other party against his or her intra-party opponent. (John Anderson never supported Carter; George Wallace never supported Nixon.) Hillary Clinton's priorities are now unambiguous. She will do anything legally within her power to win the Democratic nomination, including destroying the most promising natural politician her party has seen in some 40 years. If she fails, she wants to make certain that Obama is too toxic ever to run again.

The irony is that the path she is paving to the nomination, even if it is the best way to optimize a still long shot, all but guarantees a McCain victory in the fall. She will lose to him deservedly.

UPDATE: Hillary Clinton repeated her endorsement of McCain in three separate appearances yesterday. John Aravosis has video. 

POST A COMMENT

  • By naftali 3/6/08 at 9:21 a.m. UTC

    'Nuff said.

  • By Phantom 3/6/08 at 3:13 a.m. UTC

    Naftali, HRC may have spent some time in Arkansas, but she's actually from Chicago.  But still, I appreciate your point.  She's got balls of steel!

  • By naftali 3/6/08 at 2:43 a.m. UTC

    Now it's obvious?  I thought it was obvious when she ran for senator of New York, being someone from Arkansas. 

    This is going to be one helluva show from now until the nomination–for all you fans of realpolitik.

    In 1972, Nixon's CRP picked McGovern to run against, and they went about doing some unsavory tricks on all of the front runners until McGovern was remaining.  That's only my recollection. 

  • By Anonymous 3/5/08 at 9:52 p.m. UTC

    You know – both Democractic canidates will be better than the sh*t we have currently in office.  However, it makes me sick to see Hillary stoop so low to acquire the nomination – but its not about what is the good for the people but it is about the money involved.  What people wont do for money and controlling the money. 

    I hope Barack does not stoop so low – but if you do not sling mud back then you are percieved weak.  Like two dogs fighting each other – they will inflcit so many wounds that neither will survive the attack by the old fart and his mucketymucks.

  • By Phantom 3/5/08 at 5:01 p.m. UTC

    In the end, we will get the government that we deserve.

  • By Anonymous 3/5/08 at 3:40 p.m. UTC

    If you haven't noticed, Hilary Clinton would rather McCain win than Obama win. If Obama wins, Hilary Clinton's political careerer is over.

  • By Anonymous 3/5/08 at 3:18 p.m. UTC

    No, really, Daniel tell us how you really feel.

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