Hillary Clinton shares my values

[Alamom]

http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2007...


Hillary Clinton shares my values


The Concord Monitor
Concord, NH

July 16. 2007 9:35AM


Letter to editor:
When it came time to pick a candidate for president, as a person who had spent her entire career in public service, first as a teacher and school librarian, and later as a state's attorney, I sought a person who had demonstrated that he or she cared about the things I care about.

I found out that instead of seeking employment at a major law firm after finishing at Yale, Hillary Clinton chose to work as an attorney for the Children's Defense Fund. Later in Arkansas she ran a legal aid clinic where she handled child abuse cases. As senator, she has worked to pass legislation to improve our education system and to provide health care for America's children. As both a parent and a professional, I have watched the once vibrant school system my children attended decline over the past decade.

I have watched the health care system improve miraculously in my lifetime, yet now I watch my children's families lose benefits every year. The educational and health care systems in this country are breaking, and we need a president who wants to fix them.

But it's not just for her stand on these issues that Hillary Clinton has my support. She has my support because of the kind of person she is: her commitment to preserving and protecting the values she grew up with, her commitment to hard work and responsibility, both fiscal and personal. These are values I've tried to live by and teach my children and grandchildren.

VERONICA HARRIS

[Lerkfish]

1. um....ok.

thanks.

[creeksneakers2]

25. Hillary is nowhere near as bad as people say she is.

She voted for the war. Ordinarily, I'd rule her out for a primary vote but the only candidate who didn't vote for the war is Obama, and I'm not quite sold on him. I wish Leahy had run.

I'll vote for whoever the Democrats nominate. The GOP poses a great threat and power must be taken from their hands.

[SaveElmer]

2. But only the "elites" support her...

Didn't you hear?

[ronnykmarshall]

24. and uneducated and unhip.

[lazer47]

3. If one of your values is keeping US Troops in Iraq,, Then

you need to support her, however if you are like the majority of DUrs, then you need to re-think your support.

[assclown_bush]

5. Fortunately the majority of DU'ers do not reflect the majority of Democrats...

otherwise, Hillary would not be leading in the polls.

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htm

[endarkenment]

18. So you support a continued occupation of Iraq? nt.

[durrrty libby]

7. Indeed there are many narrow-minded broken records around here

[churchofreality]

22. If you don't think she will pull out of Iraq, You are nuts.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. And how do her values embrace her stance on the invasion of Iraq?

[assclown_bush]

6. She shares mine as well...

Thanks for the post...kick and recommend.

[DangerDave921]

8. also

I would also add that she has the quality of forgiveness. Anyone who could put with with Bill's public embarassing of her, and not skin him alive, shows that she has the toughness and kindness to forgive him and move on. That's a good trait. Shows she can take insults and not fly off the handle to show how tough she is.

[Lerkfish]

12. ??? that's an odd comment.

[DangerDave921]

13. Odd how?

I just meant that she has mental toughness and is not incited quickly to retribution. She can take a step back and think out a response. That's a good trait to have.

[Lerkfish]

15. The idea of being silent while being cheated on does not equal mental toughness to me.

that's why I find it odd.

Being the long-suffering wife has never struck me as the bravest nor toughest position.

[DangerDave921]

17. i see

I see your point. I guess there can be the wife who suffers through it out of fear or submissiveness. And then there are probably others who suffer through it for the greater good. I guess I put Hillary in the latter camp as she apparently saw greater good in staying with Bill. But man -- she must have been ready to Lorena Bobbit him when she first found out! That certainly shows some restraint on her part.

[ShortnFiery]

31. "That's a good trait."

No, IMO, that's a very cold and calculated career decision that leaves only an absurd facade of what consititutes a truly healthy and faithful marriage. Staying married to a spouse who has had repeated sexual affairs throughout your marriage, is IMO, a true sign of one dangerous and ultra-ambitious political animal: male or female. However, HRC goes even farther in making concerted efforts to help Bill cover-up the existance of his naughty trists. THAT, helping to cover up the affairs, frightens the hell out of me when I consider HRC could be our President.

Nothing matters to "The Clintons" but WINNING ... nothing matters more than Hill and Bill's *DLC machine* charging back full bore with USA Executive Branch Powers (again!).

[welshTerrier2]

9. notice there is ZERO mention of foreign policy

imperialism is funny that way ... it creeps in on little cats feet ...

[Lerkfish]

11. "values" is an interesting term.

as we know, the republicans say they have good american "values", but cannot point to any policy or platform that explains in concrete terms what that means. In fact, their conduct seems to imply a lack of compassion or moral integrity, so its even harder to understand the term "values" in the rhetoric they use.

It almost seems as if the less distinct term "values" becomes a cool media object, in that it allows the viewer to project their perceptions onto the term and if they already are inclined to like a group or person, can feel they share "values" without having to really delineate what those values mean in concrete positions. Or, if they aren't already inclined, can project their perceptions into values they don't share.

"values" seems to be a triangulation sponge, where a person can avoid actually detailing a position and instead encourage a lot of vague perceptions that at times seem contrary to when actualy positions are detailed...OR....it could allow the person to appear open to multiple positions without having to commit to one and therefore alienate proponents of the other positions.

at any rate, I see the word "values" as shorthand for immutable regard absent evidence. Regard one way or the other.

In this way, I see all too often clinton supporters will argue perceptions of electability, poll results, fund raising, etc. and shy away from outright policy discussions about detailed positions, or they will describe positions deceptively in order to make her appear to have "progressive values", while at the same time chiding "progressives" and the outer left fringe of the party.

Its an interesting dynamic, and worthy of discussion in its own right.

[Totally Committed]

20. Good one.

".... it creeps in on little cats feet..." I agree.

TC

[Silent3]

23. I'm fine with Hillary...

...it's those cats I don't trust.

[mzmolly]

10. Thanks,

I needed that.

[MadHound]

14. Well, if you value a country that puts corporations above people

And an illegal, immoral war without end, then yes, I suppose Hillary is the candidate for you. Me, I believe in ending the bloodshed ASAP and wrenching control of this country from the already too tight grasp of corporations, which is why I won't be voting for Hillary, ever.

[corkhead]

16. You forgot your "sarcasm smiley"

like this one...

[Az_lefty]

19. I'm sure we share the same values, but her priorities are different than mine

get our troops the f^@k out of Iraq NOW!!!!!

[jgraz]

21. Hillary also shares my values

Every Tuesday, around 1:30 pm. Then the wind shifts...

[DrFunkenstein]

26. Basically, Ms. Harris is Using Triangulation Code Words

Where have we heard these terms before: "commitment to preserving and protecting the values she grew up with, her commitment to hard work and responsibility, both fiscal and personal."

Gosh, they sound awfully familiar. Dick Morris, are you ghostwriting letters to the editor again?

Let's pick this apart for a second, because it speaks to larger issues about the nomination process.

"Later in Arkansas she ran a legal aid clinic where she handled child abuse cases. As senator, she has worked to pass legislation to improve our education system and to provide health care for America's children."

Ok, we see this kind of useless information from all the candidates. Clinton may have handled child abuse cases, but there is no suggestion of what sort of priority she gave to such cases or that this will demonstrably affect the way she sets her potential White House agenca. Same with the fact that she "worked to pass legislation." Literally every member of Congress can make this claim (and probably has).

This goes for all candidates and supporters presenting wishy washy narratives - show us something that will actually change our minds (or actually lift our hearts).

And please don't try to suggest to progressives that we should vote for someone because they are going to protect and preserve our values unless you spell out some progressive values being preserved. Otherwise, you are just using the same old Clinton era triangulation talk.

[eridani]

27. And where does being on Walmart's Board of Directors fit in?

Or taking big bux from Bush Pioneers and Rangers?

[IndianaGreen]

28. What about Rose Law firm, Web Hubbel, and the Ryadi family?

There is a lot of history the OP seems to have conveniently forgotten.

To that we can add PATRIOT, Iraq War Resolution, and the just recently passed Iran Resolution.

[Alamom]

32. Everyone has history, Some, we know and some, we will know..........

Some responders seem to think there are perfect people.......



edgr

[OneBlueSky]

29. Hillary's corporate connections worry me greatly . . .

we need a president who will stand up to the corporate oligarchy, not one who is part of it . . .

[Tellurian]

33. Support the Transformer, he's the Champion of toxic corporate welfare!

The Audacity of Obama.. er, erm...The Transformer!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Tellurian]

35. Bush Pioneers are supporting Obama..

Did ya forget?

[ShortnFiery]

30. Well, that's one of us.

As a woman, I'm ashamed for my gender, that such a cold-hearted, insincere and intensely cut-throat politician could prove to be the first female President of The United States. If HRC is the epitome of what it takes women to achieve success in American Politics, then I'd rather NOT have my gender represented.

[Tellurian]

34. I'm proud of Hillary. She's stood up beautifully for women and children..

And proud to cast both of my votes for her!

[ShortnFiery]

36. Then I guess, we must cancel each other out. :-)

IMO, all I've seen HRC benefit is Number 1 and her seemingly endless self-righteous political gains and networking power. Sadly, her daughter is following in this "me first and foremost" tradition with beginning a career working for a Hedge Fund.

Yes, I hope that The Clintons will give The American People a genuine break and fade away. But no, like Bill did not have the decency to resign and allow Al Gore to finish the term and more likely become our next President, "big dog" in typically selfish form refused to budge. You can thank Bill Clinton partially because he's made sleaze so mainstream that even Senator Vitter knows that as long as he arrogantly hangs onto power, nobody is going to kick them out.

It is essential that we, the people, choose to FORCE these hold-out Executive Branch - dynastic families out of Political Power lest they hold onto it for Generations. If we continue having "groups of cronies" (complements of Poppy and Bill) within our Executive Branch, the USA's Government will no longer serve "the people" but nurture ONLY big business through the dynastic rule of Political Royalty.

[Tellurian]

37. How soon you forget..

I guess dark pessimism has it's side effects, making relevant facts hazy in retrospect.

<<<"Yes, I hope that The Clintons will give The American People a genuine break and fade away. But no, like Bill did not have the decency to resign and allow Al Gore to finish the term and more likely become our next President, "big dog" in typically selfish form refused to budge. You can thank Bill Clinton partially because he's made sleaze so mainstream that even Senator Vitter knows that as long as he arrogantly hangs onto power, nobody is going to kick them out.">>>

Gingrich, the House Managers, Ken Starr, Asst. Prosecutors were building a case against Gore. Had Clinton's Impeachment been successfull, the "crackers" mentioned above were going to remove Gore while he was under investigation for accepting campaign donations from Buddhists Monks and using the WH telephone talking to contributors on White House property.

Then House Speaker Gingrich, would have been moved into the Top Spot and more than likely, a BushI or II would have been installed as VP...after an appropriate time, Gingrich would have resigned, one of the Bushes move up to the presidency...and all would have been hunky-dory..

So far the only Democrats to have outsmarted the Republicans, time and time again, have been the Clintons. The dynasty cry is ineffective. The fact you can mathematically count the years in office of both families proves nothing more than a capability of adding together double digits and not worth bragging about, and absolutely nothing relative to the Peace and Prosperity under the Clinton Administration in contrast to the ills we've endured through the Bushes.

I do not want a Republican Administration in the WH this next election cycle. No other candidate can guarantee us a Win against Republicans, but they can!

[eridani]

38. Like welfare "reform"?

What bullshit.