The Republican's secret weapon against Hillary?

[Ugnmoose]

Some might say that HRC's greatest asset is her former President husband Bill. But he may well be her greatest liability when it comes to winning the general election. It has been rumored in some quarters and posted here on DU that Bill continues to philander and has had several extramarital affairs since he left office. If this is true, the Repukes will no doubt have the dirt and will spill it all over the place during the run up to the election. While this might not do much in dissuading the Democratic base to support her, it will surely be a turn-off to the indys that HRC will desperately need for her election. And it won't take much to turn them off, given that she does not poll all that well with them right now.

[paulk]

1. last time they tried this

his approval ratings went up....

[Gman]

8. Bill's approval ratings were highest during the impeachment

Bill was 70+ in approval during the impeachment. I think he peaked at 72%.

America loves Bill and Hillary.

[saskatoon]

10. Love Hillary?

Speak for youself re Hillary. I do not like the woman, she is devious and why isn't she all out against the war-wishywashy!

[emilyg]

18. I do.

[earthlover]

16. the last time they did this, he was president

People did not want him impeached. But they didn't exactly approve of his behavior either. He won't have the luxory of being president this time.

And, by the way, all the Repukes have to do is MAKE UP something about Bill's penis. It makes no difference whether it is true or not. Fact is, it is BELEIVABLE, coming about him....

And it would be effective against Hillary, who also does not have the luxory of being a sitting president under attack.

This is only one way the Reps could sure-fire shave off a few points from Hillary's numbers.

There are lots more possibilities. The most obvious is something she is even more prone to than kerry was: flip flopping!

She also comes off a bit condescending and looking like the politician who will say anything to be elected and out both sides of mouth.

The ironic thing is, as much as Hillary has made of the experience issue in the primaries, if she is up against McCain HE will be making experience the issue supporting HIM! She doesn't have that much elected experience, after all.

[paulk]

17. I doubt that this line of attack will have much effect

those who would base their decision on Bill's "philandering" wouldn't be inclined to vote for Hillary anyway. I suspect that such a strategy would backfire on the Republicans and actually garner support for her.


All of our candidates will be attacked by the right wing smear machine, don't kid yourself that the others will come in for special treatment. Personally, I don't think it will do them any good - this country is fed up with 8 years of Republican incompetence.

I especially find the scare tactics used against Hillary Clinton unrealistic. The Clintons have twice defeated the Republicans despite every sort of allegation being thrown at them - I expect they will do it again.

[earthlover]

22. We live in a bubble of people who basically liked Clinton as Pres...

however, a lot of people got mighty tired of the philandering going on in the white house. Seeing evidence of stories like that continuing for another 4-8 years would certainly provoke....in some independents.....a "here we go again" feeling. This is NOT going to help Hillary. Would easily cost her a point or two.

There are just too many targets with the Clintons. And Hillary does not have the charm or charisma to withstand things like Bill could, I'm afraid.

It was Bill Clinton, not the Clintons, who won election twice. I daresay, if Bill had Hillary's lack of charisma I doubt if he would have been so successful.

[avrdream]

26. They are already making things up about John Edwards having an affair.

Any one of our candidates is going to come up against the lies and smears.

The counterargument to what you are saying is that people will react to the news about Bill's possible philandering like this: "so, what's new? Next."

I'm just saying it could go either way and I, for one, don't give a crap about who sleeps with who as long as the country is being taken care of.

Just imagine the story that may "come out" about Barack's affairs.....you see, they can all be targeted.

[surfermaw]

28. Bill Clinton grew stronger,

When there is a woman in the picture, Bill Clintons polls jump higher and higher.. Looks like the republicans would have learned that lesson, of course when you look at the dumb man they have elected twice, it make you wonder just how much brain power the republicans Have?????

[MethuenProgressive]

2. DU?

I'm just saying...

[Perry Logan]

3. There's also the fact that people are scared to death of the Republicans now.

[Va Lefty]

4. The best thing about Hillary

She makes the wingnuts and fundies go even more bat shit crazy than they are to begin with. I can see them crossing the line with their sleazy innuendo and actually helping her with independents. That being said I don't want to see her nominated.

[Rageneau]

14. Agree that a good thinh about HRC is that she drives thw wingnuts mad.

I hope the ones who really hate her will have as good a time when she's President as her supporters have had under the Murder Monkey. I hope she burns them like Holy Water does vampires. I hope she gives them nightmares and spoils their appetities every day. I hope her sucess sucks all the enjoyment out of their lives.

That being said, it would be fine with me if she was nominated.

[dbackjon]

5. Huge numbers of people look fondly at the Clinton Presidency

Peace, Economic Success and Stability, World Respect

Memories of the Clinton Admin would be an ASSET.

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. well

if the choice was what's behind door number one - a continuation of the Bush policy.

what's behind door number two - a continuation of the Clinton policy.

or what's behind door number three - a completely new direction.

I think most Americans are ready for a new direction.

[dbackjon]

12. What was so horrid about the Clinton years?

[Nedsdag]

25. Nothing was horrid;

however, it's time to turn the page.

[The Magistrate]

6. No One Not Already Committed To Voting Republican, Sir, Will Care

[babylonsister]

19. Surely you jest! I care. But you know that. nt

[The Magistrate]

21. Do You Really, Ma'am?

Does what other people do with their genitalia really count for much to you?

[babylonsister]

23. Genitalia isn't the problem SIR, it's what he did to the DEM party that

I oppose. Clinton cheapened it, and took impeachment off the table due to his antics, when we really need impeachment.

You seem willing to forgive them; I'm not willing at all.

[The Magistrate]

24. But That Is My Point, Ma'am

On this showing, it does not matter to you if he is engaged with willing women in shifts by the dozen: you are worried somewhat this would have a political effect on the present campaign should Mrs. Clinton be the Party's nominee. My point is that the only people it would matter to are already committed to the enemy, and a dead loss from our point of view regardless of who we nominate. Already priced into the market, as they say....

[MGKrebs]

7. The same has been alleged of other Dem candidates.

Not sure about their spouses though.

[saskatoon]

11. "I'm the Decider, I vote

SO WHAT! Thay will steal it again, the bastards---wait and see. Right now they are plotting diverse schemes. It's going to take a Revolution to turn things around.

[robbedvoter]

13. Sadly I agree. Otherwise, Any Dem trounces any Republic - no doubt about it!

[MGKrebs]

15. You're right! Who will lead us??!!

[babylonsister]

20. 'They' didn't steal the 06 elections. Why didn't they if they're all powerful?

And I think we needs to see how this shakes out. The population in general is pretty fed up with the rethugs.

[DFW]

27. Not so fast, there

They didn't win all of the 2006 elections, but there was plenty
of fraud--they just didn't anticipate the overwhelming sentiment
that put us (sort of) over the top. I think Tammy Duckworth, for
one, would be a Congresswoman from Illinois if the elction in her
district would have gone without fraud. Also, Jim Webb's victory
in the Virgina Senate, while a very pleasing outcome, went down
under some weird happenings. He won with something like 2000 votes
out of 2 million. This should have triggered an automatic recount.
The first reactions out of the Macaca camp were that they were going
to ask for a recount and not concede the election, a perfectly
normal response to a result that close.

Then, suddenly, Macaca concedes and disappears. What? There is, to my
mind, only one explanation for this. That would be that plenty of
felony electoral fraud was practiced by the Republicans in Virginia,
and they figured they would walk with the victory. A thorough
investigation, especially with a Democratic Governor, might uncover
enough election tampering to put more Republicans jail than they were
willing to see there.

Agreed that a major portion of the population is fed up with the
Republicans, but it doesn't mean they are willing to take it lying
down. Not ALL of them are willing to move to Dubai, or have houses
on the Island of Kish.

[Adelante]

29. The media is different this time

They don't seem to be panting after Democratic sex scandals as they once were. This is because the American public does not care about them in the way it once did. I think people have come to grips with human frailty in political leaders and recognize the moralistic manipulation as political propaganda it is. You don't see John Edwards' "Love Child" all over the MSM, but you sure as hell would have in the 90s. But the media doesn't want to be held responsible for pushing the politics of personal destruction, especially among Democrats, especially after the feeding frenzy over the false Kerry affair. They would go along once a reputable source put itself out there, probably, but they're not putting themselves on the line or crossing that line as they did with the Clintons in the 90s. Besides, when it comes to sex scandals, I'm not sure the Repukes will feel they are in any position to cast stones anymore. Of course, with them, it doesn't pay to become complacent. The most important thing to remember is that WHOEVER OUR NOMINEE MAY BE, they will be throwing one rock or another.