As Clinton chances wane, old slights come due...prominent Democrats recall past grievances

[dkf]

But privately, some members of Congress said the Clintons' history on Capitol Hill has hurt them in their time of need. Cooper, whose history with Clinton was described in a book years ago, said he was worried when the matter was revived in a newspaper column in February that his Democratic colleagues would chastise him for criticizing one of the party's leading contenders.

"Instead, I was treated to a hero's reception out there," Cooper said, gesturing toward the House chamber. "People from all over said, 'I'm so glad you told that story about Hillary. She did the same thing to me' . . . on education or some other issue," Cooper said.
...

others point to a list of leading Democrats who have had run-ins with one or both of the Clintons and have either not endorsed her or have backed her opponent.

They include Senator Robert Casey Jr., a Pennsylvania Democrat whose father, Governor Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, was prevented from speaking at the 1992 Democratic National Convention after a dispute with Bill Clinton over abortion. The elder Casey said at the time that he was being punished for his antiabortion stance, but he also refused to endorse the Clinton-Gore ticket at the time.

Former vice president Al Gore, who sometimes sparred with the president's wife during the Clinton administration, has remained silent.

Senator John F. Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat whom Hillary Clinton criticized after he made a botched joke about Bush that was perceived as an attack on US troops in Iraq, has endorsed Obama.

Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat who disagreed with Hillary Clinton on healthcare changes when he was Nebraska governor and her husband was in the White House, has endorsed Obama.

Representative Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat whose late husband, former senator Paul Tsongas, endured negative attacks by Bill Clinton in the 1992 campaign, has not yet endorsed a candidate.

G. Terry Madonna - director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. - said the Clintons have "worn out their welcome" among many superdelegates, in part because of old grievances ranging from personal squabbles to broader issues such as the impeachment fight.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/05/18/as_clinton_chances_wane_old_slights_come_due/?page=2

[leftofcool]

1. Sounds like the boy whiners are coming out of the woodwork

Keep whining boys. That will keep you from getting anything done....you know, like impeachment proceedings.

[skooooo]

6. right because any criticism of H. Clinton...

...can only be explained as sexism. I get it.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Man hater

Nyuck, nyuck.

[Lucky 13]

11. Niki Tsongas is not a boy.

Does that mean her complaint is legitimate?

[Forkboy]

19. Shhh...don't hurt what's left of leftofcool's brain.

[Stuckinthebush]

13. Boy whiners?

Niki Tsongas is a boy whiner?

[Avalux]

15. Boy whiners? Your post is an example of hypocrisy.

If Hillary was a man, you wouldn't have said those words. Everyone's supposed to be nice to her; don't hurt her feelings, treat her with respect, etc. Why? Because she's a woman? THAT is sexist.

[glowing]

2. Well, some of these mentioned Democrats I have a few issues with as well.

Especially Casey...

AND Nelson, don't even get me started..
some of these Dems are barely Dems.

[bluestateguy]

3. I've got a list too

1) Capitulating on gays in the military in 1993

2) The Communications "Decency" Act in 1996

3) NAFTA

4) The Telecom dereg bill in 1996

5) Letting Susan McDougal rot in jail for 18 months and waiting until the last day to pardon her.

6) His bullshit "War on Drugs", and disrespect for states rights when my state of California voted for medicinal marijuana.

[CoffeeCat]

4. I feel like we're truly changing politics...

I'm so sick and tired of the dirty-style politics that the Clintons, Rove and other
boring types made popular during the past decade. Aren't we so tired of our elected
representatives behaving like brats?

For so long, things have been rotten in DC. However, the people in power were the rotten
ones and they set the tone. We always knew the Clintons were dirty players. Look how
they tried to strong arm the Super Delegates.

Once people stand up to bullies, their whole house of cards comes crashing.

It's about damn time.

Finally,we have a leader who doesn't engage in this type of depraved behavior

Not only do the people need Obama, but the politicians need him as well. He is going to
completely change this country and the government. Maybe he just might encourage the media
to start doing their jobs and to stop behaving like sell-out, empty suits. Being a complete
knifing manipulator is no longer going to be en vogue--throughout many sectors.

Finally, the good guys are winning.

Who knows...maybe team Obama will help Hillary to be a better person. There's always
hope.

[Shakespeare]

5. It's like Festivus in springtime!

Time for the airing of the grievances.... :7

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Pistivus?

[RainDog]

18. LOL

and they even bring out the polls!

[Duke Newcombe]

7. The Clinton's chickens are coming home...TO ROOST!! n/t

Duke

[burythehatchet]

10. Karma is only a bitch when seen from one perspective.

[Beacool]

12. So, the vultures are circling and the true reason why they endorsed Obama is coming out?

It's not about Obama, other than the fact that he's ahead, but it's more about payback for supposed real or imagined slights of the Clintons????

WOW!!!!

One more reason why we Hillary supporters should give them the finger and tell the party to go to hell!!!!!

[Stuckinthebush]

14. No, they all said that they support Obama because of him

The writer of the article infers that negative feelings plays a role in it.

[Beacool]

17. Well, what did you expect?

They are not publicly going to say what they truly feel. I felt that way when Kennedy endorsed Obama and bashed Bill. The old coot was up to his usual shenanigans.

[FredScuttle]

16. Revenge is a dish being served about a decade cold

I can just imagine some of these superdelegates were the same loyal Democrats who defended President Clinton in 1998-1999 and who went out and put their credibility and reputations on the line to say they believed him and he did nothing wrong.

Bubba and Queen Hillary are quickly learning that you don't lie to someone's face and expect them to save your bacon the next time you need them.

[undeterred]

20. She told Russ Feingold he 'wasn't living in the real world'

because he doesn't take soft money, and she said it in front of a couple of dozen people. He may not hold it against her, but I do.

July 24, 2007 | The year: 2002.

The setting: a closed-door strategy session in the Senate's LBJ Room.
The antagonists: Sens. Hillary Clinton and Russell Feingold.

The issue: Feingold's recently signed campaign finance reform bill. Clinton, whose husband's leasing of the Lincoln Bedroom had helped inspire the new law, was accompanied by an attorney. The attorney's job: Look for loopholes, loopholes that would allow the Democrats to keep raking in soft money -- unregulated, unlimited contributions to the party coffers. When Feingold objected, Clinton scolded him like Empress Livia dressing down a courtier.

"You're not living in the real world," she shouted.

"Senator," Feingold responded coolly, "I do live in the real world, and I'm doing just fine in it."

As a matter of fact, Clinton was right. Feingold does not live in the real world. He lives in Middleton, Wis., the Madison suburb that was just named the best place to live in America by Money magazine. And he represents a state whose residents seem to appreciate it when their senators don't spend gross sums of money to win their votes. William Proxmire, who was famous for exposing foolish government spending with his "Golden Fleece Awards," ran his last two campaigns for less than $200 apiece -- much of it spent on postage for returning unwanted contributions. Feingold won his first Senate primary after his wealthy opponents eviscerated each other with negative ads.

http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2007/07/24/feingold/

[Tatiana]

22. Unreal.

"Senator," Feingold responded coolly, "I do live in the real world, and I'm doing just fine in it."

Love that response from Russ!

[undeterred]

26. People don't think it can be done.

Feingold's average contribution is $57. He actually represents the people of Wisconsin.

[Tatiana]

21. I wonder what Hillary's return to the Senate will be like.

Plus she has seriously jeopardized her Senate seat with this scorched earth campaign she has run.

Bobby Kennedy Jr. might be a better candidate for the seat when Clinton is up for re-election.

[rox63]

24. I suspect she'll choose not to run for reelection to the Senate

Her Senate seat has never been anything more to her than a stepping stone to the WH.

[underpants]

23. Over? Who says it is over? She has just now begun her ACTUAL run to VICTORY

[apocalypsehow]

25. K & R. n/t.

[invictus]

27. K & R. Shame on Hillary Clinton! n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. kick