There are few things as unappealing in a politician as an obvious sense of entitlement and if you're looking for the one thing that probably did for Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Presidency that's it. It's not over yet of course and she may still secure the nomination but if she does then her arrogance and haughty demeanour will be the biggest hurdle she clears in doing so.As far back as last summer, long before Illinois Senator Barack Obama provided such an inspirational alternative, lots of people who were desperate to see the back of George W. Bush still had an uneasy feeling about the woman most likely, at that time, to replace him. She's routinely described as a divisive figure and there's no shortage of 'hatchet job' pieces going back to her time as First Lady. Even the nominally positive profiles usually contain standard political euphemisms - for 'fiercely loyal' read 'challenge her and you're finished', for 'determined' read 'utterly ruthless' etc. When anyone draws attention to this the Clinton campaign dismisses it as misogyny and moves on but the similarity and sheer volume of these character sketches can't be ignored.
Last November she told CBS's Katie Couric that the nomination was all but hers:
"If it's not you, how disappointed will you be?" Couric asked.
“Well, it will be me,” she said.
But she said she would stand behind any other Democratic nominee, if it came to that. “We're going to have unified party, behind whoever we nominate.” Clearly, she has considered the possibility she won't be the nominee?
"No, I haven't," Clinton said.
That sort of attitude won't have played well among US voters, even Democrats previously inclined to support her. Voters in the US tend take their democratic rights very seriously and won't warm to any politician who appears to take their support for granted. There's little doubt that Barack's inspiring oratory has played a large part in getting him where he is but Hillary's obvious contempt for him has been a useful wind at his back also. Democratic voters have probably also seen through the tactic of trying to build a campaign around experience despite only having four more years in the Senate than Obama, with neither having ever held a governorship or mayoralty. It's abundantly clear that Hillary Clinton somehow thinks she deserves the nomination and the presidency and that single fact is probably the biggest thing getting in the way of her achieving it.
Quick final thought - let's look at that Clinton character sketch again:
Quick final thought - let's look at that Clinton character sketch again:
- Formidable intellect and an impressive grasp of detail and policy.
- Perceived lack of warmth and an inability to smile with any sincerity.
- High-minded approach to politics and a dismissive attitude towards opponents.
- Brooks no dissent.
- Long-time association with a previous administration.
Ring any bells? I know, I know - my more cynical readers will think this is where this post was headed all along but I assure you that wasn't the case. The parallels with Brown are striking - the one obvious difference of course being he's already got the top job. But then again, he didn't need any public support to get it and was obviously very doubtful that he had it....
7 Comments:
If there was ever any doubt that she is an intergenerational member of them, all doubt must now surely have been removed. Arrogant pack of bstds. The meek will inherit the earth - not the Lizard Queen and cronies.
Thanks - I feel better now.
I'd have thought that any politician would try to avoid the "have you thought about loosing" question. Answering it only hands out an opportunity for you to be portrayed as a looser.
Your usual measured contribution James - thanks.
Fair point Andrew although most politicians seem able to field that question with a little more grace and skill than Hillary did,
The best line of the year has come out of this presidential campaign. On Mrs Clinton's claim to fitness for office being based on the fact that "she was married to Monica Lewinsky's lover"
Yeah, it's not difficult to dodge that question. Something like "I'm focused on winning, on my positive agenda blah blah", or "Nobody should ever take an a election for granted, but I'm confident I can provide the leadership blah blah".
Completely off-topic and out of the blue: I've just realised that I have no idea why this blog has the title it does. Anyhting to do with this place?
Nothing that glamorous I'm afraid Tom. When we go to town (for us that's Ayr on the West Coast of Scotland) we often park in 'Cassillis St.' The street name references the 'Earl of Cassillis' - a 15th century Scottish peerage through which Ayrshire was gifted Culzean castle.
I should add the 'connection' is that I park there rather than any genetic one! And when I registered the blog I misspelt it hence the single 'l'....
Ah, mystery solved.
In my head I've been stressing the first syllable, but I guess it probably ought to be the second.
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