Here’s a question for both NYers and non-NYers. Note that this is NOT a question about qualifications, or lack there of. But is there any one who thinks Hillary Clinton moved to NY because she actually wanted to live here? Or is strictly for political reasons?
Primarily political. (I’m a New Yorker.) I’m not enthusiastic about her, but I prefer her to Lazio.
I’m a New Yorker, and I am of the firm belief that she moved here for political reasons. I’m a Democrat, but I won’t vote for her because of that. It might have worked for Kennedy, but it burns me up that Hillary Clinton is trying it.
Plus, the Democrats called me on the phone at 7 AM on a Saturday to urge me to vote for her. I might ask the Republican Party about its policy on phoning people at home on weekends.
And the Republicans called me with some totally bogus “facts” implied Hillary didn’t support Isreal strongly enough. I told them that was great news, and I’d been undecided, but now I’d vote for her. Confused the hell out of them.
I lived in NY for 25 years, then relocated. It’s obvious why Hillary moved to NY, but so what? She’d be a better senator than Lazio, and that’s the only thing that matters. I wish I still lived there, so I could vote for her.
I doubt Hilary has done anything at all for the last 25 years that wasn’t politically motivated.
She has found out that by the time Bill made it to the White House, his personality flaws and lack of core convictions have prevented him from achieving much of anything. She has moved to New York and is trying for the Senate in the hopes of getting to the White House on her own. She and Bill will divorce in the next couple of years, and she will continue with her political career.
I have a suspicion she is a trifle too snooty to achieve much in the Senate, either.
Regards,
rs0522
“I can’t be expected to save every undercapitalized little enterpreneur in America.” - Hilary Clinton, upon being asked about the effects of her nationalized health plan on small business owners.
Clearly it’s for political reasons. Did she ever indicate any interest in New York before Moynahan announced his imminent retirement?
And, RealityChuck, I wouldn’t bet that the Republicans’ statements on Israel are “bogus.” Hillary has a nice history of chumminess with the Palestinians. Her support for Israel can be at best described as ambiguous.
Don’t fall for that, Keller. Most of Hillary’s “support” was because, as first lady, she wasn’t allowed to create a diplomatic incident by insulting their officials. So she was required by her office to nod politely. This has been blown up to indicate a lack of support. I stand by “bogus.”
She moved for political reasons. She needed a state where, after pissing off lots of democrats, there would still be enough left over to vote for her. It was either NY or CA, I guess. Their house is walking distance from mine (the live in Chappaqua, I live in Katonah.)
I’m going to vote for the guy who actually understands the state’s problems, culture, and needs, and has actually held political office.
Chuck,
Hillary openly gave her support for a Palestinian state. Whether right or wrong, that is considered a threat to Israel by Israel's supporters. She didn't just nod, she opened her mouth and said it. No "delayed translation" (Arafat's wife's speech). Openly, in English.
I agree with rs0522.
Hillary moved for political reasons.
If I was two months older I’d vote for Lazio.
I’m shipping this off to Great Debates.
Hillary moved for political reasons. As a student in NY, I wish I lived here so I could vote for her. As it is, I had to vote Kennedy. Oh well.
Why is it that there are so many nimrods who think that they’re providing something invaluable by trashing Hillary Clinton’s character? HRC is a moderatley sleazy politician who takes her opportunities where she sees 'em. She’s no worse a creep or a hypocrite than the flatheads who seemingly live to attack her. Rick Lazio is a sanctimonious twerp who keeps getting caught with his pants down every time he makes a dirty crack about Hillary’s undies. Hallary kissed Mrs. Arafat? Oh, hey. Here’s a picture of Lazio shaking hands with old stubblepuss himself. Soft money agreement? Hey here’s an independent Republican ad trashing Hillary. Hillary returned money to that disgusting Muslim outfit? Lazio requested money from the same outfit and got turned down. Now that’s integrity.
You know why the Republicans keep losing? It’s because they’re such obnoxious, two-faced fat heads. Everytime they get their sanctimony up they make the Clintons look good if only by comparison. If the Republicans didn’t keep drawing attention to their own perfidities by damning the Clintons thus inviting comparison people would have enough breathing room to despise the Clintons on their own.
It’s just that those d__m Republicans keep getting in our way.
Nice work, guys.
RealityChuck:
Her support for the Palestinian cause has been clearly documented to pre-date her tenure as first lady. Bogus, they ain’t.
And I must say, I don’t recall that she felt it necessary to embrace any Israeli officials or their wives in order to not “create a diplomatic incident.”
As I said earlier, at best you can say her support for Israel is ambiguous and unproven. You certainly can’t say she has any record of statements or actions that demonstrated support for Israel (prior to her New York Senate campaign, that is). Rick Lazio, on the other hand, does.
Many people have compared Hillary to Bobby Kennedy, another outsider who moved to New York to become Senator. I think the comparison is extremely apt…he launched his presidential campaign before even serving out a single full term as our senator, and I smell the same thing on her. I’ll vote for the man who sees the New York Senate seat as more than just a stepping stone, thank you. I’ll take someone who casts his career in the Moynahan-D’Amato-Schumer mold rather than the Kennedy mold.
Chaim Mattis Keller
What exactly is everyone’s big problem with Hillary’s ambition? By comparison people assume that just because Lazio is from New York, he has some terrific commitment to the state and its peculiarities. As a New Yorker, I am firmly convinced that Lazio cares about as little as any other politician. He had petition for the consent of the Republican leadership to vote affirmatively on some liberal issues, which were doomed to fail anyway, just to appease his New York constituents. Lazio was a deputy whip under Gingrich. This is not a man with leadership potential, nor a man who will bring great things to New York state. Party line, every time.
Oh, except, of course, for abortion. As if he could get elected without being pro-choice.
MR
Maeglin:
Because we want someone who represents the interests of the state’s residents, not her own.
If someone lives here, then any legislation he/she enacts that affects the state affects him/her as well. Granted, that level of interest doesn’t cover everybody in the state, but it sure beats someone who lacks even that.
I mean, sure, Hillary bought a house in Chappaqua. But clearly, she decided to run for the Senate before doing so. To what degree has it been lived in? To what degree will it be lived in? To what degree will cost of living in New York affect her? Crime (especially considering that she and her family will have Secret Service protection)? Education (her only child is in college in California)? Ethnic politics being as important as they are in New York, to what degree has she developed a bond with her neighbors that enable her to understand their unique concerns?
Rick Lazio has served at every level of government to represent the area in which he lives. Even if he also has ambitions to eventually be more than a senator, his lifelong residence and his experianced representation say, to me, that he cares about the issues that affect New Yorkers in the intimate sort of way that someone who sees a Senate seat as a necessary precondition for a presidential run cannot.
And just for the record, Lazio has hardly been a party-line voter.
Chaim Mattis Keller
Oh, that’s right, no she doesn’t. [/veiled Harmonica reference]
Not from New York, but Dem or Rep, I would be insulted if someone moved to my state for the sole purpose of furthering their political career. It has happened in local government around here before, where a local official was caught not living in the address used to declare residency. That official was fired hastily as well he should have been.
Of course, the Hillary campaign has been asking for money from all over the country to finance her campaign. Most State politicians get beat up when they solicit funds from outside the State, usually the donating party ends up taking away contracts from local companies. Politics as usual for the Clintons, get your money anyway you can. Is there a bedroom in the building where the New York State Senate meets? I wonder what the per-night rate would be?
JAG, Hillary Clinton is running for the national senate, not the New York State senate. I don’t even know who’s running for the state senate in my county.
I keep hearing this rhetoric over and over. Most Lazio supporters are unable to respond to my inquiries ex tempore, but I am sure that cmkeller will be able to fill me in.
Exactly what state interests are Lazio supporters talking about?
Hillary has already addressed such wide-ranging issues as NYS public education, the post-industrial upstate economy, ethnic relations, et cetera and et cetera. Sure, Hillary did not grow up on Lon’Gisland, but she has nevertheless demonstrated a great deal of savior-faire about these issues. To argue that one has to be a New Yorker in order to understand how to improve city public education is naive provincialism of the most uncosmopolitan sort.
She is going to be a Senator, not a hands-on director of a local DHCR office. Despite her lack of a legislative record it is difficult to deny that she has a great deal of policy experience and political savvy.
Lazio is no more immune to ambition that Hillary is. He just happens to be from Long Island. Why must we assume that he has New Yorkers’ interests at heart just because he comes from New York?
MR