Hillary Clinton returns to her roots in Scranton

Hillary Clinton begins her six-week siege of Pennsylvania today with an afternoon rally  in Scranton, where her rough-hewn father, Hugh Rodham, was born to Welsh immigrants almost 97 years ago.

Once a major mining community, the city now is best known as the setting television types picked for NBC's sitcom "The Office." Scranton, nestled in state's northeast corner, has embraced this reflected glory; as noted in a New York Times article last year, the publicity is a welcome change for a city "whose name never seemed to appear in print without the words 'hardscrabble former coal-mining town.' "

Hard-bitten apparently would describe Rodham's upbringing in Scranton, based on Carl Bernstein's capsule description of him in his 2007 biography of Clinton, "A Woman in Charge." The author termed the presidential candidate's dad "a sour, unfulfilled man whose children suffered his relentless, demeaning sarcasm and misanthropic inclination, endured his embarrassing parsimony, and silently accepted his humiliation and verbal abuse of their mother."

Clinton presumably will invoke her local roots during her appearance at Scranton High School. Chances are good she'll mention that as a girl, her family's annual vacation took them to Lake Winona, on Scranton's outskirts (oops, our thanks to a couple of commenters, who noted this should be Lake Winola). Perhaps she'll note that they stayed in a cabin built by her father and grandfather -- a dwelling that, Bernstein reports, "had no heat, bath, or shower." But odds are not good she'll regale her audience with ...

this anecdote from "A Woman in Charge":

"As Hillary and her mother increasingly expressed mixed feelings about the prospect of another Lake Winona vacation, their objections were met with Hugh's promises of a shopping spree somewhere on the return trip.... After one summer holiday in Pennsylvania, Hugh drove to Fifth Avenue in New York and told [Clinton and her mother] they could buy whatever they wanted before the stores closed at five o'clock. Mother and daughter had only twenty-five minutes so they took off their shoes and ran."

Clinton's schedule shows that after kicking off her Pennsylvania campaign with the homecoming, of sorts, in Scranton, she travels Tuesday to Harrisburg and Philadelphia to troll for support.

Bill Clinton, meanwhile, stumps for his wife Tuesday in communities close to Pittsburgh and on Wednesday heads to Erie, in the state's northwest corner.

Barack Obama has a more immediate target in his sights than Pennsylvania's April 22 primary. He's spending today in Mississippi, where he's heavily favored to win the state's primary on Tuesday.

The Clintons made a feint toward Mississippi -- Hillary campaigned there Friday, Bill on Saturday (during one stop, he did his best to keep alive the prospect of Obama ending up as his wife's running mate). Given their itinerary the first part of this week, however, it's hard to avoid the conclusion they've written off the Magnolia State.

-- Don Frederick 

Comments

[Max Losk]

Go Hillary! Go girl!

[Ben]

Oh, another state that Hillary claims to be important to her.

Illinois: born
Texas: political career is born
Arkansas: husband was governor
New York: senator
Pennsylvania: her father was born here

[Kent Duffy]

Where isn't she from. She is from Arkansas, Illinois, New York, and now Pennsylvania ? Can we say Carpetbagger?

[Andrew Hahn]

I'm glad to see where she was, and I'm sure where she is going. I hope that you are doing your best for the election. I appreciate your business.

[walter]

i am formerly from the Scranton area and have spent a summer in a cabin @ Lake Winola about the same time Hillary was there;did not meet her;the correct spelling is Winola. also note I believe her father was a Republican.

[Lynn Sfanos]

I'm impressed that the meatiest article on Hillary's visit to Scranton today is from a publication on the other side of the country, but... it's Lake Winola, not Lake Winona.

[PulSamsara]

Where hasn't this woman carpet bagged?

Let's see... she's claimed Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, New York, and now her roots 'are deep in Pennsylvania'.

Hillary Clinton is the most molded fake impostor this land has seen. I'll hold my nose and vote Republican for the first time in 20 years should she steal the nomination. Mark my words.

[Tim Taylor]

Just for the record:
From the Library of Congress:

Hillary Clinton in her one full term(6 yrs.) and another year campaigning, has authored and passed only 20 pieces of legislation in her term of six years into law. They range from naming a courthouse after Thurgood Marshall to naming a Post Office after Jonn A. O'Shea.

Obama in his first 8 Months sponsored over 820 Bills. Introduced 233 Bills on Healthcare Reform, 125 Bills on Poverty and Public Assistance, 112 Bills on Crime Fighting, 97 Economic Bills, 60 Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bills, 21 Ethics Reform Bills, 6 Veterans Affairs Bills and many others. In his First Year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 Bills and co-sponsored another 427. These Include: 1) the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 that became Law, 2) the Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act that became Law, 3) the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act that passed the Senate, 4) the 2007 Government Ethics Bill that became Law, just to name a few. In all, since he entered the Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 Bills and co-sponsored another 1096.

Why is this not being discussed heavily on the blogs? Obama supporters should be copying and pasting this all over the net and inundating all the Hillary Blogs with this. When people take a hard look... she is not a hard worker. She represents more grid lock and laziness.
This man WILL get things done. His record PROVES IT.

[KEVIN]

Funny roots in PA, wasnt she born in IL and lived there.
Why didnt she win IL, it is her true home state.
Well it is because no one likes her in IL.
Funny how her margin of vicotry in NY was way less then Obamas margin in his not true home state.
IL is always a Dem state, so why does this not carry as much weight as her close vicotry in TX.

Go Obama

[Ron M]

I am from PA. Always considered myself a Democrat although I have not always voted that way. Hillary is from PA like I'm from Alaska, the only state I've never visited. Why shouldn't she misrepresent her heritage, she misrepresents her life and her entire existence. Self-centered and narcissistic as ever. If she's the nominee by way of superdelegates, I am no longer a Democrat.

[Chuck]

eh, as you list HRC's roots, let's not forget BHO's roots...

Kenya
Indonesia
Hawaii
Kansas
Chicago

so, when you accuse HRC of being a carpet bagger my kool-aid drinking friends, look at your candidates fact sheet and read his bio rather than listen to his hollow rhetoric.

geesh.

[Ken]

Hillary is the best choice for president. PA knows it and Florida will say it again! Our turn now.

[John]

Why are the Obamo people so mean and nasty? Are they really Ken Starr republicans in disguise? Their comments are in such poor taste but consistent with the real thoughts of the supposedly great holy unifer.

[Mary Berningham]

Obama needs to drive the point that THE WAR IN IRAQ IS HAVING SERIOUS NEGATIVE EFFECTS on our economy and that those who voted for the war should be to blame, in part, for the state of the US economy.

Look how the WAR IN IRAQ is affecting the US economy...

$3,000,000,000 - $3 billion PER WEEK! – That is the amount we're paying for the Iraq War– money that should have been used here, at home.

Add to this:

Interest. We are financing the war with borrowed money (e.g. treasuries) so in actuality, we're the war is costing the United States MORE than $ 3 billion PER WEEK.
Higher oil and energy prices. Instability in Iraq is adding roughly 30 dollars per barrel as a premium.

High oil prices mean high utility bills. Due to high oil prices, demand shifts to other sources of energy - nat gas, coal, etc. - and greater demand will raise the equilibrium price of all sources of energy -- Can you say high energy bills?

Higher oil prices (a raw material used in the production of many goods, fertilizers, gasoline, diesel, plastics, etc.) mean higher prices of goods and services -- Can you say INFLATION?

Higher oil prices mean a higher trade deficit because most of our oil comes from foreign sources. A higher trade deficit means more money is leaving the country than is coming into the country -- Can you say 'Goodbye money!'

Our dollar is weak, weak, weak. Since we have a trade deficit, the value of goods and services we import exceeds the value of goods we export. You know that foreign car you're thinking of buying or the computer you're using, or that trip abroad you've been thinking of taking....well, guess what? It is going to cost more, Ceteris Peribus, because the dollar is weak, weak, weak.

Lastly, how do you think the world views our country because of this war? The evidence to go to war was weak and circumstantial, yet we rushed into war with Iraq thanks to Hillary's authorization.

[Thomas Shea]

The Hillary-Obama, nightmare, I mean dream ticket???

John McCain...... NOW, MORE THAN EVER!

[joe v]

Senator Clinton, and especially first lady Clinton keeps very close ties to Scranton. She went out of her way to make Scrantonians of both parities welcome visitors at the White House, when she was in residence. I am a physician and was at the other end of the political spectrum. Her brothers still spend a lot of time here. I believe she was christened here. Her father is burried here. Most biographers agree that the Scranton experience is a huge part of the Rodham psyche. Politics in Scranton can cut you like fresh cracked coal.

Her forefathers had very special and deep rrots in this community which her brothers still nurture. We are honored to call her one of us.

Fellow Scrantonian

[joe v]

Lest you judge,

I am a physican and was not exactly supprotive of Senator Clinton in the past-on her health program as well as abortion. Over the past few years I am beginnning to change my mind. First her revised plan looks "safe and
effective."
She seems to have the best layed out plans for peace with prosperity.
What I take issue with is that she's a not been very loyal to Scranton. Her family nurtures strong ties here.
She was very welcoming to White House visitors. Politics in Scranton cuts like fresh cracked coal. Study her biographers and you can't help but see how deeply Scranton has affected the Rodham psyche!!!

Thankfully yours,

A Fellow Scrantonian

[mary smith]

I don't know why the Obama people are so nasty and stupid. You need to get your heads out from your know what? And stop believing in words or known as "song and dance".
Mrs. Clinton is the best person to be our next president. She will turn this country around so that it will be better for everyone.
So, get real, vote for HRC.

[tsr]

I believe Hillary will win in Pennsylvania.

I live in Florida and I voted for Hillary in the Democratic primary in January. If a re-vote is decided in Florida, I will vote again for Hillary. A vote-by-mail sounds like a good idea. Definitely DO NOT want a caucus.

The Democratic party and both candidates should pick up the cost since they all have an interest in resolving this issue in both Florida and Michigan.

HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT !!!

[Mary Beth]

I love these people who call Hillary a "carpetbagger". Hillary knows Northeastern Pennsylvania. She was christened at the Court Street Methodist Church in Scranton. Her father is buried at the Washburn Street Cemetary. She shopped at the old Scranton Dry Goods and ate at the old Castle Restaurant. I know people who lived next to the Rodhams at Lake Winola. Say what you want, but there are a lot of people saying things when they know little of the facts. I live 10 minutes from Scranton and Hillary knows Scranton!

[Anne]

Wow is my response to jacksmith. I was puzzled for a while. Then truely suprized. Republican Candidate Romney droped out of the race. He seemed to be "holding his own". Then I realized that his absence in the race suddenly created a voting block for Senator Barrack Obama in crossover states. States where you can be a Democrat or Republican for a day. Primary day. Voters who in the absence of Mitt Romney would rather vote for Barack Obama. At least that's what they said. And it's doubtful the temporary crossover will last after the primaries. The crossover voters will somehow find a way back to their true party affiliation in the fall. In the meantime Republicans have been choosing our Democratic candidate.
And the Republicans would love to run against Senator Barack Obama. Hannity has already started the roast. They are certain Senator John McCain can roll right over the Freshman Senator in November. It's underhanded politics again. It's voter manipulation.
The really sad thing is that Senator Barrack Obama's camp has noticed the trend. Their response? They sent out their organizers in the Yardley and Lower Makefield Townships of Pennsylvania with lists in hand. Lists of Republican voters. Their mission: to encourage voters to switch voter registration to the Democratic Party to vote for Senator Barack Obama in April. You see you have to be a Democrtat to vote in the Democratic Primary in Pennsylvania.
How long does Senator Obama expect those people to remain loyal Democrats? Does he believe they will continue to support him in November? Does he really believe his campaign operates on a loftier plane? Voter manipulation isn't a new and better politics. It's more of the same old dirty politics. Not really a better way.
The Republican Party has mastered the art of tactical campaigns. II's sad that most people haven't noticed. Senator Barack Obama noticed and his response to the tactic was to employ it as his own.
What's even sadder is the fact that, in this race, the Feshman Senator, Barack Obama has convinced alot of voters that he is there for them, a new kind of politician. It's sad it's not true. It's all about winning at any cost. Not new politics at all.
The Republican machine will not hold hands with Senator Obama this November. They will do their best to savage him. It might not take too long either.
People need to take a clear and objective look at the candidates in the race.
Who really has the best interest of the of this contry in mind? Who has run on a platform of knowledge and plans for the future? Senator Hillary Clinton has plans and solutions. Plans for all of Americans, for a better future. She cares. We need someone like that as the next President of the united States of America. She's vetted too. Is there anything the Republicans haven't said about her? And she just keeps working. We need a candidate like that to win the White House. Someone as strong as Senator John McCain, stronger in fact. A candidate with the support of many Generals and Admirals who respect her opinions and plans A strong Democratic President who is too busy working for Americans to engage in manipulative politics of the past. We need Senator Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic candidate of choice so we can win in November. We need a candidate with true strength of character and plans for smart solutions for America. We need Senator Hillary Clinton to represent the true Democratic party and win the Presidency of the United States of America. Truely new politics for America.

[wolf]

Anne, don't get too riled up over jacksmith. He/She/It posts like one comment a day, duplicating it on all of the news blogs. (I suspect this individual is a bot or just a shell-account for the Clinton Campaign. Either way, they're high on misinformation and low on intelligence.)

As far as the Pennsylvanians go, ask yourself this question: Were the Clintons thinking of you, when they passed NAFTA? As soon as they get your vote, they'll have all they need from you. Same goes for the other states.

Take it from one who knows --- a New Yorker.

[ken]

Her humble roots at Lake Winona...baloney!! Back then all those cottages on the lake were unheated and without showers....they were summer homes!!! She was an elite then to have a summer home, though modest in today's standards. Wake up America...this woman is full of holes!!!!