Hillary Clinton drinks to NAFTA?

A loyal Ticket reader named Christopher points out a humorous little sidelight to the rowdy political charges of recent days in the Democratic race for president.

As the voting nears in Pennsylvania and Indiana, the contest is rapidly coming down to which Ivy League-educated millionaire Democratic senator with seven-figure homes and around-the-clock Secret Service care can talk the most sincerely about their genuine concern for working people and look the most like a regular working Joe before the next Midwestern primaries.

It could be close. Barack Obama has gone bowling, though he was horrible at it. Hillary Clinton has talked about shooting a duck once.

Clinton was in Crown Point, Ind., over the weekend doing one of those staged photo ops that every campaign loves because....

it sends a carefully designed message to millions and costs nothing through free media.

Obama mocked her Indiana visit on Monday for knocking back a whisky and hanging around duck blinds with a six-shooter, which was kind of a revealing gaffe on his part since shotguns are the weapon of choice when hunting unarmed birds.

All the public sees after these photo ops is the smiling candidate trying to bowl just like anyone else wearing rented shoes. We never hear the candidate's rant in the car afterward, "If you ever put me in that position again, you're fired!"

So, there Clinton was in Bronko's restaurant, just the kind of place that Hillary and Bill no doubt normally hang out at on a Saturday night after bowling and brats with the guys in the backwards baseball caps from one of the machine shops that surely dot the tranquil New York burg of Chappaqua.

The New York senator, who reported joint income of $109 million in recent years, was having a beer in a large mug just like any voter. And the  bartender opens his big mouth and says, "You want a shot with that?"

And the crowd of her carefully-screened supporters cheers. And what can a game, good-natured candidate do then with all the cameras running but agree? So the bartender says what'll you have and she says nothing sweet. And he says how about Crown Royal?

And she recognizes that name and says, yes, Crown Royal.

Crown Royal whisky was first distilled in 1939 to commemorate the visit of King George VI and his wife Elizabeth -- wait for it -- to Canada.

It's a Canadian whisky, the bestselling Canadian whisky in these United States, where it's been legally consumed since 1965.

So thank goodness for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Sen. Clinton quietly opposed but publicly supported when her husband made it one of his administration's grand achievements, but now she says needs to be changed because not every voter benefited in the states she's visiting.

Clinton, by the way, tilted her head back and took a sip of the whisky. She did finish it too.

But she wasn't driving.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Video: Courtesy CBS News

Comments

[alance]

Obama throws another gutterball and whiskey drinking Annie Oakley rides again.

Obama attended school in Indonesia until the age of ten and then went to a private academy in Honolulu. He didn''t experience life on the mainland until he went to college.

Obama has expressed contempt for church goers and hunters and life in small town America.

Most of Obama''s perceptions about life in America came from text books and elitist professors who have a strong dislike for America - and of course his wife Michelle and Jeremiah Wright.

[Dan]

It takes a really desperate reporter to associate a TYPE OF DRINK with NAFTA. Get a real job buddy because you suck at this one. I mean seriously, you call that news? You're just looking to make that "sensational headline". Fact is,..you're a lousy reporter if that's how you have to do it.

Tell me,...if I drink Tequila,...does that mean I advocate allowing illegal aliens into this country?
Try reporting the NEWS,...not shit you make up!!!

[Greg]

Congratulations to the author. You could not have put it in words any better than you did. This election show is getting so tiring. Hillary is such a fake. Every time she speaks, it is so insincere, so fake, it is painful to watch.

[Dan]

It takes a really desperate reporter to associate a TYPE OF DRINK with NAFTA. Get a real job buddy because you suck at this one. I mean seriously, you call that news? You're just looking to make that "sensational headline". Fact is,..you're a lousy reporter if that's how you have to do it.

Tell me,...if I drink Tequila,...does that mean I advocate allowing illegal aliens into this country?
Try reporting the NEWS,...not shit you make up!!!

[Rich]

I'm sure that Hillary had a glass of Dom Perignon champagne at her hotel room later to wash the taste of the cheap hooch out of her mouth. She is as phoney as a three-dollar bill as my old dad used to say.

In fact they all are. If it turns out to be Hillary and the G.B. clone in November, my vote goes to Ralph.

A pox on all their houses

[mickey]

She was For NAFTA before she was Against it.

[Bob]

After living through the last two decades of lying politicians, broken promises and wasted lives and money fighting a war that shouldn't have been started in the first place, yes, I am angry, frustrated and B-I-T-T-E-R ! [ you heard that right, Candy Crowley, Kitty Pilgrim, Lou Dobbs, Acosta et al !!!!!!!!]

And I am a very religious gun owner and an "E-L-I-T-S-T" to boot !! - - any problems with that ??!!

Baghdad "BOB" (for Bitter-Old-Bastard)

[james dillan]

HILLARY SUPPORTS NAFTA. SHE HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED NAFTA. WAKE UP PENNSYLVANIA!!! SHE WILL TELL YOU SHE IS AGAINST IT TO YOUR FACE THEN SEND HER TOP ADVISOR TO ASSURE NAFTA COUNTRIES THAT SHE IS FOR IT. LOOK AT ALL THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHE HAS ACCEPTED FOR HER CAMPAIGN FROM NAFTA LOBBYISTS. DON'T LET HER PULL ONE OVER ON YOU.

[Orenthal James Simpson]

I believe Hillary has a serious drinking problem and needs immediate intervention. Wouldn't that make a great reality show...Hillary passes out and Bill gets some lipstick on his dipstick...

[KEN]

Funny how McClinton and the ‘right-wing’ try to disparage Obama, by accusing him of being ‘E-L-I-T-I-S-T’ with hundreds of millions in their bank accounts and catering to the filthy rich Corporate Lobbyists; and yes, the ‘common man’ is B–I-T-T-E-R and A-N-G-R-Y at this Prez, his incompetent and irresponsible adminstration and ELITIST Senators like Hilllary and McCain for talking about all these issues for years and getting nothing done.
CNN has trash-talked Obama about this “issue” for the last 72 hours, non-stop! Reporters likeCandy Crowley [a.k.a the "pig-woman"], Jim Acosta, and Kitty Pilgrim [a.k.a the "she-man"] need to go over to Fox News to do their DISGUSTINGLY biased reporting.

[Paula Angelique Hafner]

That is not how you down a shot.

[Mike McKellip]

I hope these cantidates really look at the working men and women for a change, because the older worker is really getting pushed off the planet. What did we do to deserve this? Do you think employers are going to hire an older worker? I highly doubt it. Seal the borders and be like China and keep other countries out, and let the people make the changes that we need. P.S. I don't have a job because NAFTA and CAFTA took it away. Hey thanks President who every! Mike.

[Ginger M.]

Here's a little secret for everyone out there:

Politicians aren't like you and me. You need a boatload of money to be one.

If that "elitist" politician cares about the poor, unemployment, health care, and has the maturity and finesse to talk to the public like they're adults, then no one should give a rat's a&& about how much money they have.

If that rich politician cares about real issues that effect the average American, then it is your duty to vote for that politician.

[RICHARD]

So, as soon as Annie pounded the shot, what new laws did she consider voting on?

[Jean Chevreille]

At the rate things are regressing, I wouldn't be surprised if nest week we see ads of Senator Clinton sitting in the front pew drinking whiskey and wearing a sidearm.

[Ginger M.]

She was throwing back shooters of *Crown Royal* -- a sipping whiskey that costs a boatload of money.

Your AVERAGE American does NOT drink Crown Royal - nor do they have a boatload of money.

[remus]

"but she wasn't driving".
When Sen. Clinton toured a GM assembly plant in Ohio, she was baffled by the technology. Something about not driving for the past decade?
Must be nice to be a hard drinking chauffeur driven gun toting racist xenophobe.

[Jean Chevreille]

Left the most important part out---see prior post---and all this under sniper fire.

[BJ Johnson]

How dare Obama speak the truth: when people are bitter or scared due to tough times, they cling to that which they know, whether it is their belief in God, or their belief that immigrants are taking our jobs, or that we've outsourced everything to China thanks to the Clintons. Apparently Hillary is not sociologically sophisticated enough to understand societal dynamics during stressful times. Perhaps she should have received an "elitist" education rather than downing shots with the good ol' boys. Perhaps she can become more learned on something other than Crown Royal and sophistries if she truly listens to what Obama said.

[Joan]

Hillary has already asked Mrs.McCain to deliver a truckload of beer and whiskey for the 2009 white house presidential oath ceremony. She wants it delivered to her house in New York where she will be sitting on a couch watching the ceremony on TV while chugging beer and whiskey.

[Manolete]

Andrew, you sound very "Bitter", you must be an Obama/Wright supporter....
Well, nothing wrong for a woman to have a drink with the boys, and nothing wrong for a woman president if this wonderful country of the free, so don't be "bitter" and let's drink to the first woman president: Hillary Clinton!

( :) )

[Susan Sylvan]

Hillary wants all the women to vote for her. But when she goes drinking she does not want any women around. All her drinking buddies are old guys. Whatever happened to her women entourage? So far I haven't seen any of them accompanying her or taking whiskey shotguns with her.

[Web Smith]

Crown Point's previous claim to fame was the famous escape from its Lake County jail house by John Dillinger using a wooden pistol. A local golf country club also served as a casino and weekend get away for Chicago mobsters. Law enforcement took a hands off approach.

Hillary, who tried real hard, at first, not to toss the cleansing whiskey down her throat, was not lying this time when she claimed to be on familiar ground.

[reason]

Good for her. Yes it was staged but it still made me chuckle. And she pulls it off much better than Obama's stiff and scholarly attempt.

Obama is just despicable. He is running around telling his populist lies hoping to hide his marxist leanings until after the election. Children and the weak minded fall for it but most americans see through his charlatan facade. He is going to get slaughtered in the general election.

I didn't think it possible for the dems to be stupid enough to nominate another clueless loser like Jimmy Carter. Looks like you can never underestimate the stupidity of a democrat though.

[Tominellay]

Bronko's in Crown Point, Ind., is a great little bar and restaurant. The owner is Nick, not Bronko; Nick is in the top photo, the man in the open white shirt over Hillary's left shoulder...Bronko's serves terrific pizza and other good food, and features live tamburitza music. It's a good place for good people...Hillary's advance man picked the right place for her to be seen in Northern Indiana...

[Jason]

Personally, I don't want a President who goes bowling on Saturday nights and pounds shots until closing time. This idea that a President needs to be a drinking buddy to "get" us is ludicrous. Please stop this insane litmus test of what will make a good leader, how many gutter balls they make or what whiskey they drink. You don't need to live in a slum to understand the injustice of it. You don't need to fight in a war to understand the cruelty of it. You need the capacity for empathy and the willingness to listen.

[NinaK]

Hillary FAILED her bar exam TWICE in Washington DC; she finally passed it when she moved to Arkansas, where the exams are not as stringet.
Hillary FAILED at passing health care while First Lady
Hillary has FAILED in telling the truth to American citizens
Hillary FAILED at running a good campain
Hillary FAILED at budgeting her campaign wisely
Hillary FAILED at surround herself with knowledgeable people; instead she surrounded herself with loyalists
Hillary FAILED at pleasing her man....he chose to find pleasure elsewhere---great reason for her to be BITTER!
Hillary FAILED to be honest during this campaign
Hillary FAILED at listening to and HEARING the people in Pennsylvania
Hillary FAILED at acknowledging small states and caucus states as being part of these great United States of America; she called them unimportant, they don't matter, and added "undemocratic" tol the caucus states
Hillary FAILED to show support for our servicemen and women when she sent them to Iraq
Hillary FAILED to show respect to our servicemen and women when she used fraud to show she had experience--"I remember landing in Bosnia amidst sniper fire; we had to put our heads down and run to our cars"
Hillary further AILED to show respect for our servicemen and women when she went on the Jay Leno Show, joking and laughing about sniper fire and proclaiming she was late, "because I got caught in sniper fire.
In so doing, Hilliary FAILED the test to be Commander-in-Chief!!

[Jean Chevreille]

I own two hunting rifles, am a fervent catholic, and, according to my wife, drink too much. These days, judging from the newsclips, one would think that I would be the ideal Clinton supporter. Once was, but no more.
Like most of us in rural America, we believe in fair play and telling it like it is. That's not what we're seeing with the Clinton attacks. To imply that the president of the Harvard Law Review, who chooses, upon graduation, to work with social services in the inner city, is an elitist, might make good script for the media, but it doesn't cut it with many of us rural folk.

[Marcus]

Hey, Sen. Clinton? How about a nice (American) whiskey....with Kentucky's primary coming up in a few weeks, what about some Wild Turkey, Jim Beam or Maker's Mark?

[Angry in Indiana]

Clinton and Indiana's Bayh are DLC, meaning they pretend to be democrats, but really are shills for corporate interests. Clinton with her $109 million in family payola, and Bayh who is a legacy politician just like George "W". Imagine these sort calling Obama Elitist! Obama who started as a community organizer, who was never given anything but a good education, Obama is Real! DLC shills like Clinton and Bayh become most shrill when anyone dares speak the truth.

[WAKE-UP-AMERICA]

In response to:

"Obama is just despicable. He is running around telling his populist lies hoping to hide his marxist leanings until after the election. Children and the weak minded fall for it but most americans see through his charlatan facade."

And I supposed it takes level headed reason to vote for someone like Bush. Truth is children tend to be easily scared and coerced. Bring up the word "terrorism" and you scurry into your crawl space and piss away all your civil liberties.

As for the article itself: Another testament to the absurdity of todays political dialog.

[CJbushwacker]

Running as an African American with a Muslem name is hard enough without alianating voters in swing states that we need to win. Put together Obama's remarks with his wife's remarks and the Wright's remarks hurts his chances of winning in November. Obama's delegate lead is a house of cards because many of the states he won will not go to the democrats. We depend on states like Pennsylvania, Ohio snd West Virginia. If we rab our primaries like the general election as winnier take all Hillary would be winning. If Michigan and Florida were not being blocked by Obama supporters she would be winning

[Jimbeaux]

Did anyone notice that Hillary tried with all her might to avoid actually drinking any of the beer she had? Once, twice, three times she raised the mug of beer to her lips before finally taking a teeny sip. Being an ardent beer lover of every style - especially microbrews - I can tell you that the woman does not know how to drink a beer. Maybe some Veuve Clicquot champagne, but surely not a domestic beer served in a great Hoosier restaurant and watering hole.

[Dick]

You are messed up. Disagreeing with NAFTA doesn't mean a fully protectionist economy.