Hillary Clinton: Online with a Web chat Thursday

Wondering what Hillary Clinton would say about Barack Obama's qualifications for the presidency in the wake of her husband's less-than-laudatory answer to that question in a recent interview with ABC News?

Theoretically, the chance to quiz the senator from New York on Obama's resume will present itself at 9 a.m. PDT Thursday.

In a video sent today to those on the e-mail list for her failed presidential campaign, she announces she'll conduct a Web chat at that time on HillaryClinton.com.

Ostensibly, it's part of her ongoing effort to stay in touch with her backers and hear of their concerns.

But as she notes at the start on the video promoting the online chat, there remains that little matter of retiring the hefty campaign debt she incurred in falling from the frontrunner's perch in the Democratic presidential race and ending up an also-ran to Obama.

She offered thanks in today's message to those who have contributed money that helps, as she put it, "pay the small vendors" for services rendered to her campaign.

No mention, of course, of the big vendor whose bill represents a significant chunk of the debt -- Mark Penn, who fresh from helping derail Clinton's White House run has been dispensing occasional wisdom at Politico.com.

She does mention Obama -- once, and with emphasis. She applauds efforts to "work together" to elect him "so we will be able to fulfill the goals we care so deeply about" (universal healthcare prime among them although, as she stressed during their marathon primary battle, his plan on that issue is not near as sweeping as hers).

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[Jeremy]

I think the more Hillary is involved in this campaign the better. She is the antidote to John McCain.

[Michelle]

I think it is WONDERFUL that she is in constant contact with her supporters!!! WE LOVE HER and will NEVER turn our backs on her or BILL but.......
There is NOTHING that she could ever say or do to make me VOTE FOR OBAMA. The Honorable Hillary R. Clinton is BY FAR more qualified than Barack or John. Because John is an American hero, I will caste my vote for him.

Oh and by the way...before ALL you Obama kool-aid drinkers call me a racist, I AM BLACK!

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Bill is a WEENSEL. That's half weenie and half weasel. Hillary is just a liar.

[Thomas]

To the author: Was it Clinton who said in her announcement that Obama's plan isn't nearly as sweeping, or your little injection?

Michelle, I've seen you post before about refusing to vote for Obama. I don't know if you're serious or not. I don't think you're racist, but I do think you're sexist. You're trying to punish the voters who thought Obama would make a better leader than Hillary for not voting for your choice instead. I think your reason for that is because you're assuming that everyone who didn't vote for Hillary could only have done so because they must be sexist. That suggests you saw the whole thing in terms of sex from the beginning: Not "Clinton, a strong leader!" (as she would have been), but "Clinton, a FEMALE leader!" (which is true, but not automatically a signifier of a good President). In so doing, you do a disservice to yourself, to Hillary Clinton, and to supporters of both Obama and Clinton.

If Obama were also a woman, I think you would vote her 'her' even after beating Clinton. If you tell me that you still wouldn't, well, I'd call that a REAL case of 'drinking the kool-aid', because it'd suggest you're so attached to the personality, the issues meant nothing to you.

Who cares if we leave Iraq? Who cares about health care? Who cares about a responsible energy plan? Who cares about judicial appointments? Who cares about Roe vs. Wade? Who cares about gay/women rights? Who cares about responsible immigration laws? Who cares about American image abroad? Who cares about the economy? Who cares about free trade? Who cares about affirmative action? Who cares about America's crumbling infrastructure? Who cares about the weak primary education system?

Not you, clearly. All you care about is having ovaries in the oval. I'd like it too someday, and it will happen. If you try and drag America down for not going along this time, though, it'll make you, and all the other people like you thinking in the same narrow and selfish way way, look all the more like a lunatic. A real Kool-aid head.

[hinnis]

I agree with another poster who said that we will support Hillary in every way we can, however, WE WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA, period. You couldn't pay me to vote for that inexperienced, deceptive, ruthless, arrogant, race card throwing, racist black liberation theology believing, divisive Obama. NO WAY!

[Tom Tee]

Michelle, the color of your skin has nothing to do racism but please don't "vote stupid" in November because you are still hurt by Hillary's loss in the primaries. You know Bush has been bad and McBush will be no better.

[joe j]

For all you HRC supporters who are stomping around holding your breath until you turn blue: grow up, you lost. All you're teaching our daughters is how to be petulant brats. I've got news, it doesn't work in politics or life. Please vote for McCain, then you officially can be labeled "losers" again.

[Tom in Alabama]

Hinnis, too bad you cannot express any original thoughts for your tirade is straight from the racist mouths of Limbaugh, Hannity and other arrogant non-thinkers. They may not use the n-word but instead used cleverly disguise their venom. Obama is a far brighter and forward thinking than any neanderthal candidates who ran on the Repubs side.

[RABO]

WOW! Just listen to those angry Clintonites! They are ready to "cut off their noses to spite their own faces", as the saying goes.
Makes one wonder who's been really drinking the koolaid, doesn't it?

[rhu]

hinnis, you are right in that hillary also can be labeled the same way you labeled obama...ruthless, inexperienced...(what has she done.).arrogant & a race card divisive person. You sound angry. Vote for whoever you like & STOP name calling.

[MMCSS]

I'm still sitting on the fence. I've backed Obama. I've backed McCain. But the way things are looking in recent news, Obama is showing his wishy washiness and McCain is Bush reincarnate. Neither has proven without an equivocal doubt that I should vote for either.

[lhummer]

I agree with another poster who said that we will support Hillary in every way we can, however, WE WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA, period. You couldn't pay me to vote for that inexperienced, deceptive, ruthless, arrogant, race card throwing, racist black liberation theology believing, divisive Obama. NO WAY!
--------------------------------------
You were bitter for a while, but it sounds like you're over it now.

[Bernell]

My wife and I would Vote for Hillary if she went Independent

[reason]

Just say no to Obama.... Hillary 2012!

I wasn't much of a fan of Hillary until this year. Watching her growth through the nomination process has changed my opinion of her. I think she would make a great president and be a very strong commander in chief.

Obama will be all fail and hurt america in every way. It was sad to watch the far left kooks hijack the nomination. Democrats are so clueless sometimes.

[An American]

I am not a Democrat, don't vote Democratic and frankly don't agree with a number of the issues the Democratic Party espouses, but my message to Mrs. Clinton would be, 'Clearly, you are more qualified to sit at the head of the table in the White House than Mr. Obama. Your stances on issues are clear, the direction you would take this country is clear and your presentation of both is honest. I see little to nothing of that in Mr. Obama, and frankly, all Americans should be very concerned about this. If it were possible for you to do so, I would have encouraged you to hang in there. The prospects for America, for the Democratic Party should Mr. Obama be elected, couldn't be much dimmer.'

[Diane]

I don't understand how people can be Hillary supporters (as I am), and so presumably democrats, but won't vote for Obama. I just don't get it. McCain is a republican. The republican party is the party that hates human beings, esp if you have no money. I'm disappointed Hillary didn't win (though maybe she'll be better off in the senate...she can perhaps do more good there, over a longer period of time), and though I took down the Hillary sign I haven't put up an Obama sign. But of course I'm going to vote for him. If I ever voted republican, well, I just couldn't live with myself...

[phillip davis]

I hoep they can prove that Obamas birth certificate is a forgery and he is not an American citizen according to the law when he was born Hillary stay in there be ready to lead the country they need you not this coky arrogant socialist liar look at his friends and aquintances he is not what this country will need Hillary his 100 time more quailifed experinced and is honest and we can trust here to take care of all Americans not just the minorities who socialist Obama is going to do Take from those who earned it and give to those who dont.;

[maggie]

The issue is not whether a candidate is from a particular party, but rather whether he or she has the necessary credentials to be POTUS. The presidential position is a job. We need to ask ourselves, who would be best qualified to do this job? The Dems gave us some fine folks to choose from in the primary. Unfortunately, someone with weak credentials became the presumptive candidate. McCain is just simply better suited for the job.

[al]

Hillary and Bill had better watch out. Hillary's political years are not over. Even though the media seems to think that the only voters that matter are those Hillary supporters who are still mad, if Hillary wants to run for any office, she and Bill and her angry supporters must remember that there were plenty of upset Obama supporters who had hard feelings about Hillary and Bill. Unless she is ready to retire, she will need Obama supporters to vote for her should she run for Senate or Governor etc. I am ready to support Hillary in the future if she and Bill and her supporters can show some maturity and think about the future of the country and what we need, not about who won and who lost.

[jbdsm]

I have a feeling that most, or at least half, of the people posting that they are Hillary supporters who would never vote for Obama are in reality republicans that are disguising themselves to make it seem that Obama's in trouble with Clinton voters. Sounds like a typical republican tactic to me. Try to rile things up and start a fight to scare people.

[Jill De Lany]

You are so predictably disgraceful !

Don't you get it ?
This is what Americans are sick and tired of.
A "Public Congrats" to Obama would be so unlike you, but trust me - would serve you better in the long run.
Your morals are lower than Bill's - ant that's saying something.

Bet you don't post this I dare you . .Jill De Lany

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

It may be time for a diaper change for the pouting Clinton backers.

Even if you pretend that you are not basing your doomed rebellion on skin color, you cannont hide the extremely evident basis of your unwavering support, your candidate's genitalia. You are sexists and you believe that it is acceptable to base your choice based on a candidate's sex.

Please feel free to vote independant. the Democratic party is better served with your depature.

[jc]

Obama is on his way to Hawaii to drag his old white grandma out for a photo op. I will not vote for him, my vote will go to John McCain. All these young Obama college girls want change - fine, when they find out they cannot get a safe, legal abortion (something my age group fought hard for) then they can celebrate that change!

[Therese]

Bill caused the last 8 years of mess in this country because he couldn't keep it in his pants. ( Yes! it was not Ralph Nader's fault!) Now, Bill Clinton is willing to keep the mess going because he's an arrogant, spoiled child who hasn't gotten his way. Hillary, while she makes nicey nice, is just as arrogant, and between the two of them, they are doing their best to make sure that Mccain wins, at the cost of the country that they claim to love.