Hmm, Hillary Clinton ducks chance to attack new GOP star Sarah Palin

A very interesting thing didn't happen Saturday.

Appearing at a labor rally and stumping for congressional candidates in New York, Sen. Hillary Clinton uttered her most popular line from the recent Democratic National Convention in Denver: "No Way. No how. No McCain." This time she added, "No Palin."

But despite some soft lobs by media with her, that's as far as the female candidate who got closer to a major party's top nomination than any other in American history would go in criticizing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the first female top-ticket member in Republican Party history.

Despite continued grumbling among her supporters about a less than diligent effort by the Barack Obama crowd to help the New York senator retire her immense campaign debts, Clinton has been living up to her promise to fundraise and campaign for the Democratic ticket all over.

She has repeated the "No way. No how" line about John McCain many times and warned against four more....

...years of a Bush-like administration.

But she's been very careful to avoid saying harsh things against her good friend from Arizona, who was among the first to welcome and show the former first lady around the old-boys club of the Senate on her arrival in 2001.

In fact, during last winter-spring's Democratic primary campaigns, Clinton lavished considerable praise on McCain for the lifetime of experience he would bring to the White House while Obama, she said dismissively, only "has a speech he gave in 2002."

On Saturday in New York, reporters eager for a story about a fight between the two female politicians set Clinton up several times to take easy swings at the 44-year-old reform governor, who blew away the Republican National Convention crowd with her speech Wednesday night about her running mate, her own life and some mocking views of Obama.

But Clinton would not bite. Or swing. Not once.

"This election is about issues, and that’s what’s going to matter to people at the end of the day," was all that Clinton would say. This despite the obviously powerful fears that Palin has engendered among many Democrats conducting nonstop, massive behind-the-scenes efforts to smear Palin's reputation and plant negative stories in the media, with some success.

Intriguing to wonder why Clinton wouldn't say more.

Why do you think? Gender solidarity? Friendship for McCain despite their disagreements? A sign of waning enthusiasm for her own party's ticket? So much joy over the New York Giants defeat of the Washington Redskins in the NFL opener Thursday night?

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credits: Associated Press

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Comments

[bob]

The Clintons owe Obama NOTHING!!!!

[nadezhda]

This is a totally made-up non-story.

Think about it for two seconds, please. It would be idiotic for Hillary to attack Palin directly. She'd just feed fuel to the "Palin as victim" hysteria and wouldn't bring any more of her supporters over to Obama. She can attract the lion's=share of her old supporters to Obama by continuing to stress the "issues we fought for" theme as she did in her speech in Denver. That's what the Obama campaign wants her to do with audiences and in states where Hillary goes over well.

The media line that she's not supporting Obama by not launching a full-throated personality-based attack on either McCain or Palin is just reporters ginning up a non-existent "conflict among the Dems -- the Clintons are undermining Obama" story that the media obsessed over and tried to push the entire week of the Dem Convention. Please stop the BS!

[Mark]

What do I think? I think this is much ado about nothing. Hillary's not going to burn bridges. She likes being an insider, and that's fine with me.

She's campaigning for Obama and for other Democrats, and that's what matters.

[CC]

I think she wants her old friend McCain to win, as to better position herself in 2012. The Clintons have always been about the Clintons, and shame on anybody who is surprised.

[tiredofit]

The VP is supposed to be the "attack dog". If Obama wanted Hillary to go on the attack he should have made her his VP. Obama supporters said they did not need Hillary and they would not help to retire her debt, so in November we will see if Obama excercised good judgement when he ignored and disrespected 18 million Dem voters by selecting Biden without even vetting Hillary. NOway NOhow NObama

[Tony S.]

Hey Andrew, guess who complimented McCain to say that he could win the presidency for either party???
A: Joe Biden!!

Ok try another. Q: Which democrat once tried to get McCain to run as the democratic v.p.??
A: John Kerry!

Okay final one. Q: Which democratic currently running for office claimed this year that obama was too inexperienced to run for president??
A: Joe Biden!!!

Hey thank you Andrew for playing "What Did I Leave Out of My Pro-obama Story?" I'm sure we will see you again soon.

[obi]

Hillary's doing the right thing -- stick to the issues. I am getting tired of these personality attacks!

[plankbob]

More reporting on the "Democrats divided" theme? But she did say while campaigning for herself that McCain was ready to be commander in chief and Obama had a speech.
The Clintons aren't shy about positioning themselves so I am suspicious. And where is Bill? Maybe he immobilized laughing at the joke McCain told that Janet Reno is Chelsea's real father. Maybe they're both laughing at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLQGWpRVA7o

McCain's "respect" for feminism and Democrats in full flower.

[EJDUBYA]

Indeed, it is time for ALL Democrats to stop whining about Hillary not being the personality attack dog. It is time for Democrats to do what she is doing--pointing out that the Republican administration has nearly destroyed the economy, has mortgaged America's future with it's "borrow and spend" policies, has cost America its credibility in the world and has cost America the lives of 4K+ soldiers, sailors and civilians, and maimed many thousand more. Democrats need to stop acting like Karl Rove Republicans. Enough with the personal attacks; talk about the real issues and how they will address them.

[sharky]

I agree with the above. It's a non-story. Clinton is campaigning for Obama and Democrats. She's keeping it about the issues. Why play into the hands of the rabid right and/or "journalists" and make personal attacks that will inflame non-thinkers and obscure the issues? Sarah Palin is doing a fine job distracting from the issues vis a vis being completely ridiculous all on her own, and heck she isn't even available for comment.

[mgultch]

It is pretty funny how the MSM is looking for entertainment value in a battle of words between Clinton and Palin. I do not think it will happen. We should all be watching C-SPAN anyway. But if you do need some humor and entertainment, and, need to register to VOTE! Look at this real-time poll htttp://www.boppoll.com. You can register to vote on-line there and have some instant fun.

[Liah]

Hillary is loyal to her party, McCain tried to switch party before.

Hillary knows what is going on in the Whitehouse, she really knows what she is talking about...

Miss Moose Hunter ? She should go back to the boonduck!

Ah! If the GOP Convention had it more TV viewers than Democrats was because the Football Match that people were expecting to watch!

The media knows that too, just don't want to accept it, isn't ?

[A.Levine]

THE ONLY REASON HILLARY WOULD CARE ABOUT O.HUSSEIN.O. IS THAT SHE WANTS MONEY. OTHER THAN THAT MCCAIN THE CHOICE.
THE ONLY CHOICE.
PRESIDENT MCCAIN WILL BE A GREAT PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE WILL PUT AMERICA FIRST..... AND NO MR. B, HE DOESN'T THINK WE ARE STUPID ,YOU DO, BUT WE WILL SHOW YOU WHO THE STUPID ONE REALLY IS COME ELECTION DAY.........................WILL WILL NEVER HAVE A HUSSEIN PRESIDENT IN THIS COUNTRY.

[JimK]

She knows Dems win if the election is about issues, Repubs win if its about personality. Dems should forget about Palin and keep heat on Bush/McCain/Palin policies.

[the tanker]

Obama made a huge mistake by not picking Hillary and her 18 million votes for VP. Remember the "dream ticket?" In spite of the unity speeches, the Democrats are divided. This gave McCain an opening to exploit Obama's blunder.

It also points out that Obama may not be the great unifier that he claims to be. He could not rise above and put a "sure win" ticket together because of his own personal feelings towards Hillary and Bill.

If Obama loses this election, the big question will be: "What if he had chosen Hillary for VP?" Obama has divided the Democrats and this division will get larger if he doesn't help Hillary with her campaign debt.

[jamespetermay]

It's simple. Both Hillary and Obama (and other successful politicians both Democrat and Republican know) is you must stay positive.

The process of Palin is far from over. She appears anti-fatherhood with the troopergate story.

SHe put her kids--literally--on the center stage yet she doesn't think that motherhood responsibilities would overwhelm her ability to lead (nevermind just attend meetings)

It appears like she is ready to abandon all of her kids, the Downs syndrome kid, the pregnant one and who knows, maybe the one in Iraq?

What assurance do we have that she won't favor his platoon over others?

McCain missed the boat and based his decion on gut, and that is a VERY George W Bush thing to do.

[Ray]

I review the LA Times for the advertisement but I don't subscribe because you have total bias toward liberalism. You do not report the news. You only want to make up the news and report what suites your political agenda. How can you not point out that Obama had less experience than Sarah, if you are going to repeat the democratic line that Sarah is not an experienced politician? Report the news and not be bias and someday I will subscribe again.

[joan ca]

this article just proves, SHE IS A LADY!

[phil- los angeles]

We've learned that NOW is all about left wing causes- the ACLU cares about lefty issues. You want to win national elections or increase newspaper circulation, stopping crapping on middle, small town America. Enjoy West LA land, pay your exorbitant taxes for failing schools and supporting Sanctuary City.
Omaba "ain't The One"
Hillary- your turn will come in 2012!

[Tina]

Senator Clinton was trashed repeatedly by the media as a person. Her policies took a back seat to the frenzy to destroy her campaign and her reputation. She gave the Washington Post an interview in which she rightly noted that everywhere around the world, people can be polar opposites ideologically, but they are united in their oppression of women. Every time a government seeks to control the lives of women they prove it.

[woodstock69]

Possibly Barry can win without Clinton being the virtual candidate, but I think the Democratic leaders should put more pressure on Hillary to personally embrace Obama, if possible, 24/7. When the voter enters the booth in Nov., and sees the name Obama, they should think Clinton, thats how much she should campaign for him. And when they see the name Palin, they should think, Hillary has it all over her.

[Gerry]

Clinton will not become Obama's "attack dog" unless his campaign agrees to pay off her campaign debt. I wouldn't be surprised if her people aren't promoting this story in order to put pressure on Obama.

She's in a tough spot. If Palin wasn't on the ticket, I think she would actually find a way to help Obama lose. She wants the chance to be the first woman president ASAP. However, with Palin in the picture, Hillary can't afford to help the Repub ticket too much. A strong and popular Palin would be tough for Hillary after a "one-term" McCain presidency. Her best position is to stay neutral on any attack that could be considered personal. She doesn't want a public outcry and mass defection of her base (like Oprah).

McCain's selection of Palin has become a thorn in the side of democrats on so many different levels. She has neutralized the novelty of Obama (and added a record of accomplishment to that novelty), she has rallied the conservative base of the republican party (as well as some libertarian types), she causes all kinds of problems for Hillary, and she has caused millions of women around the country to actually think about the possibility that you can be a liberated, progressive and accomplished woman without advocating abortion on demand for everyone (free if possible).

This will be a fun campaign for sure.

[Renagle]

What do I think? That Hillary wants Obama to lose so she'll have a shot at 2012. If Obama dumped Biden and put her on the ticket at this point, she'd be playing sloppy seconds and would be a trinket used by the empty suit holding a losing ticket. Why buy into that?

Plus, she'd ruin her chances at running for Pres ever because if Obama goes down in 4 yrs with her as the the Veep, she would have to wait until unshackling herself from him until 2012--with the reputation of being a one termer VP kicked out of office----and a successful Obama (yeah, right) would mean waiting until 2016 when she's what, 68yrs old? Haha! The woman wants Obama to go down, and go down hard so then in 2012, she can come back and say "See! You moron Dems picked the empty suit when you could have had a fighter like me against the big bad GOP!"

Gotta love it. She did answer the 3am call---from Obama in desperation! Oh the irony is so sweet!!!

McCain/Palin '08

[richard]

I think she is having a hard time supporting Obama for his lack of spending actual time in Washington. He has been campaigning for the presidency since he was elected and has not accomplished or voted on anything of substance and she regrets it. He has gained popularity like Bill who I think she also regrets. She wants reform and doesn't believe Obama can get the job done. She may be offered a job in the cabinet but what would it do for her political career?

[Mehul Kamdar]

Yes, Sen Clinton needs to take instructions from anti-Republican journalists on what she has to do. I refuse to call you lot Democrats because the Democratic PArty is composed of great people, not mud-slingers who seem to be trying to claim the party for themselves these days. If you want to "attack" Governor Palin, you should be running for public office instead of writing for a left-wing newspaper.