Political Punch

I had my own experience, similar to that. Jake is correct, the facts around the story do no erase the struggles of millions who are uninsured.

I don't want to live in a country where people have to hold bake sales to get cancer surgery!!!

To the poster who stated: "Everyone in this country should have FREE medical insurance."

Young lady, there is no such thing as FREE - it always has to be paid for by the taxpayers - the only money the government has is yours and mine and when they haven't got enough they simply print some more. And they never, ever have enough.

As for the story itself and HRC - before she ever repeated one word of what Holman told her she should have had someone in her campaign fully, and I fully, vet the story. She got it wrong and then repeated the same error. The MSM has attempted to justify the story as "partially" correct - that isn't going to cut it. The media and the Clinton campaign both lied and now they are attempting to justify their error with the rationale that "at least part of the story is true."

There appears to be no honest and impartial media in existence in this day and age. And that includes the weather people.

At what point did Obama address Sen. Clinton's story about the young woman? He hasn't. So how is this a knock against Sen. Obama?

Everytime Hilary "misspeaks" is it somehow Obama's fault? Some people are just born stupid.

Some of you, both Obama and Clinton supporters, treat the election like its supporting your favorite sports team: All or nothing. Grow up and vote in the best interests of your children, morons.

Get rid of Bush policies. Support so-called radicals like Ron Paul who want to get rid of the Fed, income taxes and preemptive wars. Throw your support behind whichever candidate becomes the nominee and let's get this country back to being the best in the world.

So tragic and pathetic death of a 7 month pregnant pizza shop worker just because of not able to pay only $100 bill or lack of health insurance.Its so inhumanly act.

So many people miss the point. The reason that healthcare is in such a bad state is that unscrupulous lawyers are suing doctors for malpractice.

I am not an advocate of limiting the payment that a legitimately injured patient can receive, but if the amount that a lawyer can make for pursuing a claim was a fixed feee, regardless of the payout, it would stop many of the lawsuits in their tracks.

Does anyone believe that Hillary a liar (oops, lawyer) by trade would limit the payout of fellow liars (oops, lawyers)?

Doctors are paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars (per doctor) on insurance premiums each year

How much would you charge, if in order to make one dollar, you had to generate more than $300,000 to cover office expenses and malpractice insurance?

Hillary's system will bankrupt the country, because she is only trying to address syptoms of the disease while ignoring the root cause.

When Hillary originally proposed this system, she (and others) pointed to the Canadian (bankrupt) model for nationalised healthcare as a shining example.

Those who don't know Hillary, vote for Hillary.

And folks, it is shameful that the entirety of this thread is filled with partisan bickering over candidates. THE STORY IS ABOUT TRINA and TRAY. Have some respect. I don't care if Clinton says she's been to Mars.

I care if the memory of Trina Bachtel and Tray Hutton are being ignored so that you can fight over your candidates or your politics.

Have you no shame?

Christa, who states you were her friend, please help me get the story straight. Feel free to email me at bigkahunareports@hotmail.com and keep up with the story at www.noquarterusa.net.

i'm not done with this story until its told fully.

People don't seem to focus on the one true main point, that this woman would be alive if everyone had health care all the time. She wouldn't have been in debt and would have gotten the care she needed immediately. The details are really pretty darn irrelevant and are just distracting from the real problem. Every American needs good, free health care like most of the civilized countries of the world.

Im sorry, But this is my BEST FRIENDS FAMILY we are talking about here;; If you dont mind, Stop "gossiping" it isnt the truth. This reminds me of some high school rumor that everyone seems to think is the "truth" OH MY GOD. this is someones family you are talking about here, LEAVE IT BE unless you know the truth.

THE FIRST ENTIRE WEEKEND THE STORY BROKE, NOBODY MENTIONED A SHERIFF HAD TOLD HILLARY THE STORY. IT WAS, HILLARY IS ATA IT AGAIN!!!
THE OMISSION WAS DELIBERATE AND JAKE TAPPER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING.
PEOPLE WHO ACCUSE HILLARY OF NOT REPORTING THE TRUTH FAIL TO REPORT THE TRUTH THEMSELVES
THAT WAS DELIBERATE,MR JAKE TAPPER. I THINK YOU FEEL WHAT CHRIS MATHEWS FEELS RUNNING UP HIS LEG... SICKENING

Remember Obama's story about the captain in Afghanistan? That wasn't vetted and only ABC got the name of the captain and claimed that the story checked out. Except nobody else was able to. We know ABC is one of the most pro-Obama networks around (Jake Tapper in particular). Why doesn’t that surprise me: the media goes into conniptions about Clinton’s anecdotes and gives Obami a free pass. The point is, the anecdote highlights the need for universal health insurance. For whatever reason, the woman who died believed she needed $100 to see a doc and that was the fundamental problem – it is irrelevant whether she owed the clinic money. And to all the bloggers questioning Clinton’s motive and statements, I hope that you will never be in the same situation as that most unfortunate mother.

This is a tragic story. What surprised me is that Hillary Clinton, who presents herself as one of the leading experts in the US on health care, did not see some of the inconsistencies in this story. Did she not know that it would be illegal for the hospital not to see this patient as reported above. This makes me question not only her truthfulness but her competence as well.

Forget about the heathcare system for a moment. What's more interesting is that Clinton believed the officer and used that story in her speech. She didn't even verify it. She had no qualms about telling an anectodal story in her speech. She wasn't an anonymous poster at a forum or blog. She said it in a speech. Politicians distort the truth when they're elected, but they try to present themselves as cleanly as possible before being elected. If that's how she is now, what is she going to be like if elected?

Lazy journalism!

This story ALWAYS had some truth to it. The hospital never claimed otherwise. The reason it asked the Clintons to stop using it was the problem parts it still has.

Thanks for reporting on this and clearing it up in a way that makes sense. I am a physician, and it seemed obvious that what was said by Senator Clinton could not be true, and that what the press reported on after they "investigated" was also not the full or accurate story. This explanation doesn't make it less tragic, but does let us know that the system works the way it is supposed to at the current time...and by that I just mean to reinforce that it is against federal law for any hospital to deny emergency care to any person at any time. That would have been even more tragic.

Firefighter:

No. Hillary hasn't completely achieved this goal yet B U T
what she DID accomplish was to get health care for over 6,000,000 children...and that was a strong beginning.

Which is why I say:

GIVE'EM HELL, HILLARY!!!!

Angela,

Hillary did try to pass Universal Health Care and she did fail. She is however the only one in this country to make a serious attempt. There is no guarantee that things will change with health insurance regardless of who wins the election. I do know that Hillary is a fighter and she will NOT give up. The feeling I have with Obama is that he will roll over when faced with confrontation. As for those who don't "need" health insurance that argument doesn't fly. There are those who may claim not to "need" car insurance but for the sake of everyone else they must have it. I don't want to pay for those who aren't willing to carry health insurance just as I don't want to pay for those who won't carry car insurance.

Every emergency department in the country must evaluate and stabilize an emergent patient, regardless of their citizenship, ability to pay, credit score, past due bills, or any factor. (look up EMTALA) That is NOT to say that if you show up with a sprained ankle or a cold that you will necessarily be treated...those are not emergent conditions and with home care you will do just fine.

Ms Clinton's account of the facts in this case is an excellent example of "truthiness" - rather than actual facts, its a gut reaction, the emotion that drives the discourse. If anything, this shading of facts is a real turn off. I don't want a POTUS to be carefully packaging facts to get me to feel a certain way.

What I find infuriating about all of this is that ALL of the candidates have lied and overstated events that have occured, but it is the Obama supporters who refuse to believe that he has lied or mis-represented the facts. I mean lets get real, the man lived his life, made many statements regarding his history and much of it was fabricated, or should I say he simply overstated the facts. Did anyone ask him to verify his own story??? You will NEVER get the complete truth from a politician, so get over yourselves and vote for the person that has the best platform. If we waited until we had an Honest Abe again, we would not have a President for many years.

You people all ask what experience does the candidates have? Lets look at the past Presidents?

Jimmy Carter - Ga Gov - No Federal experience

Ronald Reagan - Ca Gov - No Federal experience

George Bush Sr. - Foreign policy / CIA

Bill Clinton - Ark Gov - No Federal experience

George W. Bush - One Term TX Gov - No Federal experience.

Get the point people? I don't care if Obama only has 3 yrs experience. These commercials about waking up and 3am calls are joke. Hillary what was your foreign policy experience? Wall-Mart NAFTA board of governors? What was your husbands experience?

Thanks for setting the record and story straight for us Jake! With almost every other word coming out of Hillary's mouth either being a lie or attack one never knows whats up with her! As usual, a grain of truth can be found in her daily exaggerations! Clearly a desperate woman in a failing campaign who will stop at nothing! Good report!

The smartest woman in the world should have enough sense to investigate, verify, substantiate and confirm data before before moving forward with a story like this. As for Ms Bechtell; (1) don't get pregant if you can't afford it, (2) any poor person, even illegals, can get FREE medical care anywhere in the country. What do you think hard working Americans are for; do you believe they are just supposed to work hard all their lives to keep the economy going, save and invest their money for retirement and maybe enjoy a few years at the end of their lives...greety bastards, don't they know they live in America? This is the land of the FREE and handouts for anyone in the world that is willing to TAKE rather than contribute.

I can relate to this as i have a situation simular and cannot get into a clinic to have it taken care of. The public health dept. will not take the necessary tests for my situation, and yet, when i visit my specialists on a workmans comp injury they are absolutely mortified that my public health doctors wont check into the numerous lumps on my thyroid. I owe the clinic 129.00 from a past bill. But...a year and a half ago i paid over 1,600.00 in past medical expenses occured from my children during my claim for disability. I paid those right up front when i was able. They had "forgotten" this one bill, and now that I an on disability and have not the money to pay that 129.00, they refuse me. This is not right. I am a widow, 10 months ago I had 6 sscrews put into my back. Its not like I can work an extra shift to make this money.I have medical coverage through my disability now, so it isnt like i would be incurring any more to this bill. It just isnt right.

Oh and another thing..if your running for Pres. and your a Senator, shouldnt you have the resources to be able to FACT CHECK your stories, before you let the words fly outta your mouth. If she cant even do simple fact checking on the things she talks about...what will happen when she's in office? Is she going to rely on the media to do the grunt work for her?

Hilsry did not lie about the story. She got the information from the sheriff deputy. People are trying to find every little bit that they can find wrong with what Clintion did.

Look at the moral of Clintion's sorty: the health care system is messed up and needs to be fixed. Why are people so against health care? No one will complain when they are going to the emergency room with no money to pay for it.

And "NEWSFLASH": under Clinton's plan, your health care pay wwill go accordingly to your income. So, if you make $0.00 guess what? Your health care costs will be $0.00. And if your make a substantial amount of money, it will go according to the money you make. You will not miss the money spent on your coverage when you realize how your debt would build should you not have health care coverage.

Are some people so anti-Hillary that they could care less about their own well-being? I don't support Obama but I like his ideas for college students. I just have a stronger support for Hillary.

She was not lying so stop making a big deal over this.

I'm really getting tired of the media spending so much time tearing apart these stories. It is amazing that they have such attention to detail to the stories/examples that Hillary states and ignore others. The point is that our medical/insurance system needs some serious attention. Pay attention to the bigger picture!

the truth of the matter is that Hillary saw a story that fit perfectly into her agenda, especially if she altered it a little... but in all honesty what candidate can we trust? Media's opinion of the president changed when Nixon came around for the second time, but when 9-11 happened, the US fell back in love with their leaders. Unfortunately, the tides are turning once again, truths are being twisted and the political race is dancing around the more specific and important issues we need to be focusing on.

Bishop
My appology if I offended you it was not meant to offend anyone . It does Offend me thou when others use it.
I guess even thou we dont agree politically we have a lot in common.

We are and have been from the working poor.
I hope you accept my apology.

Since the media will not allow Clinton to ask....where are the records of Obama's state Senate terms....Does the media really believe the Obama stories of "there were none" and/or "they are lost".

Spock:

She WAS denied care at the clinic. She was told to fork over $100 or forget about any more care. THAT is why she went to the other hospital where she was cared for and died.

Bishop
It is meant as a derogatory statement against blacks because they buy it.
They drink it all the time. According to some. They have been using it since the begiining when it first became available because it had vitamin c in it. It was popular in the homes ( white and black ) were buying juice real juice
was something you could not afford.

Please interview the deceased woman's Aunt and discover that the reason why she could not seek treatment is because the hospital had informed her in correspondence that they would not treat her without $100.00. So Clinton told the truth and we still don't have a retraction from the media.

At that point I hope you spend as much due diligence in vetting Obama's stories about not having ever seen a survey with his handwriting on it or denying his surrogates met with Canada about NAFTA when they clearly did.

Angela,

One correction:

Yes, they are both Senators NOW:

Obama- 3 years
Hillary - 7 years;

More than twice of Senator experience..

Lauren

I don't use it but if I did I am not putting anyone down we drank out of a hose if we wanted a drink. unless it was meal time then it was milk or kool-aid . Most of the kids in our working class s nighberhood drank kool-aid cost 5cents a pack and 2cups of sugar.

I don't know what you are geting at I just know that it is an expression that has been used when you see people who follow after some one and mainly since it was reported in the media that the JIm Jone cult leaders gave thier followers kool-aid laced with poison

True truth - no personal attacks from me. These are well documented historical facts about the Clintons - not misstatements.

I don't think being 1st lady is any more experience, probably less, than a cabinet member would have. Essentially, they are both senators. One traveled more.

well then i guess it would be befitting
to use it against Hillary followers. Like they say what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

But I personally will not use it because as i stated above, there are thousands of children in this Country who do not get real juice because the Parents can not afford it. I also believe people are using it to put down African Americans and those who want Barack Obama as a put down.

American are so great!
not only import foreign goods, but also import president from Kenya and Insonesia.

It looks like everything from foreign country is better than oreginated in America.

Angela,

First lady is NOT president for sure...
However, like I pointed, it is an given opportunity to know how a president to run the country...

Most first ladies don't care how their husband to run the country but a few do...Hillary is one of a few who has desire to lead this country...How much has she learned and equiped herself will be up to American voters to judge...

But never understimate your fellow woman the desire to learn and try to lead the country for better...

BTW, please don't do personal attack to your fellows..It is a committed SIN under the God's name...

Bishop
could you please tell me about it
Because to me it its a put down to all those who could not afford to buy real juice. Poor whites and Blacks.
I would appreciate it.

The story is true. A hospital refused her treatment for lack of $100. She was turned away went to another hospital where her baby died. Then she died later.

True story!

Much more true than Obama saying his parents met at a civil rights march when he was already 4 years old for example.

@Lauren

Did you ever hear of Jim Jones and kool-aid that is why we are using it not because are parents were poor.

True Truth - The president and 1st lady are not inseparable. Most of the time they are away on their own schedules (refer to Lewinsky matter as the to scheduling). She has misrepresented so much about her "35 years" now, that all of it is questionable.

About healthcare:
Words vs. Solutions

Hillary SAYS health care is a vital issue.

Hillary DOES:
Campaign finance records also reveal that Clinton, a champion of universal health care, was late paying nearly $300,000 in health care premiums for her campaign staff.

She can't even effectively fire Penn.

Obama 08

Unforrunately, Obama was not be able to be given the opportunity to be "the first lady"...

He was given the opportunity to be a street lawyer to learn his experience...

There is nothing wrong about it...it is just different experience, which most people can learn as well..

WestCoastMessanger, russel, Jo, Jay, Jgaw, et al, HillLovers, you have to understand that presidency is not a sexually transmitted disease, so you cannot catch it or be able to exercise it by sleeping with someone who is a president. Being a gracious first lady is a ceremonial function, it is not a professional,political or administrative function. Period. Re the hospital story, Hill the Bosnian General has missed it again, she mispoke again. That is the important point here. Hill the Bosnian General should not force anybody to buy a health insurance. Even Castro will not do that to his people. Obama's plan is the best plan because lowering the cost is most significant than pushing people to buy what they camnnot afford as Hill's plan is imposing. In Mass. plan similar to HillaryCare have been assessed as dysfunctional and non affordable. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

I am really looking forward to the debate. This will go down in history as the best battle since Spartacus met Marcus Crassus.

So much fun. Here is a quote from one of those post baby boomer geniuses who give him money, Marc Andressen:

"We then asked, well, what about foreign policy -- should we be concerned that you just don't have much experience there?

He said, directly, two things.

First, he said, I'm on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where I serve with a number of Senators who are widely regarded as leading experts on foreign policy -- and I can tell you that I know as much about foreign policy at this point as most of them.

Being a fan of blunt answers, I liked that one. But then he made what I think is the really good point.

He said -- and I'm going to paraphrase a little here: think about who I am -- my father was Kenyan; I have close relatives in a small rural village in Kenya to this day; and I spent several years of my childhood living in Jakarta, Indonesia. Think about what it's going to mean in many parts of the world -- parts of the world that we really care about -- when I show up as the President of the United States. I'll be fundamentally changing the world's perception of what the United States is all about.

He's got my vote."

I'll bet he does and he has your money.

Jo,
That caring is only one-sided, they ignore the fact that Obama admitted cocaine usage, they ignore the fact that Obama admitted that he had a "boneheaded" relationship with Rezko (although he gained $250,000 in value out of it), they ignore the fact that he has been in a relationship with a hate-spewing reverend for 20 years, and he makes light of the guy, that he's like an old uncle (the crazy uncle defense?), and they ignore the fact that he takes money from oil company executives.
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Obama helps us see!
Before Obama we were blind!
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Jo
Do you Know why you use the Kool-aid is it because when you were growing up your parents could afford real juice?
When others (who aren't millionaires)could not afford it. Keep putting down the poor. If that what you think that makes you BETTER than the rest for the working class poor. I wonder If Hillary approves of you bashing the Middle Class that she is supposedly representing.
I hope you and the others that use that term are sooooo proud that they were born RICH.

So keep on using that term and watch the WORKING CLASS not vote for the Millionaire who through you is obvious doesn't understand as a Parent you buy what you can afford to get at least a little vitamin c.

Geldo - Do you get a shiver up your leg like Chris Matthews at MSNBC?

No one has any experience to start with...

However, the difference is taht someone can grap every opportunity to learn and build up his/her experience and accomplishment...

Being a firt lady is a golden opportunity to get to know what is exactly needed to lead the country... Some one missed this chance to learn.. some one took this chance to equip herself...

That is extractly every leader should have: don't miss every chance to learn and equip yourself for better...

Lauren - Wright. Joke? Obama sits in Wright's church for twenty years and never heard a thing. Then Obama defended Wright by throwing grandma under the bus because she was a "typical white person". However, grandma was still moving so Obama backed up the bus and ran over grandma again. Why? Who cares, she was still moving wasn't she?

Jo === if Obama was weak, he wouldn't be able to bias the media in his favour.

The media is made up of intelligent and knowledgeable human beings, not robots.

The mainstream media will do ANYTHING they can to ensure Obama wins the presidency.

They're not even trying to hide it anymore. I just read a Martha Raddatz piece about how supposedly the troops are all for Obama. That's what they want you to think. They must think Obama needs so much help to win. Why is that? Because he's a weak candidate, and they know it.

And the media wonders why they have approval ratings in the teens.

Universal health plan has been widely implemented in Canada and the most civilized european countries..

Everyone has health insurance is the ultimate goal of civilization...

John Edwards also highly promoted it..

Bishop ====== There is more to the presidency than meeting people around the world.

Qualities like - good management skills, good leadership skills, self control, ability to make quick decisions, negotiating skills etc.

You don't acquire these abilities by being a first lady.

I read this last night and i think we all could use a laugh.
Proud vet if you see this thank you !!
An airplane was about to crash; there were 5 passengers on board, but had only 4 parachutes.The first passenger said, "I am Kobe Bryant, the best NBA basketball player; the Laker's need me, I can't afford to die." So he took the first pack and left the plane.The second passenger, Hillary Clinton said, "I am the wife of the former U.S. President, a Senator from New York , and a potential future president. I am the smartest woman in American history, so America 's people don't want me to die." She took the second pack and jumped out of the plane.The third passenger, John Kerry, said, "I'm the Senator from the great state of Massachusetts ". I was my party's last nominee for President. So he grabbed the pack next to him and jumped.The fourth passenger, President George W. Bush, said to the fifth passenger, a10-year-old schoolgirl, "I have lived a full life, and served my country well, I will sacrifice my life and let you have the last parachute."The girl said, "That's okay There's a parachute left for you. America 's smartest woman took my schoolbag."
Posted by:
Proud Vet

Can we just get off this story already. The media drags it on with their little spin to still make Hillary look like she made the story different. I read that the Aunt of the woman said it was true and she said she voted for Hillary and was glad she did. By the way, the heading was in very small letters and placed underneath a bigger story as an afterthought. I also just read that Obama claimed in a speech the other day that he has more foreign policy experience than both Hillary and McCain. Hillary responded that she was speechless he would say that but hopefully the voters will know better and look at his past record.

Firefighter: to correct you a little.

Hillary tried to work on a health care plan for the nation, but was unsuccessful. She held closed door meetings (of course), failed to build consensus, lead others, etc. Her try at universal health care failed and she did not revisit that issue until now, coincidently now that she's running an election.

Her current healthcare "solution" will require all to carry it whether they need it or not. For those who already have health insurance, we won't want a mandate and penalty for not subscribing to her plan. Barack Obama's plan is for people who are underinsured or uninsured, not a mandate for all people.

Geldo posted:

"Is being a first lady the experience one needs to be president?

What decisions was Hillary making as first lady?

Being married to a lawyer doesn't make you one. Being married to a comedian doesn't make you to be funny."

----------------
You are right... However, being married to a lawyer will give you opportunity to look at what the law pratice is... being married to a comedian will give your opportunity to know how a comedian make a life...

Being a first lady will let you know how the country will be managed if you worked hard to learn...

Being a first lady is a golden opportunity if you do care the country and how the country is run and what is inside the whole world...

So being a first lay will be a very unique experience to learn how to run the country if you want...

It will be much better than someone who has zero experience and doesn't know what is extractly needed to run this country...

Geldo,
So am I to understand from your viewpoint that spouses (who happen to be attorneys, who have worked on the Watergate investigation, who have worked on the Children's Defense Fund, who have been long term advocates of Health Care) are just basically incapable of understanding the working environment in which they are exposed to?
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Arrrrrghhhhh!
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Lauren - So Obama is not in this to "win" either?

This is such a nonstory. All the candidates spout anecdotes they have picked up on the campaign trail. In fact, Obama does it over and over. I take all of them with a grain of salt as to whether or not they are "accurate." They remind me of the parables-teaching tools, not historically based, but nevertheless a vehicle for making a point.

Geldo - Experience and Obama. Isn't that an oxymoron? Of course Obama NOW claims to have more foreign policy experience than either McCain or Clinton. If you visit Kenya and dress up as an Muslim and go to Muslim school in Indonesia is the sum total of Obama's "foreign" policy "experience." Like I said, oxymoron.

@Geldo

Ther are more than a few that could hold thier own I have great faith in the females that have been our first lady's

Lauren,
The candidate's sexuality has nothing to do with this. I've heard stories about Obama but I don't engage in that drivel.
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Evaluate the candidate, not their sex!
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We would invite all former first ladies and family members to run for presidency because they were all in the whitehouse with the president.

So they all have experience.

Hillary was for universal healthcare when it wasn't cool. She has been beaten down by the media, the left wing and the right wing for every minor infraction both real and imagined. We will one day look back on this election and feel sadness for how unjustly Hillary has been treated. We will realize what a horrible mistake we have made just as we did after Gore lost in 2000. In a few years many will come to this realization, many of us know today.

Jack51
Havent you learned yet ? The facts are what team Hillary wants them to be.
Only Hillary matters. Its not about all of our rights. Its only about Hillary winning.
So i guess that means we are supposed to shut up and say yes my queen ..yes my queen.

Angela - So you do faint at Obama speeches? Thought so.

Angela,
Are you serious? Take a look at the Starr report? Remind me of what party that Ken Starr belongs to? How much did we spend on his failure?
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Ken Starr (only cost us $millions)
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I guess she sat under a rock and being as bright as she is took nothing in.

Is being a first lady the experience one needs to be president?

What decisions was Hillary making as first lady?

Being married to a lawyer doesn't make you one. Being married to a comedian doesn't make you to be funny.

You know I'm sure it was very dangerous no matter what they say . Every time I saw my loved ones off when they went to a war zone I always believed it was dangerous.