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Clinton Addresses Likeability Issue
December 17, 2007 11:44 PM
From ABC's Eloise Harper and Kate Snow: Most people don’t have the guts to ask Sen. Hillary Clinton the question David Dickey asked late Monday at the Antique Car Museum in Coralville, Iowa.
But it’s been bothering Dickey a lot lately, so -- though he admits he was a bit nervous -- he went ahead and launched it.
“I know a lot of people" the questioner began "they just, for some reason don’t like you,” he said. “I like you,” he added quickly. But what could she do about all the rest? All those people who just plain don’t like the woman?
“There are people who would never vote for me,” Clinton replied. “Breaks my heart. But it is true.”
“If you’ve been fighting for the causes you believe in and taking on tough special interests as long as I have, you’re gonna get beat up,” she continued. “There are some people who will never agree with me.”
Some she said, even make a living being anti-Hillary. "Some of the folks the talking heads on radio and tv, you know the ratings dip a little bit, well you know they've got a hard core that always responds to going after me, they can make a little money off me.. " Clinton continued, “I have created so many jobs and wealth,” she joked to applause.
Clinton argued that if people get to know her -- as many did in upstate New York when she was running for Senate in 2000 -- they might change their minds about her.
“They saw me for the first time as somebody who was a person, not a caricature,” she said.
She also argued that whoever the Democratic nominee is will have “high negatives” as soon as they’re selected. At least she, she said, has already been vetted.
“I’ve been through this. A lot,” Clinton deadpanned. “I know how it works.”
Clinton then launched into a detailed list of her supporters: "I'm running against three senators and one former senator. None of them have more than one other senator supporting them. I have nine." Clinton also said "we have to win ohio to win the election. The governor of Ohio endorsed me."
“These are not politicians on a suicide mission,” she said.
But Dickey wasn’t completely sold.
“I’m leaning toward Obama,” he said after the event. The 25-year-old from Iowa City said he’d been to two Clinton events now, two Obama events and had seen Edwards once.
Yes, he does “like” the Senator. He wasn’t just saying that to be nice.
But he worries that she might not be electable if too many other people simply don’t like her.
“It does sway me,” Dickey said.
December 17, 2007 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (97)
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Dickey is worried about me and other members of the Democratic base who could not be counted on to vote for Hillary. She is utterly unauthentic. I read that today she cried (on cue) at an event staged to showcase her softer side. I think she'd say or do anything to get the job, and I have no idea what she'd do if she got it.
Posted by: Drew Rocker | Dec 18, 2007 1:05:39 AM
Seriously at what point do people finally say the hell with these candidates..they're all the same..they need endorsements from celebrities(oprah), to has been celebrities(noris), they play these stupid games for the camera, like crying on cue(clinton) to picking up a phone call from his now third wife(rudy) while at an n.r.a. speech..you have one candidate who slapped anyone who is going through aids or dealt with the pain of having a loved one go through it(huckabee), every candidate is a politician first...its time to change things, it doesnt matter if we republican or democrat congress..we need someone in the white house who can actually whip the congress into working for the people...enough is enough america, vote for the only true patriot running for office..its time for another R3VOLUTION....its time for Ron Paul
Posted by: charlie | Dec 18, 2007 1:40:13 AM
"But he worries that she might not be electable if too many other people simply don’t like her." I wonder why the other democratic candidates have not talked about the on-going lawsuit regarding illegal fundraising activity as revealed in the video "Hillary Uncensored" on youtube? Maybe that is the reason people don't like her.
Posted by: Greg | Dec 18, 2007 1:55:06 AM
Re Dickey's salient point about Hillary simply being "not liked" (and, more importantly, NOT TRUSTED!):
Do you think it's just a coincidence that Hillary's poll numbers have gone DOWN and Barack's have gone UP sharply in the 2 states where each has spent the most personal time and where voters have actually HAD A CHANCE TO JUDGE THEM UP CLOSE AND PERSONALLY?
I suspect this is a testament to the sound "gut instinct" of the American voter -- as being illustrated conclusively in Iowa and New Hampshire right now.
Thank you, Iowa. Thank you, New Hampshire. Your personal "radar detectors" are working well in judging what's at a person's CORE CHARACTER. Spread the word. America depends on you! -- Janet
Posted by: Janet | Dec 18, 2007 4:42:47 AM
The M-E-D-I-A, including ABC, is ELECTING THE PRESIDENT FOR THE US!!!!! They are using YOUR STUPIDITY against you. Hillary is just as "LIKABLE" as Huckabee, who says "a woman should SUBMIT WILLINGLY to a husband". That right there would TURN ME OFF, big time. Or Guilliani, who looks and acts like a MOBSTER and has has MULTIPLE "outside" romances while married, Romney, who believes a cult-like religion, McCain who is so old, he will be senile before his term is through (I.E. Ronald Regan). I am here to tell you folks, I DON'T L-I-K-E ANY OF THESE OLD FUDDY DUDDY'S. OH MY GOSH, what a MOTLEY CREW, the M-E-D-I-A has paraded before us to choose from. Hillary looks GREAT compared to these N-I-T-W-I-T-S. I WILL VOTE FOR HILLARY.
Posted by: Iam Avoter | Dec 18, 2007 9:25:17 AM
Hillary is strong and capable. It's not about "like." As far as her polls go, she is still way ahead in the Super Tuesday states. If she loses Iowa and New Hampshire, she will still go on. People need to look, really look, at her record of service. The mainstream media is becoming a gossip circuit and not a real source for the news of record. Hillary is the right choice for America.
Posted by: Christopher C. | Dec 18, 2007 9:29:38 AM
I'm getting sick and tired to hear potential voters ranting about this candidate and that candidate being bad politicians or they are not likeable, not trustworthy, etc. Are these comments based on facts or just emotions? How could you decide on something like that by just attending some rallies? I didn't get to know some of my coworkers well enough even after working closely for 5 years!
Let's focus on the issues! Go to the websites of the candidates and look at their plans carefully would be a good start. Election is not a popularity contest, is it? Sady, it may well be.
Posted by: Rick | Dec 18, 2007 9:30:46 AM
I guess she is now going for the "I'm so hurt that people don't AGREE with me" strategy. Pretty desperate. It's not "HILLary Haters", but HILLary opposers of her allegiance to ideologies of Chavez, Castro, and Ahmadinejad. Also, opposer to the ARRAGANCE she and Bill has to think the "Obama is not ready for the white house" and that "he is a muslim". Also, opposers of Bill's rape and abuse of women. I think that has brought her down. She did not win the nomination because without the women vote and black votes, she coul not do it. HILLary has LOST the nomination.
GO OBAMA! (the real First Black President)
Posted by: pedro | Dec 18, 2007 9:37:09 AM
Come on Bill! You don't even like her.
Your marriage is a fascade and everyone that ever worked in the White House knows that!
Posted by: hklm21 | Dec 18, 2007 9:42:40 AM
Come on guys what the heck is going on?? Are we crying to the press or what?? sob sob I am not liked by some people!! sob sob!! This is what you want for a president?? (SCENARIO) She meets with a foriegn leader and you want her to SOB SOB tell the leader in heavy negotiations that that leader has to do it her way SOB SOB!! or she will stomp her foot and break a heal SOB SOB!!
Posted by: Jim Rod | Dec 18, 2007 9:46:05 AM
The likeability issue is one that every democrat needs to consider. I respect Hillary, but how can she possibly win a general election when half of the population already says they would NEVER vote for her?? Come on, people. Vote smart. A vote for Hillary is a vote for 4-8 more years of Bushlike polarism and hate.
Posted by: Evan | Dec 18, 2007 9:54:51 AM
I'm not worried about Hillary destroying this country, with more than 54% of all voters who will not vote for her, and that number keeps going up.
Posted by: Patriot 2007 | Dec 18, 2007 9:57:47 AM
In my city, we have a
conservative GOP talk show host.
During one long anti Hilliary
monologue, he made the emphatic
statement, "I hate Hillary".
This fellow has never met
Hillary; has never seen her in
person and all he knows about
her is from the media and the
tabloids. Yet he very much hates
her.
There are many right wing talk
show hosts who encourage this
but they are in the same boat.
I simply cannot understand how
someone can hate someone they
never met or had contact with.
Posted by: Beto | Dec 18, 2007 9:58:00 AM
I don't think Hillary or Obama have much of anything this country needs. They talk about Obama being a "Star". Politicians and Politics shouldn't be a variety show where you can be a "Star". We don't need another entertainer in the white house. We need someone with the ability to make economic, social and international policy. To enforce that policy and defend the constitution.
Has anyone seen anybody running that even comes close to having the education, experience or ##### to do that? I haven't.
Posted by: Don | Dec 18, 2007 9:58:14 AM
RICK: It is a fact that Billy Boy had extra activities going on under his desk while he was talking on the phone to a foriegn leaders. How much more fact do you want? It is a fact that he let OSAMA go!! It is a fact that Hillary was put down by health care corporations while they accepted donations. It is a fact that Hillary quoted she did talk to Bill about issues. Maybe she new about Osama or bill's girlfreind and condoned it?
You want the people who got caught disgracing the most powerful office in the world back?? Don't say Bush here. Carter was the worst of all!! and still is disgracing the title!!
Posted by: Jim Rod | Dec 18, 2007 9:58:18 AM
I don't like her simply because I can tell she is not genuine. She has taken cargo-loads of money from the PAC's and then slaps us back for questioning her about it. It is clear she will do or say anything to anyone to get the job. She also will not put an end to this war. She flip-flopped about it when she realized how she could use the fear card to tell people there is some kind of moral justification in keeping our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as shooting practice for the wars between there own people there. I really don't see a difference between her and Bush and I feel that Bush has been the worst president in history!
I have switched parties from Dem to GOP.
It is time for a r3VOLution! It is time for Ron Paul!
Posted by: Ethan | Dec 18, 2007 10:00:45 AM
Both Clinton's are fake. Both stated they decided early in their marriage to pursue the presidency. Ask Hillary why she wants to be president. She is power hungry just like her husband. She proved this during his presidency by her actions such as firing white house staff for no reason and taking a position of authority in the white house which she had no right to do. Both are irresponsible. He proved by his actions with Monica, the lies in court and his allowing a fat, aging communist cuban president named Castro to set foot in this country and push him around and take Elian Gonzales back to Cuba. Clintons were a failure then as they are now. Remember their years as president and if you want four more of it, then go ahead and vote for her. I won't!!
Posted by: Ed Love | Dec 18, 2007 10:03:17 AM
Both Clinton's are fake. Both stated they decided early in their marriage to pursue the presidency. Ask Hillary why she wants to be president. She is power hungry just like her husband. She proved this during his presidency by her actions such as firing white house staff for no reason and taking a position of authority in the white house which she had no right to do. Both are irresponsible. He proved by his actions with Monica, the lies in court and his allowing a fat, aging communist cuban president named Castro to set foot in this country and push him around and take Elian Gonzales back to Cuba. Clintons were a failure then as they are now. Remember their years as president and if you want four more of it, then go ahead and vote for her. I won't!!
Posted by: Ed Love | Dec 18, 2007 10:04:08 AM
Come one, people! The reason she is getting so much attention is because the GOP knows she can actually WIN!!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The GOP doesn't even like any of their candidates. But many, MANY, Democrats actually WILL vote for Hillary. And the Dems take the White House in '08!
Posted by: Angulo | Dec 18, 2007 10:10:05 AM
SOMETIMES IN LIFE A SLICE OF A CAKE IS ENOUGH AND SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR ANY PERSON.BUT THE TROUBLE IS NOT HAVING ENOUGH-OUT-OF-SOMETHING IS WHAT IS CAUSING HILLARLY AND BILL ALL THESE UN-NECESSARY STRESSES.THEY HAVE ALL THE MONEY THEY NEED IN THE WORLD,BUT CANT JUST GET IT.IN LIFE THERE ARE SEASONS AND TO EVERY SEASON THERE IS A NEW SEASON,YOU CAN DO ANYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO WIN SOMETHING,BUT IF IT IS NOT YOUR SEASON IT WILL FLOP MISERABLY!! BUT IT IS BETTER TO QUIT WITH DIGNITY THAN WITH SHAME. INDEED IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS IS OBAMA'S SEASON.
Posted by: nason | Dec 18, 2007 10:10:20 AM
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