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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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I do not vote for a candidate because I like them as a person. I don't vote for them because they express the same religious beliefs that I do. I don't vote for them because I think they'd be a cool person to hang out and have a few beers with. I am voting for someone to have the intelligence, capability, strength and willingness to do the job. I am not voting for a best friend or a talk show host, but someone who is able to look at issues like how to deal with Al Qaeda and deal with a stumbling economy. It's rather pathetic how voters can be so immature and whine that a candidate is not "likeable". Truthfully, I don't care that Hillary can seem robotic or overly ambitious. I just know that she can do the job. In the end, that is all that matters.
Posted by: Ravanne | Dec 18, 2007 10:15:14 AM
There are a lot of people who hate people of other races having never got to know them. Why??? It's hard to explain. And what do we call them. Racists.
There are people who hate Hillary for obviously the same lack of reasons.
Both type of hate have their roots in the same place. I wonder how many of these people who hate Hillary for no reason other than it makes them feel part of a larger groups are actually closest rasists.
Unlike those of you who hate just to hate, I actually want to vote for someone who I feel can be a good if not great president. I feel Hillary is one of those. As well as Obama, Edwards, Paul and McCain.
I feel we have a great group of Presidential Candidate this time if we can get down to issues and judge those running on that.
Posted by: Roy | Dec 18, 2007 10:18:34 AM
Dont hide the truth.She isnt liked not because she is a bad person. What we hear is that she is a ruthless fighter, ready to destroy anyone that stands on her way.
She is about to lose IO,NH,SC all bc people sometimes want to punish her for inordinate ambitions to get her way.
As an independent this is what I hate. Trying to destroy your opponent instead of beating him on issues. Mr Obama right now has demonstrated the greatest level of leadership during his campaigns.
No slander, no negativity but contrastting issues with his opponents.Thats what politics should be.
Hilary if u finnaly lose blame your ego.
Posted by: EE | Dec 18, 2007 10:24:14 AM
It breaks Hillary's heart that people don't like her, but not quite enough that she won't take her party down to defeat to satisfy her ambition. Some people might not like the way that she played her base by voting for the war, then opposing it, but somehow still denigrating the people who voted against it. Some people might not be impressed by her effort to reform Healthcare which she conducted under a Democratic President and Democratically controlled Congress, but somehow managed to cover 0 (Zero, zip, zilch) more Americans than when she started. Some people might not call that a successful effort. Some people might believe that someone (actually anyone) could have been more successful given those conditions. However, Hillary is rich. She does have a helicopter. So isn't that what really matters. I mean, why pick someone new who might strike bipartisan compromises and move the country forward, when we can coronate Hillary and really stick it to the other side. Besides Hillary is a woman. We have to elect her or no woman will ever get a chance. I mean, there are only 8 women Governors and 16 women Senators and only a few dozen women members of the House, so no one else is even remotely qualified. Besides all this negative feeling directed toward Clinton is completely someone else's fault, not her own. Hillary is perfect and without any mortal failings. Just do as your told and vote for her, or else she'll get you! :)
Posted by: Sean O'Brien | Dec 18, 2007 10:25:54 AM
If you are a presidential candidate that has nothing to offer and you want to win. DON'T TALK ISSUES. Get the voting populace to hate your opponent. Best way to do it. It worked in 2000 and 2004 and what did we get!!!
So think twice if hate is gonna determine who you will vote for. You can do this country a service and stay home on election day.
Posted by: Roy | Dec 18, 2007 10:33:59 AM
We have an intense dislike of anyone that feel is not genuine, and pursues an objective at all costs. If the person is perceived as calculating or has a hidden agenda, we won't like him/her. If we perceive someone as taking an unfair advantage of others, we tend to loathe them. My comments are that I don't like Hillary because she's calculating, distrustful, deceitful, hateful, destructive, phony, conniving, and irresponsible.
Posted by: Getalife | Dec 18, 2007 10:36:21 AM
What has liking a person do with her being a president? I dont paticularely like my boss but I think she's very much capable of doing her job. As with Hillary I believe she is very much capable of doing her job as president of the united state's. She will get my vote!!
Posted by: Jeanette | Dec 18, 2007 10:37:55 AM
Jeanette: As I do you have the right to vote for whom ever. I have not truly decided. help me decide!! You state Hillary is capable. Now tell us how? What has she done for NY? What bill has she sponsered and got passed? Be carefull here Hillary was already caught in a lie.
Why is ahe qualified? what has she done? who did she help in NY? how has she voted on tax issues? how will she lower and balance the budget further? will I pay more taxes for her plans? what are her plans? (I have heard none) You never know you may cause me to vote for her so help me!!
Posted by: Jim Rod | Dec 18, 2007 10:49:42 AM
We should be choosing a president on the basis of integrity, honesty and the ability to do the job. Like or not like should not be a part of it.
Posted by: Brian G. | Dec 18, 2007 10:52:58 AM
It's not just those who hate Senator Hillary. It's a small but growing number of Americans who are taught to hate through the demagoguery of limbautimized minds and evangelical phony Christianity...to promote hate against people they have not even met. We must ignore their imagined fears in order to promote the grand American experiment, a successful melting pot of people from all corners of the globe.
Posted by: newz4i | Dec 18, 2007 10:57:31 AM
I can't understand why the Republicans don't like her! She's more Republican than the candidates the Republican Party is running. She even said in a speech on Sept. 21, 2001 "I'll stand behind Bush for a long time to come." If that's not a Republican statement, then what is it?
Posted by: steve | Dec 18, 2007 11:09:54 AM
Hillary`s only proven experience is as an enabler. Of course she did a great job for N Y, how elce could she get the chance to run for president? As for her judgement, after admiting that Bush can`t be trusted in light of his war of choice in Iraq, she voted to give him the authority to invade Iran. Hillary Clinton a leader of proven capability to screw up from day one!
Posted by: Luke | Dec 18, 2007 11:11:01 AM
Hillary is beating or tied with lead Republicans in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia. I worry about how well Barack Obama will do in these states that have been red in the past two elections.
Posted by: BenMurphyNYC | Dec 18, 2007 11:17:58 AM
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton????
man...I cant sneez, i need a breath of fresh air...
Please guys, vote for change.
Hillary. I dont hate you...I just want change.
Posted by: msnz911 | Dec 18, 2007 11:20:25 AM
The women that hate her, do so because she didn't divorce Bill - something they should do in their lives: get rid of their husbands. The men that hate her, do so because they can not deal with women in authority figures - hence, the "I hate my Mommy" syndrome. It's all nothing but B.S. More Spoiled dumb Americans with their heads up their backsides! Ya know, like the Bushies of 2000 and especially 2004!
Posted by: BronxBoy7117 | Dec 18, 2007 11:24:02 AM
And until our facist right wing - middle country - freak religion - God Fearing - trash of the yester-year culture changes, politics will never. WE CAN NOT RELIVE THE 50s - get it! Start a new.
Posted by: BronxBoy7117 | Dec 18, 2007 11:25:54 AM
Don: Thanks! I finally understand some of this logic. Hillary and Bill are the same person!
>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?
Posted by: Rick | Dec 18, 2007 11:45:18 AM
ALL THE WAY WITH HILLARY CLINTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: zach | Dec 18, 2007 11:48:21 AM
Beto,
Are you really that naive? Of course you can hate someone you've never met! If your child was 'hurt' by some strager you might well hate them, for example. Likewise, you might hate the policies of some canadidate (and intturn, the person) whose position you see as thriving on tearing apart the country and so on...
Posted by: hummm | Dec 18, 2007 11:50:01 AM
BronxBoy117: I don't like her because of all the under the table and deceitful acts she has committed. Just do some research. Cattle Futures(Refco), Castle Grande, Whitewater, Travelgate, Norman Hsu, Jim McDougal, Vince Foster, Madison Guaranty, Health Management Associates etc., etc., etc.!!!!! I like Obama, but I won't vote for inexperience, but I think he would be a great Supreme Court Justice. If either of these two get the nomination, I'm voting Republican even though I never have.
Posted by: steve | Dec 18, 2007 11:51:10 AM
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