Clinton Returns

Subscribe to this blog's feed

« Previous | Main | Next »

June 24, 2008 1:56 PM

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports: After several weeks under the radar, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton made her first appearance on Capitol Hill since ceding the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

She missed a morning procedural vote on the housing bill, but arrived in grand fashion for the Democrats' weekly strategy lunch, pulling up in a three car motorcade to cheers from 50 or so interns and staffers gathered on the East steps of the Capitol Building.

As a campaigner, Clinton would arrive on Capitol Hill for votes in a tan SUV with blacked out windows. But today it was a smaller, black Lincoln Town car. She did, however, have on a smart, loud turquoise or aqua pantsuit that would have looked right at home on the campaign trail.

An unintended and symbolic taunt, Clinton had to walk around the much larger, parked vice presidential caravan, with its several enormous armored limousines. Vice President Dick Cheney was on Capitol Hill for a weekly strategy session with fellow Republicans and arrived not long before Sen. Clinton.

Clinton shook hands and spoke briefly with the gathered supporters, but avoided questions from journalists asking her how it felt to be back and what her first order of business would be.

It was not entirely clear who the supporters who greeted Clinton worked for. Several who were asked for their names said they could not say who they were or where they worked and could not talk to the press, but presumably they hailed from the Senate offices of Clinton and other Democrats.

Upon entering the building, Clinton was greeted by some of her biggest supporters in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, the senior Senator from New York, and Sens. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.

Outside the building, another one of her supporters, Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, who harbored his own Presidential ambitions earlier in the '08 process, said it will obviously be a transition for the former presidential candidate to leave the excitement and adrenaline of daily campaigning.

"There's that charge that you get out of campaigning," Bayh said. "That's not going to be the same. But as you can see," he said, pointing to the staffers gathered on the Capitol steps to cheer her on, "she has an important role to play and I'm sure she'll play it well."

Bayh said he had not spoken with Clinton since she had announced her departure from the presidential race, but he was hopeful she would seize the opportunity to return to the Senate as a change-making junior Senator from New York.

"I hope we haven't gotten to the point in our country where being one of the most prominent members of the United States Senate, somehow, is not good enough," Bayh said. "You can make a bigger difference as the chief executive of the country, but you can make a heck of a difference as a United States Senator."

June 24, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (91)

User Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Do the Democrats do any real work other than run for office.

SOMEONE said it real good about Obama.

Obama is the rich person at the party that makes snide remarks to everybody that passes by him

Posted by: blue that turned red | Jun 24, 2008 2:48:21 PM

I'm thrilled that our country has progessed to the point we have an African-American nominee for President.

I'm only sorry that it came at the expense of a stronger, smarter, better qualified female candidate.

Hillary - 18 Million Strong.......

Posted by: ch | Jun 24, 2008 2:53:30 PM

finally some good journalism, always great to hear about hillary.I had not read anyting worthwhile,since her departure.

Posted by: SHIRLEY ROYBAL | Jun 24, 2008 2:53:57 PM

Gee I wonder how many of us are ready to shut up and serve our country in McCain's 100 year war.

Posted by: DraftThis! | Jun 24, 2008 2:53:57 PM

Blue....if you want to quote Carl Rove...be my guest but Rove has no room to be judging people. And that is a completely inaccurate regarding Obama.

Posted by: marie | Jun 24, 2008 2:55:17 PM

Too many Obama supporters are disgusting and vile when they call someone racist, stupid or ignorant for not voting for their corrupt god. They need to grow up and become more informed.
Senator McCain will win over Obama by 70% to 28%. Just wait and see.

Posted by: Mary | Jun 24, 2008 2:56:47 PM

Just saw on the news that Nancy Pelosi thinks hillary should "GET OVER" the gender thing. I can't even imagine any person telling Obama to get over the race thing..Society is so much more comfortable with sexism.

Posted by: noelle | Jun 24, 2008 2:57:03 PM

"They need to grow up and become more informed."

They all failed Critical Thinking 101.
They hear a pretty speech and see a nice suit and turn off their brains.

Posted by: Mack | Jun 24, 2008 3:01:08 PM

Shirley ..So right about the coverage. Really boring campaign without her.

Posted by: noelle | Jun 24, 2008 3:01:44 PM

Less than 30% of Hillary supporters are now supporting Obama. Those who say other wise are just hoping and distoring.

Posted by: Mai | Jun 24, 2008 3:02:57 PM

Mary we only call people stupid and racist when. A. they are going to vote for Mccain simply because Obama has a different skin color. (And yes I have talked to many people like this...so they are in fact racist. And the stupidity comes in when people say they are now voting for Mccain which just goes to show they are stupid and really never actually cared about the polices and issues that Hillary was running on.

Posted by: marie | Jun 24, 2008 3:03:04 PM

A. they are going to vote for Mccain simply because Obama has a different skin color. (And yes I have talked to many people like this...so they are in fact racist)"

Yup, I'd call that racist, although what do you call the people that are only voting for him because of his skin color? Hmmmmmmm?

Posted by: Mack | Jun 24, 2008 3:05:43 PM

"Hillary is with Obama.
They are going to work together."

She needs to do what is right for her, the rest of us will do what is right for the country. No Obama ever.

Posted by: Mack | Jun 24, 2008 3:08:29 PM

Stupid. No one should vote for a candidate just for the skin color OR just because they are a woman! That shows pure stupidity.

Posted by: marie | Jun 24, 2008 3:08:39 PM

If someone votes for a candidate for the sole reason of skin color, yes, they are racist. But I can think of hundreds of reason for not voting for Obama.
I will support Clinton, but never Obama. He is not honest and is a true blue socialist. I actually know no one who will be voting for Obama.

Posted by: Mary | Jun 24, 2008 3:09:23 PM

This statement:

Too many Obama supporters are disgusting and vile

Is almost funny. All I have seen on these blogs is HRC supporters putting Obama down and calling him names. YOU are just a bunch of whinney babies.

Posted by: militarymom | Jun 24, 2008 3:10:53 PM

"I will support Clinton, but never Obama".

Amusing since you will not support her wish for her supporters to vote for Obama.

Posted by: marie | Jun 24, 2008 3:15:43 PM

I am just curious what Mccain supporters feel he will bring to this country. What polices of his do you like?

Posted by: marie | Jun 24, 2008 3:21:14 PM

Sure wonderful to hear about Clinton's "smart, loud turquoise or aqua pantsuit." Such important information.

Posted by: John | Jun 24, 2008 3:29:26 PM

"People that are voting for him because of his skin color are voting for change, Mack."

That's superficial change. But we live in superficial society I guess.

Posted by: Mack | Jun 24, 2008 3:36:09 PM

Post a comment