Hillary at the Fair
EmailABC News’ David Chalian Reports: "If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," said Hillary Clinton while campaigning at the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday. No, she wasn’t responding to Barack Obama’s latest suggestions that she may carry too much political baggage from the 1990s to unify the country. She was answering a question about what it was like standing over an open barbecue grill flipping pork patties on a sweltering hot day in Des Moines.
Clinton worked the fair crowd for more than two hours. She traveled through a display of quilts, purchased several "wonder bars" — vanilla ice cream on a stick dipped in milk chocolate and rolled in peanuts — for her traveling troupe of staff, supporters, and one for herself, and she received a demonstration about how the "super absorbent" PVA Mop works. (Her traveling chief of staff Huma Abedin, threw down $20 and purchased the mop.)
Watch video of Clinton at the fair HERE.
Clinton’s potential for polarizing the electorate that both Sen. Obama and Sen. Edwards hinted at in interviews on Wednesday, was on display as she continued through her made-for-cameras day at the fair. One fairgoer used some unprintable off-color language as he passed by. Another walked into the Agriculture Building where he saw Sen. Clinton observing the famous cow sculpture made entirely of butter and said, "I knew I smelled something around here," before being chided by his wife with an abrupt, "not now, not now."
On the other hand, the energy and wide-eyed excitement by many mothers and their young daughters wanting to meet the woman who may become the first female president was palpable.
Of course, it wasn’t just a two-hour long photo opportunity. Campaign work was being accomplished as well. Moments after Sen. Clinton shook a hand, one of the members of her team would place a commitment card in the palm of that potential cacusgoer in hopes of getting them to return their contact information to the campaign so that they can be easily reached when it is time to get out the vote in January 2008.
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Political labels: the language that divides us
There was a time not so long ago, at least I so believe, that political labels were primarily used as a short-hand reference. For example, “The conservatives supported the substantial increase in the Defense Department funding bill but the bill was opposed by the liberals.”
More recently, however, political labels have become code words with hidden meaning. Would you rather be seen as soft on defense or as in favor of a strong military?
Consider each political label below and then think to yourself, who is this intended to describe, a republican or a democrat.
Pinko; red-neck; liberal; conservative; lunatic fringe; hick; commie; fascist; elite snobs; baby-killers; moderates; right; left; compassionate conservative; limousine liberal; Christian coalition; extremist; radical right; anarchist; progressive; neo-conservative; mainstream; centrist; ideologue; red state; blue state; saber rattler; appeaser; protester; soft on crime; family values; hard-liner; tree hugger; land rapist; far right; patriot; socialist; populist; panderer; tax cutter; special interest; heartless; isolationist; big spender; tax and spend; do-gooder; self-interest; laissez-faire; self-reliant; boot-straps; etc.
Each of these terms is usually used by one side to describe the other side. Would you prefer to be labeled a: soft on crime, tree hugger, baby-killer, tax and spend, do-gooder, elite snob, commie; or as a: radical right, ideologue, saber rattler, land rapist, special interest, hick?
Sometimes a candidate will use self-labeling in an attempt to “frame” an issue. The best I’ve seen on the use of frames is Don’t think of an elephant by George Lakoff. According to a blip on the back cover, Markos saids “You have to get this book.”
Consider the latest attempt by Hillary to self-label. In a stump speech on Immigration in Iowa yesterday said, “ I am a thoroughly optimistic and modern progressive (italics added).”
As the saying goes, all’s fair in love, war and political campaigns. But that doesn’t back it right or honest.
Posted by: pservelle | August 16, 2007, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
Looks like some luke warm support out there Hillary!!!! Just what the GOP is hoping. Mosy people in her own party won’t support her !!!
Posted by: Lyn | August 16, 2007, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
Cheap political photo opting. Pathetic. We need more than this from a future POTUS.
Posted by: bob | August 16, 2007, 10:10 pm 10:10 pm
What Clinton stand for ? She doesn’t say anything special same words……lsten to is too bowrring..Bill Clinton is caming on the power again or Hillary ???????????
Posted by: Alain | August 17, 2007, 3:36 am 3:36 am
Blood on hands 3000 people have died in IRAK because of bad jugement .How Clinton will be a good President. She voted what her husband told her to vote. Bill Clinton is caming again ? hy only Clinton and Bush ??????? Are we blend ? more than 20 years in politics , 8years in White House why Hillary didn’t tell her husband to chage Health Care system ? Why now ? What happen in this time? Why Hillary is fighting Bush ? Why not fight her vote to go to WAR????
Posted by: Alain | August 17, 2007, 3:42 am 3:42 am