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Clinton's 'is' moment: Who cares what words mean?

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SEN. HILLARY CLINTON pledged in August, "I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential primary election or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina."

On Tuesday, she broke her pledge.

Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer had put all the Democratic candidates' names on the ballot without getting their approval. Four other candidates who signed that pledge -- Joe Biden, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson -- kept their promise by withdrawing their names from Michigan's ballot by Tuesday's deadline. Clinton cynically chose not to. She wants to ingratiate herself with Michigan voters.

The Clinton campaign preposterously claims that the senator is not violating her signed pledge because she is not campaigning in Michigan. But she pledged not to "participate." She is participating. As her husband famously tried to redefine the word "is," she is trying to redefine the word "participate."

(Sen. Chris Dodd also signed the pledge and chose to break it by staying on the Michigan ballot. But he's a small fish, and hardly anyone has noticed.)

Clinton can parse her decision any way she wants, but the obvious truth is that she made a calculated choice to break her word for political advantage. She's a Clinton, so few will be surprised by that. But voters will want to remember that decision. If she'll break her word to participate in a virtually meaningless primary, what won't she break her word for?

YOUR COMMENTS


It's typical of Democrats that an editorial concerning one of Hillary Clinton's many character flaws turns into a rant against President Bush. Newsflash: President Bush is not running for president in 2008. Hillary Clinton is - and God help us all if this corrupt, deceitful, ruthless, amoral PERSON manages to buy or steal the presidency.
- Tom, Campton

Nicholl, you are obviously right. The Republican Congress did such a great job checking Bush's spending, so we can assume they'd do just as well with a Dem president. Oh wait, they didn't check his spending? But, the GOP had total control! Hmmm.... it must be the liberals' fault that the GOP spend like a drunken sailor.
- Stephen Boyington, Chester

It amazes me that Clinton has any supporters at all from the working people. I can understand lobbyists, corporations here and abroad, people who want a favor in return, Vilsack's support for campaign debt paid off.

I wish all the citizens of this country were like the one gentleman from Iowa, Mr Rolf, who dared to ask her a question concerning her Iran vote and was attacked by Clinton for having the nerve to question her. Now she will not allow off-the-cuff questioning. She is even importing supporters from out of state to travel in her caravan.

She and her husband can parse a sentence to a degree to make it unrecognizeable from its original form. Since no one can ever figure out where they stand - they can take many positions and get away with it.

Wake up America - Do NOT allow the Clintons back in the whitehouse. Their strongarm tactics, friends (Berger) destroying evidence that was detrimental to B Clinton concerning terrorism, keeping all their records secret (from financial to diaries concerning their days in the whitehouse) are the same as the Bush regime. The Clintons are not Bush-Lite; they are Bush-Replacement.

I support Senator Obama. If you don't that's fine, but please do not put in another corrupt politician by voting for Clinton.
- Theresa, las vegas NV

Hillary Clinton is a politician. She is hardly a leader.

In 2008 we need a leader.

Someone who has led on Violence Against Women, Crime, the Judiciary and Foreign Policy. The only candidate who has a plan to bring our troops home safely.

The only one with the leadership to get 26 members of the other party to vote for his Iraq Plan.

In 2008 there is only one choice fellow citizens, that choice is simple: Joe Biden.

Go Joe! 2008
- Roy, Nashua

If Hillary can't keep her word now, what make's anyone think she will if elected President? It does Not take a village to raise a family, unless all they want is handout's and the Government telling them how to raise their children. It's high time we raise our own family's.
- Dot, Nashua

President Bill Clinton would have run up higher deficits if a Republican Congress did not keep him in check. If Hillary Clinton becomes President, she will run up even higher deficits and indulge in more wasteful spending, assuming a Republican Congress does not keep her in check. We need someone who advocates, and will implement, lower taxes and lower spending.
- Nicholl, Manchester

Hey Mark from Brentwood. Who is surrendering to "the terrorists" now? Nice logic there: they view women with disdain, so we should too.
- Stephen Boyington, Chester

I FULLY support New Hampshire having the first primary.

Having said that, New Hampshire is getting ready to blow it really, really badly. If you look back at the comments that have been posted here so far, I have a message for you: Hillary Clinton could probably make or break New Hampshire if she really wanted to. Be thankful she actually WANTS to support New Hampshire as the first primary state.

If New Hampshire voters are going to start forcing candidates to choose between our number of electoral votes and Michigan's number of electoral votes, New Hampshire is going to lose big time.

As a military family, we have lived all over the country. The rest of the states RESENT this kind of stuff from New Hampshire. The fact that candidates make a pledge not to campaign or run ads in another state should NOT mean they give up their right to be on a ballot in another state. Think about what you're demanding!

Like I said, keep pushing it and one year all the Presidential candidates are going to get together and ask, "Who really wants to campaign in New Hampshire in the middle of January (or worst, the middle of December!) anyway?"

Please... THINK.
- Jan Beebe, Nashua

To give Hillary Clinton the okay to the democratic nomination as their presidential candidate this early is the race is to say the Republicans will control the White House for another four years from 2009 to 2013. No one, man or woman, in America is going to vote a woman in as President of the USA for another 200 years or more, if ever.

We are at war with nations that feel that they are not divided amoung each other, but joined together by religion. It is called the Nation of Islam. And no member of the Islamic religion is ever going to take an order from a woman. It is their culture that they have subscibed to for the last 1,300 years or more.

And no person living in a nation in the Middle East of the Islamic religion is ever going to take an order or even debate a subject about life on Earth from a woman President of the United States. It is not going to happen. And her election as president of the USA would only escalate the war in the Middle East.
- Mark, Brentwood, NH

First things first: I am not a supporter of Sen. Clinton. Now, to the panicking Hillary bashers: you guys kill me. Let's look at the Clinton years versus the GWBush years. Who spent more money? Who ran up bigger deficits? The fact that GWBush gave YOU a tax break just means that he made your CHILDREN pay for it. How amoral is that?
- Stephen Boyington, Chester

No one is surprised at this, are they? And do any of this ruthless, amoral woman's supporters care? A sad commentary on America today.
- Tom, Campton

Whether she "IS" "PARTICIPATING" or not, I have to wonder why she has so many supporters to begin with? Are the polls reflective of those who want hand-outs? Those who feel victimized by society? Those who want something for nothing? If that is the 'liberal' case, then we should fear the future, if she is elected. Let's make sure this does not happen!
- Shelley, Manchester, NH

This article irritates me so much that it gives me goose bumps!!! That woman will do anything she can, whether moral or not, to keep her name out in front. It seems that's what Clinton's do! She and her cronies are well aware that if she does well in this "meaningless" primary, it will spark the votes in other states. We are doomed!
- Valerie F, Manchester

A Clinton going back on something they pledged?!! Big surprise there. Since when do words mean anything to them?

Just wait til she's madam Presidente. Oh Boy!, watch your wallets. The liberals are coming!! The liberals are coming!!!
- Mark, Candia

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