February 27, 2005
Hillary Clinton's Extreme Makeover in Full Swing
The Hillary 2008 push is in full force. A full three years and eight months will pass before the 2008 presidential elections but it's never too early to begin to attempt to rebuild Hillary Rodham Clinton's liberal image. The extreme makeover is on, and the left is out in full force. Hubby Bill believes that if she did run and she was able to win, she'd make a very, very good president," Clinton said Sunday. "I think now she's at least as good as I was."
That's comforting.
Andrew Sullivan chimes in as well:
Senator Clinton has finally escaped one of the critical drags on her national reputation. What many people disliked about her was what they perceived as her unreconstructed liberal politics and her use of her marriage to gain and wield political power.
But in 2005 Senator Clinton has recast herself in the public mind as a centrist and she has won election in her own right. That changes everything. Or perhaps more accurately it changes a lot.
That's sweet, but New York and the American voter are worlds apart on the issues that drive voters to the polls. Sure Hillary is in full transitional mode to change her image from the bitter ice queen that believes a vast right-wing conspiracy forced Monica Lewinsky on her husband. And she also needs to change her image that she favors every liberal issue that comes down the pike. The "new and improved Hillary" must be a war-mongering hawk that could defend the country and oh by the way, is kind-of "pro life."
Oh, and as Peggy Noonan notes, Hillary now says "grace." Hillary Rodham Clinton is busy making a list and checking it twice.
Security issues, check. Pro-Life, check. Evangelical Christians, check.
New Yorkers are easy to fool, and Hillary Clinton's sycophants in the old media will try very hard to rebuild her image and paint her as a centrist. But she is going to need more than that to convince the American voter. She's going to need to be a very smooth liar, and somehow find some charm.
Her husband could do both, even in his sleep. Right now, she can do neither.
At some point, she will need a voice coach, perhaps some anger management courses and an ability to eliminate that annoying cackle she falls back on when she is presented with questions she can't answer.
But the left is desperate, and she is probably their best chance in 2008. Barring a scandal--check that a large scandal--the democratic nomination is hers is she wants it.
Now the real question--if she runs--how many American voters can she fool?
CK Rairden is the managing editor of the National Ledger.
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