Sanders has also publicly criticized Clinton for not taking any position on President Obama's TPP trade act, which Sanders has strongly opposed for its lack of transparency and a provision sidestepping congressional approval of new agreements.
This is not the agenda of a crackpot.
One of the knocks on Clinton has always been that she seems to feel entitled, that she should get people's votes just because she is Hillary. That she should be New York's senator just because. That she should be the first woman president of the United States just because.
Perhaps prompted by Sanders' energetic campaign, which is drawing crowds and money to his cause, Clinton has called for universal voter registration -- a knock at the numerous Republican efforts to limit voting rights in the name of fighting voter fraud, a phony issue. It's a populist issue, but not one on the front burner.
Mostly, her campaign seems to be focusing on setting up a coast-to-coast organization to recruit workers and attract votes and money for the campaign against whoever the Republican candidate may be. That's because the Clinton team doesn't expect much of a challenge from Sanders or former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination.
O'Malley is also no dunderhead. He would shine among the GOP field of dreamers. Like Sanders, he has an air of believability. Sure, it takes a lot of ego to run for president, but beyond the ego -- even the sense of entitlement -- many voters like to feel the person who gets their vote really means what he or she says and will work like hell to make it happen.
Then-Sen. Obama projected that in 2008. Young voters, women and minorities especially rallied to his side. In 2012, he had a record that was strong enough to validate that commitment one more time.
So the question is, what would a second president Clinton stand for? Would Hillary be a second coming of Bill? In some ways, that might not be bad, given his management of the economy. But Hillary is no Bill, at least when it comes to campaigning. She can't realistically change her personality, but she can articulate some views that demonstrate an awareness of the issues of concern to many Americans. Sanders has spoken on some, but women's issues appear to be there for Clinton to claim. Also bias. Immigration. And she needs to challenge Sanders on the others if she disagrees with him.
Like any Democratic candidate, she enjoys the luxury of not having to appease the ignorati of the right, who distrust science, detest non-Christians, deny evolution and dismiss the poor. She is free to say what she really believes and, if it is in line with Democratic Party principles, she can do so without fear of losing primary votes. But she'll need to take that comfortable cloak of entitlement off and show that she's interested in more than wooing major campaign donors and renovating the family quarters in the White House.
Why does she want to be president?
Clinton has said, much to her regret, that she and Bill were broke when they left the White House. No one believed her, but, good for them, that's apparently not a problem anymore. Her problem appears to be that every time she sets her sights on the Oval Office, some man gets in the way. First Bill, then Barack " now Bernie? B-ware, Hillary.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
2
2
