Hillary: Liberal in Moderate's Clothing

On Monday, the Democratic Leadership Council, a group of moderate Dems, named Hillary Clinton to set their agenda for the 2006 and 2008 elections. This is the surest sign yet that the party is looking to Hillary as their savior.

It's somewhat surprising to me. The real Hillary is more of a MoveOn lib than a DLC Dem. I get why she'd want to be associated with party moderates. In terms of the presidency, it's crucial for her to construct a convincing centrist facade.

What I didn't expect was the members of the DLC being willing to go along with her scheme. I would think that they would not want to subjugate themselves to Queen Hillary and her personal ambitions.

What it tells me is that these moderate Dems have made a deal with the devil. They know the party is fractured so they are agreeing to submit to letting super-lib Hillary set the course. The way I see it, they believe it's the price they have to pay to get back in the majority.

Of course, Hillary will be giving lip service to moderate positions. She has no other choice but to do that when on the national stage. She can be her true liberal self in Blue state New York, but that persona won't cut it with Middle America.

If given the chance, she'd pull the same thing Bill did--act like a Republican to get elected, then toss that all out after winning.

DLC PRESS RELEASE

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- DLC Chair Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack announced today, Monday July 25th, that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) will Chair the American Dream Initiative, a special project of the Democratic Leadership Council. The announcement took place during the General Session of the DLC's National Conversation, an annual event that brings together Democratic leaders from across the nation to talk about innovative ideas and strategies for governing in their states and communities. This year, over 300 elected officials from 40 states were in attendance.

The American Dream Initiative is a year-long project of the DLC that will engage political, business, labor, civic and intellectual leaders in a "national conversation" to help shape a positive agenda for our country and the Democratic party. The Initiative will focus on challenges facing America including: keeping our country safe, building an opportunity society, standing up for families and making sure our political and electoral systems work for all Americans.

Gov. Vilsack said: "I have asked Sen. Clinton to chair a special project at the DLC called the American Dream Initiative. I'm very happy to announce that she has accepted, and I look forward to working together to shape a positive agenda for the country. Sen. Clinton's expertise on policy issues and deep understanding of the challenges we face as a party and as a nation make her an ideal person to lead this important effort."

Sen. Clinton said: "I am proud to take on the task of leading the American Dream Initiative for the DLC because its mission goes to the heart of why I am a Senator, and what I believe about public service -- that we are here to leave our children a richer, safer and stronger land than we inherited from our parents. I look forward to working with Gov. Vilsack and all interested Americans on this project."

The LA Times reports:

The appointment solidified the identification of Clinton, once considered a champion of the party's left, with the centrist movement that helped propel her husband to the White House in 1992. It also continued her effort, which has accelerated in recent months, to present herself as a moderate on issues such as national security, immigration and abortion.

In her new role, the New York Democrat immediately called for a truce between the DLC and liberal elements of the party, which have engaged in a ferocious war of words over the Democrats' direction since President Bush won reelection in November.

"Now, I know the DLC has taken some shots from some within our party and that it has returned fire too," she told a gathering of the group here. "Well, I think it's high time for a cease-fire, time for all Democrats to work together based on the fundamental values we all share."

Unfortunately for Hillary, that is much easier said than done. There are Dem factions that aren't looking for a cease-fire. They're ready to do battle for control of the party.

David Sirota, a Democratic consultant who posts indefatigably on his own liberal web log, responded to the news of the "American Dream Initiative" Clinton is leading by warning that Democrats would be doomed to "permanent minority status" if they followed the DLC direction.

"The fact is, the Democratic Party has to make a choice: is it going to continue to follow the DLC, be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Corporate America, and lose elections for the infinite future," he wrote in an e-mail. "Or is it going to go back to its roots of really representing the middle class and standing up for ordinary people's economic rights?"

Clinton said that she would reach out not only to centrists but "progressive people from all perspectives" to prepare her blueprint, which is due in one year.

But the fierce remarks from Sirota — and only somewhat more muted criticism of liberal groups like MoveOn.org — show the challenge of devising a program that attracts broad support across the party.

I think Hillary envisions herself as the unifying force among the Democrats. She thinks, and apparently the DLC agrees, that she can appeal to Dems of all stripes.

How could one person possibly manage to bridge the chasm between the loony, fringe, Michael Moore, Dr. Dean wing of the party and the moderate (relatively speaking) Dems? Their differences are far greater than what they share.

The only way for Hillary to appeal to the entire party is to be a chameleon, like Kerry tried to do in his failed bid for the presidency. That strategy of being all things to all people resulted in Kerry appearing to be incapable of being anything for anyone, an empty shell.

Kerry couldn't shed his ultra-liberal Senate voting record. It was the albatross around his neck.

While Hillary has been plotting a presidential run and casting her votes in the Senate with that in mind, there is no way she will be able to run away from the baggage of the eight years that she spent in the White House during her HINO's (husband in name only) administration.

I think Hillary is hoping that Americans will be fooled by her extreme makeover.

Like Bill, she is banking on the contention that there's a sucker born every minute.