Spitzer Scandal Screws Clinton

[NYDem Observer]

Since the Spitzer scandal broke yesterday, I've been curious to see how this will play out in the democratic presidential race. I believe this scandal couldn't have broke at a worse time for Senator Clinton, considering her husband's adulterous past which had largely stayed out of the race.

The question I keep coming back to is what does Clinton say when they ask her should Eliott Spitzer resign? If she calls for his resignation she could be painted as a hypocrite because of the Lewinsky scandal and her husbands decision to remain in office. And if she believes he shouldn't resign then she completely turns off a lot of her female base.
The answer for Obama is simple, Spitzer should resign, his judgment was morally reprehensible, NYers desrve better from their government, etc., but Clinton is in a much tougher place.

It could be wishful thinking from an Obama supporter but please help this newbie out because I just don't see how Clinton doesn't get completely screwed on this one.

[helderheid]

1. You make an interesting point. Welcome to DU

[NYDem Observer]

Thanks

Been a DU lurker for 4+ years, but this has easily been the most interesting presidential race of my lifetime so I felt the need to be a little more proactive this time around.

[goclark]

27. Welcome to DU

IMO, Obama should not bash him too much because he doesn't want to talk "Hillary Like" about a fellow Democrat.

Democrats still need to win in New York.

The other item for Sen. Obama is that next in line is an African American. The first thing Hillary's camp would say is that Obama is just trying to get an African American in that position.

Now I don't know who the African American - Patterson I believe, is supporting.

No matter ~ he still should tread lightly into New York politics.

Just my thoughts, as an African American, that's how I am thinking at the moment.

[NYDem Observer]

35. You make a good point

Patterson is a Clinton supporter BTW

[tyne]

2. I've been thinking

the same thing.

Ya gotta know that the only comment from Hillary can be, "no comment".

[Dems Will Win]

59. I think if reporters ask Hillary if the Spitzer Scandal is like the Lewinsky Scandal, she should say

"It's close, but no cigar."

[madaboutharry]

3. Yesterday, I said this had nothing to do with her but

I do think she is going to end up being forced to take a stand. I don't necessarily think she is "screwed" by this but since she is a Senator from New York it could get rather uncomfortable.

[ORDem]

7. That's the laughable part: "force to take a stand". Hillary and Bill are famous for riding

the fence. She has to wait for the focus groups to tell her which way to land on this, when it's just so obvious to anyone else with half a brain.

:kick:

[NYDem Observer]

15. Thats just it

This is her own backyard, so she has no choice but to address it. Obama can sit back and observe on this one.

[Dinger]

13. So Anybody From New York Could Be Connected?

That's a bit of a stretch in my opinion.

[Barack_America]

33. No, but a Senator needs to stick up for her constituents...

...and make sure they have effective representation.

Right now, they do not.

[elixir]

40. You're absolutely right. There's this guy in Queens, he runs a body parts shop, well, I saw him at

the FirePole strip lounge the other night and his car had a Hillary bumper sticker. Let's alert the media.

[UALRBSofL]

44. elixir too funny

:rofl:

[Dinger]

46. Snap!

:smoke:

[Barack_America]

48. Wow. So Senator Clinton is as influential as a "body parts shop" owner?

Man, you don't think much of your candidate, do you?

[Inuca]

4. Not a fair comaprison

Spitzer's case is significantly worse than what BC did. Laws were broken.

[helderheid]

6. true.

[tyne]

23. Actually

Bill committed perjury.

[Cassandra]

43. Actually, Bill committed lying under oath.

I believe it has to actually relate to something material in the case to be perjury. Actually, the case wasn't even a case.
But it is still something I'm sure Hillary would rather not contend with.

[Dems Will Win]

60. Right, it's close but no cigar. Spitzer will get a MANDATORY 5 years and there is no way out

Pleas bargains NOT allowed under this special law.

[Jed Dilligan]

65. And the feds don't do parole. nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. ergo, she will blame Obama for something related.

that has been her MO before.

Let's see. being too forceful and unfeeling? Nope. Being too quiet and understanding? possibly. Perhaps, they will concoct a story that Playboy #10 (or whatever the FBI calls them) is in fact, Barack. THAT's their style and substance.

[NYDem Observer]

11. Lol. I wouldn't put anything past the Clinton Campaign

[BlueIdaho]

8. Lets be clear on this one...

I am an Obama supporter but the Clinton campaign has nothing what so ever to do with the personal shame of Elliott Spitzer - my heart gores out to his family. Having said that, it is undeniable that the MSM coverage has been full of clips of Bill Clinton's worst moment - his finger wagging lie about the Monica affair. Sad to say but I'm afraid its guilt by similarity on this one.

[Dinger]

14. Thank You (nt)

[Dinger]

9. This Doesn't Have Anything To Do With Hillary Clinton (nt)

[helderheid]

16. Well, in a perfect world you'd be right. However, he is a superdelegate for Hillary and from her

state.

[Dinger]

47. But She's The One Campaigning, Not Spitzer

She's pretty busy with her own campaign right now.

[NYDem Observer]

29. While I agree with you

She will definitely be asked about it. All day yesterday there were interviews with McGreevey's wife, why should Hillary be spared. I don't know if a no comment will be good enough for the American people, unfortunately because of Lewinskygate and the fact that it is in her own backyard and that he was a big supporter, she may need to take a definitive stand on this issue.

[VolcanoJen]

51. I'm sure she'll find some way to triangulate the question.

I can guarantee you she won't give a straight answer, though.

Interesting post and question, and welcome to DU!

[Dr.Phool]

10. Uh Oh......

:spank: :spank:

Do not reply to subject line. Do not reply to subject line.

:spank: :spank:

Just keep quiet. Shut the fuck up.

:spank: :spank:

:argh:

[snooper2]

18. :)

:) :hi:

[Occam Bandage]

12. Nah. Her statement would be thus:

"I understand from experience that what you're asking me about is a decision that should--and can--only be made by Gov. Spitzer and his family."

[ChairmanAgnostic]

26. no, her first statement will be:

"I can't comment while there is an active investigation ongoing."

her second comment will be:

"I have already answered all those questions."

just like she did in the 1990s. From who do you think the Bush White House learned that technique?

[durrrty libby]

17. Hahahaha. Spoken like a truly obamatized zombie

[helderheid]

20. Wow, that was deep.

:eyes:

[NYDem Observer]

30. Thanks!!!

I've finally been insulted. Now I feel like a true DUer.

[SeaLyons]

57. Yes, and It was Well Deserved....

makes it even better!!!

[K Gardner]

19. I see that the media is coorelating this scandal to Clinton, but I do not think that is fair or

relevant. Or even appropriate.

[helderheid]

21. I hate the fucking media. n/t

[goclark]

31. I'm an Obama supporter but I agree with you

The Rethugs live in glass houses on this issue.

But they will trash the Clinton's at every turn.

She believes that they love her when she praises her BFF McCain but they would trash her in a heartbeat.

[cboy4]

22. Well wait a second. I thought Obama reaches out to

people in need?

Why is this such an easy decision for Obama and not for Hillary.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. take your RW talking poiunts to the un-named other board where it belongs

[NYDem Observer]

34. Sorry if the truth hurts

[Barack_America]

36. Nope. This is a valid issue that relates to the primaries.

Just because you don't agree with something does not make it RW.

Making sure her constituents have effective representation is part of her duty as NY Senator.

Discussing how she is going to balance that duty with her campaign is entirely fair game.

[Saturday]

25. "then she completely turns off a lot of her female base"

Says who? You? Well, you're wrong.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

28. she'll still have a super delegate from NY, replacement is supporter

but she must denounce and reject Elliot Spitzer, and Geraldine Ferraro.

[tyne]

32. She cannot

"denounce and reject" (LOL) Spitzer...that would make her a hypocrite.

[elixir]

37. I appreciate your giving so much credence and respect for Senator Clinton's opinion on Gov. Spitzer'

s future, but, it is not her opinion to give. She is not Gov. Spitzer, she is not responsible for Gov. Spitzer and, as far as I can figure, she won't have to say anything.

I think Gov. Spitzer will make his own decision and Senator Clinton will keep on campaigning. Should she get questions about Gov. Spitzer her response should be:

1) I respect Gov. Spitzer's hard work as NY's AG and governor,
2) I recognize that this is not appropriate or acceptable behavior by a public servant, and
3) next question, please.

[rox63]

38. The teevee news programs have been talking about BC's scandals because of the Spitzer scandal

So it brings the whole thing back into the news. Bad timing for the Clintons, I'm afraid.

That said, I think the Clintons have nothing to do with Spitzer's problem. Just that it gets the talking heads to reminisce on the airwaves about Bill & Monica again.

[Dems Will Win]

63. That's just not fair! They are two different scandals!

I mean it's close but no cigar!

[Dems Will Win]

64. What about Bill and Belinda? Or Bill and Lisa?

Oh wait she's not nominated yet...

[mtnsnake]

39. Yet another Obama supporter who loves seeing a Democrat indicted if it hurts Clinton

It could be wishful thinking from an Obama supporter but please help this newbie out because I just don't see how Clinton doesn't get completely screwed on this one.

Welcome to La La Land. You will have no trouble fitting right in with the rest of the Obama cultists who'd rather see an important Democrat like Spitzer go down the tubes if it in any way can hurt Hillary's chances.

This place is so fucking lame it's gone well beyond the point of no return.

[SeaLyons]

58. Yup, another Obama supporter to join

the cult of no return. Pathetic!!

[elixir]

41. Meaningless Post Screws NY (Post) Dem Observer Out of One Post.

[Straight Shooter]

42. Nobody has the right to comment on anyone else's marital problems.

That's their business. Americans have a nasty habit of making everyone else's family life their own business. It's puerile.

The problem with Spitzer is he flagrantly broke the law. Worse, he was an extremely high-level law enforcement officer, AG of New York. It won't create a Constitutional crisis if he steps down, which I believe he should. Spitzer, IMHO, has done many great things in his career, but this is just too much. He's lost his credibility. If he wanted sexual companionship, I'm sure he had other opportunities outside of a prostitution ring.

Politicians need to be careful in America with its Puritanical values.

[Abacus]

45. I actually think it has the potential to help her...

She should be able to give an evasive answer and appeal to sympathy at the same time.

[grantcart]

49. The problem with these types of scandals is that it reminds people

of the generally high level of hypocracy that we have had in the past. Even when the story moves off the front page the cumulative effect is reinforcing the subliminal hunger people have for a complete break with the past and their willingness to try with new leadership and therefore will have a subtle but useful assist to Senator Obama.

[karynnj]

50. I don't think it hurts her that much - if at all

1) The math and the logic is not with her no matter how the MSM tries to spin it. I really don't see how she wins, especially as the polls have swung back to Obama and people are seeing that last Tuesday was just winning 2 states with decent margins that were always ones that favored her and winning Texas narrowly in the primary as Obama won the caucus- while Obama won the other 13 of the last 16.

2) Ho many people over the age of 18 in the United States who can not identify who Monica Lewinsky is? I would better that that number is higher than the number who can identify all but the 5 best known Senators! It's not news and hasn't been forgotten.

3) On what to say - something ambiguous - like only he knows the full truth and that she hopes he can be counted on to do the right thing for the party and NY state, but that this was not a time to pile on.

[leftynyc]

52. The situation between the two

(Clinton and Spitzer) are very different. Spitzer is being accused of a felony. Clinton did not break the law. That said, I think he should resign for the good of the party.

[helderheid]

53. he lied under oath n/t

[leftynyc]

55. The Senate did not convict him of that

In fact, no body convicted him of that. I believe he lost his license to practice law after admitting to "misleading" testimony. But he wasn't convicted. I'm only talking about what can be proven in a court. Your feelings on the matter are irrelevant.

[helderheid]

69. Gotcha.

[Vinca]

54. The biggest problem for Hillary is when the talking heads start

naming past sex scandals. Someone on MSNBC mentioned "the mother of all sex scandals" which, of course, was Bill Clinton. Even though Bill isn't the candidate, it has to have an impact on voters who don't care to relive the Clinton scandal years.

[amborin]

56. yet another Obama supporter spewing right wing talking points

[baldguy]

61. What Bill did wasn't a crime.

[gatorboy]

62. Last time I checked Lewinsky wasn't a hooker.

So how is it hypocritical?

C'mon...This is common sense stuff. :eyes:

[Dems Will Win]

66. Right! I mean it's close but NO CIGAR!

[gatorboy]

67. How many times are you gonna post the same joke, Carrot Top?

We get it already. :eyes:

[Dems Will Win]

68. Sorry, trying to get it on Letterman...

But they won't answer my emails...

[helderheid]

70. LOL!