Hillary Clinton admits her part in the war in Iraq! Bad for her Campaign?
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
January 28, 2007 5:00am CST
Clinton was making her first campaign swing through this early nominating state, which twice voted for Bill Clinton for president. She met with key activists and held a raucous town hall meeting with 1,500 cheering backers and hundreds of journalists.
"I have said clearly and consistently for quite some time that I regret the way the president misused the authority," said Clinton. "He misled Congress and the country on what he was seeking and what he intended to do."
The responsibility Clinton said she accepts was helping clear the way for Bush's path in Iraq.
"I take responsibility for having voted to give him that authority," she said. "My focus is on what we do now. That is the proper debate."
Clinton said she expected to attract black votes even though Obama, the freshman Illinois senator, has caught fire. "I'm going to be asking for the votes of all Americans," she said.
_Her husband will play a key role in her campaign, though she'll make it clear she's the candidate. "At the end of the day when voters make up their mind, I will have a great team around me, including him," she said.
_Her experience in a failed health care reform effort in the White House does not dampen her effort to again deal with the issue. "I think it makes me a more effective messenger," she said. "I now what the roadblocks and obstacles are."
_Clinton expressed confidence voters are ready to elect a woman president. "It's one of those issues that evolves over time," she said. "I'm very confident I can see it unfold."
10 people like this
27 responses
@webduck (238)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I am certainly ready for a female president. The rhetoric about women being more emotional doesn't fly with me. If anything, women know how to control their emotions even in the face of danger. You only hear about the negative stuff regarding women. Not about the ones in our military, or about ones that have successfully been heads of state in other countries. We do need better health care reform in this country, and it was a slap in the face when Congress poo-pooed Hillary's plan just because she was the first lady at the time. After 231 years of men running this country, and our women only being "allowed" to vote since 1920, it is time that we are allowed a bigger say in how this country is run. No doubt, men will be scared of that. So be it!
2 people like this
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I am definitely ready for a female president as well. I think she would be a great president and would make much better decisions than Bush is making these days. She has a lot going for her, including her husband being president previously. We will see what happens between now and the next election to see how well she does and is able to get people to vote for her and make us believe she can do the job.
@BDnLacy (324)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I don't think it will affect her campaign. Aleast no more then being female. I said it before and I'll say it again. I seriously dought the US will elect a female as President. I would love to see it happen but I think we have a few more elections to go before it will happen.
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I do not think this will cause too much damage to her campaign. It doesn't help a great deal knowing that she allowed Bush to do all of this but at least she was honest and admitted to her mistakes and is willing to turn the wrongs into rights. Not everyone in politics admits to making a mistake or they are not honest about it. I certainly would still consider her and think she would be much better than Bush as president. We will have to wait and see what else comes out on the news or if she says anything else or does anything else that could hurt her chances of being elected.
1 person likes this
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I think that probably helps in a way. By making it seem like she was tricked like everyone else, she covers the idea that she was mostly likely pandering to whatever was popular and is doing the exact same thing now. It minimizes the damage and puts a good spin on things.
1 person likes this
@elusivedarkness (531)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I think it's actually a great political move. If she doesn't confront it head on then her opponents will most surely use it against her. Admitting that she makes mistakes makes her seem like a better candidate and person.
@ShadyGrove (996)
• United States
28 Jan 07
She may be CLEVER (or sly like a fox), but I will never trust or like this woman. There is too much in her past history; to many untruths and cover-ups.
I think the Clinton's have helped bring the morality of our nation down. She was not there at the Twin Tower's site to help ever. I hope the voters get the full picture before just "voting a woman in"
1 person likes this
@inspired_prodigy (89)
• India
29 Jan 07
i actually admire her honesty. i think she'll make a better president than Bush.
@classy56 (2880)
• United States
28 Jan 07
i dont think this will hurt her campagin,she is addmitting the truth before the campaign really gets started.an this is being cleaver on her part,by the time election comes around everything will be forgotten.but she is going to have her hands full running against "obama.an everyone knows "old bill" is going to be her backup person she cant run this country without a male being behind her.but this is going to a interseting election an who knows what all is going to unfold..
1 person likes this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
28 Jan 07
I can't say it does for me, many Senators including Republicans admitted giving their vote that cleared the path for the war, but many of those, claim they were misled and this was NOT what they were expecting. If any one remembers, these people were hitting the news soon after the “war” began, expressing their regrets. At least she is being up front about it and there is sufficient proof, she isn’t lying.
@nuffsed (1271)
•
29 Jan 07
This will have been discussed with her advisers,well before she actually said a word in public. It is a logical move, to take away the worst criticism as soon as possible and clear the way for more positive manouvers. She is certainly in with a chance.
@whymee (15)
• Ethiopia
29 Jan 07
in my opinion if her husband is with she might be america's first woman presdant ever.
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
29 Jan 07
I am afraid of what might happen if she ends up in power. Her husband was bad for our country and I can't imagine she will be any better. I wish Rice would run, or even Ahnold lol.
@zoebaby709 (41)
• United States
29 Jan 07
actually it's very bad being a female and all and having to admit this but your right. But look at it this way male dominated society = male president. Not trying to be sexest but i even look at it as a good thing because at this point and time we can't have a female as president.
@samraf (725)
• India
29 Jan 07
this would be a great back fall for her campaign, because Americans are not yet done or able to justify the war of IRAQ and its all over the world people thinking that i was and plan just to get the oil from there. and that is what really ture....
so i think this statment of her will definetly gonna hurt her career....
anyways lets see who will be the next bIg boss of America else when america will be going to be in a big problem....
well lets see...
nobody can predict anything....
Regards.
@zoebaby709 (41)
• United States
29 Jan 07
I don't think this should be bad because it is before the campaign starts. But on the other hand it could be bad because it is the war in Iraq and that is a touchy subject with a lot of Americans. So honestly if she stays away from that subject or just touch on it a little and there isn't a lot of media coverage when she said it it shouldn't be to bad.
@moneymind (10510)
• Philippines
29 Jan 07
That will affect her candidacy some how really since she also have criticize bush on the way that he has handle the war in iraq. Now she is saying that some how she also participated in bringing those soldiers into iraq, a war that is not really supported by many americans. greetings. : )
@milott (2646)
• India
29 Jan 07
I guess that there will not be much effect after her statement. I guess she will get all antiincumbency votes against Bush to her advantage. I am also surprised that there was not even a single women president in U.S. till now, that is rather surprising with how much advanced is U.S. in terms of equality among sexes.
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
29 Jan 07
I don't think any admission of approving the war can hurt anyone running for office. You ahve to remember that alot of lies were told to get the support of congress.
The figures and the hype fed to congress doesn't stain any of those who supported the president's story about wmd and such. It just increases the need for congress to impeach Bush and get on with fixing things, or at least trying to keep them from getting worse.
@maikeeho (196)
• Philippines
29 Jan 07
yeah. she ruined it. it was a bad move for here really. Well, she wont win anyways.. so it doesnt matter really
@samdashing (355)
• India
29 Jan 07
she is on her part saying that may be good or bad but just can say, see it wat in condition she is presnting herself, bcoz she is in country that who started war and now shw has to present her country'z image good so she would say that war in IRaq is wrong. and this wont impact her campaign , wat do u think just try out to get out
