August 31, 2000
Senator Hillary - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- Forget Bush versus Gore for a minute, because for the last 2 years or so the race to watch this November will be the Senate seat vacated by retiring Daniel Moynihan in the great state of New York.
For the first time in American history, a First lady will step into the political fray and vie for that so said seat. You’d think with Hillary Clinton’s balls, it’d be a cakewalk. But in frank actuality her work in attempting to reform healthcare in the early ‘90s and the fact she’s so damned hateable - Campaign 2000 for the Tammy Wynette of American politics has been and will be very tough.
New York has had a history voting for Democrats. I do recall FDR Jr. vying for the governorship in the ‘50s and this seat is vacated by Moynihan after his holding thereof for the last 20 or so odd years. And in the last mid-term elections in 1998, America was stunned when Senator Alfonse D’Amato, a long-time Republican was unseated by Democrat Charles Schumer. (Perfect time to note that Senator Schumer has one Hillary Clinton to thank, as the First Lady was instrumental as a campaigner.)
Usually in American politics, the White House and the two houses of the Congress and the Senate never go hand in hand. For example during the Reagan era, Dutch had to deal with Democratic majorities in both houses. In the Clinton era, the Congress and Senate are dominated by members of the GOP. If we are to believe the momentum held by George W. Bush and the possibility of a Republican administration, then it’s clear that the Democrats are going to capture control of the House and the Senate. Especially after the Republican’s behaviour during the Monica Lewinsky debacle.
Hillary Clinton’s rival for the Senate seat, for a time, was the current inhabitant of Gracie Mansion, New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani was set to defeat Clinton, that even Hillary thought that. Then with the surfacing of his own indiscretions and his prostate cancer, Giuliani was forced to drop out. Hillary’s chances improved.
Rick Lazio, a relatively centrist Republican was drafted to fill the shoes of Rudy, and Hillary’s chances improved. With the exception of reports that Clinton and Lazio are in a pollster’s dead heat, I think Hillary Clinton will make history with her winning a seat in the Senate, come November.
New Yorker’s are a curious bunch of voters. They’re relatively liberal, yet they can be stuffy right-wingers, note Rudy Giuliani’s mayorship in the Big Apple. The Clinton’s can’t cajole the bleeding heart liberal celebrities that they’ve got out in Hollywood to vote for her in the New York. And on top of that she’s up against a huge GOP machine that is also being fed by regular folk who just want the Clinton’s to slip into obscurity. Hillary’s got her work cut out for her.
Bill and Hillary Clinton are not popular people and their popularity will figure hugely in this race. Even though Bill Clinton is relatively and positively puzzling in his popularity, but that chutzpah and appeal won’t earn Hillary many votes. People just hate Hillary. There’s something about her. Is it opportunism? Is it that two-faced disposition? Is it the fact she’s got more balls than her husband? Or is it the fact she’s opened her yap, one too many times?
This November, forget Bush and Gore (because it’s Bush’s to loose anyways,) and watch Clinton versus Lazio. With Giuliani boosting little Rick, it’ll be a mother of a fight. Just when you thought politics was boring...
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