President Hillary Clinton
Many pundits think Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic Party candidate for the 2008 presidential election, and that she very likely will win.
Experience vs. judgment
One aspect of Clinton’s background that she has been stressing is her experience. However, the fact is, she has never run anything; not a business or a government agency. Nor has she ever been the mayor of a city or governor of a state. Her sole claim to leadership experience is that she spent eight years in the White House, as first lady. In short, she has zero executive experience — none.
A recent Wall Street Journal article, “Judgment Trumps Experience”, observed that two qualities in particular are essential for leadership: experience and judgment. After conducting a five-year study, the writers concluded that judgment is more important than experience. (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 29, 2007) However, I believe good judgment comes from a lot of experience.
Judgment and character
Conceding for the moment that good judgment, “fed by solid character,” is the most important quality for a leader, what do we know about Clinton’s character and judgment?
Sandy Berger (former national security advisor)
“What does the Clinton campaign’s use of convicted and disgraced Sandy Berger as an advisor say about the judgment of someone who wants to be president of the United States?...This is a man who was charged and convicted of the unauthorized removal of classified material from the national archives, not someone with a sparkling resume of success. … Had Clinton any scruples, she would not let Berger have any part of her campaign.” (“Anything To Win,” IBDeditorials.com, Oct. 8, 2007)
Health care
Of particular importance about Clinton’s failed 1993-1994 attempt to have the federal government take over what amounted to about one-seventh of the nation’s economy at the time is the fact that the entire process was conducted largely in secret, including the identities of those who participated in developing the plan, which permitted little or no direct input from the hospital industry and the medical profession.
Campaign donations
“… FEC records show she’s taken cash from Islamists so tainted that past democrat candidates have returned their money. … Some of the donors, in fact, are under active federal investigation for supporting terrorism, money laundering and tax fraud. But that hasn’t stopped (Clinton) from pocketing their money.” (“Hillary’s Jihadist Donors,” IBDeditorials.com, Nov. 9, 2007)
Being picked on by men
In his November 5, 2007, blog, Dick Morris commented that “she (Clinton) is whining about the boys who share the presidential debate stage with her... She says they’re picking on her! ... And she doesn’t like it. Her aides say it’s just because she’s a woman.” (dickmorris.com/blog/?p=191)
What on earth does she think she will have to deal with as president? Most major powers around the world are led by men, especially those in the Middle East. Is she going to claim they also are picking on her when she doesn’t like the way they talk to her?
Imaginary conversations
Finally, have we forgotten that Clinton once claimed to have imaginary conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt? I don’t know about you, but I’m not at all comfortable having someone in the White House who has “imaginary conversations” with the dead. Isn’t that what Mahmoud Ahdmadinejad claims — that he communicates with the 12th Imam?
There are too many examples of Hillary Clinton’s failings to detail or even list here. However, her long track record of significant mistakes and weakness of character is extremely worrisome.
© 2007 Harris R. Sherline,
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