Classless?
U.S. News & World Report, in its "Washington Whispers" column, reports that friends and family of recently passed Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) are upset with his successor. They are supposedly miffed because Hillary broke the news of Moynhian's death on the Senate floor before the family had a chance to do it themselves. "That wasn't hers to announce. It was classless," said a family representative. The family had planned to issue a statement Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., but Sen. Clinton went on the Senate floor to tell the world earlier without the family's approval. Sources close to Hillary say that she was in a caucus meeting when an aide told the group of Moynihan's death, and that since she had replaced Moynihan, "She was the logical person."
Chuck and Hill.
The New York Times ran a piece recently on the ongoing rivalry between Hillary and Chuck Schumer, New York's senior senator. The paper described a press conference called by Schumer to showcase a Democratic plan to shore up homeland security, where nearly every Democrat except for Sen. Clinton received an invitation to attend. Mr. Schumer's aides said that nothing should be read into the episode, but people close to both senators say it is "the latest evidence of growing competition and wariness between two people who share the same state, the same party, the same issues and the same passion for the limelight." After a year of learning the Senate ropes and keeping a low profile, Hillary's agenda is now colliding with that of Sen. Schumer, and the two are competing for issues and headlines. For instance, before the 2002 elections, Hillary asked the Democrat leadership about getting a coveted seat on the Senate Finance Committee, even though Sen. Schumer had already expressed interest in the committee seat. Sen. Schumer was also recently given the new position of frontman for Democrats on homeland security, but now Sen. Clinton has been aggressive in claiming the homeland security issue as her own, holding a dozen news conferences on the topic and issuing scores of statements and news releases. Meanwhile, members of New York's House delegation joke that they often find themselves caught in the middle of the two senators, like children of bickering parents: "Whenever you talk to Clinton's people about something, they say, 'What's Chuck's office have to say about it,'" said a senior adviser to one prominent New York lawmaker. "And whenever you talk to Chuck's people, they say, 'What's Hillary's office saying.' It's like the two sides don't communicate."
Hill, Interrupted.
Hillary appeared at the Radisson Hotel for a fundraiser, but she ended up in the middle of an antiwar protest. Over 300 people were in attendance, including many who were less than thrilled with her support for the war in Iraq. As she spoke of supporting the troops, anti-war protester Michael McLean ran toward Hillary and shouted. "No war in 2004!" The 19-year-old was still yelling when authorities quickly escorted him out. Sen. Clinton, taken aback for just a moment, returned quickly to her speech. "I deeply respect differences of opinion. That's what elections are for, and that's what we will have the opportunity to debate" in the future, she said. Outside the hotel, about two-dozen people protested Sen. Clinton's stance on the war. It wasn't all yelling and confrontation, though, as Hillary's speech and a closed-door reception beforehand raised more than $50,000 for her political action committee. The event was officially closed to the media, and the senator left without taking any questions.
Tech Assistance.
Not everyone was happy after Hillary claimed responsibility for bringing TATA, a large technology services company headquartered in India, to upstate New York. Donald Rudewicz, director of Technology Staffing at TBO Company, which helps thousands of upstate New Yorkers find employment, remarked in a press release that he doesn't "understand why this is a great opportunity for our business community. We need economic assistance to use the experience and talent that is available in Western New York. We don't need an outside firm such as TATA, invited by a U.S. Senator to sell offshore development of IT projects and services, that will siphon business away from our community." Mr. Rudewicz added, "Why can't Senator Clinton demonstrate an understanding of our local needs and act on them? Will TATA focus on employing the talent we produce from our SUNY system, especially right here in Buffalo? Has Senator Clinton offered any economic incentives or political pressure on the SUNY Boards to direct business to TATA Consultancy Services? This situation provided her with a misguided photo opportunity, one that does nothing to support demand for the services of local information technology workers."
