Getting Out the Vote.
Hillary is leading an effort to register voters by having them get the required forms on her fundraising website, www.FriendsofHillary.com. Potential voters can obtain the registration forms, print them out and then mail them to local voter registration offices. Election experts contend that Sen. Clinton's registration push would have the dual effect of helping Democratic candidates this fall, thus increasing her clout as "a force in the party."
For her part, Hillary insists that her get-out-the-vote efforts are not calculated to promote her own future presidential prospects. "It's about 2004," she said. "It's about John Kerry winning the election and providing the kind of leadership this nation needs and deserves." Hillary also mentioned that new technology can help people register to vote: "Now people can just get online and point and click and fill out a form and they're registered. Then it's up to them to go to the polls, which I believe everyone should do. It's about the future of our country. It's about what happens to families. It's about what happens in the world."
Prison Abuse.
Hillary sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has been hearing testimony about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, including from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Hillary was very critical of the secretary, saying that she was not satisfied with many of his answers and that he "has to take a hard look at his effectiveness. He has some serious thinking to do." She also noted that their investigation into the abuse shows that U.S. military police units in Iraq had not been sufficiently trained in handling prisoners and detainees under international rules, despite the secretary's insistence that the guards were prepared. Sen. Clinton also said that the published pictures of Iraqi prisoners being tortured are "devastating" and that the "underlying conduct and the failure of command, both at the site and further up the chain to act with the appropriate quick response is really at the heart of the most serious problems we face."
Her critique of the administration also reached beyond the specific prison situation, telling reporters that "the Pentagon had failed to plan adequately for the war??¢â???¬ ¦and to heed warnings inside our government and outside about the conditions which have led to a greater loss of life and a more difficult environment than anyone was led to expect."
Mommy Dearest.
Hillary and her mother Dorothy Rodham appeared together on the Oprah Winfrey Show on a very special Mother's Day special. It was their first mother/daughter interview on television. Oprah-who is America's #2 most admired woman, after Sen. Clinton-greeted Hillary by saying "Hello, your highness. Hello. Hello, queen." Hillary's mom told the famous story about how four-year old Hillary smacked another little girl who had been bullying her. Oprah also asked Mrs. Rodham whether she wanted her daughter to run for President, to which she replied, "I wouldn't wish that on anyone, actually. But she would do great. I have to say that."
Heavy Issue.
Hillary has called for a "massive" national campaign to address the issue of childhood obesity, one that is comparable to efforts to reduce smoking and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Said Hill: "We are setting up millions of children for health problems that they and we are going to pay for. We are undermining their future productivity because of these health problems." But according to Sen. Clinton, Congress has not acted on the issue of childhood obesity "because of special interest lobbies that don't want us to educate people and speak out about it." Surprisingly, she did not specifically blame Republicans for letting kids get fat and develop serious health problems, although no doubt that is what she really wanted to say.
School Daze.
A former Deputy Chief of Staff for Hillary, Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, recently became Marlboro College's female president. Hillary was pleased, saying that "the appointment of Ellen McCulloch-Lovell as president of Marlboro College could not be a better one; I know well Ellen's many qualities as a leader. Her love for her home state of Vermont, her success at citizen action and fundraising, and her vast knowledge of federal and state government will be invaluable." No doubt Hillary and Democrats everywhere are ecstatic that one of their liberal own is now in charge of molding young minds.
