Presidential News.
U.S. News & World Report's "Washington Whispers" claims that Bill Clinton isn't the only close family member who wants Hillary to run for President. Her brothers, Hugh and Tony Rodham, say it's true that Hillary is getting ready for '08 and are "cheering Sis on." But will Sen. Clinton have to win re-election in '06 first? History shows that senators have a tough time going from the upper chamber to the White House, which is why some pundits have begun to speculate that Hillary won't even bother to run for re-election next year. That way, she can run for president as a private citizen, and her name recognition won't decrease in her short time out of public office.
Famous Political Families for $3,000.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the son of Democratic icon Bobby Kennedy, has said that he is considering whether to run for New York state attorney general in a race that could pit him against his estranged brother-in-law, Andrew Cuomo. Sources told the Associated Press that Kennedy had consulted top New York Democrats-including Sen. Clinton-about seeking the party's nomination for attorney general. The ironies in a RFK Jr.-HRC conversation abound: Bobby Kennedy was, like Hillary, a New York senator who was criticized for being a carpetbagger and who had influential family connections. Hillary, it will be remembered, endorsed Cuomo's opponent for the gubernatorial primary in 2002, effectively ending any chances the former Clinton HUD secretary had to win the race. Kennedy has been active in New York politics and briefly considered running for the seat left by retiring Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. "It's a seat that I would love to occupy," Kennedy said at the time, "but I have five young kids." Of course, Kennedy decided against running, and Hillary was elected after running in a clear Democratic field. Finally, Kennedy has been a well-known leader of environmental causes in New York, and one of his most prominent efforts has been to campaign for shutting down the Indian Point nuclear power plant complex, in Buchanan, N.Y. Meanwhile, Hillary not only has worked to keep the plant open and safe, but accepted $3,000 in campaign donations from Entergy Corp., the owner of the complex.
Wacky Pataki.
GOP New York Gov. George Pataki says that he doesn't plan on running against Sen. Clinton in '06. He said, "I do not want to be a United States senator. I have a job that I am very proud to have, and very grateful to the people of New York, because they've given me this tremendous honor of being their governor." When a reporter asked him whether he was stating for the record that he would not run for the Senate, Pataki managed to give a very Clintonian answer: "I certainly have no expectation that I will run for the Senate in '06 and '08 or any time thereafter." But soon after Pataki made these remarks, his spokesman Kevin Quinn said, "While the governor currently has no plans of running for the U.S. Senate, he has not ruled out any options, and he will make a decision about his political future at the appropriate time." Despite the backtracking by Pataki's press office, the governor's hesitation is undoubtedly related to recent polls showing Hillary trouncing him in a potential Senate match-up.
Soul Sister.
Hillary gave the keynote address at an awards luncheon at the Rainbow/PUSH Wall Street Project's eighth annual conference on "the significance of economic equity and parity." She was introduced by Jesse Jackson, who praised Sen. Clinton for her "listening ear, sharp mind, and committed heart." Jackson also praised "Sister Hillary" as an important ally in his fight for those "traumatized by what happened to us as a people and a nation in Ohio." Hillary was also deemed by Jackson as someone who is "a light in dark places" and who has "stood on the right side of history." After the lavish introduction, Hillary received multiple standing ovations from the audience during her speech. She returned the favor by praising Jackson and his Wall Street Project, and claimed that minorities are "ready to take their rightful place in the American capitalistic economy." However, said Hill, "Economic opportunity is embedded in the political system, and our work is not done." In conclusion, Hillary urged her listeners to remember "the important role elected representatives play" in achieving economic fairness, which can come about "only if we have people in office, and citizens, who understand how important the political system is to the ongoing health of our economic system."
