Supreme Decision. The Drudge Report claims that Hillary “has confided to associates that she intends to vote for Bush Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.” Despite the fact that Roberts apparently has pro-life leanings, the story reports, “Unless some unforeseen development occurs around Roberts, Clinton will throw her support behind confirmation, says a top source.” The source said, “Look, we’re not thrilled President Bush is in office and gets to make these choices, but we have to make the best of the situation until the next election!” The insider also claimed that Sen. Clinton “is simply doing what is right for the country, not MoveOn.org.” If she does vote for Roberts, it will definitely be viewed as yet another move toward the political center. “She wants to be President—if she comes out against him, it’s going to cost her politically,” said Catholic League President William Donohue. A “yes” vote for Roberts would also have the benefit of differentiating herself from New York’s senior senator and longtime rival, Chuck Schumer, who is very likely to vote against President Bush’s nominee. All Hillary has said for the record, though, is, “I look forward to the [Senate Judiciary] Committee’s findings so that I can make an informed decision about whether Judge Roberts is truly a guardian of the rule of law who puts fairness and justice before ideology.”
HRC vs. GTA. Hillary has taken the lead in the Senate in opposing the best-selling video game “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” which is infamous for its gory violence and its depiction of animated pornography. She has demanded a federal investigation into how the pornographic material got into the game, and said, “We’ve now had enough time for the industry to police itself,” but now it’s time for the federal government to step in. As such, Hillary has proposed legislation that would prohibit the sale of inappropriate video games to minors and fine stores $5,000 for violating the law. Hillary said that a violent, sex-filled games such as “Grand Theft Auto” “affects their brain activity, that it makes young people, particularly young boys, more aggressive. … So what we’re trying to do is give parents maximum information and maximum control.” Clinton said she introduced her bill because she thinks “the ability of our children to access pornographic and outrageously violent material on video games rated for adults is spiraling out of control.”
My Poor Wife. Hillary’s husband was recently found complaining about the scrutiny applied to his wife’s moderating statements on abortion, saying that Democrats are unfairly held to a double standard. Former President Bill Clinton told students at Campus Progress, a left-leaning youth group, that Republicans have defined the abortion debate in such a way that Democrats can’t have it both ways: “So, for example, if you’re a Democrat and you have sort of normal impulses, you’re a sellout, like when Hillary said abortion is a tragedy for virtually everybody who undergoes it, we ought to do all we can to reduce abortion.” He continued, saying that all of a sudden the media began asking, “‘Is she selling out? Is she abandoning her principles?’ But if John McCain, who’s pro-life, works with Hillary on global warming, he’s a man of principle moving to the middle. … It’s nuts.”
Hillary the Centrist. The Democratic Leadership Council has named Hillary to direct a new initiative to define the party’s objectives for the 2006 and 2008 elections. It may be remembered that Hillary’s husband used his leadership role in the DLC as a springboard to the presidency in 1992. At the DLC event, she told the audience, “I know the DLC has taken some shots from some within our party and that it has returned fire, too. Well, I think it’s high time for a cease-fire, time for all Democrats to work together based on the fundamental values we all share.” Hillary’s new leadership role solidifies her attempt to portray herself as a moderate, and one of her goals will be to reconcile the DLC with the more liberal elements of the party. However, this may be easier said than done, as the vehement anti-Bush wing of the party has raised a ton of money and energized the base, and they may not be willing to kowtow to the establishment. Nevertheless, Hillary promised to reach out not only to centrists but “progressive people from all perspectives” to prepare her plan of action, which is due in one year.
