By Rick Pearson
TOLEDO, Ohio — “Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away?”
The music behind those words, the opening lyrics to the theme from the long-running TV sitcom “Cheers,” ran through the minds of everyone aboard Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign plane as it departed from Cleveland late Sunday with actor Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen aboard.
Clinton and the pair of celebrity supporters made their way back to the press area of her chartered 737 where she introduced Steenburgen, the Oscar-winning star of “Melvin and Howard” and a veteran of numerous other films, as a friend of 27 years, and Danson, the star of “Cheers” and “Becker,” as a friend for 14 years.
“I’m thrilled that they’re going to Toledo with us and they’re going to go to Texas with us and have a good time,” Clinton said. Asked later outside the campaign's hotel if he was as excited as Clinton was to be in Toledo, Danson gave a hearty laugh.
Aboard the plane, Danson, who has played himself on the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” was asked how he felt about his friend and the show’s star, Larry David, supporting Clinton rival Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“I’m out of that show. I’m never going to do it,” Danson said with mock indignation, prompting Clinton to tell the reporters, “So, let’s all curb our enthusiasm.”
After a full day of campaigning in Ohio in advance of primaries in the Buckeye state and in Texas on Tuesday that could determine the fate of her campaign, Clinton said she didn’t believe a protracted nominating process would hurt the eventual Democratic nominee.
“No. I don’t,” she said. “Look, hard fought primary contests are part of American politics. We’re going to have a unified Democratic Party. We’re going to get behind whoever our nominee is and we’re going to win in November. That’s what I think is going to happen.”
She sidestepped a question about her reaction to some major Democratic officials, including one-time presidential rival Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, saying he expected Tuesday to be a D-Day for determining the nomination and that absent a major delegate gain, she should drop out of the race.
“It has been an intense long campaign. I think it’s been a great campaign. I think it’s been one of the better presidential primary contests that we’ve had in a long time,” she said, adding that the battle with Obama is “great for the party and great for the country.”
“I’m having a good time, so I intend to do as well as I can on Tuesday and, you know, we’ll see what happens after that,” she said.
“I think the jarring image of that phone call, which happens and is part of being president, helps to concentrate people’s attention in all the ways the (verbal) descriptives just don’t,” Clinton said.
“I think people are really focused on the high stakes on the job, the fact this is a war-time election, which Democrats haven’t talked about enough in my opinion now that (Arizona Sen. John) McCain has been essentially determined to be the Republican nominee,” she said. “I think it’s time as we pick our nominee for people to really focus on that.”
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Comments
NBC's Lisa Myers and Jim Popkin, First Read: report that "Hillary Clinton has declined to return $170,000 in campaign contributions from individuals at a company accused of widespread sexual harassment, and whose CEO is a disbarred lawyer with a criminal record, federal campaign records show. The federal government has accused the Illinois management consulting firm, International Profit Associates, or IPA, of a brazen pattern of sexual harassment including "sexual assaults," "degrading anti-female language" and "obscene suggestions." Sen. Clinton's spokesman, Howard Wolfson, told NBC News in a statement that the senator decided to keep the funds because the lawsuit is "ongoing" and because none of the s-e-x-ual harassment allegations has been proven in court."
Hillary should Reject and Denounce this money since she is supposed to a Champion of women's rights.
Posted by: Angellight | March 3, 2008 7:11 AM
YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot!
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)
Best regards
jacksmith...
Posted by: jacksmith | March 3, 2008 7:12 AM
bush/clinton/bush=20 years in the white house. 20 years of no border security=12 million plus illegal immigrants. 20 years of partisan bickering=a do nothing congress 20 years of ignoring south america = cezar chevez 20 years of ignoring american infastructure = crumbling roads and bridges (oh we build new ones for iraq) 20 years ignoring climate change = global warming 20 years of lazy presidents =a recession 20 years of inadaqate trade enforcement = a multi trillion dollar debt don't you think that 20 years is enough time to loose. time for change real change.
Posted by: sandy | March 3, 2008 7:57 AM
A one year Senator does is not Presidential material.
Obama would have to learn all his lessons and make his mistakes on our dime.
Instead of running for President as soon as he got in the Senate he should have
represented Illonois for 6 years with distinction and then run.
I think he's a bit full of himself to run without experience.
Posted by: hhkeller | March 3, 2008 7:57 AM
RE: You might be an idiot...
Well Jack, It's official.
You crossed over into BORING and UNIMAGINATIVE by running the EXACT SAME POST in every blog you can find.
Your post is of no consequence since we now don't even look at them anymore once we see the tagline.
Your overused post is a vivid illustration of what's been wrong with Billary's campaign, OLD and OVER language, approach to politics and even the actors that support her.
I can't wait until Wednesday morning when she's relegated to yesterdays news so you will finally go away.
Posted by: JJR60616 | March 3, 2008 8:24 AM
Hhkeller, that would be a much stronger argument if Clinton's campaign embodied the "old hand who knows all the ropes and won't make a single mistake." For an old hand, she makes a constant string of mistakes, even if she doesn't admit them as such. Do you believe her straight-faced claim to have forseen, last April, that the race would come down to her and Obama in early March, and that she started focusing on Texas then?
I don't want her running the country like she's run the campaign. And given their people skills (Putin has no soul, we'll sue TX if they release election results), I shudder to think what she'd do for our image abroad.
Posted by: Deborah | March 3, 2008 9:01 AM
Hhkeller, that would be a much stronger argument if Clinton's campaign embodied the "old hand who knows all the ropes and won't make a single mistake." For an old hand, she makes a constant string of mistakes, even if she doesn't admit them as such. Do you believe her straight-faced claim to have forseen, last April, that the race would come down to her and Obama in early March, and that she started focusing on Texas then?
I don't want her running the country like she's run the campaign. And given their people skills (Putin has no soul, we'll sue TX if they release election results), I shudder to think what she'd do for our image abroad.
Posted by: Deborah | March 3, 2008 9:06 AM
Don't forget that the economy was headed south when
wjc left office and he just stood by his legal definition of a recession (has to go south for two consectutive quarters in order to be called a recession) and did nothing to attempt to boost a sagging economy. The prosperity he enjoyed as President was due to programs initiated by his predessor (GHWB), not by his administration.
and he would have a great role in Hilery's administration.
Posted by: don | March 3, 2008 9:25 AM
jacksmith - Why does being someone's spouse make them experienced to do their spouses job? Would you have a spouse’s heart surgeon, who has never been a heart surgeon or done an operation, operate on you?
Regarding your point on war - I guess you didn't hear about the "Blackhawk Down" incident where American troops lost their lives and were paraded through the streets of Mogadishu under Clinton.
Hillary Clinton is a bright, capable women - let's not go overboard trying to make her look better by putting her on Bill's coattails or by putting down Barack.
Posted by: Rick Johnson | March 3, 2008 9:40 AM
I am still curious how being the president's wife counts as experience? Who is running for office him or her? I fix computers, can my wife count that as experience to get a job doing that? Just a thought..and Jack Smith you might be an idiot if you think any educated person would vote for Hillary based on your prose
Posted by: Ryan | March 3, 2008 9:40 AM
Hillary Clinton was the First Lady of Arkansas for 12 years. She was the First Lady in the White House for 8 years. So of her 35 years of experience, 20 of those years were in a non-elected, non-paid position as a wife of the leader. I will give her credit for being there, travelling and meeting foreign dignitaries, pushing certain social and human rights issues, and being a healthcare advocate in a appointed position. If she had been more concilliatory, we probably would have universal health care right now. But she wasn't, and not just with the opposition. She shut out leading members of her own party because it absolutely had to be her way. As it turned out, it was the highway. But let's be clear about the 35-year thing. She actually has 7 years of experience, and let's be generous and give her 2 more to compensate for being Bill Clinton's spouse. Her only elected position has been as the senator of New York since 2001. With my generosity, she has 7 years of real experience plus 2 years of vicarious experience.
The larger issue is, could this woman run our country and get things done? Absolutely she could, and I would/will gladly vote for her. Could Barack Obama run our country and get things done? Absolutely he could, and I would/will gladly vote for him.
Posted by: Grandblvd03 | March 3, 2008 9:54 AM
I think he's a bit full of himself to run without experience.
Posted by: hhkeller | March 3, 2008 7:57 AM
O.K. Hellen Keller let's elect a rampant ego maniac named Hillary who doesn't have the good sense to realize that she has been repudiated by the American people. Who cares what those pesky voters think, I mean YOUR A CLINTON. So like the Bush's before you dirty tricks and stealing an election should be all in a days work.
Just remember when your little Bataan Death March is finished, and you've either come to your senses or stolen the democratic nomination. The independent voter WILL REMEMBER this last couple of weeks. There is no way pople like me are going to vote for you after the way you have ruined the Clinton legacy and thumbed your nose at the American people. WHACK JOB!!!
Posted by: Hillary's Death March | March 3, 2008 9:59 AM
Hillary is...
THE THING THAT WOULDN'T GO AWAY!
Posted by: Bush Family Value$ | March 3, 2008 10:28 AM
In the past several weeks I've noted how the Clintons have behaved, specifically toward Barack Obama. Bill's sound bite following the South Carolina primary loss was telling. He was sending out a message to the rest of America that the SC result was an anomaly and Barack's fortunes would not hold up elsewhere where blacks were in the minority. He continue with his antics in Nevada, claiming voter intimidation by the Obama people, and also by trying to change the rules on where people could caucus, because they feared their opponent had an advantage. They followed this undemocratic action by trying to drive a wedge between the Latinos and Blacks by putting the word out that Latinos would not votes for a black man. All through this destructive period the America people, who have been taken for granted by both parties, finally started to shift away from the Clintons. They would have terrific poll numbers until Barack started his campaign when almost invariably the polls would swing away from them. After a string of primary defeats and all looked lost they decided to open the Rove slime account. (I have no proof, but I believe Carl Rove is working on the Clinton campaign). So they have decide to go all out negative, and in doing so they have shown their hand. This all out war to persuade voters that Barack Obama is an inexperienced empty suit, using any means necessary, might work, but at the risk of destroying the Democrats chances in the General Election.
It is sad to see people whom you've felt so go about, in the past, disappoint you now. You have to recalibrate and adjust for what you now feel towards them. I would like the Democrats to have a sweeping victory come November, taking over a filibuster-proof congress.
I hope Hillary will have the decency to step aside after Tuesday.
Posted by: An Inconvenient Truth | March 3, 2008 10:37 AM
jacksmith. I guess I'm an idiot. By the way, Hillary is not Bill, and you may be an Idiot if you think being the wife of a President makes you experienced.
Posted by: Tim | March 3, 2008 10:40 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/politics/26clinton.html?sq=hillary%20clinton%20did%20not%20have%20security%20clearance&st=cse&scp=2&pagewanted=print
The New York Times
December 26, 2007
The Long Run
The Résumé Factor: Those 2 Terms as First Lady
By PATRICK HEALY
As first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton jaw-boned the authoritarian president of Uzbekistan to leave his car and shake hands with people. She argued with the Czech prime minister about democracy. She cajoled Roman Catholic and Protestant women to talk to one another in Northern Ireland. She traveled to 79 countries in total, little of it leisure; one meeting with mutilated Rwandan refugees so unsettled her that she threw up afterward.
But during those two terms in the White House, Mrs. Clinton did not hold a security clearance. She did not attend National Security Council meetings. She was not given a copy of the president’s daily intelligence briefing. She did not assert herself on the crises in Somalia, Haiti and Rwanda.
And during one of President Bill Clinton’s major tests on terrorism, whether to bomb Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998, Mrs. Clinton was barely speaking to her husband, let alone advising him, as the Lewinsky scandal sizzled.
In seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, Mrs. Clinton lays claim to two traits nearly every day: strength and experience. But as the junior senator from New York, she has few significant legislative accomplishments to her name. She has cast herself, instead, as a first lady like no other: a full partner to her husband in his administration, and, she says, all the stronger and more experienced for her “eight years with a front-row seat on history.”
Posted by: Liam | March 3, 2008 10:43 AM
jacksmith,
YOU might be an idiot!
If you believe Hillary Clinton when she says she was not authorizing President Bush to go to war with Iraq when she voted yes on the Iraq resolution titled, "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq".
You sir are an idiot
Posted by: john | March 3, 2008 11:10 AM
You might be an idiot!
If you copy and paste the same tired junk in every blog available for weeks straight.
You might be insane!
If you think that, after above mentioned post has been laughed at for its stupidity the first 674 times you've posted it, it's going to come across as brilliant political commentary the 675th time.
Posted by: crafty b | March 3, 2008 11:12 AM
Mr. Obama has no experience to run this great country. He is not who he portrays himself to be. I think he is arrogant and very condisending he will not change this country of bring it together, all he will do is divide it even more than it is already. Wake up America quit following Obama blindly, any one can make pretty speeches to a crowd of people about change, but without knowledge, experience and leadership qualities he will never make it happen. Hlary Clinton has been there before she has taken her lumps and persavered through it all. She is the right choice for America
Posted by: Tony Andreoli | March 3, 2008 11:14 AM
I'm just so glad others see through this 35 years of experience b.s. Decorating Xmas trees, picking out china patterns, and decorating bedrooms is NOT the same as holding cabinet meetings and working with an administration.
If she had been a member of his cabinet or administration, I'd concede the point. ;O)
Posted by: No blinder on here | March 3, 2008 11:23 AM
It is refreshing to hear Demos ripping each other for things the rest of American has said for years :)
On one hand a polarizing Clinton - and on the other an inexperienced although smooth snake oil salesman
The foolish identity politics of the left have come home to roost.
Posted by: Bob | March 3, 2008 11:24 AM
How can so many of you "think" that being the spouse of a U.S. President wouldn't have exposed you to leadership skills that would've developed into expereience? Did you think Mrs. Clinton just sat there looking nice while her husband not only served two terms, but during those terms brought America prosperity that seemed so far out of reach? Michelle obama has already had enough experience on the campaign trail to finally discover enough real pride in the country that has provided opportunity after opportunity to her and her children, not to mention her bank account.
Barrack will bring us to the brink of Obamageddon.
Vote for Clinton!
Posted by: Dewey Cox | March 3, 2008 11:43 AM
Funny - that "35 years" of "experience" without a single accomplishment to her name.
Posted by: JohnR | March 3, 2008 12:05 PM
The Clinton name is in shambles. The Hillary SLIME MACHINE is in full gear. Karl Rove eat your heart out. Pathetic.
An all new low in democratic politics.
Should Hillary win many independents like myself will be forced to vote for John McCain. At least he is an honest man unlike Hillary. She is an embarrassment, not only to womaen like myself but to America as a whole. I feel sorry for Mr Obama having to deal with the Clintons stooping to all new lows. Shame on the Clintons.
Incredible to see a formerly beloved woman reach the depths of depravity. Really makes you wonder what Hillary Clinton administration would be like. The criminality would likely excede that of the Bush administration.
Truely frightening!
Posted by: Lauren Fuller | March 3, 2008 12:08 PM
Watching ur husband philander and compromise natl security and let Bin Laden go and let the tech bubble run up while all the fat cat boomers who are now soaking up soc security are feeling nostalgic is experience?
Posted by: Truly fooled | March 3, 2008 1:12 PM
Hey, jacksmith! You're an idiot if you truely believe all of that garbage you posted!
Posted by: Jimbo | March 3, 2008 2:08 PM
If Hillary insists on staying in the race regardless of tomorrow's outcome, it would be nice if she at least
a) released her income tax return information and
b) released her earmarks
Obama did both of the above a long time ago. Or is giving the American people the basis for making an educated choice not what Sen. Clinton wants?
Elise in NH
The Obama Minute: quick, easy actions
to support Barack Obama's candidacy
http://www.obamastraws.blogspot.com
Posted by: Elise in NH | March 3, 2008 2:40 PM
I find it highly insensitive that Hillary Clinton would have Ted Danson campaigning for her against a black man, Senator Obama. Lest anyone forget, this is what Jet magazine reported in November, 1993 about Mr. Danson: "The controversy surrounding Ted Danson's blackface tribute to Whoopi Goldberg during the recent Friars Club roast has intensified as many Black individuals and organizations come foward to announce that they fail to see the humor in the racially-charged skit.
They have sent scathing letters to the Friars Club in New York blasting Danson's appearance in blackface and huge white lips. The actor's routine used the (N)-word a number of times and made references to the sexual lives of Ms. Goldberg and him." Again, that quote is from Jet magazine, a black-owned publication. Is Mrs. Clinton tone-deaf or is Danson's appearance for her a campaign calculation?
Posted by: Jerauld | March 3, 2008 2:42 PM
I agree Lauren Fuller - if Clinton is nominated, most independents, myself included, will likely vote McCain in the general. Moral of the story: if you want the Republicans to win in November, you are voting for Clinton in March.
Posted by: Tadcaster | March 3, 2008 3:06 PM
After watching and listening to Sen. Obama I plan to cross party lines and vote for someone who finally understands that being an elected offical means you are to serve with the best interests of the public (not corporations, not lobbists) in mind. I've had enough of the Clinton/Bush dynasty that is crippling our position in the world by twisting words (Clinton- "Define the meaning of "it".) and constitutional law (Bush- can you say patriot act). Sorry John McCain, but appeasing the Right-Wingnuts just turns me off.
Republican for Obama.
Posted by: Republican for Obama | March 3, 2008 3:14 PM
I agree Lauren Fuller - if Clinton is nominated, most independents, myself included, will likely vote McCain in the general. Moral of the story: if you want the Republicans to win in November, you are voting for Clinton in March.
Posted by: Tadcaster | March 3, 2008 3:18 PM
Hillary & Ted Danson! Quite an image, two people who've had their fame and just won't go away! Hillary is going to go down in history as the poorest loser of an election ever. She just can't get over herself even though everyone else has. What's it going to take, a house falling on her with only her legs sticking out and the Muchkins singing "ding dong the witch is dead..." (scene from the wizard of OZ)??
Posted by: Reality | March 3, 2008 3:41 PM
I'm wondering about Hillary's "experience" in foreign affairs since she did not have a security clearance! And without one she could not even sit in the room when any international situation was being discussed during dear hubby's terms. Her lies are always so boldfaced.
Posted by: Reality | March 3, 2008 4:08 PM
One thing I don't understand - and please, Hillary supporters, clue me in: How can she get behind Obamaa if/when he is the nominee, if (according to her ads and speeches) he is not qualified to be president? Is she really going to back him, or hope he fails so she can give it another run in four years?
Posted by: Bill | March 3, 2008 4:30 PM
i don't care what any of you say, i'm voting for hilary first then mccain because i think obama is full of bologny! So is my husband, our many friends and our huge family! We are latinos and my family is very deep in Houston, Tx his family is all in San Antoino we are all voting clinton so look out obama!
Posted by: Bonnie | March 3, 2008 4:49 PM
Hillary says 25 retired generals and admirals trust her to be commander-in-chief. That sounds like a lot of brass, however, they’re a miniscule bunch. And, what about the jobs, jobs, jobs, Hillary talks about? The reason Hillary Clinton answers a landline in her infamous Texas ad, is because neither Hillary, nor Bill Clinton grasp the intricacies of cell phones. I don’t know the exact number of world leaders who are technologically illiterate, but the Clintons would make two more. Which begs the question, in today’s high-tech arena, how do such dinosaurs create gainful employment? Another glaring error that Hillary & Bill make time and again: both believe that not getting caught in a lie, is the same thing as telling the truth. Now Hillary says she was briefed on the contents of the (NIE) report but did not find it necessary to page through the whole classified little bugger. Wonder why? Don’t be like that girl: http://theseedsof9-11.com
Posted by: Peggy McGilligan | March 3, 2008 7:19 PM