Senator Clinton is a political “money machine.”  Regardless of what you think about her personally and politically, she is a ring master in the political circus.  By using her political celebrity as an icon of the Left, she raises money — lots of money.  In the past, money has been called the “mother’s milk” of politics.  And now “mother Clinton” is carefully choosing which politicians to “suckle” with the milk of her fund raising efforts.  To qualify as a potential member of her “litter,” a democratic candidate for a House or Senate seat during these mid-term elections must:

1. Be competitive – losers, without a chance of winning, need not apply
2. Be in a position to support her 2008 efforts: through delegates, money, media access, or all of the above.
3. Preference is given to candidates in New York (to consolidate her own political power base), early primary states (Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina) and “purple states” (Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio).

A case in point, is the race in New York between unabashed Condi supporter, 4-term congressman, Rep. John Sweeney (NY-20th) (campaign) and Kirsten Rutnik Gillibrand.  Last night at Washington’s ritzy Mayflower hotel, both Howard Dean and Hillary participated together at a fundraiser for Gillibrand. 

Dean and Clinton are political “friends of convenience.”  Reportedly the Clintons had wanted one of their own loyalists, like Harold Ickes, to be DNC chair, instead of Dean.  They wanted  more control over party money.  However, a compromise had to be reached.  There were too many Democrats nervous about giving greater control of the DNC to the Clintons.

In addition to Hillary and Howard, Gillibrand has friends at the extreme left website Daily Kos, where liberal writer Neal Colin wrote an article about Zogby poll results showing strong support for Sweeney on June 18th.

One of the most depressing aspects of the poll, however, was seeing that Sweeney was favored over Gillibrand by about 24% of Democrats, almost a quarter of the Democratic base (with about another quarter of the Democratic base undecided). This surely is not good.

Hillary and Dean view Sweeney’s Democratic support as “vulnerable” to being ”poached” with a slick, well-financed media blitz that will “carpet bomb” the district in the final weeks leading up to the election.  If this strategy is successful in enough districts, the House will be packed with enough Clinton loyalists to put the House under Democratic control and arm Nancy Pelosi with the votes needed to  launch into endless investigations — paralyzing the administration until 2008, when “guess who” will come riding into Washington to save the nation from political grid lock.  An added bonus for 2008 would be in the event of another “nail biter” like the 2000 election.  In the event of indecision in the Electoral College, the presidential election would be decided in the House.  Is it any wonder that Hillary takes great interest in these congressional races?

They are going to try and accomplish this, in large part, by “going negative.”  (What a shock!)  Take a look at some of the anti-Sweeney ads that they’re running such as: “No Decency” featuring an actor trying his best to do an impersonation of news commentator Edward R. Murrow.  In fact, look at the ad, then look at the trailer for the movie written and directed by liberal Hollywood star George Clooney “Good Night and Good Luck.”  (A movie that tried to resurrect the ghost of Senator McCarthy for use as a Democratic “boogeyman.”)  Isn’t that the same actor, David Strathairn?  Isn’t that so like a Democrat?  When liberals don’t like reality, they make a movie, television series, or in this case a political attack ad about it and make up whatever they like. (Maybe their therapists thought it would be “good therapy” to deal with their electoral losses.  Remember West Wing?)

Gillibrand (an attorney, UCLA law grad, Democratic donor, recipient of largess from trial lawyers and former special counsel to Andrew Cuomo when he was HUD Secretary in the Clinton Administration), has used “reports” by the the liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, the same group that tried to ”investigate” (”investigate” means ”attack” in Demo-speak) the “Swifties,” (link) to attack and smear Congressman Sweeney.  They’re trying to destroy John Sweeney’s success in attracting bipartisan voter support based on his leadership, legislative record, and long record of service to all of his constituents - regardless of party.  He takes a very special interest in his district’s servicemen, servicewomen, and their families.  Look at this ad of how Sweeney became a champion for improved armor for Humvee’s to protect our troops, after meeting Karen Brown, a fallen soldier’s mother who is reportedly a life-long Democrat and against the war.  He even traveled to Iraq and came back to Washington to push hard for our troops.  By the way, this same mother received no such cooperation when she contacted Hillary’s office.  

Of course, it’ll be interesting to see how long Gillibrand’s support from Hillary, Dean, and the Democratic party will last if she becomes perceived as a political liability.  Rumors, so far unsubstantiated, have been flying as election day approaches about why Gillibrand has so far refused to release tax returns, possible “nanny-gate” problems (real “hot button” issues this election with social security reform and immigration “front and center”) and a connection to one of Saddam Hussein’s sons through the sale of an “exotic” car.  (Nobody wants to get labeled as ”Saddam’s Car Dealer.”)  Going negative is a two-edged sword that cuts both ways.

Take the time today to visit John Sweeney’s campaign web site.   He needs you to help him stop Hillary’s money machine.  Help him make sure that another Clinton loyalist and ally of Nancy Pelosi, doesn’t make it into the House of Representatives!

This entry was posted on Friday, September 29th, 2006 at 3:28 pm and is filed under Condoleezza Rice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.