by Glenn Thrush
IOWA CITY--After a day of playing nice with Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton took a scalpel to Obama's health care plan last night at a hotel near the University of Iowa campus.
BHO's plan, which she claims will leave 15 million uncovered, will "be eaten alive" by Republicans and will "give aid and comfort" to the GOP, she charged.
She also hammered home the notion that she's tough enough to fight the Republicans, quoting an unnamed -- ahem -- Democrat whining: "We know they won't wage their brutal, dishonest campaign because they know we are better people."
A punchy Clinton, who has been logging 15- to 18-hour days criss-crossing the state, was in a freewheeling mood, referring to herself as a "diva," urging her New Year's Day audience to "party hearty" and enigmatically remarking that the worst deficit in Washington was "the fun deficit."
Adding a new wrinkle to her stump speech, Clinton suggested that her lifelong devotion to helping neglected kids was, in part, motivated by her experience with a "slow" boy growing up in suburban Chicago.
"One boy was kind of slow…We kind of made fun of him because he was different from the rest of us I'm ashamed to admit," she said.
21 percent of Dems still undecided, Clinton aide says
INDIANOLA, IOWA--Teresa Vilmain, Hillary Clinton's hyperkinetic Iowa director, told reporters on the campaign bus that as many as 21 percent of state Democrats still haven't made up their minds, according to campaign's internal polling. That's triple the 6 percent undecided in public polling.
"Most people are literally deciding in this 24 hours," she said.
Other Vilmain nuggets:
--The campaign has about 4,900 drivers to schlep the elderly to the polls.
--They have been furiously micro-targeting to get every possible female voter. Clinton has nine staffers whose sole job is to parse call-and-door knocking lists to assure they're targeting the right people.
--The biggest obstacle the campaign faces is voter burnout. The conundrum is that people haven't decided but are saying "don't call me," she says. Some indies and undecideds are getting as many as 15 to 18 calls a day -- and have begun to turn off their phones. Door-knocking has become the best way to make Clinton's case, with the campaign scoring a 52 percent "connect rate" -- meaning over half the people they contact let them in the house.
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Chelsea Speaks
DES MOINES--Chelsea Clinton was in a chatty mood this morning during her mother’s visit to the campaign’s Des Moines office -- maybe it was the influence of her assigned body man, the garrulous, inexplicably tan Tony Weiner. She chatted up more or less everyone sight, even yakking with a reporter (who was over the age of 9) for a minute.
Weiner: “How ya feelin’ Chelse?”
Chelsea: “Great. Starbucks and sleep – an amazing combination.”
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Comments
Great -so now she's a diva, back to having fun? Its like the New England weather -if you don't like today's HRC, stick around, because she'll be totally different tomorrow.
Her comments illustrate precisely the kind of politics she'll give us if she's elected: the Republicans as the evil other, waging war against them as a zero sum game.
She doesn't get it. Many of us have had enough of that over the last 15-20 years, and want a candidate who will at least give us a shot at some kind of reasonable dialog. There is a risk - that the GOP as a whole, and all GOP voters are so fanatical that they'll continue to game the system and simply roll Obama. But the upside is tremendous - the side bet that the zeitgeist has changed, and that the voters simply won't tolerate it. With Hillary, you're hedged a bit against the perpetual warfare scenario, but there's no upside whatsoever. The choices couldn't be any more clear.
Posted by: zoot | January 2, 2008 3:30 PM
Hillary, dear, if you're such a "diva," then go to Caesar's Palace and replace Celine or go to Hollywood to appear in some daytime soap. But please don't torture the Good Americans with your nonsense and hysteria.
Posted by: John D | January 2, 2008 3:40 PM
What a chameleon! This lady would do anything to win,even using racial slurs. Black folks would be crazy to vote for her.She and Edwards are both phony.
Posted by: joseph pierre | January 2, 2008 3:47 PM
Lord knows even Hillary the "Diva" would be a tremendous improvement over what this country has had to endure the last seven years.
Now the latest:NEW YORK - Crude oil prices soared to $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time, reaching that milestone amid an unshakable view that global demand for oil and petroleum products will outstrip supplies.
Most economist are now predicting a Recession of mild to deep.
While Big Oil pops another Viagra,get ready "Average Joe" Repubs,bend over and thank the Cheney/Bush Conservative team.
BTW,gas is only .15c per gallon in "Socialist" Venezuela!!! LMAO!
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 2, 2008 3:58 PM
Hillary haters take to the blogs, but Hillary supporters go to the polls. Tomorrow will be sweet.
Posted by: Dazed and Confused | January 2, 2008 4:04 PM
Hillary Clinton Rocks, the race went to the clock, the clock struck ONE, Hillary WON, and the men went home to moan!
Posted by: Hillary Rocks!!! | January 2, 2008 4:31 PM
Hillary Clinton Rocks, the race went to the clock, the clock struck ONE, Hillary WON, and the men went home to moan!
Posted by: Hillary Rocks!!! | January 2, 2008 4:32 PM
"MEDIA SPEAKS FOR ALL WOMEN OF THE AMERICA"
Don't vote for the DEVA, she may be inclined to give you socialized healthcare to match with your HMO you don't have, or that prenatal care that has been erased in your town.
YES, DON'T VOTE FOR THE DEVA WHO MAY HAVE A CLUE AS TO HOW TO CLEAN A HOUSE THAT SO DIRTY, SO TAINTED WITH EVIL AND MISDEEDS.
YES, MEDIA CONTINUES TO RAMP AND RAVE ABOUT FAIRNESS IN AMERICA OR THE FACT THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY A WOMAN IN THIS WORLD THAT WOULD BE RECOGNIZED AT THE DINNER TABLE INSTEAD OF SERVING IT.
OH GREAT MEDIA MASTERS, PLEASE JUST SHUT AND GO WATCH A RERUN OF DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.
COME ON AT&T EVEN YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. JUST LEAK SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TOO. OR WIRETAPPED IN 2001-2007.
Posted by: Roger Morris | January 2, 2008 5:05 PM
The dictionary definition of diva is "a usually glamorous and successful female performer or personality." It appears that Hillary has again lost touch with reality.
Posted by: Serena | January 2, 2008 5:16 PM
Obama and Edwards are the guys you date. Hillary is the one you commit to. Obama is all razzle dazzle, and Edwards is a faux populist in a $400 haircut. Hillary is the real deal with a track record and substantive policies to move this country ahead in the right direction. May the stars of Iowa shine upon her tomorrow!
Posted by: maxine schnall | January 2, 2008 5:20 PM
"Hillary, dear, if you're such a "diva," then go to Caesar's Palace and replace Celine or go to Hollywood to appear in some daytime soap. But please don't torture the Good Americans with your nonsense and hysteria.
Posted by: John D | January 2, 2008 3:40 PM"
Dr. John, heal thyself, then give your attention to others.
Posted by: Op109 | January 2, 2008 5:26 PM
Good Lord, how could ANYONE vote for this woman? No wonder 50% of the nation cannot stand her.
Posted by: Liz | January 2, 2008 5:32 PM
Is there no one among you who will give this poor woman (Hillary) a break. Even though she has made some mistakes (i.e Iraq), so have many men, but because she is a woman, her mistakes are magnified. When will this country ever reach a state of civility where men and women are judged on their accomplishments, not their personalities? Imagine, if you please, if a female had made the same blunders that George W, Bush has made, that woman would have been impeached and raked over the coals. Let's give Hillary a break and give her the same respect we afford the men in this campaign who, by the way, have swung more mud and negative ads than Hillary.
By the way, I'm for Ron Paul. He seems the most civil and caring about the American people. Also, no negativity in his campaign is a plus in my book.
Posted by: the truth | January 2, 2008 5:39 PM
Hey, at least she's not up on a stage playing guitar and singing with Joe Scarborough...
Posted by: Mike Huckabee | January 2, 2008 5:44 PM
The three leading socialist stooges in the Dem party all suck.
Hillary "the most hated women in America."
John "pantene girl" Edwards
Osama Obama or Obama Bin Laden which ever you prefer...
None of these commie clowns is going to egt anywhere near the white house.
Posted by: Bill Braskey | January 2, 2008 5:48 PM
About the 15 million people Hillary says will be left out of Obama's health care plan, she is referring to young, healthy adults who arent sick so wont buy insurance. Obama's plan covers young people up to age 25 on their parents plan. His plan is about making health care affordable. Clinton and Edwards have a mandate that will require paying a penalty if you dont buy it and garnishment of wages. They dont speak of lowering cost. Obama's goal is to make insurance affordable first, then work towards universal health care. Obama 08!
Posted by: Katy7540 | January 2, 2008 5:56 PM
Why should adults between 18 and 25 leech off their parents' insurance? They should pay out of their own pocket, with a plan or with taxes on their own earnings. Or part of their school fees. Or free medical in the military. Eighteen-year-olds are voting adults, ever since teenage draftees were sent to fight in the Vietnam war.
Posted by: Jon | January 2, 2008 6:38 PM
I'm hearing about some Repub caucus-goers in Iowa going to reregister as Dems to vote for Biden. Keeps HRC from the nom and one gets a decent candidate all around. Hmm.
Posted by: Lori | January 2, 2008 7:00 PM
Hillary makes me sick!
Some of the stuff she says...wait make that MOST of the things she says.
Just totally blows my mind!
Is she running for president of Student Council, a new host on The View!?
Oh she is running for President of the US!??
Diva!?
Well lets get Liza Minnelli in the race, at least that can guarantee us some totally hilarious drunk high jinks!
I don't want a woman who is still married to the man who totally humiliated her in front of the world to be president!
If that was my Mother (or most other women), she would have had my Fathers balls in a jar on display and his a** kicked to the curb!
Yet she is trying to bank on the I'm a strong amazing woman card!
If she can't speak up about something like that and keeps sprouting the asinine garbage she does on the campaign trail.
What the hell is she going to do when it comes to running a country!?
" They have been furiously micro-targeting to get every possible female voter."
I would LOVE for them to come to my door!
I'm a woman and I think her being President would be one of the worst things in history!
I see Mike Huckabee likes playing the guitar so that means his campaign is targeting every possible guitar player!?
Is Romney going after every possible relative of Donny & Marie!?
I think that statement alone, speaks volumes!
But it all comes down to.....
Hillary should NOT be president!
Posted by: Nelizabeth | January 2, 2008 9:26 PM
Who the heck refers to themself as a "diva"? The same person who invited people to check out her mouth, I guess.
I'm so tired of cringe-worthy drivel. A vote for Obama is a vote for intelligent, confident discourse, free from pandering and the cringe-inducing drivel.
Obama for America. Let the sanity begin.
Posted by: AgathaX | January 2, 2008 9:54 PM
[quote]
But please don't torture the Good Americans with your nonsense and hysteria.
Posted by: John D | January 2, 2008 3:40 PM
[/quote]
Yeah, America has been tortured enough by hysteria and nonsense over the last 7 years by pResident Doogie Howser - it's time for somebody COMPETENT in the White House for a change.
Posted by: BC | January 2, 2008 10:49 PM
"Hillary haters take to the blogs, but Hillary supporters go to the polls. Tomorrow will be sweet." Oh, yeah? Nothing will be as sweet as watching Hillary bite the dust: http://theseedsof9-11.com
Posted by: Peggy McGilligan | January 3, 2008 12:35 AM
Hilary norJohn stands up against the healthcare industry. Barack is the ONLY on that says to reduce the cost of healthcare before making it a mandate! This would be the only benefit to the people! Mandates without lowering cost simply brings significant sums of additional funds into the coffers of the helathcare industry. For example: if the average cost per person is $10,000. Mandating that the 48 million unisured get insurance, own theer on or through government subsidies, that will bring in an additional 480 billion dollars into the industry! Someone please explain to me how is this standing up Against the healthcare industry? IT appears to me that they (Hillary & John ) are standing up FOR the the healthcare industry!
Posted by: Anonymous | January 3, 2008 11:45 AM
I am a 64 year old white female; I voted for Bill Clinton twice and against George “W.” Bush twice. That SHOULD put me squarely into the HRC “profile” demographic, bur count me out. I would love to see a woman in the White House, and I believe that will happen, but not this year. I am 100% for Barack Obama. I trust him more than any other candidate out there. Not only that, but
I believe that he is the candidate best qualified to bring change to Washington. I am so tired of the political grand-standing! Like millions of other Americans, I am ready for change. America was founded to get away from a monarchy, and I don’t think the founding fathers would be any more pleased with our current political dynasties! Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clinton? Then what? Another 4 years of Hillary, then 8 of Jeb Bush? By then Chelsea should be about ready to take over, and after her 8 years we could have the Bush twins; that would give us another 16! I don’t think so! I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had enough! Obama ’08!
Posted by: Ava Scism | January 3, 2008 1:06 PM
dear hillary,
you suck.
that's all there is to it, you suck and I'm not voting for you because well like i said, you suck.
Posted by: Charles Kushner | January 3, 2008 6:24 PM
You Go girl im not oold enough to vote but if I was I would vote for u because you are helping us all out. and who do they think acted as Bills right hand woman that was you you helped everyone out
Posted by: Samantha | January 10, 2008 10:19 AM
How can you guys trust Obama if you look were he goes to chirch it seems that he is a Black Sepremest how can you trust domeone like that???
Posted by: Jessica | January 10, 2008 10:22 AM
I love Hillary Clinton!
She's definitely getting my vote in the Primary and General Election!
All my friends and family agree, she's the best person to clean up the Republican corruption and mess we've endured over the Bush Years.
Go Hillary!
Posted by: Tracy | January 26, 2008 2:57 PM