Kerry gives Hillary the proverbial slap in the face

[mayfly]

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I think its the first thing Kerry has done right!


'Outrage' Over Sen. Clinton Not Speaking


ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The former chairwoman of the New York State Democratic Party on Wednesday called it "a total outrage" and "very stupid" that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has not been offered a prominent speaking role at the Democratic National Convention.

"It's a slap in the face, not personally for Hillary Clinton, but for every woman in the Democratic Party and every woman in America," said Judith Hope, a major party fund-raiser.

Hope said she would appeal to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry to "correct this omission" and would send an e-mail message to more than 1,000 New York women - "many of them major donors to the Kerry campaign" - complaining about the slight.

The Kerry campaign had no immediate comment.

On Tuesday, Kerry aides announced the prime-time speaking lineup for the four-day convention in Boston that begins July 26, a list that included former Presidents Carter and Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore and Christie Vilsack, wife of Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. The list did not include the former first lady and New York's junior senator.

Asked about Clinton's role Tuesday, Arizona Gov. Bill Richardson, the convention chairman, said, "Senator Clinton will speak also. She's a major star in the party."

But later, convention officials said Clinton would appear at the convention's opening night as part of a special segment featuring all the women senators, but she was not expected to speak.

"To include the wife of the governor of Iowa, who I'm sure is a wonderful woman, and to not include Hillary Clinton is just such a glaring injustice," Hope said.

"It is, frankly, very stupid," she added.

In May, Kerry campaign officials had said both President Clinton and his wife would play prominent roles at the convention.

"It's a total outrage," Hope said. "Women all over New York state and all over America are being asked to carry a very heavy responsibility for winning this election for the Democrats."

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines had little to say Wednesday, simply commenting that Clinton is looking forward to attending the convention and working hard for the Democratic ticket of Kerry and John Edwards.

Clinton has been campaigning across the country for Kerry and has become one of the campaign's major fund-raising attractions.

"Hillary Clinton has been a team player for this ticket from Day One," Hope said.

If Kerry falters this year, Edwards and Clinton would be seen as the top candidates for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

[bobbcat]

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines had little to say Wednesday, simply commenting that Clinton is looking forward to attending the convention and working hard for the Democratic ticket of Kerry and John Edwards.

This statement is conspicuously devoid of any complaints coming from the Clinton camp. I'd be willing to bet that Hillary does not want to speak. Believe you me, the Clintons run the Democratic Party, and it does not have the nerve to snub her. Figuring that she doesn't want to speak also bolsters the idea that she would rather not see Kerry win so that '08 is wide open for her to vie for the WH at that time.

[CagedTroll]

As usual, Drudge is oblivious to the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]!

A little-known U.S. Senate candidate from Illinois has been selected to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

Bush snubs the NAACP, NAACP decides to screen Fahrenheit 9/11 at it's convention, Obama's opponent for Senate was "too Hollywood" for some people's tastes, and Hillary's already all over the place campaigning for Kerry...

I'm not sure if anybody's got a strategy here, but there's definitely the stuff to make one...

[mrbowler]

If she doesn't speak then it's a slap in the face, but if she does speak I would assume a different criticism? Rip Away!

What did you say earlier about if Bush did or didn't speak to the NAACP?

Kerry Asks Hillary to Address DNC

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — John Kerry asked Hillary Rodham Clinton (search) on Thursday to address the Democratic National Convention on its opening night and introduce her husband, former President Clinton, ending an intense lobbying campaign by the New York senator's backers angered by her non-speaking role.

The Kerry campaign unveiled its first set of speakers for the convention early this week, including former Presidents Clinton and Carter, Al Gore (search) and others, but the absence of the former first lady drew criticism from Democrats, particularly women. She was to appear on stage with other female senators.

Clinton said she was not disappointed, but a lobbying effort quickly got under way on her behalf.

Kerry, who campaigned in Pennsylvania and West Virginia on Thursday, called Clinton and asked her to introduce her husband in a speech before the convention. Aides did not know how long the address would be.

"Senator Clinton is honored and delighted to have the opportunity to address the convention, and she will continue to do everything she can to elect John Kerry and John Edwards," Philippe Reines, a spokesman for Clinton, said in a statement.

"We are thrilled that Senator Clinton has accepted John Kerry's invitation," Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said. "Senator Clinton has been a leader in the Democratic Party, and she will play a vital role in laying out" the choice between Kerry and Bush to voters.

On Wednesday, the former chairwoman of the New York State Democratic Party had called the slight of Clinton a "total outrage" and "very stupid." Kerry's campaign responded to Judith Hope's criticism by saying it had no plans for giving the senator a speaking role, because she didn't request one.

That changed Thursday when Kerry placed his call. "I am delighted," Hope said Thursday. "I think it is a very fitting and very appropriate solution to a perplexing dilemma."

With their intense supporters and detractors, the Clintons present a dilemma to the Kerry campaign. They can help energize Democratic voters and spread Kerry's message, living reminders of better economic times in the 1990s. But they are both polarizing figures, the former president with his Oval Office affair and his wife with her failed health care overhaul.

By scheduling them back-to-back on July 26, Kerry's team hopes to harvest the Clintons' goodwill then quickly turn attention to the Democratic ticket.

The announcement puts to rest the latest political snag for Kerry's campaign in the run-up to the late-July convention.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (search), D-Md., complained to Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill that the strategy of releasing only a few names each day minimizes the importance of some speakers, said her campaign manager, Mike Morrill.

"The senator was very clear that the way they did this botched it," Morrill said. "By doing it as the One-A-Day vitamin strategy, they missed the picture that they have a whole shop of vitamins." Other speakers complained privately to the campaign about the way their roles were handled.

Also this week, the Kerry campaign unveiled a $2 million TV ad campaign geared toward black voters, only to hear complaints from members of the Congressional Black Caucus who wanted more testimonials in the spots.

[luvmetender]

Some people just love to underestimate the intelligence of the Democratic party. There was never a doubt that Kerry would include Hillary. Thanks for posting that mrbowler.