by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright February 22, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

en. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) hit the first big bump of her presidential campaign, watching her upstart rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.) win the endorsement of Hollywood film and record mogul David Geffen. Geffen, who raised over $18 million for her husband Bill, has thrown his support to Obama. Geffen's reasoning incensed the Clinton camp, claiming the junior New York senator carries unappealing baggage. Geffen believes Hillary is too “polarizing” to extricate Washington from the quicksand of today's partisan divide. Geffen called former President Bill Clinton “a reckless guy” in a Feb. 21 interview with New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. He also told Dowd that Hillary was “polarizing” and “ambitious,” criticizing her refusal to admit her mistake backing House Joint Resolution 114, authorizing President Bush to used force against Iraq Oct 16, 2006.

      Obama was not in the senate at the time Hillary voted nearly unanimously with her colleagues to authorize Bush to go to war. Critics don't recall the mood of the country only 13 short months after Sept. 11. Most lawmakers were concerned about national security and especially about reports—though bogus—that Saddam Hussein presented a clear and present danger. Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), now a presidential candidate, openly admits his mistake voting with the majority for House Joint Resolution 114. Geffen faults Hillary for not following Edward's lead, when in fact giving Bush the support was the right move at the time. Apologizing now does nothing to reverse the damage that's cost nearly $600 billion and over 3,100 U.S. military lives. Geffen raised $1.3 million for Obama Feb. 20 in a Beverly Hills fundraiser, prompting Hillary to bristle.

      Geffen's comments to Dowd caused ripples in Hillary's campaign. “How can Sen. Obama denounce the politics of slash and burn yesterday while his own campaign is espousing the politics of trash today,” said Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson, insisting Obama publicly denounce Geffen's criticism and return campaign donations. Geffen mirrors lingering feelings of Democrats still upset over Bill Clinton's shenanigans with Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office. Hillary now finds herself dealing with her own demons and those of her husband, creating friction for her candidacy. “The attacks on Hillary haven't stopped,” said former President Clinton in an online request for donations. With Barack in the race, Hillary can no longer count on Hollywood jumping on her bandwagon. There's nothing automatic about getting donors once in her husband's court.

      Demanding Barack return money to Geffen goes over the top. Geffen's free to support any candidate he believes takes the country in the right direction. After six years of the most bitter partisanship in Washington's in recent memory, Geffen questioned whether Hillary would cause more division and controversy. Barack's politics, especially his views on Iraq, are far left of Hillary's, whose fence-sitting on Iraq has left many antiwar voters questioning her commitment to find an exit strategy. Obama has called for the immediate redeployment of U.S. forces, getting into hot water, expressing frustrations about Iraq. Obama believes U.S. forces should not be squeezed in Iraq's bloody civil war, causing too many casualties. Since declaring her candidacy and testing the water, Hillary has sounded more critical of Bush's war policies, promising to get U.S. forces out by 2009.

      Obama learned his lesson from Kerry who tried during his 2004 run for the White House to stay above the fray, allowing Bush to “Swift Boat” him out of the race. “It's not clear to me why I'd be apologizing for someone else's remark,” said Obama in response to Wolfson's demands that he denounce Geffen and return his $2,300 contribution. Geffen questioned whether Hillary would bring the country together at a time of war, something noted by many other experts. Geffen views Obama as a fresh face with charisma and good ideas, divorced from the past Clinton dynasty. Calling Bill “a reckless guy” doesn't qualify as “slash and burn” politics, only mirrors lingering feelings about his time in office. Hillary faces more “Clinton fatique” than former Vice President Al Gore, whose campaign tried to avoid Bill Clinton because of dark publicity hanging over his head.

      Hillary overreacted to criticism from Hollywood mogul David Geffen. Geffen has every right to pick a new face to support in the 2008 presidential campaign. Whether Hillary likes it or not, she's not entitled to Hollywood's cash, anymore than other candidates. “I'm just going to stay focused on my campaign about the issues that affect voters in out country,” Hillary told the Associated Press at a candidates' forum in Carson City, Nevada, sidestepping questions about her rough with Obama. It's not above the fray allowing subordinates like Wolfson to accuse Barack of “slash and burn” politics simply because former backers express their feelings. What upset Hillary was that she lost the support to Barack of one of Hollywood's biggest and smartest kingmakers. Instead of crying over spilt milk, she should convince others why she's Democrats' best hope in 2008.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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