It will be another feeding frenzy

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Real Clear Politics:

Will Hillary Clinton’s Media Honeymoon Last?

A few days after Barack Obama finally emerged as the Democratic nominee in his epic 2008 showdown against Hillary Clinton, Katie Couric delivered a rare editorial commentary in an online video. The then-“CBS Evening News” anchor captured the emerging sentiment among much of the media establishment, which suddenly found itself with time for reflection.

“Sen. Clinton has received her fair share of the blame, and so has her political team, but like her or not, one of the great lessons of that campaign is the continued and accepted role of sexism in American life, particularly in the media,” Couric said. “Many women have made the point that if Sen. Obama had to confront the racist equivalent of an ‘iron my shirt’ poster at campaign rallies, or a Hillary nutcracker sold at airports, or mainstream pundits saying they instinctively cross their legs at the mention of her name, the outrage would not be a footnote. It would be front-page news.”

Though media partiality toward Obama was neither uniform nor unfailing in that race, few could deny that the palpable excitement surrounding the Illinois senator’s candidacy tended to overshadow the equally historic nature of Clinton’s run.

And while the relationship between campaign staffers and reporters is typically adversarial, the dynamic inside the Clinton campaign bubble was often particularly contentious.

But that was then.

These days, it is increasingly difficult to find an unflattering word written or said about Clinton in the mainstream press as she begins re-emerging as a force in domestic politics after four years in the constitutionally apolitical role of secretary of state. And this generally glowing coverage figures to benefit Clinton as she mulls a second presidential run.

But any edge over her potential opponents may prove flimsy as 2016 draws nearer. The inevitable reexamination of her extensive record in the national limelight and another looming campaign will surely take some of the shine off this politician considered the strongest non-incumbent presidential front-runner in modern U.S. history.

“There’s a good chance she can continue to get a lot of good coverage between now and the time the general election starts; and then you’ll get what is sometimes, in my view, artificially evenhanded coverage that hurts one candidate and benefits another,” said Democratic strategist Bob Shrum, who has more than four decades of high-level experience on presidential campaigns. “There’s a natural tendency of the press to even this thing out. On the other hand, I think what’s being written now reflects her real strength in the Democratic Party and in the country.”

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Will Hillary Clinton’s media honeymoon last?

The short answer is: Hell no!

If Hillary runs again it will be another feeding frenzy as Vile Progs and the media (but I repeat myself) fight over her bleeding corpse. The only reason they have been nice to her since she ended her presidential campaign is she was supporting Barack Obama. Once she was appointed to his Cabinet she was virtually immune from Obotian criticism (as long as she remained competent and loyal).

I predict that if and when she decides to run again that Benghazi will suddenly become an issue but somehow only for her. Obama will remain immune.

I have mixed feelings about her possible candidacy. On the one hand there is her performance as Secretary of State. I don’t blame her for taking the job. It was the best use of her talents under the circumstances. Until last year I would have given her at least an “A” grade for the job she did.

But the debacle in Libya ruined her grade. There are two parts to Benghazi – the fuck-up and the cover-up. She was involved up to her eyeballs in both. The fuck-up is excusable but the cover-up is a major honor code violation.

The second issue is her (and Bill’s) wholehearted support of Obama and the current Democratic party. If I need to explain that to you then you haven’t been paying attention.

Notwithstanding all of that, I still believe that Hillary is the best qualified Democrat to sit in the Oval office, and that includes the current occupant. But that is not so much an endorsement of Hillary as it is an indictment of her fellow Democrats. The pickings are very slim.

What I dread most is a repeat of 2008. I really don’t want to go through that again, even if Hillary were to prevail this time. It was an ugly and traumatic experience I would not care to relive. I will never look at politics or Democrats the same way again.

Here’s the rub: I can’t think of a single person in either party who is likely to be a viable candidate that I feel enthusiastic about. I’m gonna have to wait and see who’s running and then hold my nose and vote for one of them.

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