What, Me Worry?

(Cartoon by Lee Judge, published in the Kansas City Star and featured at McClatchy DC.  Click on image to enlarge and be so kind as to return.)

Poor Hillary.  She can't seem to cut a break these days when it comes to the GOP sniping on her every move  If it's not Benghazi, it's Syria, and, now, her boundless wealth. 

One of my tablemates here at the Cuckoo's Nest and I got to talking about the sudden "concern" with all the money she and her husband have, implying that she has lost touch with the commoners (as if the Republicans have a clue about that) and therefor would make a lousy president.  He suggested pretty much what Lee Judge suggests in the above cartoon:  misogyny at work.

While I'm sure that's part of it, I think there's more than just that.  After all, the GOP did nominate Sarah Palin as its vice presidential candidate, even if everyone pretty much knew that McCain-Palin didn't have a snowball's chance in hell.  And it wasn't that long ago that Elizabeth Dole had a reasonable shot as the party's nominee for president.  I think a larger part of the distaste for Hillary has to do with her name:  Clinton.  The GOP still has a visceral hatred of the Clintons, almost as deep as its hatred for Barack Obama.

That said, however, the issue of the Clinton's wealth, a lot of it garnered in speaking fees and book sales, is out there.  I'm glad that it finally is being addressed.  I think Bill Clinton was wise to face it head on during the Sunday talk shows.

Here's Bill Clinton's explanation regarding the wealth issue:

The former president was questioned Tuesday about his wife’s remarks in an interview by NBC’s David Gregory, who asked whether Clinton could appreciate how people, “as a political matter,” might feel that Hillary Clinton is out of touch.

 “Yes, but she's not out of touch,” the former president replied. “And she advocated and worked as a senator for things that were good for ordinary people. And before that, all her life. And the people asking her questions should put this into some sort of context.”

 

“We've got a good life, and I'm grateful for it,” Clinton went on. “But we go to our local grocery store on the weekend. We talk to people in our town. We know what's going on. The real issue is if you've been fortunate enough to be successful, are you now out of touch and insensitive to the agonizing struggles other people are facing? That's the real issue.”   [Emphasis added]
I would remind Republicans and Democrats alike that we've had wealthy presidents in the past who were decidedly not out of touch with those who are struggling.  Two in particular come to mind:  Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy. The issue is not one of personal wealth, it's an issue of who the individual is beholden to, who owns her/him.  And that just might be a viable issue this time around.

The chances are pretty good that I won't be around for a Hillary presidency, and that does make me a little sad.  I would have loved to be around for a woman President of the USA.  But I'll tell you what, if she wins, I hope the American electorate gives her a decent Congress, one with which she can work to get things done in the way they're supposed to be done and not by executive fiat.

My prediction is that it's gonna be an interesting couple of years.  Very interesting.