Taking Hillary at her word

I should have known what was coming when Hillary Clinton announced her intention to run for president. “I’m in it to win it!” she said. And with the Clintons, that means by any means necessary. Which is why I don’t see much difference between Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush.

I know, here it comes. Now I’m a Hillary hater.

Far from it. I voted twice for Bill Clinton, although I had reservations about his support for big business and NAFTA. Personally, my family was able to recover some financially during his tenure in the White House. And I always felt Hillary took way too many hits for being a strong woman.

During the impeachment debacle, I joined Move On because I felt Congress should get on with the people’s business, not the Clinton family’s personal affairs. Now, I’m ready to tell the Clintons, “Move on.”

Why this change? Since becoming a senator, Hillary’s record on key votes has not impressed me. And her inability to admit mistakes, such as voting for the resolution leading to the Iraq War, only serves to remind me of the current occupant of the White House.

As does the Clintons' current behavior on the campaign trail. Lies, innuendo, allegations of voter suppression – all the things we have lived through under George W. Bush.

It simply appalls me. How could a former president and his wife so endanger their own legacy? Do they care about their party and country?

To me, it demonstrates a lack of concern for the people’s needs and the people’s business. “In it to win it” tells me all I need to know. For Bill and Hillary Clinton, the presidency is about them, not me and my family. That’s why Hillary won’t get my vote.

What’s wrong with Hillary?

I keep hearing this question – from the media, pundits and Hillary supporters. And I’ll try to give my perspective, as someone not quite 45 and in the Obama camp.

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with Hillary. It’s who she associates with and what she represents. It’s her ties to Wal-Mart and her support from Rupert Murdoch – you know, of Fox News.

It’s her fundraising help from Alan Quasha, who helped bail George W. Bush’s failing oil company out by folding it into Harken Energy. She also hosted Ken Lay at the White House. You remember Ken Lay, former CEO of Enron?

It’s her ties to failed healthcare reform, NAFTA, Monica Lewinsky and impeachment proceedings. Yes, it’s her ties to Bill Clinton.

It’s her association with the Iraq War, and like George W., her inability to admit a mistake. It’s her association with the politics of “triangulation.”

It’s her association with James Carville, Bob Shrum, Terry MacAuliffe and all the other Democratic Leadership Council strategists who have consistently lost the Democrats elections with their focus on fundraising and polls over grassroots activism. They’ve got theirs; screw the rest of us. We’re simply votes to be won, not people to be served.

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with Hillary. I believe she’s a good person, very intelligent and capable. But her time is past. All her ties will lead us straight back to politics as usual.

I want a president who will lead Americans to shared sacrifice and service. Hillary, because of these associations, will only perpetuate old divisions.

If only she and Bill could see it.

Thank you, Mrs. Hoogeveen

As American Education Week (Nov. 11-17) came to a close and I concluded my week at the Iowa Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly and Convention this year, I was steeped in memories of 8^th Grade Social Studies.

That year, I was blessed to study American history and civics under Mrs. Lila Hoogeveen. She had taught my sister, Linda, art, and she had been my first grade teacher – the wonderful lady who rescued my new doll, bringing it to my home when I’d left it at school. Somehow, Mrs. Hoogeveen knew I’d be distressed.

So I was expecting an invigorating year. Mrs. Hoogeveen was obviously an accomplished teacher. And she was known among middle school students for her signature project – the Constitutional Convention of the Continental Congress.

A masterpiece of integrated instruction, this activity included a homework assignment to make a powdered wig to wear while the Congress was in session; a reenactment of the Congress’ agenda to create a Constitution for the United States; and ongoing personal journals, written in the voice of the characters we were assigned.

The entire process modeled democracy in a way which still resonates with me. The hours we delegates spent arguing our positions demonstrated powerfully the difficulty of our founding fathers’ work. We could not adjourn until we completed a Constitution. And not surprisingly, ours did not match the Constitution developed by the real Continental Congress. We learned via experience that democracy depends greatly on the people who participate.

The long hours of discourse and disagreement taught us the hard work that is democracy. And I find myself revisiting that experience as I work at the school board table and as I see our nation prepare for the 2008 elections. Too few people get involved; too few people discuss policies and events; too few people communicate with their representatives.

Although it wasn’t always pretty, Mrs. Hoogeveen’s Constitutional Convention modeled how democratic government should work. And it’s a lesson I’m coming to appreciate more all the time.

So thank you, Mrs. Hoogeveen, for teaching about democracy in way that stuck.