AZspot AZspot

blue bits. red rocks.
Tuesday 26 June 2007

In Bernstein’s account, which strives nobly for fairness, Hillary’s early behavior as First Lady was stunningly arrogant. She disdained the press, alienated the White House staff, turned on her close friend Vince Foster (who responded by committing suicide) and appalled Al Gore by trying to claim the West Wing office suite traditionally reserved for the vice president. She demanded a cabinet position, and when that was over-ruled, insisted on leading Clinton’s efforts at health reform, despite the objections of Health and Human Services secretary Donna Shalala, who was no less a feminist than Hillary. Hillary’s attempt to create a national health insurance system – which she will have to undertake a second time as a presidential candidate – was a disaster in every way. Procedurally, she screwed up by conducting the planning under conditions of extreme secrecy, not even bothering to reach out to potentially supportive members of Congress, never mind the usual populist trimming of few televised town meetings. Barbara Ehrenreich

A GNT creation ©2007–2012