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Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign forced a magazine to drop a negative story about her by threatening to cut off the publication’s access to the former President Bill Clinton, it emerged yesterday.
The ruthless response to GQ magazine, and its decision to bow to the ultimatum, reflects the enormous leverage Mr Clinton brings to his wife’s White House bid at a time when her quest for the Democratic nomination appears more formidable than ever.
The magazine, which is due to have Mr Clinton on its cover for its December issue, was told that the former President would no longer cooperate unless it pulled an article it was about to publish detailing infighting and tensions within Mrs Clinton’s campaign.
Despite protests at the magazine, the article was duly sidelined, according to a respected US political website. In an e-mail statement to The Times, Jim Nelson, the Editor of GQ, said: “I don’t really get into the inner workings of the magazine, but I can tell you that, yes, we did kill a Hillary piece. We kill pieces all the time for a variety of reasons.” He refused to elaborate.
The move by the Clinton campaign provides a graphic example of the be-hind-the-scenes hardball tactics it employs in keeping the New York senator’s relentlessly disciplined presidential bid on track and on message, and the power that she and her husband have in shaping how her White House bid is perceived.
On Sunday Mrs Clinton pulled off the rare feat of appearing on all five Sunday-morning political talk shows, a privilege the networks are unlikely to afford her rivals. Her lead in the national Democratic polls over her nearest rival, Barack Obama, is so big – almost 20 per cent – that pundits are now asking not if she can win the nomination, but if she can be stopped.
President Bush also thinks that she will win the nomination, it emerged yesterday, and has even indicated in private that he believes she will succeed him. White House aides, on Mr Bush’s instructions, have been privately briefing her – and other Democrat candidates – about Iraq in case she wins the election next November. They have been urging her not to commit to an immediate withdrawal if she takes office in January 2009, because Mr Bush wants his successor – Democrat or Republican – to continue prosecuting the war after he leaves the Oval Office.
Although Mr Bush often says that he will not handicap elections, he told the author of a new biography about him that Mrs Clinton has “got a great national presence, and this is becoming a national primary”. In an off-the-record session with broadcast journalists just over a week ago, Mr Bush, according to those in the room, gave the impression that he thought she would win the presidency and that he had been thinking about how to turn Iraq over to her.
Mrs Clinton’s lead in national polls, and similarly big leads over Mr Obama in the early primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, means that the contest in the first nominating state of Iowa has become crucial.
With Mrs Clinton succeeding in making her nomination look almost inevitable, her rivals are expected to be more aggressive and critical in a Democratic debate tomorrow night in New Hampshire, aware that time is running out to derail her.
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Senator Clinton will be our next President because she is smart, strong, courageous and caring. So what if she has the clout to get what was probably a slanderous article pulled. It shows how gutless the magazine was and that the article was not that important.
In many cases the media has an agenda to push instead of objective and even handed reporting. If the Clintons have the ability to level the playing field good for them!!!!
Patricia, Peoria, Il
So, Travers in the first post. Are we to assume you DO truly know the true Hillary clinton? LOL
I trust her (and Bill) to be doing the right thing for our country, and think it is good that they are strong enough to be able to stop a hatchet job by a Hillary hater, which might influence some of the weak-minded. Go, Hillary
J. McKinney, SW MO, MO
The Clinton's will fight and stick together until they are both in the Whitehouse again. Then we will see what socialism is really all about- the "Great" idomestic initiatives of Lyndon Johnson and the foreign policy of Jimmy Carter.
Frank, Centerport, New York
I recently watched "Primary Colours" for the first time and recommend it to anyone who wants not only to better understand the inner workings of the Clinton campaign machine, but especially the attitude of Hillary in the face of any potentially dangerous political or private situations. One of their biggest advantages over all the other candidates at this stage of the election is that they have been there and done it all before; they have also been in the White House and have by far the biggest hunger and desire to get back there and do that again as well! It looks as though they will achieve their goal...
Elliot Hiller, Sliema, Malta
Clinton is exactly the kind of candidate the Republicans can whip.
Allan, Bellevue, WA USA
Gah! I hate Hillary Clinton. As an American, I'm supporting Barack Obama for President. Hill just makes me ill...
Sean, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Hillary may very well be our next president, but I am not ready to give her my vote. When I compare her to Barack I see her as having a great driving ambition for power. And thats not bad to have, although its a characteristic mostly attributed to men. You know, in a women the "B" word gets thrown around.
In Barack, I see a world sophistication, an awareness that Hillary may not have. And I think that in itself, gives me pause for a moment to try and remember Bill and any great forign policy successes of his administration.
If you want an experienced ticket, I'd like to see Richardson-Biden. I'd like to see some experienced and COMPETENT diplomacy used by us, for us.
qwondre, lincoln, ne
Typical Clinton politics. Subvert constitutional rights because they don't agree with what is said or written, even if its true. GC should be ashamed of themselves and should weigh whether or not they have true freedom or want to hide behind their ridiculous statement just for access to the former Clinton. If this makes national headlines, what will their readers say? I know what the Clinton's will say, they'll just tell another of their lies to cover it up.
Kevin, Manhattan, IL.
I do agree with Jenny's comment! Lets make Hilary our next PRESIDENT!!
Elvis, Chicago, IL
Nice freedom of speech. It is really impressive when you the person who wants to be your future president, uses the former president to squash the media. How are we supposed to believe that she is not the ultimate insider who will do anything to get elected?
doug crimm, gaffney, sc
Early front-runners often fail. Howard Dean and George Romney are recent examples. One mis-step, one primary loss or an expose can end a campaign. Dean merely looked groinky. Hilary may have gotten this story pulled, but no one has voted yet.
George LoBuono, Davis , CA USA
Manipulation is no new concept to campaigns. But can you call this manipulation or just an example of a married couple standing up for each other? Their relationship and careers have both been through hell but their still standing despite the best wishes of The Republican Party. Go Hillary!
Jenny, Vancouver, WA
A tough lady who cries to her husband when a magazine is tipped to run a less than flattering, but legitimate, article about her? Yep. A feminist icon.
Joanne, Dubai, UAE
"Utterly disgusting. We have a monarchy in America, not a democracy..."
Nope, its a typical republic. Democracy would be disgusting. A republic somewhat shields the minority from the stupid majority. Basic stuff. Look into it.
Sean Andeson, Hillsboro, Ohio
Utterly disgusting. We have a monarchy in America, not a democracy...
David, washington, dc
Unfortunately, Richard from Woodville, Florida is right on top of a major problem. Far too much of the time, others call the shots and the President, at the time, has to stand the flack. Whoever comes out on top as our next President is, as a current candidate, being manipulated into position and will continue to be manipulated upon winning the Presidency. Sorry folks, but that is the way politics works. The Political "Money-Power-Greed" protocol will usually beat you regardless.
Smokey Gray, Kansas City, Missouri
As a Canadian with American friends, I hope that Hillary succeeds Bush as President. The U.S. needs to globally rebuild its image as a free, supportive, and right society. And internally, the country has a lot of work to do to get things back on track wrt where funds are invested, like into health care, higher education, and helping people of all backgrounds have a fair shot at life. That is the American dream, and yet we see fewer and fewer stories like this, and more and more of people losing their jobs to offshoring, losing their houses to loan companies, etc. while billions are spent on the war effort. It's not too late, but it has to happen soon or it will be. Best of luck to Hillary and the U.S.!!
Christine, Calgary, Alberta
RON PAUL 2008!!
Heather, Abilene, usa
I think it is important to boycott the issue that has Bill Clinton on the cover. The only way media will understand that we want truth is to touch them in the pocketbook. If that issue is a dud at the newstand maybe they will rethink their m.o.
b mayo, st. louis, mo
The Clintons and the Bushs are in the NWO together. Bill sold us out with Nafta. George W. is creating a 10 lane highway that cuts through the US from Mexico to Canada. Nothing will get better. And to prove that our elections are controlled, I will tell you now that Hillary will be president. And then when her controllers are done with her, it will be Jeb Bush as president. US freedom of choice is a farce. Our country is controlled by people who are not even Americans.
Richard, Woodville, Florida
Go Hilary!
K.Rove., DC,
This will be the "one to watch" - lets hope she doesnt listen to Mr Bushs' instructions
Jacqui, Barcelona, Spain
Anothetr Democratic candidate shows her true colors -- why not also employ a taser?
James Shelley, Los Angeles, California, USA
I'm amazed as to how the press drives us to make presumptive conclusions of the candidates.
What WE need to do is follow our thoughts and beleivefs of the candidate we hope to take over the presidency.
Politics take place in just about everything that we do, in this case, politics should BE LEFT OUT and elect the MOST approriate candidate to take us out of this MESS that BUSH has put us in.
I too want Hilary clinton to be our next president, I strongly believe that SHE and ONLY she has what it takes to turn this country around!
Oscar, Gainesville, Fl
It's a pity that she doesn't fight for Freedom of Speech.
I thought that was one of the Amendments to the Constitution - freedom of speech for everyone except if it's against the Clintons.
Mark, Compton, Surrey,
This is so typical of the Clinton's...they will stop at nothing when it comes to image control. Thesad thing is that after 16 years in the national spot light, no one truely knows the real Hilary Clinton. This women is more guarded and parranoid than Stalin. If she was a true "gal of the people" she would let the press do their job and write their stories than refute what ever she deemed to be untrue...Instead she took a move right out of the Clinton play book...Threaten and intimidate until you get your way.
Travers, Dallas, USA
Sounds reminiscent of New Labour's media bullying under Mandelson and Campbell. What an excellent way of depriving voters of the information they need to form informed opinions about their potential leaders.
Sorry American chums but if this is her attitude to free speech then you may soon see chunks your civil rights going the same way as ours. Remember, your government knows better than you how you should be living your life.
Julian, Edinburgh, UK
Any woman that can endure what Mrs. Clinton endured during President Clinton's affair with Ms. Monica Lewinski can only be described as an iron-lady and a classy lady. I respect them both for handling their personal dispute so humanly and with grace.
by Bernie Haddad, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
It is a bit insulting that four to five months before the primaries the press is giving the nomination. Americans were led to war by an irresponsible media, I just hope they don't make the same mistake by nominating Clinton. This demagogue is a patronizing pander. Look at her record.
The irony is endless. Bush predicts Clinton, the media predicts Clinton. Where's the credibility? I strongly urge voters to learn the truth about the candidates. This won't come from headlines or a president. On the ground Obama has by far the most momentum. We all know that's the place the greatest change comes from.
johnnyraygun, monterey, ca
I agree Mrs. Clinton for the job.
I long for Clintinesqe times again, when I voted for Bill it was a
vote for Hillary. She was right when she took on Health Care issues and proposed Universal Heath Care and know full well the health industry did not want to lose there honey hole and beat First Lady and beat her good, but folks saw what we were up against and saw she was tough.
I know we just can't walk out on IRAC and never believed in attacking that country or that terriorism by such a minority justified the heavy hand we delt to the East, what worries me is a unification of the East against the West and what that will ultimatly cost US, We must mitigate this and one way is to reduce our dependence of oil.
It's going to take more than just Hillary to fix things.
We need more like minded people in congress to effectivly make the change...
Ahhh, the breeze of change is coming people, its exciting and hopeful.
John Cano, Camano Island, USA/WA
So you're not disturbed at all by her ability to manipulate the media and prevent the free flow of information?
Stan, Portland, Oregon, USA
This is the President USA needs at this time..tough, inspiring, intelligent and motherly. Give her your supports.
Dave, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
She can handle any punches the boys throw her way. She a tough lady in a dominately male world- exactly what America needs right now.
Ryan, Oak Hill, WV