by Don Frederick
In the very first words she uttered reacting to John McCain's speech on the housing market crisis this week, Hillary Clinton evinced part of her appeal to older voters: her frame of reference is theirs.
"It sounds remarkably like Herbert Hoover," Clinton said of McCain's assertion that he is not inclined -- and probably never will be -- to embrace aggressive, sweeping government efforts to confront the problem of rising home foreclosures.
Specifically, McCain opined that "it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers."
By mentioning Hoover, whose tepid response to the Great Depression helped keep the White House in Democratic hands for 20 straight years after he was bounced from office in the 1932 election, Clinton invoked what once was a can't-miss applause line among Democrats. Into the 1960s, speeches at major party gatherings were sure to include denunciations of "Hooverism."
But while Clinton's remark took us back, it also underscored the generational split that is a key dynamic in her fight with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Among younger voters -- who in most states have proved a loyal Obama bloc -- references to the Hoover administration aren't likely to have much (if any) resonance.
As Obama returned to the campaign trail Wednesday, after his short break in the U.S. Virgin Islands, his response to McCain's speech focused on what has become the default position for Democrats criticizing the presumed Republican nominee on the No. 1 domestic issue.
"John McCain has admitted that he doesn't understand the economy as well as he should," Obama said at a town-hall meeting in Greensboro, N.C. "And yesterday, he proved it in a speech he gave on the housing crisis."
And when Obama called forth his version of a GOP bogeyman, it wasn't Hoover but the current occupant of the White House.
"We’ve been down this road before," he said of McCain's hands-off policy. "It’s the road that George Bush has taken for the last eight years."
Don Frederick is a political editor in the Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times and wrote this for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times' political blog.
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Comments
Good luck on that one, Hillary. American History and the democrat voter is a highly incompatible combination.
Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | March 27, 2008 9:20 AM
Thank you for describing what it means when someone uses the term Hooverism. From its use the past few days I couldn't even tell if it was a positive or a negative. But could I ask for a little more clarification? Used in context, does it mean that the President is laissez-faire to the point of being in denial? Or can it be used in other condescending terms?
For example, you can describe someone as a Bushie, but that term could be used in so many different contexts (in denial, stubborn, mental midget, etc)
Posted by: Armi | March 27, 2008 9:36 AM
You know, in truth, I'm with the Republicans on this one. I'm not big on bailing out private parties in the absence of government involvement in their demise. Instead, I would have government look at the laws of corporate America. To let corporate officers walk off with 7-figure salaries (and stock options usually exercised just prior to the "fall," 'piercing the corporate veil' and holding them personally accountable is a tighter form of recourse. Government bail-outs often create substitute beneficiaries as well as substitute paymasters.
Posted by: tony.s | March 27, 2008 10:21 AM
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Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | March 27, 2008 9:20 AM
But she’s counting on ignorance of history to make her criticism effective. Criticizing someone for acting like Herbert Hoover is based on the false, but popular, assumption that Herbert Hoover was either responsible for the Great Depression or didn’t try enough to arrest it. In truth, Herbert Hoover vigorously attempted to stem the decline of the economy after ‘29. He started building programs and spending so much that even F.D.R. criticized him for having “the greatest spending administration in peacetime in all of history." Apparently, hypocrisy wasn’t beneath F.D.R., insofar as much of his “New Deal” was based directly on Hoover’s efforts. Apparently the Democrats of today – like Hillary – have forgotten that the epithets of Hoover and “Hooverism,” for being a do nothing, were lies when first uttered.
Posted by: John W. | March 27, 2008 3:12 PM
DON'T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. "Carpe diem" (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see's a beautiful world of plenty for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it's time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children's future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don't want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama's. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 2 and 3 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON'T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton's offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama's place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton's have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton's. Only the Clinton's are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
"This is not a game" (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith...
Posted by: jacksmith | March 27, 2008 7:20 PM