By Ron VandenBoom
As Hillary Clinton primes the political pumps in the State of New York, the issue of whether she will do more than just stick her toe in the electoral water is making headline news from coast to coast.
Of course, any doubts that the First Lady is at least interested in running for senator were recently erased when she announced she would soon be organizing an exploratory committee to investigate New Yorks political waters and that she will also be spending a lot of time in the Empire State.
Normally I would have little interest in a senate race from New York, but this is the first time in the countrys history that a first lady may seek political office. It is also interesting because of the unprecedented and controversial nature of her husbands presidency.
While Im confident she will eventually make it official, Im more than a little perplexed as to why. Personally, Id be happy to spend the rest of my days living off the Presidents retirement check, writing a few books, and speaking at the occasional political rally.
I guess theres something about being in the political spotlight Hillary feels she cant live without. Unfortunately for her, the spotlight in the State of New York just might get a little too bright for the First Lady before the race is over.
This is one race that will not be a cakewalk. The New York Press Corps, I hear, is notorious for its hard hitting questions and investigative reporting. There will be no pity party for Hillary in New York. The gloves will be off and no amount of finesse or graciousness will save her from the onslaught.
She will be asked all of the really tough questions she has successfully been able to avoid while living in the White House.
How, for example, was she able to earn $400,000 practically over night in the futures market without making the margin calls? How did Whitewater Papers manage to turn up on a table in the private quarters of the White House without anyone knowing where they came from or who put them there? What was her involvement in the so-called Travel Gate affair? And how does she feel today about her failed attempt to regulate one-seventh of the nations economy through socialized medicine?
Her husbands infidelity will no doubt also find its way into the mix as will the fact that she is not a native of New York.
I have long assumed that Hillary was a strong-willed woman with definite political ideas. It would come as no surprise to me to learn she was a kind of power behind the throne during the presidents years in office. Ive never believed her to be a weak-willed victim of her husbands ambition and extramarital dalliances.
I cant help but suspect and this is just a suspicion her loyalty to bad boy Bill has a lot more to do with her love of the limelight and her own political ambitions than it ever had to do with true love. In fact, it would not surprise me to learn holding political office herself was always a goal and her husband was just a stepping stone on the way to her own bid for the White House.
I may not have a specific reason for being suspicious, but something about Hillarys desire to run for office strikes me as suspicious. Why, after all of the scandal, negative press, and mutual embarrassment, would anyone named Clinton want to hold higher office?
If it were me, Id want nothing more than to find a nice quiet place to hide for the rest of my life.
Perhaps thats the true legacy of Clintons presidency mistrust.
With the hounds of the New York Press Corps already beginning to ink up their poison pens I cant help but think Hillary would be better off returning to Arkansas for a nice long period of rest and recreation.
Only a masochist would willingly enter the New York race with her baggage. Listen to the howling winds of fate Mrs. Clinton. Pass on this one.
