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Calling Clinton ‘Angry,’ G.O.P. Chairman Goes on the Attack
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: February 6, 2006
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 — The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman, offered a broad attack on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York on Sunday, describing her as a Democrat brimming with anger and a representative of the far left wing of her party.
Mr. Mehlman disputed the suggestion that Mrs. Clinton, a former first lady, had moved to the center of her party. And while he declined to say, in response to a question, if he thought Mrs. Clinton would be the Republicans' "dream candidate or the Democrat you most dread," he left little doubt that Republicans had settled on new lines of attack on one of the leading Democratic contenders for the 2008 presidential nomination.
"I don't think the American people, if you look historically, elect angry candidates," Mr. Mehlman told George Stephanopoulos on the ABC program "This Week."
Referring to Mrs. Clinton's assertion that Republicans were running Congress like a plantation, he said, "Whether it's the comments about the plantation or the worst administration in history, Hillary Clinton seems to have a lot of anger."
"There's a lot of talk about a new Hillary Clinton, but if you look at the record, it's a very left-wing record," Mr. Mehlman said, adding that her record did not reflect the values of most Americans.
Mr. Mehlman's remarks were some of the strongest statements he has made about Mrs. Clinton, and they reflect an effort by Republicans to tarnish her credentials when she is thought to be preparing for the 2008 presidential race. To some extent, Mr. Mehlman was filling a void created by the failure of the Republican Party, so far, to find a strong candidate to run against Mrs. Clinton as she seeks re-election to the Senate this year.
A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, Howard Wolfson, dismissed the attacks.
"The R.N.C. and the White House are attacking because she has effectively pointed out their failures and offered ways to address them, and they don't like that," Mr. Wolfson said. "Every poll I've seen in New York suggests that New Yorkers approve of Mrs. Clinton's performance in office because they know she's a strong advocate for them."
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: February 6, 2006
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 — The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman, offered a broad attack on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York on Sunday, describing her as a Democrat brimming with anger and a representative of the far left wing of her party.
Mr. Mehlman disputed the suggestion that Mrs. Clinton, a former first lady, had moved to the center of her party. And while he declined to say, in response to a question, if he thought Mrs. Clinton would be the Republicans' "dream candidate or the Democrat you most dread," he left little doubt that Republicans had settled on new lines of attack on one of the leading Democratic contenders for the 2008 presidential nomination.
"I don't think the American people, if you look historically, elect angry candidates," Mr. Mehlman told George Stephanopoulos on the ABC program "This Week."
Referring to Mrs. Clinton's assertion that Republicans were running Congress like a plantation, he said, "Whether it's the comments about the plantation or the worst administration in history, Hillary Clinton seems to have a lot of anger."
"There's a lot of talk about a new Hillary Clinton, but if you look at the record, it's a very left-wing record," Mr. Mehlman said, adding that her record did not reflect the values of most Americans.
Mr. Mehlman's remarks were some of the strongest statements he has made about Mrs. Clinton, and they reflect an effort by Republicans to tarnish her credentials when she is thought to be preparing for the 2008 presidential race. To some extent, Mr. Mehlman was filling a void created by the failure of the Republican Party, so far, to find a strong candidate to run against Mrs. Clinton as she seeks re-election to the Senate this year.
A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, Howard Wolfson, dismissed the attacks.
"The R.N.C. and the White House are attacking because she has effectively pointed out their failures and offered ways to address them, and they don't like that," Mr. Wolfson said. "Every poll I've seen in New York suggests that New Yorkers approve of Mrs. Clinton's performance in office because they know she's a strong advocate for them."
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