Inside Politics

Greg Pierce

Bill Clinton, fresh from helping sink Senate hopeful Walter Mondale in Minnesota, flew off to Hawaii and joined a "memorial service" for Democratic Rep. Patsy T. Mink that turned into a political rally. The result: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mazie Hirono sank like a rock in the polls and ended up losing to Republican Linda Lingle. "Mr. Clinton arrived in Hawaii on Oct. 29, flying all night after attending the infamous 'memorial service' in Minneapolis for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone. In Hawaii, Mr. Clinton made appearances at rallies on all the state's major islands: Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu," John Fund writes at www.opinionjournal.com. "In Honolulu, he appeared at an event that had been marketed as a 'memorial service' for Rep. Patsy Mink, who died on Sept. 28. It was Minnesota writ small: Mr. Clinton used the occasion to exhort the crowd to elect a Democratic governor. While criticism of the event was not nearly as intense as in Minnesota, and it got little national attention, many callers to talk shows felt that Mr. Clinton's politicking was inappropriate," Mr. Fund said. "At his Kauai rally, Mr. Clinton responded to a heckler who yelled out 'Liar' with yet another one of his trademark whoppers: 'Newt Gingrich once told me, "I'm sorry we have to be so mean to you, but if we fought fairly, we'd lose every time."' Mr. Gingrich says this tale is 'completely untrue.' Does anyone believe that a seasoned politician like Mr. Gingrich would have told his chief adversary such a thing? "Mr. Clinton drew enthusiastic crowds to his rallies, but the election results were devastating for the Democrats. Ms. Lingle won, 52 percent to 47 percent, ending the Democrats' one-party monopoly rule of the executive branch. Republicans won upset wins in mayoral races in Maui and Kauai, and gained seats in the state Senate while losing some ground in the state House. "The Clinton visit played a role in the Democratic defeat. Polls showed a sharp turn away from Democrats after Mr. Clinton's visit, Democratic pollster Don Clegg told the Honolulu Advertiser after the election."

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2002

Answers

Gee I wonder if they will use Clinton to stump for candidates in the next election :) I certainly hope so (yeh, I know that mean :))

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2002

shudda thrown 'im in the volcano.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2002