AP--Clinton campaign invokes the name of Ann Richards, gets slammed by Richards' sons.

[Bicoastal]

This is pretty ugly--the youngest daughter said yes to an Internet ad, but the rest of the family said no.

Excerpt:

"So many women around Texas and America are saying, `Wish Ann was here, for us and for Hillary,'" a female voiceover says on the video.

"Today Ann would be asking all of us to make a statement. She would be traveling to every small town and big city in Texas, urging us all to take a stand, be counted, to make a difference, to make history," it says while a picture of Richards and Clinton appears on the screen. "This one's for Texas. This one's for our country. This one's for Ann."

--SNIP--

"As her children, we never presumed to know her mind when alive and we are not prepared to make a claim as to who she would endorse or what she would do if she were still with us," they (the Richards sons) wrote in an e-mail last week. "We are not granting permission for her name to be used in advertisements on behalf of either candidate."

The e-mail, provided to The Associated Press by Dan Richards, was sent to Cathy Bonner, a friend of their mother's and member of Richards' administration. Bonner is working with Clinton's campaign and sent Dan and Clark Richards an early copy of the video on Feb. 19 "to make sure you are okay with it."

Dan Richards said in an interview Tuesday that they denied permission and he's angry the campaign published the video anyway. He said the campaign contacted him again last Friday to ask him to reconsider, and he repeated his objections.

"They asked me if I would sue the campaign, and I said no, I wasn't in the business of suing the campaign, but I didn't think they should do it," he said in a telephone interview. "To try to present who she would endorse a year and a half after she died is offensive to me."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_ann_richards

[Botany]

1. There goes @ least 100,000 votes.

When a family member says no but you run it anyway you are
flirting w/ disaster.

I hope the family sues.

[anigbrowl]

56. Yeah really. Whoever made that decision should quit.

and you can interpret that however you want.

[Botany]

58. Ann Richards was loved by many and putting words into ....

.... her mouth now that she is dead after Family members said no to
will really hurt Hillary w/ many women in TX who loved Ann.

[Texas_Kat]

60. Ellen Richards gave permission, and went further ...

Ann RIchards daughter (who is an active Democrat) gave permission -- there's no evidence her sons are even Dems.

Clinton's campaign had permission from Richards' youngest daughter, Ellen, who said in a statement provided by the campaign that her mother was an "ardent feminist" who would be thrilled by her friend Hillary Clinton's candidacy.

"I believe that if my mom were alive today that she would be stumping across Texas and around the country supporting Hillary for president," her statement said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_ann_richards

[Botany]

62. It makes no difference what her sons are ....

.... they are family and that trumps all politics. Hillary going
against the family's wishes is tacky beyond words. Also it shows
a "political tin ear."

[LiberalAndProud]

64. Then they should have had Ellen say exactly that.

This is bad form, even if two of Ann's children hadn't said so.

We are witnessing the death throes of a badly mismanaged campaign.

[TheWraith]

65. Exactly. There's nothing wrong with saying "Mom would have liked this..."

Or "I wish my mom were still here to see this." That's a family member speaking for themselves, and is wholly appropriate. But to try to word it in a way as to put an endorsement in the mouth of someone who's died? That's sleazy.

[JerseygirlCT]

124. Exactly.

Ellen is perfectly free to speculate on video about what she "thinks" her mom would have done. But to take it that next step and imply that Ann actually can or did endorse anyone in this race is tacky. The campaign is right off the rails.

[sykalla2]

88. Actually if you look at OpenSecrets, yeah it's pretty verifiable they are dems.

And if you also take a look at the same site Ann Richards donated , she did in fact support hillary.

[JerseygirlCT]

123. So based on her daughter's "belief", they're implying an endorsement

that doesn't, couldn't exist?

It's cheap.

[roguevalley]

72. i will never understand why people don't vet stuff like this. i would

protect my mother too.

[MoJoWorkin]

2. Even if they were friends, you don't go putting words in a dead person's mouth

How tacky. And you sure don't do it after you are asked not to by her children.

[KLee]

35. Gotta say....

I agree

[0007]

37. Right on!!

[Pryderi]

41. Wellll....to be fair, Caroline Kennedy did the same sort of thing.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

46. No she didn't. She said Obama's candidacy reminded her of her father

She didn't say that her father would have endorsed him. She was speaking for herself.

[rox63]

48. The Kennedy ads did not say JFK would be campaigning for Obama if he was alive

They were clearly from Caroline & Ted Kennedy, and they mention how Obama inspires them like JFK inspired people. They didn't assume who JFK would have supported.

The operative passage: "Today Ann would be asking all of us to make a statement. She would be traveling to every small town and big city in Texas, urging us all to take a stand, be counted, to make a difference, to make history," it says while a picture of Richards and Clinton appears on the screen."

[Cha]

67. Totally putting words in Ann Richards mouth..

and from what I know of Ann Richards I say..not so fast.

[Yossariant]

3. Suing?! Sounds like a couple more TX villages are missing their idiots.

:rofl:

"Clinton's campaign had permission from Richards' youngest daughter, Ellen, who said in a statement provided by the campaign that her mother was an 'ardent feminist' who would be thrilled by her friend Hillary Clinton's candidacy.

'I believe that if my mom were alive today that she would be stumping across Texas and around the country supporting Hillary for president,' her statement said."

[Window]

4. They should have respected the son's request not to run the ad.

Ann Richards is the mother of the sons also. If the children had taken a vote, the sons would win 2 to 1.

It was tacky of them to run it after contacting the sons and being asked not to use their mother's name in the commercial.

It was okay with the Clinton campaign to it against the sons' wishes only after the said they wouldn't sue. Tacky. Tacky. Tacky.

[jasmine621]

25. Why? Was it negative to Ann? Obama can run ads about JFK, RFK

the HRC campaign can't mention Ann Richards who is one of Hillary's heros?

[Window]

27. Why...because her sons found it offensive and said so.

The Kennedy family apparently did not mind.

[KLee]

36. Herein....

is the difference

[saracat]

101. Her "sons" not her daughter.

[Yael]

47. No one in the Kennedy family (that I am aware of) is presuming to speak for JFK or RFK

Caroline's endorsement was her own opinion, not channeling her father.

[DefenseLawyer]

52. Wait, Obama said he had JFK's endorsement?

I missed that. I bet Woodrow Wilson wouldn't do much campaigning for Senator Obama, but Teddy Roosevelt? Maybe! How about President Lincoln? Vote Obama. This one's for Honest Abe!

[MagickMuffin]

7. Are you implying the Richards' sons are idiots?.?.?

"They asked me if I would sue the campaign, and I said no, I wasn't in the business of suing the campaign, but I didn't think they should do it," he said in a telephone interview. "To try to present who she would endorse a year and a half after she died is offensive to me."


Time for you to look into the mirror before you start implying other people are idiots.

[Yossariant]

9. Implying they are idiots?! I am SAYING they are idiots.

The sons said the campaign asked about suing!

The campaign is worried about suing BUT RUNS THE AD ANYWAY?!?!

:rofl:

Ya gotta be braindead to believe them.

Oh .... never mind.
:shrug:

[MagickMuffin]

10. And again I say take a look in the mirror, I bet there would be an idiot staring back

The Clintons campaign are showing how disrespectful they are to continue running the video.

There is NO way to tell if Ann would have endorsed her.

Our great Molly Ivins sure wouldn't have endorsed Hillary.

[elixir]

16. So I guess it's OK for you to put words into Molly Ivins mouth? I don't think so.

[Occam Bandage]

18. Actually, Molly before her death gave an anyone-but-Hillary "endorsement" for '08.

http://freepress.org/columns/display/1/2006/1304

[Political Heretic]

23. ZING

[grantcart]

28. busted

[Window]

29. I was hoping you would post this.

:rofl:

[Baby Snooks]

32. And were it not for this column...

If they didn't have the reality of this column to deal with, they would have already had the "Molly would have voted for Hillary" ads running all over Texas. They still may. They convinced Molly to forget who came up with the "Why the Hell Not?" slogan of Kinky Friedman's campaign in 2006. And endorse someone Molly probably wouldn't have in ordinary circumstances. Any more than Ann Richards would have. And Ann Richards could have if she had wanted to. Something Liz Smith made clear when she stated in her column that Ann probably would have supported Kinky Friedman. Point is she didn't endorse anyone.

There really is something very creepy about people taking advantage of dying people as well as dead people in a political campaign.

As for the arguments about the Obama campaign doing the same thing with regard to the legacy of JFK, no one would know better which of the candidates best exemplified the memory of JFK than his brother.

Ted Kennedy was part of the three Kennedys. And knew best what his brother's felt and thought. Reality is he has continued their legacy for them. And that is a legacy that Hillary Clinton cannot claim is hers as well. Which really irritates the hell out of the Clinton supporters.

No doubt if all else fails, they will start taking pot shots at JFK.

[greguganus]

38. Where did that poster run off to?

pwned! :rofl:

[KLee]

39. What...

poster?

[Greyskye]

75. Game. Set. Match.

You just can't spin this:

Molly Ivins

I will not support Hillary Clinton for president
January 20, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas --- I'd like to make it clear to the people who run the Democratic Party that I will not support Hillary Clinton for president.
(snippage)

[snooper2]

33. bam

you've been punked

[MagickMuffin]

71. I would NEVER speak for Molly, She does a better job of it then I could ever do

I will not support Hillary Clinton for president

January 20, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas --- I'd like to make it clear to the people who run the Democratic Party that I will not support Hillary Clinton for president.

Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation. Enough clever straddling, enough not offending anyone This is not a Dick Morris election.
Sen. Clinton is apparently incapable of taking a clear stand on the war in Iraq, and that alone is enough to disqualify her. Her failure to speak out on Terri Schiavo, not to mention that gross pandering on flag-burning, are just contemptible little dodges.

The recent death of Gene McCarthy reminded me of a lesson I spent a long, long time unlearning, so now I have to re-learn it. It's about political courage and heroes, and when a country is desperate for leadership. There are times when regular politics will not do, and this is one of those times. There are times a country is so tired of bull that only the truth can provide relief.

MORE:
http://freepress.org/columns/display/1/2006/1304

[PretzelzRule]

105. Um....

Molly put her OWN words into her mouth before she left us.

As many have already pointed out to you. But nice try.

[Occam Bandage]

17. "Richards' kids are idiots for not presuming their mother would support my candidate!"

[JI7]

5. since the daughter said it was ok, i think they just need to let it be

it's one of those things you may not like, but not worth arguing or complaining about. it might be different if none of the children were ok with it.

[Madam Mossfern]

8. That's quite similar the the behavior of a child

Who ehen they get a "no answer from one parent, turn around and ask the other. If one of her children would be offended, then the ad should not have been run.

[juajen]

145. But, Ann did donate to Hillary's campaign. DeFacto endorsement.

Or, did she also donate to Obama's or any of the other candidates? I would be interested in knowing if anyone has this info.

[tammywammy]

157. She donated to Clinton's senate campaign

Not the presidential one. No one knows who Ann Richards would have supported.

[my3boyz]

6. Desperate people do desperate things... nt

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Clinton's Is The Most Self-Destructive Camapaign I've Ever Seen

What were they thinking? That the press wouldn't pick up this ham-handed move?

I can't believe that consultants are being paid millions for this insanity.

The good news is that it helps show the Clintons in the proper light.

[Apollo11]

12. Endorsements from the deceased?

That's one of the craziest things I ever heard ...

What's to prevent Obama saying that JFK or MLK would be out on the stump for him? :eyes:

Then he can defend it like this: "Don't worry. I cleared it with JFK's daughter."

[C_U_L8R]

13. i see dead people

yes, putting words into dead people's mouths is pretty gruesome

[Hepburn]

14. Shame on you, Hillary.

There are just some lines that should not be crossed ~~ like putting words in the mouth of a dead person when you have NO clue on how the hell that person felt or thought about an issue.

How totally disrespectful to the memory of Ann Richards.

[Cha]

69. Talk about Desperate..they can't find

someone who is worthy and alive?!

[WolverineDG]

15. Which is why she didn't dare raise Molly Ivins' name

She would have been struck by lightning if she had.

dg

[Vinca]

19. Next up: FDR endorses Hillary.

:rofl:

[Occam Bandage]

21. "I think we all know that if the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama were here, he'd be in our camp."

[grantcart]

30. I would ask my monk but I hate it when he laughs at me

[JerseygirlCT]

126. Remember those ads a while back?

With all the dead people selling something (can't even remember what) - you know, there's Bogey pitching the product, there' someone else.

Looks like they've taken a page from that playbook. It's offensive, particularly in this instance.

[Occam Bandage]

20. That's disgusting. I suppose she can't get endorsements from the living, so she has to play

make-believe with the dead.

[CTLawGuy]

85. so THAT'S why they spent

$100k on Ouija boards! :)

[powergirl]

22. I wish Gov. Richards were alive today

She could run for president and beat the crap out of all of them. I sure miss her.

[goldcanyonaz]

40. I don't see any woman beating the crap out of any man with the sexist rhetoric that has surrounded

this campaign.

To think otherwise is wishful thinking at best.

[powergirl]

45. She beat Clayton Williams

and won the the position of governor of the State of Texas. She beat Williams by dealing with sexist comments by his campaign and the Texas media. It can be done and it takes a special kind of woman to do that. Too bad she's not around to give lessons.

[goldcanyonaz]

49. The fact that a "special woman" would be needed to deal with sexism proves my point.

[powergirl]

53. Do you want to win or do you want to be right?

I say this to my clients all of the time. And I agree with your sentiment. It's not fair and it is not right. Women have to work a lot harder for everything that we do. That sucks. But today, for a woman to succeed she needs to bust her butt twice as much as a man. Eventually, hopefully, this won't be the case. But it is a fact, right now, today. So, yes a woman can kick ass and take names. And Ann Richards could do it. I wish Sen. Clinton would do it too. So, that she can WIN!! You, me, Sen. Clinton can bitch and moan about how much this sucks. But in my life as a trial attorney (in conservative North Texas where all my judges are Republicans), I work twice as hard to have what men coast through. The benefit - I'm here. Clinton should do the same so she can win. It's not right - but she could be president. Which is the better alternative?

[bvar22]

54. You don't get it.

It is NOT a "Woman" thing.

It IS a "not THIS Woman" thing.
Other women are doing extremely well in American politics.

[goldcanyonaz]

59. Bullshit, it definately is a woman thing. How one can not notice the sexist pukefest is beyond me.

[Political Heretic]

24. WORST RUN. CAMPAIGN. EVER.

I'm developing a place of sympathy in the back of my heart somewhere for Hillary.

A small one... :)

[Occam Bandage]

26. I have too. She didn't deserve her atrocious campaign.

Of course, she did hand-pick her staffers, and she is paying through the nose for their advice, so that kind of tempers it, but still.

[Baby Snooks]

31. Only Liz Smith knows for sure...

Of course the last time Liz Smith said who Ann Richards would have endorsed, she collided with Cecile Richards. And retracted the "posthumous" endorsement. Sort of. And that of course may explain why Cecile Richards has not returned phone calls. And why Liz Smith so far has not said who one of her best friends would have endorsed.

One thing we can know for sure. Ann Richards would not have endorsed Kinky Friedman for president. But only because he isn't running.

[KLee]

34. WOW!

This can't be good.

[zulchzulu]

42. More classless bullshit from the Clinton campaign

They were denied permission to use Ann Richards in an ad and they went ahead and did it anyway.... what absolute bullshit.

:puke:

[Cha]

70. What is that reminiscent of?

Reminds me of something in the past 8 years?

[Lisa0825]

43. I am glad the family took a stand.

I miss Ann :cry:

[WolverineDG]

44. Me too!

I wanted HER to be the first woman president. :cry:

dg

[Whisp]

50. omg, wouldn't Ann have been Great as a president?

I have tears in my eyes thinking that.

[WolverineDG]

55. Yeah &

I bet she'd have ridden that Harley to the Inauguration too!

dg

[Botany]

61. Did I ever tell you that you are my Fav?

Legal question Can the family sue Clinton's Campaign for this?

From what I know about Texas, Ann, and Texas EDVs this will cost Hillary
a lot of votes.

Who the f*** is giving her advice?

Hillary started w/ $150 million, a 40 point lead, tons of endorsements, and
lots of campaign staff & volunteers and now she is down to whining about
the "unfair media." I hope Ohio helps to put an end to her campaign ...
I told you when her state chair was on the radio I told him if Hillary went
negative Ohio would not be nice to her .... but she went ahead and went
dirty in a State that is sick of that crap.

[juajen]

146. The family is in disagreement. No wonder they would not sue.

Add the daughter's compliance with Ann's contribution to Hillary's campaign and you have a lost lawsuit. Maybe they could not afford this.

[Drunken Irishman]

68. A funny Utah story: BYU fans HATED Ann Richards.

Because of the Big 12 and her insistence Baylor be allowed into the newly formed conference -- which took a spot many thought could go to BYU.

They haven't forgiven her since. Of course, as a Utah Utes fan, I love it! :D

[saracat]

103. the "family " did NOT take a stand.The "sons" didn't like what their sister approved.

And the fact that Anne contributed to Hillary means something.

[JackORoses]

51. Just another example of Hillary's 'Say Anything' strategy, she'll even say anything for the dead

[AtomicKitten]

57. Ouch!

[Scurrilous]

63. Kick

:kick:

[Cha]

66. Well, Dan Richards is smart.. and hilaryland

could give a shit.

[tabasco]

73. That's pretty disgusting. Are they that desperate?

How gruesome of the Clinton campaign to elicit an endorsement from a dead woman.

[From The Left]

74. Hillary Rips Off a Dead Woman

So classy!

[sniffa]

76. As well they should fight back immediately

Ann Richards endorsed and is campaigning for Lee Mercer, Jr. :grr:

[TexasObserver]

77. I knew Ann Richards. I worked with Ann Richards. Hillary, you are no Ann Richards.

Long before anyone ever heard of Ann, I worked for her election. To County Commissioner of Travis County. To State Treasurer of Texas.

IMHO, Ann would never have supported Hillary in this primary season. She was simpatico with Molly Ivins, something all true Ann Fans know. She would support Hillary if Hillary got the nomination, but Ann never once engaged in this kind of intra party nastiness with her opponents. She had one Democratic opponent go after her in the primary like Hillary has gone after Obama. It was Jim Mattox in the 1990 primary, who knows to this day that I would personally whip his fat ass if he ever trash-talked Ann in my presence like he did way back then.

Ann Richards WAS presidential, and the tragic irony of Hillary's invoking Ann's name is that it was the Clinton backwash and undertow which sucked her under against Junior in '94.

[LiberalAndProud]

79. And from Texas in '94 to Washington D.C. in 2000.

Ann's defeat was a national tragedy in every sense of the word.

[TexasObserver]

80. That's how it all began, and the backlash from Bill and Hill did her in.

We got slaughtered in '94 because of the backlash from the first two Clinton years.

[MagickMuffin]

89. Well Karl Rove played a big part in his Whispering Campaign,

I'm sure you'll remember Rove starting rumors of Ann being a lesbian.

But there was certainly a Clinton backlash back then as well. No doubt about it.

[TexasObserver]

92. Oh yes, that was a full on Rove attack on Richards.

They were afraid to play the Mattox cocaine card so much, for the obvious blowback potential.

Youthful indiscretions, you know.

Their attacks would not have stuck, however, if the backlash from the from two years of Hillary and Bill in DC had not laid the groundwork. Recall that is when we began to lose district judges by the scores in major cities like Houston. I always supported Bill while he was president, but he really hurt the party here in Texas. He and Hillary ran off all the indies and centrist voting Democrats in Texas.

[MagickMuffin]

109. Yep, they really had a hand in turning Texas RED

This is the first year in a very long long time here in Tarrant County that we finally have some Judges to vote for.

Every election NO Democratic Judges. So every year I voted for the Libertarian Judges, if they were opposing a republicon.

I hate feeling the way I do about the Clintons, but I just don't TRUST them.

I voted for Bill in '92, but could not in '94. I saw back then that they care more about their political ambitions than the Democratic Party. They didn't try very hard to build the party. I felt like our votes were taken for granted. And then we were marginalized after they got in office.

I'm a major liberal/progressive and sometimes I have to vote my conscience.

I'm glad you have an insider view of the Politics in Texas, and that you share it with us:patriot:

[MagickMuffin]

112. Ann, Molly and Jim

Boy those three were a hoot. They ALL had that Texan humor and wit.

I miss the girls. But luckily we still have ole Jim to remind us of what progressive Democrats are ALL about.

[TexasObserver]

116. Jim's OK, and except for that nastiness with Ann in 1990, I never had a problem with him

I shouldn't trash talk him so hard, but that 1990 nonsense sticks in my craw, and reminds me of the excesses of Hillary's campaign now.

Hell, I don't know for sure which of them Ann would back right now. I think she would be put off by Hillary's divisive tactics inside the party, and I strongly suspect Ann would be waiting until the party voters picked someone. That's why I try to remember to say "IMHO" when I suggest she would go with Obama.

[BrightKnight]

142. I worked on Mattox's campaign against Fisher.

I was impressed with him. I saw a lot more of his sister and I was impressed with her too.

They all come out of the same political tradition. They were all, decent, rock solid, Blue state Texas Democrats.

IMHO, Ann Richard's heart would have been with Hillary. She would have been very happy to see Obama in the Whitehouse too. I doubt that she would have endorsed either of them until after the primary. She would have done everything in her power to get one of them elected.

[juajen]

147. I ask again, did Ann donate to Obama's campaign?

NT

[tabasco]

78. Kick!

:kick:

[BrightKnight]

81. Ann Richards would have said "Madam President" very enthusiastically.

I never heard her say anything negative about the Clintons. She would have been happy to see both of them run. I doubt that she have actually "endorsed" either of them.

[Johnny__Motown]

82. I am glad you know her better than her own sons. good for you

[BrightKnight]

84. I doubt that they would disagree with what I actually posted. - n/t

[saracat]

107. But I would venture to say her daughter knew her better than her sons.

[Eric J in MN]

83. It's one thing to say Ann Richards would support the Democratic nominee...

...but implying which primary candidate she'd support in a commercial is a bit much.

At least they could have used the daughter presenting her POV on her mother instead of a narrator.

[sanjiadem]

86. At this point in history, I don't think it would matter if Ann Richards rose up

out of her grave to endore Hillary. Fact is the Hillary Hatefest has lost to the Obama Lovefest -- and, neither will do much for the majority of us. We've lost those who would have due to big $$$ donors, celebrities, and the M$M.

But, my DraftGore and Edwards for Presidents stickers are staying right where they are.

That's my idea of REAL 'Hope' and 'Change'.

[sykalla2]

87. Looks like its settled. Ann Richards Does IN FACT Support Hillary.

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=89HVF&txtName=Richards&txtState=TX&txtAll=Y&Order=N

She made MULTIPLE $1000 donations to Hillary over the past 5 years.

PEACE

[TexasObserver]

90. Not for president, for senate. She gave $3K - Hill, $4K - Doggett, $3K - Edwards, $3K - Ron Kirk.

Less than the $4000 she gave to Lloyd Doggett, who has endorsed Obama.

Same as she gave to Chet Edwards and Ron Kirk, who have endorsed Obama for president.

She also gave thousands to Mary Landrieu for the Senate. She gave to Gore, Dodd, Markey, Gephardt, Joe Kennedy, Kerry, and many others.

It's very disingenuous to cherry pick Ann's political contributions for House and Senate seats, and leap three years beyond her last senate contribution to Hillary to declare Ann a supporter of Hillary for president.

[Cheeseburger Walrus]

94. Truly...

Ann was one in a million. For anyone to assign posthumous backing for political gain is grotesque and unworthy of consideration. This smacks of extreme multitasking, and I hope Senator Clinton was not actively a part of this process. It reminds me of those creepy commercials in which anachronistic movie stars are lifted from their beloved celluloid and suddenly hocking soda, or dancing for toilet cleaner.

[TexasObserver]

96. Right. I'll say I think she would have supported Obama at this point in the race, but not in an ad.

That's just so wrong. Teddy and Caroline never said "if JFK were alive he would want you to vote for Obama."

Hillary knew the two boys objected to it. They could have had the daughter do a testimonial ala Caroline, but they just have to play for deception. Ann is much beloved by Texans, and for good reason. But she had charm, grace, a quick wit, and a rapier like ability to fend off with humor attacks, similar to Obama, and completely unlike Hillary.

I am absolutely shocked with how Hillary has run her campaign the past 8 weeks. It has been one hideous ploy after another. She's proved that she's not ready to run a campaign, and that's an acid test for whether she could run the country well. She failed that test.

[MagickMuffin]

91. Donations for Hillary's SENATE campaign

Last donation March 05.

A big whopping $3000.00 dollars to her senate seat.

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=TX&last=Richards&first=Ann

[TexasObserver]

93. and it was over 5 years, for two senate races

[BrightKnight]

143. ...and she was politically smart enough to know that it was more than just a Senate race.

Hillary has been running for President since was elected to the Senate and everyone left, right, and center knows it.

[dailykoff]

95. "This one's for Ann, except she's dead, and her family objects to my exploiting her memory."

Yeah that'll fly.

[saracat]

106. Except it isn't her "family" It is just her sons.The daughter approves.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

97. hope this doesnt become a Clinton Obama supporter family knife fight! n/t

[Tresalisa]

98. Whether or not Ms. Richards would've endorsed Hillary,

I think it was wrong of the Clinton campaign to run with this. It remains to be seen whether that translates into people not voting for her because of it, it was wrong. :thumbsdown:

[bigbrother05]

99. WOW just WOW

[saracat]

100. So the "sons' count more than the daughter?Why is that?

[tabasco]

102. You think it was proper to do this when the sons disagreed?

That is establishing a VERY low standard for decent conduct.

[saracat]

104. Yes. I would think her daughter would have a better handle on what a "feminist"

mom might want than the sons.Sorry but I do. I know I feel that i would be way more qualified to speak for my mother even than my Dad would have been.And I did make those kind of decisions as to what she would have wanted. Because I "knew" her as a woman and her daughter. No son ever knows his mom that way.And it is my understanding that Ann and her daughter were close.

[tabasco]

108. Wow. That's an amazing statement.

I suppose you are one who accuses Obama supporters of sexism.

[saracat]

111. But daughters "do" understand their Mom's better.Generally speaking.

Most women I know would agree with this.The sons may feel they are protecting their Mom but it seems the daughter wants to "speak" for her.I guess I just can't explain it.In any event, the daughter did give permission.It sounds like the sons should have more of a problem with their sister than the campaign, whatever.

[tabasco]

113. Your statements are blatantly sexist, incorrect, and reflect very poorly on you.

Just think about what you are saying and the generalizations you are making. Your statements are indefensible.

It's late at night. Not many have seen them. Go ahead and self-delete those stupid comments.

[saracat]

117. From a poster as nasty as this , the opinion stated is taken for what it is worth , nothing.

You are just attempting to turn an argument on its head to justify your own position. And you obviously have zero understanding of a good mother daughter realtionship. I suppose you also think it is sexist for me to say I had a greater understanding of my late mother than my Dad? Well, even he admitted it was so.

[tabasco]

118. I made no statements regarding your relationship to your mother.

Your statement that "daughters understand mothers better than sons" is blatantly sexist.

Please explain to me why it is not.

[saracat]

120. It is as "sexist" as saying Blacks have experienced more discrimination than whites is racist.

[tabasco]

131. No, it's not.

You claim that females have better understanding of their mothers than males do.

That is blatantly sexist and I'm sorry if you don't understand it. Think about it.

[saracat]

144. As you seem to have no concept of what sexim is from previous posting, I am done. This is silly.

[tabasco]

150. Sexism is irrationally attributing qualities / traits based on gender.

You claim that all females are superior to males in understanding their mothers. So, according to you, I did not understand my late mother as well as my sister, although you have no knowledge of my family, just your prejudice.

That is a clearly a sexist statement and I'm afraid you are the one who is clueless as to the meaning of sexism.

[saracat]

152. I believe I said "most". There is such a thing as gender identity and to undesrtnd it exists is NOT

sexist. I never understood my father as well as my mother in certain aspects. There are differences in the sexes and it is not sexist to understand that fact.A male may claim and "understanding of childbirth" but he will never really relate to it.There are certain aspects of being male that women will never relate to.That is not sexim.

[tabasco]

154. Makes no difference if you say "most" or "all.".

You have no rational basis to make the claim that "most females understand their mothers better than males."

You are taking your own very limited observation and applying it to an entire gender, i.e., "males are inferior at understanding their mother." That is called STEREOTYPING.

If I see a black man rob a bank, it is irrational for me to believe, "most black men are criminals," just as much as "all black men are criminals."

You really need to learn about stereotypes, racism, and sexism before you preach to others about it.

[saracat]

156. I suggest you go read some of your other posts before you censure anyone else on sexism.

[tabasco]

158. OK- why don't you tell me what post of mine is sexist?

I'll wait right here for you to point out some of my sexist posts.

(I might be able to save you some time here: there are NONE)

[juajen]

148. Not sexist at all. My daughters all know me much better than my sons.

I'm sure most mothers would say the same.

[tabasco]

151. You need to learn the definition of sexism.

Your statement is a clear display of ignorance and prejudice.

If you see a black man dancing well, do you make the assumption that all black men have good rhythm?

If you see a woman who is a good cook, do you assume all women are good cooks?

That is called stereotyping, and the basis for both racism and sexism.

[union_maid]

125. OK, that's you're mother/daughter relationship. Not everyone's.

I believe I'm equally close to both my son and daughter, in different ways. When it comes to discussing personal philosophy, politics and all those things - well, I have more conversations with my son about those things because he's more interested in them than my daughter is. They both know where I stand politically in a general sense. Neither would be able tell anyone who I would have chose to vote for in a primary which didn't happen until a year and a half after my death. Things change much closer in than that in an election. The daughter should have chosen to speak for herself as the daughter of Ann Richards. There would have been nothing wrong with that.

[JerseygirlCT]

128. Because any objection ought to have meant pulling the ad

Doesn't matter which child made the objection. Any one of them ought to have had a veto.

[CreekDog]

110. This is just not her month is it

damn, i'm feeling bad for her now.

[michaz]

114. She can't speak, she is deceased. Did she even get a chance to know

and hear Obama and what he stands for? How does one profess to know who she would back at this point? She could easily like and prefer Obama at this juncture in time. I would "haunt" my kids if they tried to do something like this after I was dead. It would not be a way I would want to be "used"!

[juajen]

149. OMG, you are absolutely correct.

To know Obama is to worship Obama. What utter hogwash!

[JTFrog]

115. One just has to wonder what is driving the desperation. She's on the verge of do or die, all or

nothing. What on earth is driving this desperate attempt to get back to the White House? There is honestly something just not right about it and it raises every suspicion one should have about their government and their leaders.

[Tippy]

119. Tacky really tacky...

The Hillary campaign should have dropped the issue...Is the the way Hillary will treat others she has to deal with if she becomes president?..

[goldcanyonaz]

121. Anne's daughter would have much more respect around here if she had a penis.

Just callin em the way I see em.

[Cheeseburger Walrus]

122. That's a bit much

[goldcanyonaz]

127. From my end, it's not enough. The sexist drivel on this forum is beyond offensive.

We wouldn't put up with racism, but sexism is an everyday occurrence around here.

[JerseygirlCT]

129. Well, get your glasses checked, then.

This isn't about gender. This is about propriety, and using a dead person's memory to try to drum up votes, over the objections of some members of that person's immediate family.

Had it been one son, or her daughter, who'd objected, it still ought to have meant no ad. Their gender isn't an issue; their relationship to their mother is, and they are ALL their mother's children.

[goldcanyonaz]

132. You've obviously not noticed the Molly Irvin's threads that pop up all the time

condemning Clinton from beyond the grave.

Oh wait, there's one on the main page.

[JerseygirlCT]

134. Those would be Molly's own words

Far different from a supposition from one child used to imply that it's a certainty that Ann herself would have endorsed.

Unless we know Ann could tell the future and had made a prospective endorsement (in writing) of HRC, these are not in any way the same situation.

[tammywammy]

130. This is just wrong

They shouldn't have published the video without the entire family's support. They could have changed it and had Ellen Richards say something like "Hillary Clinton reminds me of my mother," just like what Caroline Kennedy did.

Ann Richards is dead :cry: No one know who she would have supported.

edited to add: I wonder how Cecile Richards feels about this.

[goldcanyonaz]

133. Much like Molly Ivins, but that doesn't stop anyone from posting.

[tammywammy]

135. Except that Molly Ivins had a whole column "I will not support Hillary Clinton for president"

http://freepress.org/columns/display/1/2006/1304

I will not support Hillary Clinton for president
January 20, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas --- I'd like to make it clear to the people who run the Democratic Party that I will not support Hillary Clinton for president.

Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation. Enough clever straddling, enough not offending anyone This is not a Dick Morris election. Sen. Clinton is apparently incapable of taking a clear stand on the war in Iraq, and that alone is enough to disqualify her. Her failure to speak out on Terri Schiavo, not to mention that gross pandering on flag-burning, are just contemptible little dodges.

The recent death of Gene McCarthy reminded me of a lesson I spent a long, long time unlearning, so now I have to re-learn it. It's about political courage and heroes, and when a country is desperate for leadership. There are times when regular politics will not do, and this is one of those times. There are times a country is so tired of bull that only the truth can provide relief.

If no one in conventional-wisdom politics has the courage to speak up and say what needs to be said, then you go out and find some obscure junior senator from Minnesota with the guts to do it. In 1968, Gene McCarthy was the little boy who said out loud, "Look, the emperor isn't wearing any clothes." Bobby Kennedy -- rough, tough Bobby Kennedy -- didn't do it. Just this quiet man trained by Benedictines who liked to quote poetry.
-snip-



Saying Molly wouldn't support Hillary isn't putting words into her mouth.

[JerseygirlCT]

136. Exactly. These are Molly's words, not someone's guess. Big difference. nt

[goldcanyonaz]

137. The Molly Ivins piece is being used as a tool to make it seem like she would have supported Obama.

And, that has been the theme around here ever since I joined.

I do trust a daughter to know her mother's intension's more than I would trust a son to know.

There isn't a daughter I know who isn't more in tune with her mothers feelings at any given time than a son.

[tammywammy]

138. Not by me it's not

It just shows that Molly wouldn't support Hillary. Period.

[union_maid]

139. I said this up above

But I'll say it again. On many issues my son is perfect tune with my feelings. My daughter and I have a closer understanding in other areas. I think that family relationships are very individual and you can't really make a blanket statement like that. At least not anymore than you can pick a primary favorite for someone who was deceased over a year before the first vote was cast.

[tammywammy]

140. Agreed

[rodeodance]

141. "video was edited to remove photos of the family. "We're not saying we speak for the family,"

enough

daughter said YES. sons objected. video revised.
good greif!




Cathy Bonner said in an interview that after Richards' sons objected the video was edited to remove photos of the family. "We're not saying we speak for the family," Bonner said. She said the video is a statement from the former governor's supporters about the strong bond between Clinton and Richards.

[MrsT]

153. Despite the faux outrage from the "everything is sexist" brigade above, this Clinton supporter

thinks that the campaign should have respected the wishes of the whole family. Even if one family member is bothered by it, they shouldn't have run this ad. The family is more important than any kind of political gain these ads would acheive. Regardless, I don't blame Sen Clinton for this. There is no way she can know about every conversation her staffers are having. I doubt she even know about this conflict.

[Maribelle]

155. Ann Richards spoke her mind freely, no one ever had to try to read it. Shame on her sons.

As was obvious by her actions, "My mom, Ann Richards, loved Hillary Clinton," Ellen Richards said.