'The Trouble With Hillary'

Tom Tomorrow sizes up Hillary's claim of electability.

Hillary's entire presidential campaign has degenerated into an argument that she is the most electable Democrat. Her sleazy expression of "concern" about Obama's teenaged drug use was followed up this weekend with her assertion that her negatives are already off the charts, so she's the only one who can win.

“I’ve been tested. I’ve been vetted. I have been in the political arena in our country very intensely for 16 years. There are no surprises. There’s not going to be anybody saying, ‘Well why didn’t we think of that?’ or ‘What, my goodness, what does that mean?’” she said. “I am going to be able to go up against any Republican who they nominate.”

But in a press conference following the taping, Clinton said she wasn’t referring to Obama or any of her Democratic rivals. She said she was just talking about herself.

“The Republicans will go after whomever we nominate,” Clinton said. “And I’ve been dealing with their incoming fire for 16 years and I’m still here and I think voters should take that into account because I’ve been through those fires and I have emerged and not just survived but thrived, much to their amazement and dismay.”

If there is a more cynical case to be made in favor of a presidential candidate, I can't think of one.

Obviously, it is absurd for Hillary to suggest that there is nothing new that the Republicans can throw at her. When the time comes, they'll just start making stuff up. They will do this no matter who the Democratic nominee is.

But take a step back and think about what Hillary is saying about what she has to offer, versus Obama, who has emerged has her greatest apparent threat.

One candidate is offering: "The Audacity of Hope."

The other is offering: "I've been vetted."

Which one do you consider more inspiring?