August 16, 2007 Thursday

Impressions of Hillary Clinton

By Steve Penn
Kansas City Star

She doesn't favor reparations for the enslavement of blacks in America. Yet she wouldn't shy away from resuming a dialogue on race if elected president of the United States.

Also, she enjoys her morning cup of coffee with just a touch of cream.

Those are the kinds of things you'll learn about Sen. Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, if you're around her for a few hours.

Last Thursday, Clinton gave a short speech before taking questions from the National Association of Black Journalists at its annual convention in Las Vegas. Later in the day, she took questions in a closed-door session with The Trotter Group, a collection of black columnists from across the country.

Questions covered every topic imaginable, and the different facets of Clinton were on display. The feisty side manifested itself at the full NABJ session when she told a grandstanding reporter to become more educated rather than waste her time asking a rhetorical question.

At the closed-door session we saw the consistent Clinton, digging in deep when it came to a question concerning her criticism of Sen. Barack Obama's willingness to meet with leaders of rogue nations. Clinton has criticized Obama for his statement, calling him "naive."

"You don't promise a personal meeting without preconditions," Clinton told The Trotter Group. "You have to lay the groundwork. You can't give away for nothing the biggest bargaining chip we have, which is a meeting with our president. What we have to do is to get back to robust diplomacy."

Then there was Clinton the diplomat. She made it clear that her idea of foreign diplomacy is closer to Obama's than that of the Bush administration's.

"Bush and Cheney have been equal opportunity insulters," Clinton said. "They have refused any kind of engagement at lower levels with countries we have had disagreements with."

She revealed her sense of humor as well as her comfort level with black folks when she was asked about her use of a black dialect during a speech at an African-American church in the South.

"To some extent, I got criticized for being true to what I was trying to say by using a spiritual hymn to make my point," Clinton told The Trotter Group. "Secondly, I did grow up all those years in Arkansas. And I'm in this interracial marriage."

The quip earned Clinton a roomful of laughter. The joke was a reference to author Toni Morrison's description of Bill Clinton as "the first black president."

"I do sort of slip into it from time to time," Sen. Clinton said. "I'm not trying to do anything. I do find myself dropping g's and talking with the people who are there."

Despite the criticism, Clinton wouldn't rule out doing it again.

"If I'm caught up in the moment, you never know," she said. "But I will not sing. I guarantee that is not going to happen."

She also showed the steadfast Clinton. No matter how tough the questioning becomes, she can't be coaxed into saying her vote for the authorization of the war in Iraq was a mistake.

"What I've said is that I voted for diplomacy and inspections," Clinton said.

"I have said the president misused and abused the authority he was given. My vote was not a vote for pre-emptive war."

As for cities across middle America grappling with infrastructure needs, Clinton made it perfectly clear that she feels our pain. The bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the failure of the levees in New Orleans point out the need for a comprehensive approach.

"We've got to put some emergency money on the table," Clinton said.

"We've got to get these states and these localities to really prioritize the most serious needs they have. We've got to give them resources to be able to address those needs."

Like her husband, Clinton seemed quite at ease surrounded by a room full of inquisitive black journalists. She certainly wouldn't have made the "interracial marriage" remark without feeling relaxed. Disarming cracks like that can either backfire or become effective in bonding. This one was effective.

After being around her for a couple of hours, a few things became crystal clear:

She can be just as effective while on defense as on offense. She's gradually losing the cold, calculated moniker. And like many Americans, she's a bit more relaxed after her morning cup of coffee.

(Steve Penn will write Tuesday about Sen. Barack Obama's visit with black journalists.)

To reach Steve Penn, call 816-234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com