Subject: ​Correct The Record Sunday January 25, 2015 Roundup
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Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 14:03:34 -0500
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*​**Correct The Record Sunday January 25, 2015 Roundup:*

*Headlines:*

*Real Clear Politics: “Iowa Democrats Waiting For Hillary”
<http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/01/25/iowa_democrats_waiting_for_hillary_125382.html>*

"Hanson said he supports Hillary Clinton because of her experience
advocating and fighting for ordinary middle-class Americans: 'My father has
worked in a factory for nearly 40 years, and my mom is a schoolteacher.
These are the hardworking people that make America work.'"

*Des Moines Register: “Fiorina goes after Clinton over Benghazi”
<http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/01/24/carly-fiorina-iowa-freedom-summit/22292113/>*

“Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina pitted herself against likely
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Saturday'sIowa Freedom
Summit, sparking some of the event's most boisterous applause.”

*Time: “Here’s Why Carly Fiorina Thinks She Can Best Criticize Hillary
Clinton” <http://time.com/3681536/carly-fiorina-hillary-clinton/>*

“Fiorina begins as a relative unknown, and trails far in the polls. In a
speech to the Iowa Freedom Summit, a conservative cattle call hosted by
Rep. Steve King, Fiorina offered a preview of her anti-Clinton message,
which she believes she, as the only other woman in the race, is best
equipped to offer.”

*Bloomberg: “Sarah Palin Says 'Yes We Can' Beat Hillary”
<https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-01-24/sarahpalin-says-yes-we-can-beat-hillary>*

“Sarah Palin, standing before a packed room of Republicans in Iowa, cast
herself Saturday as the judge of who's a real conservative and who can beat
Hillary Clinton in 2016.”

*Boston Herald opinion: Adriana Cohen: “Sarah Palin is the perfect foil to
take on Hillary Clinton”
<http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/columnists/adriana_cohen/2015/01/adriana_cohen_sarah_palin_is_the_perfect_foil_to_take>*

“Sarah Palin says she’s seriously considering a 2016 presidential run. Why
not?”

*Wall Street Journal blog: Washington Wire: “Scott Walker Makes His Case to
Iowa Conservatives”
<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/24/scott-walker-makes-his-case-to-iowa-conservatives/>*

“Unlike other speakers here, who offered red-meat applause lines blasting
President Barack Obama or presumed 2016 Democratic presidential
front-runner Hillary Clinton, Mr. Walker focused on his own biography.”

*Articles:*

*Real Clear Politics: “Iowa Democrats Waiting For Hillary”
<http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/01/25/iowa_democrats_waiting_for_hillary_125382.html>*

By Salena Zito

January 25, 2015

A brisk 18-minute walk down Locust Street to Woodland Avenue in Des Moines
separated Tom Henderson this weekend from close to every size, shape, color
and gender of Republican weighing a run for their party's 2016 presidential
nomination.

The Iowa Freedom Summit, held Saturday, was a testing ground for GOP
hopefuls to impress voters, a little more than a year ahead of the Iowa
caucuses scheduled for Feb. 1, 2016.

Henderson is the Democrat chairman of Polk County, one of the most populous
counties in Iowa and where one-fifth of the state's Democrats will caucus
on that day. He does not have anything on his event calendar for Democrats
that is equivalent to the big GOP cattle-call held down the street — and,
for now, he is OK with that.

“This year has been quiet, more like a typical presidential year rather
than the one we saw in 2007 when Barack Obama first came to the state,”
Henderson said, recalling the regular visits by then-candidate Obama or one
of his surrogates or staff members, who all spent a great deal of time
team-building. “That doesn't mean there aren't people on the ground now for
candidates, it just hasn't percolated up yet.”

The Iowa Democratic Party is in a moment of self-reflection, explained Iowa
State political scientist Steffen Schmidt.

“The establishment is in a blue funk after the catastrophic performance in
the 2014 elections,” he said, referring to state Democrats losing a U.S.
Senate seat that many considered a sure thing, as well as a U.S. House seat
and the governorship. “All of this has contributed to a sense of both
malaise and panic.”

Despite the absence of campaign offices and event announcements for a
cluster of potential candidates that, eight years ago, had nine very
different Democrats stumping the Hawkeye State to win voters' hearts,
plenty of excitement is building for next year's caucuses, Henderson and
others insist.

Polk County has a big impact in elections, and 25-year-old Blake Hanson is
literally at the epicenter of that excitement and impact.

The Des Moines law student, who grew up in the town of Sergeant Bluff, is
the state treasurer of the Ready for Hillary campaign. He helped to
organize the first RFH event in Iowa last January, coordinated RFH's
political contributions to Iowa Democrats in the midterm elections, and
advises the RFH Iowa group that is organizing in all 99 of the state's
counties.

That type of person-to-person grassroots organizing is the key to success
in a caucus.

Hanson said he supports Hillary Clinton because of her experience
advocating and fighting for ordinary middle-class Americans: “My father has
worked in a factory for nearly 40 years, and my mom is a schoolteacher.
These are the hardworking people that make America work.”

Linda Nelson, chairwoman of the Pottawattamie County Democrats and former
state teachers union president, said she, too, is comfortable with the pace
of the race. A former Obama supporter, she said former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb
of Virginia and Martin O'Malley, who just stepped down as Maryland's
governor, visited the county during the midterm elections; the Run Warren
Run folks — supporters of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts —
will meet with her shortly.

“But when Hillary announces, everything will change around here,” she said.

That announcement conceivably might not come until summer — which means
Clinton's strategy appears to be to make this into a short campaign.

And, in many ways, that makes sense: The slower and longer her non-campaign
campaign can go on, without her out there, is probably a good thing.

There is a scrutiny and a sense of voter fatigue that happen to all
presidential candidates; holding back until the very end to announce can
limit those, along with the number of stumbles that inevitably occur (and
which today's social media promptly make appear to be as significant as the
collapse of the free world).

For someone with the name Clinton — or Bush — to stay in the news but out
of the fray may be the best advantage, if fundraising and campaign-building
are done without officially being done.

This does not mean Clinton does not do a full-throated campaign.

She does, but she just does it on a shorter calendar.

*Des Moines Register: “Fiorina goes after Clinton over Benghazi”
<http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/01/24/carly-fiorina-iowa-freedom-summit/22292113/>*

By Josh Hafner

January 24, 2015, 11:11 p.m. CST

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina pitted herself against likely
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Saturday'sIowa Freedom
Summit, sparking some of the event's most boisterous applause.

With a calm tone and polished delivery, Fiorina introduced herself to
Iowans as a business-savvy outsider, the kind capable of creating real
change in government.

"Like Hillary Clinton, I too have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles
around the globe," Fiorina said. "But unlike her, I've actually
accomplished something."

That line prompted applause, hoots and hollers.

Fiorina also touted her international business experience to help position
herself as one familiar with America's allies and enemies.

"And unlike Hillary Clinton, I know what difference it makes that our
American ambassador and three other brave Americans were killed in a
deliberate terrorist attack," she said, alluding to the 2012 attack at the
U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya. The line brought a standing ovation from
attendees, halting her mid-speech.

Still unknown to many Iowans, Fiorina touted pro-life credentials by
slamming liberals in her former home state of California.

"Liberals believe that flies are worth protecting, but the life of an
unborn child is not," Fiorina said.

HINTS ON A PRESIDENTIAL BID: Fiorina described America's founding fathers
envisioning a country governed not by professional politicians but leaders
emerging from agriculture or, like herself, business.

"To accomplish fundamental reform, it will take an understanding of the
technology that is driving this century," the former tech company CEO said.

AUDIENCE REACTION: The crowd's applause indicated praise for Fiorina's
business background and glee for her head-on remarks regarding Clinton.

*Time: “Here’s Why Carly Fiorina Thinks She Can Best Criticize Hillary
Clinton” <http://time.com/3681536/carly-fiorina-hillary-clinton/>*

By Zeke J. Miller

January 24, 2015, 4:12 p.m. EST

Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is gearing up to announce a White
House bid this year, positioning herself as the Republican party’s chief
critic of likely Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton.

Fiorina begins as a relative unknown, and trails far in the polls. In a
speech to the Iowa Freedom Summit, a conservative cattle call hosted by
Rep. Steve King, Fiorina offered a preview of her anti-Clinton message,
which she believes she, as the only other woman in the race, is best
equipped to offer.

“Like Hillary Clinton, I too have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles
around the globe,” she said. “But unlike her, I have actually accomplished
something. Mrs. Clinton, flying is an activity not an accomplishment.”

The full Clinton excerpt is below:

“We must understand our role in the world – which is to lead – and the
nature of our allies and especially, our adversaries. Like Hillary Clinton,
I too have travelled hundreds of thousands of miles around the globe. But
unlike her, I have actually accomplished something. Mrs. Clinton, flying is
not an accomplishment, it’s an activity. I have met Vladimir Putin and know
that it will take more to halt his ambitions than a gimmicky red ‘Reset’
button. Having done business in over 80 countries and having served as the
Chairman of the External Advisory Board at the CIA for several eyars, I
know that China and Russia are state-sponsors of cyberwarfare and have a
strategy to steal our intellectual property. I know Bibi Netanyahu and know
that when he warns us that Iran is a danger to this nation as well as to
his own, that we must listen. And unlike Hillary Clinton I know what
difference it makes that our American Ambassador and three other brave
Americans were killed in a deliberate terrorist attack on the anniversary
of 9-11 in Libya. And apparently unlike Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, I
know that the response of our nation must be more forceful that the arrest
of a single individual a year later.”

A Republican strategist told TIME last year that Fiorina could be a potent
weapon for the GOP in the coming cycle. “The most effective way to
criticize a woman is to have another woman do it.”

*Bloomberg: “Sarah Palin Says 'Yes We Can' Beat Hillary”
<https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-01-24/sarahpalin-says-yes-we-can-beat-hillary>*

By Terrence Dopp

January 24, 2015, 6:37 p.m. EST

[Subtitle:] Despite expressing interest earlier, she won't say whether she
will run for president.

DES MOINES, Iowa—Sarah Palin, standing before a packed room of Republicans
in Iowa, cast herself Saturday as the judge of who's a real conservative
and who can beat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"Things must change for our government," Palin said. "Look at it—it isn't
too big to fail; it's too big to succeed. So we can afford no retreads or
nothing will change."

"We're not in a mood to give politicians a pass just because they happen to
have a certain party initial next to their name," she said.

Palin, the unsuccessful 2008 vice presidential candidate and former
Republican governor of Alaska, told about 1,200 people attending the Iowa
Freedom Summit that the nominating process should serve as a competition,
not a coronation. She never mentioned by name either Mitt Romney or Jeb
Bush, two popular moderate Republicans who are skipping the summit, though
she did go after Clinton, considered the Democratic frontrunner.

Despite suggesting interest in the race on Friday, Palin never said whether
she was in the race, and did not name a candidate who she thinks can win.

Her prognostication on whether the GOP can defeat Clinton in a general
election? With a vibrant, fresh candidate her party stands a good shot, she
said. "To borrow a phrase, yes we can," she said.

Palin started a 30-minute speech addressing her latest rounds of
controversy: defending both the film American Sniper and its protagonist,
Chris Kyle. She also addressed the controversy that erupted recently over a
picture of her youngest son, Trig, standing on top of the family's pet
Labrador, saying that the pet had been trained in Iowa.

She recalled an event she recently attended in Las Vegas thrown by Kyle's
widow. One veteran in the crowd held up a sign with an expletive for
documentarian Michael Moore, who criticized the film. "I had my thumb up.
It wasn't another finger," she said. "We were all thinking that."

*Boston Herald opinion: Adriana Cohen: “Sarah Palin is the perfect foil to
take on Hillary Clinton”
<http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/columnists/adriana_cohen/2015/01/adriana_cohen_sarah_palin_is_the_perfect_foil_to_take>*

By Adriana Cohen

January 25, 2015

Sarah Palin says she’s seriously considering a 2016 presidential run.

Why not? The GOP needs women on the ticket for many reasons, not least
because it steals the Democratic Party’s thunder. They want to be the
“first” at breaking cultural barriers and glass ceilings. With Hillary
Clinton expected to be their front-runner in 2016, they’ll use her gender
as a tactic to gin up support from their base — especially female voters.

I can already see Emily’s List pushing out emails nationwide saying, “Let’s
make history by electing the first female president of the United States.”

It’s imperative Republicans put forward their own female leaders for the
presidential ticket to counter that Democratic message.

Yes, Sarah Palin was bludgeoned in the 2008 race by the Democratic machine,
which tried to discredit her unfairly and turn her into a cartoon figure.
But Americans — especially Republicans — understand the game. There’s a
double standard in gender politics.

If you’re a female leader on the Democratic ticket, you’re a “hero”
regardless of how many times you put your foot in your mouth, embarrass
yourself or worse.

We haven’t forgotten Hillary Clinton saying that we should empathize with
our enemies or that businesses and corporations don’t really create jobs.
Both absurd statements that should disqualify any candidate — male or
female — from any race, never mind the top slot.

But if you’re a female conservative? Watch out! Liberals will pounce and do
everything they can to marginalize a conservative woman who runs for office
no matter how educated, or talented, or accomplished she is. Liberals only
“tolerate” others if they agree with them and follow their agenda.

Skeptics will say Sarah Palin doesn’t have a chance in the GOP race because
she’s too polarizing. But what about Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen.
Elizabeth Warren? They’re polarizing too, with supporters and haters in
equal measure.

The reality is Sarah Palin draws huge crowds at speaking engagements, has
millions of social media followers and just as many supporters across the
nation.

Hilary Clinton has been giving speeches to half-filled rooms.

If Sarah Palin chooses to throw her proverbial hat in the ring for 2016,
there’s no doubt she’d make the race exciting and bring a welcome woman’s
point of view to the GOP field.

*Wall Street Journal blog: Washington Wire: “Scott Walker Makes His Case to
Iowa Conservatives”
<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/24/scott-walker-makes-his-case-to-iowa-conservatives/>*

By Reid J. Epstein

January 24, 2015, 3:26 p.m. EST

DES MOINES, Iowa – Scott Walker offered this case to Iowa Republicans for
his presidential prospects: He is new on the national scene, he has already
enacted conservative reforms, and he plans to compete for their affection
over the coming year.

The Wisconsin governor, making his first in-person introduction to
conservative activists at Saturday’s Iowa Freedom Summit here, offered a
lengthy review of his fights with labor unions, during which he said he
could “feel the power of your prayers.” There was also a reminder that Mr.
Walker spent his grammar school years in Plainfield, Iowa.

The crowd of about 1,000 people ate it up, offering Mr. Walker the most
sustained applause thus far of the day-long event. Mr. Walker reciprocated,
suggesting strongly in his big finish that he intended to run for president.

“I’m pleased to be here in Iowa today, I’m going to come back many more
times in the future,” Mr. Walker said to raucous applause at the ornate
Hoyt Sherman Place theater here. “I’m hoping to work together with you to
help us provide that kind of leadership that is new and fresh and bold and
aggressive. It’s been proven that common sense conservative reform from
outside of Washington, D.C., can work. With your help, I have no doubt, we
can move this country forward, we can have our own American revival.”

The Wisconsin governor, pacing the stage without a suit jacket and with his
sleeves rolled up to his elbows, was perhaps the day’s most anticipated
speaker. He mentioned none of his presumed opponents by name, but in his
20-minute speech he foreshadowed how he would draw a contrast between
himself and a field of more established figures.

Mr. Walker noted that the state of Wisconsin is “the only one in the
country with a fully funded retirement system,” in a line separating him
from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who sought to cut pledged payments to
his state’s pension system.

Wisconsin’s property taxes are lower now than four years ago, he said. “How
many governors can say that?” he said.

Mr. Walker told a familiar story about clipping coupons at the Kohl’s
department store, distinguishing himself from millionaire 2012 GOP
presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

And in a barb separating himself from Mr. Bush, vilified among conservative
activists as a leading proponent of Common Core educational standards, Mr.
Walker touted changes to Wisconsin’s education system that, he said, aimed
to restore control to local school boards.

Unlike other speakers here, who offered red-meat applause lines blasting
President Barack Obama or presumed 2016 Democratic presidential
front-runner Hillary Clinton, Mr. Walker focused on his own biography. He
said not a word about immigration, nor did he address presidential
executive actions that drew ire from others here.

Instead he painted himself as someone with a record fighting all manner of
enemies, especially Democrats. He spoke in detail about threats to him and
his family during Wisconsin’s labor fight, his faith, and, in a line that
drew laughter and applause, his glee in watching liberal pundits on MSNBC
on nights when he won re-election.

And Mr. Walker made sure the crowd left with the impression that he had
prevailed in a tough political environment.

In Wisconsin, he said, “people like the direction they’re headed. Maybe
that’s why I won the race for governor three times in the last four years.
Three times, mind you, in a state that hasn’t gone Republican for president
since I was in high school more than 30 years ago, how about that?”

*Calendar:*

*Sec. Clinton's upcoming appearances as reported online. Not an official
schedule.*

·  February 24 – Santa Clara, CA: Sec. Clinton to Keynote Address at
Inaugural Watermark Conference for Women (PR Newswire
<http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hillary-rodham-clinton-to-deliver-keynote-address-at-inaugural-watermark-conference-for-women-283200361.html>
)

·  March 4 – New York, NY: Sec. Clinton to fundraise for the Clinton
Foundation (WSJ
<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/15/carole-king-hillary-clinton-live-top-tickets-100000/>
)

·  March 19 – Atlantic City, NJ: Sec. Clinton keynotes  American Camp
Association conference (PR Newswire <http://www.sys-con.com/node/3254649>)

·  March 23 – Washington, DC: Sec. Clinton to keynote award ceremony for
the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting (Syracuse
<http://newhouse.syr.edu/news-events/news/former-secretary-state-hillary-rodham-clinton-deliver-keynote-newhouse-school-s>
)