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Brown, Clinton Suffer Same Fate

For Clinton and Brown, Iraq is the unspoken element

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 8, 2008 10:50 AM CDT
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(Newser) – In the last few weeks, two giants of center-left politics—Hillary Clinton in America and Gordon Brown in Britain—have seen their electoral chances reduced to near impossibility. Both have struggled as uncharismatic politicians in a media age. But for one columnist in London's Times, their trajectories have more important parallels: not least, their support for the war in Iraq, the unspoken element in both of their downfalls.

As Anatole Kaletsky writes, Iraq prevented Brown from incarnating a real break from Tony Blair just as it legitimized Barack Obama as a Clinton opponent. As times got worse, their "triangulation"—basically, hypocrisy—on the issue cost Clinton and Brown the support of the liberal intelligentsia and the media. And these days, writes Kaletsky, "a left-wing politician who loses the support of this liberal constituency is probably doomed."

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks at a fundraiser in Washington, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks at a fundraiser in Washington, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton leaves the Democratic National Committee headquarters after her meeting with superdelegates Wednesday, May 7, 2008, in Washington.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton leaves the Democratic National Committee headquarters after her meeting with superdelegates Wednesday, May 7, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Hillary Clinton talks with visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Thursday, April 17, 2008, during a meeting at the British Embassy in Washington.
Hillary Clinton talks with visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Thursday, April 17, 2008, during a meeting at the British Embassy in Washington.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Hillary Clinton talks with visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Thursday, April 17, 2008, during a meeting at the British Embassy in Washington.
Hillary Clinton talks with visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Thursday, April 17, 2008, during a meeting at the British Embassy in Washington.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown leaves his official residence, 10 Downing Street in London, to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament, Wednesday May 7, 2008. Brown's ruling Labour party last week suffered its worst local election results in 40 years.
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown leaves his official residence, 10 Downing Street in London, to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament, Wednesday May 7, 2008. Brown's ruling...   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown is seen being interviewed for the BBC current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show, Sunday May 4 2008.
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown is seen being interviewed for the BBC current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show, Sunday May 4 2008.   (AP Photo)
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An earlier take on the Brown-Clinton parallel
The Debatable Land

 
Iraq • Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Tony Blair • Gordon Brown • Labour • Labour Party • Democratic presidential candidates • Democratic Party • triangulation

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