How Hillary Lost?

Hillary Clinton has been running across the country trying to explain how she lost an election to Donald Trump. We will not replay her litany of excuses, but a recent story emphasizes a major failing. She would have won if she had taken advice from her husband.

After all, Hillary had one of America’s most skilled politicians in her corner. She was married—in a manner of speaking—to one of the greatest politicians of his generation. And she apparently chose to ignore his advice. Having spent the better part of her adult life enabling a sexual predator she rejected her well-earned compensation. For ideological principle.

Apparently, she had drunk the ideological Kool-Aid that told her to be independent and autonomous, not to rely in any way on any member of the male gender. Thus, she rejected Bubba’s advice, on feminist principle, because it would have made her feel subservient and dependent. 

I draw this conclusion from a preview of a new book by Ed Klein. One understands that one needs to take Klein’s views with a few dozen grains of salt, but still, this story rings true. It only involves the campaign peripherally, but we can see in the dust up between Bubba and Hillary a replay of what might well have happened during her campaign.

It turns out that Bubba was decidedly against Hillary publishing her book, What Happened. He proposed significant changes.

The Daily Mail has the story:

Bill and Hillary Clinton are not speaking to each other after a blazing argument over her election book, it has been claimed.

The former President threw a manuscript in the trash after Hillary ignored his advice not to publish it, according to author Ed Klein.

Bill had red-penned the book in an attempt to improve it, a friend allegedly told Klein, but flew into a rage when Hillary refused to read any of his notes.

Think about it. You are married to someone who is a great politician and you refuse even to read his notes. Doesn’t that look like a symptom? Doesn’t it define an ideologically driven woman who would rather pretend to be independent than to risk looking like a fool.

What was Bubba’s criticism?

According to Page Six, the friend said: 'He told her the book made her look bewildered, angry and confused, and that those were poor qualities in a person who aspired to be a world leader….

'He hated the title because calling it "What Happened" would only make people say, "You lost." 

'He urged her to postpone the pub date and rewrite the book, but she yelled at him and said: "The book is finished and that’s how it’s going to be published".'

In truth, Bubba's criticism summarizes most of the reviews that the book has receives. Apparently, Hillary chose ideology over the presidency. She showed how to lose an eminently winnable election and how to be relegated to an historical footnote.