NEWS AND OPINION:
One group has looked askance at a presidential bid by Hillary Rodham Clinton for almost a year. And they’re still not ready for Hillary. Indeed, the Stop Hillary PAC is approaching its first anniversary and reports a few numbers that suggest the public is unnerved as well. The “Stop Hillary” clan now claims 827,000 supporters and has raised $1.4 million for their cause. The organizers have been frank about their mission since founding the group last May — and they have a single focus to prevent Mrs. Clinton from reaching the White House.
“Make sure Hillary Clinton never becomes president. America can’t survive another term of Obama-era radical liberalist policies implemented by a Bill and Hillary Clinton team back in the White House. In 2016, it will be too late to stop Hillary. We’ve got to hold her accountable right now,” the political action committee says in its enthusiastic public pitch.
“Stop Hillary PAC’s success at raising the necessary funds and building an effective and aggressive grass-roots effort will keep the Clintons out of the White House,” says chairman Ted Harvey. “Our momentum is a testament to the growing number of Americans who want a leader in the White House that they can trust.”
He cites the persistent “big three” issues that could impede Mrs. Clinton’s quest for office.
“Between ’servergate,’ the shady foreign donations her foundation received and her disastrous tenure at the State Department, Hillary’s proved she’s not a trusted nor transparent leader,” says Mr. Harvey. “Our organization and supporters will continue to tell the tough truths Hillary and her handlers wish to evade.”
RAND PAUL: UNITY IN AMERICA — OR ELSE
Launched just in time for his presidential bid at high noon on Tuesday: That would be United for Rand, Sen. Rand Paul’s political action committee, open for business as the Kentucky Republican storms a podium in Louisville to announce his intent. See this major moment live on C-SPAN, incidentally. Meanwhile, Mr. Paul has a distinct motto: “Uniting America,” which precedes just about everything the PAC sends out to the public.
Organizers say any funds raised will support the candidate, along with training and mobilization of students and minority communities “towards a more inclusive, common-sense, solution-based approach to key issues.” According to a public statement, the goal is to counter the “political status quo aimed at dividing America.”
It is savvy branding for Mr. Paul and could distinguish his efforts on the campaign trail. A polarized nation is now on the list of voter concerns.
“The goal is to build connections and relationships centered on core shared values despite our cultural differences. We seek to train and develop leaders on political, social, and economic policy solutions, increase civic engagement and build strong communities united for real social change,” the organization states.
CRUZ CHRISTIAN CANDOR
Sen. Ted Cruz was the first Republican to officially run for president, and the first to rush a powerful campaign ad to the airwaves over the long Easter weekend, running nationally on Fox News and in local broadcast in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. The lawmaker from Texas leaves no mystery about where he stands. Here’s what he says in the 30-second spot:
“Were it not for the transformative love of Jesus Christ, I would’ve been raised by a single mom without my father in the house. God’s blessing has been on America from the very beginning of this nation. Over and over again, when we faced impossible odds, the American people rose to the challenge. This is our fight, and that is why I’m running for president of the United States. I’m Ted Cruz, and I approve this message.”
ON THE RADAR
Sen. Mike Lee heads to The Heritage Foundation in the nation’s capital at noon Thursday to discuss his forthcoming book, “Our Lost Constitution: The Willful Subversion of America’s Founding Document.”
The Utah Republican, a former Supreme Court clerk, delves into the rise and fall of six of the Constitution’s most indispensable provisions, making the case that “nearly every abuse of federal power today is rooted in neglect of this lost Constitution.” Under consideration: the Origination Clause, the Legislative Powers Clause, the Establishment Clause, the Balance of Powers and the Second and Fourth Amendments.
“Each has been used at some time in our Nation’s history by shortsighted opportunists to defy the Constitution’s safeguards to liberty,” Mr. Lee says. “Sections of the Constitution may have been forgotten, but it’s not too late to bring them back — if only we remember why we once demanded them and how we later lost them.”
The book will be published Tuesday by Sentinel Books. See the Heritage event line online at Heritage.org.
CULTURAL MOMENT
“A survey by a leading coupon brand has revealed that the average age of a first time cell phone owner is six years old.” So says a survey of almost 2,300 parents from VoucherCloud.net, an online discount coupon depot. Three-fourths of the respondents were concerned about such early “digital independence,” however.
A third of the parents cited “security reasons” as justification to supply a phone to a first-grader, a quarter wanted their offspring to “keep in touch” and 20 percent bought the phone so their child could “keep up with their friends at school,” the survey found.
“Having a turn-off time for family bonding is a good idea,” counsels Matthew Wood, a spokesman for the company. He also suggests a good cellphone insurance policy.
POLL DU JOUR
• 35 percent overall have an unfavorable impression of Sen. Rand Paul; 15 percent of Republicans, 30 percent of independents and 58 percent of Democrats agree.
• 34 percent of Americans have a favorable impression of Mr. Paul; 60 percent of Republicans, 30 percent of independents and 13 percent of Democrats agree.
• 32 percent overall “don’t know” how they feel; 25 percent of Republicans, 40 percent of independents and 29 percent of Democrats agree.
• 30 percent overall think Mr. Paul’s ideology is “about right”; 47 percent of Republicans, 34 percent of independents and 17 percent of Democrats agree.
• 25 percent overall think Mr. Paul is “too conservative”; 17 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of independents and 43 percent of Democrats agree.
• 8 percent overall say he is “not conservative enough”; 17 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of independents and 43 percent of Democrats agree.
Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 959 U.S. adults conducted March 21-23.
• Hurrahs, annoyances, quips to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.