CLINTON'S LIBERALISM. More...

CLINTON'S LIBERALISM. More tomorrow, but for now, let me just say this in reply to Ezra's query: Given the words "she would remain resolutely in the public eye, ready and waiting were the ground to shift and 2012 to look more inviting," I think an interpretation that he didn't think Hillary Clinton should run now was reasonable. Ezra, if you'd like to clarify that as having actually meant that you don't think she should run, ever, I'll accept that, but I think it only proves my point as to why you'd find my piece -- or any pro-Hillary piece -- irritating. In any event, I think I argued fairly clearly in my piece that Clinton is not as liberal as she has sometimes been perceived to be, because all female candidates are thought to be more liberal than they are. To that I'll add that all the impartial assessments of the situation that I've seen show that Clinton has a less liberal voting record than Barack Obama, but that John Edwards's vote ranking from his years in the Senate puts him firmly in the moderate camp, and probably to the right of her. The American Conservative Union and Americans for Democratic Action both ranked Edwards as more conservative than Clinton, and, according to Media Matters:

Edwards's average liberal rating for the five years he has served in the Senate (1999-2003) is 75.7 percent -- 20 points lower than his 2003 rating, which Republicans are touting. According to National Journal, in 2002, Edwards received a 63 percent rating; in 2001, he received a 68.2 percent rating; in 2000, he received an 80.8 percent rating; and in 1999, he received a 72.2 percent rating.

Furthermore, according to a January 31, 2003, National Journal profile (NationalJournal.com subscription required) of "The Presidential Wanna-bes," "Among the other presidential contenders, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina has been in the moderate-to-conservative range of Senate Democrats during his four years in the chamber." And in 2002, Edwards made National Journal's list of "Senate Centrists"

Edwards has changed his positions and approach since losing election 2004, and today has put forward expansive populist programs to go with his long-standing populist rhetoric. But when he was in the Senate, he was a moderate whose primary legislative accomplishment was putting together the Patients Bill of Rights with John McCain, who was then still a media golden boy.

So, no, I agree Clinton is not the most liberal candidate running -- Dennis Kucinich is -- or even the most liberal of the top three (that appears to be Obama). I'm with Matt in being cynical about any Democrat's ability to achieve major domestic policy reforms during the 2009-2012 term, so, with all due respect, don't particularly think the question of who can best put together a universal health insurance reform package ought to primary. But I respect your commitment to the issue, and desire to judge candidates based on it.

--Garance Franke-Ruta