Happy Days with Hillary Clinton, Party Animal

FDR repealed prohibition, opening beer taps his first few days in office. It wasn't just his policies that pulled us out of the great depression, it was his confidence and optimism. He often threw his head back and laughed, the press called him a "sunburst".

While this race is by no means over, Hillary takes the time on a Saturday night to celebrate small victories and throw her head back on occasion. ABC News' Eloise Harper reports:

Sen. Hillary Clinton stopped by Bronko's Restaurant and Lounge in Crown Point, Ind., tonight. Clinton stood by the bar and took a shot of Crown Royal whiskey. She took one sip of the shot, then another small sip, then a few seconds later threw her head back and finished off the whole thing.

Clinton later sat down at a table and enjoyed some pizza and beer, and called over Mayor Tom McDermott of Hammond, Ind., to come join the table.

"Every time I get around you we start drinking, senator,"  the mayor exclaimed.

Clinton nodded and raised her glass.

"It's Saturday night, though, Tom," she said.

The senator was eager to get a slice of pepperoni.

She turned to her ABC and CBS embedded reporters. She acknowledged that they need something interesting and unusual to write about, so she gave them that.

And this wasn't the first time Hillary threw one back:

Two summers ago, on a Congressional trip to Estonia, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton astonished her traveling companions by suggesting that the group do what one does in the Baltics: hold a vodka-drinking contest.

Delighted, the leader of the delegation, Senator John McCain, quickly agreed. The after-dinner drinks went so well -- memories are a bit hazy on who drank how much -- that Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, later told people how unexpectedly engaging he found Mrs. Clinton to be. "One of the guys" was the way he described Mrs. Clinton, a New York Democrat, to some Republican colleagues.

The CBS news blogger reports Hillary's favorite drinks are wheat ale and red wine, but last night she lifted her beer glass to chants of Hill-a-ry! Hill-a-ry!:

Clinton's visit to the small, local eatery was no doubt part of a broader plan to showcase Clinton as a candidate of the people. And although Clinton is no stranger to late night drinks with the press and her staff, she usually prefers red wine or the trendy wheat ale Blue Moon with a slice of orange, not the watery light beer in the glass mug she waved in the air so proudly as the crowd chanted her name.

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Thanks to DaveOinSF for pointing us to CNN's video.

UPDATE: AP has better video, you can hear shouts of "that's my kind of woman!" As Caldonia says below, looks like she locked up DAD's vote!

Look for SNL's Amy Poehler to perform keg stands next Saturday dressed in her Hillary wig and suit.

Hillary Clinton, candidate of the people!



Display:


Please drink responsibly (2.00 / 2)

Moderation at all times!


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 01:51:32 PM EST

Re: Please drink responsibly (2.00 / 3)

what the hell is the fun in that?

i like this diary. i can just see hillary tossing back a shot and whacking the shot glass down on the bar. my kind of girl.


by campskunk on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:30:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Please drink responsibly (2.00 / 0)

Much easier to be moderate when you're drinking wine, though. I love the fact that she prefers red wine -- nothing but dry reds and the occasional cocktail for me. My beer drinking days pretty much ended after college (except at the beach or on the Fourth of July.)

Damn, I wish she'd gone drinking in my state. I'd have been more than happy to pay her tab. I'd probably have annoyed the hell out of her, begging her to do a shot with me, though.

Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 04:42:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton, Party Animal (1.00 / 5)

What kind of person takes shots of whiskey to give the news something to talk about?
But, if I were married to Bill I'd probably drink all the time too...
by RoccoCobamaMama on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 01:57:48 PM EST

A down-to-earth, fun-loving (2.00 / 4)

candidate. Our Hillary, that's who!


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 01:59:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A down-to-earth, fun-loving (1.00 / 3)

So, because she does shots of whiskey and drinks weak beer when she's in public with the unwashed masses that makes her down-to-earth?  It sounds like another ploy to make her seem at the same level as the rest of us.  Her private drink choices are a little more on par with those that I would categorize as "elitist".
Besides, what kind of image does that set for our children?  They don't even allow actors in commercials to pretend they are taking swigs of beer on tv.  Great job Hill.
by RoccoCobamaMama on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:07:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A down-to-earth, fun-loving (2.00 / 3)

gee, if i were as trollish as you were, i'd probably throw in some speculations about obama's drinking preferences including some arugula-based liqueur that costs $75 a bottle.


by campskunk on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:34:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A down-to-earth, fun-loving (1.00 / 1)

The irony is that her pantsuit probably cost more than the bartender makes in a month.


I'm as strong as a bull moose, and you can use me to the limit. - Teddy Roosevelt
by fogiv on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 04:04:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A down-to-earth, fun-loving (2.00 / 2)

Terribly cynical thing to say, RoccoCobamaMama. Aren't you supposed to be more optimistic and hopeful than this?
Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 04:45:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton, Party Animal (2.00 / 2)

BWAHAHA! fight 'em on the beaches...


by campskunk on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:34:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Happy Days Soon Here Again with Hillary Clinto (2.00 / 1)

As a heavy drinker, I think your characterization of Blue Moon is off.

And, didn't Hillary say "We've seen what happens when people vote for the candidate they'd most like to have a bear with"


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:01:14 PM EST

I don't eat bear (2.00 / 1)

Don't know many Americans who do, though I'm sure they exist :)

Blue moon isn't trendy, you're saying?


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:08:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't eat bear (2.00 / 1)

I don't think it is... maybe I'm wrong, though.  


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:10:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I hope it's a beer of the people (2.00 / 1)

Blue Moon, that is :)


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:26:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't eat bear (2.00 / 1)

They are certainly not the ones we want picking our President... Bear eaters


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:12:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Happy Days Soon Here Again with Hillary Clinto (none / 0)

I don't wanna have a bear with anyone.  Those hairy buggers are MEAN.  ;)


I'm as strong as a bull moose, and you can use me to the limit. - Teddy Roosevelt
by fogiv on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 04:06:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

LOL (2.00 / 1)

She better keep it in moderation . . . I just had a vision of a liquored up Hillary doing the "Dean-Scream"

YEEEEAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!


NO 100 year WAR, NO McConnell run Senate, & NO GOP-led Supreme Court!!!
by Veteran75 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:14:59 PM EST

After eight years of crazy dry-drunk George... (2.00 / 3)

I'm very happy to see that she takes a pop now and then.


by MediaFreeze on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:15:52 PM EST

Oh come on, (2.00 / 1)

it's in the vault. Tell us!


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:26:38 PM EST

Prost! (2.00 / 1)

She only did half-a-shot...

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politic s/2008/04/13/vo.hillary.takes.shot.cnn

Still a fun scene though.


99% perspiration
by DaveOinSF on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:29:18 PM EST

Re: Happy Days with Hillary Clinton (2.00 / 3)

She's just won DAD's vote.  :)


by Caldonia on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:45:12 PM EST

Oh yes! They got the head-throw-back! (2.00 / 3)

DAD looks impressed. Call that a lock, Hillary!


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:47:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Happy Days Soon Here Again with Hillary Clinto (2.00 / 2)

this is my FAVORITE diary of the day.....

I LOVE that she just threw one back with the people!!

Right On Hillary.


by nikkid on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:53:28 PM EST

Be sure to catch AP video! (2.00 / 2)

and keep your eye on the man in the DAD sweatshirt.

Video link here: http://video.ap.org/vws/search/aspx/ap.a spx?t=m318&p=ENAPus_ENAPus&f=TXW IC&g=0413dvs_hillary_drinking .

Glad you like the diary!


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:00:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Be sure to catch AP video! (2.00 / 3)

LOL, DAD can't take his eyes off her.


by Caldonia on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:06:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Happy Days Soon Here Again with Hillary Clinto (2.00 / 3)

Cheers!  Hillary.   It's the countdown to PA Victory.

That's my Commander In Chief.  


by JoeySky18 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 02:54:47 PM EST

She knows how to rally the troops! (2.00 / 2)

Cheers!


by catfish1 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:01:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton really is a fun person. (2.00 / 2)

The leetle 2004 Estonian incident with McCain involving vodka?  "McCain later told people how unexpectedly fun he found Hillary to be. 'One of the guys,' is the way McCain describes her."


by Caldonia on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:02:34 PM EST

Re: Happy Days Soon Here Again with Hillary Clinto (2.00 / 1)

Hey lets keep it in moderation , we don't want a drunk in the whitehouse.

We already had a cokehead president , we already know their type , weed smoking fornicators.

It might be fine for a mayor but not in the whitehouse.

I don't want her selling nuclear secrets to adversaries when she is wasted.  


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:05:56 PM EST

Re: Happy Days (2.00 / 1)

yea this was in the morning paper today as well - pretty cool.


vote blue in 2008
by sepulvedaj3 on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:12:50 PM EST

Re: Happy Days Soon Here Again with Hillary Clinto (2.00 / 0)

I'm just glad she wasn't packing her dad's gun at the time. It could've gotten ugly.


by Ddeele on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:15:12 PM EST

Awesome. (2.00 / 0)

This will go down well at AA meetings across the country :-)


"This election is not about ideology, it's about competence." -Michael Dukakis
by MBNYC on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 03:30:24 PM EST

Re: Awesome. (2.00 / 1)

Puh-leeeze!  I don't know any AAs (assuming you mean Alcoholics Anomymous and not African Americans) who begrudge drinking by others.

Maybe those who haven't been sober very long?

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com


by Caro on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 04:06:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Actually... (2.00 / 0)

...I've seldom met a politician willing to drink in public. I tried to buy Ned Lamont a drink once; no dice. Same with some others, come to think of it.


"This election is not about ideology, it's about competence." -Michael Dukakis
by MBNYC on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 07:33:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

analogy - politics as roller derby (2.00 / 0)

Gonna tell you a story that you wont believe
But I fell in love last friday evenin
With a girl I saw on a bar room t.v. screen

Well I was just gettin ready to get my hat
When she caught my eye and I put it back
And I ordered myself a couple o more shots and beers

The night that I fell in love with a roller derby queen
Round and round, oh round and round
The meanest hunk o woman
That anybody ever seen
Down in the arena

She was five foot six and two fifteen
A bleached-blonde mama
With a streak of mean
She knew how to knuckle
And she knew how to scuffle and fight

And the roller derby program said
That she was built like a fridgerator with a head
Her fans call her tuffy
But all her buddies called her spike

You know that I fell in love with a roller derby queen
Round and round, oh round and round
The meanest hunk o woman
That anybody ever seen
Down in the arena

Well I could not help it
But to fall in love
With this heavy-duty woman
I been speakin of
Things looked kind of bad
Until the day she skated into my life

Well she might be nasty
She might be fat
But I never met a person
Who would tell her that
Shes my bleach blonde bomber
My heavy handed hackensack mama

You know that I fell in love with a roller derby queen
Round and round, oh round and round
The meanest hunk o woman
That anybody ever seen
Down in the arena

- Jim Croce


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 04:05:03 PM EST


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