Hillary Wants $20.04 to Combat 'StopHillary' PAC
With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
January 09, 2004

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton says she has no intention of running for president in 2004.

So it must be a coincidence that her fund-raising operation is soliciting contributions in the amount of $20.04 in response to former Congressman John Leboutillier's new "Stop Hillary" political action committee.

In late December, LeBoutillier, who also writes a column for NewsMax.com, announced his StopHillaryPAC on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," asking those concerned that Sen. Clinton might jump into the presidential race this year to donate $25 to his information campaign.

"I don't think the Republicans have ever taken her seriously and are not taking her seriously in 2004," he told the New York Sun. "They're ignoring her as a candidate."

On his Web site StopHillaryPAC.com, the conservative ex-congressman vows, "We are not going to let it happen again!", a reference to the prospect of another eight years of Bill and Hillary in the White House.

Plans to launch a mobile "Truth Van" to follow Sen. Clinton to every campaign stop and begin a national get-out-the-vote drive to identify and register voters who oppose her sent the former first lady's staff scrambling to battle stations.

E-mails from FriendsofHillary.com, the senator's fund-raising Web site, went out to Clinton faithful from coast to coast urging supporters to "help Hillary fight back" by contributing $20.04 to the senator's own PAC.

Hillary spokeswoman Patti Solis Doyle felt compelled to explain the need to begin fund-raising now when Sen. Clinton doesn't have to stand for re-election for nearly another three years.

"Some of you have asked why we are starting to raise money so early for Hillary's re-election," said Solis Doyle in the e-mail. "This is why!" she explained, referring to LeBoutillier's effort.

"The Right started raising money long ago, and now, as this latest announcement demonstrates, they are accelerating their efforts. With the right wing already in anti-Hillary overdrive, we need to shift into a higher gear and start off the new year with real energy," she warned.

Countered LeBoutillier: "I think that people ought to know the truth about Clinton. ... She is the most committed left-wing politician out there. I want people to know she represented Black Panthers and communists," he told the Sun, referring to groups Mrs. Clinton supported in law school.