The Hillary Trap: Looking for Power in All the Wrong Places

In what is ostensibly an attempt to portray Hillary Rodham Clinton as a cautionary role model for young women, MSNBC talk-show host and frequent political commentator Ingraham proves more effective at positioning herself for greater influence among Republicans, as evidenced by her discussion of gun control and the New Age movement. Her slim book is neither biography, straight political analysis nor a look at the Clinton scandals. Instead, she studies Clinton as a flawed character. Dependent for her political definition on a husband Ingraham characterizes as a ""liar and cheat,"" Clinton is an emblem of the notion that women can succeed only with the help of a male partner, government programs and special privileges, claims the author. Dubbing this idea the ""Hillary Trap,"" Ingraham shows how, in her view, it applies to many areas of women's lives--work, family and education. She faults Clinton's actual behavior and imputed attitudes, curiously attributing to Clinton even grander influence than the First Lady has. For example, citing a lack of feminist support for Republican women such as herself, Ingraham admits that Clinton did not actually engage in making derogatory statements but rather helped ""create the atmosphere where it's accepted."" The author includes glimpses of her own life, with some references to her late mother, and settles some personal scores, one with a Vanity Fair writer who profiled her and another with a Dartmouth professor who sued her for criticizing him. Preaching to the converted, her platform is not likely to appeal to a wide audience but will surely lead to more exposure for its well-connected author. Agent, Writer's Representatives. $100,000 ad/promo; author tour; radio satellite tour. (June)