From The Road
February 23, 2008 4:41 PM

Obama Reacts to Clinton Attacks

By
Maria Gavrilovic
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- As Hillary Clinton unloaded on Barack Obama and his campaign for sending mailers criticizing her positions on NAFTA and health care, Obama responded by saying that the facts in those flyers are accurate.

"I am puzzled by the sudden change in tone unless these were just brought to her attention it makes me think that there's something tactical about her getting so exercised this morning," Obama said this afternoon. "And unlike some of the attacks that have been leveled about me that have been debunked by news organizations, these are accurate."

When asked if Clinton should drop out of the race due to his recent string of wins, he said, "Look, I'm the challenger, I'm the upstart. I'm the insurgent - she's, she's the champ. She's part of the Democratic network in Washington and you know if you're the titleholder then you don't lose it on points. You gotta be knocked out."

Earlier today, Obama slammed John McCain's health care plan and his position on lobbyists today at a roundtable meeting at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

"Both my plan and Senator Clinton's plan are far better than what's being offered by John McCain, which is essentially more of the same Bush health care policies that have not worked in the past and won't work today," Obama told the round table participants.

"It reflects the agenda of the drug and insurance lobbyists, who back his campaign and use money and influence to block real health care reform."

Obama briefly mentioned Clinton's plan at the top of his remarks, making a snarky remark regarding the number of debates in which the two candidates discussed the plans.

"As many of you have been watching the 19 debates that we've had so far can attest, both Senator Clinton and I have put forward health care plans and they're very similar," Obama said sarcastically.

Obama accused both Clinton and McCain of taking money from lobbyist, "this is standard operating procedure in Washington".

"On the issue of lobbyists, I have to say this is an area where I disagree with both Senator McCain and Senator Clinton. She's taken nearly a million dollars from lobbyists in this campaign and says they "represent real Americans." He takes their money and has put them in charge of his campaign."

Add a Comment
by nbenoit-2009 February 24, 2008 6:09 AM EST
Hillary is just attempting to manipulate the media by saying that the Obama campaign went negative. The truth is that the Obama campaign is just trying to show the difference between the two health care plans. The one presented by Hillary has a mandated clause, similar to the health care plan initiated by the previous republican governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney.
Hillary%u2019s health care makes it mandatory for every one to purchase health care insurance. And if residents do not have enough money to buy health insurance after putting food on the table, then they would have to pay a fine. Here is the choice of paying for your heating bill or stay cold during winter in the Northeast.
What%u2019s make Hillary so angry is that the Obama%u2019s campaign just clarified what her plan is all about. The truth is out, and people will soon notice the real difference. Many American did not really understand its contents. Most Americans were under the impression that the so-called universal health care was going to be a mandatory plan given by the government to cover all American. Instead it is just the opposite. Everyone would be forced to honor the old plan of the previous republican governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. You buy health insurance or you pay a fine
Reply to this comment
by violet68-2009 February 23, 2008 8:07 PM EST
I thought Obama was going to stop "politics as usual"

Oh, I guess he meant after he wins the election.
Reply to this comment
by violet68-2009 February 23, 2008 8:06 PM EST
Yeah, sometimes words do matter Obama - like yours:

AP 9/8/04: Obama said the United States should %u2018pursue deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.''

AP 9/8/04: Obama said the United State should continue to work with the World Trade Organization and pursue deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Decatur Herald & Review 9/9/04: Obama said the United States benefits enormously from exports under the WTO and NAFTA.

He said, at the same time, there must be recognition that the global economy has shifted, and the United States is no longer the dominant economy. ''We have competition in world trade,'' Obama said. ''When China devalues its currency 40 percent, we need to bring a complaint before the WTO just as other nations complain about us. If we are to be competitive over the long term, we need free trade but also fair trade."
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