Clinton Says She and McCain Offer Experience, Obama Offers Speeches

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- Hillary Clinton told reporters that both she and the presumtive Republican nominee John McCain offer the experience to be ready to tackle any crisis facing the country under their watch, but Barack Obama simply offers more rhetoric. "I think you'll be able to imagine many things Senator McCain will be able to say," she said. "He's never been the president, but he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002." Clinton was referring to Obama's anti-war speech he delivered in Chicago before entering the United States Senate.

Criticism has been leveled towards Clinton as well, though, especially her claim that she is ready to be the commander-in-chief on "day one." When asked at the press conference if she could name a particular instance in her past that equips her to deal with a national security crisis, Clinton balked, saying, "Well, I was involved in a lot of the decisions that were made. Again, you are looking at it from the wrong perspective," Clinton said. "You know, no one who hasn't been president has done that, so that's not the right question. The question is, what have you done over the course of that lifetime to equip you for that moment?"

Texas voters will go the polls on Tuesday to give her the answer.

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by gracianp March 4, 2008 10:05 PM EST: Absolutely shameless.; Reply to this comment


by dwitkowitz March 4, 2008 8:53 PM EST: This has pretty much sealed the GENERAL for the Republicans. When Obama and Edwards face McCain and Lieberman DEMS won''t have a chance because of this comment. It will come back to haunt the party as Teddy Kennedy''s snub of Carter had on the 1980 election.; Reply to this comment


by dwitkowitz March 4, 2008 8:48 PM EST: Hillary has endorsed McCain. Wow! What an immature response to the pressure. She says she supports McCain over Obama. Sounds a lot like Jump Ship Joe Lieberman to me.

Hillary should be ashamed. What a sad, sad person. If this doesn''t show her "primary colors" I don''t know what does.; Reply to this comment


by smchris-2009 March 4, 2008 8:47 PM EST: I think it is telling that she mentions McCain first, herself second and, heaven forbid, Obama last. I see it as a sign that she always was corporate America''s fall back strategy and understands that herself with her policy of limited expectations.; Reply to this comment


by pndbrandel March 4, 2008 7:22 PM EST: What we never hear from Hillary is how little experience Bill had when he was campaigning for president in 1992. With all due respect to the state of Arkansas, being its governor hardly qualified as foreign policy experience.; Reply to this comment


by hutchbilly March 4, 2008 7:02 PM EST: Is Hillary Clinton so desparate that she would put out a line sure to be used by the GOP in the fall? Clinton is splitting the Democratic party with the same tool, words, that she says is the only tool Obama has. Clinton is not bringing new people into the party, Obama is. She may be experienced, but Obama brings the excitement, making people want to show up and vote. If you don''t think people will vote heart over heads, look what happened to John Kerry when Bush trotted out Bin Ladin before the last election. She is cutting her own throat.; Reply to this comment


by nmoody1968 March 4, 2008 6:14 PM EST: I am tired of her experience argument. A man by the name of Lincoln did not have extensive experience in politics either, and I think he did ok.....; Reply to this comment


by jerryz7936 March 4, 2008 5:02 PM EST: To say what she said is wrong. She blasted Obama when he commented about Reagen. She practically was being McCain''s running mate with the statement she made. Then when asked what major decision she made to validate her point, no answer. Even better, all the generals that support her, were on a conference call and asked them the same question, they were silent.
Very dumb move.; Reply to this comment


by gene1138 March 4, 2008 4:57 PM EST: b-easy63, nice find. I find it amazing that Team Hillary couldn''t answer that question quickly and succintly after her having 35 years of experience. And what do they refer to? A speech made in China. I thought Obama only made speeches. Simply saying something over and over doesn''t make it true. "35 years of experience." "35 years of experience." Didn''t we learn this during this last Bush administration?; Reply to this comment


by robgo2 March 4, 2008 4:10 PM EST: Some people need a reality check. The following quote

""I think that uh, I have a lifetime of experience that I will bring to the White House, uh, I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House, and Senator Obama has a speech that he gave in 2002."

can readily be construed to mean that Hillary believes that either she or McCain would be a better president, because of their greater experience. The premise is dubious, but there can be no mistaking her meaning, something that will not be lost on the Republicans in the general election. Hillary should be ashamed of herself for going the Joe Lieberman route, but this is how she responds when she sees the prize that she thought was her entitlement slipping from her grasp. As a Democrat, I will now have a hard time supporting her should she become the party''s nominee.; Reply to this comment