Clinton Faces the Press Twice in Eight Hours

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

TOLEDO, OHIO -- Late last night aboard her campaign plane, Hillary Clinton held a press conference with friend and supporter, actor Ted Danson. Less than eight hours later, the Clinton campaign called for yet another press conference surprising many of the traveling reporters. But it soon became clear that the early morning press conference was aimed to draw attention to recent reports that a senior economic adviser for Barack Obama met with Canadian officials to downplay Obama's tough talk on NAFTA. The Obama campaign has been on the record categorically denying such a meeting.

But a new memo shows that a meeting between Austan Goolsbee, Obama's chief economic advisor did, in fact, take place with Canadian officials, according to the Associated Press.

"If you come to Ohio and both give speeches that are very critical of NAFTA and you send out misleading and false information about my position regarding NAFTA and then we find out that your chief economic adviser has gone to a foreign government and basically done the old 'wink, wink, don't pay attention, this is just political rhetoric.' I think that raises serious questions," Clinton told reporters.

She suggested that if reporters were to substitute her name for Obama's name in this story that she would have received greater scrutiny.

"Just ask yourself," Clinton said. "If some of my advisers had been having private meetings with foreign governments basically saying 'ignore what I'm saying because its only political rhetoric,' I think it raises serious questions."

Clinton's comments come just one day before Ohioans are set to head to the polls, and she hopes the new developments will raise questions in the minds of voters.

She was asked about her chances in the upcoming primaries and how she has handled this long nomination process.

"This is the equivalent of the hazing process, who can withstand it? Who can keep going?"

And to that question, win or lose, Clinton again asserted that she plans on continuing the campaign. "I believe we will do well tomorrow I believe that's going to be a very significant message to the country. Then we move on to Pennsylvania and states still ahead, so I'm just getting warmed up."

Last night in Cleveland, Clinton made her way to the back of her campaign plane, armed with a beer in a red plastic cup and accompanied by Danson and his wife Mary Steenburgen. Clinton said she wanted to introduce the actors, but the lighthearted moment soon turned into a full-blown press conference with Clinton fielding a variety of questions from the likelihood that she can survive past March 4, to her continual references, in a TV ad and on the stump, to 3 a.m. phone calls to the president.

Clinton said she thinks the image of the phone call helps "dramatize" what the stakes are for people. "You know, I've been saying in many different ways for a year that stakes could not be higher, we face big challenges, we have real threats. I've said it over and over again. I think the jarring image of the phone call, which happens and is part of being president, helps to concentrate peoples' attentions in ways that all the descriptives just don't."

Although most of the attention was focused on Clinton, one reporter did shout out a question to Danson asking him how he felt that his friend and colleague Larry David, from the HBO show "Curb Your Enthusiasm," was supporting Obama. Danson said jokingly, "I'm out of that show. I'm never going to do it again."

Clinton chimed in, "So let's all curb our enthusiasm." Zing!

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by demndem March 5, 2008 2:30 AM EST: I don''t think any candidate is good enough to be the president of the United States. I think we are just trying to choose one that is less insane, less stubborn, less self-interest, less ignorant..... And I think Obama wins in the less... tests. As Obama said before, it never runs out of good ideas, good policies, good plans in the House, it just needs a president who will listen with the ability to make right decision for the goodness of the people. Obama doesn''t need to bring a brilliant economic plan or rich experience in the White House to be a good president. But he needs to have a very very tough will to go against all the obstacles, and the frequent attacks from his rivals, - both from the Republicans and Hillary, and the betrayal from Obama''s own camp, if any. Believe me, Hillary only gets challenge from the Obama''s supporters whereas Obama faces both sides because he is the only one can really win the Republicans.
If Hillary represents the Democrat in November, I will turn to the Republicans for sure. Beware!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by demndem March 5, 2008 2:29 AM EST: I don''t think any candidate is good enough to be the president of the United States. I think we are just trying to choose one that is less insane, less stubborn, less self-interest, less ignorant..... And I think Obama wins in the less... tests. As Obama said before, it never runs out of good ideas, good policies, good plans in the House, it just needs a president who will listen with the ability to make right decision for the goodness of the people. Obama doesn''t need to bring a brilliant economic plan or rich experience in the White House to be a good president. But he needs to have a very very tough will to go against all the obstacles, and the frequent attacks from his rivals, - both from the Republicans and Hillary, and the betrayal from Obama''s own camp, if any. Believe me, Hillary only gets challenge from the Obama''s supporters whereas Obama faces both sides because he is the only one can really win the Republicans.
If Hillary represents the Democrat in November, I will turn to the Republicans for sure. Beware!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by demndem March 5, 2008 2:19 AM EST: It is not good. I don''t want Republican to dominate the white house again after the Bush. But if Hillary continues the fight, sorry, I can''t stand the divisive Democrat anymore. I don''t think any candidate is good enough to be the president of the United States. I think we are just trying to choose one that is less insane, less stubborn, less self-interest, less ignorant..... And I think Obama wins in the less... tests. As Obama said before, it never runs out of good ideas, good policies, good plans in the House, it just needs a president who will listen with the ability to make right decision for the goodness of the people. Obama doesn''t need to bring a brilliant economic plan or rich experience in the White House to be a good president. But he needs to have a very very tough will to go against all the obstacles, and the frequent attacks from his rivals - both from the Republicans and the Hillary side. Believe me, Hillary only gets challenge from the Obama''s supporters whereas Obama faces both sides because he is the only one can really win the Republicans.
If Hillary represents the Democrat in November, I will turn to the Republicans for sure. Beware!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by demndem March 5, 2008 2:15 AM EST: It is not good. I don''t want Republican to dominate the white house again after the Bush. But if Hillary continues the fight, sorry, I can''t stand the divisive Democrat anymore. I don''t think any candidate is good enough to be the president of the United States. I think we are just trying to choose one that is less insane, less stubborn, less self-interest, less ignorant..... And I think Obama wins in the less... tests. As Obama said before, it never runs out of good ideas, good policies, good plans in the House, it just needs a president who will listen with the ability to make right decision for the goodness of the people. Obama doesn''t need to bring a brilliant economic plan or rich experience in the White House to be a good president. But he needs to have a very very tough will to go against all the obstacles, and the frequent attacks from his rivals - both from the Republicans and the Hillary side. Believe me, Hillary only gets challenge from the Obama''s supporters whereas Obama faces both sides because he is the only one can really win the Republicans.
If Hillary represents the Democrat in November, I will turn to the Republicans for sure. Beware!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by demndem March 5, 2008 2:14 AM EST: It is not good. I don''t want Republican to dominate the white house again after the Bush. But if Hillary continues the fight, sorry, I can''t stand the divisive Democrat anymore. I don''t think any candidate is good enough to be the president of the United States. I think we are just trying to choose one that is less insane, less stubborn, less self-interest, less ignorant..... And I think Obama wins in the less... tests. As Obama said before, it never runs out of good ideas, good policies, good plans in the House, it just needs a president who will listen with the ability to make right decision for the goodness of the people. Obama doesn''t need to bring a brilliant economic plan or rich experience in the White House to be a good president. But he needs to have a very very tough will to go against all the obstacles, and the frequent attacks from his rivals - both from the Republicans and the Hillary side. Believe me, Hillary only gets challenge from the Obama''s supporters whereas Obama faces both sides because he is the only one can really win the Republicans.
If Hillary represents the Democrat in November, I will turn to the Republicans for sure. Beware!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by popstom1 March 3, 2008 8:27 PM EST: Obama Rezko Auchi and the funding
for that boneheaded mistake his
words He made the judgement call
he took the money yeah he donated
$150.000 what about the rest; Reply to this comment


by hillarynow March 3, 2008 8:00 PM EST: After the way Obama and his rabid, rude, disloyal, dishonest followers claiming to be Democrats have treated Hillary and Bill Clinton I will now be voting for Nader if Obama wins the nomination.; Reply to this comment


by ifeelgood3 March 3, 2008 5:35 PM EST: Here''s an excerpt of an article entitled "Hillary Unmasked," dated Mar. 1st, written by *** Morris, a commentator on the website Rasmussen Reports.
"Her lifelong pattern of secrecy was once again evident. While publicly promoting transparency in government, she steadfastly refuses to release her personal income tax returns. That%u2019s a clear tip-off that there%u2019s something to hide. Recall that the Clintons selectively released tax returns in Arkansas, but refused to go back to 1980, when Hillary had her windfall in cattle futures.
During the debate, Hillary suggested that she%u2019d release the returns %u201Csoon,%u201D but her staff quickly backtracked. She implied that she%u2019s been too busy to deal with releasing the returns. Does she really think anyone believes that it will take more than simply making a copy of the return? She%u2019s stalling and there%u2019s a reason for that.
Most likely, the return will show how much Bill has been making from his partnership with the Sheik of Dubai and his other business ventures. Should the spouse of a presidential candidate be in business with a foreign leader who needs favors from the U.S. government? Definitely not. That%u2019s why we%u2019ll never see those returns."; Reply to this comment


by westafer2 March 3, 2008 5:30 PM EST: Senator Hillary Clinton claims "35 years of experience%u201D which is the entire length of time since her graduation from law school in 1973. But what kind of experience? Only during the past 7 years since her election to the US Senate in November 2000 in her adopted state of New York has Hillary Clinton in her own right actually been an elected official accountable to voters rather than the spouse of an elected official.
Barack Obama%u2019s experience has been different. In 1993 he became a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School and in 1996 was elected to the Illinois State Senate where he served 8 years prior to his election to the US Senate in November 2004. With his combined service as an Illinois State Senator and US Senator Barack Obama has been an elected official accountable to voters for the past 11 years.Senator Barack Obama has served in Washington long enough to understand that changes are needed and unlike his opponents he has already made a significant change. By refusing to accept money from lobbyists and political action committees Barack Obama is proving that one can become elected President of the United States without being beholden to money peddlers in Washington. Barack Obama raises the money necessary for his campaign directly from the people to whom he is accountable, people like you and me.; Reply to this comment


by ifeelgood3 March 3, 2008 5:26 PM EST: Here''s an excerpt of an article entitled "Hillary Unmasked," dated Mar. 1st, written by *** Morris, a commentator on the website Rasmussen Reports.

"Her lifelong pattern of secrecy was once again evident. While publicly promoting transparency in government, she steadfastly refuses to release her personal income tax returns. That%u2019s a clear tip-off that there%u2019s something to hide. Recall that the Clintons selectively released tax returns in Arkansas, but refused to go back to 1980, when Hillary had her windfall in cattle futures.
During the debate, Hillary suggested that she%u2019d release the returns %u201Csoon,%u201D but her staff quickly backtracked. She implied that she%u2019s been too busy to deal with releasing the returns. Does she really think anyone believes that it will take more than simply making a copy of the return? She%u2019s stalling and there%u2019s a reason for that.
Most likely, the return will show how much Bill has been making from his partnership with the Sheik of Dubai and his other business ventures. Should the spouse of a presidential candidate be in business with a foreign leader who needs favors from the U.S. government? Definitely not. That%u2019s why we%u2019ll never see those returns."; Reply to this comment