Obama: Clinton Criticism "Toughening Me Up"

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama described Hillary Clinton's recent criticisms of him as Republican arguments that will "toughen" him up for the general election. While speaking at the Associated Press luncheon this afternoon, Obama said, "I'm sure that Senator Clinton feels like she's doing me a great favor because she's been deploying most of the arguments that the Republican Party will be using against me in November and so it's toughening me up."

Obama said Clinton can not afford to show restraint in the current contest, as he says he does, because he is leading in number of pledged delegates, states, and popular vote. He somewhat sarcastically called Clinton a "unique" candidate because she has remained in the race despite her loses.

"This has been a hard-fought contest partly because Senator Clinton has been a formidable candidate. You know there aren't very many figures in American politics that can sustain 11 straight losses and hang in a race, and raise $35 million dollars and in that sense she's unique."

Obama admitted that he thought the Democratic nomination would be settled after February 5.

In his opening remarks, Obama made yet another attempt to dismiss claims that he is an "elitist" by shifting his attention to John McCin and the Republicans.

"Senator McCain and the Republicans in Washington are already looking ahead to the fall and have decided that they plan on using these comments to argue that I'm out of touch with what's going on in the lives of working Americans," Obama said. "I don't blame them for this, that's the nature of our political culture, and if I had to carry the banner for eight years of George Bush's failures, I'd be looking for something else to talk about too."

Throughout the event, Obama attempted to shape controversy that has ensued over his comments into, as he describes, "political silliness" and a distraction.

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by illinoisvote April 16, 2008 6:29 PM EDT: I serve on board of Vital Voices Int., founded by First Lady Hillary to promote political & economic empowerment for women, co-sponsored 1998 conference with First Minister David Trimble & Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, who praised work of conference. It is, puzzling Lord David Trimble referred to Hillary%u2019s involvement in N. Ireland Peace Process as %u201Ca wee bit silly%u201D, when his wife, Daphne, attended all training sessions sponsored by Vital Voices & actively involved in its reconciliation & development work.

Hillary%u2019s passion & commitment to N. Ireland contributed to peace process & to Good Friday Agreement of 1998, but it continues to this day. As Senator, she has visited Rep. of Ireland & N. Ireland, where she met all political leaders, including the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, whom she also meets every year during his St. Patrick%u2019s Day visits to Washington. When Martin McGuiness & Ian Paisley visited Washington as First & Deputy Ministers of new N. Ireland Assembly, they met Pres. Bush & then Sen. Clinton, to thank her for her contributions to the peace process. Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume stated, %u201CAnyone criticizing her foreign policy involvement should look at her very active & positive approach to N. Ireland & speak with people of N. Ireland who have highest regard for her & are very grateful for her very active support for our peace process.%u201D

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/article/view/?id=6506; Reply to this comment


by illinoisvote April 16, 2008 6:28 PM EDT: Amb. Elizabeth Bagley

%u201CAs former US Amb. & Irish citizen, I support Sen. Clinton for Pres., she has strength & experience to assume Presidency, she has proven track record of promoting peace in N. Ireland for a decade, through her advocacy on behalf of children damaged by conflict & her encouragement & promotion of women in political process.

Hillary visited N. Ireland 7 times from 1995 & 2004, she brought together women from communities, Catholic & Protestant, to meet & work together toward a common goal of peace in N. Ireland.

In Sept., 1998, she spoke at first Vital Voices Conference on Women in Democracy in Belfast, brought 400 women to promote their leadership in peace process. Hillary announced $2 M in public/ private partnerships to support community, expand child care services, assist women in business & strengthen advocacy skills. She pledged she & Pres. would stand with them as they took risks for peace & urged them to transform their ideas into actions, & their dreams of a peaceful Ireland into reality.; Reply to this comment


by illinoisvote April 16, 2008 6:23 PM EDT: *** Morris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Morris
%u2026Morris went on to become campaign manager of Bill Clinton%u2019s successful 1996 bid for re-election%u2026his tenure on that campaign was cut short%u2026when it was revealed that he had allowed a prostitute, Sherry Rowlands, to listen in on conversations with the President%u2026Morris has emerged as a harsh critic of the Clintons%u2026

Barack Obama & *** Morris in Kenya
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/01/31/obamas-african-hubris-2/
%u2026Leader of the Kenyan Orange Democratic Movement opposition leader, Raila Odinga, is Barack Obama%u2019s cousin%u2026wants to be president%u2026two of Kenya%u2019s tribes%u2026are killing each other over a disputed election that Odinga, Obama%u2019s cousin, claims was stolen from him%u2026Former Clinton aides currently working for Obama%u2026directed *** Morris to Kenya to advise the Odinga campaign in November of 2007, shortly after Odinga visited with Obama in America. Morris was an extremely divisive factor in the Kenyan elections%u2026Kenya currently teeters on the edge of political chaos & civil war%u2026

Which Democratic candidate has the best foreign relations experience?; Reply to this comment


by illinoisvote April 16, 2008 6:21 PM EDT: Senator Obama on the Run from Rezko Story
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jOFT8jtuVpo

Obama Campaign Finance Chair Involved in Superior Bank S&L Scandal
http://www.bostonnow.com/blogs/oldmole/2008/02/12/obama-campaign-involved-in-super

Obama Missing in Action as Chair of Senate Subcommittee on Europe to Strengthen NATO Troops in Afghanistan http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=4355006&page=2

Barack %u201CI-didn%u2019t-know%u201D Obama http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/03/24/barack-i-didnt-know-obama/#comment-178392

Barack Obama and *** Morris in Kenya http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/01/31/obamas-african-hubris-2/

http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/The_Obama_Craze_Count_Me_Out_5413.html

Obama Knows His Way around a Ballot by David Jackson & Ray Long, Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,0,1843097.story?,page=1

Obama Very Cozy with Nuclear-power and Coal Industries

/by/ Enviro http://Enviro.mydd.com/ , Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 10:57:46 AM EST

Obama Connection to Terrorists Revealed by Talk Show Host
By Jim Kouri
MichNews.com http://www.MichNews.com
Mar 24, 2008

There is a far-reaching scandal brewing for presidential hopeful Sen.
Barack Obama, thanks to a radio talk show host based in Oregon.
Syndicated talk host Laurie Roth''s revelations make the news story about
Obama''s relationship with a racist, anti-American pastor look like
child''s play.; Reply to this comment


by nanging3 April 16, 2008 5:20 PM EDT: Don''''t Worry You Won''''t Have Your Guns For Much Longer...

OBAMA is standing in front of the camera himself for 52 seconds explaining how he will disarm the USA.

What we are talking about here IS NOT about politics and the differing
views concerning issues.....this is about the potential literal destruction of
this country by our enemies and our inability to defend ourselves against those
attacks.

This is a very short (52 seconds) video by Barak Obama in his own words
about how he plans to destroy our defense capabilities if elected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDV
Ds; Reply to this comment


by d280910 April 16, 2008 6:25 AM EDT: Greenfun,

Obama was actually the sponsor of the bill that you mention (to cap credit cards interest rates). So he was, as you claim he says he is, championing that bill for the poor and the middle class. I think that is where you misunderstand Obama''s situation on this point. He voted against it because amendment after amendment meant that bill was only going to pass at the 30%pa rate which he (and I) believe is ludicrous.; Reply to this comment


by greenfun April 15, 2008 12:44 PM EDT: It is the way he votes that says it all.
Obama has a way of ducking hard votes or explaining away his bad votes by trying to blame poorly-written statutes. Case in point: an amendment he voted on as part of a recent bankruptcy bill before the US Senate would have capped credit card interest rates at 30 percent. Inexplicably, Obama voted against it, although it would have been the beginning of setting these predatory lending rates under federal control. Even Senator Hillary Clinton supported it.

Now Obama explains his vote by saying the amendment was poorly written or set the ceiling too high. His explanation isn''t credible as Obama offered no lower number as an alternative, and didn''t put forward his own amendment clarifying whatever language he found objectionable.

Why wouldn''t Obama have voted to create the first federal ceiling on predatory credit card interest rates, particularly as he calls himself a champion of the poor and middle classes? Perhaps he was signaling to the corporate establishment that they need not fear him. For all of his dynamic rhetoric about lifting up the masses, it seems Obama has little intention of doing anything concrete to reverse the cycle of poverty many struggle to overcome.; Reply to this comment


by craigh9 April 15, 2008 12:40 PM EDT: Once again Hillary shows what she is all about - NEGATIVITY AND FEAR.
She is losing the race and the only thing she knows is old time politics - drag your opponent down to a level lower than you to make yourself look good, because god knows you do not have the ability to rise above them through your abilities. Hillary has made a mockery of her own campaign, she is making a mockery of the democratic nomination process, and if left unchecked will hand the Republicans 4 more years in the White House. NEWS FLASH - americans, both big city and rural, are bitter - they are sick and tired of the status quo, of having politicans like Hillary say or do anything to get people to vote for them and once elected ignore them for another 3 years until the process starts again. You have misjudged the american people this time Hillary - your negativity and fear mongering is not going to work. Run your negative ads and make your negative speeches, and when it is all said and done Obama will run your backside out of the party inner circle forever!; Reply to this comment


by wakeup9 April 15, 2008 2:33 AM EDT: These comments are insane, Obviously Fox news has become the main source of education for too many Americans.THAT IS SCARY......
People need to put their pettiness aside, maybe read a book, study history and educate themselves, before they begin throwing stones....Oh! Is that not a common passage in the Bible. And also I believe that judging others is not our place, and lets not forget hypocrisy the biggest sin of all.How can you begin to justify your hateful nature and be true to your faith if you practice one. I pray that these ignorant comments are disregarded. This type of dialogue is so hateful at it''s very root, and can spread like a weed. For all of you who have joined the bandwagon to distorte Barack Obama or any other person for that matter are your own worst enemy.; Reply to this comment


by verycold April 15, 2008 1:35 AM EDT: I actually do not think that Hillary has done a very good job with her campaign. She has stumbled a lot helped by her husband and basically handed Barack the nomination. However his energy disappeared a long time ago when he was unchallenged by the media or anybody else. Barack does not like to be challenged. He always says he looks forward to having that discussion with McCain, but without a script in front of him he seems to not be able to find the right words. I would not say he ever WON any of the debates. At best he just stayed even. For a guy that insists the has much more experience and breath of understanding of the issues he should be blowing Hillary off the stage. It was reported some time ago that before he gave the 2004 speech to the convention his wife, Michelle told him to not screw it up. I confess that statement really perplexed me. It would never occur to me to tell my mate not to mess a very important speech up. Maybe words of encouragement, but to plant the seed of doubt. Maybe she knows he does easily go off course.; Reply to this comment