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April 28, 2008 12:28 PM

From the Left, Clinton Scolds McCain Over Republican Ads on Wright

Posted by Fernando Suarez
(CBS)

From CBS News’ Fernando Suarez:


GRAHAM, N.C. -- At a press conference in this small town outside of Greensboro, Hillary Clinton said John McCain has not done enough to stop state party officials from running television ads targeting Barack Obama’s relationship with controversial pastor Jeremiah Wright.

“I regret the efforts by the Republicans to politicize this matter and I believe that if John McCain were serious, he would do more than send a letter,” Clinton told reporters. “I think he could very clearly tell the North Carolina party, the Mississippi party that he would not tolerate those kinds of advertisements and I’m waiting to hear if he does that.”

McCain says he has done everything he can to try and get the ads pulled, and has had harsh words for the state parties for continuing to run them. "They're not listening to me because they're out of touch with reality and the Republican Party," McCain said. "I've done everything that I can to repudiate and to see that this kind of campaigning does not continue."

Clinton dodged the bigger question as to whether or not her campaign would engage Obama over his relationship with Wright, now that Obama said the subject of his relationship was “a legitimate political issue.” Clinton did not take the bait, saying, “I have said that that was a personal decision of his, I answered one question about it and made it clear that I would not have stayed at that church under those circumstances.”

Clinton was also asked about an oft-used line in her stump speech where she says critics of the 1990’s must not have enjoyed the peace and prosperity of that time, a line Obama now references saying that the 90’s were a divisive time in American history. Clinton said there is always going to be divisions when fighting to change the status quo. “You’re going to take on some tough, strong, vested interests,” Clinton said. “I, frankly, wear that as something as a badge of courage when you take on the vested interests like Bill has and I have you are going to expect to be in their target. But I don’t think that you can get big change if you don’t do that.”
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by bacaangel April 30, 2008 2:30 PM EDT
Hillary supporter, Dr. Rev. Barbara Reynolds is a media consultant who has endorsed Hillary on her website: Reynoldsnews.com., and that in a spirit of enthusiasm, reached out to Rev. Wright and tempted him to tell his story at the Press Club to redeem his good name, and the good Rev. Wright took the "bite." This ploy and scheme by Hillary supporter, Dr. Reynolds backfired and has helped Barack redeem his campaign and find his voice!

Let''s be Clear: There was a time when Rev. Jeremiah Wright was once higly respected and sought after, hence his trip to the White House invited by Bill and Hillary Clinton for Prayer and Support when they were going through Bill''s Impeachment time. Some of Hillary''s strongest surrogates also have close ties to Rev. Wright, Shiela Jackson Lee and Rev. Marcia Dyson!
Barack "Investing in People!"

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by commentacct April 30, 2008 4:34 AM EDT
Everyone seems focusd on HIllary''s coments and McCain is even backpeddling....but it all seems like a letigimate use of ads to me.

If one of the candidates spent 17 years going to a church whose pastor was an anti-black old white guy, I dont think anyone would have any problems with using that background information against the candidate. Whats the problem in using this?

I dont see that anyone ''slipped'' videos of this guy to any groups ...the guy is openly bigoted and does not try to hide it. Why does it have to be a conspiracy? Is there some rule that no-one''s allowed to admit that there are black racists?

Wright is a bigot and also uses his position as a Pastor to promote these views. Nothing new there, happens all the time. Obama spent all this time going to that church and claims he never heard this stuff...OK, whatever, he can say that, its his prerogative. Its cool too. Obama held this guy in close confidence, also fact. But many would find that piece of background info interesting and it would fit into what they find acceptable or not.

I''m not voting for either one of them but it certainly sways my opinion of his character.

If the legal system allows for character witnesses and parole boards are allowed to judge a mans freedom based on who he hangs out with, then please don''t tell voters that they cannot evaluate the leaders of this country based on the same criteria.
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by greenfun April 28, 2008 7:03 PM EDT
I think Clinton should scold Obama about his latest shaky relationship with blackwell. LA Times ran the story yesterday-Obama donor receives state grant.
It sure didn''t sound very good.
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by javalation April 28, 2008 5:43 PM EDT
It''s really pathetic that cons are using this to attack in their local campaigns. It''s proof that their is no limit to how low some Republicans are willing to stoop in an effort to win. Will Americans ever wise up to these confidence games being played on them?
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by javalation April 28, 2008 5:34 PM EDT
Apparently McCain was against it before he was for it.
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by bacaangel April 28, 2008 4:49 PM EDT
It is time for the Republican-controlled Media to give this Wright controversy some fairness and enquire of Hillary Clinton and her surrogates the following:

Is it true that, (1) Hillary surrogate, Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee, is also a devotee of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright; that he''s been preaching at her home church, where she is actively involved, annually for the past 15 years and has an open invitation to return, and, that she sat in the pews for his visits and did not bat an eye?

Is it true that (2) Hillary surrogate, Rev. Marcia Dyson was not only a longtime member of Trinity United Church of Christ but also still considers Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright her pastor? That Rev. Marcia Dyson''s seminary education, in part, was sponsored by Trinity UCC and encouraged by Rev. Wright? And was it not at Trinity were she first met her husband, Rev. Dr. Michael Dyson, who''s been very vocal in his defense of Rev. Wright.?

And, lastly of Hillary Clinton, that if Rev. Wright would not have been her Pastor, then why did she and Bill when going through Impeachment, turn to Rev. Wright for Prayer and Support and invite him to the White House? These things should be answered.

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by craigh9 April 28, 2008 4:40 PM EDT
She has instilled mud slinging into this campaign and has the audacity to tell someone else to cool it - what a set of brass ones, please Hillary just do us all a favor and go away
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by maryinva April 28, 2008 4:07 PM EDT
Oh, please Hillary: give it up. No one''s under the mistaken impression that you''re trying to help the situation. The Clinton Campaign is well skilled in manipulating the 24 hour news cycle and even in refuting the ads in North Carolina knows full-well the impact on the frontrunner Senator Barack Obama. The American public is not stupid and the Clintons are not that generous with support for a rival.
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by jack3213 April 28, 2008 3:44 PM EDT
IF CLINTON DOESN''T LIKE IT WHY DOESN''T SHE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! SO TYPICAL OF A DEMOCRAT- NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE. SHE IS JUST SOOOOO PATHETIC.
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