GOP Hopefuls Aim Attacks At Clinton

Battle Among Themselves At Debate, But Save Harshest Barbs For Democratic Frontrunner

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

---

The gloves are off.

At Sunday night's Fox News-sponsored Republican debate in Orlando, the GOP presidential hopefuls criticized each other more aggressively than then have in any previous debate. But they saved their harshest attacks for the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination: Hillary Clinton.

"She made a statement last week, and I've been very critical of her, but I want to tell her I agree with this one," said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He then cited Clinton's comment that she has "a million ideas; America cannot afford them all."

Giuliani quipped: "No kidding Hillary -- American can't afford you."

"She hasn't run a corner store," said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. "She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city. She has never run anything. And the idea that she could learn to be president, you know, as an internship, just doesn't make any sense."

He later asked the audience: "Anyone here want to vote for Hillary?" The question prompted a roar of "No!" from the audience.

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee also went after Clinton, twice saying that while he likes humor, there's "nothing funny" about Clinton becoming president.

In the spin room after the debate, candidates and their supporters discussed why, despite the fact that the Republican nomination is still very much up for grabs, there was so much discussion of a Democrat.

"Republicans have to have a debate: Do you want Hillary-light, or do you want to go at her directly?" said Florida Rep. Tom Feeney, a Romney supporter. "And I'm one of those guys that wants to have a fight for the soul of this country with Hillary."

Feeney characterized the Republican nomination fight as a two-man race between Romney and Giuliani. He said the former New York mayor "doesn't have a whole lot of differences on the social issues with Hillary Clinton."

Sen. John McCain criticized Clinton for an amendment to fund a museum commemorating the Woodstock concert, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd. But he also offered rare kind words for the former first lady, noting that "I know and respect Senator Clinton."

McCain promised a "respectful debate" with the candidate since "that is what the American people want."

"I think what John understands is the American public is not looking for a food fight in 2008 -- they're looking for candidates for the highest office in the land to define their differences in a respectful way," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a McCain supporter.

Ron Paul, who criticized Clinton when asked how he was different from her, was blunt in his assessment of his rivals' attacks on the Democratic frontrunner.

"I think they're bored, and they're not discussing issues, so they have to come up with all this political stuff," he said.

Paul characterized Clinton as "an easy target."

"They're using her to try to enhance themselves with the base," he said.

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer compared current barbs by Republicans at Clinton to Democrats who attacked former president Hebert Hoover decades after he left office.

"Franklin Roosevelt started running against Herbert Hoover in 1932, and three decades later Democrats were still running against Herbert Hoover," Schieffer said on CBS News' The Early Show. "I think for the Republicans, Hillary Clinton has become the new Herbert Hoover."

"They all want to run against Hillary Clinton. They accused each other of being like Hillary Clinton," Schieffer added. "I came away from this debate wondering, 'What would they do without her?' "

Throughout the duration of "Presidency IV," the weekend fundraiser and convention that culminated in Sunday night's debate, mentions of Clinton drew a strong response from the Florida Republican Party faithful.

"We must ensure that we support our nominee with every ounce of energy each one of us possess," said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer at a luncheon Saturday. "If not, ladies and gentlemen, we shall watch Hillary Rodham Clinton sworn in on the Capitol steps as the next commander in chief of our United States Armed Forces."

The audience booed loudly at that prospect.

"This is a scene that our nation cannot afford to witness," said Greer.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, like his rivals, criticized Clinton during the debate, though he has cautioned against focusing too much on the Democratic frontrunner.

"He said we are better than being united by our opposition to her," said Thompson supporter and pundit Mary Matalin.

"(Republicans) need to be for something, not just against something," she added.

[mcvett]

Republicans attacking Hillary Clinton is NO DIFFERENT than
Democrats attacking George Bush.

If it''s OK for Democrats to attack Bush, then it''s OK for Republicans to attack Hillary

Get used to it, wimps....(including you, Con-Dumb-ism)

ROTFLMAO....Seig Heil, Hillary !!!

.

[stopthewarrr]

***** Stop The War & Corporate Corruption *****

Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul??????

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

Ron Paul WON The GOP Debate On Sunday!
Again No EXPOSURE!

Who Owns The Media: http://www.mediaowners.com

***************************
RON PAUL IS THE ONLY POLITICAN REPUBLICAN OR
DEMOCRAT THAT WILL STOP THE WAR! NO ONE ELSE
WILL, PERIOD! WAKE UP AMERICA! VOTE RON PAUL 2008
TAKE CARE OF AMERICA AND OUR PEOPLE FIRST, INSTEAD
OF HAVING OUR CHILDREN DIE IN A B.S. WAR!
***************************

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[mudrose-2009]

That is a tried old argument by the GOP we know how you try to divide us but when you **** off an American it doesn''''t matter what you say because we get really good and pissed. In fact if you think you family value party of god fascist right wing nuts are going to stand against America with more slander and lies think again.
Posted by antoniof123

Well the lefties don''t give us much choice now do they. They''re even worse. Why the little socialist pigs would give the country away in a heartbeat. What Constitution. George Soros doesn''t want the Constitution, he wants Madama Socialist Hag to lead the country into the New World Order.

[antoniof123]

PS Gannon, Craig and Haggard all went down on bush but couldnt find anything. The democratic party completely ignored the people that elected them in 06 by not impeaching the chimp on his very real constitutional crimes....sooo....they are shafting their own party members as well.
This country is going down fast.

Posted by ainttaken at 10:44 PM : Oct 22, 2007

That is a tried old argument by the GOP we know how you try to divide us but when you **** off an American it doesn''t matter what you say because we get really good and pissed. In fact if you think you family value party of god fascist right wing nuts are going to stand against America with more slander and lies think again.

[terrorislam2]

obama disrespects usa flag

Obama: No Hand on Heart for National Anthem
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2007/10/20/obama-no-hand-heart-pledge-either-will-msm-notice

[mudrose-2009]

Why if she ever came within a foot of me, I''d spit in her disgusting face.

[mudrose-2009]

GOP claims THEY are " Conservative Spenders " HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ,..CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ??? Santa ? The Easter Bunny? WMD? GOP Conservative spenders ? Fair Elections ? Honesty in The Oil Room ? The check`s in the mail,..
Posted by neobrian

Dimnowits always looking out for the people. Mexicans, their children, open borders, pandering to small interest groups, Armenian genocide issues to undermine the troops and limit supplies by antagonizing Turkey. Dimnowits, always looking out for the people. Everyone but Americans. Hahahahaha!

[sftodd]

PS Gannon, Craig and Haggard all went down on bush but couldnt find anything. The democratic party completely ignored the people that elected them in 06 by not impeaching the chimp on his very real constitutional crimes....sooo....they are shafting their own party members as well.
This country is going down fast.
Posted by ainttaken at 10:44 PM : Oct 22, 2007

So true, 95% of the current congressional democrats are either spineless and pathetic cowards or they simply are Republicans pretending to be Democrats. It''s time for Democrats to clean their own house and start punishing the traitors who only know how to ask "how high?" when Republicans tell them to jump. The democrats in congress are nearly as repulsive as republicans. They betrayed the people who elected them and they should all be sent packing. Even if it means giving a republican a seat, I have to believe we need to start smacking the pathetic spineless democrats in congress who are too timid and meek to stand up to republicans. That''s why we sent them there, and if they can''t do it, they need to go home and bake cookies for their wives and kids.

[neobrian-2009]

GOP claims THEY are " Conservative Spenders " HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ,..CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ??? Santa ? The Easter Bunny? WMD? GOP Conservative spenders ? Fair Elections ? Honesty in The Oil Room ? The check`s in the mail,..

[tiredofthebs]

It''s hilarious to see the rhetoric posted by the PACADERM PARTY in this post. (LMAO) History will prove that SHRUB is the worst president in US history. Hillary Clinton will be the next US President & there is NOTHING the Goofball, Out-of-Touch, Party (G.O.P.) can do !!


SOMEBODY please go down on George Shrub so we can begin the IMPEACHMENT !!!!

[the74blaster]

If it''''s OK for Democrats to attack Bush, then it''''s OK for Republicans to attack Hillary

Get used to it, wimps....(including you, Con-Dumb-ism)

Good post! All I can say is if you have a thin skin (liberal and conservative alike), its time to move to an island.

The carnage of 2008 will probably be unmatched...until 2012.

[neobrian-2009]

" GOP " The people who bring you KING W,.. Dead-Eye Dicck,..Halliburton,..Scooter & Harriet,..The Gay Potato,..Hurricane Relief ,...Abramoff`s assoCIAtes,..Brownie,..Port sellouts,..WMD,...Tripling the Nation Debt,..Mortgage Fraud,..Enron,..
The list goes & grows !!! Remember !!!! ~" ~Friends Don`t Let Friends Vote Republicon ~"~

[mcvett]

Republicans attacking Hillary Clinton is NO DIFFERENT than
Democrats attacking George Bush.

If it''s OK for Democrats to attack Bush, then it''s OK for Republicans to attack Hillary

Get used to it, wimps....(including you, Con-Dumb-ism)

ROTFLMAO....Seig Heil, Hillary !!!

.

[jerr11]

If you have no good ideas, attack those who do.

It''s the same old neocon strategy.

Divert the nation''s attention and make vicious personal attacks on your opponents.

I''m no fan of Hillary.

Personally I think Bill is rather clueless.

Why is he still hanging on to this old lady?

He should take a cue from Fred Thompson and marry one of Chelsea''s college mates!!

Then he''ll qualify to become a Christian conservative candidate too!!

LOL

[homespunlady]

Posted by hawksprings at 03:18 PM : Oct 22, 2007

Maybe to answer your answer check out what''s happened SINCE Bill.
The current administration has acquired a SUB-PRIME MORTGAGE on our nation to FUND THEIR MONEY-PIT Iraq CONQUEST and the Communist Chinese are the LENDERS!!

Sorry but GEORGE has sold ALL BUT THE ELITE of the American People into ECONOMIC SLAVERY and the PAYMENT has come due.
Ownership of Bear Sterns is going Communist Chinese.
Our ports have been SOLD to the SAUDIS (BIN LADEN''S HOMELAND) through FRONT corporations.
American roads paid for by TAXPAYER sweat and dollars being turned into TOLL roads and turned over to Spain''s Elite.

Yep, PRIVATIZATION to FOREIGN countries is the Hope and Dream of our NEOCONS.

[savetheus2]

***** Stop The War & Corporate Corruption *****

Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul?

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

** Ron Paul Won The GOP Debate Lastnight!

Who Owns The Media: http://www.mediaowners.com

RESTORE YOUR LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

He Will:

** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
** Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
** Restore America''s Work Force & Values
** Restore America''s Freedom!

GET UP AND GET ACTIVE TODAY!!!
Paul Is America''s Last Hope!

Join The ReVoLuTiOn In Your City Stand Up America:
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[gunownerdan]

Because most democrats and republicans profit from war, don''t expect war to end anytime soon.

[j-whitman]

thgdriver,,,, Come on man, get off the BS -- You have no idea what you are talking about & those deadass lies flatly isn''t belivevable...... ----- Rumsfield is gone, Gonzales is Gone & just now we are starting to fight a war as it should have been... Granted a lot more can be done but your Bush Loyalists prohibit progress.

[j-whitman]

donbl1,,,,, Seriously, with all the damage these incompetent Reagan/Bush wannabe''s --- You think Hillary has baggage ????? LOL ----- Look at Guiliani, marrage to his own cousin (INCEST) disliked by most in New York City, ran from the War on Terror & our military from the Iraq Study Group, profiteering into the multi-millions ---- LOL, get real dude --------- Not even God can save this GOP

[j-whitman]

After what these GOP Hopefulls contributed to over the last 7 years,,,,, the total dishonor & neglect of our nation, escelating world terrorism, outing CIA agents & thier missions, damaging our military & our children,, falures in Iraq & against Ossama Bin Laden & continious lies to America while destroying our country & our national security ----- These dishonorable incompetent idiots have no right attacking anyone