Clinton Goes On Offense Against Obama

Washington Post: Losing Ground In Latest Iowa Poll, Clinton Mounts Aggressive Attack

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Anne E. Kornblut.

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With a new poll showing her losing ground in the Iowa caucus race, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) mounted a new, more aggressive attack against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Sunday, raising direct questions about his character, challenging his integrity and forecasting a sharp debate over those subjects in the days ahead.

Clinton has hammered Obama recently over his health-care proposal, arguing that he is misleading voters because it omits millions of people and would not lower costs. But Sunday, in a dramatic shift, she made it clear that her goal is to challenge Obama not just on policy but also on one of his strongest selling points: his reputation for honesty.

"There's a big difference between our courage and our convictions, what we believe and what we're willing to fight for," Clinton told reporters here. She said voters in Iowa will have a choice "between someone who talks the talk, and somebody who's walked the walk."

Asked directly whether she intended to raise questions about Obama's character, she replied: "It's beginning to look a lot like that."

The Obama campaign quickly fought back, and the candidate himself called the new effort a sign of desperation. A new Des Moines Register poll released Sunday finds Clinton three points behind Obama, within the poll's margin of error, among likely Democratic caucusgoers.

"I think that folks from some of the other campaigns are reading the polls and starting to get stressed and issuing a whole range of outlandish accusations," Obama said. His advisers -- and some of hers -- believe that if Clinton loses the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, her status as the front-runner nationally will evaporate.

On the Republican side, the Register's poll showed a continuing surge for former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who described his campaign as "on fire." Huckabee garnered the support of 29 percent of respondents, 17 points better than in the previous poll. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney pulled in 24 percent, a drop of five points.

The survey marked the first time Romney has slipped from the lead in the state since early summer. The result is a dramatic shift in the Republican contest, which had been shaping up as a nasty, two-man race between Romney and former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani.

As a consequence, Romney has begun to turn his attacks toward Huckabee as he faces the prospect of losing a state that he spent millions to win. That would be a devastating blow to Romney's strategy of minimizing his lackluster performance in national polls by pointing to his enduring strength in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Huckabee said on ABC's "This Week," "That's why there's an excitement about my campaign. It's just not about Mike Huckabee. It's about all those Americans out there who were told what they couldn't do, what they couldn't become."

The new Clinton strategy, acknowledged by her senior advisers as an intentional pivot, carriessignificant risks and could produce a potential backlash if voters perceive her as growing too negative. The Register's poll also found that Clinton was seen by Iowa voters as the most negative of the Democratic contenders.

Obama had the support of 28 percent of respondents, up six points from the last Register poll, in early October. Former senator John Edwards (N.C.) drew 23 percent. Clinton was in the middle at 25 percent, down four points from early October. The margin of error is 4.4 percentage points.

Clinton, campaigning across Iowa on Sunday, appeared to be spoiling for a fight with her chief Democratic rival in national polls -- even at one point describing the battle as "fun."

"I have said for months that I would much rather be attacking Republicans, and attacking the problems of our country, because ultimately that's what I want to do as president. But I have been, for months, on the receiving end of rather consistent attacks. Well, now the fun part starts. We're into the last month, and we're going to start drawing the contrasts," she said.

That drew a swift rebuke from Obama. "This presidential campaign isn't about attacking people for fun, it's about solving people's problems, like ending this war and creating a universal health care system," he said in a statement. "Washington insiders might think throwing mud is fun, but the American people are looking for leadership that can unite this country around a common purpose."

Obama advisers described the strategy as foolhardy, and reminiscent of the approach perfected by former Bush White House adviser Karl Rove: going after a front-runner on his strengths and challenging his sincerity.

The intensified back-and-forth between Clinton and Obama appeared certain to aggravate the Edwards campaign, which is combating the perception of a two-person race in Iowa when polls show that he is still very much in contention.

Clinton advisers had telegraphed her new, hard-knuckled approach before she brought it to the campaign trail herself.

On a Sunday talk show, communications director Howard Wolfson criticized the Illinois senator for using a political action committee to distribute money to candidates in local contests, some in early presidential primary states. "There's a lot that voters don't know about Barack Obama," Wolfson said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

The Clinton campaign has been steadily building what it describes as a character case against Obama for several weeks, particularly over his health-care plan. Clinton has argued that he is being disingenuous when he claims his plan would achieve universal coverage.

Obama's plan would not mandate that all people buy health insurance; instead it focuses on lowering costs. Strategists said Clinton chose health care as a target area because she believes she has a large advantage on the issue among many voters.

Sunday, however, marked the first time that Clinton raised the character question so bluntly on the campaign trail. In a question-and-answer session with reporters after her first stop, she said that "you can't get a straight answer" from Obama on health care.

Clinton advisers said they make no apology for going on the offensive after months of criticism by both Obama and Edwards. "Senator Obama is a fabulous orator, but we need more than words," Wolfson said in an interview. "We don't need someone who says one thing and does another, somebody who talks a good game but doesn't have the courage of their convictions. And on issue after issue, Senator Obama says one thing and does another."

Staff writer Michael D. Shear in Washington contributed to this report.

[cpaide]

he already endorsed a form of torture.
Posted by nggr

Romney on Torture
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/05/romney_on_tortu.html

More Romney on torture
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/05/romney_on_tortu.html

Romney, Torture, and Teens
The former governor''s connections to abusive "tough love" camps
http://www.reason.com/news/show/121088.html

Los Angeles Times Article on Robert Lichfield and "Tough-Love"
Key to His Schools'' Success? It''s God, Founder Says
http://www.caica.org/NEWS%20Robert%20Lichfield.htm

The Times article is dated July 13, 2003, so it''s not like Romney didn''t know what Lichfield was up to all along. Also, it appears that Lichfield''s version of Mormon faith is a big factor in the way the camps are run. Now the questions are:

"Does Romney support these types of tactics for at-risk youth? Or does he take the line the organizations founded by his fundraisers take: that these dozens of lawsuits are merely from bad kids who make up lies?"
Maia Szalavitz, "Romney, Torture, and Teens"

These questions I find more important than whether Romney believes in Jewish submarines or gold plates or peep stones or talking salamanders, etc.

Romney''s actions in putting these men on his campaign in the first place are a big negative for me. How would Romney run an at-risk youth camp? Probably similar to the way Lichfield runs his. How would Romney run Guantanamo? With torture (called something else), almost certainly.

[nggr]

We''''re talking about a politician--not a fiancee. Most politicians demonstrate narcissism, greed and stupidity while proclaiming faith in God throughout their careers.
Posted by cpaide at 04:03 PM : Dec 05, 2007

agreed

It''''s impossible to know whether Romney literally believes in Jewish submarines--even if he says that he believes the Book of Mormon is the Word of God
Posted by cpaide at 04:03 PM : Dec 05, 2007

now, i disagree with that one, someone could, and should, tactfully ask him," do you believe that israelites used submarines during any one of the 3 migration periods the morman faith asserts are historical fact?"

I don''''t think he has ever been caught doing something nasty in a restroom or in his office.
Posted by cpaide at 04:03 PM : Dec 05, 2007

good point


is Romney qualified or not?
Posted by cpaide at 04:03 PM : Dec 05, 2007

in my opinion he is not. but thats for each individual voter to decide.

What has he done to demonstrate mental weakness that brought negative effect on others?
Posted by cpaide at 04:03 PM : Dec 05, 2007

he already endorsed a form of torture.

[cpaide]

aren''t we supposed to evaluate the candidates professional AND personal life? isn''t that why it matters whether or not a guy gives a BJ in a restroom or receives one in the oval office....
faith and beliefs are not trivial, it shows the character of a candidate.
Posted by nggr

I agree that ideally, we would get complete and accurate information on a person''s beliefs, etc. and make an informed guess about how that person might act in office.

Practically, I find it impossible to know much about what a person really believes, or how that belief might translate into action. I can only guess. So I try to judge based on a person''s track record, his/her actions, which I think are a more objective demonstration of character.

It''s impossible to know whether Romney literally believes in Jewish submarines--even if he says that he believes the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. And even if he believes it, his belief doesn''t seem to have affected his ability to run a business or a government. I don''t think he has ever been caught doing something nasty in a restroom or in his office.

We''re talking about a politician--not a fiancee. Most politicians demonstrate narcissism, greed and stupidity while proclaiming faith in God throughout their careers. Some sign civil rights bills; others get people killed for no good reason. Some do both. So, based on his track record, is Romney qualified or not? What has he done to demonstrate mental weakness that brought negative effect on others?

[nggr]

And you are concerned about this belief for what reason?
Posted by cpaide at 01:12 PM : Dec 05, 2007

we have seen what happens on both sides of the fence here and around the world when a leader bases his decisions on his faith. and there is a resurgence in pondering where faiths place is when in office. the consensus i see in the majority is that you cant separate the man (or woman) from his/her beliefs.
so with that said, doesn''t an extremely outlandish belief like this make you wonder about this man?
aren''t we supposed to evaluate the candidates proffesoinal AND personal life? isn''t that why it matters whether or not a guy gives a BJ in a restroom or receives one in the oval office. isn''t that why it matters whether or not some innocent on vacation gets kidnapped by the CIA and tortured by a country we consider an enemy because we sent him there?
faith and beliefs are not trivial, it shows the character of a candidate.
and i am of the opinion that baleiving that a jewish family came over here in a submarine and poulated the entire continent is ludicrous, and shows mental weakness in one that holds it to be true.

[nggr]

Posted by cpaide at 01:12 PM : Dec 05, 2007

i just think it shows a lack of critical thinking and reason.
i am not a big fan of "faith"
presented with solid evidence to the contrary of what i may or may not believe, i would adjust my views.
i dont consider someone who believes this drivel a credible candidate for the most powerful leader in the world.
a submarine?
***.
i''m sure he''s done some good things in his life, and i wont judge his intentions, but he''s not a candidate i would consider. to be fair, i would''t consider a christian either.

[cpaide]

"THEY THINK A JEWISH FAMILY FLOATED TO NORTH AMERICA IN A SUBMARINE!!!! AND POPULATED THE ENTIRE CONTINENT!!!
FREAKING LOONEY TUNES!!"
Posted by nggr

Ya, the Jews certainly have got some ''splaining to do about that one!

And you are concerned about this belief for what reason? That it will cause Romney to increase military spending to build an anti-Jewish-submarine defense system ala Reagan''s "Star Wars" defense system, or what? While he was governor of Mass, did Romney order the state police or national guard to be on the lookout for Jewish submarine invaders?

Does anyone have anything concrete on Romney behaving out of the ordinary due to his religious beliefs?

[penguin212]

"They sound like Christians to me."

Exactly mormons are in fact christians. Why aren''t we looking at what Romney''s values are and what he stands for. Why are spending so much time and effort on the fact that he is a mormon, does that really matter?

[kmjjp]

Mormons are advance faster than any other groups simply because they don''t buried their heads on a sand of Theology that so many are chained to it by Satan.

[cpaide]

"Members of the Mormon religion are devout Christian conservatives. They maintain high moral values: they don''t drink beer, tea, or coffee.They don''t smoke.They don''t have premarital ***. They have one wife.Many spend two years, on personal savings, serving other people in foreign lands.The religion is based on freedom of choice, and they grant all their children the right to make up their own minds."

Posted by thinkthrice
Copied and spammed ad nauseum by guysdigdirt

You should have said active, card-carrying members. Out of the 13+ million members of record, only about 20 percent even pretend to live as you have claimed. The rest are pretty much like this:

Most members of the Mormon religion are neither conservative nor liberal. They maintain average moral values: many drink beer, tea, or coffee. Some smoke. Some swear. Most have premarital *** (with themselves or others). They have one wife at a time, although some divorce and become serial polygamists. Many of their parents send them away for two years, on their parent''s tab, trying to reform them in foreign lands (it doesn''t work). The religion is based on freedom of choice, and they grant all their children the right to make up their own minds, as long as they don''t openly disagree. Most have never read the Book of Mormon; few have carefully read it more than once. Even fewer consult it as a daily guide to living. Same with the Bible.

They sound like Christians to me.

[kansas1946]

"I''m concerned that faith has disappeared in many respects from the public square," Romney said at a town hall meeting here. "I want to make sure that we maintain our religious heritage in this country -- not of a particular brand of faith, if you will, not a particular sect or denomination, but rather the great moral heritage that we have."
****************************************
Only one problem with that Mitt. Religious heritage and faith have nothing to do with moral heritage. You can have faith and be immoral, or you can not have faith and be moral. If I were you instead of sucking up to bigots and idiots, I would tell them I am a Mormon, I was raised a Mormon, if you don''t like it, shove it.

[cpaide]

"So the Mormon church subsidised your education and you are calling them cheap? You are an ungrateful, self-serving hypocrite....tell me when you were at the school of accountancy and who your least favorite professor was.", Posted by guysdigdirt

You''re not another one of those scary Danites (Sons of Dan) trying to track me down, are you?

The facts are that the Mormon people and the American taxpayer subsidize the Mormon Church, and the Church calls them sinners. THEY seem to be ungrateful, self-serving hypocrites.

I''m calling the LDS Church stingy because out of $1.2+ BILLION a year increase, they only give $9 million to humanitarian aid. That''s like a guy who makes $200,000 a year giving a couple of his old suits to the poor.

Now the rest of you no-nothings leave Joseph Smith out of this. His stories about visions and angels and gold plates and Jewish submarines are just as valid as the stories about Moses and burning bushes and stone tablets and crossing the Red Sea, etc. If Joseph Smith is crazy for saying he saw Jesus, then so is Mary and the rest of the Apostles--except for Paul; he only saw a light & heard nothing or heard a voice but saw no man (never got his story straight).

The important thing here is not to determine what Mitt Romney''s faith is, but what that faith has motivated him to do. So if anyone has a concrete example of Mitt Romney doing something un-American, illegal or crazy (or maybe something good?) because of his faith, please share.

[usermoi]

Most candidates hint at enacting a control-freak health insurance plan: Get the test or shot they tell you to get or your mandatory premiums go up. It can mean the difference between not paying the mortgage or doing what they tell you to do. Proof:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/02/AR2007090200743.html

Just about the only candidates who will NOT enact such a plan are Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich.

The agenda of candidates belonging to the CFR, Bilderbergers, Trilateral Commission is world government. Just as European nations lost sovereignty to the European Union, one currency and one constitution, likewise for North America - plans are in the works to replace the dollar with the amero. Obama, The Hildabeast, Guiliani, Romney, McCain, Edwards, Thompson, Biden, Dodd, Richardson all belong. Bush too. Too much power in too few hands - kiss the constitution goodbye. Control Freaks on steroids.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58425

Vote against the corrupt party machine by voting for Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich.

[guysdigdirt]

You will be udged byothers based on who you are, not what religion you belong to since most people will not know what religion you are just by watching you actions.

What do your actions say about you and what do the actions of the Mormons you know say about them. You will act as you believe in the long run, your actions will show who you are.

What do your actions and words here show?

[guysdigdirt]

As a legal researcher for a large firm, I rely on the most current facts to help construct an opinion about important issues. The following are just a few facts that I have uncovered after extensive research about the Mormon faith. Members of the Mormon religion are devout Christian conservatives. They maintain high moral values: they don''''t drink beer, tea, or coffee.They don''''t smoke.They don''''t have premarital ***. They have one wife.Many spend two years, on personal savings, serving other people in foreign lands.The religion is based on freedom of choice, and they grant all their children the right to make up their own minds. They are not deluded or uninformed, the church-sponsored Brigham Young University is ranked 8th in the nation for sending undergraduates on to get doctoral degrees, often at the nation''''s top universities.(E.g. Mitt Romney went to Harvard Law AND the Harvard Business School.) The Utah National Guard has had more troops serve in Iraq and Afghanistan than any other state in the Union.Currently, there are 16 Mormons serving in both the US Congress and Senate.With a track record for conservatism and service, I don''''t think the Mormons are deserving of our uninformed criticism any longer.That church has spent millions of dollars lobbying for traditional marriage and against abortion.I recommend listening to what Mitt Romney has to say, and then decide if he pledges to uphold the values that you want your country to represent.
Posted by thinkthrice

[guysdigdirt]

FlangeSqueal,

You are a believer in whatever you want to believe, truth or not. You are wrong in your post, look into it for yourself. Do not believe what the critics of the Mormon church say, find out for yourself.

[denn034]

Actually, Obama is the one that needs to ease qualms about his religion after Robin Meyers'' Why the Christian Right is Wrong book.

[guysdigdirt]

cpaide ,
There is a difference in having a degree and being educated. You are not educated in your beliefs regarding the Mormon Church. And if you really do have such a degree, tell me when you were at the school of accountancy and who your least favorite professor was.

In other words, you have lied about other things here, why believe you are telling the truth here?

[guysdigdirt]

I have a Masters in Accountancy from the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University in Provo
Posted by cpaide

So the Mormon church subsidised your education and you are calling them cheap? You are an ungrateful, self-serving hypocrite. What have you done to another as you have been helped.

[denn034]

Actually, Obama needs to ease qualms about his faith after Robin Webber''s The Christian Right is Wrong book.

[nggr]

dont mormans believe that North America was populated by a number of israelites floating over here in a boat and reprodicing.
and that dark skinned people bear the mark of the evil brother of their jesus figure?

yeah, elect this guy.
not because of his beliefs, but because he believes this non-sense.

i think they believe the garden of eden was somewhere near jackson co. MO.

by the way, their populated by israelites belief is COMPLETELY blown out of the water by national geographics dna experiments.