Clinton Denounces Aide's Obama Remark

Asked If Obama's Drug Use Should Be An Issue, Clinton Said, "Not In My Campaign"

(AP)  Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday denounced the comments of an official in her campaign who resigned after raising questions about drug use by Barack Obama.

Clinton was asked about the official's comments about Obama as she campaigned in Iowa, where the controversy has become an issue less than three weeks before the state's leadoff caucuses.

"As soon as I found out that one of my supporters and co-chairs in New Hampshire made a statement, asked a series of questions, I made it clear it was not authorized, it was in no way condoned, I didn't know about it and he stepped down," Clinton said.

A day earlier, Bill Shaheen, a national co-chairman for Clinton and a prominent New Hampshire political figure, had resigned. He and the Clinton campaign had been criticized after he suggested Obama's admitted use of drugs as a teenager could be used against the Illinois senator if he became the Democratic presidential nominee.

Clinton, speaking during a taping of Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press" program and during a meeting with reporters afterward, sought distance from that comment.

"I made it very clear as soon as I heard about it that I not only disapproved, it did not reflect the campaign I am running," said Clinton. "I did personally apologize, the gentleman in question has stepped down from the leadership role in my campaign."

Asked if the issue of Obama's drug use should be an issue, Clinton said, "Not in my campaign."

"There are a lot of differences between us, and those are the contrasts that should be drawn," said Clinton. "I'm running a campaign about who I am, what I've done and that's what I'm going to stay focused on.'

She also rejected recent comments from her campaign about Obama saying he hadn't sought the presidency for long - after writing and talking about such an ambition throughout his life.

"That was silly, and I told my campaign it was silly," Clinton said. "My whole point has been there are legitimate differences."

Clinton made it clear that she wouldn't hesitate to point out difference with rivals such as Obama.

"There has to be an exchange of views, there has to be a legitimate discussion of the contrasts among us," said Clinton. "I reject completely the kind of line-crossing that I've stood up against in my campaign consistently. As soon as we find out something happened that we don't authorize, we don't condone, we have no part of, we ask people to please not be a part of our campaign."

While Clinton has built a lead in national polling on the Democratic candidates, she is in a tight race with Obama and former Sen. John Edwards in Iowa.

"I always thought this would get close," said Clinton, who noted she doesn't have the advantage of coming from a neighboring state like Obama or a long history in the state like Edwards.

"This is what happens in a contested election, and that's the best of our democracy," said Clinton.

She dismissed criticism of her as a divisive figure.

"I've been tested, I've been vetted, I've been in the political arena in our country for 16 years, there are no surprises," said Clinton.

As the race has tightened, some have suggested a shake-up is coming in her campaign, a suggestion she rejected.

"I saw some of those articles, and I called my campaign and said, "Do you know anything about this? Are you keeping something from me?" said Clinton, who added that she has confidence in her campaign staff.

She said the race is fluid by nature.

"Politics now is a 24/7 cycle. You go up, you go down," said Clinton. "I think that's all part of a vigorous, dynamic election cycle."

During her swing, Clinton collected the endorsement of Iowa Rep. Leonard Boswell, and he joined her session with reporters.

"As a family, we endorse Hillary because we want to win," said Boswell. "I'm not against anybody on the ticket, I want somebody who can win."

"He knows I can win," said Clinton. "We have to win and that's the bottom line."

[sbb2211]

nor-one

"Hey SBB2211 -- I wondered when you boys from the swift boats would surface in this election ! It doesn''''t matter if it''''s salt water or fresh water you pieces of sht will float."

Oooh! Your comments make me shake in my little booties and I am now too afraid to ever come back to this board and post comments. I am going to run and hide from your masterful use of logic and facts.

NOT!!!

If that''s your best shot bunny-boy, bring it on! You can''t face the FACTS so you resort to your typical name-calling games, thinking that makes you witty and intelligent, or that it will intimidate those whom you are afraid of.

[wheezel3]

The Democrats are determined to lose. Surely even they are not so stupid as to see that by becoming the party that condones drug abuse, they threw their chance at the presidency away -- AGAIN. Thanks, a$$hole$, now we''ll have something like Huckleberry Huckabee as our president. The religious right and all who abhor drug use will turn out in droves to vote both Obama and Hillary down -- and rightfully so, who wants such moral losers??? The election is over. Remember the words of wheezel in November 2008~~!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is fortold! It is a forgone conclusion now!

[realpatriot1]

"Don''t stop thinking about tomorrow, yesterday''s gone, Hillary''s gone."

[thgdriver]

She had to distance herself from that remark because her husband used drugs. She cannot be caught calling the kettle black, no pun intended.

On the other hand, most employers today require a drug screen, in fact, at my local Home Depot there is a sign in the window------ If you Use drugs, Don''t bother to apply for work here.

We should require a drug screen for all in government, especially Congress, They all gotta be smoking something!

[speakinup]

nor-one - you are the biggest azz-hole around, so I guess you''d recognize a pieceo krap alright.

[bill1fj]

Drug use should be something to be asked about.
As should what have these professional politicians, of both parties,been doing?
Most of them have just been talking for years and not doing.
Lets not vote for those that only talk and don''t act, which includes both Obama and Hilary, as well as others.

[prinzowhales]

The 7-11 would raise the same questions over a prospective hire on drug usage...It is Hillary who should resign--not the aide.

[nor-one]

Hey SBB2211 -- I wondered when you boys from the swift boats would surface in this election ! It doesn''t matter if it''s salt water or fresh water you pieces of sht will float.

[sbb2211]

As a conservative in most things I will admit that, if we elect a Democrat as the next president, I could probably trust Obama to govern the nation for BOTH Democrats AND Republicans.

I will also LOUDY PROCLAIM that I cannot, will not, and never have trusted Hillary Clinton. Friggin socialist!

[sbb2211]

It''s just like when a lawyer asks a disallowed question and the judge tells him to retract it and for the jurors to disregard it.

The dirty lawyer trick worked and the message was already passed.

The Clintons are masters of ''dirty tricks''. Always have been and always will be.

[shamrocker6]

You took the words right out of my mouth...lol. "Hit & Run" is what she''s done with Obama, and I bet they drew straws to see who would take the fall! She''s ruthless, but it isn''t an admirable trait when I fear she will use it to her own benefit...just like Bush has done...as many Presidents have done. Hillary is a ''player'', but she plays POLITICS; not DEMOCRACY.

[mike71067]

Headline: "Clinton Denounces Aide''s Obama Remark"

And how long did this take? Typical Clinton-esque response. Incidentally, since we have officially had two drug users in the White House (Bill Clinton and W), does any of this really matter?

[Razzl]

I agree with NBC''s bow-tied Republican twit Tucker Carlson on this, that Hillary and her campaign staff have been nasty, hyper-competitive, negative ***holes on the campaign trail lately because that''s the kind of people they fundamentally are. There can''t be any better insight into Hillary''s judgement than the kind of brutal idiots she chose to put on her campaign staff. Still, as always, we''ve got to issue the disclaimer that if Hillary becomes the nominee she will get my vote no matter what. Removing the Republican conspiracy from control of the government trumps all other considerations of any kind, period...

[denn034]

Depends on whether Obama inhaled or not, huh (pun intended)?

[jersupporter]

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton today has lost her lead in New Hampshire (Research 2000 poll from New Hampshire, where Clinton''s once mighty lead is completely gone: Obama is ahead 31% to 30% (Clinton), with Edwards at 18%), is within single-digits in a South Carolina poll (Clinton retains a lead, 42% to 34% for Obama, with Edwards at 16%), and trails by nine in a new Iowa poll. Things are not going well at all for the once inevitable front-runner. It may appear the wheels have fallen off the wagon for the once proclaimed Democratic Candidate Frontrunner.

The next couple of weeks should be very interesting as Clinton''s staff attempts to regroup.

[johnny343sc]

AWESOME!

LET''S SCORE SOME SWEET BLOW FROM OBAMA BIN LADEN

"The Manchurian Candidate"!

Come to think of it, he DOES look a little like Denzel...

-ANY- REPUBLICAN ''08

;)

[realpatriot1]

As soon as the polls came out showing him pulling even with her and moving slightly ahead her campaign announced publically that they were going after him.

This was no mistake by a low-level campaign volunterr, this was the husband of the former Governor and candidate for the Senate. It wasn''t the first mistake since the going after Obam announcement either, so who are they trying to kid.

It''s a vast left wing conspiracy and it''s shown that he can take the dirt that the Republicans will throw at him without whining about it like Hillary.

[speakinup]

Sure - once she has the comment out there, the doubt in everyone''s mind, now she''ll denounce it.

From the sounds of things, it looks like the first Clinton aid has metaphorically ''taken a bullet'' for Hillary. Too bad. She''s the one that had it shot.