Clinton, Obama Keep Sparring After Debate

Top Two Democrats Attack Each Others' Tactics, Records Ahead Of S.C. Primary

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton argued on Tuesday that Barack Obama's frustration with losing prompted him to look for a fight in the debate while Obama asserted that his rival and her husband, former President Clinton, were repeatedly distorting his record.

"I think it's very clear that Senator Clinton ... and the president have been spending the last month attacking me in ways that are not accurate," the Illinois senator told reporters in a conference call shortly after Clinton lashed out at him in a bitter exchange that carried over from Monday night.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Hillary Clinton belittled Obama's line of debate criticism against her as "rehearsed points."

"I think what we saw last night was that he's very frustrated," she said. "I believe that the events of the last 10 or so days, the outcome of New Hampshire and Nevada, have apparently convinced him to adopt a different strategy.

The morning after the debate, the back-and-forth between the two leading Democrats continued unabated. The two had argued bitterly and in personal terms at Monday night's debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., over issues such as the Iraq war and Bill Clinton's role in the campaign.

"He clearly came - he telegraphed it, he talked about it - he clearly came last night looking for a fight. He was determined and launched right in," Hillary Clinton said. "And I thought it was important to set the record straight."

She restated her argument that Obama was unwilling to answer hard questions about his record, from his opposition to the Iraq war but support for military budgets to his "present" votes as a member of the Illinois legislature.

Obama countered that this was all part of Clinton's strategy.

"Senator Clinton announced while we were still in Iowa that this was going to be her strategy and called it the fun part of campaigning. And, you know, I don't think it's the fun part to fudge the truth," he said. "The necessary part of this campaign is to make sure that we're getting accurate information to voters about people's respective records."

Obama has also sought to portray Clinton's attacks as an example of the kind of partisan bickering he has sworn to end throughout his campaign.

"This is exactly the kind of politics we cannot afford right now, not when the stakes are this high," he said.

During an economic speech in Greenville, S.C., Obama accused Clinton of taking politically expedient positions inconsistent with her record and he put an unflattering twist on her contention that she is the candidate most ready to be president from the first day.

"We can't afford a president whose positions change with the politics of the moment. We need a president who knows that being ready on Day One means getting it right from Day One," Obama said as he received the only standing ovation of his speech.

The New York senator defended her husband's aggressive criticism of Obama, saying it didn't contradict the former president's role as senior statesman and Democratic Party leader. Obama has recently complained about Bill Clinton's role and suggested he has repeatedly misrepresented Obama's record.

"I can tell you that never crossed our minds. That's not how we think," she said. "It has absolutely nothing to do with a unified Democratic Party around a nominee and a full support for whoever our Democratic president will be. That is just the way it works."

The former president defended the criticism that he and his wife have leveled at Obama.

"I think this is a great field, and we're going to have a few arguments - it's a contact sport," Bill Clinton said at a restaurant in Columbia, S.C., with a few dozen supporters and breakfasters.

The former president said nothing his wife said during Monday night's debate or by him about Obama had been inaccurate. "I try to be very careful about what I say," he said.

Meanwhile, the Obama campaign launched a "truth squad" in South Carolina to respond to negative criticism. Among the group was former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

"They (South Carolinians) don't want to see this backbiting, bitter give-and-take that we're beginning to see more and more of, especially from the Clinton campaign. It's wrong. Everybody knows it's wrong and it's got to stop," Daschle told reporters on a conference call. "Ultimately, it's going to divide us. And it's going to have a huge effect, a lasting effect if it doesn't stop soon."

Asked about former President Clinton's behavior, Daschle said, "It's not presidential. It's not in keeping with the image of a former president."

Left on the sidelines of the Clinton-Obama feud has been former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. During a stop in Conway,S.C., Edwards told a crowd of about 300 people gathered in an aging peanut warehouse that bickering between Clinton and Obama doesn't help people in need. He said that instead of focusing on the ups and downs of Wall Street, the government needs to focus on what's happening in people's lives.

"I was proud to represent the grown-up wing of the Democratic Party," he told the cheering crowd.

"When all those kinds of personal attacks are going on, it doesn't do a thing to help somebody get health care who doesn't have it," Edwards said. "It doesn't do a thing to help our kids get the education they need. We have work to do in this country."

Hillary Clinton, in her comments with reporters, rejected the notion she had used patronizing or racially charged language against Obama. She has called him, among other things, a "talented" and "young African American man."

"I really cannot strongly enough just reject that," Clinton said. "I think this is totally about us as individuals. He is African American. I am a woman. This obviously brings with it an enormous historical significance on both of our behalfs."

Obama says he, not the Clintons, are the ones who have been rattled by the back-and-forth, CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds reports.

"The other side must be rattled if they're continutally saying false things about us, right?" Obama said backstage at a campaign event Tuesday.

Clinton headed to California Tuesday to accept the backing of the United Farm Workers Union. Founded by famed labor activist Cesar Chavez, the union represents a heavily Hispanic work force. Clinton won Nevada's presidential caucuses Saturday in part because of a strong showing among Hispanic voters - a central part of her strategy to win several states holding contests Feb. 5, including California, Arizona and New Mexico.

[vmcneal2]

President Bush...What''s a WMD?
Bush...Huh..can you repeat the question.
President Bush...Why did we go to war?
Bush...oil.. opps... I mean WMDs
President Bush..If we did not find WMDs.. why are we in Iraq?
Bush..Oil..opps..To free the Iraqi people.
President Bush..The American People are upset at the number of Americans being killed in Iraq..How do you respond to that?
Bush..Oil...opps.. the world is a safer place now.
President Bush..The economy is a mess and thousands of people are being put out if their homes..What do you plan to do about it.
Bush..What? How many people?...you''re kidding ..right?

[tibu987]

Eight years as First Lady, planning menus and serving tea simply does not equate into all the experience Hillary would like us to believe.
Nor does having traveled to 82 countries equate into presidential experience. Hillary did not sit in on any national or international meetings.
Just more *** that Hillary would like us to believe.
Don''t fall for it.
I am an old guy (71, white) and I would like to see some young idealistic people get into to office and get the old, more than two term pols out of office. Just look where all that experience has gotten us in the last 40 years, not a very impressive record.
Only Obama fits that model, young, intelligent, idealistic, someone who can mediate with our enemies and better understands the position of the average American.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick."

[pepperwood2]

The Hopeless & Depressing Legacy - Doesn''t This Country Deserve Better Than This??

Hillary Clinton has been telling America that she is the most
qualified candidate for president based on her "record," which she
says includes her eight years in the White House as First Lady - or
"co-president" - and her seven years in the Senate. Here is a reminder of what that record includes:

As First Lady, Hillary assumed authority over Health Care Reform, a process that cost the taxpayers over $13 million. She told both Bill Bradley and Pat Moynahan, key votes needed to pass her legislation, that she would "demonize" anyone who opposed it. But it was opposed; she couldn''t even get it to a vote in a Congress
controlled by her own party. (And in the next election, her party lost
control of both the House and Senate.)

Hillary assumed authority over selecting a female Attorney
General. Her first two recommendations (Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood) were forced to withdraw their names from consideration, and then she chose Janet Reno. Janet Reno has since been described by Bill himself as "my worst mistake."

Come on now Bill - Don''t you think you & Hillary deserve some credit for what a great job you did on David Kerish''s bunch of red-neck terriorists at Waco? Men, Woman & Children. My.... But that was FUN? Wasn''t it Hillary - CACKLE CACKLE CACKLE?

[realpatriot1]

"I like watching barack & Hillary fight."- Bill Clinton

[realpatriot1]

I hope Hillary isn''t asking America to vote for her just because she''s a white woman.

If not, why the need for race-baiting and gender appeals.

Vote For the Clinton Crime Family...because "No Woman is illegal."

[samthetvcat]

"***? SamtheClintonAssLatch posting against Hillary? Somebody call the Pope!"
Posted by lexluthor5

I''d much prefer to you talk policy than the gutter scum that routinely comes out of Bill, Hillary, and their supporters'' mouths like they just did out of yours. You game for an issues debate or are you all smack and garbage like your idols?

[starleo146]

Both are a couple of amateurs as far as governing is concerned. Unfortunately, I''''m beginning to think Romney is the most qualified. And worse, he is NOT and won''''t be, my candidate of choice. If he gets the bid, depending on who''''s the VP candidate, I may just leave that block empty.

Posted by Hwy71So at 10:11 AM : Jan 23, 2008
+ r

You get exactly what you deserve with Romney, just ask anyone from Massachusetts who are still paying for Romney''s mistakes. Why do you think he did not win New Hampshire Massachusetts neighbor they knew .

[chitown639]

(((trapbreak)))

Your fear mongering may be working!!! Keep it up!!! Maybe, you''ll get enough of the unintelligent to believe that you have actually uncovered a conspiracy through your ''INTERNET INVENTIGATION''..LOL!!! Fear mongering is the exact method the GOP used to re-elect Bush and start a war with Iraq. This fear mongering has already did a tremendous disservice to this country. I am truly starting to believe that those that fear monger may be connected to Al Qaeda.

[hwy71so]

Great,

if you don''''t vote for Obama, you MUST be RACIST.
if you don''''t vote for Obama, you MUST be RACIST.
if you don''''t vote for Obama, you MUST be RACIST.

I hope this is NOT the only strategy Obama is using in order to win.

Posted by metroduck75 at 08:38 AM : Jan 23, 2008

I figure that a large portion of those who DO vote for him are probably racist. Why else would they support someone of so little qualifications? They''re voting for him merely for the color of his skin. Just like those supporting H. Clinton based on her gender.

Both are a couple of amateurs as far as governing is concerned. Unfortunately, I''m beginning to think Romney is the most qualified. And worse, he is NOT and won''t be, my candidate of choice. If he gets the bid, depending on who''s the VP candidate, I may just leave that block empty.

[hwy71so]

William Jefferson should be seen and not heard.

Let Obama and Hillary go at it. We''ll see Edwards take the lead yet...

Where''s J. Ross when we need him?

[hook1950]

It''s easy to say that, when it comes to being a battle axe, Hillary is unsurpassed.
But let''s never forget that, were it not for that staged, pathetic "teary moment" in New Hampshire, she would be toast by now.
Please, everyone, take a good look at Obama. He''s our only hope.

A Republican from Maine

[pepperp1]

Obama''''s Supporters seem very Hostile and Negative... It''''s either their way or the highway....

Is this the kind of "change" Obama wants to bring to our country.... His way or the highway?

Isn''''t that kind of "bush-like"?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by metroduck75 at 08:34 AM : Jan 23, 2008


That what happens when you are dealing with personally cults and Puppet Master who know how to inflame the sheepeople? And lets not miss the MSM that are on the messiah band wagon are the same crowd that touted the competent honesty and have a beer likeability of GWB and WMDs. Newsweek, Wapo, NBC MSNBC types.

[pepperp1]

if you don''''t vote for Obama, you MUST be RACIST.

I hope this is NOT the only strategy Obama is using in order to win.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by metroduck75 at 08:38 AM : Jan 23, 2008


well there is this one, Whah boo hoo Bills mean to me because I called his wife a Racist who did not cry for Katrina victims and his administration not transformative, sniffle WHAHHHHHHHHHH and I cant tell which one I running against I get so confused how dare he support his wife and not me, Whah boo hoo Bill lied again nod nod wink wink ya know like the BLOWER thingy%u2026..

What a loser

[realpatriot1]

"I enjoy watching barack and Hillary fight."-
Bill Clinton

[hwy71so]

We''ll see your twoo colors shining thwoo, your twoo colors, and that''s why we wove you. Don''t be afwaid to wet it show, your twoo colors are beautiful, wike a wainbow....

[realpatriot1]

metroduck75,

The press spent all of 2007 Coranating Hillary as though her nomination was inevitable. If she loses now they look foolish and they don''t like that.

Grow up and stop whining. Boo Hoo Hoo!

wync,

Hillary & Edwards had a 20 minute meeting after the last debate. When Obama was ahead he curried his favor; now that hillary is ahead he''s looking to curry favor with her. Just another job seeker.

[realpatriot1]

jjp735i''

ABC Good Morning America did so this morning. They showed that Bill & Hillary were both lying about Obama on the war and the statements he allegedly made about Reagan. As a matter of fact, they showed excerpts from a book where Bubba praised Reagan AND his policies!

They asked Obama about Tony Rezco. Obama said that Rezco was giving money to lots of people in Illinois politics but no one knew what he was involved in criminally. When he found out he returned the money. He reiterated previous statements that he made a mistake buying a piece of land from the man.

Of course, the Clintons weren''t on to be asked about Norman Hsu, Whitewater, the claims that she issued false financial disclosure claims to the Senate, about her Senate Campaign being subject to the largest case of election finance fraud ever brought by the FEC(which was thrown out by a Clinton appointee),etc.

Bill is now attempting to sever ties with billionaire Ron Burkle and his Yukaipa Cos. Burkle, a major Dem donor who sought a pardon from Clinton in 2000 for a close friend.

Hillary is also attempting to sever ties with Yukaipa''s Global Partnership Fund which Bill is a Limited Partner for. It''s controlled by the Ruler of Dubai who is now investing in American financial institutions like Citigroup & Merrill Lynch.

from selling the Lincoln bedroom, to Hsu, to Indian interests, the Clintons can''t resist foreign political influence.

[jjp735i]

Has anyone from the media fact checked his record against her claim? One of the two is lying. Why not report on who is instead of feeding into the bickering? Oh that''s right, the media thinks people really enjoy watching or reading this kind of stuff.

[wync]

Posted by realpatriot1 at 06:22 AM : Jan 23, 2008

I am in total agreement with you on this one. Since Edwards seem down for the count, if Obama does not win the nomination, I will either stay at home or cast my vote for McCain and hope he wins. I will just have to sweat it out for another four years and hope that the Democrats put up a viable candidate.

There is no way that I will vote for the Clinton Crime Family. They have had too many people around them die mysterious deaths and/or go to prison for them not to be dirty.

[realpatriot1]

Kalivotin,

Having trouble keeping up? Obama started rssponding to the mud after the LBJ remark but the Clinton mud-slinging and shameless race-baiting began in earnest on December 10 when new polls showed he had caught up with her in New Hampshire.

That very day, Deecemebr 10 was when Bill Shaheen came out and publically asked the press to ask Obama if he sold drugs. He repeted the unsubstantiated charge 3-4 times to make sure they got it.

The Clintons were caught distributing smears in Iowa & New Hampshire accusing him of being Muslim which is a lie.

On January 10, Andrew Cuomo(another Clinton Campaign surrogate) stated to the media that Obama was "shucking and jiving". He also repeated this phrase 3-4 times, so it wasn''t an unconscious slip.Is that the way the "First Black Presidency" should be operating? Isn''t that below the dignity of a former 1st Lady? Apparently not this one!

It didn''t stop there. Her friends in the media( and their Republican friends who prefer running aginst her) focused on the most dubious examples in the memo, the LBJ and "fantasy" remarks and ignored all the push polling, Muslim arbage. drug dealer and "shucking and jiving" comments.

After both candidates agreed to stop Hillary set smugly behind Bob"the Seller of Gangsta Rap to kids" Johnson as he continued the lies about Obama''s drug use.