Clinton Responds To Campaign Critics

Democrat Says She Must Respond To Attacks From Obama, Defends Husband's Role

(CBS/AP)  Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday she must respond in kind to attacks from rival Barack Obama even though she'd rather keep the race for the Democratic presidential nomination focused on their differences on public policy issues.

"I try not to attack first, but I have to defend myself - I do have to counterpunch," Clinton told NBC's "Today Show."

"I took a lot of incoming fire for many, many months and I was happy to absorb it because obviously, you know, I felt that was part of my responsibility. But toward the end of a campaign you have to set the record straight," the New York senator said.

On CBS News' The Early Show, Clinton responded to charges that she was distorting Obama's record.

"I understand that when questions are raised about someone's record, it's natural to respond that you're distorting it. But I think that is just not what happened," she told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

Clinton was also asked about the backlash against Bill Clinton, who has repeatedly criticized Obama's campaign.

"There's been a lot that's been said on both sides and some of it has been kind of generated and certainly stoked. That all needs to just calm down and everybody needs to take a deep breath," Hillary Clinton told The Early Show.

Her husband, she said, "gets excited, gets really passionate about making the case for me."

"But regardless of what has happened, let's go forward about the issues because the American people want this election to be about them," she added.

Clinton, Obama and their campaigns have exchanged increasingly hard-hitting jabs in recent days over race, his relationship with a Chicago developer, her vote on the Iraq war, and other issues. Clinton stopped airing a South Carolina radio ad critical of Obama on Thursday and Obama took down his radio response in an attempt to cool the angry public spat.

"I have tried to make it clear that this election has to be about the future," Clinton said. "It is perfectly legitimate to draw comparisons and contrasts. I think both Senator Obama and I have made it clear we do want to focus on what we each would do for our country. It has been obviously an incredibly intense campaign. ... But I do want to make it clear that our campaigns have to stay focused on what you know the legitimate differences are so we can give voters information."

NBC also aired an undated photo of Sen. Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, posing with real estate developer and fast-food magnate Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who faces trial next month on federal corruption charges. During a Democratic debate Monday, Sen. Clinton referred to Rezko as a slumlord from whom Obama has accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions over the course of his career.

"I don't know the man, I wouldn't know him if he walked in the door. I don't have a 17-year relationship with him," Clinton said Friday. "There is a big difference between standing somewhere taking a picture with someone you don't know, haven't seen since, and having a relationship."

Clinton's Republican rivals have also stepped up their criticism of the former first lady, whom they view as the mostly likely Democratic nominee. At a GOP debate in Florida Thursday night, Arizona Sen. John McCain said she wanted to raise "the white flag of surrender" in Iraq and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney derisively referred to her as "General Hillary Clinton."

"I don't worry about that because I think we're putting together a coalition of Democrats, independents, even Republicans who are very much disappointed with the policies of the Bush administration and the approaches taken by the Republican candidates," Clinton told NBC. "In fact, we know that whomever is nominated by our party will be subjected to the same kind of withering attacks, but what is great is that those attacks are so old. It doesn't reflect what's happening in our country today."

[bizzzz-2009]

From "Go To Hell White Man" To Hosting Fidel Castro--The Story Of Hillary''s Sanctified Endorser, Rev. Butts
Yesterday, Hillary Rotten Clinton received an endorsement from the Rev. Calvin Butts of Harlem''s Abyssinian Baptist Church, an endorsement needed to help her attract black voters.
The dossier on Rev. Butts, who not only views America as a racist nation but once had Fidel Castro as a guest in his church.


Rev. Butts passes out the race card like a card dealer in Vegas. He''s used the term against former New York mayors Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani, among others. In 2000, after the acquittal of New York City police officers in the shooting of Amadou Diallo, Butts called for a boycott of white businesses and, from his pulpit, told the story of a businessman who told him "...to understand that it was a fair trial,%u201D that %u201Cmost crime is black-on-black crime, and the police have done a lot of good. At that point, I told him: %u2018Go to hell, white man.%u2019%u201D
At a 2004 UN conference on "Confronting Islamophobia, Butts claimed, %u201Cwhether Muslims like it or not, Muslims are labeled people of color in the racist U.S%u2026 . . . they won''t label you by calling you a *** but they''ll call you a terrorist.%u201D

[socrates392]

Posted by HillaryNow at 10:39 AM : Jan 28, 2008

Nice post! I think I just threw up a liitle bit in mouth . . .

[bywill]

If those arn''t the eyes of the evil, i don''t know what is! What was it that you have to use againgts el diablo?? oh yeah a cross and some garlic! does anyone had any of these items?? Please??

[hillarynow]

Obama I''''d have to agree he has alot of good things to say, but the major difference is, Obama has nothing really but his words so far, what has he actually accomplished? nothing much in his 2 very short years in the Senate. He skipped on 130 Senate votes, no one does that and gets things done, seriously. Change happens when you TAKE ACTION and sitting back and not voting 130 times, is not taking action. You know I have nothing against Obama''''s ideas, but Hillary and Edwards both have alot more to back up their promises. One step at a time, I think Obama is an impulsive choice and the wrong choice for what America needs right now. Change is great! of course it is, we ALL want change and no one wants it and can make that change happen more effectively for what we all need to restore America right away quite like Hillary Clinton starting on her first day in office. Hillary has my vote and support all the way and John Edwards is my second choice, I wish Edwards would be Hillary''''s running mate in fact, those two would be just awesome together. Obama is way too young, untested and inexperienced still for what we need done now. Do the right thing and vote for what we KNOW will work at a time in America''''s history when we cannot afford to lose another another child, another job, another business, another family, another home, another day. Hillary already knows exactly what to do and how to do it and she will not let us down.

Hillary All the Way!!!!!!

[klingon69]

Republican''''s need a clue. We are not winning in Iraq. We have lost over 4,500 troops, over 20,000 mentally and physically challenged (Walter Reade hospital was a sham and despicable condition, until the soldiers and Democrats b*t*ched) and we have been there for NEARLY 6 YEARS. Iraq is not a "slam dunk" or a "mission accomplish."
Posted by zoe20006 at 01:42 PM : Jan 25, 2008
Nope, because the bleeding-heart liberals keep trying to post an image of America as the benevolent conquerer. We must help them, we can''t just kill them all.
Up until the press got so involved in war, we have been afraid of looking bad on camera. Prior to that, soldiers died, but also took out many of the enemy. Now we can''t because they MIGHT be civilians. I got news for you, civilians are the ones strapping bombs onto themselves and blowing up people.
War is only won when enough suffering and pain has been afflicted upon the enemy to make them either surrender, or sue for peace. Not by giving them a helping hand.

[kendawgg5]

I am disgusted with Hillary Clinton. If she cares so much about the voters in Michigan and Florida why wasn''t she fighting for our delegates when they were first taken away? If she cares so much that our voice be heard why did she proclaim a victory in a state where her competitors names weren''t on the ballot? If she felt Michigan was wrongly penalized why did she not come to this great state and say that? Was it because she had nothing to gain then? Was it because she didn''t think this process would be this competitive? No matter what the reason she never cared, until now. Eleven days after we voted.

I can tell you one thing, if you live in Florida your vote does count. It may not be a vote for delegates, but your vote can deliver a clear message. Vote uncommitted.

[marymary4868]

Why is it that no one mentions how the greedy Clintons took advantage of allot of decent hard working people in that land scam in Ark. , now they will do anything to get into office to get more of the american dollar in their pocket! They must be related to the Bush family!

[bdrlnt4rl]

payasyougo

hahahahahahaha!

[payasyougo]

Me and my students, truly believe by a ferret approach to information/data/surveys that a vote for Hillary is a vote for Democracy, and true Progressive Ideals. Any vote for any man running for office is an a priori vote against Feminists and said ideals- vis a vis 1960 to present- ideals/thought/history/struggle/hum-fema

lism.

#######

It should be "My students and I truly..."

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

Which explains why our educataional system is so bad and we, as the American scociety, are doomed.

[bdrlnt4rl]

poor hilary. i wonder how many vases she has thrown at bill, how many doors slammed in his face.

[randaids]

Randy and others : The Peace Ladder is more than a physical project, it is a project of spirit and mind.


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

Posted by Trueprogress at 03:18 PM : Jan 27, 2008

Yup, that is the one. Thanks, I needed a giggle.

[ioweign]

Me and my students, truly believe by a ferret approach to information/data/surveys that a vote for Hillary is a vote for Democracy, and true Progressive Ideals. Any vote for any man running for office is an a priori vote against Feminists and said ideals- vis a vis 1960 to present- ideals/thought/history/struggle/hum-fema
lism.

#######

It should be "My students and I truly..."

[jon2012-2009]

Posted by socrates392 at 05:01 PM : Jan 26, 2008

The "you guys" is a reference to the individuals on this board that share your vitreol when attacking Hillary. While the criticism has some basis, you guys are in fact outdoing the Clintons in the level of shading and distortion of truth. It makes it hard to treat your opinions seriously when your motivation appears more than to express them but to tear down a candidate based on flimsy facts.

Yes, "Billary" is a form of innuendo. The use of disparaging and creative labels is innuendo. It''s effective because it''s hard to argue when you set the terms of the debate without defining those terms. And that''s what innuendo is. It is also deceitful because it leaves you open to shape your exact meaning at a later time of your choosing.

[randaids]

As a full college Professor in Womens Studies, I can bring a more reasoned perspective and wisdom to this discussion.
Posted by Trueprogress at 01:03 PM : Jan 27, 2008

Hey Trueprogress,

Tell us more about the "peace ladder" or whatever that was you mentioned awile ago. I''ve searched the internet and really want to know more.

[homespunlady]

fluff article

[candide777]

Edwards may belong to the grown up wing of the party. I want to belong to the principled wing of the party. How about you?
Posted by realpatriot1 at 09:39 PM : Jan 25, 2008

You are getting ahead of yourself. You go to the elections with the voters you have, not with the intelligent ones you wish you had. This country has proven time and time again that it is, at best, still in its very immature adolescense. I want a candidate that''s not going to lose because he/she is too "principled" to fight fire with fire. There''s a reason the sleazebag republicans use dirty tricks -- they work! If Obama thinks the Clintons have been too tough and unfair to him, well, he''s obviously not got the stamina to face the republican sleaze machine.

[b-easy63]

"Remember Hilary promising to give money to babies for college? (nice when someone promises to hand out money that does not belong to them) well now Ms.Clinton wants those disqualified delegates from Michigan and Florida to be reinstated. That is because Hilary put her name on the ballot--even though the votes would not count--if they get reinstated, she gets them all--THIS after she, Obama and Edwards, agreed those states would lose their delegates due to breaking party rules. Guess it is like NV--say, do anything to win...caucus bust ups anyone? "

if the delegates get reinstated, everyone should get to redo their vote--people do not always vote sincerely when they know their vote won''t count anyway. NO way--should Hilary just get the votes--next she will be trying to arrange meetings and plans with dieboldt. The Democrat''s version of Bush.

[joeshields56]

As good as Teddy Roosevelt was as President, when he tried to come back in the Bull Moose party he soon found that the country had moved on and left him behind. So it is with the Clintons. The 90''s are gone. The Clintons need to, like old soldiers, just fade away.

[socrates392]

Before we get to that question, my question is "Can you even talk straight?" Billary? You say the Clintons are fabricating innuendos. If you don''''t want that, maybe you guys should look first in the mirror.

Posted by jon2012 at 03:33 PM : Jan 26, 2008

I look at myself in the mirror everyday. Now I have two rebuttal questions for you:

1. Who are you referring to when you say "you guys"? I''m not affiliated with the Obama campaign if that is what you are insinuating. Be careful before you start lumping people together into groups like "you guys"! Pretty soon you might start thinking about politics in terms of Blacks vs. Whites, Women vs. Men, etc . . .

2. How is using the term "Billary" an innuendo? Let me spell it out for you: Bill and Hillary are a political team. How could it be any other way? Do you think they are independent agents? Come on!

Also, just to set the record straight: I never said Obama isn''t guilty of the same *** as the Clintons . . . because he is! But I don''t think it was Obama that set us off down this path. All he used to talk about was hope . . . now he has to rebutt Hillary''s attcks. Thanks Hillary!!! :) She''s a uniter, not a divider! HA!

[nmsuip]

Gotta admit Romney had the best quote of the campaign so far: "The idea of Bill Clinton back in the White House with nothing to do is something I can''t imagine." Or maybe we don''t want to imagine...

In any event, the Bushes & Clintons have had the White House long enough. The Dems are dividing yet again & Hillary is the best shot that the Republicans have to hang onto the White House.