Jan. 30, 2008
Obama: Clinton Represents Step Toward Past
In Response, Clinton Decries Tenor Of Obama's Comments
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Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addresses supporters during at a rally at the University of Denver in Denver, Colo., on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. (AP)
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Play CBS Video Video Essential Book: Obama As part of the CBS News series "Primary Questions," Katie Couric asks Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., which book he would bring with him to the White House.
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Video Sen. Ted Kennedy On Obama Harry Smith talks to Sen. Ted Kennedy about why his family backs Sen. Barack Obama as the heir to "Camelot," and is joining Obama's presidential campaign.
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Video Obama Inherits Camelot Sen. Ted Kennedy, Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy have launched a passionate campaign for Sen. Barack Obama to be the next president. Harry Smith reports.
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Photo Essay Barack Obama A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
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Photo Essay Hillary Clinton A look at a life and career full of firsts.
"I know it is tempting - after another presidency by a man named George Bush - to simply turn back the clock, and to build a bridge back to the 20th century," the Illinois senator said in Denver.
"... It's not enough to say you'll be ready from Day One - you have to be right from Day One," he added in unmistakable criticisms of Clinton, who often claims she's better prepared to govern, and her husband, who pledged during his own presidency to build a bridge to the 21st century.
Within hours, Hillary Clinton pushed back in an interview with the AP - and got in her own dig.
"That certainly sounds audacious, but not hopeful," said Clinton, in a play on the title of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope." "It's not hopeful and it's not what we should be talking about in this campaign," said Clinton, suggesting Obama was abandoning the core of his campaign.
"I would certainly, through you, hope we could get back to talking about the issues, drawing the contrasts that are based in fact that have a connection to the American people," Clinton said.
In his speech, Obama depicted Clinton as a calculating, poll-tested divisive figure who will only inspire greater partisan divisions as she sides with Republicans on issues such as trade, the role of lobbyists in politics and national security. At the same time, he elevated McCain, fresh off victory in Florida's crucial primary, as the likely Republican nominee.
In the AP interview, Clinton vowed to take the high road and warned that voters in the mega-primaries next week expect that.
"I'm going to continue to talk to people about what we need to do in our country to try to lift people up, to keep focused on the future to be very specific about what I want to do as president because I want to be held accountable," said Clinton.
Obama drew more than 10,000 people to his speech at the University of Denver. They packed a hockey arena and crammed into two overflow rooms and still were lined up outside to get in. Colorado is a caucus state, one of 22 to hold nominating contests Tuesday, and is one of a handful of states where the Obama campaign is predicting victory. Clinton has the advantage in several others, while several are still up for grabs.
"Democrats will win in November and build a majority in Congress not by nominating a candidate who will unite the other party against us, but by choosing one who can unite this country around a movement for change," Obama said, speaking as rival John Edwards was pulling out of the race in New Orleans, leaving a Clinton-Obama fight for the Democratic nomination.
"It is time for new leadership that understands the way to win a debate with John McCain or any Republican who is nominated is not by nominating someone who agreed with him on voting for the war in Iraq or who agreed with him in voting to give George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran, who agrees with him in embracing the Bush-Cheney policy of not talking to leaders we don't like, who actually differed with him by arguing for exceptions for torture before changing positions when the politics of the moment changed," Obama said.
"We need to offer the American people a clear contrast on national security, and when I am the nominee of the Democratic Party, that is exactly what I will do," he said.
The two rivals fought hard prior to the South Carolina primary, but the tenor has eased a bit since then.
"I've been trying to keep this on a level where the contrasts and comparisons are certainly fair, this is an election after all," said Clinton. "I've been trying very hard to set the right tone, to be focused on bringing the party together, bringing the country together but around specific goals."
Clinton spent her day in Little Rock, before heading to Atlanta for speeches to the Southern Baptist Convention and a major Democratic fundraiser. She took a colorful diversion on the trip to Atlanta, heading down the aisle of her campaign plane serving peach cobbler to reporters and staffers.
"It was fresh this morning," said Clinton. "I love anything peach."
Obama said he understands voters might feel some comfort at the idea of returning to another President Clinton after eight years of Bush. But he cautioned voters not to buy the argument that Clinton's experience is what the country needs.
"It is about the past versus the future," he said. "And when I am the nominee, the Republicans won't be able to make this election about the past.
"If you choose change, you will have a nominee who doesn't just tell people what they want to hear," Obama told them. "Poll-tested positions, calculated answers might be how Washington confronts challenges, but it's not how you overcome those challenges; it's not how you inspire our nation to come together behind a common purpose, and it's not what America needs right now. You need a candidate who will tell you the truth."
Later Wednesday, Obama gave a 10-minute talk by live broadcast to a joint meeting in Atlanta of four historically black Baptist denominations, where Clinton was to appear in person later. These groups produced some of the most prominent civil rights leaders, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.. whom Obama quoted.
"Pastors are pushing this movement forward," Obama said of his campaign, "and I need each and every one of you in this fight."
He asked the audience to imagine what it would mean for the country to see him with his hand on the Bible, taking the presidential oath of office.
"Our children will look at themselves differently and their possibilities differently. They'll look at each other differently," he said.
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See all 70 Commentsthe real reason why barack HUSSEIN obama did not vote for war against SADDAM is %u2026.
he CAN NOT go against his MUSLIM BROTHER!
once A MUSLIM always A MUSLIM!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT FORGET 911!
Ya''ll are gonna lose SO BIG IN NOVEMBER that it aint funny.
Wait a minute, IT IS FUNNY!
HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!
"Ma''am, your husband''s presidency was marked by scandals running from the salacious to national security, you''ve run a campaign based on race coding, and both you and your husband have scant regard for the truth.
"What could you possibly say to young people, what could you possibly bring to the table, for those who need to hear a message of honesty and integrity, as personal responsibility is the cornerstone of government accountability?"
Martin Edwin Andersen
Churchton, Maryland
While Mrs. Clinton "tries", Mr. Obama takes action.VoteOnPaper
Why do people keep overlooking the fact that Hillary has done many great things over the past 35 years or more. I don''t need to list them. It only takes the person to check out her records, but it appears they are to lazy to do it for themself and will listen to some stupid person relaying the facts to them that are no more then lies. Obama does not even come close to her experiences, and does more then just talks, she works to get it done. His record is not very convincing for me to even consider that he would have the know how or the intelligence to get the job done. So personally your opinion is useless to me. Shows some facts instead of bull.
He is a racist. You think hes been spending all of his time supporting the white man? don''t make me laugh, wake up his church only helps and suports their brothers and sisters, and their mother country Africa.That church is racist. What if there was a white church that only helped out the white people, there would be all hell breaking loose. You''d have to be blind not to see that racism. Clinton didn''t call Obama a racist. They pointed the finger at her first. Just because she said Johnson helped make Kings dream come true. Well it is true. He could have went on with his speeches for a long time and nothing would never of happened unless it was passed through congress. And another thing, the Clintons never divided this country. You obviously were in diapers when Bill was in Office, because as I remember, those years were very good.
"Read below this ambitious jr Senator didn;t get elected to any office until 1996. Ha So after tweleve years of political experience we should elect him Prsident. Are you out of your mind?"
I''m sorry, but I just have to point out how absurd this statement is. Hillary Clinton didn''t run for any office for the first time in her life until 2000. Barack Obama had already authored hundreds of bills by then. No, being the wife of a governor, or a wife of a President, is not experience in any way comparable to Obama''s career in politics. The Clintons'' whole portrayal of Obama as "inexperienced" is absurd; it''s just the kind of smear we''ve come to expect from her.
Obama married Michelle Robinson, a fellow Harvard Law School graduate whom he had met in Chicago, on Oct. 18, 1992. The Obamas have two daughters, Malia, born in 1999, and Natasha, known as Sasha, born in 2001. Four years after they married, Obama won a seat in the Illinois state legislature, sponsoring legislation on the death penalty and racial profiling. (Photo: Family Photo)
anyone who says that Hillary Clinton - through the assistance of her advisors, including Bill Clinton - won''t know how to manage this economy and to help lift us up, out and over this madness is more than short sighted.
Ask the farmers in upstate NY what she has done for them in the last 7 years and why, after much skepticism, they re-elected her by a 70% majority!
Hillary may not be as eloquent a speaker as Obama, but she is a known fighter for women, children, and the low and middle classes...with proven, positive results.
This is what is lacking in Obama resume.
What I''d like to know is how much of a tax credit her plan will give to a family of 4 making say $50k a year. Because the average premium for a family that size is $4,424 (2004, AHIP). She doesn''t say she''s going to pay for it, she just says if the cost rises over a certain portion of a family''s income, she''ll offer tax credits.
That''s the paradox - those who need the coverage the most might actually end up shouldering the greatest burden even when those from higher income brackets are also forced to shoulder part of the burden. Because they have less disposible income to start with, and when it''s mandatory they''re not going to be able to opt out.
obama is not muslim people SO STOP SAYING HE IS GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT, and i''d rather have a rookie in the office than have that moron hillary clinton and her LYING CHEATING HUSBAND in our white house office.
LET''S NOT PUT ANOTHER MISTAKE IN OFFICE AGAIN PEOPLE.
obama 08!
Why Clinton?
We don''t need change! We need our country fixed! Change will come of it''s own accord. Obama hasn''t a clue!!!
The word change doesn''t mean a *** thing!!!
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