Clinton: Obama Isn't Ready To Be President

Washington Post: New York Senator Hits Harder As Crucial Primaries Loom

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

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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton launched a tough new offensive against Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday, asserting flatly that her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination is not prepared to serve as commander in chief.

"It is time to get real -- to get real about how we actually win this election, and get real about the challenges facing America," the senator from New York told a cheering crowd at Hunter College in Manhattan.

Resounding Obama victories on Tuesday in Wisconsin and Hawaii pushed the senator from Illinois further ahead in the delegate count and have turned the Ohio and Texas primaries on March 4 into do-or-die battles for Clinton. After 10 straight defeats, she now trails Obama in overall delegates 1,351 to 1,262, according to an Associated Press tally, and faces a dwindling number of opportunities to slow her rival's pursuit of the 2,025 delegates needed to claim the party's nomination. The first chance will come Thursday night in Austin, where the two will debate.

Clinton's 17-percentage-point loss in Wisconsin was especially crushing, a sign that her criticisms of Obama -- which were most intense during the Badger State showdown -- did little to sway voters to her camp.

But instead of shifting course, Clinton redoubled her attempt to undermine his change-oriented message. "One of us is ready to be commander in chief," she told the crowd in New York. "Let's get real. Let's get real about this election, let's get real about our future, let's get real about what it is we can do together." Obama has had a "good couple of weeks," she allowed, but said his victories had come in states that he was expected to win. Clinton predicted that when voters in Ohio and Texas have the opportunity to take his measure, his run of success will end.

Obama waved off Clinton's latest broadside, declaring before a crowd of 17,000 gathered in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon: "Today, Senator Clinton told us there is a choice in this race, and I couldn't agree with her more. But contrary to what she was saying, it's not a choice between speeches and solutions. It's a choice between the politics of divisions and distractions that did not work in South Carolina, that did not work in Wisconsin and that will not work in Texas."

In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, senior Clinton advisers vowed to press Obama on his readiness for the White House, arguing that the only reason that message has not been successful so far is that Obama was able to outspend Clinton in the recent string of contests. Now, chief strategist Mark Penn said, Clinton will draw distinctions with Obama more sharply.

"She is the only person in this race who is both ready to be commander in chief and would end the Iraq war and start to bring home troops in 60 days, compared to both Senator Obama and Senator McCain," Penn said, referring to Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the likely Republican nominee. "She is the only one with a real plan for managing the economy, reining in the special interests and rebuilding the middle class."

He continued: "This is a very stark choice, and I think it's going to be reflected in the choice we have over the next few weeks: Who is better able to lead the country in the event of a crisis and beat the Republican nominee?"

Exit polls in Wisconsin suggested that Clinton's economic message -- a populist-tinged pledge to restore the policies of the 1990s boom -- may be falling flat. Obama held a big advantage over her among Wisconsin voters who rated the economy as their top concern. He edged her out among those naming health care, her signature issue, as the country's single biggest problem. And eight in 10 Democratic voters viewed trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, as job killers. Obama hammered his opponent on NAFTA in Wisconsin, reminding voters in rallies and campaign materials that she once praised the agreement.

Ceding ground on the economy could be disastrous for Clinton in working-class Ohio, which her advisers concede she must win, along with Texas, by commanding margins on March 4 to remain competitive in the race for delegates. The latest Associated Press tally showed Obama capturing most of the delegates in Wisconsin and Hawaii on Tuesday, winning at least 55 in the two states, with six still to be awarded. Clinton won at least 33, the AP found.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters during a Wednesday conference call that for Clinton to catch up, she would have to win Ohio and Texas by 30-point margins, and follow that with a 40-point rout in Pennsylvania on April 22. "This is a wide, wide lead right now," he said. "The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

Even former president Clinton, pressing voters to turn out for his wife's campaign, acknowledged the stakes for her on March 4. "If she wins Texas and Ohio, I think she will be the nominee," he told supporters in Beaumont, Tex., according to ABC News. "If you don't deliver for her, I don't think she can be. It's all on you."

To win decisively in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Clinton must steer working-class voters back to her campaign, even as Obama continues to make inroads with them. He was endorsed Wednesday by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a 1.4 million-member labor union, and by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. That endorsement came even though Bill Clinton lobbied Teamsters President James P. Hoffa at a dinner in Washington last week.

Last week, the Obama campaign mailed two glossy fliers to Ohio voters. One targeted Clinton's health plan, noting that it would require the uninsured to buy coverage. The other showed a padlocked factory gate, noting that "only Barack Obama consistently opposed NAFTA," while asserting that Clinton had once viewed it favorably, although she is now calling for a "timeout" on trade deals to determine their impact on U.S. jobs.

In Iowa, Clinton carried herself as an authoritative front-runner advocating her "strength and experience," then shifted in New Hampshire to a quieter and more emotive candidate, chastened by defeat. When she emerged from Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests still tied with Obama, she adopted a populist persona similar to the one employed by former rival John Edwards. In recent days, as the defeats piled up, she added ever sharper attacks on Obama's credibility.

On Monday, Clinton's campaign spokesman accused Obama of plagiarism for having borrowed lines from Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick, a close Obama friend, without attribution. And Clinton has ratcheted up questions about her rival's accomplishments and whether he has the authority to lead.

Her dismissive tone at Hunter College about Obama's winning streak reflected a mounting despair inside her campaign about whether there is anything, at this late date, that can be done to halt his rise.

Her candidacy on the line, Clinton signaled that her central "experience" argument would remain unchanged. "It is time that we moved from good words to good works, from sound bites to sound solutions," Clinton said. "This campaign is not about a campaign. This campaign is not about a personality. This campaign is about hundreds of millions of Americans who are yearning for leadership again." She repeatedly urged voters to "get real."

In an unusual acknowledgment of Obama's recent successes, Clinton predicted a hard fight ahead. "He has had a good couple of weeks and he's run a good race, and we will be squaring off in primaries in two weeks," she said. "We're going to draw the contrasts and make the comparisons and give the people of Ohio and Texas and the other states a real choice."

Harold Ickes, a senior adviser to Clinton, said that she will close the delegate gap in the weeks ahead. "Mr. Obama is the front-runner," he said. "There will be increased scrutiny on him and his qualifications to be president."

Staff writer Jonathan Weisman, traveling with Obama in Texas, and polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta in Washington contributed to this report.

[user168-2009]

If Hillary can''t even manage her campaign money wisely, how is she going to manage a country''s money wisely? Hillary supporters, watch you donations.

"Nearly $100,000 went for party platters and groceries before the Iowa caucuses... Rooms at the Bellagio luxury hotel in Las Vegas consumed more than $25,000... And top consultants collected about $5 million in January, a month of crucial expenses and tough fund-raising. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton%u2019s latest campaign finance report, published Wednesday night, appeared even to her most stalwart supporters and donors to be a road map of her political and management failings. Several of them, echoing political analysts, expressed concerns that Mrs. Clinton%u2019s spending priorities amounted to costly errors in judgment that have hamstrung her competitiveness against Senator Barack Obama of Illinois."

Hillary has no basic understanding that words come from thoughts and wise words come from wise thoughts. Hillary thinks Obama is all "talk" and she''s right. Obama''s smart "talk" comes from smart thoughts called wisdom. Hillary herself has no thought for wise talk because she knows not.

[vet_sk]

George Will recently reminded us yesterday about President James Buchanan. He had experience: 8 years as an ambassador, 10 years in the U.S. House of Reps, 10 years as a U.S. Senator, 4 years as the Sec of State. In 1856 he was elected president and in just four years earned the worst president in history award. (The current president may though soon usurp this award). He was followed by a president with only a single 2-year term in Congress. His name was Abraham Lincoln. He was challenged from day one and the country is still unified because of him. Go Obama.

[truthisfact]

The Hillary camp is throwing desperation bombs that haven''t worked before(Obama is a Muslim - false. he''s a Christian, Larry Sinclair- a nutcase who''s story is even nuttier, plagarism - it isn''t if your campaign co chair who said the original words gave them to you). And they won''t work now.

We all knew this was coming. That phony speech at the end of the debate was another TACTIC that didn''t work.

Now after saying in front of everybody - and to his face - that she was honored to be on stage with Senator Obama, after she was asked point blank during the debate to expand on her tough talk about being real and decided to backtrack and hem and haw, now he''s not ready to be President.

This is another case of the continuing drama that is the "Two Faces of Hillary".

She voted to expand NAFTA as recently as this year. She has a history of praising NAFTA. She has a history of being anti-union(Ask her why she advocated for Walmart without a inch of dissent in their union busting mantra). Now she''s anti-trade.

She cries about mailers that state the truth about her plan. Her big hissy fit today center around a quote that was properly credited. However, it hasn''t stopped her from sending out false mailers about
Senator Obama''s reproductive rights positions.

Desperate times calls for desperate measures.

The "Two Faces of Hillary" is now playing on a television near you.

[truthisfact]

The Hillary camp is throwing desperation bombs that haven''t worked before(Obama is a Muslim - false. he''s a Christian, Larry Sinclair- a nutcase who''s story is even nuttier, plagarism - it isn''t if your campaign co chair who said the original words gave them to you). And they won''t work now.

We all knew this was coming. That phony speech at the end of the debate was another TACTIC that didn''t work.

Now after saying in front of everybody - and to his face - that she was honored to be on stage with Senator Obama, after she was asked point blank during the debate to expand on her tough talk about being real and decided to backtrack and hem and haw, now he''s not ready to be President.

This is another case of the continuing drama that is the "Two Faces of Hillary".

She voted to expand NAFTA as recently as this year. She has a history of praising NAFTA. She has a history of being anti-union(Ask her why she advocated for Walmart without a inch of dissent in their union busting mantra). Now she''s anti-trade.

She cries about mailers that state the truth about her plan. Her big hissy fit today center around a quote that was properly credited. However, it hasn''t stopped her from sending out false mailers about
Senator Obama''s reproductive rights positions.

Desperate times calls for desperate measures.

The "Two Faces of Hillary" is now playing on a television near you.

[fredcs25]

Hillary is not ready either.What 35yrs experience? She was only the presidents wife nothing more and if that qualifieds her to be president then so is every presidents wife in the past including Mrs.Bush.All Hillary has ever done is to be elected to the senate by NY state.Ombama also was elected to the senate by Illinois....so where does the 35 yrs experience come from?35 years ago she was nothing but a college student....so what??

[rhopeg]

After post-Super Tuesday primary election contests 0 Hillary and 11 Obama and foolish debate "rhetoric" of "Change we can Xerox" boo-ed by debate audience, and play-acting the valedictorian in John Edwards'' words, Hillary presents herself alternative to Obama! In more of Hillary''s sillies, Let''s Get Real!

[arnulfoc]

"Barack Hussein Obama is not an African American - he is a Muslim born Arab American - he is 50% caucasian(white mother), 43.75% ARAB and 6.25% AFRICAN from his great great grandfather%u2019s side. Yet he preys on African Americans as tho'''' he is a brother from another mother." from proudparent7....you must be an idiot or ignorant. Obama''s father was kenyan and kenyan do not belong to the arab race. Look at google, for heaven''s sake, to help you in your well delayed education.

[proudparent7]

Personally I can%u2019t help but wonder where all of the money is coming from for Obama%u2019s campaign???
al-Qaeda members, Iraqi insurgents, Hezbollah, Hamas, Ahmadinejad of Iran and Chavez of Venezuela.

Why isn''t there more media coverage on just how fake Obama really is?

[proudparent7]

** Man files Federal Lawsuit against Obama regarding GAY sexual act and drug use claims **
Larry Sinclair posted a video to YouTube claiming to have used cocaine and engaged in a gay sexual act with Obama when Obama was a state legislator in 1999. In the video, Sinclair claims he and Obama met on two separate occasions, that Obama used crack cocaine and that Sinclair performed an oral sexual act on Obama both evenings. Now Obama and company are quickly trying to quiet this man, but Sinclair has filed a federal lawsuit. Sinclair filed suit against Obama and his campaign guru David Axelrod in Minnesota district court for allegedly attempting to abridge Sinclair%u2019s right to free speech, and for waging an intimidation campaign against him.
Check out the video on youtube for yourself:
Larry Sinclair''s YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/larrysinclair0926

This has also been covered by The Smoking Gun:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0214081obama1.html

and by worldnetdaily.com:
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.search&keywords=larry+sinclair

Google the words Larry Sinclair

[proudparent7]

Barack Hussein Obama blatantly disregards American Anthem!
HERE IS THE PROOF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwog6E08CFU&feature=related
**Everyone knows when the national anthem is played they are to stand at attention with their hand over their heart. How far we have come to even consider someone with such a blatant disregard for our national anthem?**

[proudparent7]

Barack Hussein Obama has a one trick horse;
"I DID NOT VOTE FOR THE IRAQ WAR!"
Of course he did not vote for the Iraq war because he was not in the senate at that time. Now if he had of been able to vote he would have most likely voted present according to his past voting history!

[proudparent7]

Barack Hussein Obama lifts more speeches than Gene Simmons has women! If Obama does win the presidency, he will need the equivalent of what President George W Bush has, he will have his own Cheney like person telling Obama what to do and say. Gee I wonder who that will be? Al-Qaeda members, Iraqi insurgents, Hezbollah, Hamas, Ahmadinejad of Iran and Chavez of Venezuela.

[proudparent7]

Barack Hussein Obama is not an African American - he is a Muslim born Arab American - he is 50% caucasian(white mother), 43.75% ARAB and 6.25% AFRICAN from his great great grandfather%u2019s side. Yet he preys on African Americans as tho'' he is a brother from another mother.
READ MORE HERE:
http://kennethelamb.blogspot.com/2008/02/barak-obama-questions-about-ethnic.html

[vet_sk]

George Will wrote yesterday

"The president who came to office with the most glittering array of experiences had served 10 years in the House of Representatives, then became minister to Russia, then served 10 years in the Senate, then four years as secretary of state (during a war that enlarged the nation by 33 percent), then was minister to Britain. Then, in 1856, James Buchanan was elected president and in just one term secured a strong claim to being ranked as America''''''''s worst president. Abraham Lincoln, the inexperienced former one-term congressman, had an easy act to follow. "

[rfcrtl]

Hillary is right!!

[pensacola88]

Hillary Clinton claims that Senator Obama is not ready to be a President is a good example of "The Pot Trying to Call the Kettle Black".

Hillary talks like a second place finisher again and again and again.

One minute she praises Barack Obama and the next minute she criticizes him. This is charactaristic for a person who is seen and heard praising and criticizing their own spouse, but not a political opponent.

This looks like marital baggage spilling in to the professional life of Hillary Clinton.

I don''t know too many people who "throw mud into the same face they just kissed" other than spouses.

[nolalou]

jack3213,

Sure McCain is experienced, experienced at flip-flopping on immigration, flip-flopping on the Bush tax cuts (he voted against them before he was for them!) experienced on keeping our troops in Iraq for another 100 years if necessary!

I''d vote for the Clinton''s dog before I''d vote for McCain!

[jack3213]

Complete & Utter BS. Both of these Dem candidates are only experianced at one thing: ACTING. They will lie to you to get the power they desperately crave and are not qualified. They will destroy this country even more than it is. You want change, you need patience. If you rush to change parties it is very foolish. It is a scary time and the best you can is allow the more experianced candidate to get things under control for atleast 4 years. McCain is the most experianced.

[popstom1]

What you need to unstand is that most of his base is 18 to 25 so when bill clinton what do you think they know hell when I was 18 to 25 I knew everything now I know it was a joke I though they would be smarter but I guess it takes a 1929 wake them up

[grazinggoat]

Democrats | 2,025 Needed to Clinch
OBAMA 1,362
CLINTON 1,262
EDWARDS 26

Well Obama can celebrate a first, but not the last, a difference of 100 delegates over Clinton... Way to go OBAMA.!