Did Bill Clinton Call Obama Unpatriotic?

Obama Campaign Official Criticizes Former President's Comments, Comparing Him To McCarthy

(AP)  A new controversy flared up in the Democratic presidential race Saturday over remarks by former President Bill Clinton whom Barack Obama's campaign accused of using divisive tactics and unfairly trying to question the Illinois senator's patriotism.

Retired Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak, a co-chair of Obama's campaign, said he was astonished and disappointed by recent comments the former president made while speculating about a general election between Obama's Democratic rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Republican John McCain.

Standing next to Obama on stage at a campaign rally in southern Oregon, the retired Air Force chief of staff repeated Bill Clinton's comments aloud to a silent audience.

The former president told a group of veterans Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina: "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country. And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

McPeak then said to his Oregon audience: "As one who for 37 years proudly wore the uniform of our country, I'm saddened to see a president employ these tactics. He of all people should know better because he was the target of exactly the same kind of tactics."

That apparently was a reference to Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, when he was accused of dodging the Vietnam War draft.

Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for Hillary Clinton's campaign, said Saturday that McPeak's comments were a "deliberately pathetic misreading of what the president said." Wolfson said the remarks had nothing to do with Obama and were merely meant to underscore the need to keep the presidential race focused on issues.

Hillary Clinton, the New York senator, had no campaign events scheduled Saturday.

It was not the first time Bill Clinton has been criticized for comments while campaigning on his wife's behalf. Before and after South Carolina's primary in January, the former president was accused of fanning racial tensions for appearing to cast Obama as little more than a black candidate popular in a state with a heavily black electorate.

The latest controversy came at the end of a rough week for the Obama campaign in which the Illinois senator was battered over incendiary remarks by his longtime pastor that were portrayed as unpatriotic.

However, Obama engaged in damage control with a major speech Tuesday on the issue of race. That speech helped Obama gain a key endorsement, the backing of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, himself a former Democratic presidential candidate.

The nod from Richardson had been sought by both Obama and Clinton. Bill Clinton even went to Richardson's New Mexico home in January to watch America's premier television sporting event, the Super Bowl football championship.

Richardson had served the former president as U.N. ambassador and energy secretary and the endorsement was seen as a rebuke to Hillary Clinton's candidacy.

"You are a once-in-a-lifetime leader," Richardson said, speaking at a spirited rally Friday in Portland, Oregon, with Obama at his side. "Above all, you will be a president who brings this nation together."

Oregon does not hold its primary until May 20. The next Democratic primary contest is on April 22 in Pennsylvania.

The Richardson endorsement was a blow to the Clinton campaign which has been urging remaining uncommitted superdelegates - party officials and elected officials who are free to vote for whomever they choose at the party's national convention - to hold off on endorsing a candidate until the end of the primary season in June.

Obama currently leads the all-important overall delegate count with 1,620 to Clinton's 1,499. But neither candidate is likely to get enough delegates in the remaining primaries and caucuses to reach the 2,024 needed to win nomination at the party's convention in late August in Denver. That means they must rely on support from superdelegates to become the nominee.

Richardson's backing of Obama, who aspires to become America's first black president, could help bring other superdelegates to the Illinois senator's side. The New Mexico governor could also help boost support for Obama among fellow Hispanics, who have largely backed Clinton.

Richardson, who has been mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate, told Democrats it was time to stop bickering and get behind Obama as the party's nominee. The Clinton campaign dismissed the endorsement.

Senior strategist Mark Penn, noting Clinton's February victory in the New Mexico primary, said, "Perhaps the time when he could have been most effective has long since past." Penn added that he did not think it was a "significant endorsement."

Whether intentionally timed or not, the Richardson endorsement came as Obama needed the boost after the widely circulated inflammatory snippets of sermons that showed the Rev. Jeremiah Wright claiming the United States had brought the Sept. 11 attacks on itself and asking God to damn America for racial bigotry.

While condemning the remarks, Obama refused in a major speech on race this week to "disown" Wright, who married the candidate and his wife and baptized their children.

Richardson heaped praise on Obama's speech about the nation's racial divide.

"As a Hispanic-American, I was particularly touched by his words," Richardson said. "Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country that is long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race."

There were also personal aspects to Richardson's swing behind Obama. He noted that both are the sons of one foreign-born parent - Obama's father was from Kenya, Richardson's mother was from Mexico.

McPeak also had made off-the-cuff remarks to reporters Friday in comparing the former president's comments with the actions of Joseph McCarthy, the 1950s communist-hunting senator.

"I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it," McPeak said.

Wolfson called that comparison outrageous and called for a retraction.

"I think most Democrats were shocked to learn that a two-term Democratic president was compared to Joseph McCarthy," he said.

With the Republican nomination secured, McCain was free to burnish his foreign policy and national security credentials on a weeklong overseas congressional trip that took him to the Middle East and Europe, including a stopover in Iraq.

On Friday, the veteran Arizona senator met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Afterwards, he said China is harming its world image with its crackdown in Tibet and expressed hope Beijing would seek a peaceful solution to the crisis.

McCain did not discuss the issue with Sarkozy, but told reporters later in the courtyard of the French presidential Elysee Palace that the subject of Tibet would be "one of the first things I would talk about if I were president of the United States today."

[shanev137]

The Clinton''s, like the Bush family, and John McCain, need to be put out to pasture somewhere and just go away.

[paris1969]

I AGREE!
"Well Obama is unpatriotic so even if Bill did call him that (which he didn''''t) he would of been right on the money."

[briannorwood]

And Billary continue to prove they will asy and do absolutely anything to get elected.

Would someone please tell this geriatric sexx feind to please put a cork in it!

[paris1969]

And ... if the NObama camp think it is true ... why doesn''t NObama himself attack Bill Clinton like he did Geraldine Ferraro? ... NO_balls NObama!!!!!!!

[tbweb]

My interpretation was that former Pres. Bill Clinton did call Sen. Obama unpatriotic using a round-a-bout back door method to do it! But even more sinister than that was the hidden message that if Sen. Hillary Clinton didn''t get the Democratic nomination for her supporters to Vote for Sen. John McCain! Thats the message I heard and received on my end!

[jegibbons]

There is ALREADY so much blood on the floor. Any Democrat that believes his party will mend their fences in time to win in November likely also believes Rep. Dennis Kucinich was abducted by alien life forms.
This gets more brutal every day! If John Mc Cain is still alive in November he is going to walk away in a landslide!

[lorinkundert]

Bill and Hillary should be looking in the mirror when they say someone is unpatriotic, patriots don''t take campaign contributions from Communist China and it''s agents.

[tbweb]

There is ALREADY so much blood on the floor. Any Democrat that believes his party will mend their fences in time to win in November likely also believes Rep. Dennis Kucinich was abducted by alien life forms.
This gets more brutal every day! If John Mc Cain is still alive in November he is going to walk away in a landslide!

Posted by JEGibbons at 07:22 PM : Mar 22, 2008,,,

You are correct!

[candide777]

People need to lighten up, all the hysteria and attempts to attribute evil motives to the other side are not a healthy way for selecting the next president. If Clinton had directly attacked Obama''s patriotism, then yes, he should be reprimanded, but the whole country is growing weary of all the accusations about what this or that person really meant. Listen to what they say and take it at face value, for christ''s sake.

[tawpdawg1]

We don''t know where that finger''s been. What''s he doin'' dryin'' it off? : )

[vrghiks]

Can liars be patriotic?

[jegibbons]

The real joke is Osama Obama with his COVERT SCHEMING agenda of "I hate America" vs. Slick Willy the sexual deviate who brought never before heard of scandal and shame to the office of the presidency arguing over who is the MOST patriotic. This is a joke right?

In the meantime the only candidate who is a War Veteran who has demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice for his country is quietly watching from the sidelines.

Anyone able to think MUST vote MCCain this fall. IF you choose NOT to vote for MCCain then FIRST give YOUR psychiatrist a call. Have him bump up your meds. All this Democratic Negativity has put you into a depression.

This election could easily be the beginning of the END the Democratic party altogether.
The idealism that was once characterized the democratic party is long dead. These democratic candidates will do and say what ever they have to put one over on the electorate.
Anyone who is seriously considering the character of these candidates will have no choice but to vote for John McCain!

[obamasgranny]

This is ridiculous!! I am Obama''s Granny, I am here under this bus, and even I know that sweet Mr. Bill Clinton and his lovely "typical White" wife would never say what that horrible man on my grandson''s campaign is implying,..Obama this is why you must come home, quit this madness!! You are running on a pack of lies and illusions and now that the public is on to you, you will never win the general election!! People cannot be so dumb and blind as to fall for the notion that you are a "uniter", they now know that you have been a "divider" denying your white heritage and throwing me under the bus!!
That Pastor Wrong has shown your judgement to be seriously flawed and you are falling in the polls!!
Maybe if you can prove to the people that you have learned from your terrible mistakes and grown to love all people, you can run again in 8 years!!
It''s time to quit this fairy tale and let that "typical white woman" be the president!!

NOBAMA 08
STOP THE HATE!!

[redlipsahead]

Obama is NOT Patriotic. It doesn''t matter what Clinton says. Obama''s actions are louder that his words and bogus speeches of change. The only change Obama needs is to change his Racist Church along with is Pastor. Phrases that Obama uses like " Typical White" is RACIST. If Obama lies his way to the democratic nomination, McCain will get my vote!

[mlwriter8]

Now that Senator Obama has been deemed the Crown Prince, any questioning of his character, decisions or associations will likely be met by his rabid supporters with cries of racism, destroying the party, even facism (elect Hillary and bring back McCarthyism!!) If this is what building bridges and reconciliation look like, count me out. In my 40 some voting years I have never considered choosing a Republican candidate - I am beginning to resign myself to the possibility of having to do so this year.

[hypnotoad72]

redlipsahead - yeah, I''m starting to agree. I had praise for Obama before the revelation of his pastor, plus the shrouding of his own family heritage, came to surface. Those actions are completely amiss with his words, which surely sounded nice at the time...

[mlwriter8]

Now that Senator Obama has been deemed the Crown Prince, any questioning of his character, decisions or associations will likely be met by his rabid supporters with cries of racism, destroying the party, even facism (elect Hillary and bring back McCarthyism!!) If this is what building bridges and reconciliation look like, count me out. In my 40 some voting years I have never considered choosing a Republican candidate - I am beginning to resign myself to the possibility of having to do so this year.

good comment tawpdawg1

[jegibbons]

Posted by mlwriter8 at 07:53 PM : Mar 22, 2008
Sorry if voting for Joh Mc Cain is so PAINFUL, but the alternative might well be disasterous!

[standlee5]

Bill Clinton is calling Obama unpatriotic. What is this a Republican convention. Next they''ll be bickering over who honors the flag more. What happened to good old fashioned Democrat values like holding companies accountable to paying a living wage not hiring illegal labor.

[boogieman716]

i guess in obomas mind being call a good american is racist. but he defends his pastor that DAM,S america.

[candide777]

Now that Senator Obama has been deemed the Crown Prince, any questioning of his character, decisions or associations will likely be met by his rabid supporters with cries of racism, destroying the party, even facism (elect Hillary and bring back McCarthyism!!) If this is what building bridges and reconciliation look like, count me out. In my 40 some voting years I have never considered choosing a Republican candidate - I am beginning to resign myself to the possibility of having to do so this year.
Posted by mlwriter8 at 07:53 PM : Mar 22, 2008

Well, I think what''s really going on here is you have a very pathetic and lazy media in the U.S. who couldn''t think of an intersting story to save their lives, so they are on a relentless campaign to stoke the fires wherever they can. And, both Hillary and Obama seem to be taking advantage of our media''s laziness when the opportunity presents itself.

Bill Clinton is just angry that he didn''t marry Jennifer Flowers. He knows that Flowers would have made a better candidate and would have returned him to the White House. So he''s acting out again.

[mgpgh]

Bill Clinton is a brilliant man who knows how to craft a comment that starts conversation. Barack crafts his comments to pander and distract...and to make people''s legs tingle.

[hillary-news]

ANYONE SEEN HILLARYS FINANCES YET?

WHERE DOES AN ARKANSAS BRED NY SENATOR GET $5M DOLLARS BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND NOW WITHOUT STEALING FROM CAMPAIGN FUNDS?

ANY WIDE HIP HILLARY SUPPORTER CAN ANSWER THAT?
THAT IS STEALING,
THAT IS FRAUD,
THAT IS HILLARY CLINTON!!

CHINESE WEB SPAMMERS SAY $5M COMES FROM BILLS BOOK DEAL, B S!
LETS SEE THE FINANCES HILLARY!!
NOW, SHOW ME, PROVE IT%u2026 LETS SEE HILLARYS FINANCES!!!

ITS WHITEWATER ALL OVER AGAIN SETTING UP,
THE DISTRACTION LIKE BILL CLINTON, WHILE REPUBLICANS ARE RIPPING YOU OFF!
BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON ARE CLOWN CON MEN (HILLARY IS A SHE-MAN)!

HILLARY FLIP FLOPS AFTER 100% SUPPORT OF GW BUSHS IRAQ OIL WAR!

HILLARY WAS HOME ON ALLEGED DAY OF SLICK WILLIES HUM JOB!

HILLARY HAS FAILED EVERY ATTEMPT AT HEALTH CARE!

EXPERIENCE? AT WHAT, BEING A LIEING FAILURE?

[hillary-news]

ANYONE SEEN HILLARYS FINANCES YET?

WHERE DOES AN ARKANSAS BRED NY SENATOR GET $5M DOLLARS BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND NOW WITHOUT STEALING FROM CAMPAIGN FUNDS?

ANY WIDE HIP HILLARY SUPPORTER CAN ANSWER THAT?
THAT IS STEALING,
THAT IS FRAUD,
THAT IS HILLARY CLINTON!!

CHINESE WEB SPAMMERS SAY $5M COMES FROM BILLS BOOK DEAL, B S!
LETS SEE THE FINANCES HILLARY!!
NOW, SHOW ME, PROVE IT%u2026 LETS SEE HILLARYS FINANCES!!!

ITS WHITEWATER ALL OVER AGAIN SETTING UP,
THE DISTRACTION LIKE BILL CLINTON, WHILE REPUBLICANS ARE RIPPING YOU OFF!
BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON ARE CLOWN CON MEN (HILLARY IS A SHE-MAN)!

HILLARY FLIP FLOPS AFTER 100% SUPPORT OF GW BUSHS IRAQ OIL WAR!

HILLARY WAS HOME ON ALLEGED DAY OF SLICK WILLIES HUM JOB!

HILLARY HAS FAILED EVERY ATTEMPT AT HEALTH CARE!

EXPERIENCE? AT WHAT, BEING A LIEING FAILURE?

[dnsallday]

Please, there is not a single word that the Clintons say that isn''t carefully calculated. This is part of their carefully crafted plan. If Hillary doesn''t get the nomination this year, they want to make sure McCain gets it so they will have another go at getting back into the white house. It goes right along with yesterday when Hillary called Obama "un-American" for not going along with her Michigan re-vote scheme. They are using Karl Roves playbook, page by page, so if we want to know what they are up to all we have to do is look back on the Bush campaign. They are using identical tactics. Some people don''t care, they get so caught up in the Politics they will say whatever thoughts the politians put in their minds. Some of us will never vote for dirty tricksters that mislead the voters to get votes. Senator Obama will get my vote even if the only option is to write it in. Because, like him, I care about what happens to this country.

[tbweb]

Bill Clinton is just angry that he didn''''t marry Jennifer Flowers. He knows that Flowers would have made a better candidate and would have returned him to the White House. So he''s acting out again.

Posted by sueg48 at 08:03 PM : Mar 22, 2008,,,

At one point Bill Clinton was thinking about divorcing Hillary and making Monica Lewinski the First Lady but it got too complicated, at least thats what he told Monica when she was on the pipe! lol

[bywill]

You people need to really get a grip! Both you and Shrill Clinton need to get a grip! How long do you think this shame about the Rev is going to hold up? The hold story has been proven to be a lie setup by the news companies. Obama''s approval rating drop 3%. You HRC supporters should be thinking about how the Democratic Party is going to win the White House, With Obama & Co. Now back to Shrill Clinton. This yokel is living in la la land and hopes that you bozo%u2019s will join him. And guess what? I see the little red noses are in droves! For those of you that have finished the ninth grade, this should be easy math for you. A Hilla the Hun will need to win Every contest by 56%, that Every one of them. She has done this maybe, a couple of times. It''s time to smell the coffee and get in line!!
OBAMA08, courage to take a stand!!

[shanev137]

I sit by in amazement as the Dems self-destruct.

America is doomed.


--------


No kidding.

It looks again like the Democratic Party will just hand over this election like the last two.

[lordmi]

They were tight: Clintons will say whatever to get the power.
Dirty games and dirty people.

[shanev137]

WHERE DOES AN ARKANSAS BRED NY SENATOR GET $5M DOLLARS BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND NOW WITHOUT STEALING FROM CAMPAIGN FUNDS?


----------


Bill gets about a million bucks a pop now for speaking in front of a group.

How much money do you think the shrub will make in public speaking fees after he''s out on hisass in January? hahahaha

[jrefo]

I don''t know about you all who are running for McCain.

I don''t want to see $20 Trillion dollar debt.
100 year Iraq and Iran wars
$7 dollar gasoline
high priced process food at the grocery due to farmers splitting soil for ethanol production.

This country needs a fresh start, somebody who hasn''t been turned stone cold for being in Washington for so long.

My vote is for Barack Obama.

[bud28dy]

At this point, Clinton supporters will vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee.

Obama supporters will likewise vote for McCain if Hillary wins.

There is no doubt that McCain will be elected President.

3 years from now, when we are still fighting in Iraq, don''t any of you on here complain or wonder what happened. You guys did it.

[xlib]

Oh for God''s sake, stopping pandering to this half black politican. What makes him so special? Get over it. We all know what brain bubba uses. Gripes. This is not a story.

[xlib]

Uh, is this story about mccain or bubba and obama?

[truthspeake2]

OBAMA 2008....RIP Hillary and the GOP!

[rowdytexan2]

Good Gawd! When will the Obama campaign SHUT UP and get to talking about real issues! I have not yet heard Obama address a real issue in days!

His attempts to eliminate his opponent clearly display his attempts to eliminate opponents from the outset!

Look what happened to Joe Biden before the campaigns even geared up! Mr. Biden made statements which were in effect compliments this this twerp, and his words were twisted into racism! RIGHT AT THE FIRST STEP OF THE CAMPAIGNS! Then Obama gets to go awwwwwwww, I know Mr. Biden didn''t mean it all gracious and smiley! If that''s the case, why did he accuse him of it? That action eliminated Mr. Biden''s credibility and he didn''t get a look in at the nomination.

This street punk thug Chicago politics busward just won''t stop!!!

Wake up America!

[standlee5]

The whole Democrat Primary has been like a twilight zone. Just nominate Hillalry and be done with it. Obama can''t play hardball and she can.

[nothappyatall]

"Obama currently leads the all-important overall delegate count with 1,620 to Clinton''s 1,499. But neither candidate is likely to get enough delegates in the remaining primaries and caucuses to reach the 2,024 needed to win nomination"

Well, ONE of them will, because if they didnt, there would only be McBush come Novmber running against no one, so this numbers game is stupid. Clinton doesnt have anywhere near Obama''s count and there''s no possible way she can get them, so Clinton is basically OUT and she would do well to simply announce her pulling out so we can get on with this.

[standlee5]

Maybe that''s the point. the Obama campaign would rather have him dealing with this stuff than issues because he''s so green an inexperienced. If he was put to real scrutiny he''d implode.

[tbweb]

How much money do you think the shrub will make in public speaking fees after he''s out on hisass in January? hahahaha

Posted by shanev137 at 08:12 PM : Mar 22, 2008,,,

The cost of his security detail for the rest of his life will be the largest expense to Tax Payers of any former President in American History and will be the size of a small Army!

[ramos937]

The General is indulging in bush league politics. Maybe he got hit in the head once too often. Clinton''s quote is below:

"The former president told a group of veterans Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina: "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country. And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

You have to be very stupid to infer that Clinton questioned Obama''s patriotism.
The media should also have better judgment than to report this stuff. Maybe the General missed the limelight?

[blkpresident]

RowdyTexan2,

In response to your comments suggesting that the Obama camp is somehow responsible for Senator Biden''s words is indicative of ''Lil Hillary''s finger-pointing tactics, especially when lil missy doesn''t get her way. After PA. votes next month she will know her place. Word on the street is that somewhere in NY a lonely kitchen stove needs a woman''s touch.

[standlee5]

So what''s ging to happen if it comes down to a tie even with superdelegates.

[blkpresident]

standlee5,

The only hardball ''Lil Hillary can play is coming to grips with reality, particularly facing the harsh reality that her pipe dream is about over. After PA. votes next month maybe missy will drop her campaign and don an apron and get back to real girl work.

[blkpresident]

standlee5,

Rest assured that it won''t come down to a tie with super-delegates. Missy won''t garner a majority, so prepare yourself for the worse if you are a Clintonian.

[tbweb]

You have to be very stupid to infer that Clinton questioned Obama''s patriotism.
The media should also have better judgment than to report this stuff. Maybe the General missed the limelight?

Posted by ramos937 at 08:32 PM : Mar 22, 2008,,,

I think many people are missing the point, for example, what is a former Democratic President promoting a Republican for President candidate for? I never heard of such a thing, whether Sen. John McCain is a good candidate or not, this is a contest for the Presidency and no Democrat should be bragging about how great or patriotic the Republican candidate is, thats political suicide! If I was Sen. John McCain I would have Bill Clinton saying that in my TV campaign Ads! What better endorsement than Bill Clinton, the potential competitions own husband!

[standlee5]

You might be right and we can all thank Oprah for picking our next president.

[standlee5]

Uh huh, well Ihope she pulls a Lieberman then, and runs as an Independent.