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Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

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Obama v Clinton/Clinton

January 21, 2008 8:13 PM

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told South Carolina's The State newspaper that former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, are lying about him and his record purposefully.

“There is a concrete strategy by the Clintons,” Obama said.

Any objective review of how Bill and Hillary Clinton have been twisting comments Obama made about Ronald Reagan and the Republican party would concur.

As we've previously reviewed, Obama, asked by the editorial board of the Reno Gazette-Journal, how his being the nominee might help down-ballot candidates, such as Senators and Congressmen, get elected, said: "I think that we're shifting the political paradigm here. And if I'm the nominee, I think I can bring a lot of folks along on my coattails. You know, there's a reason why in 2006, I made the most appearances for members of Congress. I was the most requested surrogate to come in and campaign for people in districts that were swing districts, Republican districts where they wouldn't have any other Democrat.

"That was based on their read of the fact that, you know what, this is somebody who can reach out to independents and Republicans in a way that doesn't offend people…I don't want to present myself as some sort of singular figure. I think part of what's different are the times.

"I do think that, for example, the 1980 election was different. I mean, I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that, you know, Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it. They felt like, you know, with all the excesses of the 60's and the 70's and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating and he tapped into what people were already feeling. Which is, people wanted clarity, we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamic and entrepreneurship that had been missing, alright? I think Kennedy, twenty years earlier, moved the country in a fundamentally different direction. So I think a lot of it just has to do with the times.

"I think we're in one of those times right now. Where people feel like things as they are going aren't working. We're bogged down in the same arguments that we've been having, and they're not useful. And, you know, the Republican approach, I think, has played itself out. I think it's fair to say the Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time there over the last ten, fifteen years, in the sense that they were challenging conventional wisdom. Now, you've heard it all before. You look at the economic policies when they're being debated among the Presidential candidates and it's all tax cuts. Well, you know, we've done that, we tried it. That's not really going to solve our energy problems, for example. So, some of it's the times. And some of it's, I think, there's maybe a generation element to this, partly. In the sense that there's a, I didn't did come of age in the battles of the 60's. I'm not as invested in them.

"And so I think I talk differently about issues. And I think I talk differently about values. And that's why, I think we've been resonating with the American people."

You can watch the whole thing HERE.

Sen. Clinton twisted this into: "I have to say, you know, my leading opponent the other day said that he thought the Republicans had better ideas than Democrats the last ten to fifteen years."

That's not what Obama said.

And in Buffalo, N.Y., former President Bill Clinton twisted this into Obama "said President Reagan was the engine of innovation and did more, had a more lasting impact on America than I did. And then the next day he said, 'In the 90s the good ideas came out from the Republicans. Which it'll be costly maybe down the road for him because it's factually not accurate.”

What's factually not accurate is what President Bill Clinton said.

I know he wants his wife to beat Obama. And it seems that unleashing the Big Dog seems to be working for the Clinton campaign.

Perhaps some voters are even touched by his passion.

But let's be clear -- Bill Clinton is spreading demonstrably false information.

There's winning ugly, and there's winning with honor.

Does it matter? Or is all fair in politics and war?

-- jpt

January 21, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (172)

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I feel compelled to post this message, but I must. With the Democratic Primaries now concluding I have to say that I wish Senator Clinton well. But any talk of an Obama Clinton ticket will surely lose my support, because the two of them together does not equal change. Obama needs to be free to support whoever choses (that best supports his deepest beliefs). To change Senator Clinton will contradict his messsage of change, and to me will be nothing less than business as usual politically speaking. And I for one will not support such a ticket.

Posted by: K. Ahblee | Jun 4, 2008 12:27:27 AM

Media favorite? Obama?

NewsCorp, the parent company of Fox News, has given Hillary 96 thousand dollarsin the last year. Disney, the Parent of ABC, has given her over 40,000 in the last three years.

Go to opensecrets dot org, and see for yourself.

Posted by: Jesse | Jan 29, 2008 6:37:12 AM

Many if not most of the elections in the US nowadays are based on election fraud by elections "officials" and their cronies. Check out to see clear evidence that the US no longer holds reliable democratic elections, and that the systems are built to make perpetration of election fraud as simple as pie, and virtually impossible for whatever few watchdogs there are to prove and/or take effective legal action to stop. This is a complete disgrace to our heritage. The only solution is to downsize the government and elect an honest man to the White House. Google "Ron Paul" to see the one man who could have saved this country and to learn about his ideas via his speeches and writings on the Internet.

Posted by: Jeff S | Jan 27, 2008 5:20:59 PM

I'm a lifelong liberal independent, but if Hillary gets the Democratic nom, I will seriously consider voting for McCain, and so will millions and millions of Americans. The era of the Clintons and the Bushes and their sickening tactics and venality have passed. It's time for a twenty-first-century president. Yes, he will need to do some learning as he goes. But unlike W, he's a helluva good student. Viva Obama!

Posted by: MF | Jan 26, 2008 12:02:04 PM

WAKE UP AMERICA! The Clinton's are, once again, consuming our airwaves, blaming the press for everything, bullying the other candidates, and will stop at nothing to get Hillary elected. Or, should I say, Hillary AND Bill elected? WAKE UP AMERICA. This is not about a candidate who cares about America or understands life in the White House because she was there for eight years picking up the pieces from Bill. This is about a narcissistic team of players, from Bill to Hillary to James Carville, to Mark Penn, to the worst of all, Terry McAuliffe, to their "silent" (Maureen Dowd's term) daughter Chelsea. It is about a man, Bill, so out of control that he will stop at nothing, say anything and bully anyone to get back in the White House. This is soooo dangerous. And, it is a puzzle that the American people do not see this. Bill has been a bully all his life. He has a temper that will flair at the slightest question that he does not approve of. To blame the media for "facts that are out there and for visuals that are out there and for things that he has said and are on tape..." He can't blame the media if he is actually guilty of his actions! And, everyone has seen them. Yes, this will be a Presidency, if she wins, of the two of them. It will be all about HIM, as he is her greatest adviser. And, America will be so mired in their drams, nothing will get done...once again. Remember the Monica Lewinsky that held this country hostage for two years...and who loved it the most? Bill...he was on TV every night. He can't get enough of the attention and so, in running her campaign, he is once again out there, as if he were running himself. WAKE UP AMERICA

Posted by: susan | Jan 25, 2008 10:25:32 AM

Why does Bill Clinton have any credibility? Now let me make this clear. I voted for him twice but let's face he has no credibility when it comes to truthfulness. I am an attorney in the Boston area and let me tell you when a lawyer gets disbarred from the practice of law for lying it is a serious offense. Why does Bill Clinton get a free pass at this? If he was in a civil trial his credibility would seriously be attacked and questioned. Once a liar always a liar. Why should we believe anything he says? Has Clinton earned our trust again as a nation? What is the basis for this? Maybe I just do not get it.

Sam

Boston

Posted by: Samuel Rodriguez | Jan 25, 2008 8:30:30 AM

It is disturbing to see how former president Bill Clinton can involve himself in such twisting of facts is it the way he got to be president when he became president?It is interesting now to see how Americans think.Would they elect Hillary Clinton for twisting the truth together with her husband.Are liers electable in the United states of America.America as nation is now at the greatest test and the whole world is watching.

Posted by: neddy | Jan 25, 2008 6:44:56 AM

Thank you for making the point that the Ice Queen and her puppy are exactly what this country needs to get rid of. It's time to end the Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton dynasty and look to a leader who can think with a fresh and honest perspective. If Bill is so concerned about protecting her honor, maybe he should have thought about her before he invited Monica into the oval office! And more importantly, as a young voter, I find Hillary polarizing and the Democratic National Committee better take a long hard look at who is actually going to be able to win in November. If she gets the nom, I second the vote to put McCain in office. I couldn't stand to see this conniving woman in a position of more power.

Posted by: Annie56 | Jan 24, 2008 5:22:04 PM

The Clintons are tag-team scorpions trying to cross the river to the White House on the back of the Democratic Party turtle. They will sabotage this election if they can't win--because it's their nature.

Posted by: Rhino | Jan 24, 2008 1:18:05 PM

Yup, I can see it now. If Sen. Obama is the nominee, whoever the republican candidate is will be asking why you should vote for someone of the "other" party when he has agreed that the republicans for the past 10 to 15 years was the party of ideas. He lauded President Reagan as an agent of change. We are the party of President Reagan and the party of ideas so why would you vote for someone in the "other" party who admits this?

In our local paper yesterday, Thomas Sowell's, AA, commentary on "Dangerous demogoguery" says: "Barack Obama says that he wants to 'heal America and repair the world.' One wonders what he will do for an encore and whether he will rest on the seventh day." Mr. Sowell, further states: "That we have so many people who are ready to be swept along by such rhetoric is a huge danger, for it means that the fate of this great nation is at risk from any skilled demagogue who comes along."

Posted by: Don | Jan 24, 2008 12:45:33 PM

Wow! So this is what it's like to watch adults flame like children! Stop for a second and listen to yourselves. "The Clinton's are liars"..."No, Obama is the one lying"... You people are ridiculous! Do you honestly believe that any of them are sworn ministers??? Stop applauding a journalist that probably accepted "gifts" for his report. Are the adults of America really that naive to believe politicians are fighting for you, the people. They are out there campaigning. Do you even know what that means? An effort to influence the decision making process!! I do not condone the use of slander and lies as a means for these wolves to get ahead in life. My point is for you ALL to wakeup! Politicians are crooks. They speak with a forked tongue and live through empty promises and shady deals made behind the scenes. Next time you happen to pass by your local Congressman's house (*cough, Zach Wamp), do America a favor and stop the family station wagon right in the middle of the road. Just look at that immaculate house he lives in...those $75,000+ CARS he drives. Oh and don't forget he lives in the most elite golf course/subdivision in the city and probably the entire state. Do you still believe they are out there fighting for you? They have quail to hunt and parties to attend...they are out there getting theirs while you moan about 'one lying so you're voting for the other!' They tell you what you want to hear so you will vote for them and they get power. It is a very elementary principle. No new taxes, war on terror, eliminate the nation's debt, increase the flow of oil, provide better energy alternatives...where's you $0.99/gallon gas? Where's those huge tax breaks? Why are we still billions of dollars in debt? How come the better alternative to a gasoline powered car is going to cost 2-3 times as much if all this money is being dumped into research and development?? If it's truth and honesty this country wants then send me $500 million to blow on a 'persuasion'...I mean campaign. I will swear under oath, by penalty of death if broken, that I will always tell the truth to the people! Do you still feel Obama is that 'refreshing'? Do you still believe Bill 'never had relations'? Better yet, go cast your votes for your favorite liar..."they" will just call for a recount if "they" don't like the results.

Posted by: Brandon A. | Jan 24, 2008 12:36:58 PM

Here you can find everything you need to know about the candidates running in the 2008 election.

Posted by: president | Jan 24, 2008 7:39:41 AM

Thank you very much for this article. Where is the rest of the MSM who continue to report this story without pointing out how the Bill/Hillary have distorted what Barack Obama really said and meant?

Posted by: Hazel | Jan 24, 2008 4:29:54 AM

1)Stop asking if Obama was praising the ideas as "good" or "bad" because you're forcing an issue that isn't there. Clearly, Obama was saying that the Reagan years' ideas were TRANSFORMATIVE. He reserved judgment as to rating them as "good" or "bad" ideas. The problem is in the way you frame the question, like you're trying to FRAME him. And, that is the Clinton approach, and that is what people are sick of regardless of party affiliation. I was once seriously considering Clinton (Billary), but her proposals and tactics have led me to...

2)If Hillary gets on the Democratic ticket, I'm voting for McCain.

But I am a Californian voting for Obama in the primary.

Posted by: Karen | Jan 24, 2008 2:10:20 AM

It's sad that this information isn't presented so plainly to the public. This is what the media should be doing: Presenting facts and letting the public form their own opinions.

Unfortunately, it's currently hidden in this blog which is seen by .00001% of the public. After all, more than half don't have an internet machine or access to the internets.

Posted by: Andrew Robson | Jan 23, 2008 9:34:40 PM

As a college student in '92, I had Clinton's "There's nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right with America" on my answering machine. Since then, it's become clear that "you gotta do what you gotta do" more (read today's wsj editorial page, the one time in history i've ever agreed with that rag) more typifies Team Clinton. If Hillary wins the nomination, I will support McCain. If Obama's gone, he's the only one left with some conviction and genuineness in him.

Posted by: Definition of 'is' | Jan 23, 2008 7:56:20 PM

Ok, what am I missing here?
Are you trying to say that Obama was BADMOUTHING Reagan & the Republican party?...and the Clintons twisted what he said?

I'm not hearing Obama say that Reagan or the Republican Party had BAD ideas, so the only conclusion I can make is that Obama was PRAISING Reagan & the Republican Party ideas, why else say it?

How could all this get so distorted? I guess the Media hates the Clintons (ok, I do to, but I don't see how they lied this time) & gives Obama, who IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST LIARS a break.

Obama either said that Reagan & the Republican Party ideas were bad or good. So can someone tell me which it was if the Clintons, and not Obama lied about what he said?

If Obama is considered honest, then WE have a big problem in this country. They ALL lie.

One thing I'm certain is that Obama tried to make a point with THAT statement so it couldn't just have been a flat-liner statement, one without having any meaning. Well, whatcha say?

Posted by: James B | Jan 23, 2008 7:45:42 PM

Thank you for the honest, objective portrayal of the Clinton smear machine. It almost makes me feel sorry for Obama.

If Clinton gets the nomination, heaven forbid the presidency, this kind of dirt and filth will be par for the course. Good reason to move to Australia!

Posted by: Summaham | Jan 23, 2008 7:08:33 PM

In today's age of biased media, I COMMEND ABC for sticking it to the Clinton's and making them accountable for their statements. We have been waiting for someone to do this for some time. ABC is now my source of information. Not because I hate the Clintons, but because ABC is reporting news not propaganda.

Posted by: J Mac | Jan 23, 2008 6:39:10 PM

Oh please, Obama is no different yet as soon as he whines every news outlet is reporting about them mean ole clintons! The bias of the media in this election has been beyond crystal clear. The saddest thing is y'all are taking your cues from old Rush Limbaugh routines.

Posted by: pay attention | Jan 23, 2008 3:38:11 PM

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