RECENT POSTS
- Oprah, Health Care Lobbyists, Among Recent Visitors to White House
- An Obama Thanksgiving Menu, with an Extra Serving of Pie
- White House Thanksgiving Traditions: Broken and Observed
- Obama, GOP Air Differences Over Jobs, Economy In Thanksgiving Addresses
- White House State Dinner Party Crashers
- Obama to Lay Out Emissions Goals in Copenhagen
- Free Bird
- The "Good" War
- The Presidential Planner
- Under the Stars, Obama Toasts India’s Prime Minister
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Clinton Says Obama Muslim Rumor Not True "As Far As I Know"
March 02, 2008 11:03 PM
Interesting item starting to circulate on the web tonight like on AndrewSullivan.com…
On 60 Minutes, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, was asked about rumors that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, is a Muslim.
She took a hardline stance against the rumor…then seemed to walk it back, injecting a note of ambivalence.
Watch it HERE.
Here's how the exchange went.
STEVE KROFT: You don't believe that Senator Obama's a Muslim?
HILLARY CLINTON: Of course not. I mean that's, you know, that, there is no basis for that. You know, I take him on the basis of what he says, and, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that.
KROFT: You said you take Sen. Obama at his word that he's not a Muslim...
CLINTON: Right, right..
KROFT: …you don't believe that he's a Muslim.
CLINTON: No! No! Why would I? There's nothing to base that on. As far as I know.
"As far as I know"?
To be fair, Clinton went on to say that having "been the target of so many ridiculous rumors... I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time."
That said, it's the "as far as I know" that has some Obama supporters up in arms.
(Like the one who posted the clip on Youtube under the header: "Hillary Clinton Stokes False Rumors about Obama's Faith".)
I guess the question is how would this look if the shoe were on the other foot.
Let's try just one of any number of ridiculous anti-Clinton smears.
HYPOTHETICAL STEVE KROFT: You don't believe that Senator Clinton killed Vince Foster?
HYPOTHETICAL BARACK OBAMA: Of course not. I mean that's, you know, that, there is no basis for that. You know, I take her on the basis of what she says, and, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that.
HYPOTHETICAL KROFT: You said you take Sen. Clinton at her word that she didn't kill Vince Foster...
HYPOTHETICAL OBAMA: Right, right..
HYPOTHETICAL KROFT: …you don't believe that she killed Vince Foster.
HYPOTHETICAL OBAMA: No! No! Why would I? There's nothing to base that on. As far as I know.
Hmm.
And lest we forget this context, from the perspective of Obama supporters: two Clinton campaign volunteer coordinators in Iowa were asked by the Clinton campaign to resign after it came out that they had circulated those insane Obama-is-a-Muslim-Manchurian-candidate emails.
What say you?
- jpt
March 2, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (99)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
After this comment, I would probably vote for McCain. She's just so divisive which he really isn't. He actually has been a uniter. I hope Obama creams her tomorrow. and BTW I really am not a Hillary hater. I'm just so disappointed.
Posted by: Nestor | Mar 3, 2008 4:47:25 PM
I heard that comment and thought the same thing?? Very devisive is Hillary -- I also heard Bob Shrum say that when Hillary comes back -- and Bush wonder who is predicting gas at $4.00 a gallon -- just where are they coming from?? Do they think that people cannot read, listen and decide on their own -- that is what the change is that the Clinton campaign cannot understand -- it's people actually taking an interest and people who cannot be fooled into believing campaign drivel anymore -- enough is enough! March 4th should decide that. The Clinton backers keep moving the goal posts, but the American people are smart enough to see it for what it is.
Posted by: Paulet | Mar 3, 2008 4:41:20 PM
Actually Hillary Clinton has united white males, white females, Hispanics, Jews (see today's NY Post),Catholics, Asians, and others in a coalition against the fraud Obama.
Posted by: geevill | Mar 3, 2008 4:34:48 PM
All Hillary does is divide American people, hence divide the country unti everyone is ready to kill their next door neighbour because they are not of the right colour, right race ,right religion, or even right gender for that matter. She tried her tricks: blacks against whites, blacks against Latinos, Muslims agains jews , man against women and the list goes on and on. When is this woman going to stop this divisive nonsense??? Maybe until she gets her nomination than she will stop??? Shame on Her and Her Campaign.
Posted by: Patty | Mar 3, 2008 4:25:56 PM
Give me a break, he goes to a church with a Muslim preacher, duh doesn't that makes him Muslim. What is he afraid of admitting!
Posted by: spock | Mar 3, 2008 4:20:42 PM
I guess Obama doesn't know he is a muslim or not until Hillary answers the question first. Why should that be any different from his other respones?
Posted by: geevill | Mar 3, 2008 4:19:01 PM
So fa as "I" know!!
Shame on You Hillary!
Your Deceptions Were Described By DOJ Prosecutors as Felonies!
You were projecting on Barak Obama your own misconduct when you said "You have been spreading false, misleading, discredited information”.
You began deceiving the public and the government in 2000 about your top Senate campaign donor and "friend" Peter Paul when you TWICE lied in the Washington Post about taking any money from Paul AFTER you and Bill took more than $1.2 million from him (according to the FBI and DOJ Prosecutor).
Days later after vowing not to take money from Paul you faxed him on your Senate Campaign letterhead demanding he contribute an additional $100,000 in untraceable securities by illegally wiring it to a state committee supporting your candidacy.
You were right when you stated "The American people got shafted and (you're) going to have to make up for it."
You subverted three federal investigations to avoid your accountability and used your finance director as a foil to avoid your prosecution for the offenses he was improperly charged with.
DOJ Prosecutor Dan Schwager told the criminal jury in the election law fraud trial of your finance director David Rosen, in May 2005, that the basis of the government's prosecution was the crime of “denying the public's right to know that Peter Paul personally gave...more than $1.2 million..to your national campaign.”
You and your agents have denied the public the right to know that fact ever since August 2000!
You used deception about that fact to win your election and re-election in 2006. You have denied the public's right to know who your largest donor was, how much he gave you and why.
The facts on the public record show that you have subverted: the Office of The President, through Bill Clinton, by using the Oval Office to commit felony violations of the campaign laws, the Department of Justice Office of Public Integrity through its Chief, Noel Hillman who set up a sham indictment and a show trial intended to cover up your illegalities, the federal judiciary through Howard Matz, the judge you appointed with Bill Clinton as co-president, who threw the Rosen trial with outrageous statements to the jury denying your involvement and the FEC itself through a fraudulent settlement that was based on a fourth false FEC report that gave you immunity from investigation!.
Its time to tell the truth at long last- File a True FEC Report That Finally Admits What the DOJ and FBI Have Sworn- You Took More than $1.2 Million in Contributions From Peter Paul and Have Hidden it From The Public ever Since!
Posted by: Martha Davidson | Mar 3, 2008 4:09:34 PM
Clinton could have said, "No, Obama is a Christian, we all know he is a Christian, and I denounce and reject anyone who insinuates otherwise."
Instead . . . she refused to categorically denounce the slander, and in true blue Clinton fashion turned the matter into how many times she has been smeared.....
The Clintons will do anything and say anything, and have no shame at all.
Clear as day.
Posted by: Joe Shmoe | Mar 3, 2008 3:48:49 PM
I find it funny how the same Clinton supporters that said Obama wasn't strong enough on "rejecting" Farrakon, are now saying that this is a non-issue. They say the MSM is attacking Hillary and not being fair and balanced. This reporter seems to just want to hold Hillary up to the same standards that she set in the debate. If your going to make a big deal about denounce and reject, the door should be open for people to inspect the phrases you use.
Posted by: Ben | Mar 3, 2008 3:43:58 PM
What a non-story. First, she said "of course not" and then if you watch the video you can almost imagine what she's thinking of the question...
"Why did he ask me that again after I answered once?"
"Is this some joke? Is there something else to this?"
"How the *&%@ should *I* know? Why don't they ask him?"
"How am I supposed to know if he is or isn't"
"Is this dumb reporter trying to get me to swear on a bible that Obama isn't Muslim? Seems a bit illogical..."
"Does he really think I might answer with a yes?"
"What a ridiculous question to ask... twice!"
Yup, pretty much a non-story... the story should be, why did they ask her this question... TWICE even?
Posted by: Roger | Mar 3, 2008 3:27:19 PM
HEEEELLLLOO. He asked her THREE TIMES!!! How the heck was she suppose to respond to that?????
Posted by: IG | Mar 3, 2008 3:25:58 PM
sugested obama career choices
politician
stage psychic
astrologer
show pony
Posted by: concerned | Mar 3, 2008 3:17:14 PM
One of the most interesting things about Obama in this race is how smooth he is on just about every question that gets thrown his way, but the second anything gets suggested about him and Islam he gets super, super antsy, goes on the defensive, and falls over tripping to disassociate himself with anything Muslim. That's really telling. Not telling because he is a follower of Islam and doesn't admit it, but telling because it is such a 360 turn from his rhetoric of uniting the country and beleiving in the power of diversity. If he really took the high ground like he said he does, he wouldn't have to act so scared and devisive on this issue. But instead he plays his card in a manner befitting of the lowest common denominator. His campaign is based off of pure popularity, and I guess he thinks it's just not cool to be Muslim. Just shows how little the richness of diversity means to him. Diversity is great when it means votes for the popular guy, but not so great when it means really, really having to take a stand. Change you can believe in? Don't buy it. Change as a slogan to get votes? Well, if it walks like a duck...
As for Hillary, she's got a lot on her mind these days and testifying to Obama's religious convictions really isn't high on the list. It was an inappropriate question to ask her, she gave the type of answer that anyone would give in her situation. It is not Hillary Clinton's job to go around advocating for and defending Obama. No candidate should be expected to do that for another candidate. She is running for President, not as Obama's best friend. I've never heard anyone ask Obama to take up for her. This is a very DUMB article.
Posted by: K | Mar 3, 2008 2:45:27 PM
Ms. Clinton's reply, as evasive as she usually is,completely cements the case that she is totally and utterly unfit for the office of President of the United States of Amerca.Was this man not the one whom she was honoured to sit next two a few eeks ago and now sowing doubt regarding his religion, as if that s were any business of her's, your's or mine? Please Hillary, please just shut up and go away. Give America a break. We've had enough of the Clintons to last a lifetime!
Posted by: Brount | Mar 3, 2008 2:43:58 PM
Do you really mean to suggest that one should deny the suggestion he is a Muslim with the same ferocity that one should deny the suggestion he is a murderer?
How do you suppose Muslim Americans feel about that kind of back-handed slam?
Posted by: TomChicago | Mar 3, 2008 1:06:13 PM
Hillary is the master of wordsmithing to avoid making a commitment. It's almost like listenting to Bill when she speaks... Anyone else notice this?
Earlier this week, she failed to 'denounce and reject' the support of the supporter that made racist comments, instead she "rejected and denounced her *comments*". Hillary, and all the baggage the Clinton Fraud and Scandal Machine brings with her, will drag this country down further than it is now.
Posted by: Allen | Mar 3, 2008 11:39:45 AM
Was doesn't Steve Kroft just ask Obama instead of browbeating Hillary Clinton- repeating the question 3 times like Vincent D'Onofrio.
Posted by: geevill | Mar 3, 2008 11:35:27 AM
The democrats are falling into the Republicans hand because as long as the race goes on it gives them ideas on how John McCain can beat either Hillary or Obama in NOVEMBER. Why do you think the Florida governor is now suggesting he will redo the race. This is all to help John McCain win..wake up Democrats and Hillary get out of the race.
Posted by: betty | Mar 3, 2008 11:16:37 AM
Is Clinton simply incapable of answering a straightforward question with a straightforward answer? Why is that so difficult for her to do?
Posted by: Tom J | Mar 3, 2008 10:50:26 AM
Why does everyone have to be so poltically correct when talking about the Obamanation.It seems this entire week was spent trying not offend Obama and using words that Obama would feel comfortable with. There is no need to attack Hillary-she did not call Obama a Muslim. It was Steve Kroft who raised it and why doesn`t someone ask why he raised it since nobody in the media has ever said that Obama was a Muslim.And anyone who attacks Hillary for those innocuous remarks just doesn`t like Hillary.
Also it is obvious that you get your marching orders from Matt Drudge who highlighted it on his web site.
Posted by: Reba Shimansky | Mar 3, 2008 10:41:19 AM
Post a comment


