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Clinton, Too, Once Noted GOP National Security Advantage in Event of Terrorist Attack

June 23, 2008 8:16 PM

Given the brouhaha surrounding the crass comments by McCain aide Charlie Black that an attack on U.S. soil would give Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., "a big advantage" politically in his race against Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., it's worth recalling that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, in August 2007, while campaigning in Concord, NH, similarly noted the political advantage a terrorist attack might give the Republican candidate.

"It's a horrible prospect to ask yourself, 'What if? What if?' But if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world," Clinton told supporters in Concord. "So I think I'm the best of the Democrats to deal with that."

Hillary was pilloried for the comments at the time, with then-rivals such as Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn, saying, "Frankly, I find it tasteless to discuss political implications when talking about a potential terrorist attack on the United States."

Black's comments were less carefully phrased than Clinton's, clearly, but the general idea is the same: national security is an area where Republicans have an advantage, and a terrorist attack -- God forbid -- would make that issue more compelling in the minds of voters.

Of course, how one discusses such issues is crucial.

Hat tip, Finkelstein.

- jpt

June 23, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (26)

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Here is the truth.
Charlie Black:
"I deeply regret the comments -- they were inappropriate,"

The question is why does he deeply regret?

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 23, 2008 9:16:08 PM

Sometimes speaking the truth hurts and the Obama supporters hate the truth. He has distorted his background and his policy views since he started his campaign for president started. Now he is distoring again on TV tonight what the McCain camp is going to do. I just can not believed this man and know he is not presidential material. He is a dud. He will loose in November. He is a socialist and America is not ready for a socialist.

Posted by: Mary | Jun 23, 2008 9:04:54 PM

There has not been a terrorist attack on U.S. soil but not because they haven't tried. Richard Reid in December 2001? Jose Padilla and his dirty bomb in May 2002? Remember the plot to bomb U.S.-bound jets from Britain back in August 2006? These are just the ones that made it into the headlines. The Madrid (2004) and London (2005) terrorist bombings? Europe is a much easier target due to its proximity.

This Republican administration used Sept. 11th to justify an unjustifiable war in Iraq. Now we have McCain using his war hero status to get elected.

They've screwed up on so many issues besides the war: wiretapping, Katrina, the economy, gas prices, national debt, climate change, Guantanamo, and on and on.

Like Obama has said (regarding impeachment) "There's a way to bring an end to those practices, you know: vote the bums out".

Posted by: cincyr | Jun 23, 2008 9:01:23 PM

Making Americans scared is the only way the GOP can get a win this fall and they know it. Bush will escalate the Iran situation or there will be a very public interdiction of a possible terrorist attack on US soil. They'll cut loose with in in October or early November.

Posted by: Louis | Jun 23, 2008 8:51:55 PM

uh, did you just an article from newsbusters? LOL!

Posted by: Steve | Jun 23, 2008 8:40:54 PM

And it it is one of the many reasons she lost the Primary

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 23, 2008 8:29:30 PM

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