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Clinton Team Admits Mistake

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August 01, 2007 11:59 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein and Eloise Harper report: The Clinton campaign doesn't admit a mistake easily -- just ask Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who continues to refuse to apologize for her vote on the Iraq war.

But in a profile today of Mark Penn, longtime Clinton strategist, in the New York Observer, Penn admits a tactical mistake.

In February 2007, after David Geffen offered critical comments about the Clintons in a New York Times column, the Clinton camp hit back hard -- a little too hard, Penn says now.

"I don't think that played out very well," Penn is quoted as saying. "It's important in politics not to make the same mistake too many times. If we had that one to do over again we would probably approach it differently."

Geffen's critical words: "Everybody in politics lies, but they (the Clintons) do it with such ease, it's troubling.''

After the article, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson rushed out an email demanding Obama denounce the remarks of Geffen, "his campaign's finance chair."  Wolfson wrote "If Senator Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money,"

Geffen was not Obama's finance chair, and according to Obama's campaign held no official role in the campaign. Obama himself said, "It's not clear to me why I'd be apologizing for someone else's remark," followed by Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs saying: "The Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when [he] was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom."

August 1, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (13)

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And we should care about this now??
That was too many yesterdays ago to make the difference now unless Geffen is about to sue them.

Posted by: Paulet | Aug 1, 2007 2:02:37 PM

Hey, liberals! Did you hear what Obama said? (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3434573&page=1)

"If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will not act, we will." -- Barack Hussein Obama

There's a difference between principled and stupid. Invading a NUCLEAR NATION which is also an ALLY is gargantuanly DUMB. It's part of why we invaded Iraq instead: we could use it as a proxy war, getting rid of a bad guy in the first place (Saddam), introduce a new ideology in the region (democracy), and do so by fighting the more secular Islamics (the Sunni Baathists) in order to win over the more radical muslims, rather than have them go to al Qaeda.

Did it work out? Not like we wanted, nope. But invading Pakistan may be *the dumbest political maneuver imaginable.*

Say hello to nuclear holocaust. If you love Iraq, Hussein, and Osama, vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Even the HillBillie '08 ticket isn't this stupid.

Tell me oh liberals, when we decide to invade Pakistan then, will we be teaching them the values of democracy, tolerance, and sex ed for kindergarteners?

Posted by: Stoic Patriot | Aug 1, 2007 5:29:46 PM

I mean, I know that I for one will vote for someone who is willing to meet with the leaders of enemy nations for diplomacy, and will invade his own allies. And this is what the left regards as articulate and intelligent? No wonder you couldn't beat Bush in 2 elections!

Posted by: Stoic Patriot | Aug 1, 2007 5:33:58 PM

hey "phony patriot", where did in Obama's speech said he would invade Pakistan.

Here is the full speech: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CpHR#extended

It's great if you can read, can i lend you my glasses?

Posted by: rockville | Aug 1, 2007 5:56:27 PM

Betray friends, befriend enemies. The Obama campaign motto!

Rockville, "If... President Musharaff won't act, we will." That wasn't conditonal on getting his approval or cooperation. What is it called when you infringe on the territory of another country without permission? Oh YEAH, that's right! INVASION. And these people are ALLIES with NUKES. Real smart!

This wasn't some off-the-cuff remark. This was a *speech*. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Obama has obviously learned nothing from the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Posted by: Stoic Patriot | Aug 1, 2007 6:13:04 PM

I thought the Democrats were supposed to be different. I thought they weren't supposed to issue absolutist statements, dictating domestic policy to other countries, particularly our friends. Particularly when such dictations and perceptions of American influence can get a man who's been our ally and nearly been assassinated on several occassions killed.

Posted by: Stoic Patriot | Aug 1, 2007 6:23:50 PM

Democrats and Republicans..neither have learned to understand that this war we are in has divided the upper hand to cost us greatly the needs of our people...I believe that Senator Clinton wants the good of our people and Obama does too...but why have they not both come together with the American truth to bring our men home as "one"...all the rhetoric and all the He said..she said really does not matter anymore to the men and women across this shore...Bring Our People Home...War is going to continue whether we hail the Chief for a job done, or we Boo Him for a job not won...To the Big Men and Women who run this country...Go to Afghanistan as a whole and see what is happening...go to Iraq and Iran...Maybe you are brave now but would you dare like our newsmen...I don't think so...the daily grind is killing our families and their spirits to keep maneuvering around the sanhedrine that is festering daily...Bring our People Home...Apachecheynne

Posted by: Apachecheynne@Yahoo.com | Aug 1, 2007 8:53:55 PM

At least they know that every politicians lie by how much, it's too much for the Clintons.

Posted by: marc | Aug 1, 2007 11:40:45 PM

ahh, phony patriot :)

right, "leaving a blank" is truly an old technique to hide the truth and distort words...

let me educate you about something important, if i may, of course

As President, I would make the hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional, and I would make our conditions clear: Pakistan must make substantial progress in closing down the training camps, evicting foreign fighters, and preventing the Taliban from using Pakistan as a staging area for attacks in Afghanistan.

more...

And Pakistan needs more than F-16s to combat extremism. As the Pakistani government increases investment in secular education to counter radical madrasas, my Administration will increase America’s commitment. We must help Pakistan invest in the provinces along the Afghan border, so that the extremists’ program of hate is met with one of hope. And we must not turn a blind eye to elections that are neither free nor fair – our goal is not simply an ally in Pakistan, it is a democratic ally.

Posted by: rockville | Aug 2, 2007 12:43:21 AM

The Clinton's are liars and opportunists who crave power for their own selfish reasons first and foremost, haven't we had enough of this yet? A vote for the Democrats or Republicans is a vote for the status quo and we can no longer afford that! THIRD PARTY NOW!

Posted by: geddesman | Aug 2, 2007 2:04:47 PM

obamos said he would invade pakistan with out ok from pakistan is he nuts thay have nukes just like us

Posted by: frank | Aug 2, 2007 2:46:03 PM

It's getting more and more crazy this election cycle...Obama says he would invade Pakistan without their OK...and Tancredo says nuke Mecca if the Islamic radicals get out of line again...Hillary says she will not talk to a World leader if he is on the other side politically...Edwards takes $800,000 from Murdoch to publish his book, then Edwards turns around and attacks the same "hand that fed him"! It is painfully obvious that the Democratic Party stands for nothing, but tries to straddle every issue to appeal to as many voters as possible. I am embarassed for this current crowd to actually be seen as the best we can offer! Where have the real leaders gone???

Posted by: Mike West Palm Beach | Aug 4, 2007 4:54:05 PM

The vision of a President because of the office held is the real test of any candidacy - what can be done, and what can't.

Ignoring a vision of what is realistic is fatal to America - regardless of who is a candidate.

The right stuff should be easier to calculate by now after so many elections.

Posted by: Pat R. | Aug 13, 2007 9:55:49 AM

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