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Clinton Surrogate Makes Veiled Reference to Obama's Drug Use
January 13, 2008 2:08 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Speaking in Columbia, S.C., BET founder Bob Johnson was introducing Clinton and made a veiled swipe at Barack Obama's past drug use. The last surrogate to talk about Obama and drugs, former Clinton New Hampshire campaign co-chair Bill Shaheen, was removed from the campaign after doing so.
Here is what Johnson said today:
"I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won't say what he was doing but he said it in his book."
When Clinton spokesman Jay Carson was asked about Johnson's comments, he denied they referred to Obama's admitted drug use. "That's not what he was talking about," he said.
Carson speculated that Johnson may have been referring to Obama's time spent as a community organizer.
He followed up by saying that Clinton has "made (it) cystal clear to supporters and staff alike that no one should engage in negative personal campaigning."
January 13, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (98)
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Bullwicky! If American's believe this behind the scenes attacks and then denials by the Clinton campaign, then they deserve to have another Republican President leading them to WWIII.
While I use to be a supporter of the Clintons - I'm losing those feelings REAL fast.
Posted by: Coonsey | Jan 13, 2008 2:35:42 PM
The Clintons are so deeply sick. I am hopeful that they will leave soon and we can have a real election between Obama and whoever the Repubs nominate.
Ideas over innuendos, policy over personal distruction.
How much longer do we have to wait to get rid of this poisonous concouple.
America?
Posted by: Easy | Jan 13, 2008 2:49:40 PM
Who are they kidding? He's obviously alluding to the drug stuff.
I don't get why they have to lie about this stuff. Didn't they learn anything from the Lewinsky affair?
Posted by: Tom | Jan 13, 2008 2:56:55 PM
It's one thing to say something stupid, it's another thing entirely to say something stupid and blame someone else for the backlash.
I'm no Obama supporter but this play by Clinton and her sell-out cronies is not going to fly.
Posted by: Juan | Jan 13, 2008 3:13:34 PM
When will the news media go back to talking about the issues and not race and drugs.
Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Jan 13, 2008 3:17:09 PM
The Clintons are pathetic. Period.
As a one time supporter of Hillary's I will never ever vote for her. COunt me in for Obama, Bloomberg or even McCain. The Clintons make me sick!
Posted by: Bob | Jan 13, 2008 3:21:49 PM
I think Democrats should be openly critical of Obama's cocaine use. Would you vote for someone to be on your child's school board who used to "score some blow"? Then why would you vote for one to be President?
If anyone thinks the Republicans aren't going to bring this up, then they are dreaming.
Posted by: slbk | Jan 13, 2008 3:47:39 PM
btw Reputable news journalism, knows the difference between a surogate i.e. someone approved of by the campaign to speak on Clinton's behalf and someone introducing her at a function. This man is not a Clinton surogate.
Posted by: slbk | Jan 13, 2008 3:49:43 PM
I think Hillary as the nominee is a good thing.If she wins the Republican will regain seats.Her polarizing demeaner means nothing will get done.Taxes won't rise,but the oceans will and my hillside property in New England will become ocean front.If we're lucky the women voter will become old enough to find out Medicare is not free.Social Security is taxable if you have a pension.Widows don't get SS until they're 65 and in Mass.teacher don't get any at all if they have a pension and they are widowed.So vote for status quo just like N.H.
Posted by: skvira | Jan 13, 2008 3:50:48 PM
The Clintons are showing the public how desperately they are to return to power and get back into the White House. They are engaging in mudslinging and playing the race card, and projecting all their dirty tricks on Obama to knock him out the race.
I am disappointed and surprised that the Clintons have such low integrity, and are hypocritical, mean, petty, and spiteful. I had put them in the same class as Kennedy, Kerry, and Gore, only to find out They are no better than the people they have been criticizing and claiming were out to get them for year.
I ignored the truth about the Clintons when the truth was stared me in the face. I should have known the truth from the cases of Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Monica Levinski, whitewater, and etc.
In any case, I will not vote for Hilliary Clinton and hope others will not vote for her also. I will definitely vote for Obama or John McCain. I respect and trust the integrity of both men, although I disagree with John McCain on the war.
Posted by: marge | Jan 13, 2008 4:10:52 PM
This is not news, Obama has already admitted that he.... "inhaled," which speaks to his honesty.
The facts are WE and ALL candidates have some "dents" in our fenders.
Can we get back to what matters... campaign issues.
Posted by: Greg | Jan 13, 2008 4:16:50 PM
the media is fanning the flames of race, gender and negative politics. i think both campaigns have been mostly positive. but, let's remember one thing, this is politics. the american people have a right to know the substantive differences between the candidates, whether they be policy-related or personal.
Posted by: boynla, LA, CA | Jan 13, 2008 4:21:22 PM
I am a former supporter of the Clintons. I am disgusted by their tactics. I will back Obama all the way. I am encouraging my family and friends to vote for him too. If Clinton wins, then I will vote Republican.
Posted by: Wilva | Jan 13, 2008 4:57:58 PM
Imagine that... the Clintons sending out their surrogates to say the dirtiest stuff. It would be nice if the American people would be able see through this slime and opt to support a more positive candidate & campaign.
Posted by: KISSman | Jan 13, 2008 5:37:28 PM
Reading the comments posted I can't help but feel that every comment here is planted by someone working for one campaign or another...
Posted by: brad | Jan 13, 2008 5:39:00 PM
I wonder how long the media is going to continue to give Hillary a free pass on this. Since losing Iowa she and her husband have consistently employed dirty tactics to attack Sen. Obama while his camp has taken the high road and generally refused to respond in kind. He has repeatedly stated that all the candidates are patriots while Hillary has invoked the failed terrorist attack in France to imply that the nation may be more vulnerable to terrorist attack if Obama is elected. These are Rovian tactics.
We saw it again today on Meet The Press. Rather than simply respond directly to or apologize for the alarming pattern of subtle racially motivated attacks hurled at Sen. Obama (speculating an implied drug dealing past may be exploited by the Republicans, Andrew Cuomo's Shuckin'& Jivin' remark, Pres. Clinton referring to Sen. Obama as a 'kid', Clinton folks stating that voting for Obama would be akin to supporting a 'hip Black friend', condescendingly referring to Sen. Obama as a good speaker), she instead decided to insist that the Obama campaign is responsible for all of this.
Hillary's implication that the outrage the African American community has voiced regarding the racially charged remarks of her campaign is some sort of manifestation of an Obama campaign strategy is almost just as insulting as her recent comments. It is as if the Clinton campaign believes African Americans are not able to think for themselves and can only take cues and do what they're told rather than think independently.
Whatever happened to personal accountability? Just apologize for the gaffs and move forward. No matter who you prefer in this race I think we can all agree that Americans are tired of leaders who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. Hillary's recent posturing and stubbornness to admit wrongdoing is eerily similar to that of George W. Bush. No wonder Karl Rove seems to be endorsing her candidacy.
Posted by: justin michael | Jan 13, 2008 5:40:33 PM
I would be fired if I used drug at work. Why Obama is an exception? I don't think any body who use drug should be elected to be in the school or community board.
Posted by: tigerjcs | Jan 13, 2008 5:44:03 PM
"Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood that I won't say what he was doing but he said it in his book."
So Mr. Johnson was really saying he thinks community organizing is a BAD thing? Mr. Johnson, I think you stepped in it, bad. But, what's new in the Clinton campaign. The really disappointing thing is the Clinton's never take responsibility! Instead they claim it's everyone else's fault. It's Barack's fault that his supporters are upset about the MLK comment, it's Barack's fault that he didn't support the war, It's Barack's fault that (insert ANY issue here)." This lady knows what she is doing-she knows what her supporters and campaign handlers are doing too. And, as for the Crying Game, put me in the camp that says something fishy happened in NH but unfortunately the recount won't find it! Now we have the Nevada Cauces scandal--it's officially become a steal to win campaign. I hope that when we the sad attempts to steal votes from Barack stop, the Clinton's have no place in our country's political future. The time has come to turn the page and move on to something new. If you want DRAMA than watch the Lifetime Movie channel. In the meantime, as a working woman and a mother of two young children, I'll be supporting Barack and his Audacity to HOPE!
I suppose many of her supporters won't see through this and that makes me very sad.
Posted by: ezzy | Jan 13, 2008 5:44:20 PM
Bob Johnson, who accompanied Hillary Clinton to an African American church, criticized Obama for allowing his campaign (as he described it) to distort what Clinton was saying about Martin Luther King. Now here is Johnson, Hillary's friend, trying to destroy Obama.
Posted by: waggdogg | Jan 13, 2008 5:54:47 PM
Hillary Clinton just sat there as her strong supporter made one of the most direct and slimy personal attacks on Barack Obama? I guess that the politics of personal destruction only apply to others. I think she left her "human side" in NH, her nonhuman side in now out campaigning.
Posted by: bob10001 | Jan 13, 2008 5:55:35 PM
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