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EXCLUSIVE: Obama Rips Bill Clinton Slams as 'Troubling' and Inaccurate

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January 20, 2008 4:03 PM

ABC News' Michael James and Tahman Bradley Report: Sen. Barack Obama says he's ready to confront former President Bill Clinton, calling his advocacy on behalf of his wife's presidential campaign, "troubling."

In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts to air Monday on "Good Morning America," Obama, D-Ill., directly engages Bill Clinton on a series of issues.   

"You know the former president, who I think all of us have a lot of regard for, has taken his advocacy on behalf of his wife to a level that I think is pretty troubling,” Obama said. “He continues to make statements that are not supported by the facts -- whether it's about my record of opposition to the war in Iraq or our approach to organizing in Las Vegas. This has become a habit, and one of the things that we're gonna have to do is to directly confront Bill Clinton when he's making statements that are not factually accurate."

Obama apparently refers to Clinton’s comment that it was a “fairy tale” that Obama has consistently opposed to the Iraq war from the start, and that Nevada union officials backing Obama were strong-arming members into caucusing for Obama.

The former president took on Obama's Iraq position at a Dartmouth College event days before the New Hampshire primary, saying that it was wrong Obama was able to trumpet superior judgment on Iraq by being opposed to the war from the start.

"Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen," Bill Clinton said.

Clinton was making the case that Obama -- just like Sen. Hillary Clinton -- has voted to fund the war since he's been in office.    

January 20, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (269)

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Obama is being really foolish, Bill Clinton was a great President. Instead he is attacking him, and his presidency...

It will only alienate the core-vote.

Posted by: Jaz | Jan 20, 2008 4:36:21 PM

I think Obama and Edwards should not particpate in any more debates with Hillary, until Bill is and Hillary decided to run as team. Hillary is patehtic. Hillary thought should could skate her way to the democratic nomination based on her husband presidency. When Obama and Edwards won Iowa, she went crying to her husband to help her win in Newhampshire. I don't have any respect for Hillary or Bill for the way they have been conducting themselves against, Obama.

Posted by: JillT | Jan 20, 2008 4:36:29 PM

Bill Clinton can not shut-up. Hillary must have support from her side. Obama has his wife, Edward has his wife, the other candidates have their wives. Obama's wife and Edward's wife are speaking on his behalf but the media outlets are not closely looking at them.

Posted by: suzelee | Jan 20, 2008 4:36:45 PM

Billary is so yesterday. Move on. Obama for Presidnet.

Posted by: AntiRestorationDemocrat | Jan 20, 2008 4:37:23 PM

Obama needs to face the fact that Republicans have been attacking the Clintons since the beginning and they have provided his campaign and followers with all the slick, catchy phrases that bring in the college kids. The fact is, nothing President Clinton has said about Obama is false. Nevertheless, Obama's campaign strategy once again is, talk about how bad the other side is being rather than what he will do. What's wrong Obama, don't have any REAL ideas to pedal?

Posted by: irma | Jan 20, 2008 4:39:36 PM

Go Bill & Hillary. At least we know who they are, when will we learn the truth about Obama? Ambition is not enough will for leadership, experience counts.

Posted by: tim | Jan 20, 2008 4:40:16 PM

Obama will bring more corruption to the white house than it had in the pawt 250 years. Look at the deals he made as soon as he became senator. Then spent his fist year selling his books. Then the next year campigning. Yeah he is a change agent for a good cult following.

Posted by: Ebon Beati | Jan 20, 2008 4:41:32 PM

The media is playing along with the Clintons all the time. Why is this man never challenged on his outright lies? He said he and his daughter witness union officials strongarming people. Everyone thinks its a lie, just like his lie that he opposed the Iraq War.

The media repeats and repeats Clinton tactics bringing up minor drug use by Obama as an adolescent but they will NEVER compare and contrast whatever thats supposed to mean with Bill Clinton having sex with Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office as a 50 year old. Any normal person would have brought up the known Clinton scandals and put Shaheen, Penn, Kerrey, et al on the hook to say what bothered them so much about Obama when they could support Clinton?

Posted by: KateC. | Jan 20, 2008 4:42:15 PM

Obama needs to talk issues instead of empty rhetoric. This is simply a reflection that he has no experience to be President of the U.S. of America. He is out of his league. I suggest he spend 8 more years in the Senate and establish a voting record that democrats can support. Rather than Bill Clinton challenging Obama, why doesn't the press/media step up and challenge his statements. After all, he is running for President.

Posted by: benvictor | Jan 20, 2008 4:43:54 PM

Of course Obama did this in front of a black woman (Robin Roberts). He is desperately playing his entire deck of race cards. Making Bill and Hillary Clinton the victim of his pathetic attacks at least will let Hillary kick his ass sideways on Feb 5.

Posted by: geevill | Jan 20, 2008 4:44:11 PM

Why should any of this surprise anyone, I can't remember anything factual and correct coming from a Clinton.

Posted by: Patriot2008 | Jan 20, 2008 4:44:47 PM

Obama is to immature. Maybe you want a just out of school to do brain surgery on you.

Posted by: Ebon Beati | Jan 20, 2008 4:45:45 PM

WOW WOW WOW. Hot off the press. Chicago Sun Times today and Obama mentioned in the Federal indictment of Lobbyist Rezko. All politocains from the Clintons to the Edwards and the Obamas are corrupt. But, then you should not claim that you are clean. If you want someone clean vote for Ron Paul. I expect that all politicians are corrupt, but, based on my needs I will vote Hillary.

Posted by: VPNNathan | Jan 20, 2008 4:46:13 PM

Bill Clinton balanced the budget, generated a federal surplus, increased the number of jobs, and Wall Street loved him as well. The Republicans under Bush squandered that surplus, created a phony war that is bleeding us to the tune of soon to be trillion dollars, killed/maimed thousands of Amercian soldiers, outsources jobs, lost control of the borders and brought on 'recession'. I like Obama;s hope message but right now, we need experience. You know, whenever I interviewed for a job, the first question they always asked of me was what sort of experience do you have and not what my message of hope was or how many people liked me. Experience versus kumbaya. I vote Hillary now and for Obama in 8 years! ;))

Posted by: rap | Jan 20, 2008 4:47:39 PM

I just read some of the garbage some of you Obama haters are throwing out. I heard clips of Obama's conversation/interview, What I didn't hear was the question. Also I heard Obama say that Regan brought ideas. What is Obama trying to do, bring about ideas to bring about change. Haters never stop hating, and haters never will get the facts straight, because their minds and hearts are blind to the truth.

Posted by: LaRhonda | Jan 20, 2008 4:48:28 PM

I have voted for Clinton in the past. However, I am disappointed to say that based on his behavior during this campaign I am embarrassed to have not seen thorugh his garbage. I truly believe he has no ethical compass and is a poor excuse for a human being.

The great thing about this election is to have learned that the phrase "that's just politics" no longer applies. We have never seen a candidate before Obama who has tried to do it the right way. The candidates don't differ much on the issues; consider integrity when making your decision.

Posted by: Dylan | Jan 20, 2008 4:49:16 PM

Say what you want about the Clintons: They will clean up the MESS again behind this Bush until the American people get too prosperious and decide to hire another Bush!

Posted by: Delva Satchwell | Jan 20, 2008 4:49:37 PM

Obama's supporters show their lack of experience and knowledge of politics in their defense strategies for Obama. They call everyone else names and give no reasons to support Obama other than he is "Change" and that Hillary, a woman who will make history with her nomination, as "so yesterday". Don't be naive! The Republicans are behind the perceived Obama wave. We know...they hate the Clintons for a reason; The Clintons will beat them!

Posted by: irma | Jan 20, 2008 4:49:47 PM

I think Bill really needs to start acting like a former President and less like an attack dog. He looks small and petty and if Hillary can't win on her own, she shouldn't be President.

Posted by: Tom | Jan 20, 2008 4:49:56 PM

The Democrats are about to pull steaming defeat from the jaws of victory again. Consider for a moment the republican race has chrystalized down into a two horse race --- John McCain and Mitt Romney. Neither candidate interests the evangelical segment of the republican party, in fact both are generally disliked by the this groups, McCain for undercutting blessed Bush and Romney for daring to be Mormon. There is only one name that will mobilize those people to vote for either candidate --- Hillary Clinton.

Additionally both candidates do well with moderates, while Hillary Clinton only polls well with the long-time Dem faithful and has the highest negative rating in the race.

This is a recipe for disaster. Obama on the otherhand is the darling of independents and the disenfranchised. If he beats Hillary the democratcic base falls in line behind him to give him the Dems 30% and a large portion of the independent vote ---say 20%. Now figuring that the evangelicals (say 10%)stay home or run their own candidate, the republicans are at best going to get 30% republican + 15% Indy. That is how you win vs. the republicans.

How can I say all of this? I am a regular voting, anti-Iraq war moderate with a strong liberal lean who probably will vote republican if Hillary is the Democratic candidate.

Posted by: Tobi | Jan 20, 2008 4:50:17 PM

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