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Is Bill Clinton Getting in Obama's Head?
January 22, 2008 6:13 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: It should have been an easy question for Sen. Barack Obama: “Are you allowing President Clinton to get in your head?”
Yet, it took Obama three tries to answer the question, in what turned into a testy exchange with the New York Times' Jeff Zeleny following a campaign event in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
"I am trying to make sure that his statements by him are answered. Don't you think that's important?" Obama shot back, while walking away.
When Zeleny yelled a follow up question suggesting the Illinois senator had not answered the question, Obama fired back angrily, "Don't try cheap stunts like that."
Obama then walked away and shook hands with the mass of voters that surrounded him.
A few minutes later, Obama came back and confronted Zeleny again.
"I will answer your question though off the record, would you like to talk off the record?" Obama asked. Zeleny refused to go off the record and then motioned toward the gaggle of TV cameras gathered around him.
Obama then returned to his supporters and began shaking more hands before returning a third time to the group of reporters.
"My suspicion is that the other side must be rattled if they’re continuing saying false things about us," Obama finally responded, ignoring follow up questions as he left the room.
January 22, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (255)
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This is wonderful. Bill
gets to play "bad cop"
and say whatever negative
things he wants to about
Obama and travel the
low road and Hilliary
gets to play "good cop" and
stick to the high road.
When Obama strikes back,
he has to strike at Bill.
When Obama does object
in public and hold
Hilliary responsible, she
claims that Bill is his
own man and not the
candidate. For the
Clintons it is a winning
strategy which they will
repeat in the general
election. The competition
is forces to respond to
Bill giving her a bye.
Posted by: Beto | Jan 22, 2008 6:45:19 PM
Obama is losing it! He can't take the heat, definitely was getting used to the free ride and lack of scrutiny of his record. We here in Illinois are not impressed with his first term as U.S. Senator; why he should deserve the Presidency...maybe because the time for a black President? that doesn't make any sense, The election of a President shouldn't about race, it should be about agenda, leadership, proven experience, proven record, integrity and knowledge and in many of those Obama shows that he's not ready.This is nothing compared with what the Republicans have prepared for him and then no matter how much he whines he better be ready; but he is not; he can't take criticism or scrutiny last night he was shouting away like a brat.
Posted by: Mary in Illinois | Jan 22, 2008 6:52:35 PM
yes!! obama is. you know what obama lies about everything. after iowa he tought he was the cock of the walk. acting like he had it all wraped up. the song that he was playing after the caucas was sign sealed delivered i'm yours. so he thought he could walk a over this thing. well looks like he can't. he is frusterated in the fact that he is not winning. so he has to whine. boo hoo obama boo hooo...
Posted by: greg | Jan 22, 2008 6:58:18 PM
You failed to point out that Jeff Zeleny was being extremely rude by interrupting Obama at his campaign event, where Obama was trying to greet and talk to actual South Carolina voters, not New York Times reporters.
Posted by: bob | Jan 22, 2008 7:03:07 PM
This is the second non story from ABC today on Obama! How about the endorsement of the State Newspaper in S.C. and remarks on Clinton!
What is the point! Such blogging or reporting as this is child play!!!
Posted by: one | Jan 22, 2008 7:21:00 PM
Zeleny is also co-author of a news article in today's NYT that makes the unwarranted claim that Obama "appeared on the verge of losing his temper at times" during last night's debate. Zeleny appears to have his own pre-conceived storyline and he seems intent on running with it regardless of the facts.
Posted by: Mike | Jan 22, 2008 7:21:53 PM
Looks like another 4 years of 50+1 politics...looks like Obama is 4 years too early.
Posted by: kc | Jan 22, 2008 7:24:06 PM
Amen, bob: the question was a thinly veiled attempt to bait Obama into paying right into the Clintons' insane assertion that he was "frustrated by his losses in NH and NV." And YES: Zeleny was being a total jerk by yelling a question like that over the top of a crowd of supporters.
Barack Obama was not responding to his losses in NH and NV, he was responding to the dirty politics of the Clintons, and specifically, to the LIES coming from Bill.
Wake up America. The entire premise of HRCs candidacy is that Obama's just as much of a dirty politician as she is; that he's just as dishonest, just as corrupt. So you might as well vote for her because all politicians are awful, and at least she's experienced. WHAT THE HELL KIND OF RATIONALE FOR A PRESIDENCY IS THAT?!?!
We deserve better than that.
Posted by: John | Jan 22, 2008 7:26:48 PM
The truth of the matter is that Bill Clinton's campaigning is inappropriate for a former President. I don't care if his Missus is running for President. If she's that talented, she wouldn't need his constant assistance. If Bill can't keep his mouth shut now, imagine the petty chaos he'll create as America's First Man.
Posted by: Loyal Democrat | Jan 22, 2008 7:28:05 PM
Bill and Hillary are two of the biggest liers man has ever seen. People seem to be fascinated by their "strategy," but it won't be funny when you have to prove to the gov. that you have health Insurance or you have to pay for it with yet ANOTHER payroll deduction (tax). It won't be funny when you get ANOTHER NFTA,CAFTA etc. and your jobs leave the country. Better wake-up! The Clintons are not a joke. When you laugh at somebody eleses expense, before long, you'll be paying the tab!
Posted by: joe adams | Jan 22, 2008 7:34:46 PM
Obama feels because he is half black that should give him special treatment he is no better than the clintons or any one else is okay for him to go tpo a segregated church its okay for him to buy a house he cannot fford with a well known drug king pin come on people how blind can yuou be obama is the biggest joke of this race vote with your brains not skin color we are all the same
Posted by: lets be serious | Jan 22, 2008 7:37:35 PM
Obama is right. Clintons are running scared. A dog does not bark at a parked car.
Posted by: Karen | Jan 22, 2008 7:37:41 PM
Let us see if the press plays this over and over again and refers to it as a blow-up like they did with Bill Clinton and Mitt Romney reactions to the press over the last few weeks.
Posted by: Eric | Jan 22, 2008 7:43:16 PM
It seems increasingly that a vote for the Clintons is an endorsement of the cronyism, hyper-partisanship, and campaign hackjobs we've been forced to grow accustomed to.
Hillary represents, at best, a slight upgrade over our current knucklehead.
Posted by: Kenny Pice | Jan 22, 2008 7:50:20 PM
This is clear bisis on the part of the media, If Bill Clinton was any one but Bill Clinton his intro in every artical would read.
Is Bill Clinton getting into Obama's head?
The former President Bill Clinton (Fellon) spoke today....
Has everyone forgot that Clinton copped a plea on his last day in office? Or that the Special Prosector could have conviceted the Hil in any other local in the usa, but not washington DC She will lose the genreal by a wide margin and take the rest of the party with her and My bet is that Gore will then try to save the party. After all who is next? Obama? Could well be if he does not give up and let her rule the roost.
These two are way too much for the country to stand, and it would be a mess from day one.
The other part is the economic conditions not much a president can do to help the econimc conditions. Sorry but that is the truth. Her wild spending trying to do any thing will cost her in the end.
Her campaign will ever be a issue in the Gereral, as it is rifle with fraud and pay offs.
But who is surprised Iowa tried to help us out... but she tricked a lot of people who other wise would have voted for OBama into voting for McCain IN NH by crying it was Clinton tricks again Slick Willie at it again.
Hil must go. What will she do call Bill in AK. to come beat up someone who gives her a hard time in the WH? Bill would be hard to find as I am sure he would be with some bimbo.
Posted by: James C. Karmer | Jan 22, 2008 7:51:23 PM
Why does Obama keep doing Clinton's job for him? They've gone after this newbie and plan to paint him as incapable of dealing with the much fiercer Republican attacks to come. Obama, you're a good Clintonite politician, but you're not as good as the Clintons.
Posted by: Tony | Jan 22, 2008 7:53:36 PM
Jeff Zeleny doersn't like Barack Obama and has tried to get under his skin repeated ly on the campaign trail. Like many of the Times' reporters, and those at WaPo, they seem to be shilling for Hillary and Bill.
As any good reporter knows, you take ANY opportunity to talk to a candidate, on or off the record. Access is the name of the game and Zeleney just blew his.
Posted by: Jade7243 | Jan 22, 2008 7:55:45 PM
Hillary wins and you will see same old guard come in. Nothing with change.
Vote for Hillary will give the GOP CPR.
I won't vote for her... Won't do it and 40% of dems won't do it either.
I would rather let McCain run the country further down the rat hole.
Posted by: RB | Jan 22, 2008 8:01:14 PM
No . . . you mean there's a reporter out there that doesn't worship the ground Obama walks on? Well knock me over with a feather!
Posted by: Tiffany Craig Brown | Jan 22, 2008 8:08:18 PM
Lets us all not forget how many pardons Bill Clinton gave out on his last days in office. The great part of being a corrupt President, is that you can liberate your cronies from prison before you leave office and capitalize on drug trafficing and slave trading in a modern world. Today he announced he is liquidating his Camen investments and his partnership in Dubai. $20 million dollars on his partnership alone. What did it cost the taxpayers for that return? I am lost to understand how people can still support the Billary team when they are so obviously corrupt.
Posted by: cjvwise1 | Jan 22, 2008 8:10:33 PM
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