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Clinton on photo: 'Why is anybody concerned about this?"

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February 25, 2008 6:02 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Jacqueline Klingebiel Report: During a Monday interview with ABC's Dallas affiliate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., did not flatly deny the DrudgeReport's charge that her campaign forwarded a photo of rival Barack Obama in traditional African dress.

She then turned the tables on her Democratic rival and accused him of using the controversy to distract the public's attention from deficiencies in his platform and experience.

"I know nothing about it," Clinton told ABC affiliate WFAA. "This is in the public domain. But let's just stop and ask yourself: 'Why are you -- why is anybody concerned about this?'"

Clinton said that she found questions about whether her campaign sent the photo to the DrudgeReport to be "really laughable."

"This is one more attempt by my opponent's campaign to change the subject," said Clinton, "From his health-care plan that won't cover everybody, from an economic plan that won't produce jobs, and from a record that is pretty thin when it comes to national security and standing up for our country around the world."

The former first lady argued that there are photos of her from around the world wearing "the costume of the country" she was visiting.

"Every time I traveled to foreign countries, I wore the costume of the country. You can find dozen of pictures of me in different parts of the world," said Clinton. "You can find me wearing African outfits, Latin American outfits, Asian outfits, when you travel to foreign countries, it’s a sign of respect. What  does that have to do with anything?"

During a Monday conference call with reporters, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said that the former first lady's campaign "did not sanction" the leaking of the photo. But he stopped short of denying whether a Clinton aide may have passed it to the DrudgeReport.

"I'm not in a position to ask 700 people to come in," said Wolfson.

Back in October, The New York Times identified Tracy Sefl as the Clinton campaign's conduit to the DrudgeReport.

Asked by ABC News on Monday if she gave the photo to the DrudgeReport, Sefl, who is vice president at the Glover Park Group, said, "no."

Like Wolfson, she could not speak for all Clinton campaign associates.

Asked if she has contacted the DrudgeReport to seek a correction to its claim that the Clinton campaign is the source of the photo, she said, "No comment."

February 25, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (658)

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Yet even more evidence that B.
Obama is not ready for the big show. What a ridiculous overreaction on his part. What makes me nervous is how defensive he is when it comes to stuff like this. He should be more worried about Farakkan slobbering all over his candidacy yesterday. If he (and his brain-washed supporters) can't handle this photograph, how is going to handle the good stuff (and I mean the real good stuff) that is coming?

Posted by: Robert Marley | Feb 25, 2008 6:23:29 PM

I would just like to remind people reading here, that many of you are still heavily influenced by events and indoctrinations from when you were 10 years old. I know I am.
That is all that needs to be said.

Posted by: G. Jones | Feb 25, 2008 6:23:43 PM

THIS WAS FROM THE GOP AND DRUDGEREPORT WAS THE DELIVERY MAN! END OF STORY
stop blaming Hillary for this. Clearly Drudgereport spun the news to his favor and friends of RNC. Hillary is getting the brunt of this. The images have been online for some time. So why is Drudgereport going after Hillary? Why isn't anyone asking why Drudge decided with this timely fashion to go after Hillary. If obama and the media did their homework you could have seen these images online. DRUDGE GAVE THE IMAGE THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AND NOW YOU ARE BLAMING HILLARY!!! talk about ignorance

Posted by: sheeps | Feb 25, 2008 6:24:10 PM

Hillary, answer this simple question: "If the photo's not a big deal, why did your campaign leak it?"

Posted by: jane | Feb 25, 2008 6:24:28 PM

HILLARY IS A LIAR. SHE IS HISTORY! SHE JUST DOES NOT KNOW IT YET!

Posted by: alan | Feb 25, 2008 6:25:23 PM

HRC and Michelle's failure to deny responsibility for transmitting the photo is an admission the HRC campaign is the source. If HRC did not authorize, she needs to fire the responsible staffer, and apologize to Obama, TODAY. But if she did authorize it, God help her.

Posted by: Tom | Feb 25, 2008 6:25:52 PM

Hey Rob,
You're on to something!
If she'talking...she's lying.

Posted by: Jimbo | Feb 25, 2008 6:26:03 PM

This was from Drudgereport! Trust me this was the master mind Drudge who spun the news and the sheeps followed by barking at hillary. She has nothing to do with this. The images can be found on the internet. They have been published numerous websites a long time ago. Why didn't Obama go after them then?

Posted by: I blame Drudge | Feb 25, 2008 6:26:05 PM

How did she know the photo was in public domain, yet know nothing about it ? Odd.

Posted by: Zippy | Feb 25, 2008 6:26:54 PM

Drudge spun the news and the Obama sheeps followed. Wow you are suppose to be college educated and wealthy. Clearly you lack logic reasoning. All you sheeps sit there and accept what drudge says. This was a political job manufactured by GOP to get Hillary to blame Obama for being muslim because they could not do it themselves.

Posted by: drudge is the spin master | Feb 25, 2008 6:28:34 PM

Hey I blame Drudge: Okay then, all she has to do then is say, "My campaign had nothing to do with it."

How come she won't?

Posted by: TX | Feb 25, 2008 6:28:50 PM

The only thing missing on Obama's photo was a cafe latte... When is Barack Obama finally growing up? Big deal that we saw his photo in Somalia! Let's talk about the issues, please!

Posted by: Bostonian | Feb 25, 2008 6:30:00 PM

Ima single Mother of four and under Barck Obamas Health Care Plan I will not be able to obtain Health Care for my children. One of my children has Downs, and the others have pre-existing conditions that under BO's plan will not allow them any insurance. Please help me!

Posted by: Ima | Feb 25, 2008 6:30:06 PM

There are two possibilities about who leaked the photo, the republicans or
Obama's campaign to offset the flyers.
Sounds like Obama is playing the race card.

Posted by: Sam Pirri | Feb 25, 2008 6:30:08 PM

THE IMAGE WAS ON NATIONAL EXAMINER FEBRUARY 4TH ! GO LOOK WHY DIDN'T OBAMA QUESTION THE MAGAZINE, WHY IS HE QUESTIONING HILLARY. Drudge clearly set up the job and well done because the obamanites are sheeps and follow the news verbatim. This has shown you are a cult! follow the leader

Posted by: NATIONAL EXAMINER | Feb 25, 2008 6:30:20 PM

No matter how many times you Hillary cultists want to spin Drudge as the reason this is an issue, all you know damn well this is not a story if YOUR candidate's people don't circulate this in an attempt to stoke some hicks' fears in Texas that Obama is a big, bad, closet Muslim. And you know it. So take your b---s--- somewhere else.

Posted by: TX | Feb 25, 2008 6:30:54 PM

Obama took a film crew with him to film his visit to Africa including this moment. This photo has been published numerous times. Its not a secret and Obama promotes it in the film about him. What is his problem????

Right he wants to change the subject when anyone talks about real issues and play victim.

Posted by: s.b. | Feb 25, 2008 6:31:15 PM

Well, well, well now..isn't this Madame's same startled, self-serving expression used each and every time any scandal errupts around her? She is so hatefully transparent! Aarrrgghhh! The untouchable, pant-suited princess just needs to lose and lose big time so that we can get on with our lives without further sullied vision. Face it folks, her days are done and I wish she would just take her lying self along with her cheating husband of sorts and head for the hills from whence they came!!! Many of us are simply fed up to the teeth with her stupid, flimsy excuses. Billing records..same thing..knew nothing of how they ended up in her closet at the White House! Whaaaat? She is never aware of anything at all! Ever notice? And you know what? The people who fall for it and believe her, are more stupid by far, in the end. She at least has something to gain from all her lies and loudmouthed deceit, a front office. While those who put her there can only read 'em and weep, in the card sharks vernacular, when all is said and done. The saddest thought of all is that she thinks none of us can see, or have the smarts to hear and process, all the trash which she spews, passing out it to us as truth telling when in fact the real truth is something all together different. So different she doesn't even recognize it anymore! Eight more years of these players? No thanks. Be off with ya and the sooner the better. For "our country, our America and not just YOURS Lady! Bye-Byyyyyye!

Posted by: Her Gingerness | Feb 25, 2008 6:31:33 PM

Hilary really makes me sick, she is a cold, cold woman and her campaign aides reflect that. Why so many people would vote for her thus thinking that she is best capable to run this country is beyond me.

Posted by: John | Feb 25, 2008 6:31:55 PM

Its so easy to spin the obamanites. hahah your lack of logic, intelligence and reasoning shows all of us how incompetent all the Obama cult members are.

I will be happy to see the amount of news spinning when fall comes and you stand alone trying to figure out why the media is against you...hahahahhahah

Posted by: DRUDGE FOOLS OBAMA | Feb 25, 2008 6:32:19 PM

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