Clinton Sharpens Barbs Against Obama

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Clinton Sharpens Barbs Against Obama

February 14, 2008 1:12 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow and Eloise Harper Report: Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., hit hard at her top rival at a GM plant in Lordstown, OH, saying, "Speeches don't put food on the table. Speeches don't fill up your tank, or fill your prescription, or do anything about that stack of bills that keeps you up at night."

Clinton continued, "Some people may think words are change. You and I know better. Words are cheap. You can't just talk about the special interests. You have to take them on."

Watch the video here.

Clinton hit Obama on the special interests, channeling John Edwards, "My opponent says that he'll take on the special interests. Well, he told people he stood up to the nuclear industry and passed a bill against them. But he actually let the nuclear industry water down his bill – the bill never actually passed. On top of that, the same company that watered down that bill lobbied for Dick Cheney's energy bill. And my opponent voted for the energy bill, with its billions of dollars of breaks for the oil industry. I voted against it."

Senator Clinton told Ohio voters that the Maytag plant in Obama's hometown support her, saying, "My opponent says he'll stand up for workers. He often talks about the plight of Maytag workers in his home state. But the union at that plant supports me, because when 1,600 jobs were being lost, they say he didn't do a thing to help."

Clinton also accused Senator Obama of copying her plans and ideas. "I was, however, glad to see that yesterday, my opponent adopted the goal of five million green collar jobs months after I announced I would create five million green collar jobs. I was also glad to see that he modeled his $60 billion infrastructure bank on a bill I co-sponsored last summer to create a $60 billion infrastructure bank. Now if only he would just copy my health care plan and provide coverage for every single American!"

Clinton says she doesn't measure her life by applause lines. "That's how I measure my life – not by applause or headlines, but by whether I'm helping people."

Senator Clinton's advisors tell ABC News that Clinton decided to sharpen up her rhetoric in the past days and step up her attacks against Senator Obama.

Obama's campaign responded to the attacks today with barbs of their own.

“Barack Obama doesn’t need any lectures on special interests from the candidate who’s taken more money from Washington lobbyists than any Republican running for President," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

"Hillary Clinton should tell the people of Ohio the truth -- she once bragged about helping to pass the nuclear bill she’s now criticizing Obama for, she came out with her plan for green jobs one month after Obama did, and she’s said she’d ‘go after’ people's wages if they couldn’t afford health insurance under her plan. Senator Clinton may have said that attacks and distortions are the ‘fun’ and ‘exciting’ part of the campaign, but they’re exactly what everyone else in America is tired of,” he said.

February 14, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (419)

User Comments

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Health coverage for every single American? Now I am being taxed for people's ability to consume MacDonalds seven days a week? You are going to send people postal, lady. How about you just take away all freedom, all responsibility, and all choice, and make us into China. Communism is your thing, isn't it?

Posted by: Max | Feb 14, 2008 1:25:21 PM

If Obama wins, I'm moving to Canada.. He is all talk about change. He never tells you how he is going to change and how he is going to pay for this so called change... We need a leader like Hillary.. She will get the job done!

Posted by: Tommy | Feb 14, 2008 1:26:05 PM

When has Obama ever played the race card when he has been attacked? He'll give his shots and take 'em like the other candidates. At least he never broke into tears.

Posted by: Ken | Feb 14, 2008 1:27:02 PM

She sounds like a desparate scorn woman. This is why she doesn't need to be in office. Typical.

Posted by: Ms Wells | Feb 14, 2008 1:27:30 PM

The News Media is trying to Help Hillary Clinton it want work?

Clinton loses Texas and Ohio by 60% of the vote to Obama. Hillary Clinton is a "Cry Baby".

The Maching is no longer a threat to Obama.

Obama is the one.

Posted by: Lookup | Feb 14, 2008 1:27:36 PM

It's about time Hillary points out Obama's weaknesses! Go Hillary!

Posted by: VJ | Feb 14, 2008 1:28:18 PM

hillary have nothing to say again that is why is try to talk negative about obama, mrs cliton you are a looser

Posted by: john | Feb 14, 2008 1:28:25 PM

Well I hope Obama reminds voters that for the 8 years Bill was in the White House and she was supposedly revising health care...she NEVER GOT IT DONE!! Why should this be any different. No thanks Bill and Hillary.

Posted by: John | Feb 14, 2008 1:28:48 PM

Tommy,
I hear Ottawa is nice.

Posted by: John | Feb 14, 2008 1:29:04 PM

Clinton's history is part of the problem we are currently in. We need neew blood to get this country out of our current funk. The Bush / Clinton dynasty must end.

Posted by: Jason | Feb 14, 2008 1:29:33 PM

Tommy, you don't have to wait that long. You can pack your bags today and leave, please. It will be one less moron in our beloved country.

Posted by: Roca | Feb 14, 2008 1:30:38 PM

Too little, too late, Senator Clinton.

Senator Obama will catch and ultimately surpass you in Ohio and Texas over the next three weeks. Just keep watching the polls....

Posted by: Mark | Feb 14, 2008 1:31:42 PM

John,

I was thinking more like Vancover.

Posted by: Thomas | Feb 14, 2008 1:32:56 PM

Obama will be the democratic candidate for president. I am a republican and I ask the people of Florida and Michigan to vote McCain 2009. Obama said you were merely voting in a beauty contest, which means your votes mean nothing to him nor the democratic party. He threw you all away for his own personal gain, we will not. Nor did we strip our voters because they too voted early. Say what you will we did not punished the voter for your right to choose a president for your own country. Thank you.

Posted by: mike | Feb 14, 2008 1:33:43 PM

MaCain Economic Advisor says, Obama's (economic) plan. is the most shameless piece of potential plagiarism that I have ever seen. He basically took Clinton's words and Clinton's policies and called them his own. If I were a professor I'd give him an F and try to get him kicked out of school," said Kevin Hassett, Sen. John McCain's economic advisor and the Director of Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

Posted by: Pat | Feb 14, 2008 1:33:46 PM

He talks change, change, change, while i do the same, same, same. How dare he talk about change, when we are doing so good without it. (please note sarcasm)

Posted by: justme | Feb 14, 2008 1:34:26 PM

Poll tracking by Real Clear Politics shows Obama beating Hillary in the general election. It also shows that Hillary will either lose or come close up short against McCain. Rasmussen Reports show Obama winning Nevada and Colorado from McCain, two red states, while Clinton does not.

Posted by: Reason | Feb 14, 2008 1:35:00 PM

Hillary Clinton is so desperate. Even if she wins in OH and TX, the way the delegates split, Obama will still be ahead by over 100.

MOVE ON lady and let a REAL leader take charge.

Posted by: Mike | Feb 14, 2008 1:35:11 PM

We are about to all have a ring side seat as to the true character of Hillary. The ugly side of this person is about to break the skin. Strap yourself in!!

Posted by: kwadd123 | Feb 14, 2008 1:35:43 PM

We are about to all have a ring side seat as to the true character of Hillary. The ugly side of this person is about to break the skin. Strap yourself in!!

Posted by: kwadd123 | Feb 14, 2008 1:35:45 PM

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