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Obama Responds to Clinton on Mailers, McCain and Nader

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February 23, 2008 8:03 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: After two of Sen. Barack Obama's mailers, one on NAFTA and the other on health care, prompted Sen. Hillary Clinton to say, "Shame on you, Barack Obama," Obama told reporters Clinton got “exercised this morning,” and that the notion that “somehow we are engaging in nefarious tactics, I think, is hard to swallow.”

“These are mailers that, by the way, went out, started going out several days ago if not weeks ago," Obama said during an unscheduled news conference in Columbus, Ohio. "So I am puzzled by the sudden change in tone. Unless these were just brought to her attention, it makes me think that there’s something tactical about her getting so exercised this morning.”

Obama said the NAFTA mailer is accurate: “Sen. Clinton, as part of the Clinton administration, supported NAFTA. In her book, she called it one of the administration’s successes.”

When challenged on the mailer's use of the word “boon” to describe how Clinton felt about NAFTA –- a word Obama attributed to Newsday, which later issued a clarification on its use of the word -- he responded, “It is true that the mailer went out before the newspaper made the correction, right? That’s my understanding and I will need to check with staff on that. The characterization that she supports NAFTA, I think, is indisputable."

Obama's staff later supplied clips from Newsday -- noting Newsday did not issue a correction, but rather said "boon" was the paper's characterization of Clinton’s words.

On the health care mailer, Obama said: “She has been the one who has made this difference about mandates the centerpiece not just of the health care debate, but practically her campaign. And what this mailer does is point out this difference that she herself surfaced and describes what the mandate that she’s calling for would mean, which is that the government would force you to buy health care. That’s indisputable. So the notion that somehow we're engaging in nefarious tactics, I think, is pretty hard to swallow."

Obama denied the characterization that his health care mailer was similar to the insurance industry's notorious “Harry and Louise” ads that helped sink Hillary Clinton's bid at health care reform during the Bill Clinton administration.

“I have seen the mailer and I completely dispute that characterization," Obama said. "Sorry, but what I don't want to do is to just rehash the specific language of the mailer. There's nothing in there that's factually inaccurate. What people are concerned about ... and that what I think Sen. Clinton would argue is that she doesn't like how the mandate is characterized because she wants to characterize it as universal health care -- just like I don't like her characterizing my plan as leaving 15 million people out. But there's nothing in that mailing that is inaccurate.”

Obama was asked to respond to some Democrats talking about whether or not Clinton should concede the race after losing 10 contests in a row. He said it would be a different question for him, because, “I'm the challenger, I'm the upstart. I'm the insurgent. She's the champ. She's part of the Democratic network in Washington and, you know, if you're the title holder then you don't lose it on points. You gotta be knocked out."

Asked to respond to the recent John McCain controversy spurred by a New York Times article, Obama noted that several of McCain's advisers have backgrounds as lobbyists.

“Many of them have been running their business on the campaign bus while they’ve been helping him and he’s comfortable with that," Obama said. "And he’s comfortable with rising money from lobbyists who are currently active in Washington. I think that is a problem.”

“I think it is a legitimate issue for voters to ask if somebody  presents themselves as a reformer and all the guys that  are running your campaign are lobbying on behalf of very special interests and industries,” Obama said of McCain in answer to another question.

Regarding a possible presidential bid by Ralph Nader, and whether the consumer advocate acted as a spoiler for Democrat Al Gore's presidential bid in 2000, Obama said, “I think anybody has the right to vote for president if they file sufficient papers. And I think the job of the Democratic Party is to be so compelling that a few percentage of the vote going to another candidate’s not going to make any difference.”

Obama confirmed that Nader has called him and reached out to his campaign.

“My sense is that Mr. Nader is somebody who, if you don’t listen and adopt all of these policies, then you’re not substantive," Obama said. "He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his own work. ... I don’t mean to diminish him, but I do think there’s a sense now that you know if somebody’s not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda then you must be lacking in some way.”

February 23, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (100)

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I don't recall her saying Obama's tactics were extremely wicked but they are evil. He is just so condesending does he think less of women I have to wonder?

Posted by: Bishop | Feb 23, 2008 8:33:15 PM

Obama's integrity is fully intact, having backed up ALL of the information on his fliers. Plus he was very calm and collected while under attack. This is what is required of a Commander and Chief. On NAFTA, Newsday admitted to using the phrase that the flier quoted. It was later corrected by Newsday, but the Obama campaign had nothing to do with the original Newsday article, it only quted it. Besides Clinton DID support NAFTA strongly. What was evident today in Hillary Clinton, was behavior VERY unbecoming a possible President of the United States. Presidents take positions on issues NOT tantrums!

Posted by: bob10001 | Feb 23, 2008 8:36:06 PM

This man is just a flat out liar. There is nothing else to say.

Posted by: Kris | Feb 23, 2008 8:47:32 PM

oh it was really a tantrum with a big ego attached.

Posted by: alexis compton | Feb 23, 2008 8:50:45 PM

That health care mailer first came out WEEKS ago in Wisconsin. And Hillary first acts all excited about it today? I think sincerity went out the window a long while ago and it's pretty obvious that her "outrage" was manufactured strictly for the media hype.

You've got to admit though, that part worked. Every outlet has a "Shame on You!" headline running.

Posted by: Jeff V | Feb 23, 2008 8:53:02 PM

Every single word of Obama's mailer has now been fact checked and confirmed as 100% accurate by every major news outlet in America.

Yet Hillary continues to feign overblown emotion and stir up a false conflict. The Hillary campaign has put out negative attack after negative attack after negative attack this campaign. She has no credibility in this matter.

Posted by: ElodieStClair | Feb 23, 2008 9:01:00 PM

Obama will be brought to his knees.
Things look good now.
But things are changing rapidly.
The Pendulum swings folks.
Don't count your bamas before they hatch.

Posted by: JJ | Feb 23, 2008 9:04:20 PM

If he has this thing tied up ten why the attack?

Posted by: Bishop | Feb 23, 2008 9:04:35 PM

So much for Hillary going down with poise and class.

Expect about another week of hysterical meltdowns followed by two or three days of tears before the vote.

Is anyone fooled by her stunts anymore?

Posted by: Kansas jack | Feb 23, 2008 9:09:37 PM

Interesting how blatantly biased the media is when they cover these stories.

The Obama machine uses dirty smear tactics and the media's claims "Hillary is Furious" if it had been the other way around the headline would have said "Hillary attacks Obama with Smear Tactics".

In other words we're biased because we can be,
we're afraid of being accused of racism for attacking Obama so we don't and our blatant misogynistic tactics on Clinton are acceptable-
because after all she's just a woman.


Posted by: Enough | Feb 23, 2008 9:10:02 PM

The desperation in Senator Clinton's "outrage" is so transparent. She began engaging in these sorts of attacks exponentially ever since it became clear that her lead was evaporating.

Her campaign is tanking and these attacks only reveal her to be flailing out of frustration of seeing her personal ambitions vanish before her eyes.

Posted by: Walter Jacobs | Feb 23, 2008 9:11:10 PM

One minor dimension of these little spats engineered by the Clinton campaign... Hillary looks like she's going to blow a fuse and Obama looks completely calm.

Who do you want with their finger on the button? These guys have to be able to handle tense situations, and we don't want a president who loses their cool over a totally minor issue.

Posted by: MG | Feb 23, 2008 9:18:29 PM

Obama has placed himself in a position where the media is walking on eggshells. Well Hillary is trying to crack the veneer that Obama has built by showing that he is no different from old style washington politicians which he acknowledged by saying the mailers are accurate and he finds it hard to swallow. What I find hard to swallow is that he believes the American voting public is to stupid to eventually see through the veneer. Go Hillary drill a hole right into Obama's facade and crack it right open. HOPE indeed, that people will wake up and see that they have been duped, brainwashed and bamboozled by the O Kool-Aid. He's already too presidential to attend the Black State of the Union and if he's elected he'll leave you inhaling his limo fumes as he darts around on his high horse. Do Whatever it takes Hillary and WIN.

Posted by: JJ | Feb 23, 2008 9:19:37 PM

Shame on you Barack. Today confirmed my vote, and the affirmative vote of my Texas relatives. Year President Hillary and boo to the sleeze and do thing Obama. Your a showman Barack with no credible record to back you up.

Posted by: Duane H | Feb 23, 2008 9:34:12 PM

Recalling the 'weak woman' tactics we saw the night before new Hampshire, please counter this foolishness and call it what it is. Clinton is not above using the sympathy of flaccid minded electorate that can buy her lala 'I am weak I am woman, give me a chance' routine.

In this race Obama is the feminist, have no doubt. he is the one meeting women eye to eye, and he would not talk down to Hilary although that crying and pouring coffee routine was a bit much for even the calloused stomached of us to take.

Counter them Mr President.

Posted by: Michelle Cave | Feb 23, 2008 9:34:59 PM

Recalling the 'weak woman' tactics we saw the night before new Hampshire, please counter this foolishness and call it what it is. Clinton is not above using the sympathy of flaccid minded electorate that can buy her lala 'I am weak I am woman, give me a chance' routine.

In this race Obama is the feminist, have no doubt. he is the one meeting women eye to eye, and he would not talk down to Hilary although that crying and pouring coffee routine was a bit much for even the calloused stomached of us to take.

Counter them Mr President.

Posted by: Michelle Cave | Feb 23, 2008 9:35:09 PM

I had been considering voting for Hillary, but I see her increasingly pandering to the anger in her supporters just as Bush panders to and incites fear in his supporters. I think both of these emotions are way too destructive for our country, and I personally can not afford to entertain them, much less be driven by them. Accordingly, I have decided to support Sen. Obama, because he shows an evenness of temperament and the conditions of character and judgement that are necessary to assume command of our military and leadership of our civilian population. He is a pragmatist, and an honest, hard-working, pull-yourself-up-by-the- bootstraps kind of man, who does not whine and complain about how hard life is for himself, but rather looks at ways that he can provide opportunities for others, who have not had the presence of mind that he was blessed with to make something of themselves. To those who would criticize Sen. Obama, I only ask that before you do so, please read both of his books: Dreams from My Father, and the Audacity of Hope. You will get a very clear picture of his superb intellect and his sincere compassion for others. He has the strength of character and will, the fortitude and courage of spirit, and the faith and compassion for others to become a world-class leader. Under his leadership, America will once again join the highest calling of its people and its providence.

Posted by: Justinteim | Feb 23, 2008 9:35:19 PM

Shame on you Barack. Today confirmed my vote, and the affirmative vote of my Texas relatives. Yea President Hillary and boo to Barack the sleeze and do thing Obama. Your a showman Barack with no credible record to back you up. How dare you even run for any political office.

Posted by: Duane H | Feb 23, 2008 9:36:42 PM

He looks cool because SHE is the one that is being attacked.

If you listened to the video she said was upset because the mailer was proven to be inaccurate . She wasn't acting as if this was the first she heard of them. She's mad that he is still using those falsehoods that were proven to be not true.She's got a write to be mad!

Posted by: J | Feb 23, 2008 9:37:03 PM

NAFTA killed our jobs in Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and all over the US.

To vote for Hillary is the same as agreeing to NAFTA. It has ruin our economy and taken our manufacturing jobs.
She only said she would suspend NAFTA. Yea, maybe after the election is over she'll forget it. Her and her husband profited from it.
Obama is the only one that said he will renegotiate NAFTA and give company tax breaks when they bring jobs back to our community and state.

Wake up people. Clinton's want NAFTA!

Posted by: JerryZ | Feb 23, 2008 9:44:42 PM

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