« Previous | Main | Next »

Clinton Doesn’t Deny Campaign is Pushing Wright Story to Superdelegates

Share

March 20, 2008 1:56 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign has strictly maintained a public position not to comment on Sen. Barack Obama's relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Many times, questions have been answered with -- "you will have to ask Senator Obama about that."

However at a Thursday press availability in Terra Haute, Indiana after a report surfaced that the Clinton campaign was pushing the Wright story to superdelegates arguing that the relationship hurt Obama's electibility -– Clinton refused to deny that her campaign was pushing the story.

When asked, Clinton ignored the Wright portion of the question and said “well my campaign has been making the case that I am the most electable that I have said that for a year or more that I am the person best able to make the challenges that our country faces as commander in chief.”

When Clinton was then asked specifically if her campaign was pushing the Wright story –- she shrugged and took the next question, ignoring the reporter.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

Later, Clinton spokesperson Doug Hattaway told ABC News:"She was and is unaware of anyone on the campaign pushing [the Wright] issue with superdelegates. She wants anyone who is talking to superdelegates to focus on our message, which is that she's best prepared to be president and beat John McCain."

When asked if Clinton had asked her surrogates and those reaching out to superdelegates on her behalf to stay away from the Rev. Wright issue specifically, Hattaway told ABC News: "Since she is unaware of anyone doing that, I assume it hasn't come up."

March 20, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (504)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

The kind of politics you are advocating made us fail in the world. The whole world is watching us playing games with each other. you think we can make a case to lead the world with such mentalities? Hillary is hijacking American democracy. the world does not start in America and will not end in here. look at the big picture and let us be honest, stop hiding the truth. Rev Wright was wrong as many other people in this country. we need to move on. if we go back to situation blaming what has been said and done, Obama can make a case. we built our nation out of Genocide.

Posted by: Truth | Mar 20, 2008 2:49:30 PM

Normal Americans that love their country and decided to give Obama a chance now want a revote. Had they known about Obama's 20 years in a racist hate America church, they would have NEVER trusted him in the White House. Obama is lucky as hell the media are on his side, otherwise this would have come out a long time ago.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 20, 2008 2:52:03 PM

"I am the most electable" - Hillary Clinton.


She is right, you know. She is the most electable... as the fabricateur-in-chief.

Posted by: bob | Mar 20, 2008 2:57:07 PM

Obama - Yes We Can......change the subject.

Won't work. Audio & video are very very powerful things.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 20, 2008 2:57:30 PM

Anyone in Hillary's shoes would do the same.

If Sen. Obama if fair, he will agree to have revotes in both Florida and Michigan. since he argues about the "rule," Hillary can use the same rule to get superdelegates.

Republicans can't wait to have Obama in the GE. I can imagine that they'll make another case of Willie Horton.

Wake up and smell the Wright coffee, Democrats.

Posted by: Michelle Dole | Mar 20, 2008 3:02:29 PM

If the party continues to cannibalize itself, the unthinkable will happen for a 3rd time, and John McCain will be President. Will your damn party get it's priorties straight before we get sentenced to a 3rd BUSH term. If the Democractic party is determined to cut off their nose to spite their face, we are ALL screwed!!! (Is it too much to ask for a competent Pelosi or Reid, to counter and NOT cower to the will of Bush, EVERY single time???)

Posted by: cba | Mar 20, 2008 3:08:01 PM

Apalling.

Desperation calls for desperate measures. I guess this is the end of it for her campaign. When his numbers rebound (and they will post-"speech")...the SDs will reject this final argument.

Apalling.

Posted by: rob | Mar 20, 2008 3:15:36 PM

Obama has lost his lead with independents is one of his big problem and the other is women are backing Hillary and we do not like men that cheat go around with the wrong gang. And we never forget who has hurt us . GO Hillary

Posted by: Bishop | Mar 20, 2008 3:16:35 PM

Jack, ABC admits they have HOURS & HOURS of this stuff, all saying the same type of stuff. Plus it's a Black Liberation Theology church - and this is the exact type of thing they are ABOUT.

This "context" crap won't work. We heard what we heard. But keep hoping.

Obama could NEVER win the general. Too bad for you guys there are plenty of America loving citizens in this country.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 20, 2008 3:23:48 PM

You have the Hillary supporters who loathe Barack & his people who will stay home & not vote in the general, and you have the Barack supporters who would never vote for Hillary.

It's a win-win for McCain. Thanks!

Posted by: Jo | Mar 20, 2008 3:26:55 PM

It is obvious that Mrs Clinton's last hope of attaining the nomination is to push anything she can against Obama with the super delegates. If the situation were reversed there wouldn't be any situation because if Mrs Clinton had 160 pledge delegate lead and had won 30 out of 44 states and had mathematically eliminated Obama he would have been pushed out of the race by now.

Posted by: BJB | Mar 20, 2008 3:28:14 PM

Obama has said his white "rascist" grandma is a TYPICAL white person. This guy is doomed!

Posted by: lluluadorl | Mar 20, 2008 3:29:35 PM

McCain just sits back and lets the democrats bring up tons of terrible baggage on each of their candidates. You're almost making this too easy for him, but by all means, keep it up!

Posted by: Jo | Mar 20, 2008 3:29:54 PM

Jo McCains Campaign brought up Obama's pastor. Was that wise seeing how some of his close religious buddies have made some comments about all catholics being whores? He isn't just sitting back.

Posted by: BJB | Mar 20, 2008 3:36:08 PM

The lack of respect in most postings surely does not reflect the positive call to move forward stated in Sen. Obama's speech the other day. Like it or not Sen. Clinton is a former First Lady. You may not agree with her or her platform yet it's mature to do so in a respectful manner.

Re: Sen. Clinton's campaign utilizing the detracting effects of Sen Obama and his relationship w/Rev. Wright (thus concerning the sen's being electable) -- they are merely stating a very obvious issue (mostly JUDGEMENT) which concerns a great deal of Americans.

Rev. W's words were more than a few seconds of a dismissive statement or two. Although the, "G.D. America" resonates the loudest with most, there's a pattern of complete disrespect to most of America & women found within. The missing woman Natalee Holloway was somehow incorporated into one of his sermons as well as a highly "creative" analogy of fmr Pres. Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky and the Clintons' association with the Black Community.

Being of Black and Apache Mescalero heritage, I found this to be utterly distasteful. Knowing Sen. Clinton's solid record with the Children's Defense Fund (before she even married her husband), this was such a disgraceful dismissal to all she achieved there only for the advancement of Sen. Obama's candidacy to his church family.

Regarding Sen. Obama's campaign's own motto about his (superior) utilization of judgement -- when one looks at a 20 year close relationship with someone such as Rev. Wright, it is only fair to come to one conclusion or another.

Whatever one decides or whomever they will support or not support in this primary and beyond, it is important to keep in mind we are still one nation, with a variety of subcultures which will only progress through mutual respect and open minds.

Posted by: lotsa bossa nova | Mar 20, 2008 3:39:55 PM

All the more reason for the press to start uncovering her closet full of skeletons. How about her upcoming trial re: campaign fraud (a $17 million-dollar lawsuit against the Clintons). Let's bring the story to the forefront. She's amazing - now there is direct evidence from her White House papers that she supported Nafta - actually was a notable speaker at a few pro-nafta gatherings. But this info came out yesterday (way after Ohio and Texas vote). Careful what you wish for Hill - maybe Obama will ask Ohio for a revote.....would you be up for that????? Step down PLEASE!

Posted by: barbara miller | Mar 20, 2008 3:54:38 PM

Um, that is not pushing the Wright story. That is just stating the obvious ramifications of its impact in showing why she would be more electable.

Posted by: Red | Mar 20, 2008 3:55:49 PM

Who said that superdelegates can chnge the will of the people? Is that democracy? If people elect Obama, superdelegates must respect it. If people elect Hillary, superdelegates must respect it. So stop saying she is more electable, go to to the polls and elect her, do not ask for darkrooms to do it there, have some respect for yourself, do not ask for superdelegates decide who win, you votew have value, or just you sold it?

Posted by: Alberto | Mar 20, 2008 3:59:07 PM

Who said that superdelegates can chnge the will of the people? Is that democracy? If people elect Obama, superdelegates must respect it. If people elect Hillary, superdelegates must respect it. So stop saying she is more electable, go to to the polls and elect her, do not ask for darkrooms to do it there, have some respect for yourself, do not ask for superdelegates decide who win, you votew have value, or just you sold it?

Posted by: Alberto | Mar 20, 2008 3:59:15 PM

Here's the fundamental self-serving falacy that the Hillary supporters now reveling in the Wright fallout fail to understand:

By the time of the general, this issue will be as buried as the hundred Clinton scandals out there.

So the question doesn't come down to a "clean" candidate vs. a candidate with the Wright stigma.

It is a choice between a candidate that can be made to look like a racist through questionable associations with a made-up pastor image, or one that can be made to look like a murdering, drug trafficking, terrorist pardoning, land dealing crook who let Al-Quaeda run away and was responsible for 9/11.

Nobody in the Obama campaign will mention it, because they have the class to understand that democrats aren't supposed to tear each other down.

But you'd better think about it for a bit before you decide on who would be the best candidate.

Posted by: memoryaid | Mar 20, 2008 4:06:31 PM

Post a comment