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Clinton Reduces Obama's Campaign to a Speech

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March 01, 2008 3:11 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton reduced Sen. Barack Obama’s entire campaign to a single speech during a press availability on a plane from San Antonio to Dallas.

"His entire campaign is based on one speech he gave at an anti-war rally in 2002," Clinton said. "I give him credit for making the speech, but his speech was not followed up with action, which is the pattern we have seen repeatedly -- a lot of talk no action. We have one speech in 2002 versus a record of accomplishment and a record of action."

Clinton also said she and likely Republican nominee Sen. John McCain both had experience to put forth, but Obama only had a speech.

"Now I think you will be able to imagine many things Sen. McCain will be able to say. He has never been the president. He will put forth his experience. I will put forth my experience. Sen. Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002."

When Clinton was asked if she could name one instance where she had to make a critical decision like the one she references in the "It's 3 a.m." ad that began airing this week she said the question was framed incorrectly.

"No one who hasn’t been president has done that. That’s not the right question," she said. "The question is what have you done over the course of a lifetime to equip you for that moment. Now I think you will be able to imagine many things Sen. McCain will be able to say. He has never been the president. He will put forth his experience. I will put forth my experience. Sen. Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002."

Clinton was asked if she and her campaign still feels confused about Texas.

"You mean, trying to figure out the two-step?" Clinton asked. "We feel really good about it. We are training people. We did that event this morning. People have come from 20 counties across Texas who may be at the precinct conventions for me. We are recruiting precinct captains. We feel good about it."

Clinton did, however, express her dismay over caucuses when she chose not to mention that aspect of the Texas election.

"We focus on things, you know, we have very good people working for us. Everybody was aware of that -- the primary is what we really pay attention to," she said.

Clinton was asked to react to the recent NAFTA news and was asked if she thought Obama’s position was disingenuous.

"I think it’s somewhat disturbing that he would say one thing in Ohio and have his campaign sending a private signal to a foreign government presenting exactly the opposite of what he is saying in Ohio," Clinton said. " This is part of the pattern and I think it is a pattern that really deserves closer examination. You know, NAFTA is a really critical issue to the people in Ohio. I have not just talked about the problems of NAFTA, I have put forth a very specific plan."

March 1, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (22)

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Thank you Hillary for bringing up the fact that Obama hinges all of his "experience" on one speech. I would like to point out the fact that Obama did NOT show good judgement when he gave that speech. He was not in the Senate and he was not privy to the intelligence reports of those who did carry the burden of actually voting. Obama was NOT a Senator from New York a state was still reeling from the 9/11 attacks. If Obama felt so stronly about not going to war why didn't he do more?? Why didn't he organize a movement against the war??? Because he is all talk and no action, thats why! He gave a speech without having all the information with a 50/50 chance of being right. I don't want to elect a president based on the flip of a coin. Hang in there Hillary it is a long time until the convention and your supporters will not give up!!!

Posted by: Firefighter | Mar 1, 2008 3:30:11 PM

Obama is a one-note candidate...like a one-trick pony. He thinks everything hinges on his speech in 2002, like Hillary says, in which he opposed the war. No matter what the issue is--National Security, Foreign Policy, even the cost of Healthcare...he always comes back to that. Pretty lame.

Posted by: rhian | Mar 1, 2008 4:29:20 PM

Tuesday is the day we will rid our nation of these Clintons. It truly can't come soon enough.

Posted by: swarty | Mar 1, 2008 4:54:35 PM

you hillary supporters are really missing the point of obama's campaign and it's so sad to see that you NEVER ask how hillary will move this country forward. being in the white house doesn't have anything to do with leadership. YOU NEVER ASK what it takes for change to come.

change comes through pushing legislation through congress. what that means is reducing special interest influence in washington dc and having a working majority support your agendas.

do yOU REALLY think that the candidate who has the MOST speicial interset money funding her campaign will have any leverage?

how can all you hillary supporters be so blind? change doesn't happen from THE PRESIDENT! change happens from the PEOPLE who PUSH AGAINST all the powers that be and have a president who is their advocate. SO FRUSTRATING!

Posted by: justin | Mar 1, 2008 4:56:56 PM

The problem with the Obama supporters is they don't believe Obama is a politician. Obama has raised way more money than Hillary and I can guarantee you it didn't come from people all sending in their dollar bills. At some point the press will be forced to take a closer look at all of Obama's dealings and when they do you will see that your candidate has been bought and packaged for your consumption. Obama is just another politician and unfortunately one with no real experience.

Posted by: Firefighter | Mar 1, 2008 5:10:17 PM

While everyone talks about experience on all the important issues, do they first think of Obama? Does he list on his resume the committee chair that is supposed to be dealing with NATO and war in Afghanistan? It's over a year now, and he has not called a meeting! If it's on his resume, take it off.

Those who like to compare his experience with John McCain and Hillary Clinton are stretching it a bit. He is not prepared, no matter what Ted Kennedy says.

Perhaps, he can heal the Democrat Party after this big split is over. Bringing people together in the Party, across the aisle, across the globe, everywhere. He degrades the staus quo while he uses them (Kennedy, Kerry, Dodd). So much for his insight for change and using a pathway back to the status quo. His "hope" is just a four-letter word (to quote a song by Joan Baez).

Posted by: georgia | Mar 1, 2008 5:10:43 PM

How many committee meetings has Hillary attended since her campaign began?

And she managed to miss the very imporant vote on telecom immunity for Bush's illegal wiretaps! Barack was there, and even McCain, though "100 Years" voted the wrong way, of course.

Hillary is running on bill's resume, not her own. She won the senate based on Bill's resume, not her own. Soon, she'll be able to go back to concentrating on her senate duties.

Posted by: Jackt51 | Mar 1, 2008 5:57:25 PM

In other words, she's better suited to being president because she's older than Barack. Well, she's toast there - because the older guy is older than her. And if she thinks someone on the younger end of boomer is ill equipped, well, we'll end her campaign in a few days if Wolfson is telling the truth about that.

Posted by: kravitz | Mar 1, 2008 6:38:35 PM

Latinos For Hillary: Anyone with any brains can tell you are for Obama and trying to make people mad so they will vote for Obama. You don't fool anyone.

Posted by: barefootboy | Mar 1, 2008 6:56:36 PM

HILLARY IS JUST MAD BECAUSE SHE'S LOOOOOSING!!!^_^ ONLY BECAUSE OBAMA IS YOUNGER THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE CAN'T RUN A COUNTRY. HE HAS THE BRAINS TO BE PRESIDEN AND EVERYONE KNOEWS THAT^_^

Posted by: Alexis | Mar 1, 2008 7:16:12 PM

Hillary can win this. We must stay the course, continue calling and canvassing. Obama may be just the man for the job in eight years. Today it should go to Hillary. She has the credentials. She makes sense. Hillary 2008!

Posted by: Ann | Mar 1, 2008 7:38:26 PM

So ABC thinks this is still news?

Is this RADAR a Clinton megaphone?

What happened to journalism in this country? Why all the focus on the shrill shrieking from a sinking ship as if there as still a very reasonable argument in the yelling and whining?

It's fun to see the media so being tied to past and claerly disappearing figures while they could be studying with a lot of attention and analysis the rise of a PHENOMENON in world politics. It's fun, yes, it's laughable.

Posted by: RED | Mar 1, 2008 8:10:32 PM

Build the strawman, knock it down. Build the strawman, knock it down. That's her whole campaign.

Posted by: Paul | Mar 1, 2008 8:23:04 PM

georgia: You are right about Obama not having enough experience to be president, but wrong about Hillary Clinton! She has little more experience than Obama does! She is Not Qualified to be president!
Only John McCain has the experience and wisdom to be president in 2008!

Posted by: reaganfan | Mar 2, 2008 1:12:10 AM

Firefighter:
I was working in New Jersey when the
9/11 attacks occurred!
I don't remember seeing Either Hillary Clinton or Chuck Schumer for several weeks after the attacks!
I do remember seeing Mayor Guiliani and President Bush!

Posted by: reaganfan | Mar 2, 2008 1:16:46 AM

I think Senator Obama reduces himself to a speach as it is his go to talking point. That is his answer to everything. He needs to toughen up as he will never survive the general election or 4 years of office.

Obama supporters also need to buckle up. People are losing their minds over SNL. Presidents are sketched regularly,and Obama the perfectionist needs to get used to criticism.

Posted by: Roger | Mar 2, 2008 1:26:10 AM

It's a sad thing when you consider the power your country wields over the globe and it's all down to what you guys decide that will bear heavily on the rest of us. Yet we are here , powerless to decide on the fate of the world.
I remember not too long ago, you guys had the chance to rid the world of Bush and his cronies, but voted him for another term you all did. You guys have to wake up and do what may be good for the whole world. Because a happy world is a happy america.

Strong is the force with this Obama. Vote for him and if you find that he sucks halfway, then impeach him. At least you guys tried.

Posted by: ezy safri | Mar 2, 2008 2:27:05 AM

Ya, and hillary can be reduced to one fact, that she is hitched to bill.. She has been riding his tail coat, all the way.. without that she would be a no-one on the national scene.. and all those clintons fans what are:
1. Hillary's 3:00am red call moment?
2. What foreign-policy she has steered?
3. What significant legislation has she passed?

Just give me one answer for each of the following, and if you can't then u ought to change your support to obama!

Posted by: RO | Mar 2, 2008 3:25:49 PM

RO got it.

"Clinton Reduces Obama's Campaign to a Speech"

HRC's campaign is reduced to the fact her husband used to be the President.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | Mar 2, 2008 6:10:31 PM

hillary's best claim of experience:

failure to pass health care once already.

and that was BEFORE she alienated tons of dems as well as repubs.

hillary's future will be like her past:

failure

Posted by: localocal | Mar 3, 2008 8:03:01 PM

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