Plouffe comes across as just as inept as Obama - waffling, stumbling, avoiding answering the actual questions. Kids do that a lot when caught in lies.

lol Plouffe and Obama, what a pair...
This reminds me of that Elvis song.. "A Little Less conversation, a little more action please.
Obama once again, waffling and shucking and jiving on the Iraq issue.
Will the Real Barack Obama "Please Stand Up".

Plouffe is not great - but Obama is and he's the one running for office.

what?!? Did you read this article? Seems to me that both Ploffe and the Campaign are clear int heir committment to getting out of Iraq and that there was no 'meeting' as both Goolsbee and the Candian govt have stated. This is the clear and consistent message/action that the Obama campaign has been doing. HRC can throw the kitchen sink, at the end of the day, she is shown to be manipulative, and misleading.

I dunno Louis??
Maybe it's good she resigned..??

obama = waffling, waffling, waffling -
Sure take out the troops in Iraq within 16 months of taking office - and then what? Leave Iraq to the insurgents again? Watch Iran move in overnight and take over Iraq. Does obama even care enough about International, particularly Middle East affairs at all? He just throws around his ideology and expects the world to stop its axis because he is speaking. Obama knows $$$$ about leading a country, let alone the international sphere. This man had the ego of a self-indulgent spoiled little brat and he wants to run our country? I hope never, never, never.

If there was ever any clear evidence that Obama is not ready yet to be president then this is it. His campaign manager can't seem to figure out what he wants to say and his Senior Policy Advisors are making rookie gaffs. I for one wouldn't like to see them running the country...scary thought.

naw - bama misled us. he never emphasized the flexible approach in his speeches. great lawyer though.

BKMC: You mean Madame President don't you..lol
I am in the music biz, and We call a "MONSTER" a huge hit, something or someone bigger than life, so monster in that context is a very respectable and accurate term for Mrs. Clinton.

What about Clinton insulting Mississippi? What about Clinton insulting all the US states that are not NY, Calif, Ohio and Texas? and insulting all the Caucus states? (They don;'t count) What about Clinton's Carl Rove politics of calling Obama Ken Starr? What about Clinton saying she would rather have McCain (aka George W. Bush) as president than Obama? This is the kind of certitude that will not get anything done in Washington due to her stridorous nature.

Well BKMC.... Obama sure is making it easy!

Wheels are coming off.

The government we installed in Iraq has been friendly with Iran since its inception. Which insurgents are you talkign about, there weren't any before we invaded. The ones there now are foriegn fighters which the Iraqis oppose and the disenfranchised Iraqis we have left out of the 'democratic' process we installed there. Whehter we leave next year or 50 years from now, the one thing you can count on is internal strife. Bush and Co have done NOTHING to actually address the taaliban and Al Queda resurgence in Afghanistan. that is where the battle against Al Queda can be won, deny them the source of their funding and a main source of recruitment. There is no difference between Clinton and McCain Iraq policies, only the way they state them. They both plan to follow the Generals that Bush has put in place.

Obama is a not ready for prime time playa! If Hillary didn't ahve so many skeletons in her closet, she would have won the nomination already.

Obama is a not ready for prime time playa! If Hillary didn't have so many skeletons in her closet, she would have won the nomination already.

Here's what it looks like to have the press looking into all your flowery, vague, you know, the sort of first moment, kinda, well, we'll sure, we will do that and um, you know, right from the start and keep going um, uh, yeah . . .

This is what Obama and his campaign look and sound like without two weeks of scripting and a fortnight of practice.

No teleprompter and notes - Nobama.

I love the part where Keane is not an advisor, he just gives advice.

Louis, looks like you really go back to school :). yes, I sent advice to clinton campaign as well, since when did i become an advisor?

I really don't know how long the american people are going to take Obama telling them one thing on the campaign trail then in the background with other persons he says something differently.

All these young college students that he has brain washed telling them that he will stop the war, he does not agree with dumb wars, he voted against the war and so on all this talk now to her his top adviser telling the press,

“He will, of course, not rely on some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator…. You can’t make a commitment in March 2008 about what circumstances will be like in January of 2009…”

This is so hypocritical to try and fool the voting public like that, it's unreal that he and his camp is being allowed to do stuff like this.

There is one thing being for a withdrawl which they are both for and giving a hard date (as Obama has) and then having staff/advisors saying that people should not expect him to stick to it. Either he has a hard and firm date for withdrawal or he does not.

Looks like he has no date for withdrawal as he is telling everyone, because she said quiet clearly that the press cant expect him to hold to anything or any promise he made as a presidential candidate.

So in their eyes its ok to lie to the people just to get their vote or as he would say "bamboozle" the people to get the nomination then to hell with them and what they want.

Who wants to accept that am happy for them I am not.

he has a set timetable for withdrawl and I have heard/read/seen nothing that indicates that HE has said anything different.

Federal archivists at the Clinton Presidential Library are blocking the release of hundreds of pages of White House papers on pardons that the former president approved, including clemency for fugitive commodities trader Marc Rich.

The archivists' decision, based on guidance provided by Bill Clinton that restricts the disclosure of advice he received from aides, prevents public scrutiny of documents that would shed light on how he decided which pardons to approve from among hundreds of requests.

Clinton's legal agent declined the option of reviewing and releasing the documents that were withheld, said the archivists, who work for the federal government, not the Clintons.

The decision to withhold the records could provide fodder for critics who say that the former president and his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, now seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, have been unwilling to fully release documents to public scrutiny.

More in USAToday online!

Wow J Dowd. Let's hold her to something 43 years ago. She was doing her job, nothing more. She didn't have to like it. I am sure her views have changed considerably since 1975. I know mine have.
Obama was 13 in 1975 and studying at a Madrassa school. Should we hold that against him too?

Sorry , should have read 33 years ago, Hillary IS brilliant, but even she could not have been a lawyer at 17...

senator clintons answers are to tell everyone and anyone whatever they want to hear

is that what this country needs?
again?

It was the Clinton campaign who approached the Canadian gov on wink wink Nafta --

It was Hillary Clinton the NYSun wrote up last week as assuring generals privately she would not get out of Iraq

This nation gave Bush four more years in 2004 - you get the government you deserve

remember that -

THIS WILL BE THE DOWN FALL OF SENATOR OBAMA MOST OF THE TIME HE CONTRADICT ON WHAT HE SAY. HOW CAN AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE IN HIM FOR ALL YOU KNOW HE HAS NOT PLAN AT ALL.

What is about Hillary Clinton, who happens to be a woman presidential candidate that gets you right wing, two-time Bush voters hopping? Isn't it time for you to look for a different drummer to -- your way didn't work. Let's welcome someone that uses both sides of the brain for a change. Yes, that would be Hillary. Stop the petty griping, please.

The National Archieves has over 36,000 boxes of documents,and millions of papers to go thru so isnt it easy to sit back and say that Clintons blocking the release of them.The archieves are also short staff because Bush cut the funding,but hay if it bothers you so deeply you can always donate to the National Archieves.

Let the Democratic process roll-out without two-time Bush voter interference. You folks need to give it a rest for eight years, your chosen method was a stark failure.

Um, the papers aren't blocked or waiting for approval for release from anyone save HRC. Who is once again playing the victim. I wonder how that will work when dealing with world leaders.

Even in Obama's incredibly short time in the public eye we have seen him back pedal or waffle on several major issues. First he pledged to go with public financing, now he's going to wait and see. Then he attacks NAFTA but tells the Candains not to be concerned. Now he's not privately committing to an Iraq timetable although he publicly says he is. Which of these 2 candidates exactly will say or do anything to get elected?...could it be the freshman senator from Illinois who rails against our Afghanistan/Iraq policy but didn't hold hearings because he "was too busy running for president".

Louis you mentioned as far as you know Obama had same policy. Here's just for you and it's from Washington Post:Obama's legislation, offered on the Senate floor last night, would remove all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008. The date falls within the parameters offered by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which recommended the removal of combat troops by the first quarter of next year.
"The days of our open-ended commitment must come to a close," Obama said in his speech. "It is time for us to fundamentally change our policy. It is time to give Iraqis their country back."

Obama is just not ready. Not ready to go beyond hope, change, and hopin' for change. Not ready to be Commander in Chief. Not ready to establish our foreign policy. Not ready to negotiate with our friends, much less our enemies. And now, he is apparently not ready to manage his own campaign team.

Power was Obama's leading foreign policy advisor. Thank God this info is coming to light before it was too late to stop the Obama train. For many of us, it confirms some of our worst suspicions. There is a strong sense that there is so much Obama is just trying to keep under wraps until after the election.

Hello, is anyone in charge of the Obama campaign? I cannot believe that after a little setback on tuesday that his whole campaign is starting to unravel. He has not been looking to presidential the last few days and is actually starting to look very weak.

Acutally the obama train begins cracking down... He MUST win PENN, otherwise, he will be forced ether to take veep or out... By then, people knows what he is capable of and no one likes to drag more to let Rep make fun of Dems....

Obama MUST win PENN...he was rejected constantly by most of blue states, the base of Dems...

I just saw Charles Gibson on TV last night, interviewing Barack Obama, and I was astonished to hear Mr. Gibson pandering to Mr. Obama, saying that by all rights he should already be his party's nominee, and he should be resting right now, instead of having to continue to compete. I have never before witnessed ABC News being so flagrantly partisan in their approach to "news". Not only did Mr. Gibson interview ONLY Mr. Obama, he suggested that Hillary Clinton was depriving him (Obama) of his rightful prize. This is outrageous. ABC owes Hillary Clinton an "equal time" interview, and a comparable accolade.

I mean really, what can we believe from Obama? I thought he would probably be an ok President but the more he speaks the more confused I really am. My state doesn't vote until May and unless his campaign drastically shapes up he will not get my vote.

Jeff, I don't think you need vote on May. Obama will be over on April 22 if he can't win PENN... By then, he again proves he can just only win red and black states, he is constantly rejected by the most blue states - the base of Dems...

Democrats -- prepare yourselves for a choice. On the one hand, you have a bag of hot air. On the other, you have an empty suit.

Choose wisely!

Who does Obama think he is fooling? Why does he continually say one thing in public and another thing in private. He seems to have his advisors do all the dirty work. We cannot trust this man!

The problem with the Obama camp is a lack of direction. He has not clearly stated what his policies are so his advisors have to make them up along the way and sometimes say things that get them in trouble. You shouldn't blame them for his lack of leadership.

Democrats - Be VERY suspicious if the GOP Governor of Florida - a HUGE MCCAIN supporter - is backing the idea of giving Hillary the January primary results!

Democrats - be VERY SUSPICIOUS when GOP guru Pat Buchanan is backing the idea of giving Hillary the January primary results!

Hmmm... why would these GOP folks be so eager to help Hillary? Maybe because they know that the ONLY hope they have in November is if Hillary is the nominee? I HAVE THE ANSWER...SHE IS APART OF THEIR DYNASTY AND THEIR GAME. THEY DO NOT FEAR HER. THEY WILL EITHER RUN HER WHITE HOUSE OR BEAT HER HANDLY IT IS WIN/WIN. TRUST THIS.
MCSAME& FEARILLY ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

Wendy, maybe there not helping Hillary. Maybe, just maybe they really care about allowing all citizens of the U.S. to have a vote in this election. Of course that would be the logical explanation which doesn't fit into Obama's "victim" mentality.

Politics is politics! Experience counts!!

The last thing I want is an AMATEUR running our government at this critical junction.

"When it rains, it pours" in foreign policy troubles for Barack Obama.

Barack Obama campaign mishandling criticism and the international issues went from bad to terrible this week.

Such disastrous performance in a critical moment reminds me George Bush No. 41 in 1992 facing Bill Clinton slogan it is the economic stupid!!.

The campaign of George H.W. Bush in 1992 went so wrong that tv showed when he threw up and passed out during a dinner while visiting Japan.

Wendy, so what is your answer? Give two states to the republicans without a fight? Plus there will be no caucuses to run up the score come the general and with the Power blunder calling Ohio voters literally dumb for voting Clinton the McCain camp will play this back to Ohio voter in the general so that's another state leaning Republican should Obama win. And McCain is very strong with Latinos so this puts California into play for McCain. With this in mind how do you propose we win in the general?

OK, I will say it one more time. Obama wasn't even sworn into the US Senate until 4 Jan 2005. He gave a speech in 2002. Other than that speech what has he done to end the war???? I am willing to listen to his (Obama's)concrete accomplishments. But Common sense tells you that it's a long way to the gulf and Turkey isn't going to let us move troops out that way. Wake up folks, being against the war doesnt mean sacraficing our troops again just to keep a campaign promise. Hillary has said that she will begin in sixty days but she will have a plan drawn up by the Joint chiefs and her Security advisors to avoid putting our evacuating troops in harms way. She will include Countries in the region in her withdrawal plans. Sounds like a pretty solid plan to me. Remember IDE's and road side bombs...P.S. I am for getting our troops out (period) but with caution and a solid plan. Hillary's Plan........

O RLY Hillary I see you have problems playing on the national security field Hillary brought up with the red phone ad. My God, do you somehow think McCain isn't going to ask the exact same question or not? Hillary can handle herself so it doesn't concern me. If Obama is going to play with the big dogs he better acknowledge national security. Is Obama so fragile he find this somehow nasty?

The more normal people listen to BHO, the more confused they become. I surmise it is so because normal people fail to detach reality from his discussions. If they only would spend time at his website, would read his books, etc., to learn how to distill issues into abstractions and discuss it at an intellectual level without any reality check as it's done by his smart and highly educated supporters, his messages will become crystal clear.

For the first time in this campaign I sense victory for hillary.

Its all over for the Obama campaign. His inexperience is finally showing expect two crisis every week till June when he gives up.

Obama no one cares about that 3 am call in the morning commercial so stop talking about it, what they really want to hear about is your real estate purchase with Rezko, will you release the documents, please.

I assume that in the past 12 months that Obama's chief foreign policy , Ms. Powers never discussed her views with Mr. Obama on the iraq wall. This is an unfair slap to Obama what proof does anyone have that in the past 12 months she, Ms Powers gave Barack her opinion of the war in iraq.

Well Obama has voted for the war every chance he got in 2006, 2007, and 2008, so that's one fib.

And someone who has been onthe senate arms services committee for 7 years as Clinton has does have "standing" to question him on Iraq.

He was the one without Standing because he wasn't in the senate to make the vote, but his votes since then have consistently supported the war.

Do you suppose republicans won't bring that up in the general election?

Here are the ground rules: You cannot question Obama on his NEW Iraq policy. You cannot question Obama on his muddle name. You cannot question Obama on his religion. You cannot question Obama on race matters. You cannot question Obama on Rezko. You cannot question Obama on Michelle's satements. You cannot question Obama on NAFTA. However, you may question him about the weather in some states.

I was watching him at a rally in WY, he was stumbling to find words and after a long pause that logically did not make sense he said "I dont want you to be confused." Yet there was nothing but confusion on his face as well as the voters in the background.

He also refused to respond to a reporter about this fiasco and said "I wasnt... (long pause)... drawn into a knife fight. Let me talk to the folks thank you."

Upon leaving, just before he got in the SUV he said "It's nice here in Wisconsin... (pause)... and Wyoming." Wow the stress is really doing a number on him. LOL

DCVoter did he really get his states mixed up?

When will the American press start doing its job on Hillary Clinton's so called international experienced? Remember what she said about her involvement in the North Ireland peace talks? This is from the British press:

"Hillary Clinton had no direct role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and is a "wee bit silly" for exaggerating the part she played, according to Lord Trimble of Lisnagarvey, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former First Minister of the province.

"I don’t know there was much she did apart from accompanying Bill [Clinton] going around," he said. Her recent statements about being deeply involved were merely "the sort of thing people put in their canvassing leaflets" during elections. "She visited when things were happening, saw what was going on, she can certainly say it was part of her experience. I don’t want to rain on the thing for her but being a cheerleader for something is slightly different from being a principal player."

Dogsoldier - yep, the local news station caught it and reported it also. LOL

I don't think Obama, if he should become president, has any intentions of taking troops out of Iraq, he'll just keep making excuses and string it along.

Yep SJ... Clinton had offered immunity to the Canadians and asked them to produce the name of who they think they spoke to from her camp. Anyone can claim to be anyone on the phone. Caller ID often does not work internationally and I know when I call my Canadian friends they do not know until we start talking who is calling. I personally dont think anyone in her camp or her would be that stupid. But then she is experienced in foreign affairs and pretty much has control of her camp.

I think Sen.Obama did not really want to run for office or some one told him he would have no problem besting Clinton when it got realy tuff it was to much for him he is not a fighter his wife might be but he is to sweet.And I am for Hillary but feel sad that he had people like Kerry and Kennedy giving him advise Oh and lets not leave out Oprah.

Human Rights violation in Iraq and Iraq Withdrawal is related and Power was right in saying that Obama's plan to get combat troops out of Iraq in 16 months is a "best case scenario."

But, if "Not voting for Iraq War" and "Ending war in 2009 " is a branding campaign, who cares for "Human Right".

I think both Clinton and Obama should take Power's advice and address the "Iraq" issue wisely.

Kennedy and Kerry failed their presidential bits. They want Obama to be their puppy so that they can run the country behind.

WOW!!!

The plot just keeps getting thicker!!!

Now, rumors have surfaced that Axelrod may be replaced.

Seems that some in the Obama inner circle suspect the former Clinton employee is not as loyal as they thought.

In addition, some of these inner circle of the Obama campaign threatened resignation citing the dismissal of Samantha Powers as unfair treatment to women.

When the wheels start to come off, they really start to come off...

MattOhio: I concur. Did you see the one, I think abcnews, article where Obama told the reporter he had already answered 8 questions. I don't know what the 8 questions were regarding. If Obama goes up against McCain they are not even in the warming up zone.

Typical, Obama wasn't even in the senate and couldn't even participate in voting for handing power to the commander in chief. I am most certain if he was giving the facts which was misleading btw with the rest of the democrats he wouldn't be saying all this balony about not voting for war. FYI, he was missing in action during the passing of bills and he went along with the rest of the democrats siding with hillary and others after he got promoted to a senate. What makes him difference, his balony flip floping speech which was so obvious after that Nafta incident with the canadians

My question is this, BHO states that he would have voted against the Iraq war.
That is a hypothetical scenario because he couldn't vote. Let's say America went in completed the mission, got out and everyone was happy. What would his position be today?

I hope we have a president that will re-evaluate the facts of a withdraw and change timetables based of the most current inteligence. Open to change if it is right based on input from diverse sorces. It is one thing to have a forceful statement to impact the Iraq government and put pressure on diplomatic solutions and another to protect our people and their people in transition. I hope we have a wise president, wiser than the electorate.

If Obama cannot manage his campaign workers and keep them in line and all on the same page, how is going to manage a country? I saw part of that Gibson interview and turned it off in disgust. When Hillary was ahead in delegates, I don't remember Gibson telling her she should be the nominee and be home resting. News organizations are supposed to report the news. If you want to be the political commentator, then the evening anchor position is no place for you. That skit on SNL last week hit the nail exactly on the head. I have been so disgusted watching some newswomen that I once respected act like they were having a moment while talking to Obama, just like the actress in the skit. Poor Obama whining because he lost Texas and Ohio because Hillary was being mean to him. No, it was because she raised valid points and the people of Texas and Ohio started to THINK about what she was saying. If someone says he used drugs, and he even admitted using drugs, that is stating a fact, not being negative. If someone questions his experience at something, and they can present the case that he has none, they are simply stating facts. Just because it does not reflect favorably on him does not mean the other person is "going negative." That is the nature of politics. You don't get elected by pointing out all of your opponents strongpoints. And if the heat was too bad this week, what does he think the Republicans are going to do? They will eat him for breakfast.

I cannot believe you people are so sucked in by the immoral Clinton machine. A couple points:

1. When Barack Obama made his speech against the war, not only was it unpopular to say so across the nation, but he was RUNNING for the Senate.

2. Hillary Clinton will not release her tax returns, has major donors injail, is required to testify in the Paul v clinton case in Calif (she managed to get her name off the case, Bill remains)and has dozens of older scandals of course

3. Hillary Clinton did not think that "an authorization to use military force in Iraq" was giving permission to go to war

4. re the Nafta comment - don't you get the news in Wyoming - IT WAS CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN THAT CALLED CANADA ON THIS

5. Barack Obama has better plans than Hillary, just check his website under 'issues'

6. Barack Obama has a much more impressive legislative history than HRC - just check the Congressional Record

7. Barack does not take pac money; Hillary takes more than any one - don't you wonder about all the insurance cos, pharmaceutical cos etc that are financing her campaign

I could go on forever - Bottom Line: Barack is a uniter, HRC is a divider. Barack was the first African American President of the Harvard Law Review, Hillary failed the bar exam in DC. Barack has run a campaign that continues to get rave reviews, Hillary, in her only administrative position, went broke, fired her campaign manager, has changed her message a half dozen times and needs to go to mud slinging, lies, the "kitchen sink" to get any traction.

Please, do your homework. Your superficial comments that have no basis in fact are truly a disheartening representation of our electorate.

PS to Melanie: Barack won Texas - check it out, he got more delegates.

Just one more PS:

Barack is ahead over 150 pledged delegates. There is no possible way HRC can catch up - even if she won every state left with 20% margins, she would still be trailing. So, unless you agree that the superdelegates should overturn the will and votes of the people, we already have our nominee. Clinton refuses to accept this, wants to overthrow the results of the nation's primaries and caucuses all just to be a losing nominee in November.

Check out your library for a book written several years ago "the truth about Hillary" by a white house insider

the truth is, obama's elite advisors all know what he is speaking, through his lofty words, inspiring speeches, is just political positioning, is just out to get people's vote. He is not ready to committe himself to what he is saying. Power just slipped that out of her mouth. Isn't Obama lying all this time then? Yet, Power can only saw a monster in Hillary, she refuses to see a hipocrisy in Obama.

Why is your candidate worth voting for? We have to pull this together to align behind a candidate. If all we can say is bad things about the other candidate then your candidate isn’t worth voting for. Do the research, understand your candidate and explain why you are voting for them or why I should. Get the facts “if that is possible” give examples! Give links. This negative stuff just angers and does nothing to choose a good President based on informed decision. Keep it POSITIVE .

C'mon. Iraq - neither candidate wanted war, both candidates want to end it. I applaud Obama for speaking out against the war to begin with BUT, unfortunately, he wasn't in a position of authority to vote "yay" or "nay" for it alongside his Democrat and Republican colleagues. We'll never know how he would have voted if he would have been in Congress at the time. The facts are that he wasn't in Congress at the time which speaks to the questions on his experience. We need to end this war and I think both candidates will make efforts to do so. It is a bit disheartening to hear that Obama's senior advisor paints a different picture that what Obama has been saying.

What is there to Spar about? Hillary was for the Iraq War, and Obama was against it. I've got something to lose on this issue. My Son is in Baghdad at this very moment. I do in fact feel that we have some unfinished buisness in Afghanistan, and I wouldn't have a problem with my Son fighting there, but I do take issue with Iraq. The whole thing is based on a lie, a cornerstone of the Clinton campaign. OBAMA '08

Obama is answering the Iraq war question
post mortem. He says in the hypothetical that he would not have voted for the war. I pose this question
in the hypothetical for his supporters.
It is 2002, Obama can't vote still. We go to war, we are in and out in two or three years. Everyone comes home and life is good. It's now 2008, the same question is posed to Obama. How does he answer that question?

Obama is all talks but no actions. He promised troops withdrawals but his top advisors saying that people should not expect him to stick to his promises. The TRUTH come out. Obama has NO plans, only empty talk. His followers were brain washed by his rhetorics.

This is interesting, but there's nothing to "Spar" about. Hillary supported the War in Iraq, while Obama didn't. If Obama would have been wrong on this it would have been political suicide for him. My Son is with the 10th Mountain Division in Iraq at this very moment. He's told me several times that most of the troops want to fight in Afghanistan, but they don't support the Iraq agenda. Most of the Troops are also for Obama, and against Clinton.