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Obama Camp Infiltrates Clinton Call
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ShareMarch 04, 2008 9:06 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Talal Al-Khatib Report: In one of the most bizarre moments of the 2008 campaign, Obama campaign lawyer Bob Bauer called into a Tuesday night Clinton campaign conference call with reporters. The four and a half minute exchange led to a series of antagonistic questions painting the former first lady's charges of caucus vote tampering as baseless.
"I'd be interested to know," said Bauer, "how is this any different from the series of complaints that you've registered against every caucus that you lose?"
Listen to the exchange between Bauer and Clinton campaign communications director Howard Wolfson here.
The purpose of the Clinton campaign conference call was to accuse Obama's Texas backers of improperly padding the Illinois Democrat's caucus vote total. The improper padding was allegedly done earlier in the day on Tuesday by getting primary voters who support Obama to fill out sign-in sheets all day long rather than waiting until the primary polls close and the caucus process formally gets underway. Part of the challenge of the Lone Star State's hybrid primary-caucus system is getting one's backers to vote once in the primary (either in person or through early voting) and once in the caucus.
Allegations of sign-in sheets being filled out before the primary polls close is a serious allegation because the sign-in sheets are the equivalent of caucus votes. The Texas Democratic Party rules only require someone to sign their name and state their presidential preference; caucus participants are not required to attend the entire caucus meeting.
While the Clinton campaign has aggressively raised questions about a Texas caucus process whose result is expected to favor Obama, the Obama campaign has also expressed their concerns to the Texas Democratic Party that Clinton's supporters were not abiding by party rules.
The Texas Democratic Party responded by issuing a memo setting forth party rules and urging both sides to stick to them.
While the Clinton campaign has sought to portray the memo's reference to impropriety on the part of "a given campaign" as having been issued with the purpose of rebuking Obama, Texas Democratic Party spokesman Hector Nieto told ABC News that such an assertion is not true.
The Texas Democratic Party is making a concerted effort not to take sides. Nieto says concerns have been expressed by both the Clinton and Obama campaigns while adding that the Texas Democratic Party does not have any proof to substantiate any of the charges.
While the Texas Democratic Party has a formal process for challenging caucus sign-in sheets, it doesn't come until when the state Democratic Party holds its convention in June, according to Nieto. "This memo was just sent out to make certain that both campaigns are aware of what the procedures are," said Nieto. "We expect both campaigns to abide by these rules."
As soon as the operator opened up Bauer's line on a conference call, which was intended for reporters, the Obama lawyer began painting Clinton as a repeat caucus loser whose strategy is always to question the integrity of the caucus vote.
Wolfson responded to Bauer's infiltration of the Clinton call by encouraging him to see to it that allegations of caucus vote tampering be addressed in an expeditious way.
Wolfson concluded his exchange with Bauer in stride, saying, "We look forward to asking our own questions in subsequent phone calls of yours."
After Bauer got off the line following a few minutes of scathing rhetoric, a reporter asked Wolfson to identify the Obama lawyer who had called in. Wolfson spelled Bauer's name and accused him of having engaged in a "vigorous defense of the indefensible."
After the episode had concluded, the Clinton camp reacted to Bauer's highly unorthodox move by portraying the Obama campaign as increasingly unstable.
"They are unhinged," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer told ABC News. "Seriously."
March 4, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (111)
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Bauer is way over the top with this kind of behavior. I would hope that his man would both denounce and reject that type of hostile, disruptive, and spying activity on the part of the Obama campaign. Shame, shame, shame.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 4, 2008 9:26:14 PM
"Caucuses don't matter, silly." Haven't you been listening? If they aren't '80 year old white women' they cannot be trusted.
Posted by: disabledOIFvet | Mar 4, 2008 9:29:22 PM
Talk about dirty tactics on the part of a campaign! Shame on you Obama's lawyer! This ploy was obviously designed to get press coverage.
Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 4, 2008 9:31:47 PM
That was uncalled for, but this article is neither clear nor complete. What was Wolfson complaining about (besides everything)? And why didn't the press ask him 'hey, Wolfie, you had over a year to learn about and plan for caucus states--what gives?'
Posted by: Luis | Mar 4, 2008 9:32:19 PM
From what I saw, there are polling places that are violating the party rules. Both candidates should be interested in this being resolved. Where is Obama's so-called integrity?
Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 4, 2008 9:34:07 PM
I keep stating to those entranced by OBAMA that there is more dirt to come...and although OBAMA has presented himself as the true candidate of "change" his true politico-self will eventually come out. The above is just and example of the depths he and his campaign staff will go to win this election. I am certain there is more going on....
Don't be fooled by the flashy speeches and rhetoric...It's still more of the same right down to the core!
Posted by: Marty | Mar 4, 2008 9:39:19 PM
Hey, if something needs to get resolved, it probably will be. But the whiny conference call was open to reporters and so what if someone from the Obama campaign called their bluff!! It's about time. Maybe saved the press from a second conference call!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 | Mar 4, 2008 9:42:10 PM
Did not Hilary tried all her 'kitchen sink' (sic!) trickery on Obama?
CLintons painted Obama - 'not black enough', 'cryptic muslim - Hussain' with robo-call, even recently painted Obama darker than he appears. These are indegenious tectic, seeing Clintons doing all their tectic on Obama is just sickening!
Lets turn the page, lets make Hilary a history for yesterday!
Posted by: roger | Mar 4, 2008 9:43:52 PM
Clinton lies, cheats and steals constantly so why get upset when someone finally turns the tables? Her and Bill's opponents have died by the scores. Unhealthy bunch... huh?
Posted by: Jack Waldrop | Mar 4, 2008 9:43:59 PM
Does anyone really believe that Hillary Clinton ends up with EXACTLY the results she needed to continue to stick around. Coincidence ? Like New Hampshire, just in time to slow down the train. Obama or Mccain 09
Posted by: tracksta | Mar 4, 2008 9:44:41 PM
Obama is the most machiavellian candidate ever, a phony fellow , a product of Chicago's dirty politics. If he wins the nomination, big chunk Hillary supporters will go McCain.
Posted by: dem | Mar 4, 2008 9:45:32 PM
Beginning to look like O's friends are all questionable regarding their integrity. Birds of a feather flock together. O's getting hit pretty hard with the press with real news....he's got to finally begin to tell it all to everybody who is an American about who he really is in every facet of his life. Voters have the right to know the truth about their presidential hopefuls.
Posted by: Dogood1 | Mar 4, 2008 9:53:53 PM
Hillary said that she offers a life-long experiences and Obama offers only one speech in 2002. Now Hillary supporters - can you really back up your candidate's claim? It looks scary to me to send someone like that to White House. Will she solve problems or create more problems?
When Bill Clinton won Texas twice they had no problem with the process there. Now the process is to blame because Hillary might lose there? How so?
I don't drink Latte, I don't drive Prius, but I support Obama. Anyone smart enough to run the White House, would not have done name calling of Obama supporters as stupid dreamers while clearly she needs support from those she put down to send her to White House.
Posted by: hubbs | Mar 4, 2008 10:06:52 PM
I can't believe anyone would trust him enough to be the President of this country.
"Obama is the weakest link"
Posted by: seah | Mar 4, 2008 10:07:04 PM
A BIG CLINTON (ABC) NETWORK - keep up the good work.
Posted by: Jim | Mar 4, 2008 10:13:17 PM
She gets a taste of her own doings....ha-ha like she has never done this before.Both Clintons cry foul when they lose ...No one is dirter then Billy Boy and she is a close second.
Posted by: honest | Mar 4, 2008 10:14:49 PM
If a conservative wins an election/caucus/primary/etc. in a narrow victory, there always seems to be cries of "Fraud!" or "Disenfranchised!". How come this is simply played as a family feud? There are two closets crammed full of skeletons here, folks, and the door is creaking open. But don't be shocked when ABC and big media say, "Nope. No skeletons here."
Posted by: No Options | Mar 4, 2008 10:31:13 PM
The Republicans WIN!!!
Posted by: Dan, St Louis | Mar 4, 2008 10:31:45 PM
On another topic:
I just had a thought: All males born after December 31, 1959 by law have to register for Selective Service (aka the draft). Do we know if Senator Barack Obama registered? He was born August 4th of 1961. If not, why not?
Posted by: Alan Srout | Mar 4, 2008 10:33:52 PM
If a conservative wins an election/caucus/primary/etc. in a narrow victory, there always seems to be cries of "Fraud!" or "Disenfranchised!". How come this is simply played as a family feud? There are two closets crammed full of skeletons here, folks, and the door is creaking open.
Is it possible that HRC is actually getting screwed? We'll never know. The only acceptable explanation is that BHO is winning fair and square.
Posted by: No Options | Mar 4, 2008 10:35:44 PM
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