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Obama Questions Clinton's Experience

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March 05, 2008 12:42 PM

ABC News' David Wright Reports: On board his campaign plane bound for Chicago, Sen. Barack Obama previewed the sharper-edged campaign that’s likely to follow his defeats in Texas and Ohio. 

Obama told reporters he plans to question Sen. Clinton's claims to superior experience and foreign policy judgment.  “It’s important to examine that claim and not just allow her to assert it,” Obama said.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

"I know she talks about visiting 80 countries,” he said.  “It’s not clear, you know, was she negotiating treaties or agreements?  Was she handling crises during this period of time?  My sense of the answer is no."

"I have not seen any evidence that she is better able to handle a crisis,” Obama said.  “If the only criterion is longevity in Washington, then she’s certainly not going to beat John McCain on that,” Obama said.

The Illinois senator also questioned her claim to being more thoroughly vetted as a candidate.  “I think that’s an issue that should be tested,” he said, indicating the Obama campaign will be more aggressive in pushing Clinton to release her income tax returns as well as the fundraising records for the Clinton Library.

Asked about the possibility of a joint Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton ticket – which, Clinton suggested today on the CBS Early Show, is “where this seems to be headed” – Obama smiled wryly.

“You know I've said before that I respect Sen. Clinton as a public servant,” Obama said.  “She’s a tenacious opponent.  I think it is very premature to start talking about a joint ticket.”

March 5, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (124)

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Those who are saying Hillary has won big States must understand that she did not win 100%. There is also a percentage which Obama won as well.

Hillary without Obama can not win the Presidency. Thats why she suggested the joint ticket. But due to the following, I do not think Obama will accept her offer so easily:

1. The leakege Photo of Obama in traditional Somali dress.
2. Hillary Red Phone TV ad in Texas.
3. "Shame on You" Meet Me in Ohio" remarks.
4. Issue of Obama being Muslim and Hillary comment "not that I know of".
5. She raised the issue of Rezko.
6. The revealation of Obama Economic Aide meeting with Canadian Officials about NAFTA.

And a lot more!

Posted by: Peace | Mar 5, 2008 1:25:04 PM

I agree with WestCoastMessenger wholeheartedly. Try to put this word through to the Dem Party bosses somehow. Bottomline is Obama Cannot Close. In future contests his stubbornness will go against the will of people. He cant be the front-runner maybe the VP.

Posted by: MattOhio | Mar 5, 2008 1:25:53 PM

Waw! Obama plans to question Hillary's experience.

I think it is high time that the people question Obama about his experience with Rezko too.

Posted by: Someone | Mar 5, 2008 1:28:34 PM

If it comes to the joint ticket I think Obama would be the better person and forgive Hillary her ...smearing- he really does want what is best for this country. That is what he has believed all along, now if I could just get that same feeling from Hillary then this wouldn't feel so gross to think about ...

Posted by: dreamer? | Mar 5, 2008 1:28:58 PM

WestCoast - I have to ask, do you accept the Clinton campaign's suggestion that Obama isn't ready?

If so, how can you support Obama as a running mate? The VP is a heartbeat away.

I think Obama is ready, or at least as ready as any non-incumbent could be. But I was just wondering about what I see as a contradictory message from Clinton, and whether her supporters agree with it.

Posted by: Paul | Mar 5, 2008 1:31:21 PM

Hillary doesn't have a chance vs. McCain. She has too many skeletons in her closet. (Hey - maybe the tax papers and White House papers are lost in her closet again?? Last time it took 4 years to find them!)

If all they have on Obama is a loose relationship with Rezko - that's nothing compared to the never ending list of lies and litigation and embarrasment that she'll bring upon the Democratic party. If she is the nominee, the Republicans win.

Obama is the hope of the Democratic Party - Edwards on the ticket with him would be the best.

Posted by: Robert | Mar 5, 2008 1:31:45 PM

Barrack,

Only foreign policy experience you have is what you inherited from your father who used to herd goats in Kenya. Hillary went all over the world and met and discussed military and political issues with leaders of all major countries during Bill's terms 1992-2000. She has a lot of experience of dealing with world leaders and you have goat herding experience from your father. Just think about that. You coudn't be that dumb.

Posted by: Sam NJ | Mar 5, 2008 1:32:26 PM

if people are still doing delegate math, they are just too junior to politics... The truth is:

Neither candidates will have enough delegates into convention by rule... It will be up to super delegates to decide beased on:

The keys here are popular vote and who is the strongest one and has the best chance to beat Rep.

Hillary will win popular vote (she just regained it) by winning the big states. It is the will of majority of people. If Superdelegates vote against, Obama has to eat his words: delegates should follow the will of people..

Then who is the strongest and best change?? It is clear now..

Posted by: Truth | Mar 5, 2008 1:33:19 PM

as far as the superdelagates voting with their states, hillary would gain a total of 37 from last nights contests but would lose all the superdelegates from the previous 11 states. She still does not want them to be counted that way. She will continue to go negative, stall releasing her taxes and white house documents. If she gets the nomination those documents will come out and she will be shown to be a fraud. Visiting cpountries on the President's arm and for photo ops does not make for foreign policy experience.
taking money from Saudi businessmen and royals in order to fund your campaign does not integrity make. If her argument for time in is to be looked at as valid, she just endorsed John McCain for President.

Posted by: Louis | Mar 5, 2008 1:33:50 PM

The big states argument makes me want to kill myself. NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA WILL GO TO ANY DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, THATS NOT AN ISSUE! THE ISSUE IS WHO CAN WIN CROSSOVER APPEAL TO TAKE BACK THE WHITE HOUSE! OBAMA WINS IN THE RED STATES AND HE CAN WIN SOME IN NOVEMBER!

And if we're talking about experience and judgment? Well shoot, if Obama let his wife cheat on him, he'd probably have been ripped a long time ago right? Ooh wait a minute, I thought this is all about women's rights and having the first woman president? Hmmm too bad we can't look at Hill from the same perspective cuz, last time I checked, supporting the humiliation of someone's wife is not supporting the feminist cause.

Posted by: Bill and Michelle | Mar 5, 2008 1:34:44 PM

I dont know how many will laugh with me on this...but last night Obama camp dint see the Clinton machine run over them...they were busy looking at the calculators.

Posted by: MattOhio | Mar 5, 2008 1:34:52 PM

Dreamer last night the Obama lawyers were so desperate they crashed a private Clinton conference call. Now if that is not reaching for the bottom, not to forget the judge in Ohio who tried to assist Obama campaign last night. That will get the airtime it deserves very soon, mark my words. Check it out and see for yourself.

Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 5, 2008 1:36:38 PM

She made a tough vote that to this day is hard to live with.All he can say is I would have voted against it.Thats like saying I would have bought a lottery ticket after finding out the numbers and than trying to get a cut of the winnings.

Posted by: girlinvt | Mar 5, 2008 1:36:38 PM

Is there a reason why candidates are allowed to get this far into the race without full disclosure of pertinent documents? It seems like this happens all the time and then by the time we have already picked our nominee it is too late. Another vote between Worse and Worser.Does anyone know why that is?

Posted by: dreamer? | Mar 5, 2008 1:36:45 PM

MattOhio - the results of all four states are pretty close to what Axelrod projected back in the first week of February. That's the difference between a campaign that plans ahead, and one that doesn't.

So, I don't agree with your assessment that Obama's campaign doesn't recognize what's happening.

Posted by: Paul | Mar 5, 2008 1:37:23 PM

Hillary and Bill Clinton would sell her mother to the highest bidder if they thought it would help them!

She thinks she is entitled to the Presidency!

Well, we have something to say about that!

Posted by: Patsy Moore | Mar 5, 2008 1:39:24 PM

"I think it is very premature to start talking about a joint ticket.”

Where is Mr. Unity now?

This very comment by Obama flies in the face of his claim that this election is about the people not him. Apparently his ego cannot handle being number 2.

I guess the people of Texas and Ohio saw through all of this lies.

YEAH AMERICA!

Posted by: Ben | Mar 5, 2008 1:39:50 PM

Sam - you've gotta be kidding!!!
"Hillary went all over the world and met and discussed military and political issues with leaders of all major countries during Bill's terms 1992-2000."

Whaaa haaa haaa haaa - she really has you believing THAT??? You are gullable or too young to know better.

Maybe if she ever reveals her itinerary from those years - oh, she's working on that, right??

ha ha ha

Posted by: roberts | Mar 5, 2008 1:40:01 PM

DogSoldier, I have heard all about it, I have listened to the spins from both sides and I stayed up way too late last night to see everyone show their true colors...yeah I got it- idk though is it deperation or just sheer frustration? Trying to pay attention to all of the back and forth he said she saids is exhausting. I would rather just watch them focus on the issues.

Posted by: dreamer? | Mar 5, 2008 1:40:38 PM

In fact, let's take this a step further. It takes preparation to be ready on Day One. It takes hard work.

Aren't these the basic rationale for Clinton's campaign now? She'll work harder, she'll be ready...

Well, given the actions of their respective campaigns, I'd suggest Obama might just be the president-elect who will be ready on Day One.

Posted by: Paul | Mar 5, 2008 1:40:49 PM

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