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War of Words Rages Between Clinton, Obama Camps
March 22, 2008 2:31 PM
ABC News’ Sunlen Miller and Kate Snow report: Gen. Tony McPeak, one of Sen. Barack Obama’s co-chairs, addressed, on camera, Bill Clinton’s remarks from yesterday in North Carolina.
Clinton in Charlotte said, "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country and people could actually asks themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."
McPeak, at a rally in Medford, Ore., read Clinton’s statement and responded, “Both Barack Obama and John McCain are great patriots who love this country and are devoted to it. So is Hillary Clinton. Any suggestion to the contrary is flat wrong.”
He added that he was astonished and disappointed by Clinton’s words and that he doesn’t believe these types of tactics belong in politics.
McPeak said Clinton should understand this, being a victim during his own previous campaign.
“I'm saddened to see a president employ these kind of tactics. He, of all people, should know better because he was the target of exactly the same kind of tactic when he first ran 16 years ago. They had no place then. These tactics have no place in American politics ... And I am happy and proud to support a candidate who loves his country so much that he would never play that kind of divisive tactic."
Yesterday, McPeak made an off-camera statement likening Clinton’s remarks to McCarthyism. But today, his rhetoric was admittedly tamed. “[The]senator's got me on a short string here 'cause occasionally I say something a little earthier.”
McPeak, in the past, has been somewhat of a loose cannon for the Obama campaign -- most notably coming under criticism for his comment following Hillary Clinton’s tearful moment in New Hampshire when he said that Obama “doesn’t go on television and have crying fits: he isn’t discovering his voice at the age of 60.”
McPeak later took back those comments, and the Obama campaign distanced themselves from his remarks.
Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson calls McPeak's comments about Bill Clinton's words a "deliberate misreading" of what Clinton said.
Referring to yesterday's reference to Joseph McCarthy, Wolfson added, “I think most Democrats would be shocked to learn that a two-term president was compared to McCarthy. Comparing Bill Clinton to Joseph McCarthy is an outrage and ought to be retracted. That is a deliberate misreading of what the president said, and [McPeak] knows better.”
Wolfson said that Clinton's original remarks had "absolutely nothing to do with Sen. Obama."
Clinton deputy communications director Phil Singer said he would encourage members of the media to question the Obama campaign about why they continue to invite McPeak to speak on the campaign trail. “It’s a question they should have to answer," Singer said.
“Senator Obama talks about running a high-minded camp and then continues to associate himself with someone who engages in these kinds of personal attacks," Singer added.
He said that, to compare Clinton to McCarthy “doesn’t pass the laugh test. Instead of willfully and deliberately distorting Bill Clinton’s remarks, the Obama campaign ought to do a better job of making the case for why their candidate is ready to be commander-in-chief. Manufactured attacks like this one aren’t going to divert attention from the Obama campaign’s recent political troubles.”
Obama, himself, did not address the issue at his town hall. Instead, in a bizarre order of events, at the top of his speech, said, “I’m gonna go a bit out of order here. Usually I don’t do this,” as he prompted McPeak to come on stage to make his comments on Clinton.
And Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said, in a written statement, "Since the Clinton campaign had a news-less conference call, reiterating tired lines of attack with no basis in reality, instead of responding with a call of our own, we are going to give the press corps a break so that we can all enjoy this holiday weekend with our families, and maybe even watch a little basketball."
UPDATE:
ABC News senior national correspondent Jake Tapper asked Singer how the Clinton campaign could be so offended by McPeak’s comments when Bill Clinton, in 1992, suggested that former President Bush used McCarthyism tactics. Singer replied, “President Bush actually employed a McCarthyesque tactic to which Bill Clinton responded. Bill Clinton didn’t question Obama’s patriotism.”
And when Singer was asked about Wolfson comparing Obama to former independent counsel Ken Starr, he said, “Ken Starr raised questions about Sen. Clinton’s ethics. The Obama camp is doing the same thing.”
March 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (488)
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If Hillary would drop out of the race as she should because it is impossible for her to take the lead, none of us would be wasting our energy fighting each other.
I don't care what Bill or Hillary or Barack say about each other anymore. None of it matters because the nominee is Barack Obama. He has a 170 delegate lead in pledged delegates. It is impossible for Hillary to take the lead. We should all be yelling at the super delegates because they could end this thing right now so Obama and the democratic party can focus on winning the election.
Posted by: J in Seattle | Mar 22, 2008 3:08:54 PM
Let's see, Tuesday Obama made a speech to do damage control for the Wright race issue. Wednesday-Obama does damage control of the damage control for throwing grandma under the bus in the first damage control speech. Thursday-Obama does damage control of the damage control of the damage control and calls grandma a "typical white person" throwing grandma under the bus for a second time. Friday-Obama does damage control of the damage of the damage control of yet another damage control for "typical white people". Wow! That's hard to follow. Poor grandma. So many tire tracks. Saturday-Obama uses another lap dog for more damage control. Can't wait for Sunday.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 22, 2008 3:09:01 PM
Obama cannot face real hard facts and issue...that's truth he ignore's everything and turn it around like he's the innocent victim all the time...instead of blaming Wright he blames his white grandma, instead of admit he does business with Rezko he denies it...etc etc what else is this guy hiding?
Posted by: MARINE4EVER | Mar 22, 2008 3:10:39 PM
I am sickened by the Obama Campaign. I find Obama to be a total hypocrit and racially discriminatory toward whites and expecially white women. Obama is doing everything to cause and start a racial civil war. I am disgusted by Obama's constant attacks against Hillary and Bill. I have always voted Democratic since 1952 but I will vote for McCain over Obama. Hillary is a proper leader for USA. Go Hillary Go.
Posted by: DemocratForever | Mar 22, 2008 3:11:07 PM
A further comment about the Reverend, if he despises Hillary so much and hates "rich white people" so much, what the heck is he doing dining at the White House with all these type of people who he shows such obvious hatred towards in his sermons? Is the food that good at the White House?
Posted by: Jim | Mar 22, 2008 3:11:41 PM
Again, we see Obama playing divisive politics despite his call to a higher order to end the same old politics in Washington. His campaign and his surrogates propel these personal attacks on Hillary Clinton which only makes him out to be a coward. His whole campaign is predicated on race and he HAS brought race into these campaign from the very start not just recently. He is seen as shameless by many in the working class in his character assasination on Mrs. Clinton
Posted by: Jane | Mar 22, 2008 3:14:03 PM
You know, when this race started I was so happy that either way, we had two great candidates...Obama and Hillary, but after all the nastiness coming from the Clinton camp, I'm convinced the only one I would EVER vote for now is Obama. So, even if by some trickery or party hackery, Hillary swipes the nomination, I would rather vote for John McCain then see the Clintons in the White House again. There was a reason I didn't vote in 2000 and I thank the Clintons for reminding me why! By the way, all you creeps here questioning Obama's patriotism and descency should be ashamed of yourselves. You're falling right into Rush Limbaugh's pocket. Thanks for losing us the White House again!
Posted by: Sharon DeMateo | Mar 22, 2008 3:14:36 PM
Where in Bill's comments does he mention Obama?
This is the Obama campaign playing the race card again, and Hillary should push back hard.
Posted by: DK | Mar 22, 2008 3:15:24 PM
Per the DNC rules, pledged delegates are not bound to the electorate. They can change their vote at the national convention. While the number of thme that have changed in the past elections has been small, this race is so close and unpredictable that it will matter. The superdelegates may not be the one to tip the election to Clinton. The pledged delegates can do it also. Currently Obama's projected lead is 3.5% of the pledged delegates. It wont take many to change that. Voters need to realize the media sites are simply projecting a best guess and their margin of errors are greater than the margin of the projected lead. The race is not over by a longshot. Remember when Obama said if he can get within 100 delegates, he has a shot? This is what his strategists in his camp were referring to. Clinton knows this is true also. Both camps have admitted that both of them will be going after pledged delegates (not just superdelegates) at the convention. There will be a lot more dirt known to the public by August. I am seeing information about Obama coming out regarding stock purchases in a company that benefitted from his legislation, suppoedly he got caught campaigning in his Senate office (federal offense), the outcome of the Rezko trial is not known yet and he has an advisor at the trial every day, and now a company headed up by one of his advisors employed the people who illegally peaked at passport records? Oh yeah... lots more to come! The accusations against Clinton that prompted the lawsuit on her schedules have been shown without merit now that the schedules were released. I suspect other accusations will also be shown without merit. But in Obama's case, he has consistently denied, lied, then admitted to lying while trying to turn the attentino off of him. His judgment is being questioned on many fronts and his credibility continues its dive downward. The race is not over, stay with it Hillary!!!!!!!!
Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 22, 2008 3:16:08 PM
Bill Clinton's comments were hardly a slam against Obama, and anyone who thinks so - including Mr. McPeak - is just looking to start a fight. All President Clinton said was he believed his wife and Sen. McCain both love their country...he said nothing about Obama, nor did he question Obama's patriotism.
I'm tired of Obama surrogates looking for something to fight about. Let these primaries in the remaining states and Puerto Rico play out, then move on to the convention.
Posted by: John Cummings | Mar 22, 2008 3:20:27 PM
Bill Clinton judging anyone's patriotism is a joke! He and Cheney had their opportunity to be patriots, but passed the test. They let others bleed for our freedoms! He wants to elevate himself (and wife) to a position that never of them have earned or deserve. He is beginning to bring back all of the drama and none of the substance of a man that time is slowly passing by.
This is the latest sound bite to distact everyone from the real issues--The war, the economy, the ecology. Maybe if we all look over here no one will look to close at the Hillary papers just released and realize that she has been lying about NAFTA, and her readiness on day one. Nice try Bill, but not this time.
Posted by: DQuinn | Mar 22, 2008 3:20:35 PM
Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton both are selfish, arrogant and unprincipled people. Period. No place for them in Politics, forget presidnecy.
John Mccain is a decent man but he has no qualification other than supporting every war since Vietnam. No way he should be President.
Barack Obama has shown to be an intelligent person, has leadership qualities, talks with candor and shows a keen sense of being in touch with the pulse of the country.
He should be nominated President and we can all save a lot of money in avoiding these campaigns and elections.
Posted by: Venkat | Mar 22, 2008 3:22:17 PM
I wish all you Clinton supporters would be as angry towards Clinton's ethics ( come on, everyone knows they're dirty...face it) as Obama's association with Wright.
Also, why aren't you guys in an uproar about all the evangelical preachers spewing their hate...Hagee, Parsely, Robertson.
Posted by: Cathy | Mar 22, 2008 3:24:08 PM
LOL! Where was Clinton in Vietnam...oh that's right, he ducked out of the whole mess! He's a fine one to be talking about patriotism! McCain's got to be the luckiest guy ever running for office, as the Democrats prove--yet again--why they can't be trusted to run a Dairy Queen, let alone the country!
Posted by: George | Mar 22, 2008 3:24:31 PM
It saddens me to see all the Democrats fighting. I live in Oregon and I would not be upset to see the Super delegates start taking sides now to avoid a drawn out race.I really don't care if my vote is counted or not. We need this decision to be made or we will not get health care in the future. I must say.. this last comment by President Clinton makes me so sad. He was a President that I really liked (despite his infidelities) and now he seems to be supporting the Republican cause at every turn having wonderful things to say about McCain. And Obama releasing that picture of his Preacher with President Clinton is a bummer too. We need to pull this together. I also think Clinton needs a wake up call on the pledged delegate votes. Are we gonna see a scorched earth because she doesn't get what she wants. Its time for folks to make a call. Superdelegates STEP IN!!!
Posted by: Tricia | Mar 22, 2008 3:25:06 PM
Let's see, Tuesday Obama made a speech to do damage control for the Wright race issue. Wednesday-Obama does damage control of the damage control for throwing grandma under the bus in the first damage control speech. Thursday-Obama does damage control of the damage control of the damage control and calls grandma a "typical white person" throwing grandma under the bus for a second time. Friday-Obama does damage control of the damage of the damage control of yet another damage control for "typical white people". Wow! That's hard to follow. Poor grandma. So many tire tracks. Saturday-Obama uses another lap dog for more damage control. Can't wait for Sunday.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 22, 2008 3:25:12 PM
Obama people are waiting what Clintons say anything or on anybody that can be used for their advantage. They just want them to open their mouth so that they can hammer them with the help of Obamas Internet machinary and high paid media. But, Americans are great and they know what to do when they go to voting booth.
Hillary will win 2008
Posted by: Gubby | Mar 22, 2008 3:25:12 PM
If Hillary was strong enough to stand alone, she would. But she's not and that is why she has Bill. Working women that do it alone every single day know a phony when we see one. You know her too--The wife of the supervisor that works with you--Yeah, she is a plus in the office...right. Keep telling yourself that.
Posted by: DQuinn | Mar 22, 2008 3:25:28 PM
What has the democrat party become that they had to scoop so low to dis on one of their own a former President of the United States. I think this party is not what I thought it was. We are down there with the republicans.
Posted by: lois | Mar 22, 2008 3:26:32 PM
The Obama Crew is too busy whining to talk issues. They've been trashing Bill and Hillary at every opportunity and you don't see them whine.
Posted by: TOM | Mar 22, 2008 3:29:08 PM
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