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Hillary Clinton: No Wimps in the White House

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April 18, 2008 10:06 AM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Hillary Clinton thinks the White House is no place for wimps.

Stepping up her criticism of her rival's performance in ABC News' primetime debate on Wednesday, Clinton, D-N.Y., told the FOX affiliate in Philadelphia, "I know he spent all day yesterday complaining about the hard questions he was asked. Being asked tough questions in a debate is nothing like the pressures you face inside the White House. In fact, when the going gets tough, you just can't walk away because we're going to have some very tough decisions that we have to make."

When pressed, Clinton continued the criticism, adding, "When the going gets tough you can't run away. And it's going to be tough going to deal with these hard problems; getting out of Iraq in the right way, turning the economy around, getting universal health care, ending our dependence on foreign oil. The special interests are going to be a lot tougher than 90 minutes of questions from two journalists and we need a president who is going to be up there fighting everyday for the American people and not complain about how much pressure there is, and how hard the questions are."

Sen. Clinton echoed her earlier comments to FOX in her first event on Friday.

"Some of you see that debate the other night?" Clinton asked the crowd in Randor, Pennsylvania. "Well, I know that some of my opponents' supporters and my opponent have been complaining about hard questions. Well, having been in the White House for eight years and seeing what happens in terms of the pressures and the stresses on the president, that was nothing. I'm with Harry Truman on this: if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I am very comfortable in the kitchen."

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

The Obama campaign didn't waste any time in refuting Clinton's claims.

"Considering the fact that Senator Clinton sat on stage at the last debate and complained to all of America that she always gets the first question, her blatant hypocrisy here is stunning," Obama campaign spokesperson Bill Burton said in a written statement. "But if she'd rather spend her time talking about the same distractions and divisions that Washington is obsessed with, that's her business."

The candidate himself -- both literally and figuratively -- tried to brush off the debate on Thursday.

"She was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there, that's her right to kind of twist the knife a little bit," Obama said at a town hall in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday.

"That's how our politics has been taught to be played. That's the lesson that she learned when the Republicans were doing that same thing to her back in the 1990s, so I understand it, and when you're running for the presidency then you've got to expect it."

Obama then paused, brushed both his shoulders, and then bent down and brushed off his knee amid thunderous applause from the audience.

"That's what you got to do," Obama laughed, "That is also precisely why I'm running for president to change that kind of politics."

Bill Clinton also got in on the act on Thursday.

The former President said he didn't see his wife "whining" when she's taken some tough political shots on the presidential campaign trail.

"When I watched that debate last night, I got kinda tickled," Clinton said at an American Legion Hall event in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania, "After the [debate], her opponents', oh, the people working were saying, 'Oh this is so negative, why are they doing this.' Well they've been beatin' up on her for 15 months. I didn't hear her whining when he said she was untruthful in Iowa or called her the senator from Punjab."

"And, you know, they said some pretty rough things about me, too. But you know, this is a contact sport. If you don't want to play, keep your uniform off," Clinton told a loudly cheering crowd.

In her interview with FOX, Sen. Clinton insisted, "We were both asked some pretty tough questions and that's part of what happens in a debate and in a campaign."

Obama called the first half of the debate "tit for tat silliness", and both senators seem to be growing tired of the exercise, having meet 21 times on the debate stage over the course of the campaign.

"We've now had 21 (debates), and look, I mean the previous three, you know, we did very well, so it's not as if we don't know how to do these things," Obama said on Thursday.

Obama has not yet committed to a proposed April 27 debate in Raleigh. Clinton has said she is willing to debate in North Carolina.

"Can I say that I've been through, what 23 of these debates?" Clinton told FOX on Friday. "And as I recall, I was asked some pretty tough questions in nearly every one of them. That goes with the territory, having been inside the White House, I know the pressures inside the White House, I know how hard it is every single day."

ABC News' Sunlen Miller and Sarah Amos contributed to this report.

April 18, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (864)

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A day too late on the shoulder-brushing. You froze and looked freaked out the night before. Too bad he didn't think of brushing it off when 10 million people were watching him blow that debate BIGTIME.

Posted by: Amy Hepler | Apr 18, 2008 10:17:51 AM

This cracks me up! Hilary was the one complaining forever about how she got all of the hard questions... and now she is trying to flip it around.

I didn't like her before, and I really don't like her now.

Posted by: Matt | Apr 18, 2008 10:20:49 AM

The real problem is that most media commentators think that the American political process has to be a bitter brawl of attacks and counter-attacks and if a politician doesn't sink to the lows of tearing his/her opponent up, then he/she doesn't have what it takes to be President. When did we become so warped in our views as Americans? Where the highest and most important job in the land has as its qualifications.... most negative, most aggressive, most slick.

What message are we sending to our children and what difference is there between politicians and bullies in schools? Lastly, if they have to go through the rituals of attack and conquer, why do we think this won't be their operating style in the White House? We expect politicians to enact the "worse" aspects of human nature to become elected and then expect them to work together in Congress and solve our problems. We are being naive.... we have to change the tone and approach of what we expect in the political process. We should expect and vote on the individual's ability to demonstrate the BEST of the human spirit and certainly, not the worse.

Posted by: nerakami | Apr 18, 2008 10:21:59 AM

Is it just me or was it Hillary who was crying before New Hampshire AND Super Tuesday?

This woman loves to re-write History.

Posted by: white in PA | Apr 18, 2008 10:24:13 AM

Wasn't it Hillary who was complaining that the media bends over backwards for Obama and says stuff like do you want a pillow Obama.

She should just stop while she is ahead. She is coming off as a B*TCH!

Posted by: Stacey | Apr 18, 2008 10:24:41 AM

You may not like Hillary, but you will enjoy President McCain, which will happen when we Hillary supporters vote for him. Daily Kos will go insane. Can't wait.

Posted by: al | Apr 18, 2008 10:25:10 AM

Nerakami:

Who's naive? Tell that to the right-wing polittcal machine, then let me know what they think of your ideas.

Posted by: Amy Hepler | Apr 18, 2008 10:26:55 AM

When he's only been asked if he needs a pillow in the past debates I'm sure he was caught off gaurd. Using his own words he just "mangled" it. Obviously he is only good at speeches that he prepares in advance. The real BO was at that debate & he is as fake & as phony as they come. He even lied about his handwriting. He needs to bail out!

Posted by: Terri | Apr 18, 2008 10:29:02 AM

Who was it that was literally in tears about getting the first question and used SNL for defense? As far as cleaning up the White House, she cleaned so well the last time they had to return some of the furniture she stole.

Posted by: jAYjAY | Apr 18, 2008 10:29:17 AM

Is this the same woman who was crying in NH?

Posted by: dl | Apr 18, 2008 10:29:27 AM

Jake: look into Obama campaign handler Jodie Evans...Chavez ally and advocate for Islamic militants. More and more out there once you start looking into this person Obama. We should be complaining this was not done EARLIER!

Posted by: al | Apr 18, 2008 10:32:39 AM

"The special interests are going to be a lot tougher than 90 minutes of questions..."

Is she talking about the "special interests" that fund her campaign?

---------------------------------

Will the superdelegates PLEASE put stop acting like spineless, stupid cows and put an end to Hillary's destructive, hypocritical jihad before she unfairly, inaccurately and needlessly tarnishes our nominee any further?

Posted by: balthus | Apr 18, 2008 10:33:48 AM

al: Your vote for McCain will be in vain. We the people do not want our kids in Iraq anymore. We the people want to be able to send our kids to college. We the people want to be able to hold on to our homes. We the people want to be able to afford to drive to our jobs, that is, if we still have jobs due to NAFTA policies. We the people want to be able to afford health insurance for our families. Get the picture? Obama will get the nomination and if people use their heads instead of their rear ends they will vote democratic. McCain will drive this country only further into the gutter. Of course, it's your choice. Revenge voting is just about the dumbest thing I ever heard of.

Posted by: counting crows | Apr 18, 2008 10:38:31 AM

You've gotta be kidding!! This is coming from the same Hillary that complained at getting the first questions in a debate, better press coverage, etc.?? She's saying Obama's a wimp??

What a joke!!

Posted by: Lynne | Apr 18, 2008 10:38:57 AM

Not revenge. Just could never vote Obama. And there are SO MANY of us out here! You better adjust your expectations for November. NO Obama thug in the white house. did you see him give Hillary the finger? just one thing after another with him.

Posted by: al | Apr 18, 2008 10:41:38 AM

With all due respect, it is very challenging running against a woman candidate. Remember what happened to Hillary in the last NY senate race? Obama has had to walk a fine line, and show remarkable restraint, to avoid being perceived as a bully and intimidator. In contrast, Hillary can go to town on Obama, say what ever she wants, and her only risk is that she is accused of acting bi*chy. One false step, especially at a debate, could cost Obama the nomination. There is no single false step that Hillary could make that would likewise be a defining moment which would lose her the nomination. She can say and do whatever she wants, and it is simply OK with everyone. Rest assured that Obama will fight back hard without restraint against McCain in the national election. This is just the way it is. I'm not complaining, just stating my opinion. I think for most of the election, he has had to contest it with his hands behind his back. Do you really think he is just a nice considerate guy not wanting to fight back and take his fair share of shots? That's not in a man's nature, trust me. There are so many ways he could attack her if she were a man. My hats off to him for walking this fine line and thriving. But watch out McCain, he'll be all over you, with a strong message of change and unity for this country that voters are extremely hungry for.

Posted by: rco | Apr 18, 2008 10:45:00 AM

I wanted to see a debate>>>>Not the bull that has been going on now for weeks,She is something else and I hope this bites her in the butt.Like Obama said have answered those questions many time,they asked any more he said no you know what I will say and you know what she would say.21 is plenty,,,

Thanks to ABC for the * that was asked..................

Posted by: honest | Apr 18, 2008 10:46:14 AM

And when he is challenged in the slightest, Obama decides to give HIllary the middle finger at a rally in NC.

What is it the crowd fins so funny when Obama isn't talking about anything funny, other than him flipping off the former first lady of the United States and his opponent.

This man is unpresidential.

He behaves like a school child who doesnt like his teacher.

Show the video and let people decide what the crowd and Mr obama find so amusing.

Mr Obama is unpresidential.

Posted by: s.b. | Apr 18, 2008 10:47:10 AM

I agree with the majority of people here, Rick, that are surprised that Hillary is casting Obama as a wimpy whiner. Hillary has done more whine than Ernest and Julio Gallo in every debate. The press coverage, the first questions, that she is a woman, that she is tired, confused at 3am and can't remember Bosnia. Obama never called her a whiner, or a complainer.

She has NO honor. I couldn't elect a president with no honor.

Posted by: Jerome | Apr 18, 2008 10:47:14 AM

To quote Harry Truman.."If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen"..Obama is WEAK a fair weather politician...The demolition derby has just began..NO OBAMA IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Posted by: Antonn | Apr 18, 2008 10:47:33 AM

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