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Obama Campaign Revives Attack Over Clinton's 'Bosnia' Account

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April 19, 2008 5:13 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller and Kate Snow report: Sen. Barack Obama's campaign has reinvigorated its attack against Sen. Hillary Clinton, today rolling out three Bosnian war veterans to make the case that Clinton was dishonorable when she made inaccurate comments about dodging sniper fire in Bosnia.

Clinton has admitted that her campaign trail claim that she dodged sniper fire in 1996 while landing in Tuzla airport in Bosnia was a misstatement.

At Wednesday’s ABC News debate, she said, “I'm embarrassed by it. I have apologized for it.  I've said it was a mistake. And it is, I hope, something that you can look over.”

But today, it was clear the Obama campaign was not ready to look over this issue, calling a conference call with reporters and offering up veterans who have faced sniper fire to take issue with Clinton’s claim.

U.S. Maj. Gen. Walter Stewart called Clinton’s misstatement a “dishonor” that showed a lack of moral authority. 

Retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Michael Kotyk called Clinton’s statement a whopper and said, “If she’s gonna tell stories like that is as candidate, what will she do when she’s standing in front of Congress? ... How do you expect your troops to follow you if you’re not providing good leadership?”

The veterans argued that the misstatement wasn’t their issue. It was what her statement showed about Clinton’s honesty level.

“This isn’t about misspeaking,” Stewart argued. “This is about your character.”

Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson shot back (so to speak) on a conference call with reporters.

“Boy when the Obama campaign decides to go negative, they really go negative!” Wolfson said.

Wolfson noted that at Wednesday night's debate, Obama had said his campaign only talked about Clinton's misstatements on the Tuzla incident when officials were asked by reporters.

"Today, on a Saturday before the election, they have a conference call?"  Wolfson asked rhetorically. “This is part of the attack, attack, attack on this last weekend here."

The roll out of the veterans’ attack on Clinton came on the day of Obama’s train tour of Pennsylvania.

Obama, on his four-city, whistle-stop tour, reinvigorated his own attacks of Clinton in a state where he has been consistently trailing in the polls.

“She also believes that, you know, the nature of politics is that you say what people want to hear,” Obama said at a stop at the Paoli train station.

He then referenced Clinton’s stance on NAFTA: “So maybe you say something about trade when you’re campaigning with your husband eight, 10, 12 years ago. You say something different now [when] you’re campaigning in Ohio or Pennsylvania."

Obama continued, “She's taken different positions at different times on issues as fundamental as trade, or even the war, to suit the politics of the moment. And when she gets caught at it, the notion is, 'Well, you know what, that's just politics. That's how it works in Washington. You can say one thing here and say another thing there.'"

At his first train stop of the day, Obama offered up a critique of controversies and gaffes that were picked apart on the campaign trail.

“I’m not interested in having a debate about flag pins,” Obama said, referring to the discussion about his decision to not wear a flag pin on his lapel. Obama said that change can only come if “we deliver independence from the petty, trivial nonsense.”

April 19, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (481)

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Wow. I did not think the Obama campaign had it in them. Its about time. Its unfortunate, but when you deal with people of the low caliber as the Clintons sometimes you just have to roll in the mud.

Posted by: DMR | Apr 19, 2008 5:27:45 PM

Well she won't call him wimp anymore

Obama08

Posted by: Thinking | Apr 19, 2008 5:29:52 PM

WAIT one minute, I thought just like a day ago Obama was saying that this type of politics wasn't getting anything done for the American people. I thought he was saying that the questions he got in the debate were unfair. This is BS and he knows it, he can't win with 10 million on tv and he can't win with pulling people out from the woodwork to try to make Senator Clinton look untrustworthy. She has 35 Generals and Admirals including General Wesley Clark behind. I TRUST THEM, not Obama who has absolutely NO FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE.

Who would you want to answer the phone, someone who has been in the white house for 8 years, someone who has been on the Senate Foreign Relations comm., someone who has been appointed to a bipartisan counsel to reform the military, someone who has been endorsed by 35 distinguished military personnel, or someone with NO FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE.

I think the answer is clear with two wars going on. HILLARY IS THE CLEAR CHOICE.

OBAMA IS PLAYING POLITICS CAUSE HE KNOWS HE'S BEHIND

Posted by: Michael | Apr 19, 2008 5:31:35 PM

Evidently, the flag pen issue is a non-issue with BO, but it is very much an issue with a lot of people. It goes to the very core of his character, plus his friendship with terroists. The sniper-fire issue has been an issue with Hillary, but in all honesty, I think that in all probability, during her trip over to Bosnia, she had probably been forewarned about the possibility of gunfire and it influenced her thinking that at any time it could commence.

The Republicans should take note of what BO and his handlers are doing to Clinton, and get prepared to face the underhanded lies that his campaign puts out should he be the nominee.

Posted by: virginia | Apr 19, 2008 5:32:14 PM

Hillary is sooo unelectable.

Obama has been playing softball this whole campaign and she's still twisting in her own lies and "mis-statements".

Way to go Obama!!

As the Hillary Camp likes to say, "The Republicans are gonna use it in the Fall, so might as well bring it up now!!"

Posted by: power-and-knowledge | Apr 19, 2008 5:37:05 PM

virginia

Ashcroft, Libby, Gonzales, and Cheney all wore flag-pins while they gang-raping the Constitution.

Flag-pins do not give insight into ones character.

Posted by: power-and-knowledge | Apr 19, 2008 5:41:06 PM

Didn't Barack Obama ust complain about "political distractions", so how does this solve the economy, get us out of Iraq or any other issues that Americans might have?

Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Apr 19, 2008 5:41:06 PM

Finally Obama is giving Hillary a bit of her medicine! Hillary you stirred this pot, since you like being in the kitchen. Way to go Obama, it's about time! Yes We Can!

Posted by: Emilianna | Apr 19, 2008 5:41:29 PM

Just a vetting process for Hillary

Obama08

Posted by: Thinking | Apr 19, 2008 5:42:08 PM

People are losing their houses and the question coming from a lady who is taking care of her sick huseband is amazing, a plan from Hillary. Generals have said no and express disgust to Hill the Bosnian General, she has lost respect and cannot be trusted as Commander in Chief by the Generals and Commanders. That is the end of it. Hill has lost she is unlectable totally and completly. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Apr 19, 2008 5:43:26 PM

I personally in my lifetime have seen a candidate with the friends and background that Obama has(drugs, terrorists, racism, mulims,turn your back on the flag that millions have fought and died for get accepted as this man has!) But because Hillary didn't leave Bill to be a reason for all the hate is just astounding. That is exactly what it is too. You wait, the republicans are going to hand his head to him on a platter if he gets the nomination. This is one scary dude and one scary bunch of people supporting him if they condone all this.

Posted by: Linda Taylor | Apr 19, 2008 5:43:30 PM

Will HRC please do us a favor and stop thinking we are all idiots out here not recognizing how dishonest she is? Will she please bow out before the damage she is causing to the party can not be reversed.

Posted by: Robrice | Apr 19, 2008 5:44:02 PM

Bosnia Veterans who have faced sniper fire are taking issue with Hillary Clinton's claim. Maj. Gen. Walter Stewart called Clinton's misstatement a "dishonor" that showed a lack of moral authority. General Michael Kotyk called Clinton's statement a whopper and said, "If she's gonna tell stories like that as a candidate, what will she do when she's standing in front of Congress? ... How do you expect your troops to follow you if you're not providing good leadership?"

Posted by: Johnny B. Good | Apr 19, 2008 5:44:15 PM

This is not worth the comment.

Posted by: KURT | Apr 19, 2008 5:45:28 PM

It's about time the Obama campaign took on Mrs. Clinton. I have said to friends, her history is so poor, that I could take her apart. Obama's "bitter" statement was in-artful, but at least it wasn't an outright lie. At the debate Clinton still couldn't say she lied, she again played word games, from her own mouth she "look over it" Voters of PA., N.C and IN., please put a stop to Mrs. Clinton, she's no good for us.

Posted by: Howard M. | Apr 19, 2008 5:46:44 PM

What a flamer Obama is. He wasn't man enough to stand up when she brought it up at the debate so now he tries the old swift boat tactic on Hillary. He flounderd so badly during the debate and now his supporters are grasping for whatever they can cling to. He is no statesmen in fact I wouldn't even let him speak to pre-schoolers.

Posted by: Tim | Apr 19, 2008 5:46:51 PM

Bosnia Veterans who have faced sniper fire are taking issue with Hillary Clinton's claim. Maj. Gen. Walter Stewart called Clinton's misstatement a "dishonor" that showed a lack of moral authority. General Michael Kotyk called Clinton's statement a whopper and said, "If she's gonna tell stories like that as a candidate, what will she do when she's standing in front of Congress? ... How do you expect your troops to follow you if you're not providing good leadership?"

Posted by: Johnny B. Good | Apr 19, 2008 5:47:11 PM

So much for a different kind of politics. As long as we're talking about being dishonest what about Obama flat out not telling the truth about his handwriting on the guncontrol questionnaire?

Posted by: Pam | Apr 19, 2008 5:47:23 PM

Funny how Obama wants to call her out when his guy makes backdoor comments to the Canadians about NAFTA. He's a hypocrite of the highest order. And find me one report, ONE REPORT at least, where Clinton ever said she "dodged" sniper fire. "Landing under sniper fire" is not the same as "dodged" sniper fire. ABCNews you need to raise the bar a bit on your wording.

Posted by: michael | Apr 19, 2008 5:47:54 PM

Obama can never get my vote no matter how negative he goes. In fact, the more negatively he throws attacks at Hillary, the more he revolts me. What a sick another politician!

Posted by: cindy | Apr 19, 2008 5:48:33 PM

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