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Obama Campaign Revives Attack Over Clinton's 'Bosnia' Account
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ShareApril 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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What a bunch of losers. He lies, hates this country, makes friends with racists, takes advantage of others via Rezko, pits the wealthy against the poor, and can only babble when there's no teleprompter. She lies, hates the military, takes glory for the sacrifice of others, pits the wealthy against the poor, and inserts so many "you know"s in her response that I'm wondering if I'm talking to a teenager. The 3rd choice in McCain is also a losing proposition... May the Lord have mercy upon this nation.
Posted by: Frustrated Voter | Apr 19, 2008 5:48:54 PM
NObama is a LIAR:
“Boy when the Obama campaign decides to go negative, they really go negative!” Wolfson said.
... maybe he would like to see more videos of his Rev playing just before the election ... or videos showing his frowns and arrogance during the debates!!
Posted by: Jackson | Apr 19, 2008 5:49:10 PM
Obama's going negative ONCE again. I hope the voters in PA are really taking notice, because we're all getting tired of his whining and personal attacks.
Posted by: sr | Apr 19, 2008 5:49:12 PM
Who cares what the Obama camp says? Let them first look at their candidates lies and the see Hillary.
Obama your are crying loser.
Posted by: JACK | Apr 19, 2008 5:49:32 PM
Obama makes me BITTER!!!! ... flip him too!!
Posted by: Elinda | Apr 19, 2008 5:50:57 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 5:51:03 PM
sr-
Hillary funded the PLO through and organization called the New World Order!
How in the heck can you defend that!
Israel is our ally! This is going to hurt her if she gets to the general!
You need to read about this!
Posted by: megan | Apr 19, 2008 5:53:10 PM
about time!! but you forgot to say excuse me i'm gonne roll in the mud with her for calling me a wimp, expose her for what she is
Posted by: bob | Apr 19, 2008 5:53:45 PM
michael
She said she ran out the plane with her head down.
Posted by: power-and-knowledge | Apr 19, 2008 5:54:07 PM
ROFL. Atta boy, Obambi. Show us how your campaign of "hope" and "change" is sooooo far above the negative fray.
Opponents have been trying to swiftboat the Clintons for three decades because they can't "beat" them on the ISSUES that really matter to Americans. Thanks for admitting -- FINALLY -- that Obama is no different. Just another empty suit.
Posted by: mlwheeler | Apr 19, 2008 5:54:21 PM
Hillary funded a terrorist organization called the PLO when she was director of the New World Foundation!
in the 90s, she hosted parties at the White House for this group and they gave her $50,000.00.
Why is Fox News the only ones covering this!
Posted by: jonathan | Apr 19, 2008 5:55:10 PM
Way to go >>>>>>>>yahoooooooooo now who is crying foul????Boy when they go negative they really do it YES we cannnnnnnnnn>
You can not get a straight answer out of her if she was on her death bed>>>>
Posted by: honest | Apr 19, 2008 5:55:17 PM
JACK-
What Hillary needs to do next is explain why she funded a terrorist group called the PLO, when she was director of The New World Foundation!
She needs to apologize for funding the enemy of Israel...who, in case she didn't know...is our ALLY!
And you need to explain why you would still support a woman who took money and gave money to this terrorist group!
Posted by: truthprevail | Apr 19, 2008 5:57:24 PM
After PA, Hillary should bow out of the race gracefully to show her support for the party. Latest polls show that Hillary will not win by double digits like her campaign said it needs to. Let's all get behind a true leader that speaks the truth. Obama 2008!
Posted by: pt | Apr 19, 2008 5:57:39 PM
Obama on the low down
Posted by: John | Apr 19, 2008 5:58:27 PM
I'm sitting over here in Ireland digesting all this so I may be totally off-beam, but I think Obama has been doing himself no favours these last couple of days.
First he belittles small town America. Then he has a poor debate showing. Then he complains about it. Then he does that 'brushing his shoulders thing' (I mean, how arrogant and conceited can you get?) Now after all his big talk he sends out people to attack Hillary over Bosnia (can't even do that himself)
I hope you guys do the smart thing. Otherwise, I'm pretty confident he won't get elected come November so despite Iraq etc. a McCain presidency will be a relief....
Posted by: Mark | Apr 19, 2008 5:58:56 PM
boy, Jack, when you make up lies, you sure do tell WHOPPERS!
Maybe the Clinton campaign will hire you for the next few days -- they'll have a concession speech to write!
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 -- Vietnam Vet and Proud Liberal | Apr 19, 2008 5:59:00 PM
Bitter, Bitter, Call him wimp when he didn't take the bait in PA. He could have jumped all over her then, but chose not to. Hillary however was delighted to slam him, she didn't have the guts to fire back at George and Charlie, no she was just delighted.
Go Obama08
Posted by: Thinking | Apr 19, 2008 5:59:36 PM
truthprevail - Ask first why Obama is been involved with Hamas, Palestine, Ayers, Nation of Islan and his hate filled Pastor. Infact OBAMA is a con man.
If OBama comes to power, it will be the fall of USA similar to Germany and Russia.
Posted by: JACK | Apr 19, 2008 5:59:36 PM
John-
Hillary funded a terrorist group called the PLO!
You can say all you want about Obama, but he never betrayed this country by supporting terrorist!
Hillary was the Director of The New World Foundation...known to fund terrorist groups!
She knew this and never apologized for betraying Israel or us!
Posted by: megan | Apr 19, 2008 5:59:44 PM
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