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Obama on Bill Clinton, Pennsylvania and John McCain
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ShareApril 22, 2008 12:08 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller and Nitya Venkataraman Report: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he has "no idea" what Bill Clinton meant when the former president asserted this morning that the Obama campaign twisted his comparison of Obama's South Carolina victory to Jesse Jackson's for political gain.
"Former President Clinton dismissed my victory in South Carolina as being similar to Jesse Jackson and he is suggesting that somehow I had something to do with it," Obama said during a press availability in downtown Pittsburgh."You better ask him what he meant by that. I have no idea what he meant. These are words that came out of his mouth, not out of mine."
In a telephone interview yesterday with WHYY's Susan Phillips, Clinton said "We now know, from memos from the campaign and everything, that they planned to do it all along."
Today, Obama said he doesn't know what Clinton was referring to when he said that campaign memos show they were planning to do this all along.
Over a pancake breakfast at Pamela's Diner with his wife and owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers Dan Rooney, Obama said that no matter the outcome of the Pennsylvania primary that he does not think the Democratic presidential race will be over today. "I have come to the conclusion that this race will continue until the last primary or caucus vote is cast," Obama said. "And that's not far away."
The last Democratic primary races are scheduled for June 3.
Obama painted himself as the underdog in the Keystone State, that it's been "an uphill battle" but that he's "closed a big gap." (A Quinnipiac poll released Monday found Clinton with a seven-point edge on Obama in Pennsylvania; in mid-February, Clinton boasted a 14-point lead over Obama in Pennsylvania.)
Obama used the the morning press availability to address comments he made this weekend, suggesting that the three presidential candidates in the race -- himself, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., -- were all better choices for the White House than the current administration.
Obama disputed the notion that his point undercuts the Democratic race against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
"I know that conventional, text book politics means that unless you completely demonize the other side then you are showing weakness. I don't believe that," Obama said, "I think Senator Clinton's suggesting that she and John McCain are the two people who are qualified to be commander-in-chief is probably something that could end up coming back to haunt us in November."
Obama continued, "I think to say that John McCain and some of his instincts may be better than George Bush's -- that's a low bar."
Obama also said that former president Jimmy Carter's meeting with Hamas "gave them a legitimacy that was unnecessary" calling for U.S. efforts to be directed toward "negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis".
"I think that President Abbas has indicated his willingness to make every effort to sit down with Prime Minister Olmert. I think that’s where our energy should go," Obama said.
April 22, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (27)
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Obama is running a great campaign. Thanks to his 3 running mates. Bill, Hilliary, and John. Face it, Obama will win the nomination and become President of the United States of America. The 3 have underestimated him. We are tired of hearing about REV Wright and Tony Rezzco. What matters is OBAMA, OBAMA 2008.
Posted by: hottie1 | Apr 22, 2008 12:24:10 PM
Westerberg,
Obama did not bring race into the campain with reverend Wright. right wi ng media who dug up selected clips and played them over and over are the ones who bright Wright up as a non issue issue.
Posted by: James | Apr 22, 2008 12:24:21 PM
Please Pres. Bill Clinton, dont bring us back where we came from. And also complaining now to my opinion doesnt help at all. The blacks are underway voting in PA. For sure they will go to Sen. Obama
May be and only may be, it could had been a little bit consideration if you could have brought this, a little bit earlier! The train has already left!
Posted by: Peace | Apr 22, 2008 12:29:45 PM
Faith, integrity and trust is what hurt Hilary, not race. It's easy to admit you are wrong, when you are caught as was the case of her under military attack. She never addressed her husband taking money from foreign investors including those from Columbia which, when her employee was caught doing the same, he was fired. She never addressed his pardoning of certain people, yet criticizes Obama for his associations. This is ridiculous. Obama trusts that America will see through the lies and he is correct. We do. He has faith in the American people and so do I. Obama didn't lie for her, she did it on her own, as did Bill in pardoning questionable people.
Posted by: Faith | Apr 22, 2008 12:38:23 PM
Obama Played the race card on all Americans.
He Called Patriotic Americans RACIST when they got upset for Someone "God Damning America."
He forgave the person for "God Damning America"
Mister Obama needs to learn the difference between Patriotism and Racism.
I for one am Proud of everyone who got upset when they were not happy with someone God damning their country. It should that they love this country and will stand up for this country.
Mr Obama says he came to unite, but all he has done is Divide.
He puts people into groups. He segregates. Even in his speeches, Black, white, Latino, Rich, Poor. On his site he segregates. Putting up dividers, Placing road blocks. Purposely placing seeds and sprouting them.
He has been sexist.
He has used Gutter Politics, with his Flipping hillary off, then snickering about it.
He has sold the poor people out to the rich people, for a laugh and some money.
He lied to them in Selma.
He has lied on his own Family.
He has lied on His own best friends.
He has shown he has no Honor, integrity, No Patriotism, His willingness to divide the country.
Please take a moment, Forget the hype, Forget the High pressure salesman speeches and take a look at the man he is.
Posted by: sharon | Apr 22, 2008 12:50:36 PM
Obama admits he has no ideas!!!
Hillary 08!!
Posted by: pinky | Apr 22, 2008 12:57:46 PM
Frankly, only racists talk about race...
Vote: Hillary 08!!!
Posted by: your | Apr 22, 2008 12:59:25 PM
Obama Played the race card on all Americans.
He Called Patriotic Americans RACIST when they got upset for Someone "God Damning America."
He forgave the person for "God Damning America"
Mister Obama needs to learn the difference between Patriotism and Racism.
I for one am Proud of everyone who got upset when they were not happy with someone God damning their country. It should that they love this country and will stand up for this country.
Mr Obama says he came to unite, but all he has done is Divide.
He puts people into groups. He segregates. Even in his speeches, Black, white, Latino, Rich, Poor. On his site he segregates. Putting up dividers, Placing road blocks. Purposely placing seeds and sprouting them.
He has been sexist.
He has used Gutter Politics, with his Flipping hillary off, then snickering about it.
He has sold the poor people out to the rich people, for a laugh and some money.
He lied to them in Selma.
He has lied on his own Family.
He has lied on His own best friends.
He has shown he has no Honor, integrity, No Patriotism, His willingness to divide the country.
Please take a moment, Forget the hype, Forget the High pressure salesman speeches and take a look at the man he is.
Vote Hillary 08!!
Posted by: baron | Apr 22, 2008 1:00:19 PM
Faith, integrity and trust is what helps Hillary!!!
Obama is a liar!
Posted by: carter | Apr 22, 2008 1:02:14 PM
PREDICTION:
The fraud behind Obama's campaign's
money will soon come out...
Posted by: fiskal | Apr 22, 2008 1:04:02 PM
The Hamas terrorist organization is hoping that Senator Obma wins this election. Wonder why.
America knowss that Hillary Clinton is for the American people. We are not so sure about Senator Obama.
Posted by: Mary | Apr 22, 2008 1:20:48 PM
Barak Obama will be the next US President. The world is tired of the other candidates. CHANGE. BELIEVE IN.
I think he also will win today.Trust,
honesty and simplicity. This is a especial time in US. Let's celebrate!
American people: You should be proud of
having such a person as next president.OBAMA08'
Posted by: Edita Carvalho | Apr 22, 2008 1:52:10 PM
Barak Obama will be the next US President. The world is tired of the other candidates. CHANGE. BELIEVE IN.
I think he also will win today.Trust,
honesty and simplicity. This is a especial time in US. Let's celebrate!
American people: You should be proud of
having such a person as next president.OBAMA08'
Posted by: Edita Carvalho | Apr 22, 2008 1:52:34 PM
why is it that every poll that has Clinton ahead also has less than 1000 responses, however the larger the sample the more likely Obama is to be ahead in the poll.
Posted by: Louis | Apr 22, 2008 1:58:37 PM
wow, i didn't realize abcnew's website was a safe haven for clinton supporters. guess i should've suspected it after watching the debate.
clinton supporters... old people... nobody wants your votes... in fact nobody wants you, why don't you all pack up and leave the country?
Posted by: Jay | Apr 22, 2008 2:42:32 PM
Fraud behind Obama's finances? Fraud? You mean, hundreds of thousands of small donors like me who've given the campaign a few hundred dollars? As opposed to the large lobbying interests and self-made fortunes supporting Clinton and McCain?
Fraud? Really?
Even if he does not win the nomination or the election, Barack Obama has forever changed the face of politics by proving to the old political hacks that you can fund a campaign entirely by contributions from stupid, cynical American citizens. He's actually changing the belief that the only way to become President is to be beholden to special interests (who funded your election campaign) from day one.
If nothing else, we should all be very grateful to Obama's campaign for that historic, and welcome change.
Posted by: Tom C | Apr 22, 2008 2:44:19 PM
Obama would have voters believe that the most popular and successful Democratic administration since FDR was a disaster.
If Obama wins the nomination and then the White House, he (and we) will be lucky if he is 1/2 as successful as was Bill Clinton.
Posted by: WylieD | Apr 22, 2008 2:51:09 PM
Well said Barack, good way to counter-attack. You know Clinton will win Penn,, because you let her win it by your mistakes. Mr Casey was there to help you out, but that lousy misstatement, although true messed up . You only have yourself to blame..., but the people still will vote for you. Good luck...
Posted by: Kissoon Ramawad | Apr 22, 2008 3:06:25 PM
I wonder how many of the Wright critics actually go to church on a regular basis. I know of several regular churchgoers (who are white) who were downright insulted by Senator Clinton's insistence that Senator Obama should have left his church because of what his minister said. Churches are more than just a minister. They are a community of people. Obama wasn't going to the church because of Wright. He was going there because of the people of the church, of the community of worshipers who believed, as he does, in God.
Any regular churchgoer understands this. The individuals who see church as something to go to on Easter and Christmas only would not, because they are not a part of that community... and as such are missing an essential element of religion and faith - that of the community of man that worships God.
Rob H.
Posted by: Tangent | Apr 22, 2008 3:06:43 PM
I thought Hamas had legitimacy because of a democratic election.
Posted by: justathought | Apr 22, 2008 3:07:59 PM
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