One of the refreshing things about the contest this year on the Democratic side is that we are finally seeing the Clintons receive the scrutiny that they ought to have had during the time Bill Clinton was running and serving as president.
Of course, much of the critiques you'll hear are about Hillary Clinton not being sufficiently leftish. Not all are of this nature, though. Under an increasingly unfair barrage of attacks from Bill Clinton, Barack Obama has finally begun to speak out. In the process, as the Wall Street Journal notes today, Obama's lent credibility (at least in the minds of liberal reporters who never believed the conservatives who've said the same all along) to the charges that the Clintons get away with things that would be considered unacceptable for anyone else:
One of our favorite Bill Clinton anecdotes involves a confrontation he had with Bob Dole in the Oval Office after the 1996 election. Mr. Dole protested Mr. Clinton's attack ads claiming the Republican wanted to harm Medicare, but the President merely smiled that Bubba grin and said, "You gotta do what you gotta do."
We're reminded of that story listening to Barack Obama protest his treatment by the now ex-President Clinton on behalf of his wanna-be-President wife. "You know the former President, who I think all of us have a lot of regard for, has taken his advocacy on behalf of his wife to a level that I think is pretty troubling," Mr. Obama told a TV interviewer. "He continues to make statements that are not supported by the facts -- whether it's about my record of opposition to the war in Iraq or our approach to organizing in Las Vegas."
Now he knows how the rest of us feel.
The Illinois Senator is still a young man, but not so young as to have missed the 1990s. He nonetheless seems to be awakening slowly to what everyone else already knows about the Clintons, which is that they will say and do whatever they "gotta" say or do to win. Listen closely to Mr. Obama, and you can almost hear the echoes of Bob Dole at the end of the 1996 campaign asking, "Where's the outrage?"
This has been the core of the conservative critique of the Clintons for years. So it is illuminating to hear the same critique coming from Mr. Obama and his supporters now that his candidacy poses a threat to the return of the Clinton dynasty. Even Democrats are now admitting the Clintons don't tell the truth -- at least until Mrs. Clinton wins the nomination.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator and editor of NewsBusters.
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Reagan
January 23, 2008 - 11:11 ET by iveseenitallHillary denounced Obama's praise of Ronald Reagan. Could that be because Raegan initiated the end of the cold war and the downfall of Communism. After all, that must have hurt her deeply.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
→ seenitall
January 23, 2008 - 11:14 ET by Cool ArrowGood point. Obama and Hillary both claimed in the 01/22 debate they disagreed with Reagan's policies.
There can be no other conclusion but that the Democrats resent the downfall of the Soviet Union.
Thankfully, HIV/AIDS has now become a chronic disease - Hillary Clinton
Kinda Feel Sorry for Obama
January 23, 2008 - 11:17 ET by candanceI disagree with his politics, but I do think he's sincere and he thinks he's doing right. Just when he fights his way to the top of DNC and has a chance to be president - the Clintons pull everything out on him, from race to sexism to crocodile tears to his personal past. I can only imagine how much he must hate them now.
PS - LOL @ John Edwards coming in third in his home state. So much for being a respected senator from the Carolinas......
Why don't the Clintons like Ron?
January 23, 2008 - 11:31 ET by kbworkmanHow about he accomplished something during his time in the oval office, other that gratifying his urges?
Clinton has no legacy, that one would want to claim, and it rankles.
Old news but still interesting
January 23, 2008 - 11:56 ET by cvgbuckeyeWho is Barack Obama? Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHIEST from Wichita, Kansas. Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia.? When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocate to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school. Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, 'He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school. Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear thatthat he is not a radical. Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education. Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran. Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches. Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own!!!!
not true on Koran
January 23, 2008 - 13:50 ET by JayTeeI thought the Swearing in on the Koran, has been debunked as not True ?
"Barack Obama is a Powerful Speaker—And so is My Bose Bass Amp" Doug Giles
JayTee
January 23, 2008 - 13:54 ET by Cool ArrowI thought Obama put that one to rest during the last debate.
Sad when we fall for this nonsense.
I thought the Swearing in
January 23, 2008 - 14:53 ET by motherbeltI thought the Swearing in on the Koran, has been debunked as not True ?
That was newly elected Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota. And yes, it was allowed.
The Clintons vs Barack Obama
January 23, 2008 - 11:42 ET by third eyeThe Clintons, borrowing a trick from Saturday morning cartoons, have managed to dig a hole for Obama, camouflaged it when he wasnt looking, and finally tricked him into walking right into it at the debate Monday night. I'm not saying the he shouldn't fight the Clintons, au contraire -- It is simply bad form to fight a non-exsistant Bill Clinton at the debates.
But why is Billy-C so cantankerous of late? I believe, that in Billy's mind, hes constantly comparing himself to JFK. He considers himself one of the youngest to reach the presidency and hell be damned if his legacy will be overshadowed by someone even younger. This is why he made such a big deal out of not running for President in 1988, because he believes he could of been even younger. Billy wants to be back in power again no doubt, but his drive to preserve his legacy is much much stronger.
→ Maybe third Eye
January 23, 2008 - 11:48 ET by Cool ArrowBut I saw Bill's attack on the Culinary Workers Union as a stroke of genius.
The message he conveyed without getting deep into the psychology of it was: "Hey Nevada, do you know that a bunch of Mexican transplants are going to decide this Primary? Did you know Obama has it all fixed at a rate of 5 to 1?"
It worked
"Even Democrats are now
January 23, 2008 - 12:21 ET by Chris Norman"Even Democrats are now admitting the Clintons don't tell the truth --"
But a lot of them find that to be one of their most endearing qualities, "Oh, he's such a scamp...".
Well that's what convinces
January 23, 2008 - 14:55 ET by motherbeltWell that's what convinces them, Chris....1000 conservatives can sing it from the mountaintop and ignore it. Now that some Democrats say it, it's true. They always knew it was true, but now they might have to actually face it and deal with it.
Another Clinton anecdote
January 23, 2008 - 13:13 ET by celatorOne of my very favorite Clinton anecdotes:
Back in the 1990's Clinton made a trip to Europe and visited Pope John Paul II. The key issue they discussed was abortion, and the Pope made his position very clear to Clinton, to wit, abortion is taking the life of an innocent, living human being and is therefore, fundamentally, an evil act (exception: to save the life of the mother.)
After their somewhat heated discussion, the meeting ended and Clinton left the room and was met by the international press waiting nearby. In the course of his press conference (with the Pope in the next room listening to the conference) Clinton, straightfaced, said that he and Pope John Paul were in agreement in the issue of abortion.
Well, when John Paul heard these words he went ballistic and immediately sent his assistant to the press conference. The assistant, cutting Clinton off mid-sentence, cleared the record and said that in no way or manner did Clinton and the Pope agree on the issue of abortion. Clinton, as reported by L'Osservatore Romano (the Vatican newspaper--the only newspaper to report the incident) grew silent and red-faced and the press conference ended.
How much more evidence do we need of the unabashed shamelessness of the Clintons, whose central guiding principle that the "You have to do what you have to do."? The is a lesson taken directly from Saul Alinsky guidance.
Liberal's Basic Rule For Discourse: I don't care if you agree with my premises, but I demand that you agree with my conclusions.
Whatever they can get away with
January 23, 2008 - 13:53 ET by KC MulvilleDuring the debate the other night, Hillary claimed that she never said Reagan's name, and Obama said your husband did, and Hillary gave the typical Clinton response: "Well I'm here. He's not." Hillary allows Bill to say anything he wants, but she doesn't want to take responsibility for him.
They always say that going negative hurts you, in the end, because people don't like bickering. As far as I'm concerned, we should all give Obama a pass when it comes to the Clintons. Obama should be given a six-month dispensation by the voters to go after Hillary and stamp that dirty campaign, without remorse.
Obama didn't pounce, but he
January 23, 2008 - 15:08 ET by motherbeltObama didn't pounce, but he should have. He should have told Hillary
that she was responsible, and had to answer, for everything Bill said.
Otherwise, if she wasn't willing to take responsibility for it, she
should tell him to shut up. This isn't some low-level hack; Bill is the
person she promotes as her virtual co-president.
Someone commented on the fact that she said "he's not here; I am", not "He's not running, I am." I thought that was interesting. Obama should have said well maybe you should bring him next time. Or he should have said, fine, then YOU answer for him.
Isn't that a neat arrangement? He shoots off his mouth, and then he's "not here" to answer for it, and she won't, and Obama lets her get away with it.
Obama was a real lightweight in the debate the other night, except for the planned attacks. When he didn't have a pat answer, he rambled and ended up talking about what Americans are desperate and/or hungry for. His all-purpose go-to line.
On other thing, KC, everyone says negative campaigning and negative ads don't work, but the fact is that they do. Or politicians wouldn't keep using them. People just don't want to admit it out loud.
Agreed
January 23, 2008 - 15:30 ET by KC MulvilleI want the voters to tell Obama -- look Barry, don't take that crap. If you're in this race only to look pretty, fine, you've accomplished that, but if that's all, just say goodbye. If you don't want to fight for what you believe in, stop wasting our time, and go back to being a media darling. We want to know that you're willing to fight for what you believe in. Nobody likes to make personal accusations if you don't have to, but when your opponent is accusing you of the very things she's doing herself, you have every right to throw that back at her. We expect you to do that, and if you don't do it, get out of the race.
You want to know the dirty little secret, which happens to be the secret about a little dirt? We're all human. Voters know that. What matters is what you do about it.