In today's episode of "As The Left Eat Their Own," a tape of Hillary Clinton complaining after Super Tuesday that activists from MoveOn.org "flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support [her]" was published at The Huffington Post Friday.
This has set off a predictably hostile reaction from the liberal blogosphere, and was considered such a bombshell that Barack Obama-loving MSNBC actually began Friday's installment of "Verdict" with this revelation.
But, before we get there, here's the text of Hillary's remarks (audio embedded upper-right):
Moveon.org endorsed [Sen. Barack Obama] -- which is like a gusher of money that never seems to slow down. We have been less successful in caucuses because it brings out the activist base of the Democratic Party. MoveOn.org didn't even want us to go into Afghanistan. I mean, that's what we're dealing with. And you know they turn out in great numbers. And they are very driven by their view of our positions, and it's primarily national security and foreign policy that drives them. I don't agree with them. They know I don't agree with them. So they flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support me.
Yikes!
As you might imagine, this didn't go over very well in the liberal blogosphere. Here's what Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos had to say:
Well, for a campaign that has morphed into nothing but "Republican talking points", it shouldn't come as any surprise.
I'm curious though, what part of our foreign policy approach doesn't she agree with? The ending the war in Iraq part? I'd like more details on that one.
Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake was more emphatic:
I defended Hillary Clinton when she refused to bow to right wing pressure and condemn MoveOn over the "General Betrayus" ad (and was sad when she finally capitulated). MoveOn are valuable progressive partners who have been with us on Donna Edwards, net neutrality, trying to bring an end to the war, FISA, and other issues we've been fighting for.
They've accepted the challenge of organizing the left in the virtual arena and done an amazing job that the right struggles to replicate. They now have 3 million members, of which I'm one. And their skill at online organization and movement building has developed a model that both of the Democratic candidates have been able to copy and learn from, acting as a democratizing influence and making candidates more responsive to the public at large and less to high dollar donors.
MoveOn may not have opposed military action in Afghanistan (according to Eli Pariser in the Washington Post) but I did, because I was quite certain George Bush would bungle it and we'd just wind up spending billions on a bunch of junk that would make his buddies rich and a lot of poor people in the poorest country in the world would die senselessly. Sadly that turned out to be right, and disparaging anyone for challenging this country's unrelenting bellicosity during the Bush administration is wrong.
Does Hillary Clinton not want my vote either?
Certainly, such sentiments were not surprising. Yet, the fact that MSNBC's Dan Abrams actually began his program Friday evening with this news was:
DAN ABRAMS, HOST: Tonight: There is breaking news: Hillary Clinton caught on tape at a private fundraiser bashing certain Democratic activists. Will this be her "bitter" moment? [...]
VERDICT starts now.
Is this going to be big news moving forward?Welcome to the show.
We begin tonight with breaking news, a week after hammering Barack Obama over what he said in a closed door fund-raiser about bitterness, guns and religion, Hillary Clinton facing questions tonight for what she said in a small, closed door fund-raiser after Super Tuesday.
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Hill helped create this
April 19, 2008 - 15:27 ET by bigtimerHill helped create this all..
Reap what you sow, Careful what you wish for...all coming back to bite her....
Ahhh...I love Operation Chaos...created by them.
Eat away....
Dan gets all excited by his own shadow by the way....
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
"I've created a monster"
April 19, 2008 - 18:58 ET by Edward Lee... as Dr. Frankenstein proclaims of his creation. Joe Watkin's (second clip, 2:25) statement, "Moveon.org is like a beast that eats its own" is backwards. A more appropriate metaphor is the monster that turns on its creator.
Activist???
April 19, 2008 - 18:17 ET by docbthe clintons have setup their Democratic party insiders for the past 16 yrs. They are the rulers of the appointees and 'you owe us' in the party. Rendell's wife's judgeship, had Norman Hsu pay off the campaign debt for Bayh, Vilsack and others, embedded thousands in state parties, and appointed 3 members to the head of the DNC Credentials Committee and etc.
She is throwing the activists UNDER THE BUS LIKE..the AFrican AM voters, caucus attendees, young voters, her wallstreet supporters[ however i bet there is a tape somewhere that reassures these money people], union voters, stay at home moms[cookies], and all the other scorched earth left behind.
Shameless---go home --no more commission and poll driven presidencies...Lets look at loyalty from her.
PS: where is her lapel pin????
OC t-shirts are available
April 19, 2008 - 19:50 ET by mom_roxparaphrasing Hillary, "Yeah, these MoveOn.org activists are intimidating my true supporters, you know, the Operation Chaos agents. Sorry, Rush, but you understand that I can't publicly thank you for this support."
(Hey Noel, you're having a busy day. When it rains, it pours.)
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
I love this
April 19, 2008 - 16:53 ET by Jerry MackI love this truth telling by Democrats about each other!
Go Hillary!
Go Barack!
PS: Hillay please do not quit! It would ruin the enjoyment that I am having.
This is Fun!
April 19, 2008 - 17:28 ET by Emma GrumpAnd I used to think Laurel and Hardy were funny - these two are turning out to be the Lucy and Desi of the 21st century. If only they'd have a weekly debate (with Charles and George moderating, of course), they would grab more viewers than American Idol.
Punch and Judy
April 19, 2008 - 21:09 ET by nkviking75..."these two are turning out to be the Lucy and Desi of the 21st century."
More like Punch and Judy
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Will someone please refresh
April 19, 2008 - 17:08 ET by JerWill someone please refresh my memory about which progressive/liberal websites are supposedly mere front groups for, and controlled by, the Clintons?
Jer
Jer
April 19, 2008 - 17:16 ET by Noel SheppardJer,
Sure: Media Matters, Think Progress, and Center for American Progress. ns
Noel...I understand those
April 19, 2008 - 18:54 ET by JerNoel...I understand those three are, or said to be, funded directly or indirectly by Soros and are in part staffed by former Clinton associates, but I thought the "right" had also contended sites such as Daily Kos and MoveOn were Clinton front organizations.
However, I may have misinterpreted casual claims as hard accusations.
Jer
I don't think that DailyKos
April 19, 2008 - 19:07 ET by motherbeltI don't think that DailyKos or MoveOn are "connected" to any particular politician. They represent the far left wing of the Democrat party, and generally when I 've heard them discussed, it's been in those terms.
Jer
April 19, 2008 - 19:17 ET by Noel SheppardJer,
No, DK is not a Clinton front. He doesn't like the Clintons for the most part, and certainly not her.
There has been some implication of Soros funding the Center for American Progress, but nobody's been able to prove it. However, CAP's connection to the Clintons -- as well as TP and MMA -- is undeniable. In fact, she even admitted it at YearlyKos last year! ns
From CAP's own website
April 19, 2008 - 19:51 ET by Del DolemonteShe had to admit that CAP is connected to her-they have so many Clintonistas it's scary. And they claim on their masthead to be "non-partisan". What a laugh.
"The Center for American Progress is headed by John D. Podesta, former chief of staff to President William J. Clinton"
Other "experts" on the CAP roster include...
"Morton H. Halperin is a Senior Fellow at American Progress.In the Clinton administration, he was also Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Democracy at the National Security Council, a consultant to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and was nominated by the president for the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Democracy and Peacekeeping"
and Mortie's kid, David:
"A former speechwriter for both President Bill Clinton and presidential candidate Howard Dean"
and their "Senior Vice President for Communications"
"Jennifer Palmieri is the Senior Vice President for Communications at American Progress. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Palmieri was the National Press Secretary for the 2004 Edwards for President campaign. She held the position of National Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee during the 2002 election cycle, and is an eight year veteran of the Clinton White House. Ms. Palmieri was a White House Deputy Press Secretary from 1998 to 2001. She also served in the White House as a Special Assistant to White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta and Deputy Director of Scheduling and Advance. "
Complete list of their "experts" here. Barf bag alert, one of their "experts" is also Leftist bomb thrower Eric Alterman...
http://www.americanp...
Del
April 19, 2008 - 19:53 ET by Noel SheppardDel,
I think you're writing to the choir: http://www.newsbuste... ns
I Tried to add this
April 19, 2008 - 20:06 ET by Del Dolemontehttp://www.moveon.or...
MoveOn.org Civic Action was started by Joan Blades and Wes Boyd, two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Although neither had experience in politics, they shared deep frustration with the partisan warfare in Washington D.C. and the ridiculous waste of our nation's focus at the time of the impeachment mess. On September 18th 1998, they launched an online petition to "Censure President Clinton and Move On to Pressing Issues Facing the Nation." Within days they had hundreds of thousands of individuals signed up, and began looking for ways these voices could be heard
Del
April 19, 2008 - 20:18 ET by Noel SheppardDel,
Precisely. And, to a large extent, that's why it's really foolish of Hillary to make the statements she made.
However, few people know that this is why MoveOn was created. The Clintons have always banked on the stupidity of their followers. In reality, if people were better educated, and more knowledgable, this couple would never have slept in the White House unless as somebody's guests! :-) ns
Vast Leftwing Conspriracy?
April 19, 2008 - 21:04 ET by jefflebowskiIs Hitlery implying that there is, in this country, a vast left-wing conspiracy? You can just tell how bad she hates it not being chosen as the kooky lefty prom queen! This is really getting fun to watch!
Censure and Move On, remember?
April 20, 2008 - 11:22 ET by CobraManMove On may not be a “front” for the Clintons, at least not anymore, but it sure was a great supporter of both of them back in the 90’s and 2000 - 20006. Move On was formed during the Clinton impeachment and was devoted entirely to the support of the President Clinton during the proceedings in the House and the trial in the Senate. Censure and Move On was their mantra, remember?
The members of Move On also fully supported Mrs. Clinton during her Senate elections and its members were a major provider of campaign donations and solicitations on her behalf.
Now Move On has tossed her “under the bus” by claiming that she’s just another cog in the VRWC political attack machine and they are throwing their full weight behind Obama even though they supported her and her husband for over 10 years simply because she refuses to drop out of the race.