The White House vs. Hillary

Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:27 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
The Clinton folks have to be giddy about this: The White House today criticized Clinton's new TV ad, which claims that people without health-care coverage and soldiers fighting in Iraq are invisible to Bush.

"[A]s to the merits of it, I think it's outrageous," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino at today's gaggle. "This is a president who, first and foremost, has helped millions of seniors across the country have access to prescription drugs at a much lower cost... And as to whether or not our troops are invisible to this president, I think that that is absurd, and that is unconscionable that a member of Congress would say such a thing."

Why are the Clinton people giddy? As the Atlantic's Marc Ambinder puts it, "Remember, a critical -- perhaps the critical -- distinction Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign wants Democratic primary voters to draw is between her 'competence' and President Bush's brand." In other words, she becomes the "change" candidate if she's running against Bush -- and not against some of her Democratic competitors who haven't been in Washington as long as she has.

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Comments

"Q Dana, do you want to respond to a new ad that Senator Clinton is running in Iowa, in which he claims and charges that people without health care coverage are invisible to this President, and that U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are invisible to this President"

Is that a typo on the white house page or did the reporter really say "he"? Do they know which Clinton is running?

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:42 PM)

I'm sure Bush sees these folks, however, to him it only happens when he's checking his shoe to see what he's stepped in.

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:43 PM)

She has the smarts. Keep on baiting that bull.

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:49 PM)

Texas, what is wrong with your Senators and President as far as our troops are concerned?

I went and revisited the grades our troops gave to our states and Senators as far as their support for equipment and health care to our men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Let's see -

John Cornyn, R, Senator, Texas
grade: D-

Kay Hutchinson, R Senator, Texas
grade: D+

Then we have the Democrats -

Hillary Clinton - NY
grade: A-
Barack Obama - Illinois
grade: B+

Is Texas all about putting people into power but not delivering on the important things - like supporting our troops?

Notable mentions:
John McCain, Republican, Arizona - Vietnam War Hero
grade: D

Elizabeth Dole, Republican, NC (wife of Bob Dole)
grade: D

Lindsey Graham, Republican, SC
grade: D-

Democrat (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:51 PM)

Mark...its like a joke, if you have to explain it....

lyn, MD (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 6:06 PM)

The White House attacks, and so do the anti-Clintonistas. One hopes that they are all foolish Republican supporters of this failed, inept Bush administration.
You know she's got them on the run, when they go after a campaign ad. Thanks for the free publicity, RNC!

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 6:12 PM)

invisable is the wrong word, he knows they're there and keeps referring to them and the thousands more he keeps sending. inconsequential would be more appropriate as he could care less the numbers of committed and casualities other than lip service. i recently say a headline in passing that indicated bush was considering a draft. i spent a year getting my ass shot at for a war we didn't belong in and didn't win and i can assure you my 2 16 year olds are not going that route. don't let bush make iraq a draft killing field like nam, vote demo.

karlos (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:20 PM)

One only has to look to conditions at Walter Reed to see what this President really thinks of the troops. The man treats our men and women in uniform as if they were day laborers. It's disgusting.

John Doe, The Peanut Gallery (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:22 PM)

Democrat...Uhhh...yeah...sounds like a nice unbiased source you have there. Amazingly your source seems to rate all Dems well and all Reps poorly.

El Perro (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:45 PM)

Hills people can be giddy all they want but guess what? BUSH is not on the ballot! She will not get another chance on this as Dana will not make that mistake again, baited by the MSM for the reponse they got today. It does not matter anyway as after Sept when Hill is deposed in the Ron Paul case it will be toast time for her.

As an ind. I don't care one way or another, but Hill is not the person for the oval office. Bills stains on the oval office rug are not invisable.

Alan in phx (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 7:46 PM)

There has never been a time in the history of the nation when our brave soldiers, having given their all in battle, and having returned wounded, were so severely wounded again by their own commander in chief. Walter Reed Hospital, rat and roach infested as it was, was invisible to George Bush for almost four years. Its like holding the head of a drowning man ubder water while promising to save him. This administration specialises in wounding the already wounded. Its a bloddy shame!

Cedric King, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:17 PM)

We know the Clintons are buddies with the Bush's so, it's not surprising these accidental favors are always being done for her by the white house.
the timing is also when she really needs a strawman.
Is it any wonder Hillary is running her campaign right out of Rove's playbook.

diane (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:18 PM)

Let's try and clear things up a bit; Hillary is for change with a small "c"; You know the sign on the door at the White House will "change" from Bush to Hillary. But that is where her brand of "c"hange will stop. Obama is for Change with a big "C"; we can call it, fundamental "C"hange. Not that the MSM cares to report that distinction.

pservelle, palm springs,, ca (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:24 PM)

Here's a link to the ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3xepwid_sY

David, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:59 PM)

CONGRATS AGAIN HILLARY! YOU GO GIRL!!! I PROUDLY SUPPORT YOU AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTRY!

JENNY ELLIS (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 9:33 PM)

This is the type politics we should expect if she wins...we are tired of this negative and divisive politics...Obama is the only one who will be able to bring this country together...America doesn’t need oldies like the Clintons and Bushes…this is a change election and Clinton won’t Win…Also, her negative politics explains Clinton high negative in the poll…Team Clinton will do anything to seek out controversy…the other time it was with the pentangon, then Obama and now with Bush…she is trying to fool everyone to believe that she speaks for the party when we all know that she is only protecting her interest…rather than telling voters what she will do to solve the Health care problem…which she failed to solve in the 1990’s…now she is blaming Bush…Also, it is the same Bush who she agreed with to invade Iraq…simply put she will do anmything to attain power…but sooner or later the truth will catch up with her…remember Karl Rove who she is following his political play book…

Stan (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 9:57 PM)

Van, I don't know what you smoking, but you do realize that the democrat's are worried about her getting the nomination because she is disliked by so many. If she get's the nomination to run for president, Karl Rove is going to dig up so much dirt on her that the Republican voter's, who normally don't care and sit at home, will make that extra effort to go out and vote just to ensure she don't win. Every Democratic Senator and Congressman are worried to death about what she is gonna do to their ability to get re-elected to office. She will draw all the heat off the Repub's and open the door for them to take over again.

DStormVet, IL (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:07 PM)

Maybe President Bush stepped in a pile of catalano.

Eugene Roberts, Salem, OR (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:17 PM)

I said it all along, she's the best ! hillaryclinton.com

Mildred R.Myers,Phd. (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:30 PM)

GOT TO LOVE HILLARY..hillaryclinton.com

Ken Likes, Sanford, Fl. (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:32 PM)

Clinton-supporters ,though she has 100% face recognition, and is running a de facto "incumbent" based her husband. Her national negatives have NEVER waivered from the 48-50% range. Conservative Republicans WANT Hillary to run to TURN OUT THE BASE. Electorally Hillary's election would be like weaving a needle and thread. As long as she is trying to run a Republican-Lite campaign, Clinton lets the Republicans dictate the political race. Remember, Gore? Kerry? Republicans WANT to play the same game. Dems, let's not be STUPID and FALL for it, AGAIN!! Obama is the only weapon which short-changes their strategy.

Tommy Ates, Austin, TX (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:33 PM)

It is a divisive ad, which is an odd choice for a first ad. Usually candidates do bio pieces or offer some broad vision.

That said, Perino did Clinton a favor by responding. And the White House had to realize that, unless she was speaking unscripted. I doubt it. I do think we hear unscripted things from Snow on occassion, but not from Perino.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 10:43 PM)

The funniest part of this is Ms. Perrino saying a word (unconscionable) that would take Dubya at least three tries to get. And that's with Rove still at the controls of the 'Backpack Teleprompter'.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:43 PM)

This is interesting, Hillary Clinton gets an A- for naming some post offices, getting a park in the carribean and congrats to two lacrosse teams. God with scores like that, no wonder the democratic controlled congress only got a 3% approval on Rassmussen/s poll.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 12:29 AM)

Hillary Clinton's senate record 20 bills past in 7 years:

Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site

• Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month

• Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor

• Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall
Name courthouse after James L. Watson
• Name post office after John A. O'Shea

• Designate August 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day

• Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day

• Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death

• Congratulate the Syracuse University Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.

• Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship

• Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program

• Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda

• Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death

• Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.

• Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11

• Pay for city projects in response to 9/11

• Assist landmine victims in other countries

• Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care

• Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the Wilderness Preservation System

"In the face of Hillary Clinton's reputation as an effective U.S. senator, this record of paltry accomplishment is sobering. As much as Alexander Hamilton, Harriet Tubman, and the American Revolution deserve our recognition, one thinks the voters of New York may have expected more of their junior senator."

That is the entire Senate record of Hillary Clinton.

An A-?
more like a F

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 12:39 AM)

The reaction from the White House tells us that the truth hurts, otherwise they probably would have ignored it; they way they ignored the order of protocol on 9/11.

Davis, CO (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 1:07 AM)

Clinton should release her records. If she doesn't - she's just like Bush

Rick, Scranton PA (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 8:26 AM)

Sen. Clinton is 100% correct and her latest ad is right on target. There are many Americans invisible to George W. Bush, most of the 70-75% who find his job performance incompetent. That the Bush White House is stupid enough to comment on this ad is more than the Clinton campaign could have ever hoped for. Apparently the sitting President of the United States equates Hillary Clinton to a person of his stature, which of course she is, and they have given the ad far more coverage than the original spot would have garnered. George W. Bush has attempted to keep the deaths of Americans in Iraq invisible to the American public by prohibiting coverage of dead G.I.s being delivered daily to Dover, DE...that they are invisible to him as he escalates the Iraq debacle isn't a surprise to anyone, it is good that Clinton has pointed it out.

Coy Reese, Shady Spring, West Virginia (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:06 AM)

Jerry, you're giving her an F simply because you do not like her personally (except for her thighs) and you do not care for the things she cares about. Classic 'Halo Effect' - and it extends to everyone who doesn't have an R beside their name.

M. Boley (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:14 AM)

hillary clinton is the same as any of the repub candidates, she is taking money from the pharmaceutical lobbyist, the finialical institution lobbyists, among other's, these are the same lobbyists backing the repub front runners, the only reason these scum give candidates money is they can then demand the laws of this country be written in they're favor, a bribe would be the true definition of this, hillary is part of the problem in washington, not the answer. nobody voting for hillary is voting for change, they are voting for more of the same

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:16 AM)

If she think she can unite this country, she gotta be smoking something bad.. Ad's like these won't work in the general election. She's divisive, and will not solve the underlying issues in washington - which is the dirty politics and partisanship.

jt, okc (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:23 AM)

Hey, Jerry, it's kind of hard to introduce legislation in a Senate that was controlled by Dr.Bill(I know Terry Schiavo is going to get better)Frist. The fact is, Frist and your fellow idiot from Texas, Tom Delay, didn't allow Democrats to bring up any real legislation. Remember, Democrats were only allowed to hold hearings in the basement on things like oversight. Thank God the leaders of the most corrupt congress and whitehouse are gone or soon will be. Bye bye Delay, Frist, Hasteret, Rove, Duke Cunningham, Abramoff and soon to be Bush and Cheney.

Any Democrat in 08'!!!

Timothy, Rochester, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:23 AM)

George Bush don't like black people...and soldiers, and disabled veterans, and seniors, and people with health problems, and hurricane victims, and people who don't agree with him, and low and middle income earners, and truth, and justice, and integrity, and competence, and the Constitution, and Hilary Clinton. You go, girl.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:24 AM)

The trolls are out again on these post stirring the pot of divisiveness.

All the talk of not bringing the country together. They are trying to divide.
Not reading much of the drivel.
Even the regular posters are the poster children of divide, divide.
The scourge of turd-blossum will be alive for years.

H P Boston (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:00 AM)

Go, go Hill Cllinton. She is the best!

Wink!

Monica L., Casablanca, M (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:16 AM)

Alan..Quick change of subject. Go back and read yesterday's Congress Post. There is a lead story on msn today that says pretty much the same as my response to you yesterday.

Blue state baby (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:16 AM)

Tommy Ates, Austin, TX
DStormVet, IL

You are entitled to your opinions, but they have little basis in fact;

From Rasmussen reports;

"Still, Clinton remains extraordinarily popular among Democrats. Seventy-nine percent (79%) offer a favorable opinion of her including 39% with a Very Favorable opinion. Within her own Party, just 20% have an unfavorable opinion. For Obama, the reviews are solid, but not as spectacular—66% favorable and 23% unfavorable. Matching Clinton, Obama is now viewed Very Favorably by 39% of Democratic voters. For Clinton, these reviews are little changed from a week ago. For Obama, the number with an unfavorable opinion has declined somewhat.

Among all voters, Clinton is currently viewed favorably by 50% and unfavorably by 48%. Views of Clinton have remained evenly divided all year.

For Obama, the current numbers among all voters are 48% favorable and 42% unfavorable. This is the second survey in a row where Obama’s favorable rating has been below 50%. Prior to these surveys, it had been above 50% all year, peaking at 58% in May. This is also the third consecutive weekly survey in which Obama’s unfavorables have topped 40%. Prior to the past three weeks, that had happened only once in all of 2008."

Obama is currently at 48-42%, and his negatives are trending up while his favorables are trending DOWN.
This is no knock on Senator Obama, it just shows that the more well known you are, the more people's opinions are generally split. Both her FAVORABLE
and unfavorable numbers are higher than Obama's, but does anyone here want to boast about Senator Obama's FORTY-TWO percent unfavorable numbers?
Hillary turned those negative numbers around in New York State, and the more people see who she actually is in this campaign, she'll reduce the unfavorable numbers here.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:45 AM)

El Perro: Democrat...Uhhh...yeah...sounds like a nice unbiased source you have there. Amazingly your source seems to rate all Dems well and all Reps poorly.

Grades are legit. They are from a MSNBC study.

Manny Regis (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:29 AM)

THANK YOU HILLARY, FOR 6 GREAT YEARS AS OUR JUNIOR SENATOR FROM NY!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 8 GREAT YEARS WITH YOU AS OUR PRESIDENT!
HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT 2008!!!!!

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:55 AM)

vanreuter, NY NY / hillary nor obama can win the general election, which is precisely why the media blathers on so about them, by the way poll numbers are always manipulated, inaccurate and worthless

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, August 15, 2007 12:58 PM)

### MK,MO: hillary nor obama can win the general election, ##

Smart. Very smart. So, you think Edwards is the guy? Or is Al G. or John K. going to jump in late?

Republicans for Hillary (Sent Thursday, August 16, 2007 12:00 AM)

It would be difficult not to presume that Oprah is a proxy standin for Obama vs Hillary in an effort to push the Obama candidacy over the hump ahead of Hillary.

Doesn't say much for the intelligence of the American people though in allowing Oprah's popularity (as a big gun) to push Hillary back and favor Obama.

Democrats should not be falling for that trick that is apt to suit Republicans so well to give them an easy road to the White House.

pbt (Sent Monday, December 10, 2007 5:16 PM)

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