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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Romney, RNC target Hillary

Posted: Friday, November 02, 2007 10:13 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:

From NBC/NJ's Erin McPike and NBC's Mark Murray
Romney this morning launched his first attack ad of the GOP primary race -- on Hillary Clinton.

In the spot that begins running today in New Hampshire, Romney goes after Clinton for what he charges is her lack of experience -- and mentions a word he increasingly has used when talking about the New York senator: intern. "Hillary Clinton wants to run the largest enterprise in the world. She hasn't run a corner store. She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city. She has never run anything. And the idea that she could learn to be President as an internship just doesn't make any sense."

And more evidence that everyone now seems to be piling on Clinton, the Republican National Committee today has released a Web video that plays up Clinton's recent debate performance. The video features bites from our very own Chuck Todd and Andrea Mitchell.


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Romney has no chance because he is a MORMON. He can't even get enough votes from republicans and certainly none from dems.
bla..bla..bla bla..bla ..bla wow we got you on nothing. blab..blab.. a Republican Response to nonsence. hillaryclinton.com
Romney expects to be elected by bashing Hillary ... the flip-flop king is going down. The Hillary bashing is getting old .. in the meantime, Hillary continues to do well in the polls and in contributions. Mitt give it up, this woman has nailed your as@.  
Great now Mitt the Morman is on the attack. Too bad it will do no good. All the repubs can do now is attack Hillary. America is sick of their party and this is their last attempt to keep it from dying for good.
Check out some of the already dirty fliers and releases the GOP is running after Clinton's comments on illegal immigrants: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/11/driver-lincenses-for-immigrants-story.html
i wonder if it concerns the liberals and democrats on this forum that they are siding with the bushies,romney and rudy in attacking HRC? Or if they are really Republicans posing as democrats to get a weak and untested nominee,obama, as the nominee?
Mitt Romney=dog abuser.
You, of course, are refering to the book of corinthians 11:7.  Glory to Glory says I.  Men died, women live in our lords name not mans.
All, is just a sign,  a woman president?, you have a woman president. A black president?, you have a black president.  these are orders of the flesh...I choose guliani, a black spot on the road that leads nowhere. Philippians 2:9
AMERICA IS NOT A CORPORATION or a corner store or a state. The ceo analogy has been proven to be a construct that does not meet the needs of a democracy!
A ceo takes care of the companies needs and not the needs of the employees.
A democracy takes care of its people so that the country has a strong foundation.
Mitt has shown with this add that he will not make changes to the basic economics that the Bushies have, HANDS OFF OF EVERYTHING, DAMN THE TORPEDOS, FULL SPEED AHEAD.
Did anyone see all the travel and money the consumer product safety commisioner accepted from the toy industry? Industry over people, lead paint for your child to chew on, strangling cribs and poisonous food from a communist country does not sound like good economic policy to me? How about you?
Mitt cannot win but he now assumes that attacking Hillary makes him the front runner, These guys are so predictable. No subtlety at all, can't have person running policy that can't be subtle, he would give away the farm and our safety to sit at the desk in the oval office. In his eyes, the chair of the ultimate CEO, at least until he receives his own planet.
WOW! that video is great. I told you folks Hillary Clinton is toasted. The media are finally waking up to the reality. She is finally on the records. She is toasted..ha1Ha!ha!
Titus 2:8   Who's your point man Giuliani?  Nahum 3:~
Hmmm, I love it.  The liberals are criticizing Mitt Romney's ad, and naturally despising it.  Allow me to offer a different perspective.  He was able to 'pile on Hillary,' a GOP favorite pastime, illustrate his business and leadership attributes, and make a case for change--surprisingly well actually.  I think it was a convincing/compelling ad.

The GOP should be careful, they won't have Clinton to run against if they take her down too early ...
F StLouis: What is up with bringing up the Mormon issue?  You seem to be a liberal person (I could be wrong), so, I'm not directing this at you, but you were the one who wrote it.  I don't understand why the liberals, a party that celebrates diversity keeps bring up the Mormon issue and tries to paint it as a negative thing.  It would seem pretty tasteless and classless to me for a person to say Hillary has no chance because she's a woman or Barack has no chance because he's black.  If I said the latter statements, some very liberal people would pounce, but it's okay to disqualify based on a religion ... unless it's Muslim of course, because that would be bigotry.  I don't know much about the Mormon religion, nor do I really want to, but I do know a surprising number of Mormons.  They are very principled people, but also very good people, who understand the meaning of family, values and family values.  The GOP should be ashamed for holding a strong candidate’s religion against him, and the DFL should be ashamed for buying into that.
bee Hillary is not(toasted) drunk. Bush is/was toasted alot in college and now. Hillary is not much of a drinker actually. Besides that Bee, Hillary is not toast either as she got a bit of a bump AFTER the debate. Sorry. Maybe you can go out and get toasted to feel better.
I'am going to sleep now and when I wake up Hillary will be the President. Please no comments, I'am tired of all this B.S. allready.
Abortion is a sign the "church" is up to no good, entering into places that are god's domain under the pretense they are keepers of the vineyard.  I say the ability to choose life or death is still and always be up to the parent even when our children are grown, and give your hand to god for forgiveness.  If my children were held by the church under the dominion of satan I would seek to kill them in mercy. John 19:30
According to Mutt's logic, oops I meant Mitt, sorry, slip of the tongue, Apu on the Simpsons would be qualified for the presidency because he ran a Quickie Mart. George Bush with lots of (failed) business experience should have been the ideal president.
Romney is the superior, most qualified candidate for POTUS.  Period.  Get over his religion.  Faith has always engendered America's greatness. The United States of America is the largest, most sophisticated enterprise in the world.  We need someone who knows how to lead, how to serve; not someone who simply wants power so desperately she'll do or say anything to have it.
Mormanism must not preach being classy!

The whole "internship" thing is trashy and lame.

Is this the first time that first read has had video in the post?  I like it.  Would like to see it more often.  On Hillary: This is not a trustworthy person.
Would it ever be possible to link video clips in our comments?
You people that are trying to undermine Romney based on his religion are despicable and an embarrassment to be called Americans.  You are bigots of the worse kind.  You would do us all a favor by staying home on election day.  Disagree with Romney's policies if you will but leave his religion out it.
Really brave guy that mitt. Scared to death of a woman - not to mention too much of a coward to serve in the military - of which he plans to use for his endless war. I don't think America wants another phony coward as CIC. We have had more than enough of that.
I guess Mitt is saying that everyone in the race is pretty much unqualified for the presidency then.  Why limit it to Hillary?  On the Democratic side, only Richardson has executive experience - the others are all presently or have been members of Congress.  On the Republican side, Rudy was a mayor and Mitt was a governor, Huckabee was a governor - and everyone else in Congress?  I'm not that familiar with the Republican candidates so I could be wrong.

Anyway, while Hillary may be singled out in this spot, his words are not applicable only to her.
WOW. Everyone is going after Hillary now!
I could care less about Mit Romney video because he is on a record on many issues. I am not even going to worry about his Flip flop.

Mitt is synonymous to Clinton in the area of Flip Flop but differ in the area of domestic expeirence.

Hillary is toasted ha! ha!
Look what the current Republican in the White House has done.  Some experience in oil, and a former governor.  And what's he done with all of that experience?  He's run the Office of the President into the ground.  It's been an experience we can all do without.  No thanks, Mitt.
Jack Cafferty is the man...I like is comment. Hillary is a joke...she is toasted.
Americans are sick of the Klinton Klan.  Any one of the Republicans will bury her in the general election.
Romney cannot even survive the GOP primary. I think Fred Thompson is ging to be the nominee. He is going to win the south.

Romney will win IOWA only. I don't think he can win in NH either. Mccain will win in NH.

As for Hillary the video i just saw was great. No damage control can stop this one.
Flip-flopping Mitt has big plans to be the ceo of the united states---he is just like george bush---a greedy nitwit---mittens has already said when he is the president he will enlarge the military---but not with his cowardly sons.Guess that leaves the kids that have to sign up that they are 18---that is mandatority---there,you have the draft.
You people that are trying to undermine Romney based on his religion are despicable and an embarrassment to be called Americans.  You are bigots of the worse kind.  
Dan Nelson

--- just curious Dan, would you consider supporting an Atheist for president?
Tuck,Realityville, KS: '...i wonder if it concerns the liberals and democrats on this forum that they are siding with the bushies,romney and rudy in attacking HRC?...'

Not at all !!
If she can't stand the heat, get her OUT OF THE RACE !!
Let's get the best Democrat to represent us !
Being evasive and concealing your positions is a lousy campaign strategy.

I want an anti-war Democrat
Hillary is pro-war
NO SALE !!

'...Or if they are really Republicans posing as democrats to get a weak and untested nominee,obama, as the nominee?...'

NO SALE Tuck,
Hillary is the Republican posing as a Democrat !!
Republican-lite !!
I'm anti-NAFTA, anti-WTO, anti-monopoly, anti-war
Hillary and the Republicans support NAFTA, WTO, monopoly and the war.
Hillary wants to get us into war with Iran !

Why should Democrats support Hillary if we don't know what she stands for ?
Is she for or against IDs for illegal immigrtants ?
Do you know Tuck ?
I'm pro-environment, pro-labor,  pro-consumer rights
IS Hillary ?
I don't know
Come on, Tuck ..... LEt elect a REAL DEMOCRAT !
Edwards/Obama '08

The darkness is lifting...
Ricardo says....
in the meantime, Hillary continues to do well in the polls and in contributions.

Did she find more Chinese dishwashers?

If it came down to a morals issue, there is just no way Hillary Clinton could ever beat Mitt Romney on his worst day.

But now that Hillary is making her campaign about her instead of the issues, I think the American people are too smart to fall for that routine.

H P in Boston is always bragging about how 65% of the people in America are women, but I am betting the farm 50% of them do have some smarts and can see this ploy by Hillary Clinton as no more then a 4 year old whining because Daddy took away her favorite doll.

Mitt, like Dubya, thinks of the USA as his own 'largest enterprise in the world', with the people as what, Pawns on his Chessboard? 'Delusions of Grandeur' always translate as 'Delusions of Adequacy', and serves up 'Illusions of Truth'.  We've had seven years of 'Government by Illusion', we don't need any more.
Please don't attack Mitt because he's MORMON.  This is America-a land of opportunity for anyone, regardless of their religious background.  People who criticize MORMONS today act similar to the people who criticized CATHOLICS in the 1960s.  But in the end JFK won.
Carrie:

Why limit it to Hillary?

Aside from being political gamesmanship in the "best" traditions and that the topic of the moment was specifically Hillary, there is no reason to limit it to Hillary.  Your points are fair and, I believe, accurate.  We always elect presidents with no previous experience in the job.

However, that's the way the game is played.  George Bush was singled out for his "questionable" military service and Dick Cheney is regularly demeaned for avoiding military service in Vietnam.  Never mind that literally millions of men, Democrat and Republican alike, avoided military service with a variety of deferments and that probably 85-90% of congress falls into that category, including George Bush's predecessor.  So, why limit it to George Bush and Bill Clinton, I mean, Dick Cheney?

Political expedience, especially during campaigns, always trumps logic and reason, but your efforts at injecting logic and reason are appreciated. I know I tend toward sarcasm in other posts, but I mean that.

Have a good day.
Ricardo in California: '... The Hillary bashing is getting old .. in the meantime, Hillary continues to do well in the polls and in contributions...'

Sorry Ricard, the bashing is just starting...
Hillary chose a stupid strategy: 'not revealing her stand on the issues to preserve flexibility'

Ricardo, that's not going to fly !
Why would you support Hillary if you don't know where she stands ?
Why do YOU support Hillary if you don't know where she stands ?
Richard:  

I don't know that I was questioning why he limited it to Hillary so much as pointing out that his criticism of Hillary is applicable to most of the candidates.  

But you are correct in that, at the end of the day, it is usually not experience that matters.  Nixon was more experienced than Kennedy, and Bush 41 was obviously more experienced than Clinton.  Experience can actually have a negative impact - the more of a record a candidate has (be it positive or negative), the easier it is to attack that candidate.  Similarly, the more a candidate talks, the easier it is to find inconsistencies or gaffes.
Glad to hear others stating that "business" experience does not make for good government leadership. A corporation is not a government no matter how hard you look at it. When the bottom line and profits are your only goals, you exclude all the things that government is there for. Our government should never be concerned with making a profit. Being sustainable, yes but "making" money, no. There are plenty of corporate opportunities out there for Mr. Romney. I just don't want to be a part of his plan for more profits, power, influence and ego building.
NSMSNBC, Google Mormonism and you shall see....a very scarey cult. Really. And yes I am a staunch dem.
The louder the screams and the deadlier the attacks, the stronger she becomes....just like her husband. Keep it up vicious ones, keep it up!! The clintons will FEED off you.
Hillary is even more awesome for putting up with horrid behaviors from others. Go Hill! We love you even more!!
nuanced--I would, if they were a good, honest person with qualifications.  But whether Dan would or would not doesn't undermine his point that undermining a candidate solely based on religion is despicable and embarrassing.  Would you question a post that read something like ...

You people that are trying to undermine nuanced based on his or her lack of religion are despicable and an embarrassment to be called Americans.  You are bigots of the worse kind.  
Dan Nelson *edited
Senator Obama was awesome this morning on the Today Show, check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3M2pK4pC88
Excuse me but I thought the GOP candidates were relishing the chance to face Hillary in the GE. Her getting the nomination was supposed to be the GOP's salvation to winning the election and motivating the base. If so, then why are they continuing to attack her? Could they be afraid.....
I find it laughable that the two Clinton haters here, Bee and Sierra, cannot come up with one cogent argument against her.  They throw up trash and more trash, piling it on but to what avail.  If you two geniuses cannot come up with anything even approaching substance, then perhaps you should consider that you are nothing more than small minded dupes, feeding on the pablum you've been fed.

Meanwhile, Mitty seems to be making the argument that a candidate must have failed in business and failed in executive office to be president.  That certainly fits the resume of himself and his fearless leader, George II.
.  Mitt, the son of a failed CEO, who made his money through nepotism and sleezy insider deals, who failed as governor of Mass., such that he didn't dare run for reelection, lest he me shown the door with gusto by his state's voters.  He raised taxes to shore up his spending, broke every promise he made, and left in disgrace.  His hand picked successor, the Lieutenant Governor, went down in overwhelming defeat.

My prediction, Clinton will get the democratic nomination, while the rejects will pile into the anti rudy bandwagon and nominate Mitty, who will then carry no more than three or four states--Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Mississippi.

Then America can begin the long miserable process of cleaning up the horrible mess left by the repubs, pay off their debts and get our reputation back.
How about getting Clinton to release her papers including: "appointment calendar as First Lady, her notes at strategy meetings, what advice she gave her husband and his advisers, what policy memos she wrote, even some key papers from her health-care task force."

What is she hiding?  If she is running on her 'experience' these documents would show the American people just what that experience is.
JD, good point.

No one ever gives a reason to vote for Obama... (he was supposedly against the war, well except for the way he voted in the Senate)

if you want another empty suit , vote for bush,er obama


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