Who is behind this anti-Edwards video?

Posted: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 3:49 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
At 12:11 pm ET today, we -- and, as we understand it, plenty of other national political reporters -- received an email that contained an unflattering video of Edwards, which shows him apologizing for his votes for the Iraq war and the bankruptcy legislation. The video concludes, "We need a president who will get it RIGHT the first time."

The email -- from a person identified as Neil Dooley, and with a Patrick McMurphy cc'ed in it -- says simply: "Have you seen this? It's pretty funny. Biden gettin' feisty? See you on the trail."

We contacted the Biden campaign, which denied being behind the video. And as the Politico's Ben Smith points out, Biden's folks "would be unlikely to raise the war and the bankruptcy bill as talking points."

What about the Obama campaign, since Obama has begun engaging Edwards on the trail? Obama spokesman Bill Burton tells First Read that they're not behind the video and have no idea who Dooley and McMurphy are.

First Read has emailed both Dooley and McMurphy, but neither has yet responded to the query. Neither also seems to have contributed to any political candidates, according to a Federal Election Commission search.

We know that by posting the video, we're giving free advertising and publicity to it. But it's too sophisticated of an effort not to try uncover who is behind it.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Who is behind the video? Gee, lets take a wild stab in the dark. Hillary perhaps?

LeRoy Brown (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:03 PM)

Now Hillary, I told you not to go on this site. hillaryclinton.com

Bill C. (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:04 PM)

I'm not sure whose campaign was responsible for this.

BUT, I will say, that while I really like and agree with a lot of the the things Edwards is saying on the campaign trail - railing against special interests in Washington and the "Two Americas" - I think that Edwards actions don't come close to living up to his rhetoric.

He voted for the Iraq War, he voted for the bankruptcy bill, he voted for No Child Left Behind, he has accumulated $55 million in net worth from suing doctors, hospitals and the American Red Cross (3 times for the ARC), worked for a hedge fund in 2005 that was based out of the Cayman Islands (the same kind of offshore company that Edwards always rails against) and specialized in subprime mortgages that have taken advantage of poorer people, bought a 100 acre estate in North Carolina where he built a 28,000 mansion, and has received numerous $400+ haircuts from a celebrity stylist. Not to mention, Edwards sponsored no legislation in his 6 years as senator that combatted special interests.

And so if you were to ask me if I think that Edwards is sincere in his heated rhetoric against rich, powerful, special interests? I'm just not buying it. I honestly believe that his advisers/pollsters told him that he'd have the best chance of winning the Democratic nomination if he switched from being a centrist, Southern Democrat (which he was as senator) to a very liberal, populist candidate.

I'm not sure if I trust him to bring about change and represent true, Democratic/liberal ideals any more than I trust Hillary Clinton too. I'd vote for Obama, Richardson, Biden, Dodd, or even Kucinich before Edwards or Clinton.

Keith, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:09 PM)

H I L L A R Y C L I N T O N . C O M

Billy (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:11 PM)

"I know Sen. Edwards has apologized all over kingdom come about having voted for the war. But you know what? Apologies are a little bit late when you've got dead bodies all over the field"
- Dennis Kucinich.

Poor John.

The Clintons hit Obama with kinder-gate, muslim-gate, drug-gate and experience-gate, but he's still standing strong like the cedar in Lebanon. They gave up. The guy is too hot for them.

Now, see if John has the strength to withstand apologies-gate. If he does, then nothing the GOP throws at OBAMA-EDWARDS 2008 will thrive.

Ike (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:12 PM)

I really believe it was John.It's lonely out there.

Merissa (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:13 PM)

Just in case you forgot.. hillaryclinton.com

P.J. (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:14 PM)

can't believe there is only one post on here blaming the Republicans. They are of course the only ones who use dirty tricks.

K., Austin (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:14 PM)

I see Hillary Clinton all over the video.

Bee (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:14 PM)

in all honesty, i don't care who made this video. the fact of the matter is IT'S TRUE! His entire campaign is based on the premise of taking on the Washington establishment, a feat he never accomplished when it was actually his job to do so! It's time Dems start taking this election seriously if we want the White House back. Obama's a nice enough guy, but he will be eaten alive in the general election. Love her or hate her, HRC is the only one who can win the White House. Do we really want 4-8 more years of GOP. The Clintons know how to beat them, and they will! Go Hillary.

boynLA, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:15 PM)

It makes no sense that the Clinton Campaign would be behind the video.

They need Edwards to knock out Obama in Iowa, because if they lose it would be a heck of a lot better to lose to Edwards than Obama.

I love that everyone is automatically pinning it to Clinton. Why dig themselves a grave? Beyond Clinton winning, they only way she can lose is to Edwards. That's the only way to stop the bleeding if Iowa doesn't swing her way.

He's not who she needs to knock down a peg, its Obama.

Common sense people.

Don't worry John, we still love ya.

raider dem, maryland (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:16 PM)

Let me get this straight. A video that displays Edwards in an unflattering moment is a dirty trick? A video that, might I add, truthfully points out two votes he wishes he could take back.

I don't get what the fuss is about. I dare say if it was of Hillary instead of Edwards, most of those screaming in outrage would be hooting with laughter and rushing to high five whomever is responsible for it. But Edwards...well, he's a nice guy, so how dare anyone point out that his votes on two important issues.

The nerve!

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:18 PM)

Why on earth would Obama go on offense when he's up in Iowa? Could always have been an overzealous supporter, I guess.

Also, oh my god... the journalists at first read are actually reading the comments section. Neat.

John M., San Diego, CA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:20 PM)

Anyone think it might be Edwards? Let everone speculate and blame each other? Sounds like a good strategy to me.

CitizenJ (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:21 PM)

John Edwards cannot lead the democratic ticket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADwjvAs9J-0

John Edwards and Hillary Clinton did not read the NIE.

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

Obama SmackDown Series: Smacks down Edwards on Iraq.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4x_KnWEDjs

John Edwards Feeling Pretty.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2AE847UXu3Q

Banko (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:25 PM)

If Hillary is going to lose to anyone in Iowa, she’d prefer to lose to Edwards because he doesn’t have the funding to advertise beyond more than the first few states. But even though she’s willing to lose to him in Iowa, doesn’t mean that she’s not going to eviscerate him in later states. She’s probably just planning this to start weakening him so she can really go after him later.

Ava (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:32 PM)

What's wrong with showing John Edwards being honest? Is it a little too out-of-the-box to contemplate such a thing?

As soon as you all realize you can't agree on who did it, just use Karl Rove as your Pavlovian fallback. Just ring the Rove bell and start drooling.

Finally, with no horse in the Democrat race, I'd like to say that First Read actually seems evenhanded in the information it presents on the candidates, Republicans and Democrats alike. They can't be responsible for your own distortions and biases.

The ones of you who complain the loudest are the most biased. Jeez, what a bunch of whiners! You should appreciate that First Read gives you a forum in the first place. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:32 PM)

Why are we so concerned about who did the video we are taking our sites off the fact that the video is factual and true and it will be a huge mistake to nominate Edwards?

The Republicans will kill him.

Jay, MS (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:42 PM)

I actually think it makes JRE look like he is completley the opposite of Bush and is not afraid to standup and make corrections when he is wrong. I think is shows JRE that he will be the change candidate.

Rosie, Crestview, FL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:45 PM)

A curious connection: in an Op. Ed. a couple of days ago, Peggy Noonan describes Bill Clinton in the White House as like Patrick McMurphy in _One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest_, running crazily through the halls. http://opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/

Here's an hypothesis: Bill Clinton, and those around him (Penn, Wolfson, etc.) surely noticed and got a laugh out of Noonan's characterization. So, a sender in the Clinton campaign, alias Neil Dooley (an actor whom I know nothing about - someone else will have to figure out that reference), cc-s it to McMurphy as inside joke for Bill.

Jeff, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:49 PM)

I think this is not as straight forward as it looks. It's possible that these are simply aliases or plants intending to provoke and muddy up someone.

Yiannis, Baltimore (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:57 PM)

Ava - Hillary wouldn't need to eviscerate Edwards later (unless she just wants to because old habits are hard to break and its fun for her).

Edwards, after winning Iowa, would have no where to go. He won't win New Hampshire or South Carolina. I really don't know how he'd do in Nevada, but that seems like a lesser of the earlies. He's certainly not going to do well in Michigan.

I don't know. Do any Edwards supporters have a credible scenario in mind for him to actually win the nomination?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:04 PM)

Obama goes negative again.

CLinton wouldn't do it... edwards takes votes from obama, She wants him to do well.

obama is panicing ..

tuck,kansas,realityville (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:09 PM)

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:09 PM)

I think FIRST READ is missing the boat here. The most likely candidate to put this out is GOV. BILL RICHARDSON. He has the most to gain by bringing down Sen. Edwards and smearing Sen Biden by implication.

Interestingly, the tag line -- We need someone who gets it right the first time -- is really a Rep. Kucinich line. But, I would expect Kucinich to come right out and tout the video. Unless he is still upset with Sen. Biden for leaving him off of the "Joe is Right" advertisement.

I think Bill RICHARDSON's campaign may be the culprit.

RASCIE, Washington, DC (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:17 PM)

Will it be possible for Republicans to talk about a President "getting it right the first time" with out being laughed at, shouted down, and having things thrown at them?
Look at the joke their bloodline has produced and wave good bye to them.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:23 PM)

I have proof Bee did it.

The Butler (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:23 PM)

H I L L A R Y C L I N T O N . C O M

C.B. (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:24 PM)

This video has been up on YouTube for FOUR days. Why don't you try to track down the creator that way!!!

I still wonder why truthfully showing that another candidate is wrong, lying, incompetent, etc. constitutes a smear job or an attack ad. It seems like people should know that a candidate has been wrong -- a lot.

RASCIE, Washington, DC (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:27 PM)

Why not Clinton? Uhm, it's called reasearch - neither of those names has ever, historically, backed a Clinton yet.

Are people seriously this blinded by the Republican attack machine that they think she's even half as evil as they would love to make her look.

It's old and outplayed.

Travis, Louisville, Ky. (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:32 PM)

Mark Murray, I don't think you are anti anyone. I get frustrated with you guys at times because it seems you guys get stuck on a storyline that is simply wrong or something but, I never think you are out to get someone or have any particular agenda against any candidate.
That is why I come here instead of going to sites like Taylor Marsh. lol.
You probably upset people of different camps but, I think as a whole most people know you guys are reporting and not promoting some candidate.

diane (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:32 PM)

You could take short clips from any candidate out there, piece them together and make anyone of them look bad. Doesn't matter who did it, it won't change the mind of any true supporter of any candidate. Definately not a high-end piece of work.

SoCal for Edwards (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:43 PM)

Mark and Domenico, gullible, you posted it. You, along with Dooley and McMurphy, are behind it ... suckers!

Lawdog90 (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:48 PM)

Clinton didn't vote, Obama voted nay and Edwards wasn't even in office when the bankruptcy bill was voted on. It was in March of 2005.http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00044

Jo (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:53 PM)

First of all, it isn't aimed at Edwards, but rather at Obama. Obama is the candidate who has emphasized getting Iraq right from the start. The origin in Obama is so obvious that the document must have been created for that very appearance. Its purpose is to make Obama look bad. The candidate with the strongest interest in pulling down Obama (and without concern about hurting Edwards) is Clinton.

Stephen Diamond, Joshua Trie, CA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:54 PM)

Way to go! The idea of spreading this around was just too good to be held back by anything like, oh, say, JOURNALISTIC ETHICS.

Edrie, Arlington VA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:06 PM)

Travis, Louisville, KY:

After spending a fair amount of time on First Read I've honestly come to the conclusion that where Hillary is concerned, the Republican attack machine has nothing on the Democrats that don't like her.

But you did come pretty to the Pavlovian conditioned response to blame it all on Rove/the Republicans. A napkin will help.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:08 PM)

Are you kidding? You asked Obama because they were 'engaging'? They each said a sentence about a difference in policy and the media makes it out to be a major attack war!

I remember awhile back Salon.com did a piece about the constant emails they got from the Clinton campaign forwarding potentially damaging stories against Obama and Edwards. Where was your outrage about that? Tell me you guys don't get the same thing. (btw, they also said they never got the same thing from either Obama or Edwards).

Here's the link:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2007/10/30/hope/index.html

But now somebody does a video against Edwards and you ask Obama but not Clinton?

Who knows who did this. Could have been anybody. Maybe Clinton's campaign had nothing to do with it, though their actions would make intelligent people think about asking them before asking someone with the integrity Obama has shown.

You want to bemoan this kind of thing? Be consistent. Tell me you don't get this kind of thing all the time from somebody associated with the Clinton campaign. Salon sure made it sound like it was a widespread thing.

Terri, Plantation, FL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:18 PM)

The line "We need a president who will get it RIGHT the first time." has been used repeatedly by which Democratic Presidential candidate? This is NOT a trick questions. Go back to the debate tapes. (Hint: he's from Ohio and his initials are .... DK)

Edrie, Arlington VA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:25 PM)

I like Edwards too but, his record does get in the way of his rhetoric at times. He also supported favorite nations trading status with China and we are now getting bombarded with faulty products from the Chineese that need to be recalled. Iwas thinking this was Obama but now I remember that Kucinich has been using the tag line that the President needs to get it right the first time.

CE, Kenosha, WI (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:26 PM)

Edwards, after winning Iowa, would have no where to go. He won't win New Hampshire or South Carolina. I really don't know how he'd do in Nevada, but that seems like a lesser of the earlies. He's certainly not going to do well in Michigan
Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA
-----------------------------------
I tend to agree with you with respect to Senator Edwards' chances in states other than Iowa. I've been wondering if he does win Iowa, would that hurt Senator Clinton more than Senator Obama or vice-versa? I can see both sides of that discussion.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:35 PM)

My vote's with the Clintons; they've consistently played dirty. Edwards is doing better, so it would make sense for them to leave Obama alone for time being. However, I agree with the earlier posters. Check the IP and do some investigative reporting before airing this video. It's not THAT sophisticated.

Ron, Brookfield, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:50 PM)

I did not have anything to do with planting this story

Karl Rove, Texas (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:56 PM)

When I began reading this post, I expected a personal attack on Edwards, because that was what we have been seeing recently.

However, I was surprised to see that there were no dirty attacks in the video. Edwards truly did change his position on many extremely important issues, and pointing that out is not dirty.

I have no clue who put out the video, although it actually, oddly, has the feel of some of Edwards's own videos, such as his "Politics of Parsing" video.

Ruth Bethinger, New York, New York (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:03 PM)

The truth is the truth..one should own up to his record..all that was said is a repeat of what was said ..who did it who cares?

Heslop, Ft. Lauderdale Fl; (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:07 PM)

cms, Edwards voted for an earlier bankruptcy bill that, while imperfect, actually closed some loopholes that allowed people to scam the system. You're thinking of the tremendously mean spirited 2005 bankruptcy bill that even the credit card companies didn't push for. Biden was a major pusher of the bill and Clinton didn't vote either way. Dodd and Obama voted no but Obama opposed an amendment limiting credit card interest to 30% (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00020). Edwards, who was out of the Senate by then, wrote against it (http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/bankruptcy/archives/2005/04/index.php#005440). Not specifying the bill in question is part of the intential smear of this ad. Mark should point this out.

sr, WA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:17 PM)

Ah, but Jeff, what if someone knew we'd figure out that Patrick McMurphy-Bill Clinton connection, and use it to unfairly paint this one on her? Then again, what if the Clinton camp knew we'd figure that out, and use the name Patrick McMurphy to convince us it wasn't them?

My head hurts. I think I'll go watch the Princess Bride.

But here's a question for Clinton supporters. Are you confident it won't get traced back to your campaign?
Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:09 PM)

Paul, I think you are smart enough to know that Clinton camp wont do this. They are already painted by MSM as dirty, etc. And now when they could see some good things in Iowa (a close fight between Edwards and Obama is good for them), why would they disrupt that. And you know Edwards can win Iowa, Clinton can win NH. That helps whom in the long run?

Who is finished if he doesnt win Iowa? Think about it.

Dont let hatred for Clinton blind you all the time and blame everything on her.

Simon, IA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:24 PM)

Why do you think this was put out by anyone's campaign? Anyone can easily create a video. Have you guys heard of You Tube? Duh! This article is inflammatory. The video speaks to the truth, about Edwards votes in the Senate, however, and he claims to be a fighter. This is exactly what the GOP will run if Edwards were the Democratic nominee.

PJL (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:29 PM)

We are living in a world of widespread access to internet and sophisticated software programs (obvious statement, I know ;). I think that anyone who has the ability to use a video editing program could have made this and disseminated it. It would be interesting to know if there is a connection to a certain campaign, but there is a strong possibility that it was made by a completely disconnected private citizen.

Tara (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:31 PM)

Come on, folks . . . who cares about negative campaign tactics? Look at John Edwards for who he is. Look at his contributions to poor people, look at the positions he takes to protect the interests of working people, look at the fact that he is not afraid to confront tough personal and political issues and then ask yourself, 'What else matters?'

Lynn Dravis, San Dimas, CA (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:31 PM)

<< Previous

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=524093