Hillary plays the Al Qaeda card

Posted: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:29 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security

From NBC's Mark Murray
For the last several days, Clinton and her surrogates have argued -- in generalities -- that the unexpected can always occur, and that she's the Democratic candidate who can best handle such situations.

But did she go a little too far yesterday? She said this, per the Boston Globe (which we missed): "'I don’t think it was by accident that Al Qaeda decided to test the new [British] prime minister,' she said. 'They watch our elections as closely as we do, maybe more closely than some of our fellows citizens do…. Let’s not forget you’re hiring a president not just to do what a candidate says during the election, you want a president to be there when the chips are down.'"

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Comments

Actually, one of yours, Keith Olbermann caught it and showed it on his show.

He was pretty ticked off, as he should.

Hillary is really Bush-Cheney lite, anyone?

Wayne, Silver Spring, MD (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:12 PM)

Well we all know you'd get UBL the first week and then there wouldn't be a terrorist threat anymore.

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:14 PM)

Precisely why we should elect Obama. Unless we forget it was the "Experienced" Senator from new york that voted to give Bush authority to go into iraq derailing us from taking care of al quaeda in afganistan and pakistan. Fanning broader flames of hate in the arab world as we appeared to be attacking islam and not just al quaida.

Actions enflamed by voting the QUDS force a terrorist organization.

I'ld prefer to vote for a man that knew iraq was wrong, knew we were taking the eye off the al quaida ball and got it right.

Remember pakistan isn't where it is without Iraq. Iran isn't unchecked by regional powers without iraq. And our military isn't on the verge of being broken limiting our response capability without iraq.

Which democratic faces were out front on Iraq? Liberman and CLinton lead the we must attack squad.

Apparently their experience tells them meglomaniacs bent on regional domination and arab rule spend their lives developing WMD to give to rivals for power from fundamentally different ideologies. That's experience.

Reject Hillary, she's part of the problem abroad.

Adam, Sacramento (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:15 PM)

SENATOR CLINTON DISCUSSES FOREIGN POLICY.

HP Boston (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:17 PM)

I will agree with her here. Hillary is on the money with that comment. But I still dont think any of the democrats running for POTUS has a handle on what they would do in the event of another 9/11.

ROn NPR FL (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:18 PM)

You go Hillary. I think we need to stand up for what we belive in and I believe Mrs. Clinton is definitely the woman for the job. She will stand up for the people of this country.

Justine Brown, Columbia Falls, MT (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:20 PM)

Clinton has been caught taking cues from President Bush's own fearmongering playbook--shame on her. Or more accurately, shame on her campaign management: Clinton is probably the most carefully scripted and choreographed candidate in this race. That does nothing to help her because the people in charge of her message are old-guard, blue-dog, big-money, special-interest-representing folks like Mark Penn, utterly disconnected from today's Democratic political environment. Coupled with her Iraq War vote, her flag-burning amendment, and her acceptance of more lobbyist money in this race than any other candidate (including the Republicans), Clinton statements such as this "vote for me or al Qaeda will kill you" make it clear to the perceptive and energized Democratic base that she does not belong in the White House.

Carl Willis, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:21 PM)

Just showes Hillarys true colors and poor memory.Just the name CLINTON should give Al Qaeda hope,as it did during her husbands jaded fight on terroism

sacco,voorheesville NY (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:22 PM)

Smells like panic to me.

Logan (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:24 PM)

Hillary has it all wrong! She is what we as Democrats are fighting against. She has continued the same ole, same ole, to get the job done in Washington. She is connected to the wrong people!
When the Hillary camp gets caught at their dirty tricks, they claim no knowledge. She is not what we want in the Democratic Party.
Hillary will do anything to win, she is obsesive and self serving.
The Voters have seen that she will do the same to us as she has to her competition.
Hillary needs to give it up and set a retirement date.

Tad Dickson, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:25 PM)

Low Class

Alexander (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:25 PM)

That's just low class.

Alexander, Frontenac, KS (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:26 PM)

"You want a President to be there when the chips are down." Oh like for example...having the credibility to get the Kenyan President and opposition leader to talk to each other in a way the U.S. Ambassador describes as helpful? Just to pick one hypothetical situation at random...

Matt Shirley, Pearl Harbor, HI (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:27 PM)

Positioning, positioning, positioning. Every election is the same: "I'm strong on law," or "I'm strong on abortion." What people want to hear when the campaign turns to "I am for change" is not the "same o'l same o'l" positioning but something fresh... like some truth about what is going on, today, not the nefarious, albeit real, threat that has no easy solution; what people want is closer to home. The Al Qaeda issue is a national security concern... an "I'm going to be tough on Al Qaeda stance," with an obvious inference that her opponents are not going to be tough on the issue is overt positioning. Nothing new or fresh. As Bill Clinton finally got in his first election, and, admittedly what won him the election, is "it is the economy stupid."

David Fichter, Castro Valley, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:27 PM)

Did she go a little too far? No, It is a very reasonable thing to ask. I think it is silly that the media is even asking if this is taking it too far.

Fellow republicans, support the best man RON PAUL!

Dan Whitehead (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:29 PM)

I see her lips move but all I hear is 'dust blowin in the wind'.

We're not in Kansas anymore. (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:29 PM)

bye bye baby, so long honey, good bye Hill

william, (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:30 PM)

Sickening, disgusting, low class, Bush-Cheney lite... She'll never get my vote for this race or any other--though I don't have to worry since she's not going to get the nomination.

Jen IA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:32 PM)

Our country is realy going downhill. Hillary has no experience in anything but reside in the whitehouse while her husband played with the babies, showing a strong williness to tax us to death, proposing outrageous heathcare plans, and walk around like shes Gods gift to america.
YET, there are a lot of uninformed or baffled people that would vote for her...
The country is heading downword and if she ever made it to president you would see our military and intellegence depts go to hell once again.
Wake up people and smell the BS

Paul (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:34 PM)

Clinton did go too far. It appears that she is trying to play the Al Queda card to intimidate Obama supporters. What comparison did Clinton and her husband make with Bush Sr.'s experience when they were seeking election to their mythical co-presidency that she now claims as the basis for her vast experience?

D. Wavey, Santa Monic, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:34 PM)

This is another incident of a candidate playing the fear card, just like Rudy. Both Hilary and Rudy are beholden to AIPAC. I don't think we will ever have success in the Middle East until we can have an even handed approach to Israel and not go along with whatever policies they enact, right or wrong.

Tony Nacelewicz, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:35 PM)

What does "playing the Al Qaeda card" mean?
What's the context of this statement?
Where did she say this?
Who was she speaking to?
Why was this statement made?

My goodness don't you guys have Editors who know how to edit? If I suggested something like for my high school newspaper, my 17 year old editor would have laughed at me.

fabooj (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:37 PM)

No more fear.
Hold up the light of ideas and possibilities and lead us back to the high road.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:39 PM)

This is getting ridiculous, Hillary seems to be pulling out all the stops as her candidacy seems to skid (anger, sadness, evoking terrorist attacks) smells like desperation to me!

Derek, Hickory, NC (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:40 PM)

Hmmm, now Hillary Clinton in invoking fear of Al Qaeda in order to shore up her own case against Barack Obama. Who does this remind me of? OH YEAH! It's the case Dick Cheney made against John Kerry in 2004! Typical Clinton.

Tom, St. Louis, MO (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:42 PM)

If this is true, she does not deserve to be a Democrat. Join Leiberman.

Tom Cohen, Burke, VA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:42 PM)

Politics of fear. And still her supporters don't feel the need for a shower?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:44 PM)

HRC in my opinion is really getting desperate at this point. And It's beginning to emerge as a concern of some sort to me. Why the desperation? Why does the next president have to be a Clinton? If Obama did not win certainly Edwards should be there to carry the torch not Hillary. Maybe someone should tell the old hag to give up. I am not an Obama supporter, neither am I pro establishment.

Daleo (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:45 PM)

I hope that all of You Hillary supporter's are Proud of your candidate now.Van, Dean, Rich, J.Merle, Simon, Concerned citizen,Tareqi,( etc), this is what your candidate thinks of YOU.Karl Rove could'nt have said it any better than Hillary Rodham Clinton.Not only did she throw away the vote from Iowa as only a caucus, she just Dismissed the Entire country with Fear.Hope your Proud so-called ( Mainstream Democrats) of Hillary.

Rick,ky (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:47 PM)

http://www.picvalley.net/u/309/77061_465.JPG
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/01/14/080114ta_talk_lizza

Clinton Mammoth (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:51 PM)

Hillary might as well be a republican taking a page right from their playbook.

Marty, Shenandoah PA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:53 PM)

Hillary keeps the fear factor alive and well. Democrats should write her a letter and tell her to go home.

Rosie, Crestview, FL (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:53 PM)

I was a Clinton supportor back in 1992 but I see her using the same scare tactics that the Republicans use and We the American people have said in a resounding VOICE in Iowa not this year and not this time no more scare tactics tell us what you can and will do to work for us the American people

Roosevelt Fridy Jr. (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:57 PM)

we will know if she went to far,depending what Matthews and Hannity say about it.

HMT-Mi (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:58 PM)

To Dean, Waterbury CT:

I'm with you!!! I read your post on a previous thread and I'm with you all the way. It is absolutely absurd the way this election has been skewed by the media and the cult that is Obama supporters. The true democrats KNOW how dangerous it would be to put someone so inexperienced and with a rock star mentality in the White House. We DO NOT have to follow along like lambs to the slaughter just because these zealots claim to be democrats. We WILL vote republican if necessary because as true patriots,we do not want to witness the demise of our great nation at the hands of a cult figure.Will the TRUE democrats(not the haters) please stand up???

Cathy, Upstate NY (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:58 PM)

Resorting to the politics of fear? What, the politics of personal destruction not effective? Pathetic. Obama will move us beyond the sad and mean politics of yesterday.

speck (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:58 PM)

That answer would be "yes." The Clintons are starting to give me the creeps.

squintz, philly, pa (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:00 PM)

One of the reasons I endorse Obama is for the positive reaction we can expect from the rest of the world. I would not expect a positive reaction if Hillary was to be president. This is more of the same politics and policy. Let's face it, this go it alone attitude has hurt us around the world.

We have more enemies then allies. We need a president who can inspire and bring together not only our own citizens but the rest of the world. When we elect a president we always hear that our president is the leader the free world. For this job we need a person with the ability to unite the free world against our enemies. I see this trait strongly in Obama. He is a leader of people, a mover who can inspire. It's one of his strengths. It's one of Hillary's weaknesses. She lacks this ability to inspire, unite and lead. Again she has missed the boat. If the chips are down I want someone who can rally the 'troops'. Hillary cannot even inspire her own campaign personal. Hillary- sorry you’re not the person for that job!

david NH (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:00 PM)

This latest claims by Hillary are clear signs of a very desperate person who is starring defeat in the face. Yesterday she cried and today these ridiculous claims about Al-Qaeda testing Mr Brown. I'm sure Americans are smart enough to make a right choice for president and will not vote for the candidates who use "fear" to convince them to choose them.

Sandy, Manzini, Swaziland (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:05 PM)

Here we go again with the politics of fear. She sounds just like Giuliani for crying out loud.

John M., San Diego, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:06 PM)

I wish to Thank Chris "hardball" Matthews and Tucker "bow tie" Carlson for energizing the undecieded republicans and Independents to get behind Barrack Obama so now we democrats can waltz into the white house untouched...keep up the good work guys!!!

Larry, Wilmington, N.C. (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:06 PM)

I have always believed hillary and rudy were the same person, this is just more proof, I believe I could win this argument in civil court on the circumstantial evidence alone

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:08 PM)

This is just dangerous stuff. There's a meanness to HRC that is getting sharper and more apparent by the minute and it is nothing but a big turn off. As she was saying the words quoted above, you could totally tell that some of her supporters in the town-hall meeting weren't too excited about how they've just been "repulicatized".

lizardbox, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:12 PM)

Nope, she's right. Now what happened when Billy was faced with the first WTC bombing... (He ordered taht a couple of tomahawk missiles be fired at some tents in Afghanistan. No men on the ground went in to get who was responsible.) What happened when the USS Cole was hit by Al Queda... Enough said. Democrat's are last in terms of Defense, and first in terms of taxation. PERIOD

Dave, Washington DC (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:12 PM)

Where was the Clintons when the trade center was bombed before 911. What about the US Cole that was bombed what did they do then. Is this how hillary will handle it if we are attacked again.

Aaron,Paris,Texas (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:12 PM)

It's a point, but it sounds like it's right out of the George Bush playbook. I really am disappointed that a Democrat would stoop to this. Any of those running for president, I believe, wouldn't have run unless he/she would not feel prepared.

Becky, Welsh, LA (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:15 PM)

How can we have a President (Obama) who took his oath off the Koran rather than the Bible and won't say the Pledge of Allegiance to our country?

Jamey Cane (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:16 PM)

The newly elected president, whomever he or she is, will hire Cabinet members to HELP make tough decisions when the "chips" are down. No matter who becomes president, they will not be making decisions alone.

Seneca, Alamogordo, NM (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:20 PM)

Remember the Nixon days and the vietnam war. Today is very much the same in that people want the war in Iraq to end and our economy to recover. Well, a good promiser, no DC experience grass roots guy named Jimmy Carter became the next president. What a mistake! Our unemployment, inflation went through the roof. The average home loan was at 14% interest!! Be careful, Obama may be another Jimmy Carter.

June Meymand Dallas Tx (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:22 PM)

To many democrats and independents, Clinton's evocation of Al Qaeda in this manner will appear to be reminiscent of the Republican cook book of Bush-Rove era that believed in brewing fear to legitimate its right to rule haphazardly without accountability. Whenever Bush approval rating slumped, he would raise the Alert Level of terrorist attack to Red as a measure to deflect his fall and to cover the domestic chaos he created. Many would think Clinton repeating the same, which would have unfavorable effect on her campaign, contrary to her intention of portraying Obama as week on defense, a usual Republican ploy against Democrats.

Shital Green Dahal, Lubbock, TX (Sent Tuesday, January 08, 2008 1:23 PM)

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