Obama SC Truth Squad

Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:53 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
The Obama campaign held a conference call to announce the South Carolina Truth Squad “to respond forcefully” to “the incredible distortions that are coming from the Clinton campaign in particular and our desire to set the record straight,” said former Sen. Tom Daschle, an Obama supporter, from Greenville, S.C., where Obama is expected to speak at Furman College later today.

Daschle cited that “Bill Clinton this morning again” was distorting Obama’s record on the war and what Obama had said about Republicans.

“Over and over again,” Daschle said, “we find the Clinton campaign has made an overt effort to distort his [Obama’s] record.”

The campaign also announced a hotline (877-622-6228) for supporters to call if they get robo-calls or negative mailers, which the campaign has said happened in Iowa, New Hampshire and alluded to it now taking place in South Carolina.

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Comments

GO OBAMA! Let the truth come out!

Angela, Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:00 AM)

They mean to assert that Bill Clinton is lying? When has Bill Clinton ever been known to lie? Bill Clinton has never told a lie.

Yeah right. Obama and Edwards need to call them out, don't let the Clintons drag the Democratic Party throuogh the mud again.

adam/Brooklyn New York City (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:01 AM)

A good response. Obama should continue to bat away false charges by the Clinton campaign consistently, quickly, and succinctly. Now that he showed in the first half of last night's debate that he could deck Hillary when she pounces on him, with the ability to go back to a positive message seamlessly at the end, he's made his point that he would take no garbage from a GOP debate rival in the general; now, he can go back to his regular approach of both focusing on the positive while challenging any Clinton campaign lies with a calm assertion of facts.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:02 AM)

The Clintons distorting the truth? Commmeee ooon! Like that would ever happen.

Pure as the driven snow those Clintons.

What's interesting is now even Daschle is going after these two.

Hons Richards, Ely MN (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:07 AM)

Go Obama....

Ann (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:07 AM)

It looks like Obama will have to prepare himself to battle in Florida as Clinton is on the verge of breaking "the pledge" and she is marching towards a massive victory according to the latest poll. Link: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2008/01/battle-of-florida-early-voting-and.html

Daniel, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:08 AM)

"and alluded to it now taking place in South Carolina" from unnamed sources close to the Obama/Edwards/Clinton/Hoover/Nixon/take-your-pick campaign, of course.

B Merry (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:08 AM)

Tom-

It seems like the Obama campaign is full of losers. John Kerry, Gary Hart, and Tom Daschle. Carry that banner and criticize they only democratic president we have had in the last two decades. Must be something to him

Brian, Worcester, MA (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:18 AM)

For Obama to gain ground heading into Super Tuesday, he needs to go on the offense, not the defense. This strategy is not helpful and frankly is killing him. Obama will not win the battle against Bill Clinton.
The press won't win either.

DJBonini (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:19 AM)

Welcome to Clinton politics. Did you really think there was a vast right wing conspiracy? Please you graduated from Harvard!! You have to be smarter than that!!!

welcome to the real world (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:23 AM)

As an Obama supporter, I don't see the need to announce anything. Just hit old grumpy Bill where it hurts.

Ike (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:24 AM)

It should be a surprise to no one that BIll Clinton continues to lie about Obama's record and statements. Bill Clinton is a congenital liar. He lied to the American people when he was president. He lied under oath when he was president. What makes anyone believe he won;t continue his lying habit as he fights to get back into power? He has no moral or ethical basis on which to act. He will say and do anything in his own self-interest. If Hillary is nominated we wiull again see the destruction of the Democratic majority that Bill Clinton brought on when he was president, as Hillary can't control him either in the campaign or out. If we Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton we will get Bill as well, and will deserve the negatives that will ensue. You want another 4 or 8 years of Republican rule? Just nominate Hillary Clinton and that's what we'll have.

George Hoffman, Lexington, Kentucky (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:25 AM)

WHY DOESNT OBAMA USE THE CLINTON CHRONICLES.COM AND SHUT HIM UP SEE FREE VIDEO IT WILL SHOCK YOU THE REPUBS ARE DYING TO USE IT.

KING OF SMEAR (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:28 AM)

Is anyone surprised by the Clinton tactics? Good for Obama for not letting this slide.

Sheena Miller, Centralia IL (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:28 AM)

Dan Abrams dug deep and assessed 4 of the statements that went back and forth between Obama and Clinton and he said Clinton was truthful in 2, Obama in 1 and the last statement was too ambiguous to give to either person. So much for those mean ole, lying Clintons. Obama can be a big lying phoney politician, just like his counterparts.

Chris Penn (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:29 AM)

We have endured an administration which twists the truth for seven years. We all know how that works out. In fact, Bush and Cheney have micromanaged secrecy so well, they have opened the door to let the President cover up anything they really want--scandals, corruption, incompetence, etc.

Now why in the heck do we want the Clintons in office after all that? They have proven they are not honest (impeachment and various other scandals of the 90's). They will clearly abuse this new-found secrecy at our expense.

The Clintons twisting the truth is merely glimpse of things to come if they enter the White House for a 3rd term.

No more business as usual.
No more politics as usual.
No more dynasties.

Let's get a fresh face in office. Edwards and Obama are far more honest. We need that now more than ever.

sg, michigan (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:35 AM)

I think this is a good move. These distortions should not be ignored and allowed to stand. Taking one piece of a statement or record and twisting it to reflect something negative ... when originally it wasn't negative at all ... may be "politics" ... but it is dispicable and the very reason so many of us are fed up with the way the "game is played". Let's get back to the truth.

sunny, nevada (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:38 AM)

AMEN!
This 'Truth Squad' is a brilliant idea and an absolut necessity. I hope Senator Daschle can stay on board all the way through this campaign.
A 'Truth Squad' will allow Obama to respond immediately and forcefully to all of the 'tag team' nonsense coming from the Clintons.
I am hopeful that a majority of Democrats, Independents...will see the light. Obama is the only candidate from either party that can unite the nation and lead in a bold, new direction.

Jim Moss, Globe, AZ (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:40 AM)

This man Barack Obama is the truth. Everyone has made mistakes in past...but with the Clinton Machine I'm surprised and they also are (Clinton's) that Obama is standing up to them. Their history with Corporations, Chinese fund-raising, truth and their legal criminal history is the only thing that can stop them. This must be the foremost stratagy for the people in America. EXPOSE, EXPOSE, EXPOSE...THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORY AND WHY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS GIVING THEM A FREE PASS FOR THIS WIN. I hope and pray this will come out, not only for the good of Americans but also for all of us globally. We do not want the pathological Clinton's in power. Our security depends on this.

canada girl (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:41 AM)

This is GREAT! Some TRUTH, at last...Tom is a very respected Man. An aside, reminds me of Obamas idea of having a Civil Rights Division in Police Stations! GREAT idea! This would pay for itself with funds saved from Abuse Lawsuits filed against the Force...

Mary (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:42 AM)

To all those who will give Senator Clinton the nomination on Feb 5, is it really worth it to go back to this? Some have memories of the 90s filled with rainbows and pretty classical music playing in the background. Others remember what it was like whenever the Clintons were forced to answer questions or respond to valid criticisms.

That the people who are supposedly the most "experienced" and who have the most perspective (those over 50) are handing her the nomination makes those in our 30s and 40s scratch our heads. We can see this for what it is. Why others can't is a mystery.

Scott (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:43 AM)

I can't believe that the Clintons' are going this much to get to the white house. Obama has tried to be nice, but they have forced him to come out fighting. He has the let the America know what is true and what isn't and Hillary is a cunning little witch. I can't stand her talking out of two side sof her mouth. Why doesn't anyone remember "whitewater" or "filigate". How can we just blindly believe her or Bill. Even if Obama's hands aren't that clean, I would eat off of them before I would the Clintons. I'm starting to like Edwards more and more everday.

Veronica, Powder Springs, Georgia (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:45 AM)

oh boo-hoo. the biggest problem with Obama is he has no experience. No experience as in the executive branch, no experience in Washington, and apparently no experience in a contested campaign. If he is gonna cry about Bill Clinton holding his feet to the fire, just imagine what he is going to do when the Republicans start to go after him.

Alex, New Orleans, LA (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:45 AM)

lies obama, you are just frustrated and admit you are a whinner and can't handler pressure. every time obama opens his mouth he digs himself deeper in the hole. he was the one that said he was not organized, and praising his rivals. l think bill has a right to defend himself because obama called him out when obama was running his mouth on regan. he went too far and now whinning like a baby. man up bro

joy, houston, tx (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:46 AM)

It's disgusting that a former President who has lied to a Grand Jury continues to lie to the American people (whether or not the Grand Jury was justified is an open question, the fact that he lied to a Grand Jury is a fact that even the hardest core of Clinton supporters have to acknowledge).

But, the bottom line is this doesn't matter. Senator Clinton is going to win the Latino vote big and those over 50 and women will stay loyal to her, however blind that loyalty is. We can all fasten our seatbelts and get ready for a nasty fight between Clinton and McCain starting on Feb 6. The only ironic thing is that 75% of America is against the war and we will have 2 candidates who have voted for the war to choose from. 3rd party anyone?

Sometimes the Truth Hurts (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:47 AM)

Tom you lost your senate seat and probably Obama is paying some money to you. There isn't anything that is inaccurate about what president Clinton said. Obama implied that republicans had better ideas and President Clinton era was without ideas. You wanted to hit at Clinton and that backfired. Now you are trying to deflect criticisms on President Clinton. When you Criticize President Clinton, you are also criticizing Al Gore. Today's internet is what it is because of Al gore fighting for its funding. So Stop being mean to democrats in your quest for independents and Rethugs. If you are so fond of Rethugs go and run from that party.

BKK, Atlanta (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:47 AM)

Bill Clinton's campaign to do whatever it takes to win the White House including breaking the Democratic Party is only tarnishing his reputation (if he cares) and setting up the higher probablity that the Republicans will win.

David Missouri (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:48 AM)

Senator Obama supporters - John Kerry and Tom Daschel. One lost a presidential election and the other lost his senate seat!
Well, the strategy seems to be that when light is shined on Obama's record - name call the truth teller.
Obama praising Ronald Reagan's ideas, do we need to know anything more?

Fred C. Dobbs (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:49 AM)

Here is some truth Bill Clinton ought to look into. If it boils down to a Republican who can pick up the independent vote and the massive amounts the press likes to tell us are still undecided....the GOP wins again.

Barbara C., Pompano Beach, FL (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:50 AM)

Obama and his team and his supporters should henceforth refer to the "Bill and Hillary Clinton campaign." in their speeches, press releases, etc.

Bill Clinton clearly wants to be back in the White House. He also probably feels obliged to fight on behalf of his incompetent wife because of his past misdeeds.

Mike James (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:51 AM)

Bill & Hill are master distorters of opponents' record. They would say/do anything to get elected.

Deb, Los Angeled, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:51 AM)

well..its not hard to believe that the Clinton's would say or do anything to win this election. And if we let them, then we get what we deserve..eight years of fighting, impeachments, lincoln bedroom visits..or we can have a change in the course of the country with either edwards or obama. After twenty years of bush, clinton, bush..haven't we had enough?

Jerry, southfield, mich (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:53 AM)

The only way to stop the robocalls is to allow political solicitations to be included on the Do Not Call list. Apparently when the law ws created, it excluded those calls. How convenient.

Just stop it for everyone.... seems like most of the time, the calls are from "special interests" anyway.

Jill (Seattle, WA) (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:53 AM)

Why should Bill chill out when Mischelle can say what she wants. Hillary is right, Obama has an excuse for everything. He will not admit one thing. This has gone far enough. Even Senator Edwards had to step in. When will this stop?

Victoria A Connell (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:55 AM)

I hope that voters see right through this smoke screen that the Clintons are spewing. Americans wake up start thinking for yourselves!! Decide if you want the same old politics, and the same old players back in the White House, or do you want to take our country and the world into a new and better direction. Give hope a chance. Believe that together as Americans we can succeed at anything! and that the time for dirty politics, finger pointing, and just plan old lying about our fellow man is not going to be tolerated anymore. Pesonally I trust Obama, and I hope you will too.

Hoping for a better future, Annadale, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:57 AM)

Has Daschle been promised acabinet job with Obama?He never went out of his way to come to Kerrys aid when the swift boat blasted Kerrys service in Vietnam.

HMT-MI (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:58 AM)

What so we can call and listen to more lies and distortions by the Obama campaign. He got called out last night. We all know Hillary is a politician but it was nice to see that the person who spoke the politics of hope is no different than any other politician in DC.

Mark, Cary, NC (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:58 AM)

barack as victim , yet again.

maybe he should take his ball and go home.

tom daschle couldn't evenhold his senate seat when he was (an awful) senate minority leader. geesh, picking losers as your endorers,,, why to go.

chuck, Cali4HRC (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:04 PM)

Since it looks like Obama's running agains Bill Clinton in SC, the truth squad better be well rested and ready because if the Clintons are true to form, it's going to be ugly. Obama's camp needs to avoid playing by their rules.

Deb, TX (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:07 PM)

When will the country wake up and see that Hillary is unelectable? It's just not going to happen--talk to any of your Independent friends. Obama is the only true choice for Dems to take the White House.

Geoffrey Blake Berrien Springs (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:13 PM)

The Clintons are at it again. Obama is the best chance for Dems to win but if Hillary Clinton is nominated, not only will the Dems lose but it will fracture the Democratic party for years to come.

Katanga (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:13 PM)

I think it is too sad and too bad that these negative tactics are being employed. No matter who ends up winning, we all lose, especially if demos give more material to be used in the run against the Repub nominee.

Bob Heckler, Lecompton, KS (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:17 PM)

Thank God! Hit back hard and fast.

Jenny GR Iowa City, IA (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:18 PM)

Obama's "truth squad" -- doesn't that make them sound kinda frantic, desperate, and -- well -- shrill? -- can start by telling the truth about Obama's relationship to Rezko.

bobbie wickham, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:23 PM)

It's time to check Clinton's voting record on Iraq War and what she said about it.

Here is something interesting in the report I came across. It shows what she said recently on MeetThePress is a lie, though I don't think anyone bought it.

http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2008/01/15/582/hillary_clinton_and_the_iraq_war_resolution_at_what_point_did_she_cry_foul

'New interpretation' of 2002 vote
At least as far as the Times was able to discover, the first substantive reaction to the war from Hillary Clinton occurred at the end of the year when, after returning from a visit to Iraq and Afghanistan, she associated herself with Sen. John McCain's criticism that more troops were needed. Clinton also complained that the administration had undersold the cost and duration of the Iraq project. But in speeches after that visit, she also declared her vote for the war resolution to have been "the right vote," and "one I stand by."

schmandt, north fork, Ca. (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:25 PM)

Well thank God he's doing something to counter the lies because the press certainly isn't helping him here. Every clip of the debate I've seen shows all her ridiculous accusations but nothing of his immediate responses.

For one thing, I'm getting really sick of the "present" controversy. Hillary and Edwards both were on it last night and alot of posters here still throw it around like a big gotcha. It's one of those pointless claims that sound alarming when you hear it but if you bothered to check into it you would see it for what it is... a non-issue.

For the billionth time, in IL voting present is a legislative tool that is used to communicate to the bill sponsor that you would support the bill if it were changed in some way. Take it as a 'maybe' if you want but in a close vote, it matters to the sponsor and means that the bill is still viable if reworked. It does not mean that Obama was ducking the issue.

Also, Obama cast over 4000 votes and only used this option 130 times or 3.2% of his total votes. Hillary has even mocked his pro-choice stance because of a present vote but Planned Parenthood publicly came to his defense and has given him a 100% pro-choice rating in the state of IL.

This is all common knowledge but Hillary still uses it as a weapon against Obama. So, does this mean she is stupid or just willing to mislead the public if neccessary to get ahead in the race? Either option is pretty unattractive.

AP from IL (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:27 PM)

Does Sen. Obama actually say anything other than 'their distorting my record'.

I mean, you know, what about those darn issues. Could he possibly talk more about those then about himself. It's not about him.

kristoph, WA (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:27 PM)

The Clinton smear campaign against Obama is absolutely despicable. It is a dirty politics-as-usual tactic that should have no place in the critically important process that is taking place. It shows me that the Clintons will stop at nothing to win the White House. If Hillary is the eventual nominee, I suppose I will have to vote for her (4 more years of the failed Bush policies would be just too much to bear), but I won't be happy about it and I certainly won't participate in any organizing or get-out-the-vote efforts as I usually do. I am extremely unhappy that the Clintons have put politics above morality. Good for Obama in responding forcefully - I'm just chagrined that he has to do it. The Clintons have spread falsehoods and distortions repeatedly. They have adopted the Karl Rove strategy and want to win at all costs. This is terrible for the Democratic Party and terrible for the country. I am appalled.

Marion D., New Orleans, LA (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:28 PM)

I Think the Clinton's are sick and can't help their lies. REMEMBER...It all depends on what "is" ...Is!
Is Bill Clinton really going to play this card?
Wake up America. You know how I know when Bill and Hill are lying? (Their Lips are moving) They will say anything to get back in the White House. My ten year old son called it when he said that he would vote for Obama because he tells the truth....Kids know and so should the American voters. How is Hillary ready on day one? She could not even keep track of he husband in the oval office under the same roof. Hey Bill you give me a break and the American people and go try and find out what Is...Is!

Stay at home Mom in California (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:29 PM)

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