ABOUT FIRST READ

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



Clinton camp fires back at Obama

Posted: Friday, February 29, 2008 2:26 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Mark Murray and NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
The back-and-forth over Clinton's new ad in Texas continues... In an hour-plus conference call with reporters, the Clinton campaign rebutted Obama's criticism that Clinton had her red-phone moment -- the 2002 Iraq war authorization -- and failed.

"The question is not about who will be picking up the phone. The question is what kind of judgment will you exercise when you answer the phone," Obama said today. "We've had a red phone moment -- it was the decision to invade Iraq. Senator Clinton gave the wrong answer. George Bush gave the wrong answer. John McCain gave the wrong answer."

VIDEO: Sen. Hillary Clinton's most recent political ad portrays her as the leader voters want on the phone when crisis occurs.

In the conference call, referring to the remarks Obama gave in 2002 opposing the Iraq war, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said, "Sen. Clinton understands there is a big difference between giving a speech and picking up a phone call at 3:00 am in the White House."

Citing Obama's remarks during the 2004 Democratic convention defending John Kerry's vote for the war authorization, as well as Obama's Senate votes in 2005-6 to fund the war, Clinton chief strategist Mark Penn added, "Time and time again, you have heard talk from Sen. Obama that's quite different from action."

During the call, however, reporters twice asked Wolfson and Penn when Clinton had ever been tested on foreign policy -- or had to pick up the phone at 3:00 am. "She has been tested throughout her life on so many matters," Penn answered, citing her "strength," her service on the Armed Services Committee, and when she went to China as first lady and said that human rights and women's rights.

"I am not arguing that Sen. Clinton was president of the United States," Wolfson later added. "What I am arguing is that she has the strength and experience to step into the situation." He also noted the numerous former generals and military officers who have endorsed her candidacy.

The argument from the new ad, Wolfson went on to say, is who has the strength and experience to answer that call at 3:00 am. "We believe that person is Sen. Clinton."

Also in the call, the Clinton campaign argued -- as it did in a memo -- that if Obama doesn't win in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont on Tuesday, that would signal "buyer's remorse" among Democrats. In other words, if Obama loses even one state next week -- making the race since Feb. 5 14-1 -- it would show voters have big concerns about him.

Wolfson argued the Obama campaign had anointed itself as the front-runner and that it holds numerous advantages over Clinton, including "enormous" financial resources. If Obama doesn't win all four states, Wolfson reasoned, it would show there was dissatisfaction with him as a candidate and send a "very clear signal that Democrats want this campaign to continue."

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

I've got buyer's remorse for following the Clinton campaign for these many months.  I'm about ready to gouge my eyes out if I read much more of this crap the Clinton camp is slinging.
Hillary will get her way Tuesday. We'll have the Obamabots crying foul and calling for an investigation on voter fraud.

watch and learn Obama.

Hillary is about to sweep you under the rug.
This is B...i..a..s  

Obama08
God, you moronic reporters quit asking questions.  

Just report that she will be president no matter who votes and be happy that she'll let you attend a press conference someday.

what a bunch of junk
Obama was against the war from the start but will not vote against funding it and now was against NAFTA from the start but will not commit to withdrawal.


“I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views,” Mr. Obama wrote in “The Audacity of Hope, his I’m-running-for-president book. “As such, I am bound to disappoint some, if not all, of them.”
Obama was against the war from the start but will not vote against funding it and now was against NAFTA from the start but will not commit to withdrawal.


“I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views,” Mr. Obama wrote in “The Audacity of Hope, his I’m-running-for-president book. “As such, I am bound to disappoint some, if not all, of them.”
Be honest -- did the reporters who listened to that crack up laughing? Were they insulted that Penn thinks they are dumb enough to buy that crap. Or did they just shrug it off as "politics as usual?"
I would like you all to click on this link http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/2008/02/25/obama%e2%80%99s-real-experience-his-candidacy/
and read what Dick Morris has to say about Obama's ability to lead. Dick knows the Clintons better then most. If you like the article then pass it on to other blogs by copying the link into other posts you make.
This guy is a lunatic.  I mean do we want people this dillusional running the country?  If Hillary picked up the phone at 3am, and we've been bombed, she's liable to say 'well only 14 bombs hit us, one missed, so I'd say that's a failure on there party'.
Democrats fighting. Fun to watch.
To the comedy team of Wolfson and Penn, just remember today is P.O.E.T.S day.  Piss On Everything, Tomorrow’s Saturday.  Try a new line tomorrow; maybe it will stick then.
Mark Penn is sorta like the Democratic version of George Bush's "Brownie"...

"Good Job Brownie!"

We see how well that turned out...


I think it's hilarious that between Penn and Wolfson, neither one of them could think of a time she was ACTUALLY tested during an emergency.  They want to say the war vote doesn't count, but a figurehead speech on rights in China counts as a 3am emergency?  That counts? Sure...  

Keep knocking on doors Penn/Wolfson, cause that load of bull isn't sellin' here.
Be honest -- did the reporters who listened to that crack up laughing? Were they insulted that Penn thinks they are dumb enough to buy that crap. Or did they just shrug it off as "politics as usual?"
Obama: wrong then or wrong now?
Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 9:07am.
In last night's debate, Obama decided that Clinton's vote on Iraq would be the defining issue to highlight the differences between the candidates. He went on the attack. Wolf Blitzer encouraged it and tried to bait Hillary into saying something stupid. It didn't work.

But here's what I find interesting about Obama's argument. He emphasized that the authorization passed by Congress said "use of military force in Iraq" right there in the title. Everybody understood what it was. He said Clinton may have experience on day one, but that it's more important to be right on day one. He questioned her judgement and put her on the defensive about her position, which is basically that Congress was lied to.

But yes, Clinton did vote for the resolution, along with 28 other Democratic senators -- the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus. One of them was John Kerry. Here's what Obama said at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in his keynote speech endorsing John Kerry as the Democratic nominee for president:


Obama: And John Kerry believes that in a dangerous world war must be an option sometimes, but it should never be the first option.

[..]

When we send our young men and women into harm’s way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

So, which is it Senator Obama? Being deceived by fudged numbers and shaded truth, or bad judgement? He can't have it both ways. Why has he changed his position? Why did he support Kerry and excuse his vote for the war, and attack Clinton for hers? Is Obama saying Kerry's judgement was sound but Clinton's wasn't? Why? Because she's a woman? Because her name is Clinton?

In 2004, Democrats were accused of being weak on terrorism and national security. Creeps like Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney called them traitors. Democrats talked tough to push back and to reassure the American people. Obama went along for the ride. Four years later, the "war on terror" is a catastrophic failure, and both Democrats and Republicans are trying to distance themselves. Now Obama is on board for that, too, and criticizing people who actually had to make tough decisions on the record -- a record that he does not have. Obama should worry less about striking the right pose for whatever media spotlight is on him at the moment and more about being consistent, especially when he's going to attack fellow Democrats for tough decisions he has never had to make.

Obama is history. He is so not going anywhere. All talk and no action, no experience, no back bone to stand up for himself. Needs any and all to fight his battles and explain what he heck he just said. Go back to the good ideals of Regan and leave us alone. We need Hillary to take on real problems.
by the way:

everyone that posts comments on msnbc.com just ignore Patty.  the more you respond the more the moron will keep trying to push buttons.
Judas priest, pick a slogan, a strategy, a goal, ANYTHING!!!! and stick to it.
Hillary is really a good person who has just been a victim of the Obama movement.  If she had run in 2004, she would probably be President right now.  But it's Obama's turn now!  I've been voting for 30 years and this is the most exciting candidate I've ever seen.  John McCain is a war hero, but he won't even know what hit him by election day.
So Hillary's...speech...in China was a sign of "strength"?
Hillary referring to her experience as First Lady in response to questions about Hillary's foreign policy experience?  I guess Laura Bush may be a viable candidate in 2012?  Indeed, maybe Laura Bush can be McCain's running mate!
What brass ones does the Clinton campaign have!  Seriously.  If they make a point that if Obama wins 4 out of 5 states, it's a signal he's loosing.

I call that winning.
Come on Texas, Rhode Island, Ohio and Vermont: give the Hill a good swift kick in the pantsuit, will ya, and end the drudgery called the Hillary campaign?

GO OBAMA 08!!
So let me get this straight. Wolfson says that if Clinton wins in RI only...Obama is in trouble? Did he really say that? I know it was a conference call but do you think he said that with a straight face? I've heard about lowering expectations, but isn't that just about as low as you can go? Next thing you know, their firewall will be Peurto Rico. I can hear the spin now..."Well, just wait for the voters in PR".
Everybody is specualting about who "Must Win" in Ohio-Texas. I'm more concerned about what has happened since Super Tuesday. One candidate has won 11 contests in a row and done so by at least 18 points in every one of them. Nuff Said.
I'm not understanding how Obamaheads can continue to support his position that he is not the "same old Washington politician". His campaign seems to be doing everything every presidential campaign has done in the past. I would like somebody on the blog to name one thing Obama HASN"T done that could be considered same old Washington politics. He's raised piles of money from all kinds of questionable resources. He's accused the Clinton campaign of running negative ads. He's accused her basically of lying, he's said she'd "DO OR SAY ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED". Which is basically accusing someone of having no morals or character. He's run misleading ads. He's changed his position on several issues. I just don't get it. I don't get where the CHANGE is? And, sorry, I'm not going to buy that "everybody else did it first" crap. He says he's different. YOU TELL ME HOW!
Nancy Reagan for President!
Here's a great response to the Hillary ad from none other than Bill Clinton himself. See for yourselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZW0m2nWB_M
Obama constantly says one thing, then does another.
He says he's always been against the war in Iraq.
Yet, he voted to continue funding it on several occasions.
If you're against the war, then why vote to fund it?
That doesn't make any sense.
Do you really trust a "leader" who can't even run a good campaign against a guy who no one knew.  What a fiasco. Look at their abilities folks. One is ready, sharp. organized and able to bring new into the process.  The other is angry, disorganized, blaming others and can't find a message
For some reason, Hillary's vote on the initial resolution bothers Obama, but he is not bothered by the "yea" votes of Kerry, Daschle, Dorgan, and Dodd, whose endorsements he holds. I can't figure that out.  Are Kerry, Daschle, Dorgan, and Dodd are making a “poor” judgement again since they are endorsing Obama based on his own analogy and logics?
Pundits keep saying the Clinton Campaign keeps moving the Goal posts I say they just change the rules when they do not win. In Texas they did not take the time to understand the bifurcated primary and caucus rules so now they need to sue to change the rules if they do not win. Claim that I have 35 years of experience but most of it as spouse to a President but when the experience hurts claim not part of the bad decisions. The experience I see is changing positions when they fit her personal needs . Vote for the bankruptcy law but when the most stringent one failed glad it did not pass. Expereince equates judgement. What I see is a lack of sound judgement on Ms. Cliton's part. Now Obama has to win all of the primaries or the voters have rejected him.  Maybee Obama having won the majority of the primaries and caucuses with the majority of the ELECTED delgates shows the voters REJECTED Ms. Clinton. Spin that Ms. Clinton    
"CLINTON: Now, one of Clinton's laws of politics is this. If one candidate is trying to scare you and the other one is try get you to think, if one candidate is appealing to your fears and the other one is appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/25/pzn.01.html  
QUESTION: When had Clinton ever been tested on foreign policy - or had to pick up the phone at 3:00 am?

RESPONSE: She has been tested throughout her life on so many matters.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!

I've been tested throughout my life too. Make me president. Fools in the Clinton campaign.
Hillary knows what its like to answer the White House phone at 3 a.m.? Too easy.
Another Super in Barack's Arsenal, Sen. Jay Rockefeller(WV)(my home state).There's more to come folk's, just sit back & watch as more & more come out & Announce they're backing Barack. This is the End of the Clinton's. They wanted to keep them silent, but the Clinton antic's have brought them out before the Clinton's can do any more Damage to the Democratic Party.

Enjoy your last few days, Clinton supporter's, The Real Democratic base is Speaking Up.
One of the downfalls of relying too much on "experience" is that it keeps you from being able to adapt to new realities.

We cannot continue to be so REACTIONARY to every real and imagined threat. We need to be PROACTIVE in moving America in the direction we want to go. We NEED new thinking, not just experience.

The problems we face cannot be fixed with armies, bluster, and threats. It's time to turn the page.

Obama '08
Democrats fighting. Fun to watch.
tessa l.
--It’s just practice/warm up for the Republicans ...


In other words, if Obama loses even one state next week -- making the race since Feb. 5 14-1 -- it would show voters have big concerns about him.
--If even one state is concerning, then Clinton must be eleven times concerned.  Actually, she is as evidenced by her desperation and politics of despair.
show me the BEEF:

seemingly you have a wad of ground beef in that skull of yours instead of a brain.  we are the majority, you are not...get over it.

by the way, everything you said could be applied to your candidate except that in your case it would actually BE TRUE about your candidate.
Obama gets another Super Delegate... Sen. Jay Rockefeller.  I quess the people who know and work with them both are coming out strong for Obama.

My projection there will b3 3-5 new endorsements everyday.  Reason her colleagues don't want to make her look bad by all of them coming out at once.  They are going to send her a message.  They want this OVER NOW
Great catch, Al from Kansas...

"Sen. Clinton understands there is a big difference between giving a speech and picking up a phone call at 3:00 am in the White House."- Wolfson

Look at how she did with her figurehead speech on human rights in China!  That proves she has what it takes! - Penn, thirty seconds later
Is it reverse day being that its LEAP DAY.

so let me get this straight if Obama wins he still loses and Hillary Wins. If Hillary loses close she still wins. If Obama wins 3 of 4 he actually Lost big and Hillary wins big.

I understand their logic now.. i guess that's how after winning 11 in a row and (somehow) not having the media call and the party call for your exit.. Mike Huckabee anyone.. allows them to self medicate with a heavy dose of delusion and claim "We still have a mandate to go on"

This is getting more and more to look like desperation from a group who realize the gravy train is ending and they need to now get real jobs.. ugg
You decide if Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton are manipulative people: http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing11.html
Maybe this is why there is so much media scrutiny towards them.
Hillary loses 11 in a row and now re-defines that somehow second is actually first. I am sure there is an entire tour of PGA golfers wanting to adopt the Clintons new definition of winning. Tiger only won by 10 strokes so we actually won.. yea!
Yes Senator Obama, let's talk about your opposition to the war.  In 2002 you said you were against it; where exactly is the record of your vote on authorization...oh that's right, you weren't in the Senate in 2002.In 04 you stood up for Senator Kerry's authorization (and he's endorsed you in 2008).

Since your election to the Senate you have been a stalwart voice against the war;  you have voted for continued financing of the war, and have failed to enter one piece of legislation calling for an end to the war, or enter your objection to the war into the Senate record.

You are a duplicitous lying scumbag Senator,and a hypocrite.

That aside, the comments coming from both campaigns,on a variety of subjects,range from ridiculous to ludicrous.  Why don't we just put you on TV and have Survivor:  The Democratic Party.  We could put all of you on an island and maybe forget where it is.  Let's put the Republicans on another island.  Whoever is left on either side wins the chance to beat the crap out of each other on pay per view.  That has to be a more intelligent approach to the steaming pile of cow pie that is this election cycle than what we've got now.  At least it will be more entertaining than this crap.

So let me get this straight, The Clintons are actually Handicapping the Obmama campaign now.. He not only has to win but he has a line of +4..
this just in : If Hillary gets one vote from any state next Tuesday she is going to be the new front runner. She is not going to let even one person down if they support her to stay in. So remember you do not need to go to the polls cause someone else will cast that one vote for Hillary and we will win.


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):

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=717489

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google