Power steps down from Obama camp

Posted: Friday, March 07, 2008 12:00 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Aswini Anburajan and NBC’s Mark Hudspeth
Obama’s top foreign policy adviser Samantha Power has resigned from the Obama campaign, after a Scottish newspaper reported she called Hillary Clinton a “monster.” Power, who was unpaid, initiated the move, according to the Obama campaign.

“With deep regret, I am resigning from my role as an advisor the Obama campaign effective today,” Power said in a statement released by the campaign. “Last Monday, I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign. And I extend my deepest apologies to Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and the remarkable team I have worked with over these long 14 months.”

Clinton campaign backers had earlier this morning called for Power, the Pulitzer-prize winning author, Harvard professor, to step down for her comments.

Obama campaign aides had little to say.

"Its very clear where she stood on this issue,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “And we made clear through her statement about it.”

"She notified the campaign sometime this morning," Psaki added.

When asked for more details, Psaki added, "We are not going to get into the internal dynamics of the campaign."

Communications Director Robert Gibbs stressed Power was an unpaid advisor and not part of the campaign staff.

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Comments

I can't understand why there is so much TALK about Obama being elected President. We are not in the Old Days. There are intelligent African Americans. I am an African America retired teacher with two successful children.This situation is something that I taught my children when they were growing up that RAce would never be an issue if you were qualified to do the job. Was I wrong? I wonder!!!!!!! I am so excited that there is a man of Obama's status who can become President. When Michelle said that she was really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life (really means to what extent never). I feel the same way. I am very proud to be an American.
I have lived in an very good town very little racial problems.

nancy , Fulton, MS (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:28 PM)

"Monster" - that's it? Of all the things people have called Hillary, that's one of the nicest I've heard in a long time. While Ms Power's exit shows the integrity of the Obama campaign, it does seem a bit knee-jerk, considering the relative moderation she showed.

Deb in Dallas (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:29 PM)

HILLARY has ties to Rezko, three, yes 3 offenders indicted with Rezko, gave to Hillarys' campaigns. She said she didn't know him, then a photo surfaced, it think it was NBC. ENOUGH, with the Rezko, Obama is not even on the witness list. SHE IS on the defendant in an ACTIVE lawsuit with Peter Paul, in CA.
GEEEEZZZZZ

Why do you think she hasn't exploited it, because it would shine right back on her! Come on people think! Do you really think she would not be mentioning it everyday! Move on!

DeniseGA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:30 PM)

I know Powers stepping aside is for the good of the campaign, but I actually believe that Obama should put out a tatement that he doesn't accept this resignation. Clearly this was a momentary opinion by Powers that accidentally got spoken aloud. She apoligized, And I really think that what she said isn't so Bad. Americans and our own Congress say far worse things (deservedly so) about our own President. Obama should refuse the resignation and stand up to these bullying tactics by the Clinton Campaign.

Kelly (from Pittsburgh) (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:30 PM)

You Obamabots all missed the point. Mr. Obama's campaign is all about positive and uplifting messages. No matter what you think of Hillary, your man and his entire team is supposed to be above all of this. The rampant racism and sexism and secret deep hatred starting to spew forth from St. Obama's campaign only proves one thing. Obama is a fraud.

Jay Link, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:31 PM)

Obama should ask Howard to resign....also the staffer said some more additional things that could have hurt Obama's team (she said they f--'ed up in Ohio, which is true)so it's best she resigned. Obama is looking to tighten the reigns so he can't have have leaks and people speaking liberaly which tripped him up last week. While it's earnest..we've seen how Clinton is quick to smash him with the slightest misstep.

CJ (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:31 PM)

It is almost impossible to imagine Hilary having more delegates than Obama at the convention this year. It seems her new strategy is to destroy Obama and the Democratic Party so she can run against McCain in 2012.

Jason, Pittsburg (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:31 PM)

Can someone explain why Latinos and Blacks do not get along? I recently moved to Florida and I work with a lot of Latinos and we are civil. I am aware of the cultural diferences, but what is theb underlining reasons and causes? I also notice that the Latinos clasify themseleves her as White/Espanics and Black/Espanics. In Washington DC, where I had worked, they were clasified as Hispanics.

Sweet Pee, Fl (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:32 PM)

Also lets not forget that the results in CA have been certified and Obama netted an additional 8 delegates.

SolFo (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:32 PM)

No backbone. Maybe Obama does not have the backbone for the job. MONSTER is running him like Chicken George. MLK stood up like a man but Obama lets MONSTER and her team just walk all over him.
Edwards does not have a spine either. He means to tell us that he can't pick one after all this time. May he is not cut out for the VP job or any other if he can't decide what to do or who is best to lead. He should get off of the fence and step out like a man.
Hillary is a MONSTER, MONSTER,MONSTER.

donald, San Francisco, CA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:33 PM)

ep-ny (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:16 PM)
Spread your criticism around a little. Remember Shaheens resigantion a couple of months ago?

"I would like to reiterate that I deeply regret my comments yesterday and say again that they were in no way authorized by Sen. Clinton or the Clinton campaign," Bill Shaheen, co-chairman of the Clinton campaign in New Hampshire, said in a statement announcing his decision.

He was using innuendo and "code word racisim" to damage his candidates opponent. Samantha Power was simply giving her opinion.

Holier than thou can never work for the Clinton campaign for obvious reasons.

Queen takes pawn.
Obama's Move.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:33 PM)

This is supposed to be an American ELection. Why oh why is a foreigner on his campaign staff?????

I think this smells a bit.

Go Hilliary 08

Dawn, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:34 PM)

One more thing. I'm not so sure this was not a smart move by the Obama campaign. Powers calls Hillary a Monster and then resigns. The fact is that the comparsion "Monster" and "Hillary" will hold even after Powers is gone and will continue to resonate throughout the electorate. When many now see Hillary on the tube they will be seeing by way of a subliminal message a monster. Whether planned or not this was not some bad strategy of finally giving it back.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:34 PM)

Lets see- Harvard Professor - Well respected advocate against the tragedy in Darfur. Maybe the woman knows what she's talking about. I've heard interviews with this woman and she is dynamite.

Nina H (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:34 PM)

Excuse me, she "stepped down? Why was she not asked to leave. Was it not just mentioned in the press that Obama needed to be more assertive? He just stand there again...big pout, long face...And by the by this was his Foregin Policy Adviser? What else might she have said now or in the future to other countires? And then..no stay with me...this is the best...he is criicizing Clinton on her foregin policy....this show gets better and better...who needs cable????

Cheri Palumo, Kansas City, MO (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:35 PM)

Can't see that "Monster" is an unforgiveable genuine personal sentiment, carelessly spoken in honesty to an untrustworthy reporter. Anyway - in a word-police world - is it okay to lie, distort, and mislead, and spark bigot-baiting rumors in denied anonymity? (Or in fairness maybe some of these are Republican tricks - as perhaps the Texas/Ohio votes may have been)
I used to like the Clintons, defended them throughout the 90's, but now I wonder if the Republican hatred was justifiable on behind-the-scenes knowledge.
I don't know if Obama can do all he promises, but at least he's a breath of fresh air in the now polluted political atmosphere in this country.
Hope! Americans who have pride in their country should consider the weakened role the U.S. now plays in the world. You can't just nuke the globe.
Here's to hope - including hope the media can move on from the fair and equal, whether right or wrong, truthful or dishonest, opponent v opponent talk shows that came out of the 90's - in the fight against the Clintons.
Obama/Edwards '08
or maybe Edwards for Attorney General?

Lindy, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:36 PM)

Doesn't that Debbie Wassermann Shultz have any work to do for her consituents? The American people are paying her to legislate, not be on phone calls and secret meetings on behalf of Hillary. If Ms. Wassermann Schultz is unable to do her job, perhaps SHE should resign! Don't forget it girl, we are watching you!!

LB (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:37 PM)

Hey Fact Check

Next thing you wil tell us is the press is to hard on obama. Get a life,we all have an IQ > that of a house plant my friend.

Onkly Hilliary has a chance against the republicans and your canidate who gets snippy with the press has NO CHANCE this fall unless he is Hilliary's VP

Dawn, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:38 PM)

is hillary trying to get the vp spot the mccains ticket? this is it for me, i can not vote for hillary if she wins, she can not be trusted. she does not care for the party at all, just wants to win the white house no matter that she will be taking down the democratic party to do it. we have a chance for hope it is not hillary that is bringing new people to the party, it is obama. super delegates speak up and be counted on obama's side so we can move on before it is too late.

sandy smith, redford, mi (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:38 PM)

Isn't it time for a real change? Don't we need something better than a politician that doesn't answer questions? A politician that won't release documents under the claim of priviledge? Hasn't actually committed to getting out of Iraq, only to follow the direction of the Generals on the ground, these would be the ones that Bush has put in place to be his yes men and completely absolves her of responsibility. She has not committed to fixing social security, only to form a committee to look into the problem. Has committed not to Universal health care, but to mandatory insurance, there is a difference; one that pours money into insurance companies, that have already shown a reckless disregard to providing health care. How about an education plan at all? Or an immigration plan? With all due respect to both candidates, there is no difference between McCain and Clinton, in tactics or final results should either of them get into office.

Louis, Phoenix, Az. (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 2:59 PM)

...looks like ogoodie~2~shoes has gone over to the dark side. who needs rush when you have each other....

george w (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:08 PM)

Why are ALL THE NEWS NETWORKS afraid to say anything about Peter Paul v. Clinton?

Daniel, Lawrence, Kansas (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:11 PM)

So why was this Obama aide not fired instead? OH YEAH! that's right, Obama doesn't fire anyone who fouls on his team, just like Bush!! Hillary has held every last one of her aides accountable for this kind of thing, Obama has shown every time on the other hand what he would do as President, protect his cronies and never fire them and hold them accountable!! just like Bush!! Voting for Barrack Obama is a HUGE mistake! Hillary Clinton has the integrity to lead honestly and fairly as this one of many examples like it once again proves.

Randy, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:15 PM)

Clinton is a monster, a liar, and a cheat. Powers is absolutely correct. Look at all the tasteless lies the clinton camp has said about Barrack Obama. I think Powers should stay. Too bad if hilLIARy has her feelings hurt. She thinks that by stealing this away from Obama that all of us will fall in line and vote for her this fall. WRONG. I PLEDGE that I will vote for McCain and every single republican candidate this fall. This party is over, except for the clean up.

judesuper (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:16 PM)

When BHO bought a 1.6 Mil $$ mansion for 625,000$ ..

Pls choose from the following

a. He thought the gods must like me
b. He did not know that the market rate was 1.6 mil$
c. Rezko's broker made a typo and wrote .6 mil instead of 1.6 mil $
d. He knew that he was being offered a house 1 mil$ below market by a lobbyist who seeks favor. (Which is a bribe)

When he bought additional land from Rezko's wife again way below market.

Pls choose from the following

a.What the hell i did it once why not again?
b.Well itz for my wife and kids. Family first
c.Itz expected of a senator to take soft bribes from lobbyists anyways
d.All of the above

If Rezko called in favors to Obama

a. He would feel obligated to do it
b. He will look for more land deals
c. All of the above

Melanie Miller, Cincinnati, Ohio (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:21 PM)

Politico's blogger Ben Smith was outed as a Hillary supporter last night on CNN. He's been defending her tactics in pro-Hillary blasts all day. When will the media decide the Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton reign of political terror should be over? They're all monsters to me.

Nicole (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:21 PM)

If I were a monster I would be insulted. I'd rather be referred to as a monster than Ken Starr.

NS, Hot Springs, AR (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:29 PM)

Wow! Such division
After readig all these posts and other news, it's apparent that the Democrats or so deeply divided that they are handing the Presidency to McCain

Sussman, Annapolis, MD (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:29 PM)

Hillary better watch out before someone drops a house on her -

oz (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:35 PM)

Hillary better watch out before someone drops a house on her -

oz (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:35 PM)

Sussman, Annapolis, MD....3:29 PM

We are not divided...we are united in the proposition that Hillary Clinton will not dictate our futures and HER SUPER DELAGATES BETTER KNOW THAT. Hillary Clinton will not inherit Barack Obama's POWER.

Hillary Clinton is a SELF ABSORBED MONSTER, and ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT POLITICIANS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

Eloise, Clearwater, FL (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 4:20 PM)

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