Ickes pushing Wright with supers

Posted: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:04 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Talking Points Memo reports top Clinton aide Harold Ickes admitted pushing the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue with superdelegates:

"Look what the Republicans did to a genuine war hero," Ickes said, in a reference to John Kerry.

"Super delegates have to take into account the strengths and weakness of both candidates and decide who would make the strongest candidate against what will undoubtedly be ferocious Republican attacks," Ickes continued. "I've had super delegates tell me that the Wright issue is a real issue for them."

In a reference to Wright's controversial views, Ickes continued: "Nobody thinks that Barack Obama harbors those thoughts. But that's not the issue. The issue is what Republicans [will do with them]...I think they're going to give him a very tough time."

Asked whether he was specifically bringing up Wright to super-delegates, Ickes said: "I've said what I've said...I tell people that they need to look at what they think Republicans may use against him. Wright comes up in the conversations."

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Comments

I wonder how many ads combining the Bosnia footage with Hillary's narration are in the can already. Add in the fact that she lied when she blamed it on exhaustion, shamelessly used Wright to move the spotlight off of her (even Lanny Davis, one of her more effective surrogates when asked if this was what Clinton was doing could only say "I don't know"), and finally as the piece de resistance took a terse tone in her "clarification" as though the media were at fault for even bringing it up.

I really can't wait for those tax returns to come out.

Gary, Toronto, ON (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:45 PM)

You can't remove one family husband and return the family wife to rule as if they are the only intelligence in American soil.Quite awkward!!! This is just family fortune bussiness.

I regret that in America the Clintons are the only leaders ranging from husband, wife and after ten years the children will be contesting also. No political changes will H.Clinton bring to change Americas current dramatic politics except to bring back the defeated B.Clinton's 3rd term in office which is against the constitution.

MIKE (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:45 PM)

The superdelegates have more brains than Mr. Ickes and Sen. Clinton gives them credit for. So do we.

Bonnie S. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:46 PM)

Hold it a minute, is'nt there another shoe? The one somebody in the Clinton campaign warned us might soon drop. If Ickes is still pushing Wright, it is obvious, the only thing left in the 'sink', is the drain. Down it, has gone their faith, they can win on Clinton merit.

'Chicken Little'. Ickes, wants we dems, to fear the GOP. Even after they have taken us to the gates of Hell in Iraq, and with the state of our economy, he wants us to be terrified of those losers. He advocates, we should be shaking in our shoes, in anticipation of the GE. The worst is over. He's survived Hillary.

Let us turn a deaf ear to the nay-saying cowards. We need to be strong, and confident. We have earned it.

With a candidate like Barack Obama, the GOP ain't gonna know what hit 'em.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:46 PM)

Obama Rocks!!!! He will be the next Kennedy. Hopefully he will make Bloomberg his VP. As usual, Bill and Hillary are using gutter politics.

Mike, Dallas (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:46 PM)

Ickes needs to go out and bite somebody on the leg to let out his frustrations.
poll after poll show the majority of Americans understand and accept Senator Obama's explanation on race, richly covered by his historic speech in Philadelphia.
On the other hand Bosnia moment and Ireland and soon to be a full blown NAFTA issue are serious stuff. And the republicans are praying that somehow the democratic party would put Clinton on the ticket.
Finally, sickos like Ickes and Carville are soon to be gone and what a grand day it will be
a comment in closing. Have bloggers noticed a real ugly trend toward the Clintons on all the blogs? And the vast majority go toward dishonesty and what the CLintons are, namely liars and power mongers.
The superdelegates are no fools. they read this stuff, too

bhobo (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:48 PM)

HOW CHARMING !!

Bill Maher had a video online at HuffPost:

If her minister made anti-American statements,
She would leave the church

But, if her minister got his knob polished by Monica Lewinsky ......... She'd stay

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:49 PM)

This is possibly the most disgusting and cynical episode I have heard of yet. The Bosnian lies were almost comical but the is the vilest form of toxic cynicism that I have seen. I hope that it is unsuccessful. To reward this sort of action would say very repulsive things about the Dem party.

john, portland, or (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:53 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Genuine war hero? Are you kidding me? Has he seen that footage of Hillary fighting off those Bosnian snipers while she and the Warrior Princess saved that village? Come on man, give HRC the respect she deserves!

twocanpete (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:54 PM)

And tell those supers many TYPICAL WHITE PEOPLE will not vote for Obama!
The GE is doomed, we will never go to vote with FL and MI still hanging and all the states must vote in the primary!

Vote for the person the party is dysfunctional (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:55 PM)

"If they really think the superdelegates can't envision that scenario, they're short-changing the superdelegates, and grossly underestimating their intelligence."

Lindy from Philly, I think Clinton and her entire camp have been underestimating OUR intelligence as voters as well. In fact, I sincerely believe that to be a main component of her entire strategy - dumb down the message for the voting public. A big reason Obama earned my vote is because he treats the American public like adults, and I look forward to casting my vote for him on April 22.

Scientific, Philadelphia (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:55 PM)

Dear Mr Icky..
Obama now leads by 130 in the overall delegate count, 1637-1507.

Merry Lawrence, Pullman, WA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:56 PM)

Finally! MSNBC is reporting the list of Clinton issues in details. Chris Matthews reported the NAFTA discrepancy, Bosnia and the war. No one ever fully reported that Canada-gate was actually created by the Clinton campaign.

P.S. Looovvvve Chuck Todd. He is the best political reporter in town.

Independent In CA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:57 PM)

harold ickes, maggie"bag women"williams, howie"propaganda minister"wolfson, james"knothead"carville, "fast" eddie rendell, and terry"soon to be forgotten" mccauliffe drive around all day in their clown car, and at the end of the day all they can come up with is this reverand wright crap. if there is a god, i hope hillary runs out of cash. none of them get paid or paid off in the case of fast eddie,(add jack murtha to that paid off crowd) and wolfson's out of work for a long, long, long, time. hillary for president, my big toe.

j.j. hunsecker, manhattan, ny (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:59 PM)

...no, Hillary is still the most experience and more acustomed with the Washington politics. Beside we badly need to declare the Republicans ILLEGAL. Whenever, wherever they surfaced economical disaster followed, not to mention the propaganda for shear idiocy - like religion in public life and in school, teaching kids antigravity (be holly you'll fly to God), spread the opinion that angels are taking care of you if you pray, antiabortion, racial prejudice...and on and on. ONLY CLINTONS MAY HELP with the wake up call from the republican retard socio-religios ideas. And that before is....too late.

Mike, Los Angeles, California (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:00 PM)

Obama didn't know the comments of Wright as he sat at his sermons for twenty years.

Then he knew one bad one.

Then two days later he said he heard a lot of them.

Then a week later he tells the nation he would not have stayed at Trinity if Wright was staying as pastor. All while Wright was on his campaign staff a month ago.

I hate lying liars.

How many flip flops is that? Four?

Russell Gorall, Green Bay, Wi (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:00 PM)

Please read Peter Wehner on 22 questions BO needs to answer on Rev Wright in nationalreviewonline. Still issues.

Linzy (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:00 PM)

The more the Clinton campaign bang the drum, the worse they look. Their negatives go ever higher and superdelegates have all the more reason to want this OVER. By all means, Mr. Ickes, keep telling the superdelegates what they need to look at. Just keep talking, it'll all be over in no time.

Mitch Wright, Denver (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:01 PM)

I agree with Ickes, I am a democrat and would not vote for that ANTI-AMERICAN, RACIST OBAMA. Remember ALL YOU OBAMA FANS ARE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN 30% of the white vote. Not going to happen. All us typical white people are not going to vote for a racist Obama, and I am sure the majority of white women won't either. Obama will be the loser. Hillary or McCain

Will, Tampa, fl. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:02 PM)

Hillary's dirty laundry is all out there... Obama's is first being found and there is more to come.

I can see the media's effect on you all, you dance their tune without thinking.

Hillary 2008

Russell Gorall, Green Bay, Wi (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:02 PM)

Thank you Inspiration. You have converted me to the Altar of Obama. I will drink the koolaid, I will kneel at his feet with the other Dittobamas. I will chant the mantra "Obama is all truthful even though he says he attended wrights church for 20 years and knew nothing of his beliefs. Hail Obama. Obama loves his family even though he let his daughters listen to the racist rantings of a madman. Hail Obama. Obama is virtuous even though he linked himself to criminaland lied about his involvement. Hail Obama"

Rich D (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:02 PM)

Ickes may win a SD or two with that crap, but if he HAS it hasn't shown up in the SD declarations, has it? Meanwhile Obama seems to get a new SD, nearly every other day or so. Desperation takes many forms.

Rob: lake Mills Wi (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:05 PM)

His logic is flawed just like the Clintons.

American Voter (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:14 PM)

Wright's racist remarks will never go away. We will be seeing those videos over and over again and how anyone can even question that is beyond me. The Dems are having a tough time with the whole racist issue in Obama's Church and are tiptoeing around the whole issue...but the Republicans are salivating and can't wait to use it against Obama.

It would be nice to concentrate on the issues like Iraq and jobs...but the reality is that Obama still has a lot to answer for in his relationship with a racist person and church and the Republicans won't ever let him off the hook.

wac, tacoma, wa (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:14 PM)

Ickes using the Repub's for cover. Just another exam-
ple of the Clinton Campaign pointing fingers at every
body else but not themselves.

Ickes more like Yikes.

By the way the Paul vs. Clinton hearing is scheduled
to start soon.

Kim M--AZ (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:16 PM)

'...it shows Hillary's number falling dangerously quickly...'

'...Clinton is up 47% to 42%; she was up 10% last week and 13% two weeks ago...'

'...the Wright controversy has been replaced with another scandal, this one hurting Clinton, as the story on Bosnia misstatements seems to have touched a nerve: 47% of voters say they have followed the story "very closely," and 27% said "somewhat closely."...'

Wonder why they're peddling smears ?
They must be DESPERATE !

From Campiagn Diaries:

The latest Pennsylvania poll from Rasmussen is not reassuring for the Clinton campaign, as it shows Hillary's number falling dangerously quickly and getting to what I believe is the smallest margin we have seen yet in any Pennsylvania poll:

Clinton is up 47% to 42%; she was up 10% last week and 13% two weeks ago.
Obama's fundraising edge is allowing him to outspend Clinton on Pennsylvania television, which will help him keep the gap close. But the Rasmussen poll clearly identifies another factor in Hillary's decline and notes that the Wright controversy has been replaced with another scandal, this one hurting Clinton, as the story on Bosnia misstatements seems to have touched a nerve: 47% of voters say they have followed the story "very closely," and 27% said "somewhat closely."

We will naturally need confirmation of this poll before concluding that Clinton is in danger in Pennsylvania. The last non-Rasmussen poll still showed her up in double-digits late last week. But keep in mind that it is not just a defeat here that would pretty much end her run: Clinton needs to score a major coup (as big if not bigger than in Ohio) to generate momentum and produce doubts about Obama's capacity to close it off. She particularly needs to trounce him among blue-collar voters to have more support for her argument that Obama cannot win that group. A 5% victory will not get that job done, at all...'

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:18 PM)

OK, so the Rebublicans won't push Clinton being a LIAR on Bosnia, Rose law Firm, her brothers sleazy antics, Vince Foster, Whitewater, Travelgate, pardons of her fundraisers, etc., etc. gee what a great thing you have done for the our politics Mr. Ickes.

Lou, Scranton,PA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:20 PM)

Hillary did her April Fool joke about Barama getting out of the gutter.

Harold Ickes did the lowest cut of the campaign. They did a dirty deed.

John S (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:24 PM)

We need a third party candidate. That third party is called the 'Clinton'.

Gary, Cleveland, OH (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:25 PM)

Ickes is A Democratic version of the Republican Rove. This kind of banter is what turned of Gov. Bill Richardson and it will turn off the other SuperDelegats. Go ahead on an alienate the Black Community. Ickes keep on attacking. You do the Obama campaign more good than harm. The Hillary approval rating is going through the floor and her negative rating is going through the roof for exactly these kind of tactics.

OBAMA CAMPAIGN STAYS ON THIS HIGH ROAD TO THE PRESIDENCY!! YES WE CAN!!

Typical White Dude (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:26 PM)

Kerry is no war hero. He's a liar who applied for his own medals and lied at the hearings. Said Nixon sent him on a mission to Cambodia in Dec. Nixon wasn't even president at the time.
They used to be able to get by with all the lies but now days with Internet they can't.
And we DO remember although they are counting on us all forgetting what is being said now by election.

Kathy WI (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:29 PM)

Well I can see the vile hatreed from the Obama Supporters is out in full force today !!

If you all think Wright issue was bad for Obama - JUST WAIT till thew William Ayers story hits full force! Then what is Sen. Obama going to say... let me guess... 'well gee, I doidn't know'??

This ought to be a good one !! Best of the Best of Wright and Ayers - stay tuned for Fall preview 2008!!

IF and this is a BIG IF he his nominated !

Cant wait to see this one!!

American Voter (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:30 PM)

What in the name of heaven do you think the Republicans will do to the wife of an impeached president? And she was in the white house when he had these affairs? Oh, my! No one has more fuel for the Republicans than Hillary Clinton. And the sniper fire? Ickles has no argument. Senator Obama is the safest choice by far!

Mary in AL (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:30 PM)

Hillary's Reverend Wright
The book about Hillary's religious practices (The Family) will be out in May. Then we'll see what the superdelegates have to say. The world will know.

Jean, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:31 PM)

Was a total sleaze, this is why we need new leadership.

Dem or Republican this kind a garbage needs to be taken to the curb!

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com/

James, Wichita, KS (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:32 PM)

I sat back and watched you bunch of FOOLS put Bush in office...not once but twice. I tell you thid, If Obama gets the nom with all his baggage, baggage you FOOLS knows nothing about yet because you are so wrapped up in his sweet speeches..............What FOOLS

John Wells (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 6:34 PM)

im beginning to wonder if hilary has had interest in people, or just money and power, or maybe she has gold hidden under the floorboards at the whitehouse so anxious is she to get back in there, she is a nasty liar, her body language tells all,self interest is her only interest, she likens herself to rocky balboa, a punch drunk thickhead, shes a bully as well , america you need barrack obama to bring back hope and pride and better times, he is the best candidate you have had in many a year ,dont let the clintons spoil that, as for super delegates i dont believe they are owned by clintons ,they presumably have earned their title,give them credit for commonsense, they have to answer to the will of the people, whoever is the candidate, hillary is hanging on hoping to find more mischief to make about obama ,is this the type of president you want, if she cant win by fair means she will try foul, she demeans the democrates and america.

e forest N Z (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:14 AM)

First off, People who want to bring up things like Vince Foster, travel gate etc. Um, those are of the past. The independent council, which wasnt really independent after 8 plus years of investigation that the Clintons did nothing wrong in those areas. Then you like to state her ties to lobbyist etc will be used in attacks by the Republicans. Um since many of the Rep. have these same ties I think now. The GOP will 100% without a doubt use patriotism as a focal point. They always do! Again, its not fair, but thats what will happen. Obama will go down in flames against McCain. Clinton I believe could have a chance,(although still uphill battle) against McCain.

John (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:02 AM)

POOR POOR HILL&BILL COULDNT GET BARACK TO FALL FLAT ON HIS FACE AFTER THIS WHOLE REV.WRIGHT THING SO BRING IT BACK AND TELL THE SUPERDELEGATES THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO USE IT AGAINST HIM AND THAT HE CANT WIN IN NOVEMBER. BUT IT DIDNT WORK FOR YOU AND IT WONT WORK FOR THE REPUBLICANS. ONE MORE THING THE REASON IT DIDNT WORK IS BECAUSE IT SHOWS JUST HOW BARACK IS HE WOULD RATHER TALK AND CHANGE THE SITUATION FOR THE BETTER, I ALSO THINK THAT NOT ONLY DID REV.WRIGHT HELP HIM SPIRITUALY BUT BARACK HELPED HIM SEE THAT AMERICA THEN AND AMERICA NOW IS CHANGING AND HE WILL BE THE ONE TO HELP IN THAT PROCESS.

LB: GU (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 7:02 AM)

It is funny to hear the Clintons try and scare Democrats with "what the Republicans will do". This sounds more like trying to scare children about the boogy man or something. Talk about a platform that is "fear mongering".... hmmm I though it was supposed to be Republicans that played the "fear card". This is really pathetic.

Confused (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:01 AM)

Does Mr. Ickes think that the Republicans don't have any ammo on Mrs. Clinton? Does anyone remember Whitewater, Ms. Lewinsky, the way they left the White House, not to mention the campaign financing? Give me a break. Let's move past the Wright Issue please and get behind a nominee so we do not have another Republican in the White House!

Josh Dunlap, Leesburg, Fl (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:07 AM)

Halloween 2008 the GOP will have ads outwith this hatemonger on all channels standing right beside the big O and we will lose the white house and the seanate
then do nothing nancy won't know if she should scrstch her watch or wind her butt. Mr dean will leave his post in shame. Mcain is over 70 years old this is his last chance and he will pull out all the stops buyer beware..

Hillary 2008

Jeremy Delaware (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:30 AM)

Right on the money, John B from Des Moines. The Wright thing is already sounding tired, and when the Republicans play that card in the fall, I can see independents just rolling their eyes and disregarding en masse.

The things that stick are the things that reinforce existing negatives. Clinton came into the campaign with a reputation for lying. The sniper story reinforces that in an almost cartoonish way.

It isn't a complicated lie about wonkish policy issues - the kind that just leaves the non-news junkies out there confused. Its a lie almost everyone can immediately understand for all its pathetic littleness - a candidate who made up a story about snipers and being rushed from an aircraft to safety, when the reality captured on film was completely different.

And people, especially parents or others who work with small children, can immediately guess the motiviations for such a lie. We've all seen children who have lied to make themselves sound bigger and more important. Fortunately most of them, with the help of us adults, grow out of that.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:32 AM)

The whole world knows about the Bosnia story. Mrs. Clinton lost her credibility, internationally. It is embarrassing.

BTW to my knowledge many people did not vote in Florida. I did not either.

Alice, Florida (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:38 AM)

In all seriousness, the most glaring difference between the Clinton and Obama campaigns is the quality of their surrogates. Ickes, McCauliffe, and Penn are three of the most revolting hacks in politics today. And Hillary, what the heck were you thinking when you let Mark Green speak for you. This man barely has the support of the Upper West Side anxiety medication set.

Pete Caloger Bushkill, PA 18324 (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:48 AM)

DEMOCRATS ARE NOT WIMPS. WE CAN FACE DOWN REPUBLICAN ATTACKS WITH COURAGE AND CONVICTION! WE WILL NOT BE TAUGHT TO FEAR BY SOME IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Why are we self-handicapping?

B, New Jersey (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:51 AM)

Harold Ickes is absolutely correct. The Obama biased media keeps trashing Hillary about Bosnia, when Obama's Rev. Wright connection is far far worse. The Obama biased media refuses to put out there negative problems that Obama has. Well the Republicans are going to put it out there in the general election and spin it and spin it and spin it. They will make mince meat out of Obama like they did to Kerry and Dukakis. Hillary is the safest bet in the general election as there is nothing more the Republicans can put out there about her, as it's been out there for 15 years. The Republicans are scared to death of running against Hillary; that's why Republicans in the red states have very willfully and deliberately and strategically crossed over and voted for Obama to mettle in our primary and get Obama nominated because they are licking their chops to unleash the voluminous negative things about Obama in the general election.

Doreen, Buffalo Grove, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:52 AM)

Do the superdelegates want to vote for someone who has denounced what someone else has said or for someone who outright lies to make herself look good. I know I don't want another Clinton liar in the White House.

Lori from Battle Creek, MI (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:53 AM)

Ickes states superdelegates may decide to not vote for Obama because of Rev. Wright's remarks.

I would like to know how these lowlife people became superdelegates that will stoop so low as to judge Obama on what Re. Wright does.

I suppose if someone has a criminal in their church family, it means that everyone from that church is a criminal... Also, if these superdelegates are people who got their positions from being voted in, then voters need to kick them out for their narrowmindness of judging people by association.

Are they willing to be on a list who didn't vote for Obama because of Re. Wright? Probably no, because they'll run and hide their heads in shame once their names are all revealed to the public.

Joann Gilbert-Croteau, Skowhegan, Maine (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:54 AM)

The Jeremiah Wright story is not over. Obama's association with him will cost us the election in November IF Obama is the nominee.
You can't say "God Damn America" and not expect it to be all over Fox News, The Rush Limbaugh Show, Sean Hannity, and The Oreilly Factor for the next six months.

The TRUTH Hurts (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:55 AM)

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