When has Hillary answered that 3am call?

Posted: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:40 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Clinton, Ads

From NBC's Mark Murray
On the Clinton conference call unveiling its new ad, Slate's John Dickerson -- as he did with the earlier 3:00 am ad -- asked: When has Hillary Clinton ever answered the phone at 3:00 am before regarding an economic crisis?

There wasn't the "pregnant pause" there was the first time.

Communications director Howard Wolfson responded that unless one is president, "you don't have a single moment" like answering the phone at 3:00 am. But Wolfson noted that Clinton "has a lifetime of experience, both in and out of the White House… Ultimately, voters make this decision." And he added, "Voters have made this decision, based on the results of Ohio and Texas, that Sen. Clinton passed this test."

Dickerson followed up, asking the Clinton campaign to point a specific example when Clinton responded to an economic crisis. Wolfson pointed to her efforts to ensure that New York got the resources it needed after 9/11. "There is much, much credit to go around," he said. "But. Sen. Clinton certainly did her part."

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Comments

McCain hasn't answered the 3:00 AM call either, however, he would probably be up due to insomnia anyway.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:50 PM)

Well Senator Clinton has certainly dropped the ball in regards to bringing new jobs to western NY.
Right it's all Al Gore's fault for letting Georgieboy Bush steal the election in 2000.

Bill, Rochester, NY (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:51 PM)

Maybe Monica called at 3:00am and was too stupid to remember Bill's instructions about what to do when a woman answers...

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:54 PM)

I thought it was settled that Obama came out of Texas with more delegates than Clinton? What's the definition of "winning" a state now?

Chris, MI (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:55 PM)

Okay, the markets close mid-afternoon. So somewhere around 4:30, 5:00 at the latest, the banking community decides its time to foreclose on Hillary's campaign debts. Wouldn't you call her at 3 AM? Seems like that is a good time to reach her.

Steve, San Diego (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:55 PM)

What is with the Clinton camp constantly saying "based on the results in Ohio and Texas...??" Do we base the entire will of the people on those two states and I simply missed the memo? Actually, based on polling, Obama stands more of a chance in my state than Hillary in the GE, but Texas will almost always go Republican anyway.

Justin Mayberry, Houston, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:56 PM)

She should run the ad at 3 am. Ad buys are cheaper. She could run an entire infomercial, even sell a book: How to Run for President without Winning.

Susan, Yonkers, NY (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:57 PM)

How does Hillary's trying to find out where Bill is at 3:00 am constitute experience usefule for resolving economic problems? And if she supposedly has all this financial experience, where are the tax returns? Isn't this kind of weak on Wolfson's part?

MBM, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:57 PM)

From a human body performance standpoint, we are at our absolute worst functioning at 3 a.m. That is when our core body temperature is lowest, and our cortisol levels are lowest. It is why we sleep, and the deepest phases of sleep are around 3 a.m.

I do not want ANY President solving problems at 3 a.m.
I want a President to get a good night's sleep and wake up refreshed with a cup of coffee at 7 a.m. so he can exhibit good reasoning skills and judgment top solve the nation's emergencies.

Hillary has so much experience staying up until 3 a.m..... waiting for Bill to sneak home?

David Kolva, M.D. Oswego/Syracuse NY (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:57 PM)

man that wolfson cat is a deal; he spoke an entire paragraph of words but said nothing

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:58 PM)

Senator Clinton did not win Texas. Someone needs to tell Howard Wolfson. Senator Obama won Texas 98-93.

Kim, Pasadena, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:58 PM)

I heard she personally kept NY's economy from spiralling into a recession. It was all her.

Mary, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:58 PM)

Hillary is a liar and a cheat. She is also a dead-beat. Even Rocky knew when to quit... please quit.

Zia (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:59 PM)

The planes hit the WTC early in the morning.

Hillary hopes we are a bunch of shaking in our shoes, mess'n in our pants, fraidy cats.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 4:59 PM)

So lame. Turn out the lights, the party is over.

Everyone watch Obama on Chris Matthews Hardball College Tour tonight. Watch the cool, calm, professional and Presidential manner in which Obama handles himself.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:01 PM)

But Wolfson noted that Clinton "has a lifetime of experience, both in and out of the White House…

Ultimately, voters make this decision."

These are her experoences:
HRC just cannot tell the truth, got fired for lying.
Who would have thunk it... LOL!!!
Ireland = peace talks...... LOL!!
Bosnia = sniper fire....... LOL!!
Chelsea = Where?.......... LOL!!
NAFTA = I was against it............LOL!!
Open borders in Macedonia........... LOL!!
Oh, and this one comes to mind.
My husband didn`t sleep with that woman, or that woman and that woman either. Yeah right they deserve each other.

BIGOLDTEXAN (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:03 PM)

In case you missed it, Mr. Wolfson, Senator Barack Obama won Texas. He received more delegate votes than his Dem. rival. He has also shown the judgement, the courage and the honesty to lead and yes, answer a red phone at 3:00 a.m. or at noon on a sunny day in New York. I'm sure you will not see him reading a story to second graders while his security team is "on fire" telling him about the threat from Bin Laden getting ready to attack the US.
Go Obama!
Dee Jay

Donna Jo Robinson, Mercer Island , Wa. (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:05 PM)

"Voters have made this decision, based on the results of Ohio and Texas, that Sen. Clinton passed this test."

HAHAHAHA!!! Is he stuck in first gear or what?? OBAMA WON TEXAS. Did Wolfson not get the memo?

Sidebar: When Hillary was likening herself to Rocky, she mistakenly said: "I never GET up..." instead of "I never GIVE up." I laughed so hard when I heard her say that and wondered if she would even get up to answer that 3 AM call.

J (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:05 PM)

Whenever I hear the Clinton campaign talk about Hillary's experience "in and out of the White House", how come then never mention how ineffective Hillary was while on the board of Wal-Mart (for 6 years).... ineffective in increasing woman's roles and ineffective in increasing workers rights. I guess Wal-Mart was a big winner with NAFTA.

Ed30041 - Cumming, GA (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:07 PM)

Did Wolfson also add that she's had a lifetime of experience "exaggerating" her experiences? But then again, she's learned from the best.....Bill. Isn't that a "hoot"? Pleeeeeze.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:07 PM)

With the release of another 3 a.m. spot from Team Clinton, her spokesmen were asked on today's call with reporters about how their candidate is prepared for a middle-of-the-night economic crisis.

y with a lifetime of experience who can bring all of that experience, all of that knowledge, all that expertise to bring when confronted with difficult problems and situations in office. And so it's a very fair question, but I think the answer is much broader than you're suggesting. It is about a real lifetime of experience. But having said that, I would look at her record to ensure the New York got the resources it needed after 9/11. Making sure with her colleagues, Chuck Schumer, and others in the New York delegation and in New York that New York City got the resources it needed by this administration that was originaly, might have been originally less than forthcoming to ensure that it got back on it's feet. It was not clear what the future of downtown New York would be after 9/11. It was not clear what the future of Wall Street would be after 9/11. And there is much, much, much credit to go around in the rebuilding of lower Manhattan. But Sen. Clinton certainly did her part, working with her colleagues, to help ensure that New York got back on its feet. And that was obviously a moment where there was significant need. There was not an enormous amount of time available to help ensure the stability of downtown. And Sen. Clinton certainly deserves credit for working with others to ensure that assistance was given and stability restored."

Ummm...would you like me to repeat the question?

umm, yeah. from New York (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:07 PM)

Karl Rove has a lot of experience in the white house, according to Hillary's logic - he should be in the running.

Craig Webb, Elizabethtown, PA (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:09 PM)

So who exactly calls the president at 3 a.m. regarding an economic crisis? An economic crisis doesn't really have the temporal urgency that a military crisis does, right? Who is calling? Is it the treasury secretary? Why can't that conversation wait a few hours? This ad makes no sense, much like her decision to stay in the race.

Jim from Chicago (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:11 PM)

She has never answered a 3 am call and she never will, because she is not going to be the nominee!!!

Stacey, NY (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:14 PM)

She looks like she's been up since 3 A.M.!

American Voter (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:17 PM)

YEARGH!!!!

More of this "3 AM" crap?

Does nothing happen at any other time of the day?

Maybe that's why you were "sleep deprived" when you "misspoke" about Bosnia? You've been staying up til 3 AM too much!

It's 3 AM...give it a rest!

PS - Senator Clinton lost Texas...Senator Obama received more pledged delegates...and you said yourself after New Hampshire that only delegates matter, right?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:23 PM)

Hillary never even held a security clearance! She hasn't "passed" any test because she was never cleared to have ANY involvement. Don’t let her trick you into thinking she’s a former president just because her last name is Clinton. She’d be just as much a newbie as any of them. And she’s an untrustworthy, fake-bullet sniper dodging, NAFTA supporting, liar!

Hillary turns exaggerations into flat out lies.

She is unfit to even be considered for president.

Really Listen, USA (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:29 PM)

Wolfson makes a good point- she stood strong and delivered for NY after the horrible attacks on 9/11. There was no bigger crisis than that.

The only 3:00 a.m. call Obama has answered was probably from Rezko asking for bail money.

csh, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:29 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
She answered the call from a bunker in Bosnia where she was pinned down by enemy sniper fire! Not get off her back she's a combat veteran for crying out loud!

twocanpete (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:31 PM)

Ok, I have had enough of everybody bad mouthing Obama because “He went to Church!” God Forbid, the Pastor did not say what every White American wanted to hear! I don’t agree with what the Pastor Wright said—but who am I to judge? Unless you’ve walked in his shoes don’t throw stones: or you might just see that glass house you’ve lived in come crumbling down.

Here is the best part. If you are going to hold Obama accountable on Wright and call it a “JUDGMENT ISSUE” then you had better hold Hillary accountable for Bill Clinton! That’s right! Yes—I am going there!

Bill Clinton has abused Hillary in front of the whole nation with several scandals that would make the best wife –leave! Let’s look at Hillary’s judgment concern –Bill! What is her message to all women, concerning their men’s “affairs?” This is a very fair comparison concerning JUDGMENT—and a fair one at that. I think the superdelagates should be told how this could hurt Hillary’s ELECT ABILITY; because the Republicans could use Hillary’s bad judgment, concerning Bill’s affairs.

Obama, you are too kind and good! Good Luck

Judgment Day (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:34 PM)

Looking forward to Hardball tonight. Love, Love, Love Chris Matthews!!!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:37 PM)

Senator Clinton has all these "plans" that she would like enacted if she becomes President.

So I would like to ask Senator Clinton, one question. She has been in the senate for 6+ yrs. Why is it that she hasn't enacted one piece of legislation for all these "plans" that she has sprung on us, through out her campaign?

DonnaInMichigan (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:40 PM)

What about the 3am calls she is getting about paying her campaign's bills?

If she can not manage the finances of her campaign, how is she going to deal with an economy on a national scale??

Mkd (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:41 PM)

Yeah, because helping a city secure crisis aid is in any way comparable to repairing a national economic disaster?

Did any of Hillary's "assistance" with New York's crisis have anything to do actually -fixing- an economy?

Ron, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:56 PM)

Seems that you ALL are forgetting that Senator Hillary Clinton SHOWED UP at Ground Zero ONE day after 9/11.

That was FASTER than the President of the United States.

In my book, that is a pretty good gage of how she will respond to a crisis of any kind.

Belle Stilwill Las Vegas, NV (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 5:57 PM)

She says she will answer the phone at 3AM NOW.. but if she becomes president, will she changed her mind?
She changed her mind after she supported the war in Iraq. She changed her mind after she supported NAFTA.
She changed her mind after she agreed that FL and MI would NOT COUNT. I think she will change her mind about everything she promised during her campaign and then say, "I mispoke"....

Lorrie San Antonio TX (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:26 PM)

All the bluster about who has answered a 3AM emergency call.

I have, and I feel that possibly many parents with college age or adult children have. I am sure HRC probably has. If Chelsa had any sort of need to call around 8 or 9 AM Grenwich time while in GB, depending on DST, it would have been 3Am or so in NY or DC.

While admitting that the US is a much larger issue, at the time your child of any age calls, in real or imagined distress, it is a big deal.

People on here are so quick to cast aside all "real-life" issues, or possible experience, for political gotcha, including the blog gurus.

The US is supposed to be a family to a President, are we not all supposed to be their "charges"?. So perhaps the call would be handled by a parent/President regardless. The magnitude of the emergency would only be magnified.

GMC TX. (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:28 PM)

Do we really want another Clinton in the White House?
Do you really want a President who will do for America what she has done for New York?
Do you want a President who thinks it's okay to lie about her life, after all, she's done it all her life.

Go back to Arkansas and take Bill with you. America has had enough of both of you.

O. Wagner, Raleigh, NC (Sent Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:44 PM)

Given the way that Hillary "misspoke" about sniper fire when she was "sleep deprived", why would anyone want her to answer the phone at 3am?

Carol, NH (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:26 AM)

The Clintons now sound ridiculous by claiming to have all the experiences in the world when in actuality she has none.
What happened to the 200,000 new jobs she promised New York in her Senate race?

Pat Era (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:29 AM)

Please, HIllary. you can't even handle your own husband and you want to handle US problems. Being PRESIDENT is a man's job, it's not for emotional women, especially one that doesn't get enought rest and sleep. You can't, not with a husband like Bill Clinton. Look in the mirrow, your restless eyes tells us how much sleep you get. I heard a rumor that you said, that if you don't win the election, you will divorce Bill. Why not do it now? His not going to help you win the election anyways.

Toni (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:36 AM)

The fact that she thinks she'll get a call at 3am (EST) about the economy shows she knows nothing about the economy. The only person calling her at 3am would be Bill explaining why he didn't make it home at 2am as promised.

An Observer, Waipahu, Hawaii (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 1:30 AM)

The only 3 am HRC will be getting is about her unpaid bills-or maybe the whereabouts of her husband bill!Get out of the race Hillary-you can't win so stop damaging the party. You looted the White House before-never again will you be trusted.

Jim from marina California (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 1:38 AM)

She may have showed up at Ground Zero, but that was only because her husband had the opportunity to get Bin Laden and blew it. I am in the military, so my service must qualify me to be Secretary of Defense!!!

Chris V. Deployed OVersea's (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 4:44 AM)

Hillary's only call at 3am concerning finances, would be from a collection agency over past due campain accounts... I'm starting to grow so old and tired of Hillary, please take your toys and go home.

OBAMA 08

AFLDEM (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 5:56 AM)

There are people who have to always be ready for a 3am call--physicians like myself are an example. Sleep deprivation is not an excuse you want from your doctor when you have an emergency at 3am and I want a commander in chief who does not start hallucinating (apparently for 3mos in Clinton's cause)when they don't get enough sleep.

EP MD (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 6:12 AM)

EP MD (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 6:13 AM)

Man you dems kill me. in the 90's the Clintons were untouchable. It was a vast right wing conspiracy. no I hear the same or worse about the Clintons coming out of their own party. no wonder "W" has been whipping the floor with the dems in congress.

Oh and on that note, if i was getting beat everyday by a guy, I wouldnt be telling everyone who would listen that hes dumb. cause whats that make you.

Independent in Michigan (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 7:50 AM)

Only former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani can verify Howard Wolfson's claims that Hillary Clinton played a major role to "ensure that New York got the resources it needed after 9/11." It's hard to believe the Clinton Campaign after the Sniper fire escapade. Her lies speak volumes of the kind of presidency this country will get if she's elected in November. Good leaders are honest no matter what the circumstances. I used to be a Clintonite, now I am keeping my distance.

Dew Meeks (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 7:52 AM)

I personally think the ad is insulting. Then again I think her running is insulting. So many things she and Bill have said and done make a mockery of the office of the President of the United States. Thing is so many people flock to see her and vote for her. The econmic crisis would be all the special interests groups she owes and there just not being enough money to make it, even before her socialist health care system.

Lori McGee, Carbondale, Pa (Sent Thursday, April 03, 2008 8:02 AM)

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