Hillary's laugh is back
Posted: Thursday, April 10, 2008 5:45 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
PITTSBURGH -- Clinton can't shake questions surrounding her stance on trade and her husband's differing views on the matter. Today, she responded with a hearty laugh -- the kind once criticized and mocked by pundits and the media.
During a nearly 20-minute press conference in Eastern Pennsylvania that touched on issues ranging from Iraq policy to what to do about Florida and Michigan, the senator laughed long and hard when asked whether
Bill Clinton's receiving $800,000 for several speaking engagements from a group that supports the Colombia trade deal and the fact that she had given money to her campaign presented a conflict of interest.
After chuckling for five or six seconds, during which camera shutters could be heard clicking frantically, Clinton said "I mean, how many angels dance on the head of a pin? I have, I, I have, uh, I have really, uh, nothing to, uh... I mean, how do you answer that? I am against the Colombia free trade Deal. It doesn't matter who talks to me. It doesn't matter any circumstances. I've been against it. I am against it. I will be against it absent the kind of changes in behavior that I have been calling for from the Colombian government to end the targeting of labor leaders."
When asked whether she would ignore the advice of the military when it came to fashioning her Iraq policy, the senator sought to remind the reporters present that it was the president who set the policy and she would change the policy.
"The president of United States sets the policy," she said. "Our military, and thankfully so, carries out the policy that is set. You ask the military for their best advice about how to implement the policy you have set. Remember, Harry Truman went to Korea to confront Gen. MacArthur. You know, we have a long history of presidents changing policy. I have been clear throughout this campaign that my assessment is there is no military solution and the testimony delivered this week in the Congress by Gen. Petraeus and admiral, Ambassador Crocker reinforced the assessment that I have made."
Clinton also criticized President Bush's Iraq speech today for continuing the same policy and hit McCain's plans for dealing with the mortgage crisis, calling them "half-measures." Both statements echoed the written statements her campaign sent out this morning.
The senator accused McCain and Obama of failing to show leadership on the issue of whether the president should boycott the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing this summer, something she has called for and that McCain has also called for.
"Sen. McCain followed my lead again and I welcome him to that," she said. "It's unfortunate Sen. Obama hasn't come out for a freeze on home mortgages and hasn't agreed to take a stand on the opening ceremonies. A president has to take a stand. A president has to lead and Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama have not led on either issue."
Obama was asked about the issue yesterday but did not respond directly. He later stated that the US president should boycott the opening ceremony, if they Chinese don't start helping to stop the violence in Darfur or respect the rights of the Tibetan people.
Clinton also talked about Florida and Michigan, saying if that if the issue had to go to the credentials committee at the convention it would. "This is really up to the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party has to decide how it's going to handle the 2.3 million people who voted, Democrats who voted, so I don't think this is anywhere near close to a resolution yet."
She indicated she had not and would not suggest any resolution short of counting the votes. "We have not and we don't intend to. If it has to go to a credentials committee, it has to go to a credentials committee. That's what they're there for."
She said she didn't know why Obama didn't want there to be a revote in Michigan. "I think he would have done very well in Michigan, but he doesn't want the votes to count. Let's not, let's not mince words here. Sen. Obama has been very, very clear. Do not count those votes. Or come up with some kind of a resolution which disenfranchises people by taking away their right to have voted for whom they voted for and neither of those is acceptable to Michigan and Florida voters and I wouldn't agree with that either."
