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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's PA robocall attacks

Posted: Saturday, April 19, 2008 5:56 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. -- The Clinton campaign is using robocalls to tell Pennsylvanians Obama is not the candidate for them. In less than 24 hours, voters living in Lower Moreland Township of Montgomery County received three calls from the Clinton campaign, two attacking Obama and one advertising Bill Clinton's event in Fort Washington on Friday.

"In his TV ads, Barack Obama sounds like he'll take on the oil companies," a male voice tells voters in the first attack call. "What he doesn't tell you is that he voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill, a bill that's been called the best bill energy corporations could buy. Every gallon of gas takes over three bucks from your pocket. So, why would Barack Obama vote for a Bush-Cheney energy bill that has put six billion in the pockets of big oil? Enough talk. It's time for action. Hillary Clinton will take on big oil and she has the experience to get it done."

The second call attacks Obama on his healthcare plan: "Pennsylvania families cannot afford Barack Obama," a stern female voice says. "Barack Obama's health care plan fails to deliver health care for every American, just what the HMO's and pharmaceutical companies want. What's more, Sen. Obama's healthcare plan imposes a $900 hidden tax on families. That's $900 more than anyone should have to pay to stay healthy. Pennsylvania families need a leader they can count on and a fighter who will deliver."

The call advertising Bill Clinton's event in the area was recorded by a woman with an upbeat, sweet-sounding voice, in contrast to the more pointed voices attacking Obama.

Voters in the area also received a call from the Obama campaign during this time. However, it was simply to promote his rally in Philadelphia Friday evening.

First Read will keep you updated with any more calls from the campaigns to this Philadelphia suburb.

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Comments

That is dirty politics.  If you can't afford ads, you hire people to call?  This will backfire. Wait and see.
Clinton has run one the most divisive and negative campaigns I can remember in my 63 years - and against a fellow Democrat! She seems to think that if we can't hand her the nomination she feels she is entitled to, then she'll do the Republicans' dirty work for them, and destroy Sen Obama's chances of being president.

Well, she has proven to me that she is not fit to be president. If she wrenches the nomination out of the hands of the American people by her "kitchen sink" brand of politics, this is one white, female Democrat who will sit home on election day and pray she loses!

Clinton has run one the most divisive and negative campaigns I can remember in my 63 years - and against a fellow Democrat! She seems to think that if we can't hand her the nomination she feels she is entitled to, then she'll do the Republicans' dirty work for them, and destroy Sen Obama's chances of being president.

Well, she has proven to me that she is not fit to be president. If she wrenches the nomination out of the hands of the American people by her "kitchen sink" brand of politics, this is one white, female Democrat who will sit home on election day and pray she loses!

I find it amzing how bias MSNBC is against Sen. Clinton. Just look at the way the article is worded above. The reporters are trying to show Clinton in a bad light by highlighting the phone calls. ts isn't new! This isn't something that happens only with the Clinton campaign. But at the end, they come back a so sweetly say that Obama only made calls to tell people where he was holding a rally. these people t MSNBC are too bias to be real. No wonder Hillary hates the media so much, and because of them, there are ardent supporters of heres that will NOT vote for Obama if he should steal the nomination away from the strongest candidate out there. i will personally join in campaigning against him.
Watching this Hillary 'Bobble Head' on TV just sickens me...  She's an embarassment to females everywhere...  

I originally backed her...  Until the ugly, hateful emails started.  Her campaign is based on self gratification through the degradation of her opponents - old style dirty politics...

Please, please PA - END THIS on TUESDAY!  We beg of you...  
Doesn't Hillary know that "every American" doesn't want the government dipping into their paychecks to pay for health insurance. This is a personal decision and should not be a government mandate. I agree with Senator Obama, if American's can afford health insurance most of us would buy it.
I guess they have to use Robocalls.  Not enough supporters to call for them.  Obama supporters are willing to actually do some volunteer work while giving what money they can afford.  Hillary's supporters write a check for the max and then wait for her to cater to them.
Hillary is out of her mind!!! We do not have health care insurance because we can't aford it. If she forces us to pay it than we are in even worse shape. We have no extra money to spare. We can't even aford any new clothes. what we have is falling apart. What she don't get is that we just can't pay out anymore. Not all of us have a husband that makes gobs of money giving speaches for free trade. I hate NAFTA and what it has done to us. And I don't to hear who she is against it now. She pushed to get it through and her huband signed into being.. I will not ever forget or forgive the Clintons for that. She and her woman loving hubby can just leave us alone. I don't want to hear any more lies from her!!! And can someone please ask her how many angles can dance on the head of a pen? She makes me sick... OBAMA ONLY..... 08
Senator Obama represents the kind of real transformative change we get in this Country only when we work together to achieve it.

Senator Clinton represents the same old politics of the past complete with whining, acrimony and mud throwing.  I had hoped her campaign would be better than this, but it is not.

Those who prefer Senator Clinton in this contest are not truly as aggravated with Senator Obama as they appear.  They simply are terribly upset that Senator Clinton has run such a terrible campaign and Senator Obama has run such a phenoomenal campaign.

If you are truly Democrats, you will wake up one day and realize that Senator Obama is rapidly growing our party and organizing us to achieve real change from the smallest community right up to Washington.  We will not get real healthcare reform (or any other substantive change) unless we work together.
The Billary's are unbelievable and those that support her, well, it's your decision...but let me tell you one thing....Hillary:  Every word that comes out of her mouth starts with the word "I".  Just her, no one else in important; her ego and her wish for the Clinton dynasty is appalling. Let alone trashing moveon.org....well.  Paul v. Clinton is coming up soon for fraud and there will be an audio tape entered as evidence of Hillary Clinton thanking him for putting together this event....all on tape....

The reason Obama can pull in crowds of 35,000 or more at one campaign stop is because he says something the other two don't.  His word is "WE" - he includes us and gives us the right to be part of the government; instead of the CLINTON dynasty.  BTW - Bill Clinton PARDONDED TWO of the underground gentleman that George kept throwing at Obama; Hillary is pissing off China and Isreal...is this what you want???? MSNBC...HOW ABOUT BRINGING UP THE PAUL V. CLINTON CASE...or show I remind Huffinton to do it?

GO OBAMA - AS IN WE THE PEOPLE!!!!
Pathetic is the word du jour!! In case some of you uneducated HRC supporters read this, it means word of the day in french. Stupid!!
Is anyone else getting tired of this nomination? It seems like I have experience more politics in the past four months, then I ever have before.  I am hopping that Pennsylvanians will finally end the Democratic nomination.  However, it sounds like the TV pundits are pushing for Hillary in PA.  People are making less sense in forums, perhaps we all need a break to refocus on our goals.  Cheers...
ummmm... what's a $900 hidden tax? She's completely flipped!
Anyone who supports Hillary is a self-deluded fool.

Hillary was for NAFTA, before she was against it.

Hillary was for Iraq, before she was against it.

Hillary was for sniper fire, before she was caught repeatedly lying about it.

If the country wants more Rovian-Clintonian tactics, VOTE FOR HILLARY, fools.
Hillary makes me sick with her lies and sarcasm.  She presents herself as being better than the rest of us.  I would not and will not vote for her.  I have always voted democrat for president but I will probably not vote if she is the nominee.

Obama is more honest and down to earth as is his wife.  He didn't push for NAFTA or vote for the War like billary.  He will make changes by bringing home the troops, changing the economy for the better, helping both educationa dn health care, and honestly representing us.  He'll try to bring all sides together to make change and not downgrade folks on the other side.  

She's made too manyt enemies and is just making more all the time..

Please wake up people and please Pennsylvania look at the facts regarding these two candidates..  Don't listen to propoganda by the media.  Look at what each has voted for and pushed for and what they say today...

Debbie from Michigan
Robocalls is probably all she can afford right now with her shrinking amount of special interest and lobbyist money.  Please good people of PA put us out of our misery by voting for Obama on Tuesday.  The American people are speaking loud and clear that we need a change in Washington that works for the people not the powerful.  Please end the dynasty and the greed and the influence of big corporations.  Vote with hope and not fear, cynism, and what we know hasn't worked.
The Energy bill was not the same as the one that Cheney wanted..It had to go through the senate and was changed. Obama was not the only one to vote for it...the bill took money from the Oil companies and put it into alternative energy research. So why didn't Hillary vote for it? I don't know, maybe she didn't read it. But like always its half truths and down right lies with Hillary.

The healthcare plan...with Hillary you have to get it, whther you can afford it or not. In Mass. the fine is now 900 dollars. The state desides if you can afford it. With Obama only childrens care is manatory, everyone else if you want it but can not afford it, you will be helped. Hillary is a liar.

And I hope they make all their calls at 6 in the evening. Thats it make sure all are home...and call away.

I will not vote for Hillary, after voteing for 40 years I will sit at home.
We Iowans were able to see through Hillary right away.  She came in third place in our caucus back in January. How she made it to Pennsylvania I have no idea!  One thing to think about ... you Pennsylvanians can end this  on Tuesday.  You might just save the Democratic party by sending her back to the senate.  
It's amusing to look at all of the people calling Obama arrogant. Name one polotician that isn't? Hillary and Bill are the epitomy of arrogance! For the love of God people, Hillary thinks she is ENTITLED to be president. After this campaign is over and Obama is elected as President, I hope the democrats give Hillary the boot in the a** she deserves. The Clintons are all the same (yes, Chelsea the hedge fund brat too) and we are better off as a nation with them out of the White House and public life alltogether.
To:  Jerry, Columbia, Mo.  You are exactly what Sen. Obama was talking about when he indicated that when people are bitter about their economic situations they don't vote economic issues (because they have been disillusioned by the previous and subsequent  politicians that said they would help them) so they end up focusing on "wedge" or "hot-button" issues - like "guns", "immigration" etc.  And to Molly:  Get a life - your comments are really becoming quite despicable.

I will listen to no one with a cameltoe!
This is a sick woman we're talking about. God help us if she come's anywhere the White House.
Hillary, go bake some cookies.
The sight of you makes me sick.
"he should steal the nomination away from the strongest candidate out there"  Tyrone, this is too funny.  Isn't it Hillary who says every voice should be heard?  Guess that only applies to voices that vote for her.  See any irony or hypocrisy here?  Millions of Americans have voted, but you suggest all those that voted for Obama over Hillary should be ignored?  Sure doesn't sound like democracy to me!
We received five robocalls at our home from the Clinton campaign way back before the primary here in Oklahoma, one featuring the voice of Oklahoma's Secretary of State. We didn't get any robocalls from Obama or Edwards. They are a nuisance that should be banned as part of campaign reform on a national basis.
Hilliary is a neocon...never stopped being the goldwater girl...only now she's added Rove to her title.
Let's hope it is over Tuesday, come on PA, you know what is real and what is not - Barack Obama is the REAL DEAL!  
Please Hillary stop hurting yourself.  Are you trying to get your campaign into the university political science classes as study example of how to blow an election that had everything going for you. If what you are doing isn't working shouldn't you at some point stop and go in a different direction. Stay the course is a disaster of a policy.  If you are digging yourself into a hole then stop digging.  My serious advice is to concentrate on attacking the Bush policies you would reverse and the faults of John McCain. Let the primary take care of itself. What have you got to lose and you just may save your reputation.
I used to support Hillary but i truly believe it was the Clinton "brand" I was supporting.  The more I got to know her, the less I liked her and I and my family threw our wholehearted support behind Obama.

BTW, as far as robocalls go, I routinely hang up on them.  It angers me that my privacy should be invaded by a canned electronic message.  I highly doubt that I'm the only one!
That settles it. I can not vote for anyone associated with Robo-calls. Does anyone NOT hang up on these?
I just can't believe Hillary is as strong as she claim she is, for I believe stand by your man women are weak.  She is a disgrace to the female gender.  If she remained married to the PIG because of political ambitions, then this shows that she only cares for herself.  No wonder she lies so easily.  
I urge you to read the article below, I am a working class White voter in PA n Obama supporter and  I am sick and tired of the way Hilary is conducting her campaign.

After deliberatly taking Baracks words out of context and spinning these misconceptions into a media frenzy it is now apparent that she not Obama has nothing but contempt for white working class Americans.

Why on earth are we allowing her to get away with  this, these comments are far more inscindiary than Baracks but the media is giving her a pass on them.I urge you to make this informtion public the American people need to know the truth, I watched the debate  and I was absoloutely disgusted at the way it was conducted virtually no substantive questions asked and a complete disregard for the current plight of working Americans.

It is clear that the mainstream TV stations FOX,CNN,MSNBC do not want this story to break prior to the PA primary every time you mention it on there blogs they will not post it, I urge you PLEAS,PLEASE , PLESAE.put this story into the mainstream before the primary and let the American people know the truth.

The Huffington Post’s Sam Stein: “During the past week, Sen. Hillary Clinton has presented herself as a working class populist, the politician in touch with small town sentiments, compared to the elitism of her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama. But a telling anecdote from her husband's administration shows Hillary Clinton's attitudes about the ‘lunch-bucket Democrats’ are not exactly pristine. In January 1995, as the Clintons were licking their wounds from the 1994 congressional elections, a debate emerged at a retreat at Camp David . Should the administration make overtures to working class white southerners who had all but forsaken the Democratic Party? The then-first lady took a less than inclusive approach.”
“‘Screw 'em,’ she told her husband. ‘You don't owe them a thing, Bill. They're doing nothing for you; you don't have to do anything for them.’ The statement -- which author Benjamin Barber witnessed and wrote about in his book, ‘The Truth of Power: Intellectual Affairs in the Clinton White House’ -- was prompted by another speaker raising the difficulties of reaching ‘Reagan Democrats.’”  
In the spin room after last night’s debate, NBC/NJ’s Athena Jones reports, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said Clinton was quoted inaccurately and that she did not say it. Wolfson reiterated that on MSNBC's Morning Joe. “It ain’t so. It ain’t so," he said. "This is not something that occurred.” Wolfson dismissed it as a sign of the "situation" that the Obama campaign is in. “It did not happen,” he said again.
There is NOTHING more annoying than a robo-call. And only a robot would listen to one.
Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.
The article mentioned the "bush-cheney" energy bill.

The robo-call is a complete misrepresentation of that bill.  Here's what I remember of it:  There was a Bush-cheney version.  Then the House of Reps got to put together their version and pass it.  The new bill, the one that went to the Senate, was the only Bill on the block that ROLLED BACK tax breaks (subsidies) for oil companies and put some money into alternative energy instead.

Clinton did vote against it.  So did McCain and the rest of the right-wing.  

Then lets remember the "credit card bill" . . . the one that both Edwards and Clinton supported . . . (he only in 2001).  It was called "The bankruptcy bill", and it was really horrible . . . basically making it so that individuals declaring bankruptcy would be even more vulnerable to the credit card companies . . . sorry Edwards fans, but he voted for it before he fine tuned 'the cause of his life'.  Clinton thought it was terrific too.  Obama was against it, both in 2001 and 2005 . . . so he had a chance to be against it, and then to vote against it.  

Edwards apologized for voting for the bill, and says he now knows how horrible it was.  Clinton says she voted for the bill, but is very happy that it didn't pass.  She then tried to smear Obama for voting against the bill given that one of it's amendments (a 30% limit on credit card interest) was not as horrible as the rest of the bill.  ugh.  

If Obama was mean and nasty like Clinton, he could do up a great robo-call about that . . . but he isn't.

It's interesting that Bill and Hillary's past campaign experience is not helping her in her current campaign. The Clinton's have so much experience running political campaigns but they can't manage the most important campaign in Hillary's life. Hillary's experience is like Dick Cheney's experience. Cheney was Secretary of Defense in the first Bush administration but for some reason he can't get it right with Iraq. Obama is running against Bill, Hillary and McCain and still holding his own.

Obama 08
For shame, Hillary!  More Hillary: ABC debate you showed yourself a liar again AND cowardly panderer for super delegate votes.  Only when Hillary was cornered by little Step... did she say "yes yes yes" that she believes Obama can beat McCain.  First she praised McCain and tried to side-step.  Of course she was not "dumb" enough to say "no, no, no" on ABC prime as she and Hillary surrogates have been feeding MSM for weeks.  Face it! The big bad Clinton Machine got out-smarted, out-strategized by Illinois junior senator Barack Obama and his campaign AND Obama stopped your cakewalk. Now dems Hillary Billary have become surrogates for repub McCain! Question: With growing Obama party support e.g. Sen. Nunn Friday and Obama's front runner position intact after gaffes, will Hillary continue hell bent on trying to "win" a contest she "lost" on Super Tuesday?  Yes, I think so.  Huffington Post:  Of  "Working-class white (southern) people--'screw 'em'"  Hillary said when they didn't support Bill.  Is Hillary saying same to Democratic Party and Obama? "Screw em"--if I can't win it?  I think so!
Hasn't Clinton realized yet that going negative does not work for her?   Oh, I forget this is not a strategy for her, it's who she is.
Andrea Mitchell was on the plane with Hillary Clinton during the Bosnia fiasco.  She did not come forward and tell the truth about it until after Hillary got caught.  I lost all respect for her.  Most of these people are in the tank for Hillary, the liar.  
Well, I guess if you repeat something enough it becomes true, like Clinton's campaign the only one running a negative campaign. For those of you who watched the debate or not, Obama admitted that HIS CAMPAIGN has been negative on Clinton. What's the difference? He is not above the fray, he only says he is:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/quiz

HIS CAMPAIGN is also attacking Clinton AGAIN on Bosnia.

Obama LIED about not hearing anything controversial in church and then in his "race" speech said he heard things that were controversial.

His team was asked about the bitter tape and they denied it and said it was a LIE, until the tape was released.

Obama LIED about recieving 85k from rezko, in fact it was more like 250K.

Obama LIED in a previous debate stating that he only spent four hours working with Rezko, when it was much more.

Obama is disengenuous about not taking money from lobbyists and oil companies - http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/oily_words.html

Obama LIED about his filling out a questionaire that stated he wanted to ban all handguns, even though they found his handwriting on it.

Obama LIED about the Selma march and him being born as a result of it - it happend four years AFTER he was born.

Obama LIED about the Kennedy airlift, saying the Kennedys were responsible for bringing his father to Hawaii, then later said he "misspoke".

Along the lines of "say anything to get elected" like many candidates do and what to expect from the Republicans in November on a much larger scale and doesn't even include Rev. Wright, Bittergate, or much on Rezko.: http://www.obamatruth.org/

This one focuses primarily on healthcare and non-profit hospitals: http://www.wherethemoneygoes.com/new...it=Search+WTMG

Elizabeth Edwards said what makes the Clinton Plan Universal is that Sen. Clinton has Mandated, required by law that everyone must purchase healthcare.  She said the plans are 99% the same relative to policy and benefits.  

If you don't purchase Sen. Clinton's plan because you can't afford it more than likely the premium payment will be taken out of your check. Sen. Clinton has refused to tell us how she will force Americans to pay for the mandatory plan/those that don't purchase it.

That's what Sen. Obama has explaining as the difference between the two plans.

A state has alread tried this mandated/required/mandatory approach and there are many people who could not afford the plan.  They still don't have health care but they are paying the state a penalty for not having it.  

So Sen. Obama's plan makes the cost as affordable as the Clinton plan but will not make you/force you to buy the plan if you feel you cannot afford it.  

Again Sen. Clinton's plan would force Americans to buy healthcare however, she won't tell us by what method she will force us to purchase her plan.
I got three calls from Hillary's campaign in 18 hours and did not bother to even listen to after I heard ... "this is Hillary Clinton..."
I see Hillary's picture or hear her voice and I feel repulsed - just as Ihave when subjected to George W. The body knows. McCain makes me feel sorry - There has not been a soul that has run for pres, except maybe Gore and Carter ( even though his little trip to see Hamas representatives has us all wondering), since JFK that I actually felt would have the integrity & intelligence to do a proper job of it - make  America proud & feel like the land of the free........geeez louise, can we pls give hope peace fairness and equality, finally, a chance?
Go Hillary! The more you attack Barack, the more his chances to BEAT YOU HARD in Penn..! Please, continue to play your DIRTY GAME!! That's the END OF YOUR POLITICAL CARRER FOREVER, girl!!1 Thank you! We are SO TIRED OF YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR UNEDUCATED SUPPORTERS!!!!
"What planet are the clintons living on?The days of negative campaigning are over.Would someone please give hillary the memo."

And cc Obama while your at it.....
If Clinton has the experience to lead us out of this mess, how come she did nothing but help lead us INTO this mess for the last 7 years.

Dream on Hillary Supporters.

GoBama!
I've gotten the positive robocall from Michelle Obama and the negative robocall from Hillary Clinton. If the way Clinton has been running her campaign is representative of her experience, I'm not sold. Obama's campaign has been cleaning her clock.
A plea to the people of Pennsylvania:  please vote Obama and let this split in the Democratic party start to heal.  Let's all get behind one of the most exciting candidates to come along in our lifetimes.  Think of the way young people are rallying to support him.  Don't fall prey to the distractions and distortions.  Barak Obama is the real thing - a proudly patriotic man who speaks to us as if we are adults, a man who believes in us and will work to make our voices heard in Washington.  He will bring the troops home and change the way business is done in Washington - how refreshing!  Let's get this party started and beat McCain in the fall!

I am so sick of the Obama camp and all its constant whining. Change we don't need.
Senator Obama does not employ robo-calls.  He has more than enough volunteers to make live calls.  I have made these calls.  There is nothing negative about them.

Senator Clinton has employed this technique for months.  She also used very negative robo-calls against Senator Edwards in South Carolina to ensure she came in second.

Don't be fooled Pennsylvanians!  Together we can do this!  Yes we can!  Obama '08!!!
People are turned off by the smell of a desperate candidate. Somebody really should tell Hillary to quit driving her negative numbers up. Worse.Campaign.Ever.


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