More charges of hypocrisy

Posted: Sunday, April 20, 2008 6:55 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Frank Thorp
It's what appears to be a common theme coming from the Clinton camp. After Sen. Clinton herself pointed out yesterday what she saw as hypocrisy coming from the Obama campaign, both Gov. Ed Rendell and her new Chief Campaign Strategist Geoff Garin pounced on the idea that Obama's "new politics" may be older than they appear.

Garin, who appeared on Sunday's "Meet the Press" with Obama's Chief Campaign Strategist David Axelrod, pointed out that members of the Obama campaign have been attacking Clinton for months now. "We want to go ahead and have a good, fair discussion of the issues facing the country, but we really don't want to play by two sets of rules. It's not fair," he told moderator Tim Russert.

One such comment was made by Gen. Walter Stewart (ret.) on a recent Obama Campaign conference call. Addressing Sen. Clinton's recent gaffe about her 1996 trip to Bosnia, he claimed that if Sen. Clinton was elected President she would not possess the "moral authority" to place a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day. Both Axelrod and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) hastily repudiated the statement.

The Obama campaign, of course, points out Clinton has not been so positive, and says it is mostly responding Clinton-initiated attacks.

Rendell and Casey discussed the upcoming primary in their state on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday. Rendell explained that while Clinton's campaign may be somewhat negative, at least they don't deny it. And while Casey tried to defend Obama by pointing out that the Clinton campaign is no stranger to negative campaigning, Rendell was quick to point out, "but we are not hypocritical about it."

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Comments

Hillary has done nothing but mudsling throughout this campaign. Ever since it became obvious that she wouldn't just walk right into the nomination and the presidency, Hillary has relied on negative campaigning. She has even resorted to blatantly lying about her foreign policy experience.

Enrique, Chicago (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:08 PM)

Hillary Clinton's chief strategist refused to answer when asked on Meet the Press about the Middle East alliance she is proposing to commit our military to. Is this not something she should tell us?

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:12 PM)

Clinton is a bully and the only way to deal with bullies is head on. When Obama was trying to stay with his message she was taunting him "wimp" and now that he shows how he will fight the Republican Candidate she clutches her pearls and whines "Oh my!"... She should worry more about her mythological proclivities and stop pointing fingers.

Gina - Texas (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:12 PM)

Hypocritical....that's exactly what Senator Obama is!!

This is the new political campaign he promised? Not old style politics? His sincerity and honestly is showing...his attack ads are preposterous...especially the one attacking Health Care...blantant fear tactic!! About an issue that involves the health and well-being of all Americans!! To use fear mongering on this issue....WHAT'S NEXT???

I'm very disappointed...he's resorting to the same old...same old!!

Carol, Ca (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:12 PM)

Billary once again the victom of her own self.... Let it go Billary...Your negatives are down in the dirt and soon will be sitting in the same place the devil lives...HELL.......

James Tn (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:13 PM)

Obama needs to drop the negative stuff (that's his appeal) and get back to responding only to charges directed toward him with the facts AND WITHOUT pointing out his Democratic opponent's flaws. We already know what Hillary is and we certainly aren't looking for more of the same.

Ian (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:15 PM)

The primary race comes down to this;

Vote Hillary, if you want a democrat in the white house in 2009.

Vote Obama, if you want a republican in the white house in 2009.

Obama may, and I hope and pray not, win the nomination but HE WILL NOT BE PRESIDENT!!!

Never trusted Obama and still don't. We do not know this man. (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:18 PM)

Hey, Garin, where is your campaign's March financial statement? It's due out by midnight tonight.

Sue, Bloomington, IN (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:18 PM)

Hillary Clinton is like a house guest who has overstayed her welcome...I'm tired...go home Hillary.

Cindy in PA (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:21 PM)

The Clintons are the masters of the double standard

Obama points out how negative they are, which in turn, according to them, qualifies as Obama being negative

I'll be so glad when they are finally gone . . . they represent evrything I find distasteful in American politics

Independent in TN (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:23 PM)

So what happened to this "new" politics of Obamas? You know, where he rises up over these petty little freuds?

Lis Nachon (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:24 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Don't these ungrateful snobs realize that Hillary fought in Bosnia so that they could be free? She is a combat veteran for crying out loud! Give the lady some respect.

twocanpete (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:28 PM)

Never trusted Obama and still don't. We do not know this man. (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:28 PM)

I'm undecided. I don't want to hear more about this crap. I want Hillary Clinton to explain why she would form some kind of Arab-Israeli-US mass retaliation alliance against Iran. I also want to know what the cost of her health care plan will be and how much my wages will be garnished.

I would like Barack to answer more clearly his exit strategy for getting us out of Iraq. I would also like to hear more about his college tax credit and the specific public service requirements that students would have.

MSNBC quit wasting my time (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:31 PM)

Do people in the media think no one will tune in if it only reports on things that matter to most people? More and more First Read reads like it's all about getting off the rocks of media hounds and less like it's concerned with anything that actually matters.

seriously? (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:33 PM)

well that says it all. Like takeing lobbyist money. Obama says he hasnt taken any -LIE than he says well Hillary took more.She didnt say she never took any.Hillary can stand up to anyone but by the looks Obama cannt and he has a lot will be knocking on his door.Truth .Take Kennedy for example he wanted to run what she would do and say when she wouldnt be tied he slapped her by endorseing Obama and through whole endorsment kept diging and slapping her while Obama smirked.Well let Obama do his bidding after dont lay it all on Hillary.I see he didnt deliver his state to Obama though.He has bamboozled his people so much they really believe all his funding is by the little folk.He likes useing bamboozled and such over and over since he accused Bill of useing code words. Now he uses them over and over while smirking that we got um on that one we made up smirk.Hypocrite is mild.

Obama lies. (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:33 PM)

The puzzle that is Obama is coming together....

racist church

Rezco and contributions

Oil and gas corps. contributions

Rev. Wright

Rev. Moss

Terrorist William Ayers & Dorhn

Louis Farrakhan and the million man march Obama attended.

Louis Farrakhan Nation of Islam endorses Obama

Muslims endorse Obama

Muslim senators endorses Obama

Hamas endorses Obama

Michelle Obama anti American comments

Jane Fonda endorses Obama

Move on . org endorses Obama

Bad judgment and strange friends

John Doe (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:37 PM)

Obama has run his campaign on the whole issue of change, a radical departure from the status quo of Washington negativity, but in recent days he has glaringly jumped into the fray while still claiming that he is the change agent, the one who is unifying and the one staying positive. This will, I'm afraid, be Obama and company's downfall; if not now, then in the general election, unless he and his advisors decide to bury the hatchet and go back to the original intent of the campaign, what was seemingly his whole reason for being in the presidential race. Without this comprehensive message and theme, what is his reason for being? If Obama's is, in the end, an emperor with no clothes, then how is he any different from the other two? And if he's no different, why should we, as Americans, vote for him over two other candidates who have what he doesn't: experience.

Stephen Graff, Woodbury, NJ (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:37 PM)

Hey First Read,

I have posted about this numerous times, yet apparently MSNBC doesn;t like to report REAL news.

Why have you not even commented on HRC newest "umbrella" foreign policy plan?

Seems to me like this should be REAL NEWS and someone should be asking her about it.

I don't know about all of you, but engaging in WORLD WAR THREE, as HRC seems to be interested in should take precedent over the "shiny objects", that CHuck Todd claims is a better story.

Come on First Read, do your job. We are talking about MAJOR foreign policy issue here. And not even ONE mention.

I guess MSNBC is more new you can't use.

Jessica (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:37 PM)

Let's see...who would you rather have a beer with--probably Obama. Who would you rather go to a ballgame with...probably Obama. Who would you rather BBQ with---probably Obama......sound lke a pattern here??? Been down that road before---should have looked at the sign first---It read...Wrong Way
Clinton - 08

Kat (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:38 PM)

Rendell accused Obama of hypocrisy. That means that (sometimes) he "acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings."

Now this is really laughable, because what he's really saying is that Clinton has no beliefs to contradict. She really is an empty candidate. I feel sorry for her.

Bunker Hill, Spearfish, SD (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:39 PM)

Hillary you, and your supporters should shut-up already. You started it. Remember when your mama would not let you in the house until you fought the neighborhood kids? That's probably when your psyche broke toward evil. Well fighting back is not your personal domain.

Obama has not gone out of his way, not, to humiliate you with all of your old, and new, tax return, CAFTA, Chinagate, etc. baggage. I like what somebody posted earlier, Obama is not your, and your supporters personnal whipping boy. Live by it, and die by it.

Obama '08

clairton, Pa. (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:39 PM)

I wonder what has become of PA since their Governor's "presidential campaign"

kimere (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:43 PM)

Yawn

Selina, Wilmington, Delaware (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:46 PM)

I'm open to Hillary or Barack and will vote Democrat no matter. That said, yes, the Barack camp has played the game very well. He publicly presents the innocent image while his campaign and fans do all the dirty work. The comments are correct. Hillary and her campaign have thrown the hard ball and they have done it openly. The Barack camp has not been open. Dirty, yes. Open, no. Alas! Politics as usual. If Barack wins and moves on, his fans will be faithful. They are already blinded. I have never voted for looks or likeability. Look what likeability got us in George Bush. McCain will play the same card. Mr. independant and recently so socially aware. He will jump right back into a full right wing agenda and leave those workers high and dry. The poor? Forget that. We need the rich to get richer so their money can trickle down to those waiting for the scraps.

mexed, san antonio, texas (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:49 PM)

Eddie Rendell is right, as Chris Matthews would say

Rendell's got a powerful voice in PA

Cowboy Jack (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:49 PM)

Admitting that you are negatively campaigning does not make it acceptable .....

Chad Gleason , Kent Washington (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:49 PM)

Lord knows the Klinton Klan has run a squeaky clean campaign, never whining or complaining about the media, not once stooping to anything personal, never injecting race or religion into the discourse, hewing to the issues, keeping to a positive message about Senator Clinton's strengths, never once questioning Senator Obama's fitness for the office of the Presidency. How dare the Obama campaign throw the kitchen sink at her?

TrueBlue Hussein, Durham, NC (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:50 PM)

On Tuesday, I encourage "typical white people" to vote "present"..... If you do, for the first time in my adult life, I'll be proud of my country...

Obama/Rezko '08: "Change without experience"

Cowboy Jack (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:50 PM)

Ah, Governor Rendell...getting it wrong again. (Now, to be fair, Rendell is not stupid by any means. He's engaging in a little Clinton spin.) What, Governor - you expected HRC to get a free ride on her attacks?

Clinton supporters are trying to point to Obama's responses to Clinton's attacks and say, "See? He's negative! Nothing new here!"

Of course, if Obama just lets her go (as he did at the last debate) without pointing out her issues, she says, "He's a wimp! He can't handle the White House!"

Defending oneself against scurrilous attacks is hardly the same as initiating those same attacks. The Clinton campaign has been trying this double-standard for some time, hoping people won't see through it. Unfortunately, one only has to look at the two of them debating to see the point. If Obama was going negative, he'd have pushed Tuzla at the debate. He didn't even try to twist the knife on that issue. He could have brought up Bill Clinton's Weather Underground commutations earlier - but left them alone until Clinton tried to press further on his connection to William Ayers.

Obama's just doing now what he didn't do in the days before March 4 - hit Clinton back on some sensitive points. I would say to Clinton what I tell my 4-year-old son: if you don't like being hit, don't hit people in the first place. (As for the conference call with the general - the campaign has already repudiated those remarks. No sale there.)

BMR, Pittsburgh PA (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:50 PM)

Talk about hypocrisy: How about John McCain receiving $58,358.00 for a Navy Pension: This is the same guy who doesn't want to pass a bill for the current war veterans so they can get an education, homes or medical benefits and George won't even let them have a ride to sign up to vote. WOW that is $5,000.00 a month, now that's hypocrisy.

Someone who is really reading the information.

Audrey Fryer, Vancouver Island, Canada (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:50 PM)

OK... let's try this again!

The "He's not being fair" stuff is a bit of an old political gotcha, don'tchathink?

If Obama doesn't respond to the competitive accusations - the HRC campaign claims - "see, he's not tough enough to deal with what the Republicans will do..."

If he does respond then the line is, "see he's being a hypocrite, and plays old politics too..."

It's a "Catch-22", but not a new one. Fortunately, we've all seen this game played before. So, Obama responds and stays in the race and Clinton whines and will eventually have to admit she's lost - but not her fault, of course.

The media, meanwhile, just likes to "raise the issues", because we know it's being talked about!
It would be really something to see if the "journalists" stopped being scribes and became really journalists and started calling the election like somebody who realized that it was pretty important. I don't remember Cronkite, Morrow or Huntley/Brinkley think that their only responsibility was to parrot whatever accusation was drifting in the wind and then call that responsible journalism. Your readers deserve more than just an echo chamber, they deserve your judgement and the benefit of your experience.

Plainbrown1 (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:52 PM)

This hypocrisy on Obama's part is nothing new. Saint Obama goes out on his high horse and preaches a new politics with no negatives, while his campaign relentlessly attacks Hillary. They're still attacking now that he's ahead.

Obama is not who he says he is.

Lezident, Portland, Me (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:52 PM)

Rachel Maddow said that if Hillary had anything she was holding back to try and trump Obama's close in Pa., she would play her hand by Sunday morning. Well, it's 7:41 pm Sunday night, and all's quiet. Just as I said when she revisited Rev. Wright with Dick Scaife's newspaper, her well is dry. She has no real end game that would bring her the nomination, except to steal it.

Just speaking for myself, I believe the young Chinese student defiantly standing in front of an armored tank would be the kind of anarchy the dem party would have to deal with should they allow that to happen. Now, times that by 1.3 million. Likewise for the repubs if they are intent on robbery, like that which they perpretrated in 2000.

'No, Not This Time'

YES WE CAN !

clairton, Pa. (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:54 PM)

Obama has all along been hypocritical. He laughs at Hillary or anyone that dares to question him and makes the croud laugh at them too. I have heard him say oh come on till they laughed at who was in his sights. Than he says how he is running such a high road campaign. He has his people spew vile and hate like here. He is clean.He has supporters do the dirty work like trying to get Hillary out.When it doesnt work he says oh I say she can run as long as she wants to. Thanks for the Obama permission.

jane-pa (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:55 PM)

Obama never said that he wouldn't criticize Clinton on policy (healthcare, her changing positions on war and trade, etc.). He has tried to steer away from PERSONAL attacks, which is why he didn't hit Clinton for her blatant Bosnia lies even when the moderators at the debate tried to goad him into it. Some of his supporters and backers have not held themselves in check, but Obama himself has consistently avoided the tabloid stories that Clinton has taken every opportunity she could to capitalize on.
Obama hasn't brought up the fact that Clinton's chief strategist (Penn) and her husband have both supported the Columbian free trade agreement, numerous shady associations (Hsu,etc., etc., etc.),the move-on issue. Obama has kept his criticisms on the issues, one of which is distracting voters with gotcha politics and then going back to Washington to work for special interests.
Notice that Obama's chief strategist distanced the campaign from the general's criticism. The Clinton campaign has defended their personal attacks, most of which originate with Hillary herself. Do people really think that the fact that Republicans will engage in despicable tactics justifies Hillary beating them to the punch? Democrats should slander each other so the Republicans don't need to?
For those of us who have watched this, it is clear that Obama has done everything possible to keep the campaign clean (No body is going to muzzle every surrogate who speaks their mind; the measure is the candidates themselves). Clinton has taken every opportunity to get into the gutter herself.

JWHICK, American Fork, UT (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:57 PM)

Thanks MSNBC and First Read for continuing to focus on the issues important to America --- not!!

I beg all of the media, as John Stewart has said, please, please, please stop hurting America.

nuanced (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 7:58 PM)

Drive-by Shooter Blames Victim...he's not vetted, she cries.

Come-on, do you take us for idiots!?!

So-called journalists, I for one am sick of the manipulation and sensationalism. The President makes life and death decisions, and your coverage should reflect the serious nature of what is happening. Our future is literally on the line here.

Keep up this nonsense and you'll lose my interest forever. I have other choices for news and reasoned analysis.

Jon (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:01 PM)

Senator Obama is pointing out the flaws in Senator Clinton's policies. Which is what he is supposed to be doing. Senator Clinton is pushing the "distractions" that her husband decried just last week.

Everyone who is worried about the war in Iraq should be petrified if this woman gets elected. Her statement that she would retaliate for any provocation in the Middle East and elsewhere is Bush all over again. When will First Read do an article on that?

sotiredofignorance (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:05 PM)

grasping desperately to hang on. Hrc, go home

ash (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:06 PM)

So its okay to be an SOB as long as you admit it?
What a bunch of hooey.

She drags him down for a mud-wrestle and then complains because he got dirt on her clothes. Priceless. Some people apparently find that appealing but I am not one of them. It is crap like this that got this country into the mess that it is in. No Thanks.

Carrie, Chicago, Il (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:08 PM)

A third Bush term (led by McCain) can possibly be better than the second or first Bush terms.

But a third Clinton term (led by Hillary) will be no better than the first or second Clinton terms.

Bottom line: we're sick and tired of the Bush's and the Clintons. Hllary is shameless!

Diamond (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:09 PM)

Where have I been that I didn't see or hear the negativity from the HRC campaign? Under a rock? Are they for real.

Ree, Virginia (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:10 PM)

HRC is done Tuesday.....

Obama Fan, In the Middle of Nowhere, MO. (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:16 PM)

Just today Bill Clinton said in his stump speech that when your opponent uses the Kitchen Sink Stratagy that you must be doing pretty good. All I can say is WOW who's campaign said they had to use the KSS wasn't that the Clinton Campaign?I have said this before I was a very very big fan of The Clintons,but in this election they have gone to levels of unbeleivable that is just hard to swallow. They have stooped so low that I find Bill saying that he did not have sex with that woman more credible than anything he sayes on the stump for Hillary.I did not like how people had said that they where pimping out Chelsea,I dont believe she should be on the stump if she cant aswer to reporters.Then I see the story from this morning and to see it reported quote and girl shouted out that she grabbed Chelsea's bottom as she took a picture with her.Chelsea did not do anything?? Wow then that is being pimped out,unless she liked it. Still another nonstory instead of substance reporting. No questions about Hillarys new Middle East Umbrella Policy and the facy that she is ready to nuclear on Day 1. Nothing about her throwing Move On.org under the bus behind closed doors. To be honest Obama has a right to call her a call her an Republican because she is the one with the Republican roots and tendencies.Since she just got an endorsement from Scaiffe The ultra Conservative that furthers my point.

NoMoreHillBillyLies (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:16 PM)

This is ridiculous, Hillary and her supporters feel they can throw a punch (and tell lies), but Sen. Obama and his supporters can't even defend themselves let alone counter punch.

Sen. Obama could have counter punched Hillary many times and didn't. Isn't that really why Hillary a true Republican is calling him weak.

If you can dish it out Hillary's, you better be able to take it!

Obama '08

LMK in WA St. (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:16 PM)

I love that last Rendell quote: "but we are not hypocritical about it." So now its okay to run a negative campaign as long as you admit that's what you're doing? What's next? It's okay to lie if you admit it? Oh wait, Clinton did lie (snipper fire) and she did admit it. I guess it is okay to lie if you're Hillary.

Mary Margaret, Tacoma, WA (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:19 PM)

Yah, Clinton thinks negative campaigning is "Fun" that's why she does so much of it.

Lilly, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:20 PM)

You might want to point out that on Meet the Press, Axelrod condemned the characterization from the conference call and said that he dealt with it the same way that Wolfson dealt with one of their supporters calling Obama a Nazi.

However, Garin was absolutely schooled this morning. And to suggest that running an "outsider v. insider" campaign is negative campaigning is ridiculous on it's face.

Brandon, MD (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:22 PM)

Really, because "Shame on you Barack Obama" wasn't being a hypocrite at all. *rolls eyes*

This is really sad. It's like the Obama campaign is the now the parent of a child that just won't behave. She just keeps yelling and crying and throwing tantrum after tantrum...but he has to show restraint.

I especially like how the media hasn't talked AT ALL about how many shots Sen. Obama has had the chance to take and didn't.

Sen. Clinton said in the debate "all questions are fair game"...which opens the door for about a million and one shots Sen. Obama could have retorted right in the middle of a hit job.

He didn't. That's why he was frustrated, because he wanted to take the shots but was holding back. Perish the thought ONE of the candidates doesn't run a "scorched earth" campaign.

Sick of this Primary (Sent Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:23 PM)

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