HRC: Bush comments 'offensive'
Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2008 6:45 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ’s Mike Memoli
RAPID CITY, S.D. -- Hillary Clinton joined the chorus of Democrats who have criticized President Bush's comments about Barack Obama, saying that his comparison "of any Democrat to Nazi appeasers is both offensive and outrageous."
"This is the kind of statement that has no place in any presidential address, and certainly to use an important moment like the 60th anniversary celebration of Israel to make a political point seems terribly misplaced," Clinton told reporters after landing at the airport here.
She also tied John McCain to the president, saying that in his speech this morning he offered no new strategy on Iraq.
"I think today we've had two examples of why this country is going to be voting for a Democratic president," she said. "I hope people really look seriously at both President Bush's comment and Sen. McCain's speech and realize that the only way we're going to restore our leadership and our moral authority and deal with the very real challenges we face in the world is by electing a Democratic president, and I believe that I am the stronger candidate against Sen. McCain."
One of the earliest flashpoints between Obama and Clinton was on this issue of meeting with the heads of unfriendly governments. Clinton attempted to differentiate her past criticisms from those the president voiced today.
"I disagree that any president would ever meet with a leader of a country with which we had such deep and profound differences as Iran, for example," she said. "However I believe there should be diplomatic engagement, which President Bush has resisted from the very beginning. So I think I have more in common with Sen. Obama and the Democratic position in our understanding of what we have to do to re-engage with the world."
Clinton, traveling between stops in South Dakota, also reacted to the endorsements of Obama by John Edwards, NARAL, and a still-growing number of superdelegates. She said Edwards' support may help the Illinois senator in Kentucky, but seemed more comfortable talking about Elizabeth Edwards, who hasn't endorsed but has praised Clinton's health care plan. Clinton actually disclosed that she hasn't spoken with John Edwards, but did talk to his wife.
"I'm not talking about my private conversations, but I think she's done a great deal to promote what is one of the most important issues we have," she said. "I don't think a Democratic nominee for president should have any position other than universal healthcare. … There are different ways of getting there, but you've got to remain committed to universal healthcare, and Elizabeth Edwards and I agree."
After the brief press conference, Clinton made her way to a local donut shop to greet some voters. She now heads to Los Angeles, where she'll host a series of fundraising get-togethers tonight. Tomorrow she begins a two-day visit to Oregon.
