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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



One hand washes the other

Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:17 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
Hillary Clinton released this statement on Obama asking donors to help her raise money to pay off debt:

"Senator Clinton appreciates Senator Obama's generous efforts and is continuing her efforts to raise the monies he needs to ensure a victory in November."

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PUMA
Yup, we're united!
I know this is something Obama has to do "politically", but as far as I'm concerned, Hillary should have gotten out of the race sooner and saved herself some money. I don't think he should go out of his way to help her raise moeny to pay off her debt. Where are all her 1.8 million supporters when she needs them the most? If they each sent her $2 a piece, her debt would be gone. Some supporters.
MSNBC your obsession with the Clintons is sickening !
You are still doing polls on whether she should be Obama's veep?
Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough can't stop talking about her ... Dan Abrams has gone bonkers for her ... your ditzy newscasters during the day can't avoid talking about her ... it's pathetic.

Try this .. leave it be for a while ... let Obama ran his campaign ... if he picks her, we'll be behind him.

He is doing well without her according to the latest polls.
Leave it alone... You are turning off a lot of viewers.
I don't mean to be mean, but I'm sorry, I cannot give a penny to bailing out the Clintons because they simply mismanaged their campaign in every way, shape, and form and it would be the equivalent of bailing out Enron.  Bill and Hillary will not have any problem making money in the future to pay off their campaign debts 20 times over.  And why can't her 18 million voters just contribute $1.50 each to pay off her debts?


I got to say that I'm awful tired of seeng the Rev. James Dobson's puss on the internet criticizing Senator Obama.  I know several ladies that send that so and so money every week and they have trouble buying their prescriptions.  This guy would take your last 15 cents to help wax his caddy.  Pitiful.
While I'm all for party unity, and will vote for Obama regardless, if I were a HRC contributor, I'd be a bit perturbed by the fact that my money was squandered on an extravagant (yet losing) campaign, whilst the affluent Clintons get paid back in full.

And for those HRC contributors who are now voting McCain, that makes you twice the sucker.

Obama 08

WOW..I mentioned this in a comment yesterday about them campaigning together. Why should we give our money to Hillary? She lost. Would she help Obama out if the roles were reversed? She doesn't hold the key to whether or not he gets elected, regardless of what the scorned Hillary supporters would want to believe. This is a bad move for Obama..I don't see anything good coming out of it. She reminds me of my mother in  law, always calling us to get money from us because she spent all of hers and expects us to bail her out. And they are both equally as manipulative and evil.
Hillary make big mistakes but it is important to help her because she will be essential in the senate to pass the heatlh care bill.
Please Obama make sure that she paid her debt and be part of the movement of change
It is even more important today than yesterday to unite the democratic party for a win in November. We need Clinton supporters and Obama supporters need clinton supporters.  Guess Why?

McCain is talking about bringing back the draft!

Also, just a quick note: When American soldiers return injured(lost a limb) and can't complete their tour, they get a bill wanting back part of the bonus they were given for signing up!  McCain will not stop the Iraq war and will institute the draft.

We need Obama! Do you want your children summoned?
they both made mistakes---but Hillary did not have the DNC behind her.I have watched the turncoats in MI such as Debby Dingell(who was one of the backers of early primary)jump to Obamas side as if she held no responsibility to MI voters.She will never get another vote from this family again.She has no integrity to us just to the party.
I must agree with Steve in NY...  Why is Clinton's name still so prominent on MSNBC...  She played dirty, and lost...  Tell it like it was, or just quit talking about her!  

Please, be the network of clear politics - not hateful slurs, could of's, should of's and would of's...  I'm sure Tim's watching...  Make him proud...  
I hope everyone here understand that by donors, they don't mean you and I, but you know, DONORS, like the ones that give a lot of money and attend private events and such. It's not like Obama is asking me to send in $15 to bail Hillary out.
You ask where her 18 million supporters are? A large majority of those supposed Clinton supporters were republicans that voted for her to keep her in the race. The republican party had there nominee early, so the remaining repub. voters were told to vote for Senator Clinton. The republican party knew with Clinton as the nominee they were a shoe-in. The republicans have kept very close track of EVERYTHING the Clintons have done since leaving the White Houe. They were ready to shoot her down. And the republicans want her on the ticket. They will remind everyone of the campaign funds fraud case against the Clintons. A Clinton on the ticket will guarantee the republicans win in Nov.
She should have John McCain help pay off her debts, she's been more helpful to his campaign.  Forcing Barack Obama to pay is blackmail plain and simple!!
He has no choice in this matter....

Women won't vote for him if he looks like the guy who put his woman in her place.....
If the price of restoring the rule of law in this country and moving it in a new political direction is paying off Hillary's debt to satisfy her supporters....that would be money well spent.
I think Obama has to at least ask his big time donors to help her out.  But I don't think he will ask his small donors.  If he does I think he will lose some financial support.  I have not donated to him yet because I don't want my money going to someone who possibly damaged him during the primary.
Why doesn't Hillary just have her 18 million supporters give her 1 or 2 dollars each?  That would give her more than enough money to pay off her debt.  Truth is she doesn't have 18 million supporters!  Most of those were anti-Obama votes.  

In these tough econmic times I think it does take ... what was that phrase... oh yea now I remember it - "testicular fortitude" for a very rich person (over 100 million in 8 years) to ask hard working people to help her bail out the mess she made (I thought she was against "corporate welfare").  Maybe Hillary should just "loan" her campaign enough money to pay off her debts!
Hillary ran a losing campaign - owes herself millions, too.  She should have dropped out sooner saving herself and her contributors money.  She is asking Obama for help to pay her creditors - she's not asking that her personal loan be repaid.  I guess it's common practice for the winning candidate to help pay off the losing candidate's debt.
Last week everyone was wondering why Obama's fundraising was down for the month - I think it's because a lot of his supporters are reluctant to have their donation to him get used to pay off Clinton's debts - I know it made me hesitate to push the donate now button.
The best thing Obama can do is raise money, from association to state and municipal lobbyist.  Since the pundits, elderly DNC, Howard Dean and the super delegates gave Obama the nomination, without them he would not have enough delegates.  Paying Hillary's bill is fine!  Other than that Hillary and Bill stay away from the Obama campaign, for eventually it will show it is full of lies and liars.  ACRON who helped organize voters for Obama, is know as the group that vandalises electoral integrity.  http://article.nationalreview.com  The ACORN OBAMA KNOWS, Spreading socialism on the taxpayer's dime.
Let's see. Hillary wants me, retired and on a fixed income, to send money to her so she can pay off wealthy advisors like Mark Penn and Mandy Grunwald.

Oh, yeah. I'm there. Where's my checkbook.
PUMA = DISGRACE!

The PUMA people are a disgrace to democracy, 'nuff said.

http://www.politivine.com
I saw Hillary on the news yesterday going back to work on the hill and she was in hog heaven, shaking hands and waving like she was still campaigning. Hillary needs attention to thrive.  She should have asked those people on the street clapping and giving her hugs and kisses, to give her the money she needs to pay off her 20 million dollar debt, just like any other panderer would. It sickens me that Hillary will be bailed out when in reality if she would have quit in Indiana when it was clearly apparent she lost, Obama would not be in this mess Hillary created. Hillary is a millionire DOG, who knew no matter how much debt she ran up, someone would help her pay it off as she was the loser in the campaign! Hillary is a role model for how not to conduct yourself in public and to not spend money you don't have!! Words Hillary used against Obama in the Primaries have come back to haunt him through the repubs and now he's expected to pay off her debts as well, well I have no respect or compassion for Hillary, she is disgusting!
Well, since so many of you Obamatons don't think Obama should assist with getting her debt paid, then I guess she should not go to the event Fri night where she's introducing him to HER big-time donors.  Guess just like so many of you think you don't HRC's voters, you probably don't need the money she can bring to him either.
OBAMA BETTER WATCH OUT, HILLARY HAS NOT CONCEDED, AND SHE HAS THE BEST DECTECTIVES IN THE WORLD, AND BILL HAS A CIGAR READY FOR OBAMA TO SHOVE LIKE HE DID MONICA.  DONT BE ORDEREDING THOSE SPINNER RIMS FOR THE PRESENDITIAL LIMO AND THAT COON TAIL FOR THE ANTENNA JUST YET, LIKE YOU DID THE NEW PRESENDITIAL SEAL.
uncle bluster,

you show you know nothing about Dr. James Dobson. First and foremost, he is not a reverend. He is a psychologist/family counselor. Second, he runs a not-for-profit organization (Focus on the Family) which is based on values from a Biblical worldview.

Anytime someone who is a Christian criticizes your candidate, you assume he is a pastor and one like you'd see on TBN to boot. Dr. Dobson is an outstanding individual and upstanding citizen. Just try to find dirt on him. You won't.

The people who post on here gripe about the fact that people vote without educating themselves on the issues, and then turn around and criticize someone without educating themselves about the man. You hypocrites!
Hey, people.  The government always steps in to bail out financially irresponsible people.

And now Obama is going to ask you to bail out Hillary when the money is much more badly needed in poor black "Naderhoods".

To Diana from Illinois:

Hillary stayed in the race to the end for good reasons...you not understanding those reasons...and being a woman and not understanding is quite puzzling or not understanding the historical significance of what she accomplished is sad...again given that you are a woman yourself.  
And a correction:  her supporters equal 18 million... the same as Obama.
Those who feel slighted by this deal would do well to
remember who really benefits from this deal--that being the vendors and small business people who are owed about 10 million by the HRC camp.

Let's see? Little folks get paid...party unity...doesn't sound to bad.
I would bet my house that the Clintons got out of the race, realizing they were over $30 million in debt, and made the decision only because of themselves to back Obama, so that he could get them out of this debt.  Anything and everything they do revolves around them, not the good of the country and the Democratic Party.  That was seen first-hand these past few months.  My feeling is that the Clintons got into this mess, now figure a way out all by yourselves.    


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