Novak Admits Smear Column Is Even Weaker Than It First Appeared

Bob Novak took to the airwaves today to defend his recent controversial column, in which he claimed that Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign was sitting on a bit of juicy dirt concerning her rival, Sen. Barack Obama.

Why the need to defend? Well, to put it bluntly, Novak's Saturday column has been ridiculed as - among the more noteworthy descriptions --- "shamelessly unethical" and "unconfirmed crap," for naming no names and containing no tangible information. So, to clear up the facts and keep his name in the news cycle, Novak went on Fox News this morning.

Novak disclosed that his source for the story was not anyone close to Clinton but rather, someone who was "told by an agent of the Clinton campaign" about the alleged dirt. Got that? So Novak was not privy to the dirt itself, nor did he talk to Clinton's people. Rather, he heard it from someone who had heard it from someone else. Another secondary source, Novak went on to say, claimed to have heard the same thing. Fact-checking = completed.

For the record, in the original column, Novak suggested he had more personal knowledge of that rumor-mongering. "Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton," the piece began, "are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party's presidential nomination..." There was no mention of a source.

Also during his Fox appearance, Novak used his unconfirmed rumor to further smear Clinton, calling her campaign's supposed tactic "very similar to the kind of tricks that Richard Nixon used to pull, where he would say, 'I know some very bad information about the communists supporting George McGovern, but I can't put that out because it wouldn't be right, because I'm too good of a guy.'" Again, Novak is dragging down both Obama and Clinton.

And if it seems that this whole episode was just concocted up by some Republican operative to make Clinton and Obama look bad, rest assured.

"I haven't spoken to a single Republican," Novak told the Fox and Friends hosts. "This is all Democrats. That's the whole method of the Clinton campaign is when anything derogatory comes up, they say the Republicans are spreading it, but there was no Republicans involved in my reporting on this."

Don't worry, a source who is close to a source told the Huffington Post that this episode will all go away soon.

Watch the video:

Comments

[BlackbirdHighway]

We have Credible Evidence (TM) that Robert Novak attempted to purchase "Yellow Cake" uranium from the West African country of Niger. There are also indications that he may be in possession of high strength aluminum tubes. This man is considered dangerous to mankind, a madman, and a traitor.

His waterboarding will be telecast during primetime on Thursday night.

[breathestolive]

Novak is lower than pond scum. Period. Why would ANYONE believe anything he says?

[msmaggie]

Why isn't this man in a rest home? Geez, he really needs to haul his sorry old ass out to pasture, it just isn't pretty.

[kfdan]

Novak has no credibility with anyone who has half a brain. He's a shill for corporate media which, in turn, is a shill for the neo-con empire of which Bush is the mouth piece!

[Grannysue]

I personally think Novak should be reassigned to the "green zone" in Iraq. He can then report "real news" or at least the way he sees real news in his tiny little brain. if his parents beat him as a child that might explain him and his personality. If they didn't then he is just a plain liar and asshole.

[globalcitizenlinda]

People forget that Obama comes from the political landscape that is Chicago - he is used to mean politicians.

During the US Senate primary race, Obama faced a lot of opposition from a very rich opponent and another from a well-connected political family and we all know who came out ahead.

The Chicago Democratic Party machine publicly opposed Obama in the primary but he danced around and won nomination. Obama has been opposed and tested by dirty politicians and he came out ahead

Unlike Dynasty Politicians like Hillary, Obama didn't get where he is because of nepotism – he has earned his success.

Obama has faced direct and indirect institutional and personal challenges of discrimination and has succeeded.

I will quote what Obama said on Jay Leno, which is that “in a fight between Clinton and Michelle, he will put his money on his girl”. I will put my money on Obama because he is using a new political textbook and Clintons tactics look like relics.

If Obama used Washington textbook Hillary would win but Obama is inventing his own which will be used by future campaigns

Remember when Bill publicly said that Obama was not experienced? Obama responded by directly reading Bill’s 1992 speech about Clinton’s own struggle to deal with inexperience questions. Did you ever see Bill say that inexperience crap personally again?

I await a President Obama because he won't initiate an attack but he is ready to give as good a smack-down as opponents attempt to put on him.

The round also sets out a warning to other campaign to be careful when choosing to rumble with Obama.

One of Obama offices has a prominent picture of Mohammed Ali in the boxing ring looking down on his opponent. Obama also loves to play poker in down-time and his opponets say he always intensely focuses on wining. Power and Ali should provide an insight as to how Obama would respond in a fight.

I am waiting for the next round on Obama-Clinton smack-down series and you know whose side I will take.

[LeeFromVA]

This could be a Novak trick and it could be a Hillary trick, but one thing is obvious, this is not something Barack Obama started. He is showing good judgement in defending himself quickly and strongly. He is an all around great guy, and I hope the scum bags in this country don't bring him down. Hillary supporters want to shove her down the throats of the Republicans (I must admit seeing them suffer is fun), but what they don't realize or don't seem to care about is that they are also shoving her down the throats of many Dems and Dem-leaning independents that can't stand her. They run the risk of allienating those people and make it very possible for a serious third party. I for one will NEVER vote for HRC.

[RushLimbaughsPutz]

Is Bob Novak the greatest jouranlist of our time? Second only to myself of course. Rush L

[globalcitizenlinda]

In this round on the Obama-Clinton smack-down series this Democrat is putting this round down as a brilliant win for Senator Obama.

The Clinton Campaign thought that it could silence Senator Obama because he is a nice guy and by his own admission: “he doesn’t do nasty”.

The trick was to give an innuendo and smear whispered by Novak who most Democrats distrust due to Plame-gate. The Clintons then hoped to turn around and deny it while at the same time hitting back at Obama and highlighting Novak’s perceived lack credibility.

Clintons did not count on the possibility that Obama would address them directly to answer a “yes or no” and either put up or shut up. With his winning smile Obama has been warning Democrats, Republicans and others that he will address any attempts to smear him swiftly and decisively.

I personally believe what he says despite the smile because I can see it in the intensity of his eyes as he puts out this warning to potential swift-boaters.

[nunzia]

Well, now, ain't that a big surprise. For all you idiot Hillary-haters out there, who jumped on this nonstory with both feet and mouths open, how're feelin' now? THINK first. Consider the source. Consider the substance (in this case there wasn't any). On second thought, you people aren't teachable.

[Jimmyboyo]

swift2 are you clinton cult member ready to drink the kool aid?

[groucho]

Please don't put this guys face on the page, it scares the shit out of me. Is this guy married with children? I'd hate to see what he would spawn.

[blackrome]

I heard that most Goopers are gay.

It explains there hate for gays because they hate themselves for being gay.

[OhgReaTone]

I hold myself in contempt for bothering to respond to anything written by Bob Novak. I am an undecided democrat but I believe Obama has risen the bar of african american candidate - no more minister bable from self serving egotists.
Ohg.
http://thefiresidepost.com/2007/10/11/obama-the-soul-of-black-folk-incarnated/

[hawkjt]

If this was an untrue report.. it is a slam on clinton and the clinton campaign would have immediately come out attacking Novak.

If his report is true, and the clintons got caught red-handed doing the rove thing, they would hold back for fear he had a source willing to go on the record and also they liked letting the ugly rumor float against obama as long as possible.

The clinton campaign said nothing.. they let it float, and would have let it float forever cept that Obama finally had to challenge them on it or be called vulnerable to swiftboating from the GOP in the general..

So, in conclusion, either it was an untrue item and the Clinton campaign was too naive to react and leave themselves open to swiftboat type attacks cus they do not respond like kerry, or it is true, they got caught and Novak was all too pleased to call them on it.

Clinton is a blend of Rove/Nixon campaigning tactics... America wants better. Obama is way better.