Obama And Clinton Delicately Spar In Wake Of Bhutto's Death

The early expressions of sorrow over the assassination of former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday morning turned into delicate and carefully-worded political posturing between the presidential campaigns on Thursday afternoon.

The suicide attack, which occurred at an election rally in Pakistan, was seized upon by several members of the Republican field to stress national security credentials in times of terrorism. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, however, used Bhutto's death as a way to draw foreign policy distinctions between himself and his chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"Well, it puts on the table foreign policy judgment, and that's a discussion we welcome," said the Illinois Democrat's chief strategist, David Axelrod. "Barack Obama had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq, and he warned at the time it would divert us from Afghanistan and al Qaeda, and now we see the effect of that. Al Qaeda's resurgent, they're a powerful force now in Pakistan, they may have been involved - we've been here, so I don't know whether the news has been updated, but there's a suspicion they may have been involved in this. I think his judgment was good. Senator Clinton made a different judgment, so let's have that discussion."

Alexrod went on:

The Clinton campaign was quick to respond:

"This is a time to be focused on the tragedy of the situation, its implications for the U.S. and the world, and to be concerned for the people of Pakistan and the country's stability," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said in a statement. "No one should be politicizing this situation with baseless allegations."

The back-and-forth between the campaigns underscored the heightened pitch of presidential politics and the various frames through which candidates are now addressing foreign policy and national security issues. Following Bhutto's death, the Obama campaign, sought to make the argument that the assassination was an indictment of President Bush's policies in Iraq, which, they claimed, had distracted the United States' attention from more pressing needs in the war on terror. Senator Clinton, they pointed out had voted for those policies.

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"It's hard to judge the political significance at this point," said Robert Gibbs, the communications director for Sen. Barack Obama. "If this ultimately turns back to a discussion of foreign policy, I think we are well-suited...The next commander in chief has to have the judgment to deal with it."

Sen. Clinton's campaign took umbrage with the insinuation that Bhutto's death could be traced to the Senator's vote, but only in private. In public they asserted that, if anything, the terrorist attack proved the need for a more experienced hand in the White House.

"I am profoundly saddened and outraged by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, a leader of tremendous political and personal courage. I came to know Mrs. Bhutto over many years, during her tenures as Prime Minister and during her years in exile," Clinton said, "it certainly raises the stakes high for what we expect from our next president. I know from a lifetime of working to make change."

Sen. Evan Bayh, a Clinton surrogate, took the line of reasoning even further, suggesting that in a general election, Republicans would be able to paint candidates other than Clinton as weak on national security. "When there are unfortunate calamities like this, the Republicans [will say], 'See. See what we told you? We have to have someone who's strong to defend America at a time of concern.' Well, Senator Clinton is strong," he said. "And she's experienced. And she's tough enough to defend this country and do it in a way that's true to our values, the civil liberties we cherish, and that's one of the reasons why I'm supporting her."

The Obama campaign declined to comment on Bayh or Singer's statement, pointing the Huffington Post back to Axelrod's initial remarks.

Comments

[Libertysconscience]

So while America will accept a Will Smith portraying the saviour of the nation or humanity, the remanents implanted in the psyche of America of black inferiority still lives in the heart of America. I pray I am wrong but the polite politically correct euphemisms freely used by commentators; the DNC who has abandoned the Black Caucus after 30 yrs of being there for the DNC given nothing but an apology and table scraps when others were made whole for past atrocities; fighting stereotypes to be seriously considered a man, a citizen, and evitably suited to stand before the world affirming America has finally lived up to it true self in electing a 'black' man in the eyes of America, and an African American man worthy of leading the world's super power to greatness because he truly understands the change America will have to undergo while Standing Tall before the rest of the world with sleeves rolled up and say: "I am America and you have nothing to fear unless you dain to cause U.S. or others harm. This truly is the new day the world has never seen, but will embrace because I incorporate every hue and understand the desires and plight of America and the world."

[Libertysconscience]

In an era where Bush has poisoned Americans against each other such that neighbors won't speak to each other if ones political banner differs has unleashed a Pandora's box that someone who to date isn't given the respect nor recognition due him due to elitist commentators and campaign wordsmiths adopting every Thesaurus euphemism that infers to America do you really want to trust America to a black man? I used black because that is the unsaid implied billboard everyone is using to undermine Obama in America's mind.
Hey it worked with the Colonel and Elvis when Chuck Berry, the Osmonds parried the Jackson 5 plus sisters became the heart throbs of all America by giving them a kosher copycat of those eras.
Sadly, American elites are doing it again. The DNC is doing with while hoping not to lose the black unwavering voting block until they can form another unwavering voting block they will not abandon, the Latino vote due to the diversity of their leadership, a mistake committed by African American leadership who didn't need to be recognized by the media, but needed to be recognized, and valued with the ability to deliver. I remember the silence of Ohio's 2004 voting machine shortages while it poured, and the entire NorthEastern, and SouthEastern black districts whose charges of Voting Rights issues went ignored because all the bets laid in Fla and we know what happened there.
cont'd

[jg82567]

'Sen. Clinton's campaign took umbrage with the insinuation that Bhutto's death could be traced to the Senator's vote, but only in private. In public they asserted that, if anything, the terrorist attack proved the need for a more experienced hand in the White House.'

...they whined about it privately because they knew they would lose a public debate on the merits...t­he situation in Pakistan is a result of the decision to go to war in Iraq and Hilary and every else who gave Bush the authority to go to war and supported it for the next 4 yrs. has a measure of responsibility for what happened today...

[jg82567]

'Sen. Clinton's campaign took umbrage with the insinuation that Bhutto's death could be traced to the Senator's vote, but only in private. In public they asserted that, if anything, the terrorist attack proved the need for a more experienced hand in the White House.'

...they whined about it privately because they knew they would lose a public debate on the merits...t­he situation in Pakistan is a result of the decision to go to war in Iraq and Hilary and every else who gave Bush the authority to go to war and supported it for the next 4 yrs. has a measure of responsibility for what happened today...

[Chandidevi]

Sam Stein is a kid with a tabloid journalist's mentality. He lacks wisdom; his background in journalism is scant He needs to go into the world for a few more years, and gain some experience and wisdom.

[BushSunkOurShip]

Obama is getting as bad with his BS attack as the republicans. Maybe Obama is running on the wrong ticket. Did the republicans reject him..

[jeffmorgan]

This story would be better served if the clip didn't edit out the question Axelrod was answering.

[richsmith]

All this parry and thrust, to and fro; he's inexperienced, she's beholding to the establishment and the corporations, he's deviously disingenuous, she’s egocentrically cunning.

I hope that all this, at least in Iowa, brings the voters to say "Oh crap" (or whatever the crap explicative an Iowan might use) and cast their votes for Edwards. He's just an ambulance chaser with an expensive hairdo and a noncommittal opinion of 527’s. I’d be delighted. That’s what John Nichols over at “The Nation” said could happen.

I’m also waiting for Bill Maher to say, “New rule, no more Bushes or Clintons in presidential office, at least for the rest of the New American Century”.

[MRb1000]

Yeah now Hillary was right to go along with the invasion of Iraq. Hillary was right about giving GW the go ahead to attack Iran. What Obama is pointing out is that Hillary dose not want anybody to see her lack of experience. Ok she never had a security clearance. So she never had a need to know about foreign affairs. Please America, she can talk a good game, please do not be played by this carpet bagger.

A six year old would tell you she did not have experience in foreign affairs.

1. She did not have a Security Clearance.
2. She did not sit on these Security meeting.
3. she dose not want to release any records showing she was very involved.

You can beleive what you want. This is a big whopper lie.

[leftbehind2000]

HRC and Obama fans try to spin this stuff to make their candidate look good and the other look like a schmuck. Not surprising.

The sad fact is, they both are an embarrassment. As a lifelong Democrat, I am ashamed at the cynical efforts of each campaign to take this tragedy and use it to their own ends. Two souless, career politicians. Frankly, I expected it from Hillary, but Obama has been every bit as shameless. Considering what he could have been, he is a particular disappointment.

I just hope the Iowa voters see this crap for what it is and turn their backs on both of these candidates. I'd take any other of the excellent options we have over these two.

[Zhonni]

Thanks goodness we live in an age where you can kill stupid rumors with a link.

HERE IS WHAT OBAMA SAID!
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2007/12/27/schneider.bhutto.liveshot.cnn

[Kane]

After fielding many questions ranging from mental health care to veteran affairs at a Town Hall Meeting in Hampton, NH, Senator Hillary Clinton received a heated question about Iraq. A woman who had traveled from New York asked Sen. Clinton if she had read the report given to her in 2002 on intelligence and the Iraq war.

Clinton said she had been briefed on the report, and the woman screamed back, "Did you read it?!" Notably uncomfortable, the Senator repeated that she had been briefed. This exchange went back and forth about three times.

The woman sat down and Clinton explained, "If I had known then what I know now, I never would have voted to give this President the authority.­" Clinton also said she believed she was giving the President the authority to send U.N. inspectors to Iraq.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/04/heated_meeting_.html

Now I know 2002 is ancient history to some, but for those who remember the vote on the Iraq resolution, do any of you recall anyone saying that the resolution was to give the President the authority to send U.N. inspectors to Iraq? Anyone? Oh, and by the way, SHE DIDN'T READ IT!

[mustkilltreemake2x4]

Axelrod is creepy looking. After today I question his ability as a campaign manager.

[Give Peace A Chance]

If Obama didn't point out that he was correct while Bush and Hillary sent the troops to the wrong battlefield, people would be saying he is wimpy.

[mikal214]

I guess Obama has finally arrived as a sleazy politician, quick to use international tragedy to score a political point.

Nice move...How­ever, I think it will backfire because most tree huggers on here don't want to think Obama is capable of such transgressions.