Hillary Clinton Defends 2002 Iraq War Vote On Meet The Press

This morning on Meet the Press, Hillary Clinton defended her 2002 vote for the Iraq war resolution, saying that she "thought it was a vote to put inspectors back in" so Saddam Hussein could not go unchecked. She insisted that she and others were "told by the White House personally" that this was the purpose of the resolution, and cited President Bush's assurances to defend her position.

Moderator Tim Russert pointed out that the title of the resolution was the "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002." Clinton responded saying, "We can have this Jesuitical argument about what exactly was meant. But when Chuck Hagel, who helped to draft the resolution said, 'It was not a vote for war,' What I was told directly by the White House in response to my question, 'If you are given this authority, will you put the inspectors in and permit them to finish their job,' I was told that's exactly what we intended to do. "

Keep reading here.

Watch the video below:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1375775610 http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

Clinton also attacked Barack Obama's record on ethics and the Iraq war. Obama responded during a conference call this morning:

What we saw this morning is why the American people are tired of Washington politicians and the games they play. But Senator Clinton made an unfortunate remark, an ill advised remark, about King and Lyndon Johnson. I didn't make the statement. I haven't remarked on it and she I think offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King's role in bringing about the Civil Rights Act. She is free to explain that, but the notion that somehow this is our doing is ludicrous.

I have to point out that instead of telling the American people about her positive vision for America, Senator Clinton spent an hour talking about me and my record in a way that was flat out wrong. She suggested that I didn't clearly and unambiguously oppose the war in Iraq when it is absolutely clear and anyone who has followed this knows that I did. I stood up against the war when she was voting for it, at a time when she didn't read the intelligence reports or give diplomacy a chance. She belittled the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate despite the fact that she stood on the sidelines during that negotiations on that bill.

I have to say that she started this campaign saying that she wanted to make history and lately she has been spending a lot of time rewriting it. I know that in Washington it is acceptable to say or do anything it takes to get elected but I really don't think that is the kind of politics that is good for our party and I don't think it is good for our country and I think that the American people will reject it in this election. What I want to do is spend talking about how we are going to make sure that people who are losing their jobs get work. How are we going to make sure that our young people are going to afford college? How are we going to make sure that the sub-prime lending crisis does not lead to an all out recession? How are we going to create the kind of foreign policy that allows us to bring our troops home and makes us safer and goes after a genuine terrorist threat? Those are the issues that we are going to spend time talking about in this campaign and if Senator Clinton wants to be distracted by the sorts of political point scoring that was evident today then that is going to be her prerogative.

Comments

[evahartselftlanguages]

01:42 PM on 01/19/2008

TO: Senator Hillary Clinton January 19, 2008
Presidential Candidate For 2008

Ref: It Wasn't We Know To Iraq We'll Go With This Resolution Continued From January 18, 2008 Post Of Mine.

Although I have not decided who to vote for yet, people still think Ex-President Bill Clinton is a liar due to stunning lack of knowledge of history.

Roger Williams gave us our first full Religious Freedom at Providence, Rhode Island which as a brave pioneer he first formulated a religious thought in government which eventually culminated in our First Two Main Religious Laws of First Amendment to Constitution.

Furthermore Roger Williams believed in separation of Church and State meaning Religious Laws be separated from Civil Laws. Roger Williams,Minister, used as example The Freeman's Oath which is about a person who cannot put his hand on Bible for Oath about something which is meaningless to him or in laws he may not believe are wholesome. Thus President Clinton not obeying God at the time did not have to take an Oath for something he did not believe in. Thus again President Bill Clinton is not a Liar.

No one in San Francisco honestly brings forth the truth of job faxes where I had quit evil,corrupt jobs and on GA get only $12.00 a week after rent. The Chronicle Newspaper 1997 shows companies do not give name and address so need money for job faxes,phone. EDD moved way out to Army St.,Sfc.,etc.

We must choose carefully people who believe in Job Rights. Reverend Thomas Hooker left the Established Church in England and came over to America for Religious Freedom. He did not like the rigid Puritans either. Men in his congregation were running out of pasteur and grass for their cattle to support their families. They went to Reverend Thomas Hooker and complained. Rev. Hooker said we will go to Hartford, Connecticut where everyone will have an opportunity and chance and freedom to make a living. Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[evahartselftlanguages]

06:49 PM on 01/18/2008

TO: Senator Hillary Clinton January 18, 2008


Ref: It Wasn't We Know to Iraq We'll Go When Senator Hillary Clinton Voted for Resolution.

We must be careful who we choose as President of the United States in 2008. Many of our precious freedoms are being taken away.

On March 17, 2000 I filed a Religious,scarce food,job resources complaint to EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Council), but they said I could go ahead with lawsuit but surprisingly would not help me with lawsuit. I had to file it and pay for it all by myself. In my complaint I mentioned that $12.00 a week after rent is far from enough to go job seeking since Chronicle newspaper Ads show companies don't give name and address so needed money for job faxes. EDD moved way out to Army St., and I had Security Guards' signatures showing that one cannot leave job resumes at companies either. Companies make you pay to use restrooms so one is terribly limited in going anywheres.

Elliot Liebow,Jewish Anthropologist, writes in his '93 book that,"Welfare gives meager money and single people and families are not given much and everyday there is less and less." In his book too is the story of two girls who had a strange liquid thrown on them and they called the police. The police officer said,"They don't want you here so leave." The girl said,"But that is our last Precious Freedom to be on Public Property." We all know we have God-given unalienable Rights For All. Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[evahartselftlanguages]

05:36 PM on 01/18/2008

TO: Senator Hillary Clinton January 18, 2008

Ref: The Fact You Did Not Vote for War in Iraq. Continued from Above Post dated January 17, 2008

Although I have not decided who to vote for yet, I hope you'll do something about these inhumane problems to help people. Since here on your post I'll add some problems since your running for President.


It wasn't we know to Iraq War we'll go, but that no one knew President George W. Bush would take the Resolution and go to War.

With the scarce,few food,job problems I mentioned I hope you'll help if you become President I add we need to uphold Job Rights too.

I mentioned that Elliot Liebow,Jewish Anthropologist, writes in his '93 book,"Closing down shelters in Wash DC and in cities around the country is criminal,self-defeating, and dumb. Welfare gives meager money to people. Facts in your book tell of shorttime shelters of which there are many and how shelters make people move into other shelters during winter time such as the Port'O'Storm shelter making a girl leave when time up at shelter in December." Liebow '93 I add California and Florida are warm weather states and for people to not even want to help people in these two states is despicable.

Mr. Liebow also mentions the causes of homelessness such as the great need for housing and that people do not have a conscience to help the poor this fact is an ominous sign indeed. He adds that homelessness is not due to drugs,alcohol for these problems exist even when a person has housing. Homelessness casues health problems. Capitalism has been generous to many, but has not been good to the poor and thus since it is a Government of All Americans the Government should take a more active role in helping the homeless.

I quit evil,corrupt jobs and discovered scarce food,jobs resources in America and Mr. Liebow's book confirms my lawsuit of 97 of which my reps, Courts refused to help me and others. Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[evahartselftlanguages]

06:34 PM on 01/17/2008

TO: Senator Hillary Clinton January 17, 2008
Ref: You stated You Did Not Vote For War In Iraq. Safety for Americans Continued

Furthermore, I do remember your saying your vote was not for Iraq. Afterall it wasn't We know its Iraq War so We'll go.

Recently I heard on T.V. that you want to give $70,000,000 for the poor and this is kind,wonderful and good. No other candidate even mentions the poor or job seeker as myself in this Presidential Campaign for 2008. Absolutely no heart of compassion from the Publicans and CoNOSERVatives. They serve themselves only.

As you see from my above posts we need to care for the poor for they are inhumanely treated so sadly. I had quit evil,corrupt jobs as a Christian. We must have a glowing heart of joy and compassion in giving to the poor.

Also in Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff's '93 book 54 Ways To Help The Homeless with foreward by President Jimmy Carter Rabbi Kroloff's book states,"Most homeless are the victims of crime, not the perpetrators." In his State the poor are tragically neglected Rabbi Kroloff writes.

Early man wanted to live and provide food,clothing,housing for his family. We people today want the same Right to live. Thus our Right to Life,Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Individual Freedom Rights means every individual is important. There is no privileged class. Vanza Devereaux The Government of a Free Nation.'63

Jesus came to Save All even the homeless.

Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[evahartselftlanguages]

06:01 PM on 01/17/2008

TO: Senator Hillary Clinton January 17, 2008 No Vote for Iraq by Senator Hillary Clinton She Stated In Past. Real Safety for Americans Continued

Psalm 41,"I wil heal him on his sickbed and cure his ailments if he is kind to the Poor." It is not socialism to care for sick as you see. God is not a socialist nor Jesus.

Elliot Liebow, Jewish Anthropologist, writes in his '93 book,"Most homeless want jobs,security,housing like the rest of us. To not make it easy for poor is pernicious for it leads to abuses against poor. Amos 4,"Don't Abuse the Poor."

Mr. Liebow writes too that the homeless must struggle to remain human in inhuman conditions. For there are shorttime shelters, cruel and inhuman out-all-day shelters, cruel operators I add. He cites cases in his book as follows:

Vivian, was horrified when she learned she had to go outside for the day from a shelter. Shirley said she failed at every job she ever had and failed in her marriages. Why should she be on the street? A society that answers yes to Shirley is in a steep decline Mr. Liebow answers. In 1970 homelesness began on increase and now homelessness exists on every corner and shame on you, shame on me FOR THIS DOES NOT HAE TO BE!

Finally I cried when I read the story of Betty for through no fault of her own nor did she break any shelter rules she was put out on street and found by Mr. Liebow who said he did not think she could make it on the streets. He did get her back into a shelter. It seemed she did not get along with one of the staff who felt she complained to much. This is still sick. Also the staff person had a job and child to take care of.

Proverbs 29:14 "A King Keeps His Throne Forever If He Cares for the Rights of the Poor." Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[evahartselftlanguages]

05:47 PM on 01/17/2008

TO: Senator Hillary Clinton January 17, 2008

You did state you did not vote for War in past.

If President George W. Bush is concerned for Americans safety then where is the money for Cancer research, or Social Security benefits, or for poor, or for job seekers as myself? On TV in Oct 05 President George W. Bush said he would not give a cost of living increase for homeless. Then last Oct 07 President George W. Bush stated that people who paid into Social Security benefits( which is like an annuity paid on an Insurance policy and not charity) will get the biggest reduced cost of living increase ever."

How can people be safe. No American is safe really. Homelessness is a terrible burden for poor. One needs food and a safe place to sleep. The poor need food and a safe place to sleep. To not get sleep would be torture!!

One needs money for injuries such as the time I reached for my Italian Language book in box on floor for I could not afford shelves yet on only $12.00 a week on GA and pulled a neck tendon the size of an egg. I needed money to take care of it. SFGH had tortuous bad medical care and if that happens for homeless one has no other hospital to go to and one could die! I quit evil,corrupt jobs. When moving around to find food,shelter resources to find a job one takes buses and risk bus accidents, or here I am stuck in San Francisco experiencing earthquakes and I cannot get out on account of my lawsuit of 97 where I discovered scarce food,job resources in U.S. Elliot Liebow,Jewish Anthropologist, writes in his '93 book,"Closing down shelters in Wash DC and in cities around country is criminal,self-defeating and dumb. Welfare gives meager money. It is a Government of All Americans. Mr. Liebow states,"We must stop blaming the homeless for not everyone can be a heroe or is of average intelligence. Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[evahartselftlanguages]

12:56 PM on 01/16/2008

TO: Presidential Candidates 2008 Senator Hillary Clinton No Vote For Iraq War. January 16, 2008

I remember Senator Hillary Clinton stating,"She had no idea President George W. Bush would choose a War." Let's remember there was no War going on at the time so how would anyone know President Bush's intentions. It wasn't we know let's go to War in Iraq outright. I have not decided who to vote for yet.

We need to choose smart,kind leaders to set good example here and abroad. Sfc Mayor Gavin Newsom was on T.V. circa 05 stating he knew New York gave no money to homeless so he won't either and that most people on Welfare are bad which is stupid to say. I quit evil,corrupt jobs as a Christian. People get laid off, fired,leave Army,crime,cruel employers,etc. One needs money for job faxes since companies don't give name and address,phone to call employer ,newspapers,clean clothes,pain needs, bandaids, medicinal creams,etc. I have Security Guards' signatures stating one cannot leave job resumes at companies. I have no phone. In book forewarded by President Jimmy Carter of Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff's book'93 it states,"Most Homeless Are The Victims of Crime, Not the Perpetrators."

They should put food stamps back to cash since money enables one to find bargains and my neighborhood no longer takes EBT Food Stamps an emergency Governor 04 and USDA 06 ignored. EBT machines dirty, break alot. It costs $7.00 for slacks,$3.00 for blouse,$8.00 for shoes,$6.00 for blanket,$1.00 for can vegetable,$3.00 for decent meat can,$.40 for can tomatoes, and $50.00 a month is woefully little money.

How long will you thieves continue your theft of the poor and job seeker as myself. Sirach 4,"My Son, rob not the poor man of his livelihood. Jewish Sage, Catholic canonized. He who denies a man charity or his wages is a man of blood." Sirach 4. Proverbs 29:14 A King Keeps His Throne Forever If He Cares for the Rights of the Poor. Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[evahartselftlanguages]

12:25 PM on 01/16/2008

TO: Presidential Candidates for 2008 and Senator Hillary Clinton January 16, 2008

As I mentioned above I do remember your mentioning you did not vote for a War to occur, but for a resolution intended to give power to President George W. Bush for other reasons.

My concern is that why are so many candidates going to the "Land of the Beheaders." I find that absolutely stupid. Who in their right mind would go to a land that beheads people. It is for a military or navy that can intelligently defend itself to go there in such large numbers but only when necessary. Such a small group might not be able to defend themselves from kidnapping or an attack. Something else is going on here.

Furthermore,I don't mean this for Senator Hillary Clinton though but for those who have gone to Iraq to risk such a terrible fate for themselves.

Please, Please Senator John McCain, the deaths go on since in your latest excursion in Iraq you told everyone they were safe which includes your staff, but as everyone knows an attack occurred soon after you left. Therefore it was not safe as you said. Will we Americans be safe and protected from our enemies in America or will there be more errors on your part. The deaths continue when with a smart leader there would be no more deaths and we Americans would be safe. Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[YWC]

03:53 PM on 01/15/2008

IF HE'S IN, I'M IN TOO!

Sorensen Endorses Obama: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ReDCmk2c2g8

[teacake]

11:03 PM on 01/14/2008

Hillary Clinton's evasive tactics in her attempts to deflect the direct question on her accountability reminds me of Condi Rice in her sleazy and coward defense of Bush's failure in preventing the 9/11 attacks.

Watch this "historical memo" to enlighten yourself of the true face of HRC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjSoKy7jNUQ&NR=1

[teacake]

10:33 PM on 01/14/2008

"DISARM OR BE DISARMED"

Those were the words of Hillary Clinton leading to her vote FOR the Iraq war. Despite her excuses today, the American voters must look at the fact: if HRC was so hot for Saddam Hussein, why didn't she (or doesn't she) go after dictators in other countries like this piece of sh*t Musharraf in Pakistan, who is Bush's run man in the Middle East. The hypocrisy among the members of the Neo-cons can be very nauseating.

[teacake]

10:29 PM on 01/14/2008

When HRC asked the American people for their votes, she must understand that their voice must be carried through in her actions. She must represent the voice of the people - not the voice of corporate America. If she wants to work in the interests of corporate America, she should seek the votes from American corporations - not the American people. In other words, HRC is playing the same game many before her has been doing: misleading the American people to get the votes, demonstrating to the world that democracy in America exists, then turn around and screw the American people for the cash they receive from corporate America.

American people must grow up, wake up, and wise up to stop getting screwed by corporate-sponsored politicians whose main mission is to enrich the rich and to screw the ordinary Americans.

The time is now to say no to corporate robbery and injustice. We have seen how Exxon Mobil destroyed the livelihood of Alaska fishermen and got away with it. We have seen how Halliburton got lucrative no-bid contracts and over-charge and cheat taxpayers in their crooked business tactics in Iraq.

It's time we say enough is enough!

[teacake]

10:16 PM on 01/14/2008

HRC's defiance has proved she has no qualification of becoming a president. HRC has repeatedly refused to acknowledge that she made an error of judgment. Hillary was someone I supported for any office in the nation. However, her strong stench of the Neo-cons has turned me off.

It's difficult for me to cast a vote for someone who bow to Bush's demand and someone who fails to stand up against the pressure of the Neo-cons in Washington.

The tyranny of corporate America must be stopped now. Halliburton, Blackwater and alike have been sticking out their middle fingers in the face of the American people through their arrogance and disrespect for human decency. All this has been fostered by the corrupt culture created and perpetuated by Bush.

America needs someone in the White House who is not part of the Neo-con gang. Hillary Clinton is just another Bush without the balls.

[hu.man]

06:11 PM on 01/14/2008

The certainty by which the pundits buried Hillary prior to NH primary has given a new birth to her. Having come close to the edge of annihilation has given birth to a new Hillary, one that is ready to assert herself and vigorously fight to capture the nomination. This was clearly evident by how she stood her ground with Tim.

The current debate within Democrats is healthy for the party because it creates vigor and momentum toward capturing presidency. On the other hand, Republicans appear like a loose, aimmless and fragmented coalition, none of whom are standing behind their party leader, Mr. Bush and are desperately seeking an agenda of their own to present.

If Republicans are not careful they can be assigned to the margins for some time to come. They appear ineffectual on nearly all issues facing America today: no immigration reform, sea of red in the national budget, marginal performance in foreign policy, virtually no real progress on energy independence and the economy appears to be on a downward slope.

Hillary Clinton may be the deadliest recipe to ever have been served to the privileged class that set the agenda for GOP. Her firebrand feminist agenda combined with years of political experience in Washington may combine to become a death blow to bunch of out of touch country clubers.

[SEQUOIABISON]

12:00 PM on 01/14/2008

Basically Hillary claims she voted for the “Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002” to force Suddam Hussen to allow inspectors back into Iraq.

But there seems to be something wrong with that explanation, she cast her vote in the senate on October 11, 2002, on September 17, 2002 Suddam had already agreed to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq “without conditions”.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/09/16/iraq.un.letter/

I firmly believe that Hillary like Bush actually wanted to have a war with Iraq and they were simply looking for a justification.

As a senator from NY she is beholden to the biggest Israeli lobby AIPAC and they of course wanted a war and an American outpost in Iraq to keep other Arab countries quiet while they continued their manifest destiny of conquering biblical land that they claim once belonged to Israel.

We are now getting a lot of flim flaming about her reasoning for casting that unjustifiable vote, but the bottom line is she gave a pathological liar authority to go to war with Iraq.

Personally I will be supporting the guy who got it right about that war in the first place, Barack Obama.

“I don’t oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships born”
Barack Obama, October 2002, Chicago.

Obviously Hillarys claim to superior experience did not improve her judgment.

The Clintons ran in 1992 on a platform of universal healthcare but failed to implement it even though they had a democratic majority in congress for several years, do we really need more failures and catastrophic poor judgment?