Clinton Says She Must Counterattack

Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday she must respond in kind to attacks from rival Barack Obama even though she'd rather keep the race for the Democratic presidential nomination focused on their differences on public policy issues.

"I try not to attack first, but I have to defend myself -- I do have to counterpunch," Clinton told NBC's "Today Show."

"I took a lot of incoming fire for many, many months and I was happy to absorb it because obviously, you know, I felt that was part of my responsibility. But toward the end of a campaign you have to set the record straight," the New York senator said.

Clinton, Obama and their campaigns have exchanged increasingly hard-hitting jabs in recent days over race, his relationship with a Chicago developer, her vote on the Iraq war, and other issues. Clinton stopped airing a South Carolina radio ad critical of Obama on Thursday and Obama took down his radio response in an attempt to cool the angry public spat.

"I have tried to make it clear that this election has to be about the future," Clinton said. "It is perfectly legitimate to draw comparisons and contrasts. I think both Senator Obama and I have made it clear we do want to focus on what we each would do for our country. It has been obviously an incredibly intense campaign. ... But I do want to make it clear that our campaigns have to stay focused on what you know the legitimate differences are so we can give voters information."

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Comments

[Rubiconski]

Clintons wanted to prove they were tough.....by tearing down and trashing much loved and respected members of their own party.

Now she thinks "we will have a united Democratic Party" She can't possibly be that naive. But if she is, I've got news for her. They have burned more bridges than we can count. Let the Republicans have at them. When they get kicked to the curb, I will be laughing. Yes. They have divided the party and it will not be forgotten.

[rubrchkn]

Huff Post is so biased against Hillary, and it's done so transparently. Just look at the narcissistic image they present here, while always framing Obama in heroic postures. Why can't you guys focus your outrage and disgust on the Republican candidates? If we lose this election, it's because we eat our own. Democrats, you are your own worst enemy.

[frug]

Every time Obama addresses Senator Clinton as "Hillary," you have to cringe... his voice is filled with contempt. He hates and fears her so much, he can't look her in the eye. There's a lot of anger in that face. It's a little frightening.

[scandals&skeletons]

the sad thing is that most of the electorate are so ill informed, that the clintons lying, spinning, and distortions of the facts will be believed by many.
i am undecided except i know i will not vote for clinton (i voted for bill twice) i detest them now. they are morally bankrupt and will do anything to win what they obviously feel is their entitlement.
perhaps if hillary becomes president, we can then have jeb bush waiting for his turn, of course next in line for the american throne after jeb would be chelsea...and so it goes.
we are truly f-ed.

[Coyote2]

HippieChick (See profile | I'm a fan of HippieChick)

"Does anybody know how to steer this thing?"

Those who are steering "this thing" are hidden from public view, and probably always will be.

O

You mean a shadow government? The Military/Industrial Establishment?

[FiddleDD2]

So John McCain gets the full hour on MTP with Timmeh this Sunday...two days before the FL primary. Strong stomach with no aversion to fluffing is needed to watch....

[NABNYC]

Shhhhhhhh. Do you hear that? Silence. Complete total awesome silence. Not a sound.

That's what we heard from the Clintons during the past 7 years as Bill went from one multinational corporation to another gathering hundreds of thousands of dollars at each stop, promising them what we can all imagine. And complete silence as Hillary cuddled up to Newt Gingrich and solicited an alliance with Rupert Murdoch.

Well not total silence. Actually, those of us who were listening did hear the screams of the people being tortured by the Bush Regime, the cries of the children hooded and locked in cells in Guantanamo without charges without evidence without counsel without any rights. And we heard the loud explosions of bombs and missiles blowing up Iraq and we heard the last gasps of the population of Fallujah, targeted by the Bush Regime for extermination because ... well, because they could.

And because the Democrats, led by Bill and Hillary, did nothing to stop it.

Listen. Do you hear that tearing and ripping sound? It was our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Gone. Still silence from the Clintons.

Now Hillary and Bill launch loud vicious attacks against -- other Democrats. What's up with that? I thought they were supposed to stand up for us against the Republicans, but instead they're buddies with Murdoch and they're notting the noose for Obama. What's up?

This isn't open mike at the strip club, no matter how much Bill might wish that it was. It's a national debate, a merit contest, a competition. Bill and Hillary are coming out like steroid freaks breaking bones and heads, then saying "Look how tough we are."

But I don't see tough. I see compromised tired old pathetic and desperate politicians. I wish the Clintons would just go away, be quiet again. Go back to taking money and leave my country alone.

[Ono4Hoopono]

They know they're the ones who are on the attack, they're just hoping there are enough people out there who half pay attention who are just waking up to all the excitement and are stuck in the chicken and egg cycle of who started what.

This tactic is a re-run of the republicans old standby of accusing the other guy of what you're guilty of so that when they accuse you of those crimes, it makes them look petty and inept. For example, accuse liberals of being petty and angry, and then when they object, they look petty and angry.

Need I say this is just another reason why the Clintons are so over. Their total amorality, which I think is even worse than immorality frankly, is just astounding. I can't believe I ever defended them so vociferously. I can't believe I ever thought Bill was a victim. Maybe this is how we heal as a nation. We can agree with the alleged moralists on the other side that this kind of amorality, from both the Bush and Clinton eras, is really bad for America.

[GrouchoMarxist]

I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I will never vote for any of the Democratic candidates for president. I only ever vote Republican, because the Democrats never nominate the candidate that I like. So I just have to keep voting Republican until the Dems learn their lesson.

But I'm a big supporter of the Democratic party. For all my life. Yep. You bet ya.

[Celldumceen]

Hey all you clintontologists out there read this article about how Bill Clinton praised Ronald Reagan back in 1991 when he was at the point in his political career as Barack Obama is now. He doesn't just express his respect for Reagans tactics he actually praised Reagans political goals. Hmmm! So within the last 24hrs Billary is seen in a pix with a guy she calls a slumlord and tries to use to smear Barack Obama. Now we have evidence of Billary saying great thing about Reagan after trashing Mr. Obama for saying a few nice things about the same person. The capacity for the Billary to lie and BS is breathtaking!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012402801.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[Beelzebul]

"She and John McCain are very close," Clinton said. "They always laugh that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history, and they're afraid they'd put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other."

A little reverse psychology by Bill. Help drive the wedge a little deeper between McCain and the rabid conservatives. Implying that Hillary and McCain are very much alike, and like each other should make Limbaugh's fucking head explode. Bill knows McCain would be the most competitive against Hillary so he'll help McCain lose by being "nice".

[newfapalooza]

OMG, this woman must be on crack!! She is like a giant parrot, what ever Obama says, she repeats. If it is something good she passes it off as her own, if it is something bad or could be made bad, she pounces and distorts. If Obama loses, McCain is looking really good right now.

[Independent voter]

I, I, I can't do it by myself. I need Williue to help me. Sob, sob, cry. I, I'm really honest - sometimes.

Stand up for me Willie, the nasty penis people are saying bad things again.

Sob, tear, whimper.

ESAD Hillary.

[JamesR.]

Here's your guy Hillary haters:

http://www.bellaciao.org/en/IMG/jpg/mccain_hugs_bush.jpg

[RAVEN13]

It is unfortunate to read so many comments that
seem hard in their views of Sen. Clinton, not
necessarily based on fact. Does anyone recall,
the first debate when it was Russert/Williams
that did the moderating and many saw Obama,
Edwards teaming during that debate along with
Dodd and a little Biden. She was the frontrun-
ner. A NY newpaper featured a cartoon of a: battered Hillary with blackend eyes! Up to that
point she had pretty much stayed above the fray, taken the slams. Witnessed the Obama rise
and MSM "honeymoon". Haven't we ALL? For me,
what is important is that we have the best out-
come in Nov. '09. That a victory with our
taking back the WH and strong majorities in
congress. To get there, people have to start
dealing in substance. Stop being manipulated
by MSM and surrogates. Way before SC, Bill Press, pointed out on Tucker, it was the media
that concentrated on the Black vote, that set
up the anticipation for "what" would happen in
SC and the other southern states. So, every
word has been parsed and the focus has been on
tactics rather than issues and substance.
When the former president said, that "...they
might gain votes because of their race and or
gender". He was allowing for the sense pride
that many voters may have in voting for one or
the other of these historic candidates.
The MSM seems to need to have conflict in its
coverage of Democracts, specifically. Check the
language..."negative" is used frequently.
Contrast or Comparison Ads hardly EVER! Don't
forget our end goal - united we will WIN !