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."

Keep reading.

Comments

[letitgo]

It is laughable to read that many here claim they will either sit out, vote 3rd party or vote for the GOP should Clinton win. These are the bright, the young and the educated?

[Rubiconski]

Hillary Clinton can't fix anything in this life time. She's already done too much damage. First she would have to close all torture facilities, arrest Bush and Cheney, pull out of Iraq, restore ALL you're freedoms and stop spying on you and others. Then she would have to stop ramping up the pressure on Iran. Think she's really gonna do that? NO F-ING WAY !!

Once again we'd all be cursed by Hillary's desire to be a warmongering bushie.

[freespeach]

Naomi Wolf has a great article up now on huffpo that any concerned Democrat should read. Look beyond the rhetoric and use the same critical eye on the Democrats that you use on the Repukes.

Accountability starts at home.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/its-time-to-hold-democra_b_83322.html

[NicoleAnonymous]

I can't wait for the primaries to be over so we don't have to listen to this anymore.

[riverhorse]

already she knows more than the 2004 democratic candidates ever knew.

[Anastasia]

Raw Story has a photo up, showing Bill and Hill with Rezko, when he was president.

I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Matt Lauer.

The flip side of the meme, that Hillary knows how to deal with the right wing noise machine, is that she and her husband are pure junk food, for the right wing noise machine. Big Mac, fries, malted milk shake, the works.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/NBC_confronts_Hillary_with_slum_lord_0125.html

[chouwalker]

If you look through the comments posted against this article, you will see a lot of anger, a lot of name calling (on all sides), a lot of divisiveness, and a lot of political mud slinging.

This is what Hillary instills with the tactics she has chosen.

This is not good for the democratic party.

This is not good for the country.

This is not what I'm looking for in the next president.

Our country needs to be brought back together, not torn further apart.

[HumeSkeptic]

"We have two new polls showing that Mitt Romney is separating from the pack in Tuesday's all important Florida primary. The latest Rasmussen Poll has Romney at 27 percent, John McCain trailing at 23, and Rudy in third place with 20 percent.

A new Mason Dixon poll, released today, shows Romney with a strong 30 percent, John McCain in second with 26, Rudy at 18."
...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/01/examining_the_latest_controver.html
--------
Douchebag Hannity says Mittens will take Florida.

In California: Go Huckabee!

[Larry of Corrales]

why don't I believe you Hillary. You come out with negative comments because it's in your makeup. Anyway, in case you win I have a new bumper sticker already to print. "HILLARY - better than any Republican but barely."

[hjo4]

Senator Clinton is fucking liar and I wish just for once one of these so-called journalist would call her ass lying ass out.

[williamg]

"THE Democrats are in the midst of making an historic choice between nominating their first female presidential candidate or their first black presidential candidate. And who is everybody talking about? A certain 61-year-old white male with a habit of waffling on about the old days, falling asleep in public and turning puce when crossed."

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10566914

[glorija]

"I try not to attack first, but I have to defend myself --
Oh, please! I cannot believe that Senator Clinton can say this! She has been running a shameless campaign ever since it was clear that Obama could actually be a big threat to her victory. And, to use BILL Clinton in her campaign is not just using a spouse. Senator Clinton is using the FORMER PRESIDENT of the United States AS her spouse. They should both be ashamed of themselves--they have shown no dignity, no class, no grace, no awareness of historical legacy. They have shown only the desire to power.

[cheneyhasawarmachine]

so when your campaign surrogates bring up obama's cocaine use exactly what are you defending? the clintons are filthy animals and need to be kenneled by the american people

[badbob2299]

Photo surfaces of smiling Clintons with Tony Rezko. on hereidnews, what a Corrupt woman especially after Clinton injected the indicted developer's name this week in debate with Obama: 'I was fighting against those ideas when you were practicing law and representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago.'

[GrouchoMarxist]

This Is Not That Rough A Democratic Primary

by dday

In 1992, Bill Clinton started running negative ads against Paul Tsongas and Bob Kerrey in New Hampshire. The Republicans this year have been running negative ads since Iowa. Heck, even in 2004 Gephardt and Dean went nuclear on each other early. The history of Presidential primaries is not a game of patty-cake.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/

Just a little perspective for those of you with your hair on fire.