Obama Adviser: Barack "Doesn't Go On TV And Have Crying Fits"

The advisor, retired Gen. Merrill A. "Tony" McPeak, said in a telephone interview that Obama has "real gravitas, not artificially created, focus-grouped, poll-directed, rehearsed gravitas."

He also said Obama "doesn't go on television and have crying fits; he isn't discovering his voice at the age of 60" -- references to Clinton's much-publicized show of emotion during the New Hampshire primary campaign and her speech after winning the contest in which she declared that she had "found my voice."

McPeak later retracted his remarks, and the Obama camp disassociated itself from them. [...]

An Obama campaign aide was on the line during the interview. Minutes later, McPeak called back to say he regretted his remarks and that he has "high regard" for Hillary Clinton.

He also expressed concern that "some of those loose-lips-will-sink-ships quotes will be the big story."

In an email, the Obama campaign said McPeak's words "crossed the line" and that Obama "strongly disagrees with these comments and apologizes on behalf of the campaign."

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Comments

[MartiP]

Obama's campaign gets uglier by the day.

[Democrab]

Thought I was beginning to see a little anger in Olbermann's voice against Hillary last night.

Wonder if we'll hear about this apology on "Hardball" or "Countdown?"

I'm a little worried about Kieth.

He's been fairly neutral until now.

Damn!

[JPaul2008]

MSNBC had an anchor who, the day of the Florida primary, said that "Hillary broke down crying," in N.H. which got her the women's sympathy vote. I have never seen such distortions and bias, particularly from Chris Matthews, who laughed when one of his guests called Hillary a "liar" and Tim Russet who continues to show the "give me a break that's the biggest fairy tale" Bill Clinton comment without any context. He simply shows the quote and then misrepresents that Clinton was talking about Obama's opposition to the war. No matter who you're for, we deserve to have fair and accurate reporting. You may flirt with Obama, but come back home to mama! Vote Senator Clinton for President.

[MR]

Obama is a well spoken empty suit who's campaign and campaign people are the biggest bunch of whinners and sore losers in political history.He attracts other empty suits of which McPeak is obviously one.

[Nutcase]

Obama, or one of his minions, has apologized for something? Being messianic, his cadre is supposed to be no less faultless than he.

I see where his toady seems to be claiming that Obama doesn't use focus groups or polls. He also seems to be claiming that Obama never rehearses. Absolutely amazing, if it were true. Nothing artifical, except the candidate.

cognito ergo populistae

[SEQUOIABISON]

Great Hit and Run job.

The Obama people are finally learning from the Clinton folks how to use advocates to say nasty things and then apologize for them.

The important thing is that the slander get out there for all to hear.

Personally I approve of the statement and was thinking that her crying to win the NH primary should be used against her as a show of weakness.

This is not much different from Wild Bill making "fairytale" comments or the former governor of NH spouse reminding the media of Obamas past youthful indiscretion with drugs.

You must fight fire with napalm if you want to compete with those sleazy characters running the Clinton show.

There is just too much at stake in this race, we cannot afford another Bush Lite when it comes to matters of War and Peace. Obama, America and the world is watching and waiting, we need your leadership.

[sonofloud]

More negative attacks from Obama.....­thats all he has. No ideas of his own, no experience to lead the country.

[Steamboater]

The retired general is as much as a schmuck as Bill Clinton has been. "Crying fits"? What a stupid thing to say and of course, the general wouldn't have opened his mouth if he didn't have the go-ahead from Obama.

[Hufffan]

General Tony McPeak is a moron. How stupid does someone have to be to make a dumb remark like this in the final days of such an important time in our history.
I know that everyone is tense on both sides but friggin' control yourselves when you speak, especially for your own candidate!
He should be fired or dumped or whatever these campaigns have to do to shutdown remarks like this! A remark on an "issue" is one thing but a "personal character" attack laced with "gender stereotypes" is so dumb and bums people out.

[PortiaElizabeth]

I have to add my voice to this non-issue. I live in New Hampshire. I was there that day in Portsmouth. Hillary DID NOT cry! For a brief moment her voice softened and in perfect candor she avoided a stock campaign response and sincerely expressed her strong desire to make our country a better place than it is now. For that fleeting glimpse of her true thoughts Hillary has been ridiculed and vilified and debased. I am sick of it! And I'm sick of the implication that women voted for her out of pity. That is an insult to women all over America.
She got the most votes here in New Hampshire because her message was genuine and heartfelt and definitve. We heard what she stood for instead empty promises for hope and change and tomorrow. While OBama was building castles in the air, Clinton was telling us how she would build the foundations under them.

[Setec]

Well, everything this general says is true, and it's not sexist. It's not sexist to point out that Hillary's incredibly phony and patronizing, and her suggestion that she "found her voice" at age 60+ is insultingly implausible. It's not sexist to be pissed off that she won New Hampshire by pretending to cry about her hair, even though we all know she personally has superb self-control and would never lose it like that unless she was trying to.

That said, it's horribly dumb for anyone associated with the campaign to point out these truths. It always backfires.

[OldBlueDog]

As is always the case for Obama the press will accept this apology and case closed. Had it of been a Clinton surrogate making such a statement it would be headline news for days. Concern for the feelings of the black candidates supporters seem to have always trumped the feelings of the woman candidates supporters as far as the press goes.

[CAWebb]

This election is complex. I have to watch and worry about MSM and what is a fact vs an opinion. I have to watch and worry about candidates and what is a position vs a ploy. I have to read blogs and here I just really worry that these people I am reading are the voters...s­upposedly the interested and the informed voters. I am afraid we are doomed whichever candidate or party wins.

[YL]

I don't know who this retired general is. Obviously he does not have any gravitas to
utter such exaggeration! It is a media-created
event!

[Politihal]

Let's see if the press holds the Obama Campaign to the same standard they hold the Clinton Campaign and make a big deal, which they should, out of this story as they did out of every questionable word that came out of a Clinton surrogates' mouth. Fat chance!

In a way, the guy did Hillary a favor. Every self-respecting woman will be angry about this, and those that were on the fence about Hillary might move toward her in her defense.

It appears racism is deplorable and intolerable, as it should be; gender slurs tolerable, which is deplorable.

It's still a man's world.

H. Casser-Jayne
The CJ Political Report
http://www.thecjreport.com