Clinton Calls To Congratulate Obama

Moments after Sen. Barack Obama concluded his victory speech in Houston, Texas, his campaign received a call from Sen. Hillary Clinton congratulating him on his victory.

The call, which was confirmed by Obama's press secretary, Bill Burton, came after Clinton ripped into Obama during her address following her loss in the Wisconsin primary.

"Tonight I want to talk to you about the choice you have in this election and why that choice matters," the New York Democrat declared. "It is about picking a president who relies not just on words but on work, on hard work to get America back to work. That's our goal!"

Clinton's speech -- which included neither a concession nor a congratulations to Obama -- was cut off only minutes in as all the news networks switched to cover Obama's remarks.

Of the dueling speeches Tim Russert, on MSNBC, said:

"I thought tonight when Hillary Clinton started speaking the Obama people were stepping back saying alright you go first you are the loser. When they heard no concession or no graciousness quote on quote coming from Hillary Clinton they decided why allow her an opportunity to criticize us? We are going to go out there and proclaim victory."

But prior to losing the networks' attention, Clinton was able to fire off a few other salvos at her Democratic opponent.

"We can't just have speeches, we've got to have solutions," she declared, "and we need those solutions for America. We've got to get America back in the solutions business. Because while words matter, the best words in the world aren't enough unless you match them with action."

Those remarks, however, paled in comparison to the criticisms launched by Clinton's introductory speaker, Machinists Union President Tom Buffenbarger. As Ken Vogel reported for Politico, Buffenbarger "compared Obama with 'Janus, the two-faced god' of Roman mythology. He called him 'silver tongued' and a 'thespian' and 'the man in love with the microphone.'"

"He's not just a trained thespian, he's a terrific shadow boxer. You know the type. Outside the ring, he pretends he can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," he said. "But Barack Obama is no Muhammad Ali. He took a walk every time there was a tough vote in the Illinois state Senate. He took a walk more than 130 times. That's what a shadow boxer does. All the right moves, all the right combinations, all the right footwork, but he never steps into the ring. He walks away from the fight."

Comments

[jmaroon]

Someone needs to call the Clinton campaign (and perhaps the media) on the matter of Obama's 'present' votes.

These votes are an oddity of the Illinois State Senate, and allow for senators to effectively acknowledge either a premature vote on a bill that requires further conference (e.g. they don't want to 'throw the baby out with the bath water') or may be used as a strategy to insulate senators from voting on 'attack' bills (e.g. bills that are presented explicitly to undermine vulnerable senators in targeted districts.)

Indeed, Newsweek did an excellent article recently on this topic and highlighted one such example touted by the Clintons as proof of Obama's unwillingness to 'stand up and be counted.'

Obama (and Clinton) enjoy a perfect rating with Planned Parenthood; in Illinois, a group of right-wing lawmakers targeted vulnerable Democrat senators by introducing bills that were titled something like "A Bill to Protect the Innocent Lives of Children Under the Age of One Year" - on first glance, a bill we should all want to support, but in fact a bill seeking to abridge a woman's freedom of choice. The vulnerable senator who votes 'no' is then targeted, a mailer is sent out to his constituency, and tens of thousands of dollars are raised on the back of his principled vote.

Planned Parenthood did not want this to happen, and so worked with a bipartisan group of senators (Obama was one) who agreed to vote 'Present' as a block on such bills, thereby avoiding a vote of 'No' or 'Yes' while still preventing the bill from becoming law. Senator Obama did not need to do this. His was not a vulnerable district. He and others did this out of solidarity, and to support the principles of Planned Parenthood.

This is just one example of how a "Present' vote could be, and was in fact, used constructively, and how Clinton has manipulated the facts to fit her narrative.

[loisteagulp]

It shows he plays " old" politics. Instead of standing up for what he believes in, he takes the middle stance so that republicans see him as unthreatening. Sure its a valid tactic, but it also highlights that he is just as willing to play old politics as anyone else. Nothing new.

[MRb1000]

THIS CARD HAS BEEN PLAYED ALREADY. YOU JUST RENEGED

[hershel62964]

Hillary is going to work for Wal Mart as a greeter after Bill divorces her......

[MrUniteUs]

Kind of cheezy to call rather than acknowledge his victory during her speech.

Instead she started trashing the man.

No wonder Barack started his speech when he did.

The woman has no class, and as author Carl Bernstein stated "Hillary Clinton has a difficult relationship with the truth."

Starting with her name.
Google Sir Edmund Hillary Clinton.

Yesterday she it the media not her that made the plaigerizing accusation.

[accountability]

MSNBC IS COVERING IT AS IF IT IS A FACT.
Lord have mercy.

[accountability]

UH OH!
NEWS ALERT:

The swift boating of McCai8n has begun by the far right.

No wonder Huckabee didn't quit the race.

[indyny]

Let's see - Class, Character, Integrity, Humility, Optimism, Hope, and Charisma vs. Hillary Clinton?

Hillary is a lost cause - admit it and move on.

Time to stop complaining and start fighting against the real enemy - McCain and the Bush gang.

[gabbyone]

I think everyone should listen to the entire
speech this man made last night instead of
just going with the sections that pro Obama press pick out to share with you. Buffenbarger knows Obama, he had to deal with him when the huge Maytag plant closed in Illinois. Obama did nothing when they asked for his help and then took money from the people responsible for it's closing from his campaign. I think you'd be mad if you were one of the people who lost jobs.

[eddieinc97]

The bottom line gabbyone is that we need a Democrat in the White House no matter what. As I mentioned below, Bill Clinton signed NAFTA. And if Hillary helped as much as she claims than there you have it, she passed it too. Democrats are eating their own and for what. We have two excellent candidates that of course can be called to task for a few things. But to choose one and destroy the other, plays right into the Republican/Karl Rove/another eight years of hell/ playbook.

[jmaroon]

You know what, I have bad news for you and every other person in the nation: Whoever we elect as President is going to have successes and failures; they are going to have to make difficult decisions in which there will be people who may suffer as a result of these choices; and, there may even be errors or mistakes.

One measure of leadership must surely be made against the intentions and good faith actions of the leader.

It must be about the willingness of that leader to make the decision that is in the interest of the greatest good, and yet balances the realities of hardship and struggle that face the lives of those effected.

And, it must be about the personal accountability and ownership of the leader - his or her willingness to take responsibility for the decision, and the concomitant consequences, or in the event of an error or mistake, the willingness to submit to a frank self evaluation, and to learn from these mistakes.

To assume that our leaders are superhuman is to set for ourselves (and for them) an unfair expectation; to demand that they own their flawed humanity and their fallibility, and exercise good judgement accordingly - that is more reasonable.

I believe both Obama and Clinton are capable of such personal insight and honesty; I also believe that Obama has exercised these qualities more consistently, and that Clinton has been less inclined to do so in the past. But this, I think, has more to do with Clinton's style than her substance.

[horacekent]

To the Great People of Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island & Vermont,

Please do us all a favor & finally close the door on the Clintons.

You're the Closers. Lets do this thing!

~HK

[k8k9]

god i hope so

[eddieinc97]

As a member of the ILWU Local 13 it disturbs me to no end that this head of a good union would be so vicious. It hurts everyone you idiot. We should be supporting both candidates. It's okay to take a side but this ridiculous rant can only lead to putting a Republican in office by turning off the Obama option if Hillary isn't elected as the nominee. This man did a diservice to everyone. I hope he's recalled by the rank and file members of his union. Nobody that stupid should lead working people.

[gabbyone]

Did you listen to the whole speech....how Obama
didn't stand up for Maytag in Illiois when the
plant was being closed and then took money
from the people responsible......

[eddieinc97]

Look President Clinton passed NAFTA. And if Hillary helped as much as she claims then her hands are all over that. My point is the only option is a Democrat. Let's keep it civil and respectful.

[accountability]

AMEN!!!

That upset me... if it had been about Bush it would have been hysterical and not only for the obvious reasons.

It is obvious that she couldn't distance herself from the remark then and there as Obama couldn't distance several remarks his surrogates have made- particularly when you are about to speak in front of the group that is cheering those remarks and following the speaker of the,

Still, it would have been pretty funny if it had been in a nightclub act directed against any republican... like Boehner maybe. or Kristol oh yes.
or definitely the idiot king, the irony would have mad me roll on the floor laughing.

Too bad this is the level of conversation that has begun.

In a way I can understand it. Hillary has been pushed against the wall with the unfair coverage of the press and some of the surrogates, as well as the idiot running her campaign.
A better object of derision would be the punditocracy that have been giving Obama an almost free ride while tearing Hillary apart.
You have to admire someone who just keeps going and say NO WAY you bastards, you are not bringing me down. But lets face it no matter what Hillary does she is damned by the press, by the right wing and the neo-libs and by the Obama supporters. Particularly the followers here who believe all the distortions and rumors that were put out by the neo-cons over a decade ago and repeat them endlessly.

[accountability]

Listen to the idiots on Hardball.
"She is attacking, this is attacking... why is she attacking... she needs to attack more!!!" WTF?

or

"She was crying? "why was she crying?"Was she really crying? She is cynical and she was faking crying." Is she playing at being the damsel in distress?" It seems to me that if your running as a woman who can lead the free world crying is unseemly, will it bring her down." The crying was human she should let herself be seen that way more... but maybe she was faking."

She is attacking, he is noting differences" "She is vicious, he is taking swipes" "Race is a factor, gender isn't."

" They will do anything to win, they have the Clinton machine (a phrase Obama used on the Today show that I found disturbing)they stop at nothing, She has to step up her attacks and get the Clinton machine after him."
Again WTF?
What Clinton machine?
if there was a Clinton machine Obama would be toast for crying out loud.

My God!
You people... I mean the press and some of you neo-con talking point parrots really are over the top with this bullshit.

The press will stop at nothing to make sure she loses... at least on MSNBC.
Even Dan Abrams talks about the unfair treatment of Hillary though not on MSNBC of course.

[k8k9]

"media, right wing, neo-libs, and Obama supporter"s - sounds like the majority. Can they ALL be wrong?

[Ozarks]

When one party cannot attack another party's position or argument they attack the person. It appears Hillary has run out of ideas, run out of intellectual curiosity , run out of any position that appeals to the public, run out of funds, run out of any concern for the future of the democratic party and just run out of gas. So now she has reverted to the ole time Washington tactic of attacking Obama personally. Hillary's bus will be leaving the station soon and it will not be on the way to the White House.

[accountability]

OHMYGOD! This is rich!

This has been one of the most disappointing elections of my life time.
Even when McGovern lost and I lived in Massachusettes, (sp) the only state he won has not disappointed me more.
Even before the actual election I am disgusted and really don't care who wins. The level of hypocrisy from the Obama camp followers and disciples is beyond contempt and have really shamed the Democratic Party and have definitely cast a pall on Obama for many of us who would have been happy to have him as a President.

Some of us just don’t care which of them win at this point. Those of us who would have been happy with either, though we worked for one, now just don’t care which.

Those who have been turned off by the religious zeal that has become a “movement” and hypocritacl rhetoric the supporters engage in have become dispirited and ashamed that this golden opportunity for the Democratic Party to show the world that finally we broke the color and gender barrier has been laid to waste by your collusion with the press and the neo-con myths. We expected better from you.

We supported Obama because he seemed and we believed he was above the nastiness that permeates politics between the right and the left... and no one is innocent. Please. Look at these pages since the inception of HuffPo. More bilious, maleavolant vitriol has been spit out here than any I have encountered in all these years of political engagement.

The rhetoric you engage in, the bile you all spew is what has been tearing the party apart. Look in the mirror and stop projecting your own faults onto others.

Take the log out of your eye before you think about the splinter in someone else's.

[accountability]

pt 2.
Yes, we believed that Obama was going to be different. But he is just more sly and cunning. He is so brilliant, he is so adept at language and speechifying it is difficult to detect his attacks if you choose blind ideology over objectivity.
This is politics, I expect some swipes, attacks. But I never expected the media's Obama lust. And I never expected the unwillingness of anyone to speak out against the anti Hillary bias.I would have expected someone, if not Obama himself to say Hey! Time out, lets play fair. They don't want the press turned on them, they don't want the derision and revenge the press metes out. How courageous, how high minded, how politics as usual to grab at the advantage and enjoy the fruits of the unfair practices. This isn't winning fairly... but then who cares about a fair win. Winning at all costs is what is important... unless its Hillary of course.

Well thanks a bunch folks. Even though I really don't care if he wins and I will not support him, work for him, or send money to him now I will definitely vote for him if he wins the candidacy, no matter how it was won.
No more republicans despite the selfish and spiteful decisions so many of you have voiced about staying home or voting for McCain if Hillary wins the election.
Way to go.

Now I am rooting for Hillary. At this point I want someone whose rhetoric matches her actions, her policy and her work ethic.

[kopyrightliberationfront]

When are these people going to get off this "voting present" nonsense? ABNER J. MIKVA worte a great NYT opinon article on this non-issue (see below). He's and informal adviser to Obama but he was also an Illinois state legislator, a United States congressman, a federal judge and, from 1994 to 1995, White House counsel.
Read it and don't let fools like that Union President fool YOU.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/opinion/16mikva.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=present&st=nyt&oref=slogin

[k8k9]

Great article to have in one's back pocket should the occasion arise (and it always does) that the Obama "present" voting situation needs to be explained . . . again . . . s-l-o-w-l-y this time. No disrespect intended.

[ACunningham]

Hillary Clinton as Lady MACBETH attempting to purge herself of her "spotty" past:

"Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!

One; two: why, then 'tis time to do't.

Hell is murky.

Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard?"

[lungfish]

"Silver tongued" and "thespian", that is low, really low...

So lets talk about the legislation that Hillary authored... and where was she when the people who elected her needed to be represented on the telecom immunity vote? She was out compaigning and ducking another chance to demonstrate principles and character and respect for her constituents...

[swdemocratforchange]

I'll bet that it just about killed Hillary to call Senator Obama to congratulate him on his victory! Have you noticed that she never does it publicly, as if acknowledging his victory on camera might make it more true and to not do so publicly, makes it less important....shame on Hillary!!!! She's not a gracious loser!!!

[Aquarius52]

What's worse is that insiders tell me that's it's only after the media (CNN and MSNBC) REPEATEDLY pointed out that there was no public concession, no mention of Wisconsin, that Clinton finally called Obama. They also tell me this is only the second time Hillary has congratulated Obama despite his string of vistories. That is ungraciousness of the worst sort.

[judisworld]

Hillary is like the spoiled brat who, when she can't get her way, bullies or tries to bulldoze everyone around her into submission.

Can we ever get rid of the Clintons?
YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Dari]

My 'real' point in this post, is that I am struck again (Potomac Primary was NOT the first) Senator Clinton is and has been to NOT publically recognize HER volunteers and THOSE voters who believed enough in her to vote for her. This, to me, is a FAR greater issue than
anything Senator Clinton is raising in her speeches. Her lack of graciousness reminds me MORE of the PRESENT administration and LESS of a Democratic Presidential contender.

[k8k9]

well she might wanna learn fast

[indyny]

Thank You Senator Clinton for reminding us why we prefer HOPE over HATE.

I feel so sorry for those of you who continue to defend Senator Clinton's vitriolic style. What are you going to do when the race is between McCain and Obama, hang with the HATER?

It's not too late to CHANGE.

[pleeezzze]

Actually the extreme Hate seems to all come from Obama Fans or worshippers ( however you refer to yourselves )!!
Obama can Hope all he wants , ACTIONS are what will matter . The boy needs to remember IF he should win, he will need a lot of help from the very same people you all are Trashing !!!

[PeaceCzar]

AGREED. While I am neither an Obama nor a Clinton supporter (Gravel all the way), it is utterly ridiculous how the Obama supporters twist any type of concrete, objective criticisms into something viciously hateful.
PLEASE.

This about sums it up:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/19/chris-matthews-humiliates_n_87493.html

[StephenJK]

YOU RACIST JERK!

[indyny]

"the boy"? - you have shown your hand, HATER.

[mbrlr]

I believe someone has pointed this out, but I'll mention it again. Given our history, the use of "the boy" in reference to Sen. Obama is very foolish and shows a lack of knowledge of our past and our present, and that's taking the most positive view of the use of that phrase rather than the most likely.

[accountability]

Hey...
Be careful, someone will call you a racist if you use the word "boy."

If you have used it for precisely that point then shame on you, if you used it as I have once or twice... saying that boy is sure pretty, or that boy has a smile that makes the sun shine, or that boy could sell an Eskimo ice... then OK, but no one will believe you anyway.

They believe that there is no sexism and denigrate and deride anyone who suggests there is... but believe me any and everything, no matter how innocent is fodder for the racist card my friiend so mind your manners.

What is funny is that it is usually the least racist who get labeled that way because we've been around long enough and have enough friends from many ethnic backgrounds to just speak without parsing everyword to see if it might smack of racism and ofend someone.