Clinton Campaign Launches 5-Point Attack On Obama

New York Times Reports On Clinton Attack Plan: The New York Times reports that the Clinton campaign is ratcheting up its plans to try and unseat Senator Obama as the presumptive frontrunner for the democratic nomination.

After struggling for months to dent Senator Barack Obama's candidacy, the campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is now unleashing what one Clinton aide called a "kitchen sink" fusillade against Mr. Obama, pursuing five lines of attack since Saturday in hopes of stopping his political momentum.

The effort underscores not only Mrs. Clinton's recognition that the next round of primaries -- in Ohio and Texas on March 4 -- are must-win contests for her. It also reflects her advisers' belief that they can persuade many undecided voters to embrace her at the last minute by finally drawing sharply worded, attention-grabbing contrasts with Mr. Obama.

Wolfson Calls Clinton Treatment Unfair: News of the Clinton attack plan comes a day after Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson scolded the press for treating Obama's attacks differently.

"I think it is true that every time the Obama campaign in this campaign has attacked Sen. Clinton in the worst kind of personal ways, attacked her veracity, attacked her credibility, said that she would say or do anything to get elected, the press has largely applauded him," Wolfson said.

Wolfson's comments were prompted by a reporter's question over what seemed to be a change of tone for Clinton over the weekend, when she sharply criticized Obama in a press conference for distributing literature that she said misrepresented her position on NAFTA.

The Politico reports on tension, finger-pointing in Clinton's campaign:

Looking backward, interviews with a cross-section of campaign aides and sympathetic outsiders suggest a team consumed with frustration and finger-pointing about the apparent failure of several recent tactical moves against Barack Obama.

Looking forward, it is clear Clinton's team has only a faint and highly improvisational strategy about what to do over the next seven days. Simply put, there is no secret weapon.

Comments

[VOTER]

Classified Ad from Cleveland:

Hillary Clinton's UNDAMAGED kitchen sink is For Sale.

Welcomes all bids.

[longislandlol]

His endorsements are just monumental and so telling that the Democratic Party is really united.

[blackwell98]

Dont listen, READ.

"While some cynics still view Barack Obama’s appeal for “change” as empty rhetoric, it’s starting to dawn on Washington insiders that his ability to raise vast sums of money from nearly one million mostly small donors could shake the grip that special-interest money has long held over the U.S. government."

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/022608.html

[induraman]

Oh Please tell me your not saying special interest is somehow wiped out because of all the small donners out there. He has raised over 150 mil for a PRIME race. I wonder do all those Million get to call him up when they need something or maybe drop by to say hello. Hell know but if a major player like oil or any other big player wants in boom he will be right there trust me. Know one has questioned any of obamas words. Last night obama said she voted for a bill and hope it would not pass. Well she at least voted, back in the state house he voted"present" 40% of the time. What did he give as a reason" well we did that to protest bad bills" So instead of coming down on one side or the other he just did not vote at all. WOW Now thats change. MSNBC is a joke anyway. Tim Russert is a tool. Talk about one sided.

[mojopo]

One of the other reasons his voting record is so poor is because, by his own admission, he has been busy campaigning. That is a lousy answer. He can't make the decisions he was elected to because he's busy looking out for her next career move? Take about same old politics. Things did not get done because Barack Obama was busy running for president is not a good excuse.

[mcnairbo]

I hear Sean Hannity is urging all his republican listeners in Texas to cheat and vote for Obama. I'm sure we won't hear the Obama folks complain about that.

[mcnairbo]

Oh bullshit! nobodys' even thrown a spoon at the guy yet.

[Tyrione]

Between the Bush Part Deux Years and this presumed Obama Aeon it's good to be affiliated with neither party. Both sets are full of douche-bags whose entire intelligence pool is manipulated by the Media.

These pricks are raking in billions in ad revenues.

ONLINE AD REVENUES SURPASSED $21 BILLION IN 2007. You're doing a bang up job and helping that double this year.

[DoninJoisey]

Her sarcastic mocking of hope I thought was particularly offensive.

He campaign is now "abandon hope, all ye who enter here".

[Karenina44]

It just occurred to me what tilts me away from Hillary. It is exactly this... the outrage and victimization.

I compare this to two other women, who I have admired in politics -- Margaret Thatcher (not that I agree with her), but she is tough as nails and reminds me of that lady on the weakest link. The Iron Lady would not blame everyone else. Then there is Ann Richards, the former governor of TX. She is smart, sassy and would throw back the darts with fiestiness. It is too bad she was bulldozed by GWB and his first run for the office. It is a shame she passed away before she could emerge on the national stage.

While many of you Hillary supporters have your reasons for preferring her, I respect that. If she gains the nomination, I will vote for her to keep the repugs out. Until then, I like Barack's manner, attitude and how he will represent America in the world. We will have a female president... other western democracies have crossed that barrier (England, Finland, and Germany), but none have had a non-caucasian at the helm.

- From 30-something college educated woman from Northern CA by way of MI.

[Tyrione]

Margaret Thatcher was a Puppet for the English Torrey Conservatives. She blamed with the force of the entire party behind her.

Get real.

[Brutus1]

So what if a bunch of LOSERS endorse him. They obviously don't know how to win. They must see something in Obama they can relate to--LOSING!!

[DoninJoisey]

Right.... That's why polls show Obama beating McCain, but McCain beating Clinton.

[musicstreet]

It's great that someone like John Kerry endorsed Obama. Practically all John Kerry had to do to win is show up and he couldn't. Look at what the great Kennedy legacy did for Ted. If you want a winning team, do you sign up a bunch of people that have never won? OK. Sign up with a bunch of losers and "HOPE" you win. "HOPE" not help is on the way.
Good luck.

[richardsgirl]

On the other hand, if these same bunch of LOSERS had endorsed Hillary, they would be WINNERS. I guess it's in the eyes of the beholder.

[research]

"The Times poll found that in a race between Obama and presumptive Republican candidate John McCain, 50 percent of respondents said they would vote for Obama and 38 percent chose McCain.

But respondents were split evenly at 46 percent when the choice was between McCain and Clinton."

And wait till we start ripping into Brain Dead McCain. Where's his medical report?

Why oh Why, doesn't the Dim Hierarchy understand the value of Oratory skills and Charm,? Instead they give us Bore, wooden Kerry, mundane Mondale and shrill Hillary.

[nellie]

Joe Biden just endorsed Obama. That is one endorsement I didn't expect. If Joe thinks he's ready, then I willing to think he's ready, too.

[rwferr]

Like you were doubting it before.

[nellie]

*I'm willing

[JoelNH]

Joe thinks he's clean and articulate.

[DoninJoisey]

I really liked Joe Biden in the debates. He and Kucinich impressed me.

[GeoLee]

Welcome Secretary of State Biden and Secretary of Health Education and Welfare Dodd.

[beckerbeavers]

Hillary, it is obvious that you are in the process of losing both Texas and Ohio besides the loss of momentum from the past 11 caucuses and primaries.

More Democrat senators and representatives will be elected in November riding on the coattails of the Obama ticket, therefore, I hope you withdraw from the race graciously after March 4th so that you'll have some level of respect when you go back to the Senate.

After saying on national television that you are honored to be with Senator Obama and the following days take very nasty and cheap shots at your rival doesn't speak well of you. Senator Obama has the wide support of most of the Democratic Party and Independents at this point in time and this negative, dirty politics your campaign is focused on is an exercise in futility and one that wins you nothing.

Senator Obama will be the next President of the United States regardless of what you think of him. The polls have shown that he can beat Senator McCain overwhelmingly.

Get behind Senator Obama and send Slick Willie on a vacation to chill out!!! I would like to see you as the next Senate Majority Leader - so please cool your heels.

[rwferr]

Last poll I saw had her up 10 points in Ohio and a deat heat in Texas.

[JoelNH]

It appears that Obama has beaten the polls in all of the recent primaries/caucuses. So, if it is even - then Obama wins. If its 10 points, it will be closer. Hillary needs 58% of the remaining delegates to win the pledged dels. Anything less than a 58% win is a loss... And that is for ALL of the remaining states, not just Tx and Oh. There is no way she is even winning VT or NC never mind by 58%. Barring Obama doinhg something real -real stupid tonight, he's got this in the bag.

[mamamay]

Did you see the stump Hil did in Ohio? She had it all written down and she gave it storybook style. This was her rehearsal for the debate tonight. She is not ready for her day one. Plus, her comrade Sen Tubbs jones gave an overview of Clinton on morn Joe, and talked about the Obama wrap. Jones kept repeating his country, his this and his that, when referring to the garb Obama wore. Folks if you listen carefully, you can hear the tones of Jones et al knowing about this leak from Hil's camp. This is a cheap shot and one at which they find humor but it will backfire and Clinton will dig herself a hole further on down/up the road. Slick Willie and the Hil campers have railroaded Hil and she is too smart to not have realized this.Whether it was Plan a or b.

[ChristianEcon.com]

This is really unfortunate on the part of Clinton. She should be able to run on her own merits and put a Democratic victory first without tearing down Obama.

I am far, far less likely to support her after seeing these ongoing negative tactics.

[DoninJoisey]

With an absence of merits, you get the tactics we see.

[YcCoSQ]

she is throwing up on herself.

[jmort]

She brings to mind the proverbial "Polish Firing Squad" in reverse: Staunchly positioned, wildly spining, and firing indiscriminately.

[rubicon101]

By the recent polls, it seems like the American people are being duped by the Obama Wave washing over this country.
I wonder why this is actually occuring when Hillary Clinton would clearly be a stronger nomination for the Democrats.
The thing I've been noticing in the media when tehy refer to Sen. Obama, the news segment is awash with positive tones..like they'll frame the sentence similar to "The good thing about Senator Obama's campaign" at the same time they'll paint Hillary with negative tones..
Basically throughout this nomination process Barack Obama is definately flying under the radar.
The question when will the tide turn? Will it be too late to save the Democratic party before losing in the general election?
Trust me when I tell you that the Conservative Party is hoping that it is Barack Obama. President Bush even mentioned it today when he predicted a GOP victory in November.
Remember November is far away and the mood will be different.
Senator Barack Obama will be exposed for his shortcomings and it won't be pretty..Liberals will be crying in their soup crying foul..
It's your call...you decide who would be best to lead the country.

[Kally]

With all the crap he spews he wouldn't know the difference...but then the viagra boys with their over sized cod pieces would take up for him, so wimp pouty face could just practice his bush smirk.

[gopindrag]

Rubicon, huh? Who crossed you? Strike that. Who cross dressed you?

[EspritDeVoltaire]

"they'll paint Hillary with negative tones.." - that's because they're familiar with her voting record.

Senator Clinton supported Bush at every available moment, Patriot Act, Iraq, Iran, torture, ad infinitum. She jumped into bed with WalMart, Rupert Murdoch and the banking industry, voting for the bankruptcy act which substantially reinstates indentured servitude.

There is no choice in an election of McCain v. Clinton except do you prefer the same policies with a pants suit or a traditional business suit?

[DoninJoisey]

Or exactly how far back in time you want to go.
They both want to bomb, rather than talk to, Iran.

[rmetz74]

I smell a troll.

[MIHOP]

"I wonder why this is actually occuring when Hillary Clinton would clearly be a stronger nomination for the Democrats."

Obviously the majority is delusional.

"Trust me when I tell you that the Conservative Party is hoping that it is Barack Obama."

No. They have consistently said they want to run against Hillary. They are scared to death to run against Obama. Who is McCain attacking? Obama.

"Senator Barack Obama will be exposed for his shortcomings and it won't be pretty"

Hillary's shortcomings are already well known and they aren't pretty, either. And if she gets the nomination, it'll be month after month of 90's scandal re-runs. And how is she going to argue against McCain and the War when her votes are identical? Republicans HATE Hillary. There is no better way to stir up the base than to bring on the fight with Hillary Clinton.

I actually know Mormon Republicans who will vote for Obama. I don't know any conservatives who will vote for Hillary.

[Opus007]

Excellent Post MIHOP, except that it will be week after week of Clinton scandals.

I think the Clinton supporters are being duped. You can just follow the money to her votes. I know that sounds harsh but it was her choice to use special interest money and now she will have to suffer the consequences of those choices.

[DoninJoisey]

Take note of states where Hillary prevails - "closed" to independents - registered democrats only. Where people can vote in either (but not both) primaries, Obama trumps.

I want and end to same-old politics.

[dartagnan]

"Looking forward, it is clear Clinton's team has only a faint and highly improvisational strategy about what to do over the next seven days. Simply put, there is no secret weapon."

One of the many things the Hillary campaign did wrong was to assume she was inevitable. As a result, when things started to go wrong -- which they did early -- there was no Plan B. It's reminiscent of the administration's assumption that our occupation force would be greeted with rose petals in Iraq. And it has to make you wonder whether Hillary really has the good judgment to be a commander in chief.