Clinton: "As Far As I Know" Nothing To Base Obama Muslim Rumor On

Ben Smith at the Politico writes:

A weird moment of TV, partially captured in the clip above. Clinton denies she thinks Obama's a Muslim, but her denial seems something other than ironclad, and the interviewer goes back at her on the question.

There are real danger zones for even hinting this stuff, even leaving yourself open to uncharitable interpretations, more with Obama than with any other politician I can think of. And expect a lot more of these moments if he's the nominee.

Here's the full "60 Minutes" exchange, in CBS's version:

"You don't believe that Senator Obama's a Muslim?" Kroft asked Sen. Clinton.

"Of course not. I mean, that, you know, there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that," she replied.

"You said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not...a Muslim. You don't believe that he's...," Kroft said.

"No. No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know," she said.

"It's just scurrilous...?" Kroft inquired.

"Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors, that I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time," Clinton said.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[vanessa04]

I'I love the way Obama supporters seem to believe that Hillary should rush to Obama's defense and protect him from scurrilous rumor and innuendo.

If He's as unstoppable as you keep telling us He is, the Muslim rumor should be a no-brainer. In fact, it shouldn't matter one whit if Clinton had flat our said He was a secret Muslim.

I haven't heard anybody ask Obama to come to Clinton's defense for any of the many attacks she's had launched against her. Nor has he ofered any defense of her. Whay is it you expect her to defend him?

If He can't take the heat, and needs Clinton to clean up after Him, maybe He is the one who should withdraw from this race.

[MichaelC]

First, consider the source of the original spin. Led by Roger Simon, who practically foams at the mouth when talking about Clinton, virtually everyone at Politico is playing on Obama's team. It is absolutely clear from the transcript that Sen. Clinton rejected the Obama-as-Muslim rumor: "Of course not." It doesn't get any less ambiguous than that. It was the reporter, Steve Kroft, who continued to push the issue. Code? Such hyper-sensitivity does not bode well for someone who thinks he's up to fighting the Republicans -- who planted the rumor in the first place.

[missette]

I agree with you that Obama can take care of himself, but one again Hillary resorted to Rove-like tactics by equivocating on the matter, insulting the Democrat electorate by using code ("not as far as I know') for, well, maybe he is. We've been patronized with this sort of crap for the last seven eight years by Republicans, but there sits Hillary implying to simple-minded, bigoted voters that he just might be in order to "scare up" a vote. The only mess here was created by Hillary herself.

[Mutex]

This is classic Clinton!

Hillary supporters will try to say this is just 'politics'.

The thing is, most of us are tired of the kind of 'politics' that depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is.

If I had to describe the Clintons in one word it would be connivance.

Bill and Hillary should just go home and enjoy their ill-gotten gains.

Enough 'public service' already!!!

[UnrulyWoman]

What I find so disturbing about this is that Senator Clinton has taken to using the Republican playbook.

What I find so encouraging about this is that Senator Obama appears quite able to deal with these kinds of underhanded, scurrilous tactics.

[Star123]

Yeah, he asked his little press minion Kroft if Kroft had set the fellow straight. Followed by the big phony smile.

[mix2007]

I think Hillary has been unmasked as Karl Rove in drag. She's evil. She's a racist, fearmongering sleaze.

She's not a Democtrat at all. She's a "DINO" = Democrat in Name Only

I admit, Hillary,, er, I mean Karl, you fooled us pretty good. Now it all makes sense: the racism in South Carolina, the lawsuits in Nevada, the muslim photo and "Take him at his word" bit ....

[mix2007]

Hillary, do us all a favor and DROP OUT NOW!!!!

For the good of the party, drop out now!!!

Don't hurt the party for November. If you hang in and harm the nominee, you will be to blame if we lose.

[SShaw490]

This is classic Hillary Clinton. She is simply incapable of just doing the right thing. When the Iraq vote came up, she didn't want to look weak when she ran for president, so she voted for it; she couldn't just do the right thing. She brought up the whole flag burning nonsense to appeal to the right, whether it was a substantive issue for the American people or not; she couldn't just do the right thing. She voted for Kyl-Lieberman to appeal to the right; she couldn't just do the right thing. She simply can't see any issue without trying to calculate exactly how it may help her politically, and the merits of the issue doesn't even seem to enter into the decision. She fits right in there with "it depends on what the meaning of 'is' is..." and "I did not have sexual relations with that woman..."

So my question to the Hillary people is this: When that phone rings at 3AM in the White House, do you want a person to answer it and then begin the political calculus as to this issue's impact on her presonal political career? Because that's Hillary's record, from the Iraq war vote through 60 Minutes last night. She never changes.

One sidebar - Until that 60 Minutes piece, I could certainly see Obama picking her as his running mate. Now, that's going to be a lot more complicated. He's going to be fighting the right wing smear machine for the next 6 months, which is already using the "Obama is a Muslim" lie as ammunition, and to have his own running mate fail to reute the rumor when presented with such a clear opportunity just adds an air of credibility to it. If Barack chooses her as his running mate, the Republicans will be running that piece of tape for 6 months as proof that he's a closet Muslim. It was an amazing display of scorched earth politics, and I can't imagine how Barack can select her now. He probably didn't want her in the first place, but now, I just think she's made herself radioactive. The stupid woman has put herself in a position of HAVING to win the nomination or having no future political prospects. Not only is she a cold, lying political calculator, she can't even add.

[simplecitizen]

If for some unknown reason HRC manages to wrest this nomination from OBAMA SHE WILL BE SCORNED BY A LARGE CONTINGENT OF Deocratic voters who will be so angry that they will not go out to vote in the november election. She is unelectable and will forever be a pariah in her own party.

[MIHOP]

Agree. In addition, the memory of Bill and his administration, will suffer greatly in the party's collective consciousness going forward.

[ladygreenslippers]

This is the same woman who made a stink about Obama's OH NAFTA fliers that spoke the truth.
That is a personal smear!
Can you imagine if Barack did NOT denounce a similar rumour about a fellow democrat - ?!
The outrage; the media would be up in arms.

[loria]

I am an Obama supporter, but it took a while to decide who I supported. I liked all of the candidates, including Hillary. However, this campaign has made me dislike her intensely. I am having as difficult a time listening to her speeches as I do when I hear GWB talk. Because of the way she has run her campaign, her voice is now like fingers on a chalkboard to me. I do think that Obama makes great speeches, but I also know where he stands on the issues. So, just in case you are tempted to go after me because I'm just about speeches, don't bother. I've looked deeper and like what I see.

[olderdem]

Its the Clinton slime machine spreading the rumors.

[starboymikey]

John McCain was actually more forthright that Hillary when he unequivocally condemned the guy who intoroduced him at a rally after the guy keptcalling him Barack HUSSEIN Obama. McCain said "There is no place for his in my campaign and it will never happen again." He pissed off Rush Limbaugh and apparently didn't care.

I will gladly vote for Obama if he wins the nomination, but if it's Hillary I will have to listen very closely to the debates before making up my mind. The chances for my voting Republican are slim, but I may do the unthinkable and vote for Ralph Nader. I know that will be a de facto vote for McCain, but McCain can't be any worse than Bush, and Hillary Clinton has really started giving me the creeps.

[Micaanab]

Hillery, with all the polls in her favor, figured she had this nomination in the bag. Then some young whipper snapper came along and offered something Americans really want. So she refuses to accept she is being out staged. The only way she could break Americans hopes and dreams is to discredit the guy that offers it. Make him not look good. Make it a fairy tale. Suggest it can't be done.

I don't care if people think it can't happen. I don't care if people don't believe we could do better. I am voting for hope.

[wish4change]

You Obama whiners never cease to amaze me. Tear Hillary apart on an hourly basis for every slight by every person on the face of the earth who happens to disagree or dislike your candidate. Then go into overdrive with your criticsm when her answer to a stupid question doesn't quite get the press off his back. If he's such a big strong boy, try not to make Barack's problems her problem. OK?

[MIHOP]

"Tear Hillary apart on an hourly basis for every slight by every person on the face of the earth..."

We're not talking about just any old person here, we're talking about a slight by HRC herself. And we're not talking about just any slight here, we're talking about HRC fueling the right-wing smear machine's inaccurate (and inapprorpriate) attempts to paint Barack Obama as a Muslim. What reason would she have to leave this question open except personal political gain? What other principles is she willing to sacrifice in order to keep her foot in the door? Will you continue to defend her when her campaign produces an illegitimate gay Islamofacist child sold in human trafficking?

[Bozwellian]

LOL, and then thee are the incessant , delusional Clinton WHINERS who whine about EVERYTHING and find its always somebody elses fault that folks just do NOT see them, the CLINTON's as THE INEVITIBLES...LOL, get a reality check and check the facts that a goodly majority have VOTED to NOT GO BACK but to MOVE FORWARD and ARE willing to "roll the dice" for we've BEEN THERE, DONE THAT with the CLintons, and indeed, well OVER them and their "their back-that's" (backed withs FACTS not desengenuous innuendoes !!!) The Clintons are a poltical team willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to secure THEIR WIN, they will continue to spin it as IF "for the people", but take a good close look and discover that too is an ILLUSION meant for the easily delusionals all too similar to the groupies who have blindeyedly stood with GWB thru his currents reigns !!!

[ladygreenslippers]

HRC has an acute sense and complete grasp of the english language, and she should have said unequivocally that the smear is just that; a smear. But she has a hard time, separating herself from what she has practised for years (the politics of personal destruction), and we don't expect it to change if she goes into the white house.

As tempted as she might have felt to do it, for the sake of the democratic party, because Obama could very well be the candidate, she should have insisted that it's not true. She failed once again make politics about what's best for the country, instead of what's best for the Clintons.

[KaAp]

My hope is that Obama will win in both Ohio and Texas I would like to see the Clinton chapter of our history put to rest already ... I am concerned however when I hear ignorance and stupidity substituting for substance and these comments are despicable ... but, as I look back on the 90's it is just Clintonian tactics as usual ... watching Carville and his wife on the punditry shows yesterday I got the feeling that they might be out of a job because their sort of campaigning is so tied to the antagonisms of the past which I hope will become anachronisms ... I just have little faith in the voting public ... I have heard so much misinformation spins and lies and people who cannot or will not do the research and cannot critically assess spin from reality ... It is terrifying

[FZliveson]

Consider the source! The supposed-woman's, supposed-husband and supposed-father of their supposed-daughter needed to get the definition of the word; "is" in order to proceed with an incriminating question under oath. Birds of a feather flock together. I'm sick of the flocking bunch of them.

[ATL78]

She left it out there as a possibility. Her response feeds into the theme of "you know me, not him" that she has used with for some time now. It's not about parsing her every word, it is what it is and she was being less than forthright.

[jones]

She sure as hell didn't nuance her answer on 60 Minutes way back when SlickWill was being accused of having an extra-marital affair right before his 1st bid for the White House. It was "NO... HE DIDN'T HAVE AN AFFAIR!!"

The answer she gave last night was disgusting. She is no leader.

[Boboday555]

When Senator Clinton, who would have made a formidable President, will looks back at her failed White House bid I hope she sees it was probably that childish "As far as I know" comment!
She could have shown Presidential class last night, class that would have won my vote, and just come right out and told America Senator Obama has been a Christian his whole life!
But no, she chose instead to engage in the Bush/Cheney brand of politics!

Sorry Senator Clinton, in case you or your campaign staff aren't paying attention, real Americans are sick and tired of those kind of childish games.

You just lost my vote Senator.

[Boboday555]

Senator Clinton's answer to the lie of Senator Obama being a Muslim is why I will not be voting for her on Tuesday!
"As far as I know."
Come on Senator Clinton, unless you haven't been paying attention for the past 7 years but real Americans are sick and tired of those sophmoric political games!!!

Senator Clinton, you had my vote right up to that embarrassing Bush/Cheney type momen last night.
I thought you would have made a formidable President...not anymore!

[Reeceecup]

I keep trying to give Hillary the benefit of the doubt, but she always finds some way to disappoint me.

[Bozwellian]

DIfficult to keep attempting to give the Clintons some room for "doubting" their team is NOT part of the "smears"...has happened too often now since Iowa especially to give plausibility to their claim of NOT and most especially when one LISTENS to them in their OWN words/wordings and even when they use their "scripts" ...Awhile back, an off the cuff insidere admitted that those in the Clinton team HAD studied up on Rover, found him great at winning and his expertisement at winning , especially down and out races, remarkable ..admitted to "admiration", indicated much to learn from ROve....and it does appear they have honed the skills that the Clintons first learned in ARK. from Dick Morris who taught Hillary that WINNING was the only thing that counted and so was worth ANY cost to secure that win !!! ) Sorry, am so OVER the Clintons, been there, had to endure ALL that back then and do NOT want another round for the next four years, will roll the dice, if Obama secures the nomination if not, the Clintons will still NOT get this vote and same goes for many in these parts !!!!

[ladygreenslippers]

For me too.
i keep saying, well ...maybe.
But time and again, politically, The Clintons, including HRC is really NOT what this country wins right now.
The rest of the world is moving on, what's wrong with us?!

[joja]

Well, Hillary, if it's true that you don't know where the "Muslim rumor" got started, maybe it proves that you're so out of touch that you're disqualified as a prez contender.

The Clintons are soooo obvious! First, they put out the slime, then express faux-surprise that it's out there, and issue an absurd statement like this!

I guess they really believe everyone is as gullible as their most rabid supporters.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

There she goes again, equivocating and parsing. As far as she knows? Well, as far as I know she's not a member of the Communist Party. I cant' believe she missed a chance to both end that discussion and tout her own alleged (but now clearly disproven) "above the fray" campaign by saying "Of course he isn't a Muslim. But you know, this campaign isn't about religion, gender, or color, it's about health care for all Americans." But no, it's definitely to her favor to have a certain part of the electorate believe that Obama is a Muslim, doesn't know the National Anthem, and is doing abortions on his off days.

[SadButWiser]

Wow, has the word Muslim become the word Jewish of early century Germany?

[boonagain]

As far as I know, I used to be a fan of the Clintons, but , since the SC primary, I've seen sides of them I hadn't noticed before.

This latest example is typical and very unappealing.

We Democrats can do better than this.

I just wish she had been fighting Bush this hard for the last 7 years.

[ladygreenslippers]

"I just wish she had been fighting Bush this hard for the last 7 years."

Excellent point!

[goldman]

DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT RELIGION OTHER PEOPLE BELIEVE IN???..WHY IS CLINTON EVEN ASKED THE QUESTION,,THATS FOR OBAMA TO ANSWER,,,,,HIS FATHER WAS A MUSLIM AND IF HE IS ASHAMED OF IT THEN MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE.....WHY IS THIS NOW CLINTONS PROBLEM?????????

[Groobiecat]

Whoa, hold on there, Mr. Caffeine...here are the facts (without the shouting):

1) Barack's father left home when he was two years old

2) Barack is not now, nor has he ever been a Muslim (not that this should be an issue anyway)

3) The reason it's Hillary's problem is because a key supporter of hers, former Sen. Bob Kerry of Nebraska *made* it an issue: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/17/madrassa-bob-kerrey/

Eventually Kerry apologized, but his little trick was already laid out in public. Well done, Clinton camp! You'd do Uncle Rove proud...

[bluestatelib]

Stop screaming chump.

[snkscore]

Because it was one of her staffers who leaked the photo of Barack during his visit to Kenya, and because if she was a real leader she could just answer the question instead of dancing around it trying to scare the stupids out there.