Obama Camp Lays Ground For Negative Attacks

***STORY UPDATES BELOW***

The Obama camp appears to be laying ground for pushing back against Hillary Clinton's latest campaign attacks, even if that means taking a negative approach themselves. The difficulty, as has been noted in the past, is maintaining the positive approach that has dominated his campaign while still drawing contrast with the Clintons.

Obama campaign manager David Axelrod claimed last night:

"If Sen. Clinton wants to take the debate to various places, we'll join that debate. We'll do it on our terms and in our own way but if she wants to make issues like ethics and disclosure and law firms and real estate deals and all that stuff issues, as I've said before I don't know why they'd want to go there, but I guess that's where they'll take the race.''

The Associated Press cites an anonymous Obama aide:

A senior Obama adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Obama's team will respond to Tuesday's results by going negative on Clinton -- raising questions about her tax records and the source of donations to the Clinton presidential library, among skeletons in the Clintons' past.

And Obama is challenging Hillary's claims to be a better Commander-in-Chief:

"I hope people start asking is what exactly is this foreign experience she is claiming," he said. "Was she handling crises during this period of time? I haven't seen any evidence that she is more equipped to handle a crisis.

"She made the experience argument and her ability to handle a crisis, so I think it is important to examine that claim and not just allow her to assert it," he added. "She has made the argument that she is thoroughly vetted. If the suggestion is somehow that on issue of ethics or disclosure or transparency that she is somehow going to have a better record than I have or could (better) withstand Republican attack, then that should be tested."

Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that some superdelegates worry about future attacks. Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist, had this to say to the Associated Press:

"Despite Obama's impressive victories in February, Clinton's comeback is based on sowing political seeds of doubt," said Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist and one of nearly 800 party leaders known as superdelegates for their ability to determine the nomination. "In order to clinch the nomination, he must anticipate the worst attacks ever."...

..."If these attacks are contrasts based on policy differences, there is no need to stop the race or halt the debate," Brazile said. "But, if this is more division, more diversion from the issues and more of the same politics of personal destruction, chairman Dean and other should be on standby."

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UPDATE: The Obama camp has released a memo criticizing Clinton for refusing to release her tax returns. David Axelrod reinforced the message saying Clinton had "a history of nondisclosure," after promising that "the vetting of Hillary Clinton has yet to start."

Read the memo:

TO: Interested Parties FR: The Obama Campaign RE: TAX RETURNS: What does Clinton have to hide?

DA: March 5, 2008

The Clinton campaign today maintained that "the vetting of Barack Obama has just begun." The truth is, more than a year into this campaign, some very simple vetting of Hillary Clinton has yet to start.

In the face of her unwillingness to release her tax returns, Hillary Clinton has made the false case in this campaign that she is more electable because she has been fully vetted. When it comes to her personal finances, Senator Clinton's refusal to release her taxes returns denies the media and the American people the opportunity to even begin that process. Though her campaign has tried to kick the issue down the road, Democratic voters deserve to know, right now, why it is she is hiding the information in her tax returns from last year.

The Clinton campaign has said that they have released copious amounts of financial information but there are many questions about their private dealings that could be answered in their tax returns but not in the information that is currently available. For example, here are eight pieces of information that could be learned from her tax returns, the accompanying schedules, and attachments:

Effective tax rate - including whether or not any tax shelters were used to reduce it
Amount of income for spouses by source
Amount of stock gains and losses
Gross income for the couple
Amount earned from stock dividends
Amount of household employment taxes paid
Personal exemptions taken
Charitable contributions made

Senator Clinton has also claimed that she is too "busy" to release her tax returns. Given the fact she is able to loan her campaign $5 million, you would think the Clintons would be able to hire an accountant. The reality is that she wants to keep this information hidden from voters. The people of Wyoming, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and the rest of the country should wonder why.

The Clintons' record on releasing tax returns:

FEBRUARY 2008: Clinton Reiterated That She Would Not Release Her Tax Records Until She Is The Nominee And Not Before Mid-April. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says she won't release her tax returns until she has the Democratic presidential nomination in hand, and not before tax filing time comes in mid-April. "I will release my tax returns," Clinton said during the debate. "I have consistently said I will do that once I become the nominee, or even earlier." Pressed about the timing of releasing her tax returns, campaign aides were more reticent Wednesday, indicating that Clinton would not release the sensitive financial data during a hotly contested primary, but only at tax filing time. [AP, 2/27/08 ]

JUNE 2007: Clinton Does Not Plan to Release Her Tax Returns Until Next Year. According to the Washington Post, Clinton said through a spokesman that, "like past presidential candidates," she will "release tax information in the election year." [Washington Post , 6/19/07]

APRIL 12, 1996: Clinton Released His Tax Returns. President Clinton and his wife earned $316,074 in 1995, including the president's $200,000 salary, according to tax returns released Friday by the White House. The public release of the tax returns, three days before the April 15 filing deadline, shows that Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton are owed a refund of $5,656 on the $81,093 they paid in taxes, and will apply that refund to their 1996 income taxes. [UPI, 4/12/96]

April 15, 1992: Bill Clinton Made His Tax Returns Public. APRIL 15, 1992: Bill Clinton made his tax returns made public. [Los Angeles Times, 4/16/93]

Bill Clinton Released His Tax Returns In 1992 But Refused To Release Their Tax Returns From Before 1980. During the 1992 campaign, the Clintons claimed to be coming clean by releasing their tax returns from 1980 forward. But they steadfastly refused to release their returns for prior years, and only later did we learn that 1978 and 1979 were the tax years when Mrs. Clinton reported her 10,000% cattle-futures trading profit. [WSJ, 2/22/08 ]

UPDATE: The Hillary camp has responded with a statement from Howard Wolfson:

Faced with many legitimate questions about Senator Obama's long-time relationship with indicted political fixer Tony Rezko, the Obama campaign has chosen to lash out at Senator Clinton.

Here are the facts:

Over 20 years of the Clintons' tax returns are in the public domain.

Their tax returns since they left the White House will be made available on or around April 15.

This information will be in addition to 15 years of uninterrupted public financial disclosure reports.

Instead of making false attacks, we urge Senator Obama to release all relevant financial and other information related to indicted political fixer Tony Rezko.

Comments

[Bobleblah1]

Not just tax returns

Where's all the Katrina Money your husband and his best friend George HW Bush raised?
The reports said $1 billion was raised. I have not heard of a single New Orleans resident seeing a dime of that money. $1 billion, and no body has seen it. what happened to the money? Stolen???probably
Illegally funding Hillary's campaign? probably.

LETS SEE THOSE TAX RETURNS. BILL AND HILLARY.

What happened to all that money?????

[waynesmyer]

"I don't got to show you no stinking tax returns, Gringo!" attributed to The "Two For The Price Of One" Clintons! your next beloved War Presinators (Profiteers)
p.s. Is The Hillary legally Blonde?

[AnotherTry]

ahem, they don't have to show their tax returns. the IRS has them and if they choose to act, they will. Clearly, Obama has nothing. Crying about tax returns is like crying about medical records. It's really none of your business. Move on.

[vincie]

YOUR ARE REALLY SICK. GET A LIFE. NOW BILL CLINTON STOLE MONEY FROM THE KATRINA FUND. DO YOU HAVE ANY PROOF. YOU ARE THROWING THINGS OUT THERE AND HOPE THEY STICK, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT TRUE. LET OBAMA BE INVESTIGATED LIKE BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON WERE INVESTIGATED FOR 8 YEARS. OBAMA CAN'T EVEN JUSTIFY HOW HE BOUGHT HIS OVER ON MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE. HE DOESN'T HAVE TO ANSWER, HE IS KING OBAMA. ITS AS THOUGH OBAMA THINKS HE IS ENTITLED TO THE PRESIDENCY. I THINK THE AUDACITY IS THAT A MAN, WITH ONLY TWO YEARS IN THE SENATE, THINKS HE IS QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT, AND BECAUSE HE IS BLACK SHOULD GET IT. I DON'T CARE IF YOUR WHITE, BLACK, OR BROWN, IF YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND YOU SHOW MORE THAN JUST GIVING A EXCELLENT SPEECH, THAN YOU SHOULD BE QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT. WE ARE NOT VOTING FOR A ROCK STAR, WE ARE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT BY THE WAY, IS IN A FINANCIAL MESS, AND HAVE TWO WARS GOING ON.

[FreedomsRoad]

Hillary is terrified of releasing those tax returns, the schedule from her time as First Lady and anything else that might lead to a complete picture of how the Clintons have been enriching themselves since they entered public life. Her hands haven't been clean since the 60s.

http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/vsu/wmv-hi/macdonald-obama-memo080303.wmv

[Macready]

thank you Freedoms Road . ..

[nohat]

A warning for those Obamites who think a DT (dream ticket) is advantageous to both the party and Obama personally.
All the personal advantages of a DT belong to Hillary alone, and here they are (and don't think she hasn't thought of each and every one):
(1) the most obvious one: she eliminates the competition
(2) she avoids a dogfight in denver that she knows half the country will blame her for
(3) she uses him to campaign for her, up and down the country
(4) she benefits from his gift of oratory (one she knows she doesn't have) that can sway
big, big crowds
(5) she gets all his votes, millions and millions and millions of them.
What advantages listed above can he claim? All he will get out of the DT is more campaign experience, a sore throat, and tired feet. He won't even get face or name recognition, he already has that. And the job he'd be running for is, as all the world knows, one of the lousiest jobs in Washington.; it carries very little power and influence and it does absolutely nothing to prepare someone for the oval office, should he wish to pursue that at a later time.
It's a nonjob, pretty much.
I just wanted to point all this out, not to be 'cute' nor to be the voice of doom. I believe that, if she offers it to him, she will paint it as anything but what it is: personally advantageous to her alone. Obama will know what she is up to---I hope---and turn it down. Not because he won't put the party first, but because he will. It just ISN'T best for the party to usher in another 4 to 8 years of the Clintons. It is possible that if Bill were not going to be part of another Clinton reign, Hillary might do some good in office. Even I will give her that. But with Bill....

[OfficialA]

No one is seriously thinking Obama would join a dream ticket in the second slot, are they? And why should he? He holds the advantage. And I don't see much potential in these Dream Ticket fantasies: why would Hillary or Obama want to give up a Senate seat to attend state funerals? It ain't gonna happen because neither of them will accept the second slot.

[uglybetty]

VP is'nt a non job anymore . After all Cheney was ..The pres... for at least the first 5 yrs of the Bush run! Maybe Barack could be sent around the world to mend relations with other countries that Bush /Cheney have destroyed !!
I guess I don't get what you Obamans are afraid of,if Obama is as good as you all say and Hillary is as bad as you say there should'nt even be a contest !!! Right ????

[CTtransplant]

he has a right to show some truly righteous anger over this one - check it out...just out on www.liberalvaluesblog.com :


Contact with Canadians on NAFTA
The story regarding an Obama aide allegedly speaking with the Canadian government is getting even more bizarre. The Globe and Mail has a story reporting that Ian Brodie, chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, first mentioned contact from a presidential candidate regarding NAFTA. However the contact came from an unexpected source (emphasis mine):
At the end of an extended conversation, Mr. Brodie was asked about remarks aimed by the Democratic candidates at Ohio"s anti-NAFTA voters that carried serious economic implications for Canada.
Since 75 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S., Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton"s musings about reopening the North American free-trade pact had caused some concern.
Mr. Brodie downplayed those concerns.
"Quite a few people heard it," said one source in the room.
"He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton"s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt. . . That someone called us and told us not to worry."
Government officials did not deny the conversation took place.
Hillary Clinton"s campaign!!??? After Clinton won the Ohio primary, at least partially due to reports suggesting that Obama had made such claims, it turns out the Clinton campaign has been speaking with the Canadians regarding NAFTA. Has Clinton been attacking Obama"s campaign for what she had done? I sure wouldn"t put it past her. Josh Marshall has the same question:
So was Hillary bashing Obama for what her own campaign had done? Did they both do it? Was it all a set up? I think the overarching story here is that friendly governments should not interfere in our elections.
Written by Ron Chusid
03-05-08

[busybeez]

I can't help but wonder if during that call to Canada from the Clinton camp (Bill?) if a request wasn't made for a memo to be written about Obama and released to the press. The timing was too perfect for the primaries. Who knows what the Clintons might promise in exchange for the favor. I'm not sure the Republican party is to blame for this particular dirty trick. I watched Bill campaign across Texas twice as hard as Hillary or Barack. It was real obvious that Bill wants back in the White House bad, and he has a lot of connections to call in dirty tricks.
Also, kind of strange that Limbaugh put out the call for Republicans to vote for Hillary, then Bill does an interview for the radio program the day after the election. Another favor? Too much of a coincidence for me.

[lunadove]

When I first researched the story in the Canadian news the articles stated both campaigns made contact in advance to the Canandian Gov't not to take their words on the matter to heart. Not good for both camps. Funny how the media time and again reports this in favor of Clinton. I guess this is the media's "make-up sex" with Hilllary.

[psfurlong356]

bigger then the tax returns:

Burkle-Clinton-Dubai/
Clinton-Giustra-Kazakhstan.

http://emirateseconomist.blogspot.com/2008/01/burkle-clinton-dubai.html

[TruthanReason]

It seems to me that Hillary's "Kitchen Sink" strategy is quite cartoonish in its dispersion of political banana-peels. For the majority of the campaign, Barack Obama expertly dodged these baseless claims, which largely draw false conclusions from slightly imperfect records. The characteristics of contrast between these two candidates have been 1. Poised (ready to intelligently rebut), and 2. Coiled (Ready to strike). There should be no confusion about the designation of each. It is a true travesty, how the undereducated are unwittingly gathered as pawns on the chessboard. There seems to be an air of rebellion in the Clinton campaign and an air of unity and inspiration within the Obama camp and their supporters. I would not simply put this out unsupported, so I will quote the Clinton Ohio rally in juxtaposition to A common Obama theme. Did anyone else catch the chants of "Yes she will!!" at the rally? Linguistically, the message is one of retort, spitefully perhaps to a claim of "No she won't"? This is a sharp contrast to the growing Obama supporting mantra of "Yes WE can!!". In the Clinton campaign the supporters are strongly united in opposition, creating a rift in the Democratic Party and additional rifts within the nation, along many relatively superficial channels. There is the resounding cry of unnecessarily emphasizing the differences within this nation (We are of course the "Melting Pot"). There is duality in the message of the Clintons. The message of Obama, on the other hand is absolute. WE are Americans, and WE constitute America. Vote Obama '08

[lungfish]

Funny how Hillary has nothing to say about warrantless, illegal wiretapping and telecome immunity. She couldn't even be bothered to represent the people who elected her and vote even though she was in Arlington, working on her campaign. Its probably because she beholden to the telecoms themselves - At least Obama showed up and voted "no" enough to demonstrate his position on it.
These suits include the infamous "splitter boxes" that allow the NSA and OHS to listen to every single electronic communication in the country regardless of warrants - the "Mark Klein" case. If you don't think that this is very important, you aren't paying attention. Hillary didn't even vote and hasn't said a word about it... and probably never will unless she lies or understates when confronted.

http://www.fec.gov/disclosure.shtml

http://www.opensecrets.org

I am not saying that Obama is a saint but I am saying that Hillary has a record of lying about big things and small things, she does not have our best interests in mind. During her "experience" in the WH she lied about Travelgate, she stole furnishings from the WH, she and her husband were involved or implicated in nefariousness of various kinds.... I don't think she is trustworthy and I won't vote for her. She isn't diplomatic, just look at how she managed her campaign. Further the NAFTA thing was just plan low and she is disingenous to a high degree regarding her personal opinions about the treaty regardless of what she says in public.

I think that if she runs against McBush she may well lose because her presence will rally the GOP base which is truly fractured. They will go after her in a way that will make swiftboating look like a tickle fight. Compare her "35 years of experience" which is fluffed at best to McCains decades of experience in office. At least Obama is different and unique enough to offset McBush to a degree that voters will either like his message or they will like McBush's - Hillary carries so much baggage... Why do you think that Coulter and Limbaugh want her to win? It isn't because she is a good candidate, its because she is one they think they can beat, they have no confidence at all in defeating Obama and if he gets the nomination the GOP defections will continue towards him. A lot of GOP and Ind who would defect from McBush will not vote for Hillary....

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Not to mention that she is the ONLY Democratic candidate who has not pledge to return constitutional liberties:

http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/politics?type=politicsNews&w1=B7ovpm21IaDoL40ZFnNfGe&w2=B7tmRCRJt2YFzDsa7MJ1CblL&src=blogBurst_politicsNews&bbPostId=Cz1VeFnrO5fmhCz7sNEgkr6eaqCz3hWJURc5eE5Cz8bp0emPnej3&bbParentWidgetId=B7tmRCRJt2YFzDsa7MJ1CblL

And Obama has taught constitutional law and has been outspoken and critical against Bush's abuse of the constitution, and warrantless wiretapping:

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/28/barack-obama-statement-on-fisa/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/30/politics/p132303D74.DTL&type=politics

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

*pledged*

[IkeChicago]

This is how Hillary Clinton lied to the people of Ohio, I broke the story and it's flying around the web. Hopefully the news media will pick it up tomorrow. Hillary busted in a lie.

Brodie downplayed those concerns.
"Quite a few people heard it," said one source in the room.
"He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton"s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt ... That someone called us and told us not to worry."
Government officials did not deny the conversation took place.
They said that Brodie sought to allay concerns about the impact of Obama and Clinton"s assertion that they would re-negotiate NAFTA if elected. But they did say that Brodie had no recollection of discussing any specific candidate " either Clinton or Obama. CTV News Vice-President Robert Hurst said he would not discuss his journalists" sources.
But others said the content of Brodie"s remarks was passed on to CTV"s Washington bureau and their White House correspondent set out the next day to pursue the story on Clinton"s apparent hypocrisy on the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Althought CTV correspondent Tom Clark mentioned Clinton in passing, the focus of his story was on assurances from the Obama camp

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2008/03/05/4920601.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Now the News media knows that Hillary Clinton told this to the Canadians yet they chose to attack Obama on this. The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff clearly say that it was the Clinton's staff that said this, why is the media hiding this.

[KDH]

"why is the media hiding this"

Because maybe it's all a crock?

[missionimpossible]

The reason Hillary won on negative news the last 48 hours before scheduled voting is simple: it cators to her electorate of poor white, black, and hispanic, uneducated blue collar workers. They are the ones easily manipulated with fear tactics(muslim, canadian memo, rezco) than any other demographic.

In essence, she spewed the venom(bait), and the chickens came home to roost.

Obama (Harvard Graduate, Sigma Cum Laude, President Harvard Law Review, Constitution Law Professor), needs to connect with this demographic in the general election or he is toast.

[PuffAndStuff]

The "Archie Bunker voter" as I saw it written in an article earlier today.

But, what no one seems to talking about is how/why the '3:00 am' fear-mongering ad worked so extremely well in her favor. I am absolutely certain, have not a bit of doubt, that It had little to do with her, rather all to do with her husband.

Those effected by that ad had a knee-jerk reaction that if there was an attack on the US in the middle of the night they'd felt that they'd feel safer with Clinton (Bill, that is) being on the other end of 'the call' into the whitehouse. Now, Bill as the recipient of the call -- that likely would be via Hillary first, or both of them on a 3-way conference call, but nonetheless, the scaredy-cat type voter felt safer thinking Bill Clinton, whom has had experience in the role of president before, would be handling the call ..

As opposed to a maybe-Muslim, an inexperienced leader, nothing but a good orator -- as Hillary's been making Obama out to be all week.

And the Obama's response '3:00 am' ad was completely ineffective, it really didn't make much sense -- the wording, message, was just way 'off''.

[ThatSharkeyGeezer]

You know, the numbers are finally in, I feel really disillusioned.

I really thought Obama might win this.

But then Hillary came through on Tuesday night and like, wiped the floor with him.

I mean, she won a whole FOUR delegates.

That means she'll be president before she wins the nomination, right? Because at this rate, it's going to take her another year at least to make up the difference.

[IkeChicago]

Hillary lied to the people of Ohio on NAFTA, hopefully they will find out tomorrow if the news media stops suppressing this story. She lied in NH and now Ohio, will Penn trust here now.

[JavaCityGal]

What story about Hilary lying about NAFTA -- let us know.

[Rocky4356]

Hell with tax returns- Ask the Former First Hostess of America where was Bill that 3Am morning when the red phone rang. This story has legs.

[Mollye]

I would rather talk about Rezko.

[JavaCityGal]

Speaking of scandals, I'm reading rumours about Bill Clinton getting millions of dollars from the Sheik of Dubai -- anybody else heard that?

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/3/2/121350.shtml?s=et

[Susan1968]

Um, by it's nature a rumor is unproven,

[JavaCityGal]

This is from Faux News -- but still an interesting read -- does everyone know about Bill Clintons connection with Dubai and the United Arab Emirates for money? This could be why she won't release her taxes. If anyone knows anything about this, please let us know.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265925,00.html

------------------------------------------------------------
Hillary Clinton and her campaign repeatedly highlight her ardent feminism, her lifelong advocacy of workers’ rights, her consistent support for unions, and her love of Israel.

But those principles go right out the window if there’s money involved. When it comes to lining their pockets, the Clintons have a double standard. While Hillary chastises American corporations and employers for lay-offs and opposition to greater union organizing rights, Bill is paid big bucks that go into their joint bank accounts to legitimize the anti-Semitic, anti-worker, anti-union, and anti-woman Arab state of the UAE and its emirates of Dubai.

It’s not just Bill’s $1.2 million Dubai speaking fees that have enriched the Clintons, and its not just the million dollar contribution by the Emir of Dubai to the Clinton Presidential Library that has endeared the Islamic monarchy to them.

It’s much more that that: Bill Clinton was personally responsible for delivering the ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the U.A.E., Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to a partnership with Yucaipa Cos., headed by Bill and Hillary’s uber-fundraiser Ron Burkle.

see above link for rest of article

[Susan1968]

YEah, Clinton gets big speaking fees all over the world. So have ALL the USA presidents in the last 20 years.

The Clinton Library is separate from his personal income and under the jurisdiction of the US Archives. Check how many foreign governments donated to every president's library.

And, If the last part were true, rather than speculation, CNN and MSNBC would be all over it.

FOX NEws is famous for speculation.

And you know they haven't.

[2liveNdie]

I would rather talk about ROSE LAW FIRM

[IkeChicago]

You just goto check this out, a blast from the past.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/2111878/6659837

[JavaCityGal]

Gennifer Flowers selling a tape of conversatons between her and Bill during their 12 affair-including intimate conversations. I SO don't miss the Clinton White House, yeesh.

[Susan1968]

IKE

On that Canadian article you linked. You mischaracterize it.

It clearly casts the Canadian, Brodie, as someone who CLAIMED, third-hand, that he heard this from the Clinton Campaign then later said he didn't recall. It's hearsay.

Also note from your linked article, Brodie is a guy who made this unproven mention of Clinton while chatting in a group in CANADA.

But Obama's guy, Goulsbee, had a meeting with a different Canadian diplomat in CHICAGO at Canada’s Chicago consulate.

QUOTE:

If the prime minister is seeking the first link in the chain of events that has rocked the U.S. presidential race, he need look no further than his chief of staff, Ian Brodie, The Canadian Press has learned. ...

What is now a swirling Canada-U.S. controversy began on Feb. 26, when the usually circumspect Brodie was milling among droves of Canadian media on budget day in the stately old building that once housed Ottawa’s train station

“He (Brodie) said someone from (Hillary) Clinton’s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt ... That someone called us and told us not to worry." ...

They said that Brodie sought to allay concerns about the impact of Obama and Clinton’s assertion that they would re-negotiate NAFTA if elected.

But they did say that Brodie had no recollection of discussing any specific candidate — either Clinton or Obama.

[My notes: He said "Someone" from the Clinton Campaign? Who? he never says. Then later says he didn't remember mentioning either Clinton or Obama. The problem for Obama is the memo from the Chicago meeting.]

Quote:

When Obama’s campaign and the Canadian government denied the allegation, a leaked document was obtained by The Associated Press written by a Canadian diplomat. It chronicled a conversation between Obama economic adviser Austan Goulsbee and diplomats at Canada’s Chicago consulate


http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2008/03/05/4920601.html

[rosal]

I agree. Where are this woman's tax records? She is not hiding anything, right? And her phone logs? And her husband's records? Who is paying him for trips and speeches? If they don't have anything to hide, they will comply immediately. Otherwise, we are going to start wondering. Her supporters should press this issue. If she is clean as the driven snow, there is nothing to fear.
We'll be watching her response. Supporters, make sure you will not suffer from "buyers remorse".