Clinton: McCain And I Have Passed "Commander-In-Chief Threshold"

The Swamp:

In a Cabinet-style setting, surrounded by retired military leaders, Sen. Hillary Clinton said the public should ask whether Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama has met the criteria needed to become the nation's commander in chief.

"I think that since we now know Sen. (John) McCain will be the nominee for the Republican Party, national security will be front and center in this election. We all know that. And I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold," the New York senator told reporters crowded into an infant's bedroom-sized hotel conference room in Washington.

"I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you'll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy," she said.

Read the whole story: The Swamp

Comments

[ladygreenslippers]

Excuse me while HRC builds her resume to run as McCain's running mate.

[DDike88]

HRC -- The heart of a liberal, the mind of a conservative. And when it's time for the general election, will it be a battle about who is more conservative?

"Well, John, I was president of the Young Republicans at Wellsley... and I'm the preferred candidate amongst the Limbaughs and the Coulters..."

[Wombat]

Lets see. Hillary has 8 years as Senator from NY, the health care fiasco during the first Clinton administgration and tea with foriegn dignetaries as her foreign ploicy experience. Maybe Obama's 15 years in elective office trumps Hillys limited actual experience

[uscitizen]

clip---“I think that since we now know Sen. (John) McCain will be the nominee for the Republican Party, national security will be front and center in this election. We all know that. And I think it’s imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold,” the New York senator told reporters crowded into an infant’s bedroom-sized hotel conference room in Washington.

“I believe that I’ve done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you’ll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy,” she said.
--end clip

This is fascinating:

1. Clinton says McCain will be framing the election. Haven't the democrats been allowing that to happen for quite some time? Don't we need someone who can reframe the debate instead of concede? What kind of leadership is this?
2. I thought we were electing a *president* who happens to be commander in chief of the armed forces and not vice versa.
3. The commander in chief does not act in isolation. A wise president would surround him/herself with a variety of experts and draw counsel before making a final judgment. With Clinton, it does sometimes seem it's all about her. Sorry, I don't trust her judgment.
4. So Clinton believes she's CIC material, but certainly McCain is. Wow, didn't she just set up a litmus test and then concede that McCain is better than she is? I'm guessing this was a swipe at Obama, but in the process, and more importantly, she made herself look less qualified than McCain.

I've got a headache just trying to make sense of this. It's mind-boggling. I don't get the strategy at all. This seems like amateur hour to me, and yet she's the one who's supposed to have all the experience.

Unfortunately, my first choice on the democratic side isn't in the race anymore. And, Clinton isn't persuading me that she should be anywhere close to the White House.

[zendem1]

well said.

[Sisyphuss]

Knowing her nomination is now virtually impossible this year, she wants the Dems to lose in 2008 so she can run again in 2012.

[nochickenhawk]

She's through if she loses this year.

[HGalal]

After HRC"s wins in the Super Tuesday (II) contests, I honestly question how Ohio and Texas can support a message of "fear" and "bigotry", versus a message of universal hope.

By this, I mean very specifically HRC"s running of the now infamous "3:00 A.M. ad" and her coy inability to answer a simple question as to Obama"s faith during a news interview.

Respectively, HRC had claimed for months, to no avail, that she had more experience, and thus better qualified, than Obama to become President. That point, apparently resonated so well with voters euphoric for Obama, that her campaign decided it was time to go all out negative and play the "fear card", days before the Ohio / Texas contests.

Further, her roundabout answer to the question of Obama"s faith only lent fuel to ludicrous speculation, especially coming on the heels of a "timely" photo release (by the Drudge Report) of Obama in traditional Somali attire.

Between these two factors and a few other kitchen appliances hurled at Obama, HRC resorted to what the Clinton team knows best: destroy the enemy at all costs in order to gain victory.

My deepest regret is that voters in Ohio and in Texas fell for the negativity.

With those shallow victories, HRC has embarked on a road to the nomination that will stop at nothing in pursuit of the Presidency.

Along the way, Obama will have been destroyed, the Democratic Party will be in utter disarray, young new enthusiastic voters will shun politics, an opportunity to refocus the country"s urgent priorities will have been lost for decades to come, Independents will migrate to the Republicans and McCain will win the Presidency.

Thank you very much Hillary, and I hope you enjoy the sweet thrill of victory.

[dogboy]

Oh, she will. She will do anything to keep her finacial status intact. Whether that means her in office or McInsane.

[adroind]

hilla W y seems about ready to self-destruct.

Now that the NAFTA spin is being reversed, if Dems are smart then they'll know everything she says deserves to be scrutinized.

Her BS over the last weeks actually will strengthen Obama - he was a bit naive as to the length hilla W y would go to to get her throne. This will serve Barak well for the rest of the campaign.

His message is still stronger and now that Canada has dropped her draws, and she's has revealed herself to be a necon not a progressive, if Dems cannot realize the game being played, they are no different than the Republicans who followed Bush in 2000 and 2004 without doing their homework.

Dems as a rule tend to be smarter and scrutinize their politicians more than Repubs.

If hilla W y gets the nomination be forewarned - we deserve what we get, because the reality is the NECONS, corporations, PACs and the status quo lose nothing (with McCain or McCain-light), while the rest of us lose our chance at a voice.....once again

[cdnnewsjunky]

Where ya been? Canada has been neo-con for a few years now, but it's neo-con light, Canada has a parlimentary system, and the neo-cons are still a minority government, so the jackboots are still in the closet.

[oshpd1]

What a crock of shit. Hillary Clinton cannot be commander in chief of the millitary. She has no qualifications to talk about it much less consider herself qualified for the position. I am a vetran with combat experience and it is an insult to military personnal for her to consider herself in their league.

[dogboy]

Exactly! Will the MSM take her to task on this? Probably not. They love a good fight. Their ratings have never been higher.

[deb813]

She's digging her own grave, it's only a matter of time before someone pushes her into it. Sooner or later it will dawn on some of these superdelegates that it is better to move en masse to Obama now then to have to put their eggs in Hillary's basket. She's given us a number of reasons to vote for John McCain already and it's only a couple of days.

[americandiaspora]

MY FRIENDS I AM AFRAID
THIS HAS THE STENCH OF SOMEONE THAT SHOULD LOOSE BUT WILL GET APPOINTED
ANYONE FOR DEJA VU?

[the964kid]

Why does she hate Obama so much?? because he dares run against her?? he's run one of the cleanest campaigns in modern history. she's already called Obama kenneth starr, george bush and karl rove - she is starting to look insane. And she'd obviously prefer Mccain to win in the fall over the Dems (if its not her on the ticket) - she's a complete traitor in every sense of the word.

[americandiaspora]

I ASSUME KID THAT THESE ARE RHETORICAL QUESTION YOU ASK........

AND YES THIS WOMAN IS INSANE: BARKING MAD, AROUND THE BEND.........

UNFORTUNATELY BARACK MAY HAVE TO STOOP TO, GULP, DIRTY TRICKS, THAT WOULD BE SAD THAT HILLARY(WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST) WOULD FORCE HIS HAND LIKE THIS.

[LakeShore]

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Clinton supporters' justifications for these remarks. Imagine if it had been Sen. Obama who made these comments - we would never hear the end of it. I'm not looking forward to seeing the RNC play her comments on a loop during the General Election. Once again, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[mrJJ]

When did McCain become a member of the Dem Party? or has Billary finally come out and declared herself a Rethuglican? Strange behavior for a so called Dem running in a primary. I wonder what the Democratic Party Bosses think of this? I guess if Mc Clinton doesnt get the Dem nomination she will send her supportes over to McCain...

Glad I consider myself an Indie. If I were a card carrying Dem I'd be calling Clinton a Traitor to her party. Oh well thats up for the Dems to decide. But it sure is strange...

[PrdAmerican]

Does this mean we should start calling her Hillary W. McClinton?

[mstoot]

Probably means that we should start calling her "Hillary Lieberman Clinton." This is getting so nasty, and no good can come from it. I would change parties before I would give her my vote. Does she have PMS or what?

[Canukistani]

So, let's see, Hillary's qualifications are that she respects John McCain, she lies about the NAFTA thing, and she can even pose with (retired) military people. These may be solid qualifications, if she was running as a Republican. To be fair, though, I guess both her and McCain have the same owners, so it's not all that much of a stretch.

[PrdAmerican]

Hillary's idea of a dream ticket = Clinton / McCain 2008

[tselfe]

Now would be a great time for Edwards and Richardson to step up and endorse Obama. Hillary's arrogance and delusional selfishness obviously has no limits......thus is like a train wreck waiting to happen - McCain is probably measuring the curtains in the Oval Office as we speak...

[stupidme]

I'm on the Barack call conference call now. Get on the call or go the website and make calls on behalf of Barack. As Tselfe points out, HRC and her people are out of control. There is only one Democrat running now. Hillary has in effect become a Third Party Candidate. Contact Super Delegates, call the DNC, call whomever. How any Democrat can support her now ..... I'm really pissed. Maybe she go on Rush's too so she can talk up McCain a little more. I know, I know -- all HRC's supporters will tell us what a brilliant tactical move this McCain endorsement is. BULLSHIT! It clear who the Zombies are now, and it ain't the Obama supporters. Donate and make calls, the Clinton's ARE ruthless and only about themselves. Really people, this Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton thing must cease.

[nochickenhawk]

I have been e-mailing the DNC for several days, but I don't see anyone from there coming out and condemning her remarks. I am an independent so maybe they don't care.

[ljsfolly]

THIS SETTLES It!!!!! Hillary is a damn freaking republican. A republican running on a democrat ticket. What is up with this? Should the democrats allow her to have any dem support?