Clinton Surrogate: Obama Can't Milk The Iraq War Cow

The Clinton camp's attempts to call into question both the sincerity of Barack Obama's call for an Iraq troop withdrawal and his ability to serve as commander-in-chief took a bizarre turn on Monday, when farming metaphors were deployed for the first time in the campaign.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard, a Clinton supporter, compared Obama's stance on Iraq to a person who could "recognize a cow" (ostensibly, the perils of the war) but not milk it (get the troops out? has conflict-management experience?).

"Just because you recognize the cow doesn't mean you know how to milk it," said Ballard, who was playing off his time among cows in Louisiana. "I think body of experience, learning what you have to do and how to do it, is very important... No one can tell you how to milk a cow; you have to do that yourself."

That wasn't all.

"No doubt in my mind he can probably milk a cow but his body of experience means he probably doesn't know how to milk one," continued Ballard, before getting a bit more specific. "When I look across the aisle at Sen. Obama, other than a great speech, I really do not see the same body of experience to deal with that issue. I see a statement that says I have a great staff that can advise me. I think you need a great body of experience to deal with the recommendations your staff is bringing to you."

Campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson called into question Obama's capacity to be the vice president, claiming "We do not believe that Senator Obama has passed the commander-in-chief test. But there is a long way between now and Denver."

In addition to Ballard, the conference call included Gen. Wesley Clark, and Lee Feinstein, the Clinton Campaign's National Security Director, all of whom attacked Obama for not being entirely committed to a troop withdrawal. As evidence they cited recent remarks by former Obama aide Samantha Power which suggested that the Illinois Democrat would reconsider troop withdrawal once elected, given the account of conditions on the ground.

"[Sen. Clinton] has been unwavering in her commitment to support withdrawal," said Ballard. "People know when they vote what they are exactly going to get. And in the case of Sen. Obama I don't think we are quite that clear."

Moooo.

Comments

[KaAp]

The Clinton's sure know how to milk a cow ... yup they do ... and they know how to spin it all into cheese ... lot's of cheese ...
Wonder what the Clinton's do with all the cow dung they always seem to be walking in or help create ...

[Plank]

Is that a cow or is it Mark Penn in camouflage?

[Jey]

Okay Hillary please get a handle on your mouthpieces. They're making you look really, really bad. What kind of person compares a frigging cow to the war? Sounds as though he needs to be sent over there. That's real smack in the face to our soldiers Mr. Ballard. Moo on you.

[LiamR]

Talk about throwing words around. What FACTS are the Clintons and their advisors citing to support their claims that Barack Obama is not up to the task?

According to the standards of the Clinton camp, the most experienced Commander-in-Chiefs regarding Iraq would be our incompetent incumbents Bush and Cheney, and Laura Bush (wake up Honey, it's 3 a.m. and the phone is ringing!).

[truthyguy]

Hillary:

Where are the income tax returns you promised to release a week ago?

Where is the list of donors to Billy Boy's library giving $500,000 on up for - we assume - something in return to be named later?

You lying phony Bitch. Tell us again how you personally were responsible for peace in Ireland, saving the middle class in just 8 years in congress, and your personal relationship with all world leaders who look to you and you alone for your brilliant, perceptive, analytical mind and solutions to all problems great and small.

[RossalGondamer]

Does a cow not return to the field after milking?

When it comes to loosing herd indefinitely or corralling them properly, common sense says your money should be on a Texan.

[Scottiedog]

WTF??? HRC is bat shit crazy. Let's just let her spew her venom until every last Democrat hates her.

Great campaign, Billary. We're so over you.

Go Away!

[JoelNH]

Huh? A cow returns from the field TO BE MILKED. I'm not sure what the metaphor is, because I haven't read more comments but...

Cows are milked in the morning, then let out to graze - then at evening milking time they return to the barn to be milked. This is on a free-range farm. Not one where they just stay in a pen all day and don't get to move around. But thats another story.

[uglybetty]

So now Obama was raised in Texas ??
From listening to him ,he claims an awfully lot but I have'nt heard that one !!!
Just wondering !!

[FrictionSoul]

Let me see if I got this right:

You don't need experience to milk a cow. Therefore you don't need experience to be the POTUS because no one can tell you how to be the POTUS. You need to be able to figure it out yourself.

Thus, Clinton can recognize the White House but wouldn't know what to do. Oh wait, she can always yell "Bill!" when the phone rings at 3am.

[BatedBreath]

Do you suppose The Clintons will be milking this one for all it's worth?

[JoelNH]

It is SILLY SEASON indeed!

[dantanna]

yeah? well; clinton couldnt even recognize the cow -

[RexPrimoris]

I am so thrilled to throw my support to Senator Cliton.

Come November, America will be faced with a clear choice between Senator McCain, who supported the foolish and immoral Iraq War, and the civil-liberties eroding Patriot Act, and....Sen­ator Cliton, who supported the foolish and immoral Iraq War, and the civil-liberties eroding Patriot Act. Senator Clinton has shown such political courage in bucking the conventional thinking of the Washington establishment. She is no craven, panderer - this is a woman who takes risky political stances and governs by what her heart tells her to do. No pollsters or expedient machinations here, no sirree!! Oh, and her support of anti-flag-burning legislation is the icing on the cake. Senator Cliton has the balls to understand that defense of the flag as an object is more important than preserving the freedoms the flag represents. Go Hillary!!!!!

[dzoner]

I know exactly what i'd get if i voted for Hillary, a yawning abyss between what she SAYS she would do and what she would ACTUALLY do.

As for Obama, I now have the audacity of hope. 700,000 sub $100 donors in feburary IS real change, and it is change I can BELIEVE in.

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

I urge all readers who are undecided, and who have yet to vote in the Dem primary, to consider things from this perspective:

We have 2 candidates who are both very intelligent, and who each bring different valuable experiences to the plate. However, please realize that Obama has stringently attempted to keep all criticisms and campaign strategies on point -- not personal or manipulative. Clinton, conversely, is willing to do anything to cut Obama down, including leveling attacks that she herself knows are untrue or, at best, inaccurate. This is not a show of strength, but a show of hunger for power and victory at all costs. Clinton is keenly aware that the only way she can hope to secure the Dem nomination is to strong-arm the superdelegates into overturning the majority who have participated in a democratic process. This is disgusting and blatantly self-serving.

Furthermore, this does not show that she would be a better fighter against McCain. Obama's avoidance of harsh and unfair attacks on Clinton shows that he is unwilling to tear down another Democrat, NOT that he is unwilling to fight fiercely in the gen'l election. Their are WIDESPREAD reports that Republican spoilers contributed to Hillary's victory in Ohio and primary edge in TX, and it is entirely possibly they made the difference in the TX primary. Clinton's own camp must know this, yet she is gloating, and is again willing to grab a win at any cost.

Please visit BarackObama.com and read about his positions and his record. Lastly, look into yourself and ask if you are willing to let yourself be inspired! Speeches are not policies, but they are indeed actions! Obama has bipartisan appeal amongst his fellow congresspeople, and for good reason. How can the tone of Washington ever change for better if not led from the top? He did it in Illinois, and he will do it in DC.

[hannabanana]

Well, HRC is a cow who is milking herself for all she's worth.

[AZDemocrat500]

Hillary told him to say it. Sam you have to be one the biggest Clinton haters in American and you call yourself a Journalist.

[lovethesinner]

Did he mean that Obama couldn't milk the "cash cow" of Iraq? (congress is doing a good enough job of that)

These farm analogies will come in useful at the convention when they try to put Hillary on the ticket, because it really is true...

"you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

Obama/Gore in '08