Obama Prepares For Full Assault On Clinton's Ethics

The Chicago Tribune reports that Barack Obama's is pushing this week for greater transparency in his campaign as part of a plan to launch a head-on attack against his opponent Sen. Clinton.

Sen. Barack Obama is trying to air his dirty laundry -- even some items that might appear just a little wrinkled -- as he prepares a full assault on Sen. Hillary Clinton over ethics and transparency.

On Saturday he invoked Robert F. Kennedy as he continued to try to distance himself from controversial statements made by his former Chicago pastor that are circulating on the Internet.

With a gap between campaign contests, Obama is trying to unload controversies. On Friday he held extended conversations with the Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times about his longtime relationship with indicted developer and fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

The Illinois Democrat is also expected to make public his tax returns for several years before 2006, documents he previously has provided to the Tribune and other news organizations.

The plan seems to be yielding dividends, if the Tribune is to be believed. After sitting with the papers editorial board to answer every question asked about his relationship with Tony Rezko, the Chicago Tribune had this to say:

When we endorsed Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination Jan. 27, we said we had formed our opinions of him during 12 years of scrutiny. We concluded that the professional judgment and personal decency with which he has managed himself and his ambition distinguish him.

Nothing Obama said in our editorial board room Friday diminishes that verdict.

We said in that same editorial that Obama had been too self-exculpatory in explaining away his ties to Tony Rezko. And we've been saying since Nov. 3, 2006 -- shortly after the Tribune broke the story of Obama's house purchase -- that Obama needed to fully explain his Rezko connection. He also needed to realize how susceptible he had been to someone who wanted a piece of him -- and how his skill at recognizing that covetousness needed to rise to the same stature as his popular appeal.

Friday's session evidently fulfills both obligations. Might we all be surprised by some future disclosure? Obama's critics have waited 16 months for some new and cataclysmic Rezko moment to implicate and doom Obama. It hasn't happened....

...Barack Obama now has spoken about his ties to Tony Rezko in uncommon detail. That's a standard for candor by which other presidential candidates facing serious inquiries now can be judged.

Comments

[Independentjunkie]

On CNN last Tuesday, Senator Obama said, "Well, look, Wolf, I think if you watch how we have conducted our campaign, we've been very measured in terms of how we talk about Senator Clinton. ... I have been careful to say, that I think that Senator Clinton is a capable person and that should she win the nomination, obviously, I would support her. You know, I'm not sure that we have been getting that same approach from the Clinton campaign."

The facts of this election stand in stark contrast to that statement.

Senator Obama and his senior campaign officials have engaged in a systematic effort to question Hillary's integrity, credibility, and character. They have portrayed her as someone who would put her personal gain ahead of the lives of our troops, someone who would say or do anything to win an election, someone who is dishonest, divisive and disingenuous. They have adopted shop-worn anti-Clinton talking points, dusted them off and unleashed a torrent of unfounded character attacks against her. Among other things, they have described Hillary - and her campaign - as:

"Disingenuous"

"Too polarizing to win"

'Divisive'

"Untruthful"

"Dishonest"

'Calculating'

"Saying and doing whatever it takes to win"

"Attempting to deceive the American people"

"One of the most secretive politicians in America"

"Literally willing to do anything to win"

"Playing politics with war"

[coonce]

You go Obama -- get all the facts out there, answer all the questions, then do as John McCain did -- refuse to discuss it anymore. Now it's Hillary and John McCains turn to get the FACTS out there.

[whatever2]

Maybe I'm confused. How do you simultaneously launch a head-on attack and call for unity at the same time successfully? It would appear to be a little, ummmm, contradictory.

[DMSmith]

Interesting. Is attacker Clinton's ethics the way to keep to the 'High Road' he's so often credited with following?

I'm tired of him being seen as above the fray while constantly being deep into it.

Here he goes again!!!

[billrott]

Why is this seen as an Ethics issue? It is a simple request for full disclosure. We the voters need to know this information prior to the general election as a means of vetting Senator Clinton. To date, Hillary has not released her tax returns since she became a senator, she has refused to release the list of donors to the Clinton library, she has refused to release the White House Papers, and this week she has refused to release her earmark requests. Republicans will make huge issues out of these things in a fall campaign and there will be limited time in the seven weeks post convention to resolve the situation.

As for Senator Obama, he has released all such documents of interest. Mr. Wolfson raised a concern that Mr. Obama had not released his tax returns publically, but failed to point out that Senator Obama has released these documents to the various Chicago newspapers for review on an annual basis. Senator Obama informed the press he planned to release all his tax returns to the public this coming week.

So why can't Hillary do the same?

[MysticMichael]

Excellent! Go get 'er, Barack!

[Sovrana]

How is Obama's push for transparency an "assault" on Hillary?

Instead of criminal, a poker metaphor seems more fitting here.

Obama is showing his hand.

[doggy]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/obamas-minister-committe_b_91774.html

Case closed.

[lovethesinner]

I wish someone would explain the Clinton's involvement with the Builderberg Conferance:

"Endgame: Blueprint for Global Enslavement" by Alex Jones

http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/endgame.php

(30:35) Brief History of Builderberg Conferance

(34:44) Richard Holbrooke (Hillary's chief foreign policy advisor)

(35:30) Logan Act violation

(36:20) Hillary

(41:25) Benito Mussolini's definition of fascism as "Corporatism"

(47:15) Rothschilde's historical role in world government

Hillary: A Builderberg Presidency:

http://www.oldthinkernews.com/Articles/oldthinker%20news/hillary_clinton.htm

Brookstreet Hotel workers confirm her attendance, Hillary denies:

http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/091107_hillary_denies.html

[mix2007]

"...Barack Obama now has spoken about his ties to Tony Rezko in uncommon detail. That's a standard for candor by which other presidential candidates facing serious inquiries now can be judged."

Wow.

[Independent voter]

Clintons do not have ethics.
They may lie, cheat, steal, murder, slander - but nobody has accused them of having ethics !

What are you afraid of hillary?

Release the tax records; the hillary-care secret meetings records
Release the list of earmarks; the first lady records
Release the list of Arab donors - like the bin Laden family - to the clinton library

What's are you hiding Mrs. Bill, Mrs. Fully Vetted????

[Independentjunkie]

you are depressed over obama's church aint ya? I see the desperation coming out now. I feel for you man... the depression is sadly obvious.

[BigBen]

First he lied about Joe Lieberman .* Then he lied about Nafta in Canada followed by lying about Iraq in Scotland. Next he lied about his Church then the gangster who bought his house for him. Then for the second time he decided to come clean with the Chicago Tribune AFTER they had endorsed him. This he sold to the new generation of Democrats as the New politics of Hope: what a sales man. But now he has to lie about his old uncle Rev.Wright and the church which taught his wife to be ashamed of America. The Church to which he has exposed his children for all of their life so far. Damn America he said. Damn America he repeated . Damn America. Damn Amerika. And still they slept.Wake up my country before it is taken over by these haters of Americas. Damn you Rev. Wright and your church which hates my beloved country.
*I am absolutely certain Connecticut is going to have the good sense to send Joe Lieberman back to the U.S. Senate so he can continue to serve on our behalf." Barack Obama, March 30, 2006,
http://boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/03/31/obama_rallies_state_democrats_throws_support_behind_lieberman//

[AnninCA]

I doubt Hillary is at all worried. He'll bring up some crap about Bill, no doubt.

Stupid stuff.

[Fasteddie1515]

Damn Bill let's vet Hill............Secrets Secrets ..........Vet Vet Vet!

[mawrm]

Nope, Obama doesn't play rough like the Clintons and he's NOT going to bring up Bill. His target is more mundane stuff like the tax returns and the earmarks. He MIGHT bring up the donations to the Pres. Clinton foundation if and only if there are some questionable donor connections to the Hillary's campaign, but otherwise, Bill is out of the picture.

[mcfried]

AnninCA, Glad to see you still supporting Hill. If she's not worried why not release all that paperwork we've been asking for ?

[jsinclair]

He hasn't even mentioned Bill.

Any response to the CURRENT ethics questions--tax returns? donor list? earmarks? (Throw in also the obvious hypocrisy of Hillary publicly badgering Laszlo for HIS returns but now feigning outrage over being asked for her own).

Why don't Clinton supporters ever explain why all this secrecy on these matters is okay with them? Do you not see the ethical questions involved? Or are you so devoted to Hillary that you just don't care if she's unethical or not?

[TxWonderWoman]

I doubt Clinton cares. I'm sure by now Clinton knows this is OVER and she has won. The Dems will never nominate Obama after this week with Uncle Jerimiah

[Independentjunkie]

i take your hillary whining and up " god damn america" to the ante.

[57andfemale]

Hillary personally did the whining. Obama never said "God damn America." Never. Never lived his life that way, never voted that way, never developed legislation that way, Never.

Hillary did whine, is guilty of all the quotes that are re-posted like spam.

[zbig]

In Real Time with Bill Maher, one of his guests mentioned that Rupert Murdoch has a dossier on all of Bill Clinton's relationships with women and he's going to release it during the general election--probably anonymously, i.e., leak it to the press, and let McCain win the nomination so Murdoch can get even richer.

[thnk4self]

Obama takes our democracy seriously and recognizes that he has to embody those democratic virtues in order to bring them back to Washington. Wow, a candidate intimately acquainted with American values. We have not seen one in a while.

Scruple-less and rigid (another similarity with Bush) in her approach to this campaign, Hillary does not appear to be touched by the 'government of and by the people' ideal. Hillary Clinton sees no contradiction in speechifying about Bush and his record of secrecy and then refusing to release her papers from her White House years to support or repudiate her "experience" claims. The *people* paid for her room and board at the White House and for her "foreign policy" training at Irish teas and sight-seeing tours in Macedonia. Hillary does not feel any compunction about stonewalling the release of her and Bill's tax returns. Nor does she feel accountable to the American taxpayer regarding her earmarks from her 'work' in the Senate (she is claiming NY constituents have not demanded them so she's not offering -- nevermind she's running for President of the US not of NY.).

McCain - isn't it enough that the Bear Stearns bail-out reminds me of the S&L bailout? How he pressured regulators to stay hands off? McCain in desperate ambition to be President has abdicated all integrity by embracing Bush and your abuser Karl Rove? Bush has damaged the Republican brand, all right, and instead of re-inventing it, you stay brand loyal. There's a lack of judgment repeating itself. 100 years in Iraq? A war with Iran? You are so out of touch you seem to not know that a large majority of Americans do not want this and do not trust you for saying it. But I guess your Defense industry funders want you to ignore the *people.*

[AjicNYC]

Obama is a JOKE !!! he dose not deserve to be the presidnet of the UNITED states of America. His history shows nothing special, we know now you cant trust his words (unless you believe he really didn't know that wright was saying those things or felt that way after a 20 year relationship) and has no "judgement " ( he placed Wright a perso who hates jews , whites , gays, Americans on his comittee) So do America a flavor and go back to Chicago and work for Oprah

[Repubnomore]

Watching a few minutes of video does not make you or any media outlet an expert on the Rev. Wright and his character. Further, nothing Obama has ever said publicly has indicated he shares any of the controversial views spoken by Wright in 3 sermons. It's all just guilt by association.

I honestly believe that Obama is repudiating Wright's inflammatory comments under duress. It's too difficult for Barack to provide context for the man (Wright), his life experiences, and the basis for the select sermons that have offended so many. It's too difficult for him to think that the average American is capable of understanding a complex individual from the Civil Rights Era.

It's easier to reject, denounce, and repudiate three sermons out of hundreds that he no doubt heard in an attempt to make this matter go away.

It's amazing to me that no one understands the concept of "context". Yes, the remarks in and of themselves were controversial, but no one can answer definitively if what was spoken was hyperbole or at the core of this man's being.

If you can provide an example of Barack Obama espousing antisemitism, appearing anti-patriotic, or condoning hatred of any kind, please do so. If not, view the guilt by association flap as a smear tactic and move on.

[mesuki]

All of Hillary's supporters have one thing in common,they're ignorant of all the facts that are out there. Do us all a favor and do some research on this monster!

[AnninCA]

My perception is opposite. I don't sense Obama actually cares much at all other than about winning.

He's a cold fish.

[researcher]

hey we folks in ohio love the clintons they managed to put most of us out of work and now i love my job at wal mart as a greeter. get off the clintons back they deserve to be president and after hillary we hope chelsea runs she will be 35 by then.

god bless america greatest land on earth. got to go working the second shitt today at wal mart. thank you bill and hillary for nafta. love it. we want more of it there are still a few manufacturing jobs here that need to be shipped over the border. god bless you both.

signed
your average ohio voter that voted for hillary and oh and bill too.

[Independentjunkie]

you been a greeter for 7 years? of all jobs , you could not get but a greeters job.. what is your background? tell me how the clintons made you a greeter at wal mart for 7 years? because kids in your neighbourhood get better paying jobs while still in school.

Bill clinton 27.5 million jobs in his tenure. Never in the history of america has a single president ever had an economic record like his.

[cthomp7280]

Too bad Bill Clinton isn't running for President...

[flyguy14222]

Is this the same ethical Mr. Obama who lied to us about Rezko?

[limber]

What was the lie?

[mrqcguy]

Hey how about you learn how to read...what lie? The "I did not sleep with that woman lie?" the "My tax returns will be made available around tax time lie?" I mean give me a break flyguy...the only liar is Hillary.

[patriotscholar]

Is that the Rezko whose clients contributed to Hillary? You know, the ones under indictment?

[rojo7449]

Get over it. Rezko and friends probably contributed to everyone on the campaign just so Obama wouldn't have to take the heat alone.

Research how PAC funds are obtained and why they distribute their contributions across all candidates. Very wealthy individuals do the same thing...especially if they could be a problem to their candidate of choice.

[rojo7449]

And the same Mr. Obama who on Thursday claimed he was soliciting a return to campaigning without dirty and personal attacks. Of course, we all know now it was because he wanted to end the Rev Wright problem as quickly as possible, and look like the good guy. Before the new week started, it was HIM, Mr. Obama, who was headlining his intent to slam Hillary Clinton with a variety of topics, ALL PERSONAL, and ALL DIRTY. Listen to the Rev's words and it seems there is a great deal of influence still operating in Obama's campaign.

The transparency of Mr. Obama is coming from his actions, his lies, the mentors he chose, and his inability to run a campaign of decency.

Who contributed to Bill Clinton's presidential library has no impact on my life or whether or not Hillary Clinton cares about making sure the people of this country have healthcare, a strong economy, jobs, and their sons and daughters are safely home from war. I don't need these disclosures from her, or from Obama. If there was anything unsavory about Hillary Clinton's minister, you can believe we would have heard about it 8-15 years ago.

[AnninCA]

I don't get why he thinks that nobody is watching and scratching our heads.

It's like the wheels have come off the campaign.

[JTincher34]

Who cares what his minister has to say? Are you serious? Your family must be squeaky clean......... I'm sure you have no cousin or uncle that is off his rocker and has "off the wall" views. Get real dude and come up with something of substance.

[enoughalready13]

... and covers up his fire and brimstone church ... and hides his wife's thesis on racism ... and "misplaces" 8 years of his records in the IL Senate ... and votes present on issues he finds too difficult to choose sides on ... and exaggerates his father's character in his book ... and claims he "has no money" when he lives in a $1.7M home ...

you get the point ...

[Grannysue]

That will be a short step, she has no ethic's, stick to the issues and try and remain above the fray because the Clintons and McBush's are using the Rove Slime machine to do their bidding.