Hillary Clinton: Barack Obama Can't Win

UPDATE: Mark Halperin is reporting comments from an anonymous Clinton official:

"Bill Richardson is clearly embarrassed that he broke his promise to them. He should come out and tell the truth and admit that he told both Clintons that Obama wasn't ready and can't win."

ABC News reports:

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former President Bill Clinton are making very direct arguments to Democratic superdelegates, starkly insisting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., cannot win a general election against presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Sources with direct knowledge of the conversation between Sen. Clinton and Governer Bill Richardson, D-N.M., prior to the Governor's endorsement of Obama say she told him flatly, "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win."

Keep reading.

Watch the segment from ABC News.

Comments

[delysia]

Very well said Oregon Mom. I know that's the type of dialog my candidate would want. Nice comment.

[lrmconnect]

HILARY CLINTON IS GOING TO WIN. OBAMA IS A CHARISMATIC MANIPULATING POLITICIAN.

[VivaZapata]

that makes no sense. since when is charisma a liability? also, are you saying clinton isn't manipulative? have you caught any of her sniper fire lately?

[OregonMom]

UglyBetty -
At least you picked an appropriate name. Your posts truly are ugly. Inflammatory, divisive. I respect your right to support whomever you choose, but am starting to think that you actually support McCain. The *only* way Hillary or Obama can 'hand the election to McCain' is by people continuing with the kind of attacks I read in your posts. If you truly care about getting rid of the Republicans, you will re-think the kind of posts you are making. Support Hillary all you want, but please try to do it becuase of who she is and what she stands for, NOT by insulting Obama supporters or attacking Obama. Obama supporters, that goes for you too. Lets all stick to what is RIGHT about our respective candidates, and be done with what is WRONG with the other (Dem.) ENOUGH ALREADY, please!

[FreedomLoverX]

Sorry, Mom, That's how we will end up with another LIAR in the Whitehouse. You don't think we should look at Hillary's constant lying? To bad the country spent so little time looking at what was wrong about Bush, and instead focussed on what might be right about him "I gut I could have a beer with". The fact is, Hillary is a divisive, cheating, liar, and everyone should have a long look at that. Better than McCain? I really don't know. I wouldn't vote for that LIAR either. I would rather vote for Gravel before I would vote for either of those two LIARS, because he always speaks the truth! Obama has had some slips too, but not nearly on the same level as the perpetually lying Hillary Clinton. Republicans were so happy to get Bush. Now, most of them regret it. This could be the same outcome with Hillary - but we already know she is a deceitful LIAR, so why go a step further with this LIAR? I'll go for the professor of the Constitution.

"Zeifman fired Hillary from the committee staff and refused to give her a letter of recommendation – one of only three people who earned that dubious distinction in Zeifman’s 17-year career.

Why?

'Because she was a liar,' Zeifman said in an interview last week. 'She was an unethical, dishonest lawyer. She conspired to violate the Constitution, the rules of the House, the rules of the committee and the rules of confidenti­ality.'"

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Well said Oregon Mom to UglyBetty.

However,all the people logging -on these site are looking for people who are naive about the political process through there comments so they can attack. They attack to divide and conquer. If they can have you think that one side of the same party line is doing the attacking (Obama supporter vs Hilliary supporter) it causes fights and more attacks. That is the first step. Second step make you want to change party line and run to the republican party or ralph nader or green party.

These people and the blog outlet is not an official democrat party blog site. Some of these people are being paid to piss you off. Some are on-line just to mess with your mind to vote against.. For a while, I fell into this trap too. I dug myself I spend time saying stay true to the party. No matter what. Think about it. These blogs all are not sincere or real. Their main mission is to do what uglybetty is doing. It will appeal to our lowest level of human anger., and can be self destructing.
Keep in mind they are there to start us fighting by the time the general coming ralph nader looks wonderful. Democrats can win in November if we spread the words of stay together real democrats. We must stick because it is our to lose in November. Hillary or Obama supporters we still must stick together,

[GravitonX]

The only way Hillary gets the nomination is using racist tactics. You're seriously delusional if you think people will "stick together" behind such a despicable person.

[uglybetty]

Madein and Oregonmom.­....
I can only assume from Your posts that you believe ,if all of us are as naive as you are and fall all over ourselves like idiots at a Rock Concert, with our LOVE for Obama ,we're okay ?????

Otherwise ,if we have an opinion other than yours... (how dare we)... then we are a bunch of Fools !!
Did I get that RIGHT ????

[starboymikey]

Every negative ad Hillary runs, every bit of mud she slings at Obama is just driving another nail into her own coffin.

Her personal approval ratings are now down to 37%, which is almost as low as those of George W. Bush. By contrast, McCain's popularity is at 63% and Obama's at 58%, last I read. McCain and Obama's ratings are close and just within the margin of statistical error. Hillary's are those of a bottom-feeder. If Bush were able to seek a third term and was running against Hillary, the "worst president in American history" might even beat her.

And please, let's keep in mind that this has nothing to do with her policy proposals, which are not significantly different from Obama's. It all about voters' perception of who she is. And as we learned with W., who was so great at getting the middle class to vote against its own interests, perception is the name of the game.

[Kirby]

How right you are. I, a life-long Republican who voted for Bush the first time, would and could never vote for him or his proxy, McCain, again, particularly after last evening of having to pay 3.51 for a gallon of BUSH. I filled my tank with Bush at a 60 odd dollar cost. But more important than the cost of Bush to put ini my tank, is the cost his preemptive war in lives, both American and Iraqian, billions of our money with a concomitant decline in the value of the dollar, and the sight of this s.o.b.'s smirk, smug countenance facing the American People, after his lies. Justice cries oujt for his impeachment for what he has done to this country because of his and Cheney's lies. Pandora's box is just beginning to reveal itself.

Thinik of it, America, at what you are paying for a gallon of bush to put in your car, and what that gallon of bush is symbolic of..... Yes, A GALLON OF BUSH!

[IslandGyal]

Yes, I see your point and raise you one. Soo, we will be paying $5 for a gallon of Bush.

[ron071]

Kirby has it just as it is and should be. How could any thinking American with any memory of the past seven years ever consider voting for the third term ( McCain ) of this crowd which has brought America to its historical lows in so many ways?

[Ron333wood]

How would she possibly know. She doesn't even recognize when she can't win.

[pithymaxim]

She'll count an Obama loss in the general as a win for her. Then she'll be Governor of NY state, her "consolation prize," and be the only permitted Dem Presidential Candidate (other than UFO Kucinich) in 2012.

[sociocanuck]

Random Dennis Kucinich bashing aids your point how?

[DemsDeBreaks]

Dems, do you really want another 4 years of a Republican Whitehouse? The two candidates are not that far apart on the ISSUES. God forbid this race would be about ISSUES rather than character assassination -- from BOTH camps. Clinton supporters, you feel maligned and picked upon? Welcome to the club. You feel Obama should drop out of the race? While he's winning? Get real. You're mad that people want Hillary to drop out of the race while she's still winning states? I agree, let her stay in however long she wants. Just STOP THE CHARACTER ASSASSINATIONS.

BOTH candidates now need to focus on John McCain and pretend the other guy doesn't exist. Each candidate needs to tell us why THEY are the best person for the job, and NOT why we should hate the other guy. We are on the SAME TEAM. We just have to decide who is our starting quarterback. If they keep kneecapping each other, we WILL end up with a President McCain.

STOP. THE. CHARACTER. ATTACKS.

p.s. The continuing media coverage of Bosnia is not perpetrated by Obama's campaign, just as media coverage of Rev. Wright is not published by Clinton's campaign. Both camps or their supporters might be responsible for initially bringing issues to the media's attention, but it's the news outlets who publish -- and keep publishing -- the news. It's time to cut the crap and unite. Otherwise, the Republicans really do deserve the presidency for another 4-8 years.

[GravitonX]

I don't really care about having it out with Clinton supporters. If someone is willing to ignore Clinton's despicable racist tactics, we have no common ground.

[meneghin]

Hillary Clinton "knows" she can win and "knows" that Barak Obama cannot win. Interesting! Would she care to tell us what kind of crystal ball she is looking through or does she have knowledge of dirty tricks we are not aware of? When somebody is absolutely sure about something there is always a very good reason. Please share with us some of this "knowledge"'.

[kira181]

Here's what happened yesterday: MSNBC aired the conference during which Hillary was asked if she had said that Obama can't win. She answered that she didn't want to discuss private conversations, that what she had said was that she could win, blah,blah blah , ending with --and here's the important part -- "So, no."

IMMEDIATELY folowing that, the MSNBC anchor (Nora O'Donnell, I believe) stated that Hillary had NOT issued a denial. And this "no denial" storyline continued for, at least, 2 more segments until I had to stop watching.

Later, that evening, I was watching MSNBC to see if someone (anyone!) had managed to correct this error. It had not been corrected. The "no denial" story was still being trotted out and discussed. As though it had actually happened. The tape was being played and replayed and each time it was chopped off right before Hillary finished her answer with the word, "So, no."

I don't know if MSNBC ever corrected this. As of last night's edition of "Hard Ball", the chopped version was still being shown.

[ntmessage]

Whatever.

There is a trillion dollar war(s) and a recession, homeless in New Orleans.

[unionave]

The media is giving her far more free air time than either McCain or Obama . Even when they are talking about McCain or Obama her face appears on screen . This is an attempt by the media to control the election .

[djelimon]

Welcome to the world of Jeremiah Wright

[IslandGyal]

kira18,
AGAIN, her OWN campaign said that she was misunderstood, that she meant, she was not going to answer "that" question.

[YRM]

The truth comes knocking at your door, and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth". Clinton denies she said Obama can't win, but her campaign surrogates have been making a pretty convincing case on that score, beginning with Florida and Michigan's electoral votes. Moreover, the reason why General Electric, Rupert Murdoch (owner of Fox News, Wall Street Journal, AOL, etc.), Karl Rove, top Bush fundraisers, Republicans for Obama and the conservative coalition are either overtly or covertly backing Obama's bid is because they know they can simply unplug him later with a Rezko-related indictment. Patrick Fitzgerald, of Valerie Plame fame, is the prosecutor in the Rezko trial currently underway. In short, Obama appeared out of nowhere into the national limelight three years ago just as the Trojan Horse suddenly presented itself on the beaches of Troy. Makes you think... For more on Rove's strategy, see the article I've posted at thecityedition.com. Here's a direct. http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/2008Election.html

[pashupat]

Apparently someone forgot to tell Rush Limbaugh about this plan!

[scornflakes]

After reading your article, I am convinced that the only groups not involved in a global conspiracy to keep Hillary Clinton from saving the universe from evil are the Union for Responsible Proofreading and the International Brotherhood of Spellcheckers.

[IslandGyal]

Conspiracy theorists abound!

[scornflakes]

I'm not going to resort to this 5th grade level name-calling that so many Clinton supporters (and a fair number of Obama supporters) on here seem to have appropriated from the right wing, so I won't call Mrs. Clinton a "creep." But she is achieving dizzying new heights of creepiness with every passing day. Of course she said this about Obama, of course she believes it, and of course it's typical of her campaign's exploitation of bigotry. That they've turned to this as a strategy is an indication of her weakness, and that she lies about it is an indication of her lack of integrity. Every time she and her surrogates spin and deny what is apparent to anyone with even the slightest bit of political intuition and interest, it just adds to uncanny talent to make skin crawl.

[uglybetty]

You're pretty funny..Huh­??

Reread that that nasty lying post you just printed !
You are obviously one big fool !
I love it when you people are sooo positive that you are the ones with all the CORRECT answers on every thing Hillary ever said or did !

Thats what makes Obamans so gross , they don't seem to know what they themselves say !

[scornflakes]

Thanks for the example of grade-school-level name-calling to illustrate my point. Do me a favor and, please, keep it up.

[starboymikey]

Thats what makes Obamans so gross , they don't seem to know what they themselves say !
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­_______

We're rubber, you're glue, whatever you say stick back on you. Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah!

[NanWhit]

I watched TV when she was asked about this yesterday (I believe) and she said "No" she did not say this, she stated that she said and says she can win this! Why do you reporters have such a hard time reporting what people say instead of spinning what they say to make it sound like they are saying what you want them to say??? Thank you!!

[BatedBreath]

I saw that interview. She didn't say she had said it, but she didn't say she hadn't said it either.

[Ozarks]

Typical Hillary "truthiness", she dodged questions on her taxes and White House papers months ago, she claims she is the one to answer the 3 AM phone call but claims "sleep deprivation" for her lies about Bosnia "sniper fire". she must have been sleep deprived at least 3 different times she told that "story". And, she dodged the question Obama' being a Muslim with her saying "as far as I know" . Now, your believe she said "No" to the claim she said "Obama can't win" . An alleged " NO"is about as honest as her husband Bill, redefining the word "is" before he lost his law license for lying about Monica.

[IslandGyal]

Thank you, and if anyone knows Hillary Clinton, if she hadn't said it, she would invoke, "private conversation" that she doesn't reveal. She never said she didn't say it, she said she doesn't reveal private conversations. THEN, after that, she said that's a no, she was referring to answering the question. Her own campaign said that.

[Gmoney1]

She has lied before - what's the big deal - if she's president, look out - she will have been given the right to lie by the america people - she's always gonna be suspect - and we'll be her subjects -

[richardsgirl]

Perhaps she meant to say, "As far as I know ... he can't win!"

[dadele]

No, I think she meant to complete the phrase with this,"He can't win because he's African-Am­erican."

[Tags]

If you sabotage Obama this year, the only nomination you'll get in 2012 is for the Green party.

Go 08ama

[uglybetty]

If Obama gives us McCain we will Never forgive Obama and his FANS !!!

[DontvoteforBillary]

Then you can blame people like yourself is McCain is elected. If Hillary manages to steal the nomination, I would vote for her over McCain. It is more important to have a change in policies in the long run. It is people like the Clinton supporters that will vote for McCain out of spite without thinking of the consequences of their sour grapes.

[IslandGyal]

uglybetty,
Do you really believe if the DNC bigwigs give the nomination to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party will ever be the same?!?!?!??!

[marblefawn]

you obviously can't think for yourself and are regurgitating everything you saw on FOX last night after NASCAR.

[Jennick]

Hillary is a leader. Like it or not. can't understand all the folks buying into the obama drama. he is simply not ready to be president. america needs to be liked by other countries again. Hillary Can do that.

[DoninJoisey]

What? She led us into Iraq.
Hillary can get us liked by other countries??? She has the highest negatives of anyone here in the US!!

Hillary is an arrogant bully. That does not make her a leader. Just look at Bush and Cheney. Resolute and determined, but WRONG.

[kipmartin]

it doesnt bother you that she told that sniper fire story 7 times? or that she voted to back Bush on this crazy war 6 times? or that she is stiffing vendors and services she contracted with? or that her paid staff has had their insurance cancelled? its clear that Hillary's 'experience' isnt the kind most of us want.

and Obama isnt a leader? where have you been for the last few months?

[shelleybear]

Or that she refused to vote yes on a bill that would ban the use of cluster bombs.
Sheesh, talk about a no brainer humanitarian vote she could have made.

[IslandGyal]

kipmartin,
To be fair, her employees' insurance was never canceled.

[sickupandfed]

Curb your appetite for spin and use your brain. Let's not forget, Hillary can't beat Obama, so she can't beat McSame either. No matter how you spin "electability," that's just something we won't know til November. The scoreboard doesn't lie; nor does Obama's momentum. Whose endorsement has she picked up lately?

Regardless, support your candidate and speak your mind, just don't add to the problem your candidate has by spouting drivel that is not factual... or even supported by them.

[uglybetty]

You nObamans do nothing but Spin,because he has Nothing else to run on !
So keep Spinning Floks !!

[uglybetty]

You Obamans do nothing but Spin,because he has Nothing else to run on !
So keep Spinning Folks !!

[JohnTalbutt]

As a white man, I find the most insulting thing in this campagin the supposition that white people were so stupid they would believe that Rev.Wright­s fire and brimstone remarks were directed at me when it was clear that he was talking about the corporate power elite. Now I see that Bill is going to the super delegates trying to saying Rev Wright makes Obama unelectable.

So Bill and Hillary think most white people are stupid. I don't think so. I think we are catching on pretty fast.
Obama 08

[rudyinbama]

After a disastrous first term, this country failed to turn out George W. Bush.
Of course this is a stupid country.

[StephenS]

Where did you see that Bill Clinton is telling superdelegates that Rev Wright makes Obama unelectable, rather than less electable? Thanks.

Oh, and Obama does not seem to share your belief that Rev Wright's remarks were directed only at some "corporate power elite".

Obama condemned Wright's remarks because "they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country - a view that sees white racism as endemic". That would generally include white men like you, though not you specifically, rather than be restricted to the corporate power elite.

[BatedBreath]

Spoken like a true Clinton! It's called parsing, e.g., what exactly is the meaning of "is"?

[DoninJoisey]

I hope you are right, but the are an awful lot of stupid people. Half don't vote. Half don't accept evolution - unfortunately, not the same half that don't vote.

I do find hope in the fact that Bill never got 50% of the vote either time - because of Perot. You can fool some of the people some of the time.....

[Daly]

Wow JT I am glad to hear you speak this truth, many ministers have and even McCain knows Wright was indeed speaking directly to corporate power elite.

While Mark Penn and Clinton are busy creating NAFTA part 2 starting with Columbia and real Americas of every hue will lose jobs. Some refuse to remove their blinder and justify their own discomfortness they will blindly vote to lost their jobs following the Clinton machine directly to the unemployment line, or follow McCain to a draft.

Even if Mc says 100 year of peace time occupation in Iraq. f that could have been done, this Russia would have done it. IF we do accomplish it then we need to increase our military and that means DRAFT. We are in Japan and Germany at their request - Iraq will not be extending the same invitation. Iraqi people want us gone yester.

[jsinclair]

Of Course Bill Richardson didn't say any of these things.

But perhaps Hillary and Bill should stop and ask themselves, "Under what circumstances would someone stick his neck out for someone he thinks is unelectable?"

...Because he thinks the other candidate is worse, even if she COULD win. Really, why endorse someone unelectable? Because you CAN'T STAND the other person! (This is what the Clintons' reasoning says to me, nothing to do with Richardson who is terrific).

Also, if Richardson thought Obama was unelectable, then why did he jump ship (according to Clintons) just to (DISLOYALLY!!) try and cut the best deal for himself?

Their attacks don't even make sense.

[SharonB]

So, now CBS is reporting that she is hedging and parsing on her denial!
From the CBS article:
"But later, a senior Clinton spokesman told reporters that Clinton did not mean to imply that she was not referring to what she allegedly said to Richardson about Obama."
What on earth?????????
I am really begining to think she has lost her mind.