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

[dantanna]

I am a new yorker who voted for hillary two times to represent me in the senate; after her behavior in the nomination process I am not voting for her ever again. i hope most new yorkes will do the same.

[MutualDisdain]

I am a Pennsylvanian who switched to the Democratic party from no affiliation because I believed in Barack Obama. Then I saw what I believe to be Senator Obama lying on television about his knowledge of Wright's comments, and I heard his subsequent typical white people comments. I then realized that with the Clintons I could at least tell when they were lying (red face and finger wagging) but with Obama I might never know...

[MichaelTenery]

Wow, really. He has been very clear here.

He saw some statements he didn't agree with but not the two soundbytes that have been on the loop playing on u-tube.

We know he wasn't there to see those why? Because Bill Krystol reported that his story wasbased on the online news rag NewsMax, reporting on it as heresay that he had been there. Then it was proved he was not there either time and his itinerary and flight records showed him not in the state during those two sermons.

How hard is it to understand facts.

Bill Krystol who is not a fan of Obama on any level at any time had to retract his story with much humiliation when it was proved Obama did not see these speeches. You can say you think he was lying but the facts dispute you sir. Facts not opinion.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. They are not entitled to their own special set of facts."

So what your "gut" tells you doesn't counter the real facts in evidence.

Thank you.

[DocJerome]

Please, try to go beyond the sensationalized hearsay. You claim to believe in a candidate and then suddenly words taken out of context, which weren't even his to begin with, has you questioning the validity of your own thought process. Had you done any research, in an attempt to refute scurrilous accusations, you would have heard the explanation for, and the context to which the comment was rendered.

Instead you pushed the panic button and now your head is about to explode in unfounded, misguided anger. Just relax, . . . there is nothing to fear, and the world is not going to end.

[AdLib]

I've got an idea, how about the following bumper sticker on your car: "You can never be too afraid of a black man - Hillary 08."

[zann]

I wonder where you got the information that Obama lied? All he said was that he hadn't heard Wright's particular statements that were played again and again, which was confirmed, because he was in another state. He admitted he had heard other controversial statements from Wright, but it doesn't add up to a lie untless you're predisposed to assume he's a liar, or trust soundbites taken out of context. If you're giving up on him because he used the word typical about some of his white grandmother's racist attitudes, I think you're over-reaching for rationalizations to suit your disposition.

I'm as cynical and suspicious as anyone, but he seems honest for a politician so far. He really touched me yesterday when he said everything works better if he can keep his ego out of it, which is true for me too, thought I can't imagine either Clinton understanding that sentiment.

[jmk65]

how about the "i would have left the church if wright had not chosen to retire" comment. c'mon. why didn't he leave years ago????

[TheRealMacDaddy]

To help everyone with the Rev. Wright controversy (and damn this thing should be dead by now, since over 1/2 million have viewed it on You Tube), please go and listen to the entire sermons not the 30 second sound bites edited and parsed by Fox News…These videos are in total about 20 minutes long. But please watch them and then you will see that there have been some egregious liberties taken with what has been broadcast.
America’s Chicken have come home to roost:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ&feature=related
God Damn America:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMbeVQj6Lw&feature=related

Hillary ain’t never been called N****R
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciWzbtiwUxA
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvcmqnju9PM&feature=related

[SanityNowPlease]

The Clintonistas, Faux Pneus Adherents, McCainiacs and Other US Sheep have no stomach for watching the full videos. They would HAVE to accept the fact that they are all to EAGER to believe the WORST about someone simply and for no other reason because of the color of the skin.

Reverend Wright is nothing short of a good man and Barack Obama should be proud to stand by him as he has done so well in the face of such utter absurdity. Obama will win the job of President of the USA and if in doing so a few die hard racists are alienated.­..SO BE IT. They are in the MINORITY and will eventually fade away if we all stand together.

The Clinton Family's time is OVER.

[YankeeCanuck]

The media mill hasn't much grist to turn on -- so, here it goes ginning up the supposed animosity between supporters of the two Democratic candidates. Either way we are leaning, we must work hard for our candidate-- that's a given. Either one of these two can win the presidency. Trying to vilify or even criticize the other candidate is counter-productive.
Let the media rant and rave about nothing, but at the end of the nomination contest let's vow to stand behind the Dems. AND deliver them a congress that is capable of change. Warning: it will come slowly. This is going to take commitment from all of us.
It is not quitting time yet, not for either candidate and not for their supporters. It goes beyond the nomination and even beyond the Presidential election.W­e missed this point in the last two elections-- we just didn't show up to vote. That's called getting the government we deserved. Let's not let it happen again.

Remember "We the People"? That's us, and it's in our hands.

[Abie56]

There isn't animosity among Obama supporters for Hill's supporters, but there certainly is animosity towards her. And now she is finally managing to chase her supporters into Obama's camp. She's imploding. Have a look at her Deathwatch published daily in Slate.

http://www.slate.com/id/2188003/

Her chances of success as of yesterday were 9.5%, down from 9.9% on the previous day. According to Slate. she did well a couple of days ago, because it was a slow news day. It seems every time she opens her trap, she manages to put her foot in her mouth.

Otherwise I agree with the spirit of your comment; we need to rally around whoever wins. If Hill can take her campaign on the high road, she may have an audience of listeners. Perhaps she ought to show some coattails for the down ticket dems so that we can increase our majority in Congress, which is every bit as important as the presidential campaign. And if she did so, the Party leadership, including Pelosi may give her a sympathetic ear.

Sadly, I don't believe my wishes will come true.

[MichaelTenery]

I don't mind Hillary supporters. I have problem with anyone who ignores the real facts or makes up their own to suit their situation. If someone says "I am voting for Hillary because I like her better." Or some flavor of that there is nothing to argue against. And you just have to wish them well with that and move on. But when they make quantifiable things like Obama is a liar (trying to cover Hillary's caught lies) then provided flimsy at best evidence or worse pure subjection then I and any thinking person should have a problem with that and provide a counter point to why that is not so.

[AggravationKills]

Yes there is anomisity for Hillary supporters. Read the posts.

[AggravationKills]

Heres some nice animosity for you...
joeby22 See Profile I'm a Fan of joeby22
You Clinton supporters are a true reflection of Hilary Clinton and her campiagn which is dishonest, non-realistic, racist, and spinsters. It's because of ignorant White Clinton supports, Pennsylvania is getting a bad reputation. For all u simple minded Clinton backers, she doesn't lead in the popular vote, states, or delegates; "SHE CAN'T WIN". Why can't anyone see this ? What planet are we living on? Hilary is destroying what's left of the Dem Party. And, remember if Clinton Supporters decided to support Mccain in the General Election..­.you'll be electing Bush the 3rd... And when it's all over Hilary and Bill Clinton have money, good benefits, and jobs, and they will not suffer from the economy, the people will! Oh yea, and to all you racist Clinton Supporters, Obama has won a majority of (Red States) which normally wouldn't vote for Black! So this weak argument that Whites won't vote for him...you'­re WRONG again...lo­l

[Hallucinocynic]

Absolutely. Don't overlook the bigger picture...

[bluegreen]

I wish the media would take more notice of the "narrative flow" of HRC's candidacy instead of just mulling over these sorts of last-minute rewrites in isolation.

About a year ago, when Hillary was the presumptive candidate, mock-up election polls surprisingly showed that she was not doing well in imaginary match-ups with "Republican X" candidate, even though Bush's approval ratings had tanked. It was then, well before the first debate with its array of Democratic hopefuls, that sharp, strong, clangy bells were already going off for Democrats. She is just a flawed candidate, plain and simple, and the early polls reflected that.

These kinds of planted stories -- Richardson private flip-flop or whatever -- so whisper-do­wn-the-lan­e meager and sad -- are meant to encourage feelings of buyer's remorse among the public. But they steer clear of the big issue: HRC's own electability problems. Had she been the very strong candidate she apparently thinks she is, she would have locked up the nomination months ago and would have had no cause to whisper darkly about Obama or anyone else. Obama went out there and surprised a lot of people by doing something kind of neat. He started winning. While that "winning thing" has turned out to be a major inconvenience for Hillary and Camp, it probably got a lot of people rethinking their attitudes about who can help the party most.

[AdLib]

Good point.

[crazyv]

I think you have nailed it on the head- if Hillary didn't have an "electibility" problem there is no way that somebody with the name recognition, institutional support , financial backing would not have got the nomination. After all this was all supposed to be over by February 5th. The story should never have been about Hillary's near death experience in NH but that on February5th large number of voters said - wait a minute we are not ready for Hillary's coronation. The bottom line is that there will be Democratic defections irrespective of who the Democratic nominee is. Hillary with a traditional "base" strategy can't afford those defections because she has no way of widening her base other than hoping Republican women will vote for her just because she is a woman.

[BatedBreath]

Interesting information about the mock-up election polls Thanks, bluegreen. It must be why Obama was encouraged to run - I say encouraged because I doubt that he would have taken the initiative to run against The Clintons if the Party had been behind them 100%.

The Clintons are also masters of turning the tables, i.e., recognizing their negatives (especially when the press points them out) and accusing their opponent of being the one with the problem.

[dawlishgal]

The parallel thing that has been going on is that since Hillary started to lose, her campaign tactics have turned off a lot of people who used to support the Clintons. Her early poll support was primarily name-recognition compared to the other relatively unknown candidates, and she ought to have realized that and not set herself up for a big disappointment, and ---especially--she should not have given in to her feelings of entitlement, another thing that is turning people off who might otherwise be supporting her.

[gjoh]

Yes! He can win!
Yes! We Can make it happen!
Yes! We! Can!

I believe Americans are better than Hillary and Bill think they are. We are not going to be fooled again by divisive politics. There is too much at stake.

[Ginko]

just what is it you are going to do? Yes you can WHAT?

that is what most Americans wonder. What is this big change? So far all I see is Obama supporters acting like children and screaming hate towards Hillary instead of looking objectively at each candidate and choosing based on the FACTS

[jmk65]

excellent point! yes we can what?!
and what does "change" even mean?
if we are to change "politics of the past" what are "politics of the future"
i truly want to know. i'm not being sarcastic.

[dolphin65]

I believe change is already happening. There are record numbers of register voters coming out to vote; including young voters who in the past were very apathetic when it came to politics. More people are getting involved and change happens because of it. If this is any indication of the future (i.e. Obama as President) adminstration, than -- "Yes we can make a difference"; "Yes we can have a voice"; "Yes we can come together and unite"; etc. What is it that you don't see or get? I'm so confounded by your total bias. "..acting like children and screaming hate towards.." are actions and behaviors of Clinton and her supporters. Talk about someone who is delusional­..

[GravitonX]

"He said he loved me!" "He said he loved me!" "He told me!"

Shut up and get over it, Hillary. You should be used to infidelity by now. He changed his mind and found someone better.

[nohat]

From another Huff thread: an ABC reporter says:
"Last August, I ran into Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, outside the Senate chamber in the Capitol.
As any close friend or family member can attest, I have an unusually keen sense of smell and immediately I smelled cigarette smoke on Obama. Frankly, he reeked of cigarettes. Obama ran off before I could ask him if he'd just snuck a smoke, so I called his campaign."

What a deep and important story (she said sarcastically).
I don't know if he smokes or not. But what's worse: reeking of smoke or reeking of lies, as the Clintons do? I will take the smoke over the lies---the never ending lies---anytime!

[phroso]

Maybe smoking is what Obama will propose as his cure for American obesity. He would be better off health-wise eating chocolate.

[crazyv]

did you catch Obama on Hardball Campus tour. Obama admitted to being a smoker, says he is trying to give up smoking, has fallen of the wagon a couple of times but has got back on. But most important he said that his motivation to give up was because it was to set a good example as President. The differences between that attitude and the CLintons needs no further explanation.

[2351]

Let's not forget that nicotine is addictive physically and psychologically. He's trying, but it takes time.

[Desdemondo]

What is wrong with you - have you nothing better to do than making these silly and jejune reports?

If Mr. Obama did run away from you it certyainly had nothing to do with cigarettes: its something much more personal and offencive he was not capable of tolerating.

To be nice, lets say, Mr. Obama ran away from you because he knows pleople like you, seeking your fifteen munites of glory ,have no qualms in concocting stories.

I suppose you now believe this non-starter of a story has afforded you the opportunity to attain your lifelong ambition - mediocrity in investigative reporting.

Good for you.

[Kingbreaker]

Honestly, who gives a shit?

To be fair, I don't care - at all - about a lot of seedier Clinton stuff that we're all aware of.

Fer instance, Hillary claimed to be named after Sir Hillary, the Kiwi mountain climber dude. Turns out that it's not actually true. But nobody cares, and rightfully so. O's smoking and Hillary's little stories and Bill's indiscretions have absolutely no bearing on the campaign whatsoever.

[olderdem]

Is Hillary and Bill "misspeaking" again?

[StateofTaxes]

Let me get this straight; not many days ago, the Clintons were outraged with Bill Richardson when he endorsed Obama; from the Clinton camp, and most especially, Bill Clinton, they were filled with outrage and he was a notorious lier, among other things; now, his word is the gospel...,
Huh????

[TotobiAyokoh23]

What Hillary does not know is that, apart from losing the Democratic nomination, she is also putting her Senatorial position inNew York at stake. I do not think New Yorkers would like to live under the shadow of a congenital liar and a loser.

[AdLib]

And the bad news is?

[GravitonX]

Oh, she is finished in NY, too. Shouldn't bother her too much. Everyone was willing to tolerate her phoney relocation to NY because they knew she was only passing through (to run for President).

[NorVaGal]

I've heard some rumors(?) making the rounds that some people think that offering a run as NY governor might be dangled as bait for Hillary to give up her quest for the presidency. I don't think it would work because, IMO, she is totally obsessed with being POTUS. But, has anyone else heard about this possibility?

[CindyKay]

So ! Who Cares What She Thinks Anyway???

[caywen]

Dear Clinton campaign:

As with your other statements, I will need extra evidence before considering it. Please provide a videotape or audio recording of the incident, and I will process this story as soon as possible.

Also, we are still awaiting payment for our services, and cannot extend further services until the balance has been settled.

Thanks!

[rabprevent]

Funny how they did not say that we he endorsed Obama!!!!! LOL

Message to Hilary, say what you do and do what you say and please, please go away, you are becoming more and more annoying everyday

[natasyenehc]

The Clintons are panicking the Hispanic vote will follow Richardson to Obama.
Hence their continual attempts at political hit-jobs at Richardson and his character.

Typically Clinton needless to say.

[phroso]

Not a chance. The Hispanic vote is as solidly pro-Clinton as the female White vote, if not more so.

[gallo146]

there is one here that it is not pro-clinto­n...i know a number of hispanics for Obama
gallo, florida

[ErinBerin84]

I seriously do not know of one older white female in my life who supports Hillary. This obviously does not point to anything, but it's just funny always hearing about this demographic since I do not personally know any who fit into that category. And we're all from upstate ny.

[Ginko]

no way no how. If anything, RIchardson's going against the voters in NM brought MORE Hispanics to Clintons side. Hispanics are very loyal and they are not happy with Richardson's betrayal.

[4wehttam]

Well I work with five Hispanics and THEY HAVE JUST SWITCHED TO OBAMA!!! So stop making generalizations about all hispanics unless you've PERSONALLY talked to each and every single one. True, majority still support her, but there are quite a few switching over because they can now see through her and that the Clintons are not what they thought they were......­..........­.this is from what my friends have told me.

[2351]

From what I understand that was a very close election and really did not win by a great deal in NM. It really could have gone either way. How do you know that the hispanics are not happy? Hillary does not have the support of all of the hispanics in the USA, does she?

[MutualDisdain]

Whoops, it's 15 minutes into lunch time. Clinton plants remember to fill out your 401k forms and have them in my inbox by 5:00pm. We'll also be having a meeting tomorrow on how best to frame the new Wright/Obama evidence when is presented next Wednesday.

You're all doing a great job, and if we pull this one out, I am sure there will be a nice October bonus.

[Kalima]

You have outstayed your welcome so do naff off.

[MutualDisdain]

I didn't realize you owned this site, let alone the Democratic party. My apologies.

[MutualDisdain]

If you seriously still believe I am a plant visit my YouTube site under the same name.

[LAJonathan]

LOL!

[Ginko]

so any supporter is a plant? SO you must be a plant for Obama

[MutualDisdain]

I was accused of being a Clinton Plant.

[MsLiz]

I'd rather be kudzu than poison ivy.

[bobdob]

Hillary Clinton has not yet crossed the Command-of­-the-Truth threshold.

[Wildcatdiva]

Why in the hell is whatever Stephanopoulos reports relevant. He’s so anti-Obama and a Hillary flunky. ABC has no credibility with him reporting on this race. Richardson may have said that, I don’t doubt it. But obviously, he changed his mind. You damn sheeple kill me. He knows damn well the Clintons are disasters. Didn’t Kline make him the black guy in “Primary Colors”?

[k6007]

They're all political shills, spouting their own agenda.

'Political Analysist'.

"Give me a break"

[Cowboylove]

Hillary keeps saying Obama can't win, while losing over and over again to Obama. If Obama can't win, yet he beats Hillary, what chance does Hillary have? Of course the real "wink, wink" message Hillary and Bill Clinton are sending is - have you people noticed this guy is black? Do you really think white working class men will put a black man in the White House?

Yes, Hillary, we will! We definitely will. Middle class is the new poor, and poor is the new black.

[nohat]

Hmmmmm, that seems like a stretch to me. She might think it but I don't think---what has she said? Exactly?
As to your question: what chance does Hillary have?----hopefully, none. Zilch. Less than zilch!

[jmk65]

not really seeing foundation in your argument. hillary has a better chance winning 270 electoral votes than obama. because obama has beaten hillary in a primary has nothing to do with a general election.

[AdLib]

jml65: because obama has beaten hillary in a primary has nothing to do with a general election.

Lol, what a maroon!

You're right, the Dems should change their nominating process and be the only party that chooses the loser of the primary, the one least supported by party members, to be their nominee. What a clever thing to support, wonder why the Repubs aren't doing that?

[dottedzebra]

Nope. She doesn't. The little math fairy tale going around tallying up the electoral votes of the states that they have one has a HUGE flaw. The republicans won't win NY no matter what and Hillary wouldn't win TX. Obama might if it's a landslide, but no way would Hillary be a landslide. They republicans hate her way too much.

[Ginko]

hillary has 263 now, obama, 202

[crazyv]

Saying that Obama can't win the GE because he lost primaries in NY, CA, OH to Hillary has about as much merit as saying that Hillary can't win the GE because she lost the black, educated liberals and youth vote to Obama. The bottom line is that both candidates have core constituencies that support them strongly; however that does not mean that those constituencies would prefer a Republican over an alternative Democrat. If they did that would be a personality cult.

[MSaldana]

"Yes, Hillary, we will! We definitely will. Middle class is the new poor, and poor is the new black"

Cow,

I thought all you 'bots were rich, upper class and college educated. What gives?

-MS