Obama Going Negative? Mailer Hits Clinton On Trade

Sen. Barack Obama's camp is sending out mailers in Pennsylvania directly taking on Sen. Hillary Clinton for her position on trade.

The piece, which was obtained by The Huffington Post, tiptoes the line between position contrast and general attack, as the Obama campaign cites several news items and quotes that are subject to different interpretations.

For example, the mailer cites a Newsday article from September 2006 concerning Clinton's perceived support for NAFTA. Aspects of that article, however, were retracted because it included the since-discredited line that the Senator said the trade agreement was a "boon." The Obama mailer didn't include the "boon" quote, but even Newsday offered that the use of their piece in a political context could be misleading.

In addition, the mailer criticizes Clinton for supporting permanent normal trade relations with China, citing a 2000 quote she made to CNN: "But on balance, I've looked at this, I've studied it. I think it is in the interests of America and American workers that we provide the option for China to go into the WTO."

Obama, however, has a similar quote from the Illinois Farm Bureau, albeit one with greater caveats and stipulations. "So I think it is important for us to negotiate our trade agreements recognizing that the global economy has shifted," he said in September 2004. "What that means then is that when the Chinese government devalues its currency by 40%, we've got to make sure that we bring China before the WTO. The same way that we get brought before the WTO if other countries think that a disadvantage, that they are being disadvantaged by our existing trade policies."

Beyond these quips, however, is a bigger question. Does this sully the Obama campaign's attempts to paint Clinton - who is running a slate of negative advertisements in Pennsylvania - as the only candidate to go negative?

As David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager said of Clinton on a conference call on Thursday: "It is a relentlessly negative campaign here in Pennsylvania running negative ads around the state... her campaign can really be defined as an attack strategy day after day, trying to destroy Senator Obama."

Here's the complete mailer:

Comments

[RIBassist]

I think the way that we use words like "negative" and "attack" has become totally undisciplined. When someone states a fact, it's just that: a fact. Facts in and of themselves are value-neutral, they are neither positive or negative. To state a fact is not to launch an attack. Examples:

Fact: Hillary Clinton used to think NAFTA was a good idea, and now she says she doesn't.
Negative attack: Hillary Clinton is a liar and a flip-flopper when it comes to trade! She doesn't really care about American workers!!

Fact: Barack Obama once served on the board of directors of a charitable organization where forner bomb-throwing radical and member of the Weather Underground Bill Ayers also served on the board.
Negative attack: Barack Obama is bed with the terrorists! He is best friends with unrepentant radicals who blow up treasured national landmarks!!

We really should strive for a bit more precision when we're describing each candidate's campaign tactics.

Of course, if you have an announcer with a deep, tense voice read the "facts" above over some sinister music while showing pictures of unemployment lines or the WTC in flames, you're in something more of a gray area....

[writerswrite]

VERY well said. The Clinton campaign seems to cry 'negative' whenever Obama says something they don't like, especially when it's the truth. Truth has an Obama bias.

[ruyen]

Is it negative if it's 100% accurate facts?
I guess presentation of facts could be considered negative, but I wouldn't consider an ad negative if it was all facts as opposed to negative attacks at a candidates character or general message ("Sky will open up", "Out of touch with the people", "He wouldn't be my pastor", etc... meanwhile Obama hasn't said one single thing about Clinton's stories about Bosnia, Ireland, the medical case of the pregnant woman, etc..)

[unsolved999]

Add the $800,000 from the Columbian Government and the $1 million from Dubai. Total income in the last 7 years of $109 million. Whose side is Hillary really on?

[captnEarl]

She is on Billarys side not the democratic party. Slick Willie wants his old job back!!

[timm0]

I've gotten 3 mailers in support of clinton in the last 2 weeks (I live in PA, outside of Philly). Each one is paid for by Emily's List, so it features a woman telling me why she is voting for hillary. I've seen 5 from Obama supporters. One was a 527, but I have to admit to not noting who paid for the others. We're getting bombarded. Fact is, all these things are going to be lost in the noise.

But as an Obama supporter, I have to say that I'd prefer he'd have hit her over the credit card bankruptcy vote and her reliance on PACs and lobbyists. He's emphasizing his refusal to accept their money and the "game" in mailers and tv ads, but the missing piece is to compare that to hillary's 'establishment' support. He doesn't need to go quoting a flimsy, retracted quote to return fire. He should/could have hit her with more solidly documented proof of her shortcomings.

[kenjisan]

If not him; Who? If not now; When? This is no longer about Obama, this is about AMERICA and corrupt politicians who lie to win votes when they are on the opposite side of what is best for the American electorate. I don't give a rat's a** about whether or not it appears negative - if it is TRUE - let her have it!

[RonNYC]

I wonder why no one mentions that Mrs. Clinton is willing to unilaterally bomb Iran if they attack Israel. No consent from Congress. No discussing with any other country. Interesting that all people are worried about is Barack's lapel pin.

[ohioangel]

The proverbial nice guy. He could absolutely HAMMER her with some of her professed/confessed baggage and instead he releases an ad with the truth about her and they call him negative! After ALL she has done to get at him, he's called negative. After all she's said about the working class, they call him bitter and after her whole kitchen sink strategy they have the nerve to go at him about this. Get real!

I'm glad he put this flyer out. I hope that every Pennsylvanian reads it and I hope that they also circulate it in Indiana.

[EyeWantOneNation]

NEGATIVE ????? Where ???

I think it's a very good mailer...right on !!!

[TheInsomniac]

As an Obama supporter, I'm not happy with this. However, it does not come close to her disgusting lies in the flyer to NH voters just a few days before that primary. Her dishonesty at that one moment might be the reason this race is dragging out, giving fodder to the Republicans, and strengthening the media's favorite "maverick." I'm for anything right now that ends this and allows the coalition that Obama has begun to form to come together to lead us to the only important goal of the coming election - ensuring that Bush's new BFF doesn't win the presidency.

[stonepier]

Negative? At least it's about a REAL ISSUE. It's entirely appropriate for him to bring this to the attention of votors.

[GuyInNC]

you mean like Obama's misleading TV commercial in PA where he claims he doesn't take money from oil companies and implies that others do? No one takes money from oil companies or any company. It's illegal.

You mean how this mailer attacks Hillary on China trade, when the article itself says Obama has the SAME POSITION on China?

[terragazelle]

You know he means PAC's and Lobbyists....
as far as China, do you mean the Olympics?

Clinton wants Bush to Boycott...Obama says to wait to make the decision:
Clinton called on Bush to skip the ceremonies after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that he would do so. Clinton issued a statement calling on Democratic presidential rival Obama and presumptive Republican nominee John McCain to join in her request.

But Obama said he thinks Bush should wait and decide to boycott the ceremonies only if the Chinese fail to take steps toward change.

"(I)t is past time for China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people, to allow foreign journalists and diplomats access to the region, and to engage the Dalai Lama in meaningful talks about the future of Tibet," Obama said in a written statement released late Wednesday.

"I am also deeply concerned about China's failure to support efforts to halt the genocide in Darfur," he said. A boycott of the opening ceremonies should be "firmly on the table," he said, "but this decision should be made closer to the games."

(But Brown later said he had not decided to Boycott yet.)

[sillyseason]

It's About Time!

I don't blame the Obama camp for giving HRC "a whoop ass" dose of her own medicine. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Want to see Hillary lie about her true NAFTA & Free tarde position on video, in her own words?

If you're an Obama supporter or undecided, you'll want to see it. If you're a Hillary supporter, you'll either hate it, or wish you would have known this sooner.

The Many Lies Of Hillary Clinton, Starring HRC, In her OWN Words:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exsmFDYyK4U&eurl


*

[ibsteve2u]

About time.

How can you claim to be the White House Spouse who had the most impact on American policy in Presidential history, claim that you have always supported the working people of America, claim that you have always been for health care for all Americans, and not say a damned thing as your Presidential Spouse was signing inequitable and unfair treaty after treaty that would ensure the loss of American jobs and cutbacks in or the elimination of any health care associated with the remaining jobs?

[sd4peace]

This may have seemed negatice a few years ago, but in this campaign it pales in comparison to the Clinton tactics.

[aricogfj]

Well since the Great Debate host did not ask the question, Obama is taking to the people...as well he should. Hillary was for NAFTA as a first lady, no doubt about....and now is trying to ride another horse

She is running nothing but negative ads on tv....albeit with her limited budget

She is destroying the party....past time for her to leave

[MadFae]

Give me a break. Obama's already been accused of going negative before every major contest so far. This isn't some "new" issue. He's not a fluffy little bunny politician. If you want to call this negative, it doesn't change the fact that Hillary Clinton has resorted to tabloid toilet attacks on Obama's personality and associations. At least this is based on REAL ISSUES. This is politics. Obama has been by far the leader in keeping his campaign on the issues. So go and sell "negative" somewhere else. We're all full-up here.