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

[jcwtts1]

Hillary is down, what is she supposed to do? She looks desperate, everyone knows it. The race is done.

J

[mediahack]

Another lame attempt by Obama last night to explain his amateur theory about why working class Americans are not yet supporting them. His comments revealed something about him that is uncomfortable. He hasn't explained yet why his supporters at that fund raiser in San Francisco were laughing at his comments. Watch the video at the link below, ask yourself what was so funny?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Video_from_San_Francisco.html

[DGregory]

you have a problem..

[mesuki]

It's uncomfortable for you...cause maybe you might have some unresolved issues. I don't see anything wrong with what he said,so get yourself some help.

[GuyInNC]

you don't mind that Obama said that people in small towns aren't voting for him because they are bigots?

If Hillary said that was why blacks aren't voting for her, you would call for her to be shot in public.

[donaldw6]

I can't count how often you've posted this, and I've never understood why it obviously means something to you, so I took the time to read a few of the comments on this Smith guy's blog. Apparently, some people actually feel that for Obama to laugh at the discomfort some feel about the candidacy of a black man with a Kenyan name indicates some character flaw. I find that absolutely astonishing.

I didn't read too many of the comments, but I think I got the picture. Would you care to enlighten us as to why we should think this reflects negatively on Obama?

[iPolitics]

At least he sticks to the issues. She concerned with who he sat next to on the bus or in college.

[outnow]

Did you catch Hillary McClinton's promise to attack Iran? The U.S. has not treaty with Israel because then Israel can attack first and disclaim that the U.S. was notified in advance as would be required in a formal treaty. But if Iran "retaliates" Hillary will wipe Iran off the map. Hillary is in the pocket of everyone but the working man. I lived in Pennsylvania, I have numerous relatives that have graduated from Penn starting in 1801. Still, the people of Pennsylvania should wake up before all their jobs are gone. Their anger should be directed at Hillary and McCain. The only hope they have is Obama.

[MadFae]

Yes! Keith O talked about that a good bit last night. Even Pat Buchanan was alarmed. Clinton's lost her ever lovin' mind.

[mediahack]

Obama will do or say anything to get elected.
This distorted mailer will backfire on him and his elitist followers.

[MadFae]

LOL!!! Boy, that's tired.

[ErnestineBass]

Media Hack. Hmmmmmmm...isn't that Bawlin' Bill OReilly's nickname?

[coolaid]

Doing like your boss, huh? McClinton accuses Obama of something she is alreaedy doing. Sorry but that comment is reserved solely for the McClintonistas this time. Anyone who has not been living on another planet for he past 4 months knows better.

[mesuki]

I think you meant Hillary...boy you're screwed up!

[westreal]

Truth hurts!

The Borg Queen is going down!

[tdeiker]

Why would she lie about NAFTA if she didn't lie about the snipers in Bosnia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgfWVfmilOM

Brought to you by Crown Royal. Always delightful - especially with a beer chaser.

Crown Royal - where the elite meet to greet the man on the street.

[KMan1]

As long as the Obama campaign is utilizing facts to challenge her I have no problem with it what so ever.

[ElliottPhD]

I agree. Why is this being labeled a negative attack? Try harder Sam Stein.

[2008andbeyond]

She's getting what she asked for. Karma, it all comes back to you.

[frustratedinohio]

I'm surprised that Obama realizes that the people in PA can read. I wonder if they cling to their reading . . . oh no, just their guns and religion.

[NotAnAbuser]

frustratedinohio,
We now know for sure that Ohio has a lot of morons.

[GuyInNC]

Barack Obama - POLITICS AS USUAL

[imusintheevening]

Hillary is now 100% negative. She has managed to turn off many of those who voted for her by departing from the issues and exposing herself as an incessant bitch with a greater concern for self than those she wants to represent.

[Countess]

You must be joking suggesting that Obama is as negative as Hillary Clinton. Nobody is as negative as Hillary excepting her true allies at Fox News.

[democrattotheend]

They've both been sending mailers like this for months. For example, Clinton had one in Ohio that showed 6 people and said "which one of these people would Obama leave out" of his health care plan, as if not requiring them to purchase it is the same thing as denying them coverage.

[barackobam]

Do you have aproblem with me attacking McClinton or it that "elitist"?

[outnow]

I invented the term "McClinton" just last night after the debates or debacle or what ever you call it. I will license the term for you to use because McClinton is a free trade "women of the evening." She has done more for the working man or woman of China than for any American working person. With all due respect, America has been taken to the cleaners by the Gingrich/Clinton China deal through the WTO in 1999. Before that, it was NAFTA. Hillary lies. It is all over U-tube.