Obama-Backing General: Clinton Lacks "Moral Authority" After Bosnia Gaffes

A key military surrogate for Barack Obama went after Hillary Clinton on the Bosnia story today -- triggering an accusation of hypocrisy from the Hillary camp in light of Obama's own words about the controversy during this week's debate, when he said people should let the story go.

"One of the inherent duties of the president of the United States is to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day," said Gen. Walter Stewart on an Obama campaign conference call this afternoon -- then proceeding to lambast Hillary over the Bosnia gaffes. "Imagine the lack of moral authority she has now to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Memorial Day."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[vsign]

I don't like this retired General being a surrogate for Obama and saying these things about Hillary. I really don't like Obama pretending he is not responsible for these attacks on Hillary. I want a Democratic president but I really really want a President that is accountable for what is said by his surrogates. Obama hides and pretends to be better. Wrong attitude.

Hillary does walk the talk. She took responsibility for the gaffe she made. I think it actually highlights her experience. When has Obama flown into a war zone? Has he ever been to Baghdad where the planes do a cock screw descent and with their lights out? Hillary has. She walks the talk.

I think bringing this up again is going to backfire on Obama. But let it because it will show his lack of judgement.

[LBKN]

If there weren't such gaping holes in her character... more accurately caverns... then there would be less need for her to cover with accusations against Obama's supporters making statements aimed at the caverns of character rot.

If she wants to be unassailable... then she's about 30 years late. Hill's history is her liability... and she has created way too many character craters.

If she stumbles into one or a dozen, she better point fingers selfways... after all... these are voids in her character.

[the964kid]

The Bosnia story is as fair game as Wright, and I think Obama should've been hitting Clinton on it weeks ago. It speaks volumes of her deceitful-self. She will say or do anything to win, and thats the perfect example. Hillary has over-stated many of her roles and experiences, especially back during the Bill Clinton terms in the white house. Her fairy tale about Bosnia wasn't merely a 'gaffe' or misstatement, and its an insult to all of us voters for her to claim that its' simply her remembering wrong. That was an outright bold-faced lie that she told on multiple occasions. Her initial response was almost as pathetic as the lie itself, I mean - didn't Hillary claim to be the most competent to answer the phone at 3am?? She talked about being sleep deprived and Bill said her statements were made at 11pm, and, because she's a 60 y.o. woman, thats reasonable. To quote Bill from earlier in the campaign : "GIVE ME A BREAK."

[Independentjunkie]

So heartw arming to see Obamabots defend generals now. Is this the same crowd that applauded General Betrayus ads by move on . and now all of sudden loves generals . LOL

[ObamaSuperDelegate]

Sorry, he can win

[Rcoke]

It wasn't a gaffe. It was a false memory.

[LBM]

Such a hypocrite! The whole idea of this argument is ridiculous. One could say that being anti-war doesn't give you the moral authority to lay a wreath at the unknown soldier's grave. Do you really want to give the republicans that fodder. Give me a break!

[VA2008]

Please don't forget all of the "fodder" Hillary has already provided for the GOP! She is the queen of "revival" and trumps up stories about being "bitter" and "inexperience" totally out of context ad nausium........all is fair in love and war. She definitely cannot take it but she sure can dish it out!

My prayer is that Pennsylvania will end this ridiculous quest of Hillary Clintons and that history will remember what she has done to help the Republican Party (right-wing newspaper endorses her; the same paper who bankrolled the impeachment of her husband) with her assistance in talking points to be used against Obama; and what she has done to damage the Democratic Party. She is one very confused lady who has a selective memory and uses people for her own selfish needs & convenience.

[LBM]

Hillary hasn't provided the GOP with weapons to use against herself which is what Obama is doing. No one is saying that it's not fair to bring it up. They're saying it's hypocritical of Obama to claim that he is above it all and then to stoop lower than anyone has. If he wants to play the dirty game of old politics, then he needs to own up to the fact that he brings nothing new and different to the game. If he's not bringing change and he's not bringing experience, then he's empty.

[SMP]

moral conflicts


But over the past few months, her presidential campaign has taken its apparent embrace of former media adversaries to a new level, sending reporters articles that praise Clinton and attack Barack Obama drawn from conservative outlets including the National Review and the American Spectator, and quotes from Republican pundits like Ed Rollins and Grover Norquist.

And former President Bill Clinton made an appearance on talker Rush Limbaugh's show the day of the Texas and Ohio primaries - contests in which the conservative radio host had urged listeners to vote for Hillary Clinton as a means of sabotaging the Democratic nominating process.

be prepared for more....

[EarsOfTheNation]

I am an Obama supporter....I have respected him for taking the high road through this campaign and especially in the debates. Let's face it - for all the mud-slinging, innuendos and "kitchen sink" the Clinton's have thrown at him, he hasn't retaliated. And he could. The baggage Hillary brings with her could be brought up constantly...but it isn't. The "unknowns" are probably scarier that the "knowns" !!

Believe me; should she have the nomination, the GOP will not hesitate to slaughter her !!!

That said, the way these politicians let their surrogates go off, and then disagree with the statement, or "distance" themselves from the remark, is too funny !! Politics, I suppose...but they both do it !!! It's like the prosecutor in a court case making an outrageous remark, and the judge says: "strike it from the records...the jury will disregard that remark !!" Once someone has heard it, that's it folks...done deal !!!

Like I said: politics, I suppose...I just wish that part of it would stop !!!

[benwha]

Again I ask. This is coming from a general. And I think we should consider that when criticizing his remarks. Especially considering HRC made light of it on Leno.

[MoreCowBellNowPlease]

how on Earth can Obama with a straight face decry these "distractions" when his campaign that very same day organized a conference call to harp on Clinton's Bosnia-sniper-fire gaffe?

He is politics as usual too and liar about denying he isn't. Yawn.

[benwha]

The point of the conference call was not this issue. Nice try.

[MoreCowBellNowPlease]

Whatever you need to tell yourself. You are but another blind follower.

[MoreCowBellNowPlease]

You know what benwha. I have come across you before on here with your poor debating skills. "Nice try" does not work as a rebuttle. If you are going to refute--use back-up or shut up.

http://2008central.net/2008/04/19/obama-campaign-sen-clintons-remarks-on-bosnia-were-a-breach-of-honor/

[SaddieMcCall]

So Generals are not permitted to express their opinions about Presidential candidates joking about dodging sniper fire when the person never did? Wow, that is sad that freedom of speech is not permitted for retired Generals, just because it "hurts my feelings" Clinton is offended.

[linquistic]

Maybe he should have made an advertisement about her Bosnia gaffe the way she made an advertisement and exploited his "bitter" comment. There's alot on Hillary that Obama could exploit but he's trying to run a different campaign. He also isn't trying to write the republican play book the way Hillary is.

[mesuki]

The articles from Slate always tend to lean towards Hillary anyway so I'm not surprised by this one. For Obama to haven gotten as far as he has says agreat deal about his strenght. He's had alot of people trying to knock him dorwn along the way ,and that bull shit about the media giving him a pass is one of the biggest lies I've ever heard. He's a strong man!...he's had to fight Hillary,McCain,right wing extremist,right wing media,bigots the list goes on and on. .......Yet he's still standing stonger than ever!

[benwha]

Barack did not endorse these remarks. In any event, I can buy a general who has been in battle and seen friends die, maimed or whatever being insulted when HRC claims she came under sniper fire when in fact she didn't. Perhaps he shouldn't say she doesn't have the right to hang the wreath but being offended is ok. HRC supporters, would you not agree?

[PrdAmerican]

While I haven't supported Clinton, a few of my closest friends have, but their support eroded when she was on the Jay Leno sho and started cracking jokes about sniper fire...to say the least, these women were beyond offended, especially since we know that American lives have been lost to sniper fire in Afghanistan and Iraq. One woman has a son in the Marines who is Marine Sniper...the irony huh.

[ANYDEM]

I am one of her supporters... I was ashamed of her telling that story... and it doesn't take a General to be offended, it takes a service member... My husband is a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps and he was utterly offened... he said you just don't make light of a situation that they are faced with daily and then instead of apologizing, you make light of it by coming up with ridiculous excuses!!
He says he will never ever support her....

I can't go that far... I was ashamed but I still support her!

[vsign]

The press reports from this Bosnia trip recount reports of sniper fire and drills of what they should do etc.

I admire Hillary still for being in dangerous war zone situations and I compare it to Obama's experience.

She has admitted she exaggerated and apologized. I like that in a President.

[johnnygoodwud]

hmmm, taking the 'O' train out for a maiden voyage around the block. memo to barack, 'we'll need alot more cars added right after pa. primary for all the superdelegetes getting on board. tickets, tickets please.