Obama Camp May Turn To Negative Clinton History

The Washington Post reports this morning via an anonymous Democratic strategist that the Obama camp may seek to remind voters of the less impressive days of the Clinton administration:

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's victory yesterday in Pennsylvania has only accentuated the quandary that Obama faces: Stay negative and he risks undermining the premise of his candidacy. Stay aloof and he underscores Clinton's argument that he will not be able to beat a "Republican attack machine" sure to greet him this summer....

With Obama clearly favored in North Carolina, even he has called Indiana the "tiebreaker," a state that adjoins Illinois but where Clinton voters hold sway in the working-class towns in the south. In the two weeks leading up to the Indiana primary, a Democratic strategist familiar with the Obama campaign said aides are likely to turn to the controversies of Bill Clinton's White House years -- Hillary Clinton's trading cattle futures, Whitewater and possibly impeachment.

Continue reading about Obama's Indiana primary strategy.

UPDATE: Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe has denied the report:

"We're not gonna do that," Plouffe said. "We have not talked about those issues in the campaign, and won't."

Comments

[thrutheseasons]

When you call the cops on a criminal and tell the story of how it happened, is that engaging in mud wrestling? The people are the cops and they are going to decide who is going to the white house. They need to know everything on these people's resumes. He needs to show strength without giving up his manners, be methodical, accurate, and not let her off the hook when she gives another dishonest answer. Rest assured there are more scandals of the Clintons that will turn up, like Paul vs. Clinton. Look it up. You people who are like saying, "Oh, no, please don't throw any dirt." You and your weakness and the lack of attack and wanting to appear nice all the time does not pay attention to the fact that most people are not like you and we have to defend ourselves, but pick are shots and hit with hard, undeniable, visceral truth that captures her unique and deep psychological illness.

[mesuki]

Believe me Hillary will hang herself with her own rope.....but I sure would like like to see some of those scandals played on TV!.......but I doubt if the MSM has the balls!

[IndependentPAVoter]

wow their blocking all my posts today so im done.

Hillary is the devil.

[ProgressiveBum]

Obama: Please don't engage in mud wrestling with the lesser candidate!
It should be very simple to distinguish your campaign to that of your sewer rat opponent. Maybe a few insinuations without naming names will force HRC's broke camaign to spend all of the few dollars they have to defend the indefensible. Then just leave her bleached, dried-out carcass on the highway to the nomination!

[HumeSkeptic]

No need to go dig into her past. Get her on the issues of today. Hillary, especially after her recent remarks on Iran, is now a proven pro-NeoCon.

Do the voters want a choice bewteen a pro-NeoCon and a NeoCon (McCain) in November?

Hammer her more and keep hammering her for her vote for Iraq war, against the Levin Amendment and for the Kyl/Lieberman Amendment : all three important pro-NeoCon votes.

Based on her record, question her promise to bring our troops home from Iraq. I'm not buying it. Being pro-NeoCon, Hillary is likely to find an excuse for us to stay in Iraq.

And do keep hammering on her ties to war-prifiteers and corporations. And question her claims on NAFTA, and question the links of her key staff and of Bill Clinton to Colombia.

[GunneraGirl]

Amen to that! there are plenty of real difference between the two candidates; let's work with that.

[toomuchtolose]

Don't get down and dirty. It's not necessary, and people who are ready to leave Hillary will not like Obama's attacks because it will seem like the same thing they are turning their backs on. There's enough criticism on her positions and more than enough to fear relating to the people who are backing her, Murdoch and others. Every time she takes a very right wing approach or takes money from really right wing supporters, she scares me. How far will she go to be the first female president? It will go down in the history books. It's a very big deal. A lot of people will be disappointed if a woman doesn't make it, because we can be very sure it will be a long time before this experiment will be tried again. (same for the first black candidate) There's a lot of pressure not to lose this opportunity. It looks like she has already sold out to the Republicans. If a Democrat does win, then the neocons will want the Democrat who has sold his/her soul to them. Obliterate Iran? If she really is prepared to go through with that [think Nagasaki and Hiroshima], she has no soul. The neocons will give it back to her one piece at a time each time she stands with them and votes with them and supports their policies. She's not a Democrat. That should be enough to turn Democrats against her.

[ddempesy]

I hope Obama attacks the Clinton machine. As far as I'm concerned when she made those outragious remarks at the ABC "debate"...everything is fair game. It's time to remind the voters just what "experience" she has.

[ResidentChimp]

Most people realized that Obama was just another politician. He might as start now before he hits the big time. At least he wont have to pretend anymore. Maybe he'll even be able to face up to his past.

[IndependentPAVoter]

Face up to what??? Thats the problem people like you who actually want this crap from their politicians your right to vote should be revoked.

[CaptainSunshine]

What do you expect from a guy who calls himself a "chimp"?

[GunneraGirl]

His past? What past? Working as a community organiser on the south side of Chicago where someone who was once a member of the Weather Underground was also working as a community organiser?

Being the member of a Christian Church whose Pastor said some words that taken COMPLETELY out of context were marketed by the Clinton Rovian machine as 'unAmerican"?

Is that REALLY all you've got to put up against all the incredible mistakes and errors of judgment, the amazing corruption and lies of Hillary Clinton.

It's laughable, really.

[Bluebloodsbastardson]

and we wonder where those who beside the 25% base voted for W went to? I guess some of them are like Resident Chimpy, they are masochists who really loved getting screwed by Bush and who will just ADORE getting screwed again by Billary.......these people will have to become a whole lot smarter to rise to the level of dumbasses. I'll bet Chimpy has never read or listened to an Obama speech or watched him on C-span in hearings or listened to any of his interviews back to the late 90's. A mind is a terrible thing to waste Chimpster.

[sandiaview]

Tit for Tat! Go negative, that's what the stupid masses require. A lot of people are dumb as rocks, especially in Pennsylvania. How can you explain Bush, Clinton, Bush and now another Clinton. So Obama do what you need to do and don't forget Bosnia Lies, Bill taking $800,000 from Columbia (free trader speech), Bill taking $55 million for "pay to play speeches", Mark Penn, free trade Columbia man, Lies, Lies and more lies ! Hillary get your head down and run for cover. I hope he reminds the American people about the slimmy ole days.

[ann1]

He doesn't have to do that. Just let her keep running through the house with scissors

[MPeter]

Nope, he does not have to. He is already draing up the pool of superdelegates. Day by day, they are fleeing. Here is another from Nebraska:
LINCOLN, Neb. – Audra Ostergard, Associate Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and member of the Democratic National Committee, publicly announced her support for Senator Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.


“I have carefully weighed input from Democrats across Nebraska and closely watched results from primaries and caucuses across the country,” said Ostergard. “There are compelling arguments for supporting both candidates, but my decision came down to what’s best for our country and for Nebraska. In that regard, I am confident in my decision to endorse Senator Obama. He has a proven ability to activate Democrats in Nebraska.”

“The gravity of this decision has weighed on me heavily,” Ostergard added. “I don’t want to use my position to influence the process, but at the same time I agree with Howard Dean that our party needs a nominee. Senator Obama’s prohibitive lead in pledged delegates was a major factor in my decision.”

Ostergard is a member of the Democratic National Committee and therefore automatically a delegate to the Democratic Party’s National Convention in August.

All six of Nebraska’s Unpledged Party Leaders and Elected Official Delegates have now endorsed Senator Obama. Senator Ben Nelson, Committeman Vince Powers, Committeewoman Kathleen Fahey, and Committeman Frank La Mere endorsed already. NDP Chairman Steve Achelpohl endorsed last week.

[303]

Let's hope Warren Buffett gets on this Nebraska bandwagon, and joins Obama's Economic Recovery Team to help Americans with homes, jobs, healthcare, wage inequities and credit problems. Nebraska Repub Sen Hagel is another strong possibility to beef up Team Obama in the areas of Armed Services/Foreign Affairs, especially if McCain continues to dodge supporting Hagel-Lugar's GI bill for Iraq veterans.

[Whycee54]

Is it me or does Hillary Clinton remind you of LUCY in the Peanuts cartoons? Obama is Linus...
Obama, take that blanket and slap her upside her head.

[CGrace]

I wouldn't go after her on the old Whitewater, cattle futures and all of that. I would pound her on lying about Bosnia and being under sniper fire. This is something very recent and it goes to her character. She's a liar, plain and simple. Ireland peace accord, the CHIPS program, the things that she has lied about in this campaign trying to pad her "experience" factor. It would be Bosnia.

[LuckyDay]

I agree with your observations 1000%. How voters can accept her deliberately lying three times about the same thing is beyond baffling. Integrity is the most important characteristic a person can have and is even more so for the head of this country. If she can lie about something that insignificant, God knows what kind of lies she can tell about other more important matters. Voters in Penn agree that she is not trustworthy, yet they voted for her. Apparently liars are given a pass these days.

[thrutheseasons]

The question Obama should ask is "With all due respect Hillary with all of your bashing of my character and the associations you have tried to link me with, I would like to ask you one question. What is the difference between you who has admitted to stating false information that you knew was untrue about sniper fire in Bosnia which was a way to say that you have experienced combat in order to become commander in chief and a person who has to go to jail for wearing a military pin he has not earned? Let me tell you what the difference is. The person who wears the pin wants only to feel important and feel esteemed by others, while you have tried to use your falsehood to gain the most powerful position on earth. I think you are much worse than the people sitting in jail for wearing these pins because you have done everything in your career and in your life without care with whatever you had to do for your own personal gain."

[dawlishgal]

I would hit her with her lies about NAFTA. She is on record as having traveled around flacking it and she denied it. and got caught. Now she says that in her heart she opposed it. (Like that makes any difference when she is going around trying to convince people to vote for it). Just another indication of her to-the-bone hypocrisy. Bill promised labor that he would oppose it, but he couldn't wait to betray his supporters and ram it through congress to delight his corporate pals (the ones that he and Hillary hung out with at the ELITIST "Renaissance Weekends."

[MamaLlama]

I thought he was the candidate of 'hope'? Her ancient scandals are out weighed by his current scandals. . Rizzo Deal, Reverend Wright, Bitter Pennsylvanians hugging guns and god!. There are more to come and as I have said for the last 6 months, a vote for Obama is a vote for McClain.

[AnnieinOR]

really? well, let's analyze this:

Hillary has been lying 3 times on three separate tapes about Bosnia Sniper Fire.

Hillary has been lying about NAFTA/CAFTA:

NAFTA - documents from WH now prove she always was for NAFTA - there is even video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=exsmFDYyK4U

CAFTA: Mark Penn lobbys for Colombia Free Trade - Bill Clinton takes 800K from Colombia.

Library Donors List will reveal foreign corporations and countries that the Clintons are now indebted to.

Doug Coe of The Family which is a supremist type cult is her prayer group of choice.

She kills innocent ducks and carries a concealed nuke to obliterate Iran with.

[HumeSkeptic]

as I have said for the last 6 months, a vote for Obama is a vote for McClain.
-----------
You must enjoy being wrong.

[IndependentPAVoter]

Rezko, McCain, outweighed is 1 word. need I say more.

$109 million since leaving the white house including $800,000 from the columbia deal she's supposed to be against.
$500 million in questionable donations to the Clinton library
Still havent produced last years tax returns(remember she lent her campaign $5 million)
Bosnia- we know she has never even heard sniper-fire let alone been in danger from it.
Stealing dishes and other items from the white house (thats low even for the Clintons)


You dont wanna go there!!!!

[mesuki]

Check your facts......first of all it's Rezko ,second of all she took money from Rezko too! and like I said before the scandals she's been involved in makes Obma look like a Saint !

[Daisy1111]

Provide a link to Hillary taking Rezko money please?

[wgb]

It's sad people are this misinformed and fall for the MSM 'Scandals'.

[dartagnan]

I would hate to see Obama dredge up Whitewater and the other Repukelican-manufactured bogus "scandals" of the Clinton era because (a) it would hurt the Democratic Party and (b) it would hurt Obama. Obama has done well by staying cool dignified and refusing to get down in the gutter and mud-wrestle with Hillary.

If the Clintonistas try to use the "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" line, I have the perfect rejoinder for Obama: "It's isn't the heat that bothers me -- it's the stink."

[thrutheseasons]

Old news: Whitewater. No there there.

New news: Paul vs. Clinton, something significant and finally coming to a head, disgraceful.
The reason she needs to get into the white house so desperately is because otherwise she could very well find herself in jail.

[Daisy1111]

Don't pin your hopes on this case tarnishing Clinton. Rezko will damage Obama more if they call him as a witness (right now he's on the 'possible witness list.")

The Paul v Clinton case was thrown out in 2006. Peter Paul is a convicted felon who once tried to extort money from Fidel Castro. There's a good reason the press is not reporting this -- there is no case. Paul is trying for an appeal but he won't get it. Peter Paul is not credible. He has a history of being a conman dating back to the Carter administration.

If you circulate this false story it will not help Obama.

http://conwebwatch.tripod.com/stories/2005/wndpaul.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_F._Paul#_note-30

[margi]

Peter Paul trial is starting in few days , April 25/08 let's see if Clinton News Network(CNN) report it. This should expose who the clintons are. Always taking $$ wherever they can.

http://www.peterfpaul.com/
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/3/4/141014.shtml?s=ic
Clinton on Dubai Payroll

Only fools fall for HRC lies and tricks, that's why she can fool a lot of non educated folks, they can't see through her lies. The same way she lied about her Bosnia trip is the way she lies about everything.
Who can blame her , She said her dad was strict, she always had to prove herself, I think that's why she lies and hide documents a lot.
I read her story as a lawyer when she blamed a victim of rape for what happened to her, and suddenly all the files disappeared. Same thing happened with the Rose Lawfirm and the savings and loans. democrats wake up. HRC can't represent us. The Republicans will swallow her so bad, dem will cry if they do not wake up. In PA there was alot of bigotery, isn't it what Ed Rendell said about some whites who would never vote for a black guy, pretty sad,but I know a lot of us are not bigots. We see through HRC games and lies.

[Tulka2]

Obama needs ammo...? (I made a little list in the Clinton years because they broke my f****** heart!)
One at a time, okay? When the Clintons left the White House, they packed up one of the fifty sets of dishes and a set of silverware belongin to the American people. It was widely reported, but everyone, including broken hearted leftists were so happy to see their backs, that we just let it slide. It's just one thing after another with the Clintons. Be prepared for a world of hurt and new "Gate" scandals if Clinton walks through the door again.

[sherylsworld]

Let's see, there's Monica, Jennifer, Paula, Sniper Fire, won't release 2007 tax returns till late August, pork barrel spending, white trash comment, Billary speak up...

Born in PA

[OkieMon]

you mean like bitter-gate, and rev. wright-gate, and crack cocaine-gate, and rezko-gate, and no pride in america-gate, and race card-gate, and hissy fit-gate, and geek bowled a 37-gate? those kind of gates?

[AnnieinOR]

and nothing is ever wrong with Ms Perfect candidate, huh? She lies and laughs and goes on Jay Leno and mocks sniper fire, while men and women are dying in Iraq and she laughs.

She laughs when questioned about the 800K that Clinton took from Colombia and now more jobs will be sent to Colombia. Jobs are leaving at an alarming rate to foreign countries. Factory workers and cannery workers have lost jobs to the east, Canada and Mexico.... but let's not blame the Clintons who were for free trade as is proven in the WH records and Bill's association with the same foreign countries who paid for his library.

but none of this is Hillary's fault, she claims her experience via Bill's presidency - then she is responsible for all we have lost because of their GREED

and this is just in the last few weeks - would you like me to list, Africa, Ireland, Whitewater, Travelgate, Monica gate and so on for you???

[HumeSkeptic]

Are you a dittohead? You surely sound like one. No serious and thinking person would care about the stuff that you mentioned.

[thrutheseasons]

Why are you consumed enough to spread lies?

[Gmoney1]

Well aren't you bitter, bitter, bitter - must be one of those Pa. duck shooters whose only possession is a good old bowling ball -

[furelise]

Bill Clinton had a 70% approval rating during the Impeachment Hearings and 65% approval rating when he left the White House. That is the largest approval rating any president has ever had since polling began. Looks like you are the only one, other than Republicans, who were happy to see him go. I would be really interested in knowing how you found out silverware and dishes were missing when they left the Presidency. That is a crock.

[IndependentPAVoter]

A crock you say, really???

http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/clintonstealing.htm

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/trashingthewhitehouse.htm

I got you Tulka!!!

Theres more I just grab the first 2 off my browser list