Obama Hamas Smear: Clinton Says It Shouldn't Be Taken Seriously

Hillary Clinton appeared on the Situation Room today to weigh in on the state of the race. Below are a few highlights.

On Hamas' Obama endorsement:

BLITZER: Here is what McCain said about Barack Obama and I want to get your reaction. He said, "I think," this is McCain, "I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. I think people should understand that I would be Hamas' worst nightmare. If Senator Obama is favored by Hamas, I think people can make judgments accordingly." McCain was referring to a statement by the North American spokesman for Hamas endorsing, in effect, Barack Obama. Is McCain right?

CLINTON: No, I think that that's really an overstatement, an exaggeration of any kind of political meaning and I don't think that anybody should take that seriously.

BLITZER: Do you have confidence that Barack Obama as president would be a strong supporter of Israel?

CLINTON: Yes, I do, I believe that that would be the policy of the United States and it's been our policy for 60 years.

On her reference to an AP story about Obama's support among white voters:

BLITZER: Now, your great friend and supporter Congressman Charlie Rangel said and I'm quoting now. "It's the dumbest thing you could have said."

CLINTON: Well, he's probably right.

BLITZER: Explain.

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CLINTON: Well, absolutely. I was referencing an AP article and obviously I have worked very hard to get the votes of everyone and I have campaigned hard, I understand that we've got to put together a broad coalition in order to win in the fall. We've got to get to that 270 electoral vote margin and I know Senator Obama has worked hard to reach out to every community and constituency.

On remaining in the race:

BLITZER: So you're staying in at least through May 31st and June 3rd...

CLINTON: That's right.

BLITZER: ... which is the last -- you're not going anywhere.

CLINTON: I'm not going anywhere, Wolf...

BLITZER: All right.

CLINTON: ... except to Kentucky and Oregon, and Montana, South Dakota, and Puerto Rico.

Comments

[Abie56]

Quite responsible comment on her part. Had she campaigned like this, she might have done better.

[lolatheninja]

The mask is going back on. In a couple of months most people will probably have forgiven and forgotten but I'll never do either. I'll always remember how she and Bill acted these past couple of months.

[yoyo1959]

Me too. I'll remember that combined, they pushed Obama to become a BETTER candidate than he would have been. He was pushed mid-candidacy as the 'darling' of the media and liberal blogs and would have coasted to an easy victory, only to be trounced by McCain and the Republicans in the fall. What the Clintons did was to make him work for it, sweat, and learn the ropes from the best in politics. The Clintons NEVER started the race baiting, it was the Obama campaign by crying "race" whenever they were criticized.

[chronic]

You are a liar!

It is the Clintons that started the race baiting. I was totally in Hillarys corner until Bill made that infamous, Jesse Jackson won south carolina comment.

It was the Clintons that had to nuetralize Obama, remember the candidate that the traitorous media branded, "not black enough"?

It was the Clinton campaign!!

[BrighidG]

You had me.

The Clintons NEVER started the race baiting, it was the Obama campaign by crying "race" whenever they were criticized.

And then you lost me.

Not everything that hack Wilentz says is true. Unless Obama has secret Jedi-mind powers (in which case November should be a cakewalk) he didn't make Bill Clinton diminish his lead in South Carolina by comparing him to Jesse Jackson. I bet you can't even point to a link where Obama himself claims the Clintons were race-baiting - because I've asked tons of Clinton-supporters like you and none of them can back up their words with actual facts.

Even Hillary can admit what she said was dumb. Show some class and follow her lead.

[clsez]

Obama was a better candidate by FAR before he met Billary. He cleaned their clocks as he would have anyone else's. the clintons made it more DIFFICULT because instead of going thru her conivances once and beating those back, he will have to go through the same twice for the sake of Billary's scorched earth campaign against him. Now YOU want to give her credit after those damning facts?

No way. call it what it is, sheeps clothing or not!

[clintfatigue]

WTF!

Did I read that headline correctly?
Hillary defended Obama?
Did hell just freeze over?

[marc1antony]

and now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.
my friends I say it clear, I'll state my case of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full, I've traveled each and every highway,
but more, much more than this, I did it my way.

regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention...

oops, sorry - hey this is the Hillary that would've been the presumptive nominee. Sorry Hill, it comes too late.

[Thabit]

Yep they just opened a crosscountry skiing school on the north slope in hell

[jagoneely]

I am supporting Obama now, but I started with Hillary. I still admire and respect her greatly I only wish she'd taken the high-road early on. Like in the ABC debate when they were attacking Obama about the stupid lapel pin. I wanted her to look George or whomever in the eye and tell them to stick to the REAL issues. But she didn't. This is who I wish she'd been the whole time. This was truly a class move.

[Softnsweet]

jagoneely, Hillary did a fantastic job in that interview. You have to give her kudos for that. Well, at least I do anyway.

[NoOona]

This is the Hilary I love to see. Makes me feel good about the party and Obama's chances in the general. This almost makes me want her as a VP.

Women for Obama08

[antaeus]

I second that, sweetie.

[NoOona]

umm, am I supposed to be offended by "sweetie"? Because I am not.

Women for Obama08

[NoOona]

You already mentioned the "boy" comment in another post. I respect the fact that some women find the term "sweetie" offensive, I am just not one of them. For the record, I think Obama should stop saying "sweetie" and "I love you too" to supporters, because YES, people are way too sensitive and dirty minded these days. They can't find anything seriously wrong with him, so they cling to childish things like these terms.

Women for Obama08

[whizkid]

Look at the comments here from the sore "winners."
Don't defend him.
Kick him and the media in the nuts like you should have after South Carolina.

[marc1antony]

HATERS aren't pretty!!!

[betz55]

You bet we have supported Israel for 60 years, with billions of our tax money. And for what? Now israel wants us to do their dirty work in Iran. Unconditional, unquestioned, never ending financial support of Israel is bad for the US. Hamas is not going to go away. Hamas is the democratically elected representatives of the Palestinian people and the only reason Israel and their supporters refuse to deal with Hamas is because they will not sell out the Palestinian people. Hamas leaders said they would consider a ceasefire if Israel lifted its blockade and ceased violent attacks in besieged Gaza and the occupied West Bank.Successive Israeli leaders have rejected every Palestinian proposal for ceasefire or peace,blindly pursuing the Zionist policy of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people from their homeland.When will Israeli leadership come to the table accept intl law and make the concessions necessary for peace? The truth is Israel's rejectionism has been the greatest deterrent to peace over the last 40 years. Good news? There will be when Israel and the US recognize a two-state solution, a separation between their country and this one, the United States. Hillary, to me, is still old world politics that just doesn't work anymore. We need change.

[Heaphy]

I am very glad that Obama rejects your support for Hamas, a terrorist organization dedicated to the destrucion of the State of Israel. Hitler and the Nazis won some elections too. Why is it that folks like you think that every nationality of Earth deserves its own national liberation movement, except the Jews? One thing I can guarantee to you - Israel WOULD cease all attacks against Gaza if Hamas and Islamic Jihad would stop the rocket attacks against civilian targets in Israel. I was in Israel just before the pullout from Gaza, and heard the Israeli yearning for a peaceful outcome. The incessant rocket attacks have dashed those hopes, and any fairminded observer - such as Barack Obama - can see who is stoking the conflict right now. It is the Hamas terrorists that you defend. Shame on you, and thanks to Barack Obama for standing by the democratic State of Israel, and against terrorism.
- Jim Heaphy

[TheNuff]

Truth is that the US cannot be an honest broker in this situation if we are "friends" with one side. We can never get to any resolution due to our own bias. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. I can see both sides.

[dollars2donuts]

I'm AA and I used to be more pro-Palestinian and a harsh critic of Israel. I'm still sympathetic to the average suffering Palestinian, but the last decade has shown to me that it seems like no matter what Israel does the Palestinian militants will attack. They pulled out of Gaza, and were rewarded with more rockets. Every concession seems to be met with rockets and bombs. I really empathize with the people of Sderot especially with the constant attacks from Gaza. Hamas and Hezbollah don't seem to understand what "peace" means, only destruction. But the ones they're hurting most is actually Palestinians. The world's most complex political problem will probably not be solved in our lifetimes.

[sharonh]

Hitler and the Nazis were trying to take over the world, not defend their homes. "Every nationality DESERVES it own liberation movement"--that is a crazy thing to say, like I have a right to make war because of who I am. The Israel government is militaristic. I think, if Obama gets the nod, he would in fact talk to Hamas.

War is never justified.

[betz55]

Biggest myth : Israel is a “civilised” and “democratic” nation, never initiates terrorist attacks or involved in daily acts of terrorism, discrimination, racism, and apartheid. Right? Pure BS. By contrast, the Palestinians are portrayed as ‘militants’ - regardless of age -‘seeking revenge’ and trying to ‘destroy’ a ‘peace-loving Israel’. Israel simply responds and retaliates. Israel responds to Palestinian throwing stones and retaliates against Palestinian rockets with firepower far beyond what the Palestinians have. Israeli soldiers are ‘forced’ to kill Palestinian children and pregnant women, and demolish Palestinian houses. Israeli soldiers, of course, are not responsible because they are facing a ‘stronger enemy’. These Israeli crimes are acts of terrorism against defenseless people. The fact that Israel is a racist apartheid state aimed at becoming a homogenous “Jewish state” at the expense of the indigenous Palestinian people is deliberately ignored. Why is Israel are allowed to lay waste to every international law and convention without criticism and their "enemies", Hamas, or anyone else wanting out from under Israeli oppression not entitled to raise a hand in their own defense?

[HansB]

"Israel WOULD cease all attacks..."

If only that were true. In reality, the Palestinians have been punished every time they kept quiet through stepped-up settlement activity. Conversely, during the intifadas settlement activity decreased. Right now there are no settlements in the Gaza strip from which rockets and terrorist attacks are launched, while a huge land grab is taking place in the West Bank from where no violence against Jews is being launched.

The problem is that Israel doesn't use the carrot and the stick, just the stick, and it hits hardest with the stick when the Palestinians do as they are being asked to do.

[KRAZYHORZE]

Well said betz55

[sharonh]

They have made Jimmy Carter a pariah for simply having dialog about the "Palestinian issue" . You cannot force people from their homes, destroy their culture, and then give some back and make it better. Ms. Clinton shows her style with this comment and I applaud her. Where is the divide she could have caused? Why it's not there.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Wow Hillary, if only you had been like this the entire primary.

I stupidly expected that as the front runner you would set an example and come out from the beginning railing against the Bush administration and McCain.

I was sorely disappointed. I hope you can show us that you are a true Democrat and support Obama when he wins the nomination.

[antaeus]

Don't worry, sweetie, she will.

[BrighidG]

Oh no! Obama called someone sweetie! Clearly he hates women. Even though his words and votes have shown him to be pro-choice, anti-gender and sex discrimination and anti-dumb wars (which tend to kill women and children) and anti-land mines (again with the killing women and children) clearly calling someone "sweetie" is comparable to boy (proof right there you're a white woman).

Thank you for showing me the light!

[Heaphy]

Let me begin by saying that I am a 100% Obama loyalist since the day he declared his candidacy, and I have taken issue with many of the things the Clinton campaign has done during these primaries. I saw Wolf Blitzer's interview of Hillary Clinton tonight, and I thought that Hillary was gracious and realistic in her comments. I am increasingly optimistic that she will endorse Obama with enthusiasm when the time is right for her. She and her legion of supporters deserve respect, and a sincere and friendly invitation to join the Barack Obama 2008 campaign. We need them very much and want and appreciate their support between now and November. Now is the time for extending olive branches in the Democratic Party. The John Edwards endorsement will help as well. Let's all come together to defeat John McCain and the Republicans.
- Jim Heaphy

[BigBen]

Wow Jim "Late have I Loved Thee". Pity you have such few supporters in the Obama kamp.

[northeast73]

She and her legion of supporters deserve respect, and a sincere and friendly invitation to join the Barack Obama 2008 campaign
=============

TOO LATE.

[globalcitizenlinda]

If Hillary says that smears of Hamas do not need to be taken seriuosly, then why did she publicly (and to his face) say that Obama has links to Hamas during the ABC "tabloid debate" before Penn. She cannot have it both ways

[antaeus]

She said Obama "has links to Hamas"?? I don't believe that.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

"Likewise, in a question about Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Gibson and Stephanopoulos demanded Obama re-hash his disavowal of Wright's controversial remarks. In her response, Hillary Clinton misleadingly tried to link Obama to Louis Farrakhan and Hamas. There was no challenge to this statement from our editorially-minded moderators; no effort on their part to pull apart the inaccuracy in her statement, or at least give her an opportunity to say she didn't really think Obama had any connection to Hamas or Farrakhan."
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/6763/1/329/

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Clinton .... "And I think that it wasn't only the specific remarks but some of the relationships with Reverend Farrakhan, with giving the church bulletin over to the leader of Hamas, to put a message in."
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/Story?id=4670271&page=2

[MoxieGurl]

To Kingbreaker ....

She didn't plan past Feb 5. The campaign was supposed to be a wrap and a coronation on that day. Then she saw Obama beating her so she used her GOP campaign strategy on Obama and turned all us Obama supports against her.

I say to her… Too little too late! Too much bad blood. We will not bail her out of debt nor do we want her in Obama’s administration.

Maybe he can offer her a Supreme Court seat and that’s a BIG maybe.

[chad413]

Why has no one commented that the Hammas argument is actually a good thing?

I know Hammas is a bad group, but if they like Barack, wouldnt they be willing to listen to him when he asks them to stop bombing things and stop killing people who disagree with them? Maybe if they like Obama, they will stop some some of their evil doing. Since they are of course, evil doers.

it's not like Barack's going to invite them to stay in the Lincoln bedroom for fucks sake.

let the Republicans continue to use this smear. It's apparent they are losing their luster with the public. trent Lott's district went for the Dem? hehe. It's a good year to be a Democrat. i dont even think the Rupubs have enough suppurt to steal this election.

[valkyrie607]

Treason! Traitorous thoughts! Amurka is the BIGGEST and BADDEST! We don't need no frikkin' diplomacy--we got the biggest balls!

I jest, but this is how neocons like Podhoretz, Ledeen, Friedman, et al, really think.

It's scary.

[Binxy]

I agree with you chad413 but after 8 years of fear mongering by the Republicans the American population has lost it's capacity for nuance. It's all bad or all good, no gray.

[Kingbreaker]

WHY COULDN"T SHE HAVE BEHAVED LIKE THIS throughout the campaign? Sincere, honest, intelligent. This is the Hillary Clinton that should have won.

[macbabe]

because she thought she'd have it all wrapped up on Super Tuesday, but opps, now what... and it's opps AGAIN because she has No Exit Strategy, all she can do now is play nice and find a good exit soon!

[Kingbreaker]

Had she acted like an adult throughout the campaign, she would be in a much better position to get the VP spot. I don;t think she could have won b/c O has the better campaign organization and, frankly, political talent, but a "dream ticket" would have been much more realistic. I'd vote for that - with either candidate on top - in a heartbeat if the primary had ended on 2/5.

[ZinaRo]

This almost makes up for her remark about Obama not being qualified to be commander in chief while McCain is. I want to like Sen. Clinton, but she has made it very hard these past few months. That being said, Sen. Obama has to seriously consider her for VP. It can bring the party together quickly. That's all that matters.

[Thabit]

Whlie i appreciate her statement today frankly i dont trust her . She can do a lot to repair my opinion by throwing that stuff at the repubs during the GE but i dont think i could trust her if Obama's heartbeat was all that was between her and the presidency. She could get future support from me if she is as much of a bulldog on the campaign trail to get Obama elected and is not on the ticket .though

[ProgressiveThought]

Wolfie's interview was the most sincere I've seen Hill all campaign. Some of her remarks have made me bitter I must admit and I did not think I could watch the whole interview.

But when I was watching Hillary Clinton today I did not see a racist woman I see a woman that has been fighting tooth and nail since Iowa. Some of her strategies have been objectional but I don't think she is a monster. I felt she has poured her heart and soul into the campaign and when Wolfie asked her about Chelsie that was really genuine. I almost had to fight back a tear myself. As mad as I have been at Hillary during this campaign that one interview healed me. That's why I think we will be United going into the fall.

This is my Olive Branch to all Hillary supporters all of my negative energy will be attacking McDole.

[chic111]

I totally agree with you. Some of the things that she has said I have had a very hard time with. I am a 50 something white woman that in the beginning supported Hillary. But as the campaign went on I have come to support Obama. You have to give it to HIllary, she has worked really hard and I do admire her for that. But I don't see her catching up in the delegate count and so I hope that she works just as hard to get Obama elected. I would like to see Hillary as Obamas first nominee for justice of the supreme court.

[bbissel1]

As a former and long time Hillary supporter
i believe what you are suggesting is a very common sense solution.Let's hope the two are communicating! .

[Amminadab]

I sincerely appreciate your olive branch.

There may be a chance at unity yet.

But I'm still quite skeptical.

[MoxieGurl]

Don't be fooled! She was sincere because she knew the Edwards endorsement was coming and now the hand writing is on the wall.

Had she acted civilized during her campaign I too would have been down for a dream ticket but she blew that shit up with all her wild antics.

She's too toxic for Obama. Like I said above... Too little too late! Too much bad blood. We will not bail her out of debt nor do we want her in Obama"s administration. We meaning Obama supporters.

Maybe he can offer her a Supreme Court seat and that"s a BIG maybe.

[tester]

Hillary was never a racist or even played the race card. If we all take a step back from the heat of the campaign it will become very obvious.

[Fotios]

I don't think she is a racist, but she has offended the black community over and over again by characterizing Barack's campaign as only being able to win because of the black vote. She first off doesn't recognize that he's won vastly white states like Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, etc. Secondly, by making those types of comments, it seems like she is saying that black voters don't count as much as white.

If you remember, she was polling much higher with black voters before Bill's Jesse Jackson remarks in SC.

Let's also not forget the muslim (turban) photo leak, the hammering on the his church and reverend, the cocain reference, and most importantly her comments that MLK couldn't have accomplished anything without the help of a white president.

So, she isn't a racist, she is just a bigot. No big deal.