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

[MrWinky]

Hillary's defense of Obama kind of reminds me of Animal House, when Neidermeir was harrassing Flounder. "He can't do that to our pledges, only we can do that to our pledges."

[burnt]

Sorry, this doesn't let her off the hook... I would be hard pressed to call this a "defense".­.. there was no emotional context to the fact that is was dirt... Why? Because it is exactly the kind of campaign tactic that she has been employing all along. It's NOT enough Clinton.

Drop out. Go Home. Campaign hard for Obama. Do something meaningful other than serve self. You lost... Period.

[mcole]

well, you know what? i say well done to hillary, she spoke well and firmly without equivocating; this is quite unusual, i think we are seeing a glimmer of the woman she may have once been, or may become, given a lot more time and a minor miracle.
overall, well done hillary!

[LeeinJax]

Sounds like the damn with faint praise syndrome that many of us expect. As she says, she is a lot of things but she's not dumb. She knows there is plausible deniability in the "...as far as I know" and "...overst­atement...­exaggerati­on" as opposed to real support.

[Tommygun264]

Hillary Clinton actually defended Barack Obama without turning into another "as far as I know" back-handed compliment? OMG! Who is this woman and what has she done with the real Hillary Clinton?!

[jhink465]

She is a politician and she is doing what politicians do.

[Amminadab]

It was never back-hande­d.... just spun that way.

From the March 2 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes:

KROFT: You don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim?

CLINTON: Of course not. I mean, that's -- you know, there is no basis for that. You know, I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that.

KROFT: And you said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not a Muslim.

CLINTON: Right. Right.

KROFT: You don't believe that he's a Muslim --

CLINTON: No. No. Why would I? There's no --

KROFT: -- or implying, right?

CLINTON: No, there is nothing to base that on, as far as I know.

KROFT: It's just scurrilous --

CLINTON: Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors. I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time.

[StillAmused]

You're wasting your time with imbeciles who screen out little details -- like the interviewer hammering her with the same dumb question until she's left grasping for something else to say, like, "Are you friggin' deaf?" -- or the "hard-working" afterthought stumble (probably her tenth interview of the day), a simple case of campaign Tourette's (like "Get up every morning, work hard, play by the rules"... yadda, yadda) that, to the insight-challenged, constitutes proof of "racism".

In their tiny, one-dimensional world, Clinton woke up thinking: "I know what I'll do today -- I'll insult one of the MOST important constituencies out there, one that's always supported me in the past, really poke 'em in the eye in the national media... and hope no one notices."

"Yes we can... or, damnit, we'll piss on your grave."

[JamesInDenver]

Yep, Hillary's laying the groundwork for 2012. Her tactics are pretty transparent. Every once and a while she takes timeout from attacking Obama, to rush to his side to defend him. Hillary's hoping we'll forget (or simply not notice) how she has single handedly highlighted every fault line in the Democratic coalition. If Obama loses, and the Supreme Court gets stacked with ultra conservative McCain selected justices, then the blame is entirely on HILLARY CLINTON.

[Amminadab]

Sorry.

If Obama loses, it is Obama's fault.

[harriscrl3]

Like he's lost the primary. I think people underestimate Obama but thats OK when they underestimate you its to your advantage. He knows how to win thats why he is ahead. Whether or not I blame Hilary depends on her because she does have passsionate supporters who takes their cues from so imo she has the power to decide whether or not this party is fully unified. I think obama can still win but it will easier for him if she helps.

Carol

[Binxy]

You are 100 % totally correct.

And the direct corrollary is "Clinton losing is Clinton's fault."

[ThatSharkeyGeezer]

Thank you, Hillary. No snarky comment from me. Thank you for speaking honestly and with dignity.

I hope it's the beginning of a new tone in this contest. It's got really ugly lately, and it's time to close ranks now and fight the Republicans.

[DinOhio]

Congrats Hillary! See, that wasn't that hard, was it? Thank you for not equivocating or using the "as far as I know line". Way to go - I feel a little hope - keep it up.

[luvthelaw]

Good start, now just keep it up.

[paganmist]

Okay, look.

We all wanted her to stop the smears.

If she's stopping the smears, then it's time to stop attacking her.

It doesn't matter if she's sincere or not. You can ask for someone to change their behavior, but you have no right to expect them to change their feelings or feel differently. You just can't. And you may not like her, but her feelings are valid, whatever they are, and should be respected.

I'm an avid Obama supporter. But above all else, I'm a Democrat.

Please turn your eyes towards the bigger picture, and consider this new tone of voice to be yet another goal accomplished on the way to the White House.

[StandingStill]

Agreed.

[bhrandon]

woot i agree, if hillary would have been like this instead of running a negative campaign me thinks this election would have gone completely different. As long as she stays on the up and up, this is good news for democrats.­..

nighty night mcbush

[speakyourmind]

Good on you, paganmist!

[colbyb25]

I couldn't agree more. It is going to take both sides to bring this whole thing together. We have to help each other. I gladly and happily will accept Hillary's support of Barack in Nov.

Obama '08

[Tommygun264]

All kidding aside, amen to that, paganmist. The most important thing now is to get a Democrat, ANY Democrat into the White House.

[santamonica39]

she really didn't defend him very hard - saying it was an "overstatement" which implies that there is some (albeit small) truth to it. She should have called it a ridiculous smear with no basis in fact (which is exactly what it is). Then she's asked about her racist comments and she essentially dodged the question.

[Amminadab]

{She should have called it a ridiculous smear with no basis in fact }

That is exactly what she said concerning the Muslim smear..... yet she got villified anyhow.

From the March 2 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes:

KROFT: You don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim?

CLINTON: Of course not. I mean, that's -- you know, there is no basis for that. You know, I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that.

KROFT: And you said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not a Muslim.

CLINTON: Right. Right.

KROFT: You don't believe that he's a Muslim --

CLINTON: No. No. Why would I? There's no --

KROFT: -- or implying, right?

CLINTON: No, there is nothing to base that on, as far as I know.

KROFT: It's just scurrilous --

CLINTON: Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors. I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time.

[atienne]

Sensible American-you have no sense, brother! I wish I knew you so I could sell you all kinds of things! You're just TOO easy! And what's with the 'half-breed' comment on another thread? You should take 'American' off your screen name. You're making Americans look bad!

[SethandRay]

This goes to show that when she stops being so driven by winning the election, she does have a lot of common sense down there.
http://sethandray.wordpress.com

[lmgoodwi]

I mean, that's first time I haven't been outraged by something she said in months. Step in the right direction I suppose. Grudges do nothing for anybody.

[NoahVail]

Thank you, Hillary. That's really white of you.

[StandingStill]

Please, no more race talk. EVER, please I beg of thee!!!

[paganmist]

Man, you're not kidding.

*sigh*