Leaked Clinton Camp Memos: Paint Obama As Foreign

On Friday the Washington Post reported that The Atlantic magazine got hold of internal Hillary Clinton campaign memos. Today the Politico posts a sneak peek. Some highlights:

On Jeremiah Wright: "Does anyone believe that it is possible to win the nomination without, over these next two months, raising all these issues on him? ... Won't a single tape of [the Reverend Jeremiah] Wright going off on America with Obama sitting there be a game ender?"

On attacking Obama's foreignness: "All of these articles about his boyhood in Indonesia and his life in Hawaii are geared towards showing his background is diverse, multicultural and putting that in a new light.

"Save it for 2050. ... Every speech should contain the line you were born in the middle of America American to the middle class in the middle of the last century. And talk about the basic bargain as about the deeply American values you grew up with, learned as a child and that drive you today. Values of fairness, compassion, responsibility, giving back.

"Let's explicitly own 'American' in our programs, the speeches and the values. He doesn't. Make this a new American Century, the American Strategic Energy Fund. Let's use our logo to make some flags we can give out. Let's add flag symbols to the backgrounds."

On Clinton's confused message: "The internal discord over whether to attack Obama led some of her own staff to spin reporters to try to downplay the significance of her criticisms. The result for Clinton was the worst of both worlds: The conflicting message exacerbated her reputation for negativity without affording her whatever benefits a sustained attack might have yielded."

On the much-criticized 3 AM ad: "In the days leading up to Ohio and Texas, the campaign kept arguing over whether to air the [3 a.m.] ad. With the deadline looming, Bill Clinton, speaking from a cell phone as his plane sat on a runway, led a conference call on Thursday, Feb. 28, in which he had both sides present their case. As his plane was about to lift off, it was Bill Clinton -- not Hillary -- who issued the decisive order: 'Let's go with it.' "

Comments

[dmack]

She isn't done yet. Correct me if I'm wrong, but she only suspended her campaign. Doesn't she want the Florida and Michigan delegates seated with full voting priviledges? Doesn't she want her name on the ballot? Why? The vote count is close enough for a small number of Superdelegates to make a difference. This nomination can take a contraversial turn at the convention. Barack, beware!

[Dreamers 101]

I think not national polling looks like this

Oba'ma 49%
Mc'Cain 43%

Nominee stolen

Mc'Cain 52%
Hill'ary 32%

[tel8034]

Dreamers_101,

And your point is?

[doctorwang]

Any chance she had, and she really didn't even have one, is now gone. No superdelegate is going to switch their vote to Hi!!ary after see these memos. It's over.

[MsLiz]

The superdelegates who said last fall that they would voter for her, especially the black ones, would be loco to vote against Obama now.

[liseworks]

Exactamente -

[Rotwang]

Silly person. Hillary is done.

[orangepetal]

What do you hate about Mrs.Clinton

[orangepetal]

They were very close, If Michigan and Florida were resolved reflecting the real votes even closer.
Neither of them were good enough to clinch the nomination without the delegates. Pelosi, Dean and other party members should not decide this election. Let the delegates vote.
It is the only democratic way.
If you are Democrats what do you hate so much about Mrs.Clinton?

[reliant1]

clinton will not allow her name to put up for nomination.

they'll have a unity 1st ballot vote - just like Bill got in 1992.

she negotiated the terms back then for his rivals - endorse, no name in nomination or not allowed to speak at the convention. her rules.

worked too. unanimous 1st ballot. all united and tidy.

these memos sealed the deal for her. declawed her and puma.

[scandals&skeletons]

Who said we hate her? YOU!

Project much?

[EarthToZoey]

I don't hate HRC. But I'm not going to support this mentality that she was somehow "robbed" of the nomination because it is patently false. Your crowd is grasping for straws. If you don't like O b a m a for whatever reason -- fine, don't vote for him. But this continued ploy to cry foul is lost to everyone except your small, paranoid, conspiracy theory fringe. Do you actually think you hold some knowledge that the rest of us don't? Do you think there is a giant conspiracy to keep a woman from becoming President?

P U M A followers love to accuse O b a m a supporters of "drinking the kool-aid" -- but who are the unrealistic automatons marching together for some unified delusional cause? Sorry, I try to be patient with the mantras you all repeat, but where is the logic? Where is the tempered reasoning?

[doctorwang]

The PUM@s are the ones that have created animosity towards Hi!!ary with their redundant inane comments. With their stupid diatribes. With their annoying conspiracy theories. You should know that it is PUM@ that is really hated, not Hi!!ary. They do a great disservice to her. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[StillIRise]

If YOU are a Democrat, why are you voting for the Republican candidate? I think this raises more questions than those who may or may not hate Senator Clinton. Even those who may hate Mrs. Clinton are still committed to supporting the party she represents; whereas YOU, who claim to love the Clintons so much, are not willing to abandon the party they represent. So where is YOUR allegiance as a Democrat?

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

What is up with Feingold? I don't think a politician needs to follow the talking points of the day but get real

""I think the guy (McBush) calls 'em as he sees 'em, and as president would call 'em as he sees 'em, and would make people mad all over the place because it wouldn't fit anybody's playbook," said Feingold, who teamed up with Mc Cain to rewrite federal campaign laws."

"But the notion that somehow (Mc Cain) is going to get in there and be some kind of ideological N ewt G ingrich right-winger is a joke. There's no way that he would do that," Feingold said."

Thinking McBush would not be an ideologue. Sometimes Feingold can be very naive like voting for Roberts approval for the supreme court. Feingold is supposed to be so much a constitutionalist how can he say McBush is not an ideologue when McBush wants to torture and rescind Habeas Corpus, when Feingold blasted 0bama for supporting FISA.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=781576

[saltysea]

don't know. sure it's not old?

[mexicanamerican1948]

Why all the hate for Hilliary Clinton??, I think because she is a woman, very smart, and most men can't stand a great women. I have not seen so much hate in my life by the left and the woman haters. By the way, this opinion coming from a man. Do not begrudge the right of the Clintons to defend themselves. The Clintons are revered in the Latin community, almost as much as John Kennedy. I cannot say that of Obama.

[Bettysdad]

Every smart woman I know finds Mrs. Bill Clinton nauseating.

I guess that's because she's woman.

[uheardme]

President Clinton finds her nauseating.

[saltysea]

a lot of comments spewing hate at Clinton are actually PUMAs or McBush followers hoping to sow division, which they've been fairly successful at.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Hmmm... All the polls indicated Hispanics support Obama over McCain 3 to 1. So you are a rarity.

[UWorlds1]

The Mexicans would not be where they are without blacks marching back in the '60s for all human rights. We marched with Chavez. Now you say you won't vote for a black man. Hypocrisy. Who buttered your bread? Nothing against you liking Clinton, but Obama is the nominee. A vote for McCain will send you back to Mexico.

[Bronxcutie]

I'm a black woman and I do NOT hate HRC. I dislike her antics. Just because someone disagrees with her does not mean that they hate women. I want to see a woman in the White House just as bad as I want to see an African-American. Sen. Obama is new to the Latin community, so of course the reception would not be the same. A LOT of Dems were torn when the primaries started. I didn't make my decision on who I would vote for in the NY Primary until the LAST second in the voting booth. I started to dislike Hillary once she started acting like a Republican instead of a woman that cares about the Democratic party and the American People. I strongly started to dislike both Clintons because of the "fairy tale" comment and the dismissal of young voters. I understand that Bill Clinton has been embraced by the black community, but he cannot call the candidacy of the first black person to have a chance at the WH a "fairy tale" and expect for us to let it slide. I think people need to take off the blinders. NOTHING was stolen from Hillary. She was the front runner from the beginning. It's her hubris that got her in trouble.

[lorla]

Do you PUMA people ever reach the point where morals and ethics matter more than the candidate possessing a v@gina?
As this campaign has unfolded, C linton has proved herself to be a liar and unethical. Contrary to what many may believe, morals and ethics matter when choosing a leader. See what happens when you have an administration that is morally bankrupt?
BO-08

[orangepetal]

Liar and unethical.....oh that is so simple and you have the nerve to question my intelligence.
She was visiting our troops in a place where atrocities had been commited. Our troops and our diplomats were working to in partnership with many countries trying to make a difference in a very tense place and time.

[livesimply]

Everyone has a right to hero worship whoever they please, but this is an election.

[lorla]

Actually, pointing out that C linton is a liar and unethical is very simple. She made it that way.
Speaking of intelligence, where did your brilliant mind conjure up references to B osnia in any of my comments.
The artice is about her plan to paint O as a scary foreigner, and her the red white and blue, hot dog eating American.

[Dreamers 101]

Let’s call a spade a spade there was1799980 million votes for William Jeffe’rson Clin’ton and 200 votes for Hill’ary Rod’ham Clin’ton they are now known as PUMA.




NOPUMA – Pointless Unity for Miserable A$$holes

[liseworks]

Now THAT"S what I call : Tellin' it like it is !

[orangepetal]

Well that's an improvement, from 5 to 20, at least you said we are for Hillary, usually we are racist republicans.

[Bettysdad]

What's the difference?

[Dreamers 101]

I can’t wait to see:

1.) Orangepetal
2.) PumaAnn
3.) BradPittsburgh
4.) Gotalife
5.) Whizkid

I can’t think of the other 195 PUMA but it will be fun to see there little pea brains explode when O becomes the prez.



30 aint the new 20 but PUMA is the new tro//

[orangepetal]

We just happen to be readers of Huffpost. It will be fun to see you when the dems LOOSE AGAIN, especially as this time there was no excuse.

[EarthToZoey]

LOOSE |loōs|
adjective
1. not firmly or tightly fixed in place : a loose tooth | the truck's trailer came loose.
• detached or able to be detached : a loose board.
• not held or tied together; not packaged or placed in a container : wear your hair loose | pockets bulging with loose change.
• (of a person or animal) free from confinement; not bound or tethered : the bull was loose with cattle in the field | the tethered horses broke loose.

[doctorwang]

You made the same mistake before- it lose....not loose.

No matter what this years outcome is, Hi!!ary will not be POTUS. Not even in 2012. The animosity towards Hi!!ary that PUM@ has helped to create, with what these memos have/will reveal, has put an end to that dream. Sorry, but you guys blew it......big time.

[reliant1]

no sorry - hillory isn't winning anything according to vrwc and puma:

"They will AFTER Clintoon is COMPLETELY out of the picture. Why get the starting pitcher you can beat out of the game before the first pitchis thrown? The day AFTER the convention will be fun...trust me..."

they have a surprise...to aid mcmonster...and don't seem to care about her

"Yes, the best thing would be for Hillary supporters to be bruised (figuratively, that is) by the convention, but for Obama to limp to the general election with his nomination intact.
best for McCain, best for our country."

so what's the surprise? you pumapubvrwc folks must know??

[scandals&skeletons]

What are the dems loosing, the nuts & bolts in your head?

[MsLiz]

Until you learn to spell "lose" please be "quite."

[EarthToZoey]

Oh yeah. I'd love to catch their reactions on a split screen when he the results come in.

[liseworks]

Dr.'s prescription to these poor disenfranchised folks : 1 BIG BOTTLE OF TEQUILA a day.
Take for 3 weeks straight - call Dr. afterwards for follow-up.

[scandals&skeletons]

They will be nowhere to be found, beleive me.

[SaltySaltillo]

The most important point revealed by these memos? The following:

"it was Bill Clinton -- not Hillary -- who issued the decisive order." Here is something that I and many others who did not support Hillary understood from the beginning: how many other "decisive orders" would Bill have made in a Hillary presidency. This was a surrogate candidacy to give an egomaniac an end-run around the US Constitutional term limits. Hillary, for whatever her extraordinary talents and competencies, is still wife of Bill Clinton.

[orangepetal]

Well that has been a concern of mine, I do not really want MO making decisive orders.
Give me a break, Hillary is more than competent, but we will get McCain because the DNC messed up big time. So go register.

[EarthToZoey]

Go register? Do you think anyone posting comments to a political site aren't registered to vote? Or do you mean something else?

[AdLib]

orangepetal See Profile I'm a Fan of orangepetal

"It will be fun to see you when the dems LOOSE AGAIN"

You're not the brightest troll, my condolences to your brain cells. Dems don't refer to themselves in the third person (have someone with an education explain what that means so you don't "LOOSE" out on understanding something else).

You're an obvious Repugg tr0ll, convincing no one of anything except your own lack of intelligence. Please, by all means, continue to humiliate yourself.

[EarthToZoey]

The P U M A crowd reminds me of irritable teenagers who think they're rebels. They're the type who think they are "nonconformists" yet group together and say the same "defiant" things their buddies say.

Being a rebel is all well and good, but I haven't seen any argument with substantial evidence that makes their supposed "cause" notable or important. They're legends in their own minds. They probably pee themselves when they hear Jack Cafferty mention them on CNN.

Oh, and their documentary looks like a joke. There isn't a thing on the clip I've seen that causes me to reconsider voting for O b a m a -- and I'm an open minded person who refuses the "rose-colored glasses" mentality of some supporters.

[Stephen420]

These are internal campaign memos for heaven's sake. They don't strike me as particularly salacious. You think there aren't Obama campaign memos that urge strategies that would objectify Hillary Clinton? Please.

[Scott1560]

And that's about as deep as these sort of things go. Some just don't get it.

[scandals&skeletons]

Ob-ama-s memos float along on a cloud of invisible goodness while leaving a trail of frankincense and myrrh.

[fourex]

Bill And Hillary, the McCain gift that keeps giving.

[orangepetal]

No, it is Obama that will loose all on his own. So go register.

[MsLiz]

Good god almighty when will people learn to spell "lose."

[kevineight]

With assholefriends like you, how could he win?

[aubrey8]

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make fourex think...

[EarthToZoey]

"Loose"?

He isn't going to lose this election. What will you do when he wins? Plan a coup?

[scandals&skeletons]

I think you might have a sew "loose"

[Dreamers 101]

I read in a newspaper sometime ago that Bill in his last term as prez saying “if I could run for a third term as president I would win” back in those days I would have agreed and even voted for him but he couldn’t so the next best thing was to have his wife make a run and presto change’O’ third term.

[StillIRise]

If Hillary had won the nomination and ultimately the presidency, in Bill's mind, it WOULD BE HIS THIRD TERM! Hillary would be the titular office holder, but he would be running it, just as he ran her campaign ... because in his mind, it was HIS campaign! This is also why President Clinton has been so bitter and even angry. When Hillary lost, HE lost! But he didn't just lose the chance to be a vicarious president; he also lost his image among some of his most loyal supporters, and he lost the luster of his legacy. I wonder if, upon reflection, he thinks it was all worth it.

[orangepetal]

You are really going for the spin, butl okay, if you say so.....

[saltysea]

he also lost his chance to help out his donors (to the library & foundation).

[chinationreport]

How many of you here read 'Dreams from My Father?'
I read this in 2006 and believed in him to become president one day. I thought he wrote the book I had wanted to write. I can't explain but it was a real inspiration. The book was not about his father. It was about his own big dream and aspirations. Brilliantly written and well explained.

I do recommend to you and your children to read it. Nothing wrong to dream big.

http://www.chinationreport.com/

[orangepetal]

I will not buy his book, he should not get rich by informing voters who he is. I bought the book for my uncle who imports African Art, and realised after the fact that it was Obama's. The pieces I have read seem vague. If the way he expects people to know him is through his book he should start handing them out. People should know him from his achievements, which seem to include throwing a few good parties , effectively denouncing and demeening a democratic public servant who has fought tirelessly her whole life for us, he sat through 20 years of racism yet was in no way indoctrinated in anyway and last but not least he can tell you everything that is wrong with America without using a teleprompter.
I do not think he is qualified, we cannot afford mistakes, mistakes that hurt people.
Democrats are a joke. Instead of progressive they are regressive, but you sure had me fooled.

[FACINGREALIT]

I bet you have a headache after all that blabber. How can you buy a book and not know the author - you are full of PUMA!

[lorla]

Petal,
Long time no see. Bitter as usual I see. O wrote that book more than ten years ago. Many people read and were impressed by it. In fact, they were impressed enough to give time, money, and votes to put him in front of your candidate. Stop beating the dead horse, and either vote Dem for a chance to redeem our failed political system, or vote McMysoginist, for the reversal of the progress that women have made over the past few decades.
BO-08

[metalpipe]

Mistakes like NAFTA? Mistakes like unilaterally invading Kosovo? Mistakes like infidelity? Mistakes like ushering in the present mortgage crisis? Mistakes like running a disaterous primary campaign? Let's see, how to begin. Mistakes like endorsing the REPUBLICAN candidate during the primary? Mistakes like championing the 'Gas Tax Relief' idea? Try again, OrangeBlossum.

[ChiGuy]

What a pathetic, acid-laced rant.

I truly pity those that would rather dismiss 0 out-of-hand, than take several minutes to actually LEARN about the man, his abilities, and his policies.

[PumaAnn]

Ditto. It's insane to think his book is the source. I'm reading the one now that completely disputes it.

His father was an alkie of the worst kind.

[Pulemerci]

I don't think I could argue with anything Mrs. Clinton stated. This "Community Organizer" from Chicago is way over his head. I still can't believe he is the Democrat's nominee. Talk about a shallow talent pool.

[SCG2]

No just shallow voters.

[scandals&skeletons]

I suggest you do not vote for Senator O-ba-ma.

[BWonka]

Stop whining - she lost. How much have you given her to wipe out all her debts?

[Dreamers 101]

If O was over his head and he beat the vaunted Clin’ton political machine what exactly does that make Hill’ary? IDK but it seems she was over her head, yes? no?



30 aint the new 20 but PUMA is the new tro//

[ckfan]

Yes, she was over her head. She lied. She doesn't have 30 years of experience. If so, then tell me what was she doing as a politician 15 years ago? Being First Lady is not being a Politician. Fact is, Big Willie wanted back in the White House and this was his way of getting back in. Hillary was and is pathetic.

[ckfan]

This "Community Organizer" designed and lead a campaign that blew the "Former First Lady" out of the water.

[SCG2]

Has an academic record second to none, and he didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth.

[Mercurial]

hell yeah!

[Rotwang]

PUMAPAC is holding their BIG conference in DC this weekend.

They have promised a comprehensive strategic plan on Monday.

It is only a matter of hours now before they unleash their Master Program for Returning Democracy to America.

The tides of history are turning. Tomorrow begins the Rule of the PUMAs.

I find myself torn between indifference and laughter. Any suggestions?

[AllenD]

To all the 18 million Hillary supporters out there, just donate $1.25 each to retire her debt. Put up or shut up PUMAs.

[reliant1]

well that was silly it was supposed to be a suggestion to rotwang and got stuck in the wrong place - oops.

[AdLib]

From recent reports, 17,999,800 of those 18 million who voted for Hlllary are not PUMA members...leaving about 200 people who are PUMA.

How can they put up, they can barely show up.

[mairs]

Yes, I find that sad. She is struggling to pay off her debts and none of her vociferous supporters are helping her out. But of course they will complain that this is O's job. I think he's a little busy at the moment. If you think he doesn't have time to take a week off to visit Grandma, he sure doesn't have time to raise money for her debts. You can't have it both ways.

[kay]

I'd just like to mention that Obama is one of the few candidates that won the Democratic primary that I voted for.

And I didn't stage a FREAKING COUP when I lost :)

[SCG2]

They supported no candidate as a second choice. That's clear.

[BWonka]

Laugh - better for you.

[reliant1]

netflix?

[Mercurial]

I choose to lmao....

[kay]

Kay thinks this is adorable:

On Friday], a world away in rain-lashed Co Kerry, two of his friends tied the knot. The wind blew and the rain poured down but it could not spoil a very special Fourth of July for Samantha Power.

Obama's former adviser married Professor Cass Sunstein in Mary Immaculate Church, on the edge of the sea at Loher near Waterville, Co Kerry.

Irish-American academic and writer Samantha (38) arrived for her marriage to the 54-year-old law professor at the church in the parish of Caherdaniel, the home turf of 19th century politician, the Liberator Daniel O'Connell.

The couple met while working on the Obama presidential campaign.

[SCG2]

Reminds me,of James Carville and Mary Matalin.

They were working for the same campaign too.

[kay]

Eeeww. Now you've CURSED them! They'll be doomed to punditry.

I like Sunstein. He's rational and sane and measured. Like Obama.

[MsLiz]

Love!

[Bettysdad]

She was the one who said, off the record, that Mrs. Bill Clinton is a "monster."

We all owe her a debt of gratitude.