Clinton Calls McCain "Mimic" Of Bush

WASHINGTON — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday called Republican presidential candidate John McCain not a maverick but a "mimic" of President Bush.

Clinton made the remarks at a Human Rights Campaign dinner, where she was filling in for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's running mate, Joe Biden. Biden canceled his weekend campaign events because his wife's mother is ill. Clinton spoke by satellite from Los Angeles to a few thousand people who attended the national gay rights group event.

Clinton said Biden called and asked her to fill in for him because of the family emergency. Rather than sharing her thoughts, she said, "I want to share with you the eloquent remarks that Joe had prepared."

Clinton sought to tie McCain to Bush, saying the Arizona senator offered voters "more of the same."

"He's not a maverick. He's a mimic," she said.

She noted that McCain doesn't support extending job discrimination and hate-crimes laws to cover sexual orientation and supports the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Clinton and Obama were rivals in a turbulent Democratic primary season as they both fought for their party's presidential nomination. She had argued the Illinois senator lacked the experience to be president, a claim the McCain campaign highlighted in its response to her remarks at Saturday's dinner.

"Senator Clinton would be more believable if she'd mimic her own statements that Barack Obama is too inexperienced and lacks the key readiness to lead," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.

Clinton has since declared her support for Obama's candidacy, has urged her own backers to rally behind him and has been campaigning on his behalf in battleground states.

She said Saturday that Americans can choose in the November election whether the nation takes steps toward "securing equality and dignity for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."

"Or we can choose four more years of the same failed policies, four more years of the same small-minded governance, four more years that look just like the last eight," she added.

The Obama campaign has repeatedly tried to tie McCain to Bush in voters' minds, an approach GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin portrayed in a debate with Biden on Thursday as looking backward rather than forward.

Clinton's comments came as the McCain campaign stepped up attacks on Obama's character. Palin on Saturday accused Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because of an association with a former '60s radical. The Obama campaign called Palin's remarks offensive but unsurprising given news reports about the McCain campaign's come-from-behind game plan.

Comments

[justobserve]

PALIN-McCAIN, THE MAVERICKS: NO Leadership, RECKLESS Judgment, ECCENTRIC IMPULSIVE Actions, LIES, COVER-UPS. DO YOU GAMBLE WITH TWO MAVERICKS IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

[InsideBrooklyn]

All this talk about Mavericks has given me a hankerin' to order a bunch of DVDs off a NetFlix and get me some of Bret, Bart & Bo, pop a few tops on my six pack and not worry bout my healthcare or my pension.

[denver]

Yes Hillary has been out there front and center,there is comment in here about a 2012 war room not gonna happen.I love Hillary supported her and gave very generously to her cause,but Obama is gonna slaughter Mcain any republican who thinks otherwise is living in a bubble,but then again republicans always live in a bubble,but she is gonna be a ally for President Obama in the senate,she will beocme the lioness of the senate.She cares more about the middle class and all the causes they need a champion for than any other pilitician out there,I believe Obama cares as well and He has had no better ally on the trail than Hillary,dems respond to her and her message you dont see that loser Kerry out there or that bafoon Richardson or that liar Edwards,its Hillary and like it or not she will always remain a front and center leader in the democratic party...........Obama/Biden 08 the only choice to lift America up and out of its darkness

[judesedit]

Romney called McCain a liar during the debate, which he is. I don't hear anyone mentioning that little point. And Palin is right there with him. A parade of lies are being told to you, and you are buying it hook, line and sinker. McCain is also in no way honorable. See Phillip Butler and Vets Against McCain. Learn the truth if you dare. And he's voted against the veterans at every chance, while he collects $50,000. a month from the VA. Stop being a blind patsy for the right wing. See McCain's old, white, racist.supporters? See Obama's cross section of America? The GOP will rule with secrecy, lies, greed, hate and fear. With Obama there's hope for the future and open government. Are you for more people who think the law is for everyone but them? Palin has already refused to honor a subpoena, along with her husband, and crony cohorts. Something smells bigtime. McCain's announced he's always dreamed of being a dictator and proudly states how he will privatize medicare, health plans, social security, etc. Do you really want them at the mercy of the stock market? We pay for his health insurance, which has cost us a bundle, considering how many medical problems he's got. Over 1000 pages worth. He won't release them for studying, though If you give a crap about this country, vote Obama, otherwise you are dooming us to failure once again?

[Ohg]

Hillary Clinton is wrong on this one - McCain is a mimic of Don Rumsfield - his world view is all about Power and Control. ..........................
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/01/mccains-world-view-power-and-control/

[hillaryj]

Couldn't have said it better, thanks Hillary!!!
We still love you!

[Pat15]

The way Bush has screwed things up in the last years ..everything he has touched ..Now MacBush who ahs voted with him 90% of the time ..If we elect MacBush then we desrve them as we deserved Bush 8 years ago .. The citizens need to wake up & take notice Alas.......

[boing007]

Governor Sarah Palin is a John Bircher. A Commie under every bed... blah blah blah.

[Lizaveta]

It has always struck me as funny that a 72 year old white male career politician who has voted with Bush 90% of the time and who constantly hearkens back to the Vietnam war and a woman with a 19th century social and scientific world view and a patently fake accent and folksy charm want us to believe they represent a fresh, new approach. It 's like Franco and Madame Mao are trying to run as progressives. Who believes it? Even people who watch Jerry Springer and Americas Funniest Home Videos aren't buying the winky blinky thing.

[IowaKid]

John McCain was a maverick BEFORE the election of 2000 since the re-election of Bush McCain has voted 90% of the time lock and step with the Bush administration. All it takes is a little homework to find out the facts.

[theplaintrutho1]

Yeah that's true, but not only what you've said, considered, that Mac COULD NOT out GOP'per Bush in 2000, so His only choice was to try to act and sound different.

The reason he was even popular in NH, was because he came off as a straight talker AGAINST the GOP, but notice how his poll numbers have gone south in NH and elsewhere as his campaign has moved back to the right.

[GrtPyrmd]

Let me say it again. Hillary Clinton should have been slam dunk on this ticket. Joe is fine, but Hill would have wiped the floor with the McCain campaign of negativity. There's still time.

[2farnorth]

I really don't think so because then McCain would of picked Romney who is an economic power house. The polls would in my opinion be much closer were that the case.

[klondiker]

There are very few people who can deliver the economic message as strongly as Hillary, and Romney is not one of them.

But, what's done is done. Obama/Biden is the ticket now, and all of our energies should be spent in making sure that they win on Nov. 4th. No use crying over spilt milk.

[Samirah1368]

Let me again point out what strength it took for Obama NOT to pick Hillary. He did what he felt was best for the administration he HOPES to run. He made an excellent choice. If the Clintions can't LOSE well how do you think she would have behaved in his administration...scary thought imo
I'm respecting Hillary but I'm well cooled on her

[MawMaw4Obama]

And from the looks of things, he certainly made the right choice.

[theplaintrutho1]

Oh please with that Hills s**t. Mac would have never picked Pa lin, the butt of all jokes, and the GOP would be lining-up in droves to register and vote against the Clin tons.

Don't you finally get it yet. The man was from Ark and is considered a traitor to the southern-mountain cause.

Not only is he / she hated down here, but after what he / she started with the African-Americans, they would have cooled their enthusiasm, as O being just another politician.

So spare me the B/S, because if O had picked Hills, he'd be down by ten points in every poll right now.

[ScapeGoat]

Hillary for Senate Majority Leader!!!!

[TheGeicoCaveman]

Palin Smoked Pot,

But Said She Doesn’t Support Legalizing It. “Palin doesn’t support legalizing
marijuana, worrying about the message it would send to her four kids. But when it comes to cracking
down on drugs, she says methamphetamines are the greater threat and should have a higher priority. Palin
said she has smoked marijuana -- remember, it was legal under state law, she said, even if illegal under
U.S. law -- but says she didn’t like it and doesn’t smoke it now. ‘I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say that I
never inhaled.’” [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 8/6/06]

[Dystopic]

Then she is a hypocrite. I would rather my kid smoke pot than sniff paint, do meth, do coke, or whatever else. I would PREFER that he/she would wait until college, but kids are kids.

The marijuana laws are unjust and contrary to the constitution. If they resurrected Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson they would be appalled, and would probably spark up a splif on the steps of the supreme court.

Empty the jails of the non violent drug offenders (if you are a dealer who sold to children or are pushing hard drugs, no release) save the billions and billions spent to house them with harder criminals.

Marijuana has no toxic dose, no one has ever died from a THC overdose, believe me, I have tried.

The rethugs should be on the front line of this issue, personal freedoms, and all., but potheads do not have a lobbying effort like the criminal justice system.

[RStone]

Great rant! They should legalize it.

http://www.boppoll.com

Bop McSame!

Obama '08

[hypnotoad72]

She also said he has experience whereas Obama has only a speech.

I know who I'm voting for.

[Yola]

And who is the Democratic nominee again?

[pinkyboo]

All the experience in the world does not help if you have bad ideas and quite frankly have been acting crazy.

[loveu2]

or acting "cute".

[Samirah1368]

A speech with a clear plan something SHE could never come up with...a clear PLAN
I'm not going to get into bashing her again because its old news but if you care to waste your vote it is your perogative...we have bigger issues in this world than a few hurt feelings...just listen to McCain and Palin is enough to scare me to hell

[loveu2]

Experience at what? Crashing planes? Getting shot down? Creating financial messes? Keeping govt. out of things unless one of his friends needs a break? Being honest? Where are his medical records? Being loyal? Where's his first wife?

[theone718]

Reminds me of that great speech during the convention, "That's not a maverick that's a SIDEKICK"

[MNmommy]

How many events has Hillary attended for Obama again?

How about R!chardson, Car0l!ne K3nnedy and K3rry?