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

[McChimp]

That is the winning strategy

Link McCain to Bush like a rock, McCain can't run from the fact he supported and parroted Bush to a T

Come election day, people will see Bush when they think of McCain, that they might just stay home and not vote, and Obama wins

But lets not get complacent now, still a month left, and it's going to get ugly...

Register before its too late, and VOTE EARLY!!!

[Whinger]

McCain is a Bush clone, he doesn't know any different.

Palin has started emulating Bush with that two fingered salute he's famous for!

I wonder, has she been inducted into the Scull & Bones as a good ole boy!

[gr8abz]

Sarah Palin is the most dangerous person on the planet. I hate to say this but the race is not over and she's a REAL FRUITCAKE. An 'end of days' believer with a chip on her shoulder and a score to settle for those who cross her. Piicture her with the nuclear codes. Eeek.

[Ajegunle]

NO WAY, NO HOW, NO MCCAIN AND PALIN.

[ThinkAgainMyFriend]

I love it' McMimic and Ms. Clueless -

Thanks Hill'

[Phalanxman]

Thanks, Hillary.

[GirlsRule]

I Love Hillary. She's done enough to support the campaign. If she did too much then the media would be saying he couldn't get to where he is right now, today, without her. Whether she helped or not Barack Obama is where he is right now because of Barack Obama. Looking at how he's been No Drama Obama this past month. I can truly say he was the right choice. Sorry Hillary. Still love you though.

[Bettysdad]

Rather than a "mimic" I think McCain may actually be worse.

[GSMRaleigh]

Would someone please name me one former Democratic presidential candidate who has done more for Barach Obama than Hillary (and Bill) Clinton?

If you are a Democratic why do you despise these people so much?

Thank god for the 90's and Bill Clinton. And, granted I am not a resident of NY, but from my understanding the folks up there think Hillary is great.

[Hedonist88]

These are not democrats so cool your horses. Jus mccain supporters trying to sow discord.

we are united as one.

[TroubleNYC]

You can always tell the leaning of the AP writer.

[Bettysdad]

I believe the AP's editor was offered a job in the McCain campaign.

There is always a heavy pro-McCain, anti-Obama bias in every AP story.

[planetfotheApes]

Hillary is also a mimic of Bush. She did nothing but suppot his policies either with inaction or directly. She did not standup to Bush policies not even once. This whole Dems versus Repubs is such a joke. They all work for the elite, not the people.

[thankulord13]

And so are millions of you who supported Bush in the days, weeks and months after 9/11/01. The man had over 90% public support so once again I will say that you all were supporting W and his war. So when you feel like pointing fingers at some one start pointing them at that person in the mirror because you are to blame just as much as Senator Clinton. So quit being like the man you hate so much (W) and start taking some responsibility for the mess our nation is in!

[ARowebie]

Hilary,
Please vigorously promote Obama now.
We all can see you are not doing all you could be doing right now.
You could make the difference.
Your lack of rigor is not going unnoticed.
You will have my respect...­.and my future vote...if you show some character now to help save this country.

[Wilsonv]

I think Hilary is doing her best at this point.

Bill needs to just never mention McSame or Palin again in any of his support talks for Obama.

[RadhaColalurver]

So... saving the country means abandoning the Congress where a crucial vote to help save the financial system of this country was taking place?

She's doing plenty; it's not her fault that the MSM doesn't report her campaign events and fundraisers for Obama.

[grumpygranny66]

I have to agree with you. The MSM is so busy following J Mc around they have no time left to concentrate on anyone else. I rarely see anything in Huff Po about her campaigning, everybody is upset they cant interview Sista Sar ah, so they are not interested in Obama and his surrogates.

[mymomma2]

RadhaColalurver,

You are right. MSM complains that she doesn't campaign for Obama and when she does they give minimal coverage.

MSM ask the question, "Where's Joe Biden?" and then fail to cover his 2-3 events a day OR only report minor gaffes. They tried to say it was a gaffe that he said he didn't like the "compute/internet ad against McCain. In my house, we call that an OPINION.

[ESerafina42]

Oh, please - she and Bill could donate every penny they had to Obama's campaign and be out working for him 23 hours a day, and people like you would still be whining, "It's not ENOUGH!"

[MNmommy]

Precisely.

It's getting extremely OLD.

[marymansour]

Bill just came to Alabama and held a $1,000 per head party in some dude's house in my small town. The proceeds went to - what else but paying off Hillary's debt.

[firewmn]

** I am grateful for Hillary speaking on behalf of Joe Biden. Joe would do the same for her and it is important to show unity for all people in a time of crisis..

Obviously Tucker Bounds didn't get that mimic...op­ps memo..

[BCgeorge]

Obama and Biden in 2008 and 2012! Hillary Clinton for Supreme Court!

[loveu2]

Boy would I love to see Hillary on the Supreme Court. Or Sec. of State.

[soot]

Rock on, Hillary!