Hillary Crossed the Line
It may be true that an untidy cat box could beat sad sack John McCain this year.
But.
Senator Clinton, please shut up.
Every charge you angrily hurl at Barack Obama gives the Republicans a talking point.
On yesterday's 60 Minutes, you crossed an unforgivable line:
"You don't believe that Senator Obama's a Muslim?" Steve Kroft asked her.
"Of course not. I mean, that, you know, there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that," she replied.
"You said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not...a Muslim. You don't believe that he's...," Kroft said.
"No. No, there is nothing to base that on. As far as I know," she said.
As far as I KNOW? What if the situation were reversed?
"Sen Obama, What about those smears that Hillary Clinton is a lesbian who likes to skinny dip with her Iranian 'assistant...' and 'gal pal.' What do you think about those rumors?"
"She is a heterosexual happily married to former President Bill Clinton, as far as I know," Obama responds.
Who are you, Senator Clinton?
You are doing exactly what the Republicans do when they campaign.
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The implication of the article is that if Obama is a Muslim, then he is unfit to be president. To me it's like the Cheneys getting insulted when the fact their daughter is gay was brought up when discussing the GOPs policy of keeping gay citizens from their rights as citizens. He isn't Muslim, he is Muslim, so what? Get over yourselves.
Try using the muslim card as a smear in your campaign and then going to have foreign relation with muslim leaders in Africa and the mideast -
i thought we wanted to raise the view of America on the world stage. This is disgusting.
Are you saying that being a Muslim is akin to being a child molester or murderer? Why is it a smear to be called a Muslim? Hillary never suggested that he is a Muslim, but all this whining is nothing less than thinly-veiled anti-Muslim propaganda
I think we need to look at how she answered this question. She said there is "no basis for it" first and then she says "not that I am aware of." And then when Andrea Mitchell from MSNBC asked Hillary the next day instead of simply saying no he is not a Muslim, she switched the subject to play victim of herself effectively dodging the issue. Just Say No. But because she refuses to do that she is very well aware that this plays in to the fear mongering. You don't put something out there like this and them play dumb about it. Whether she meant to say it like that or not, there has been a question raised. And even today there is no emphatic no. It's more back peddling to keep the issue fresh in the minds of the voters. And switching the problem on the interviewer like he was a jerk for even asking her that is not right either. It was part of the segment and a legitimate question, especially after the Barack Somalian pictures.
Another point that is getting ignored is that this is bigotry. That is the bigger issue. Hillary is fueling this fire and we now have a bigot for a presidential candidate. And had Barack made any sort of sexist remark he would have been raked over the coals by the Clinton campaign. But it's okay to disgrace Muslims and inject and continue down this path and use Muslims as a fear tactic is some how okay? It sickens me.
I realize that there are Muslim terrorists out there and that there are those that hate America. But it doesn't mean every single Muslim is out to get us. And there is a very large Muslim community in this country that is owed an apology for the way this sort of bigotry is being played out. And i believe it's owed by the media and the Clinton campaign. I say the media because they are the ones airing that picture of Barack in Somalia like it is something to be ashamed of, but they won't show Clinton wear a Burka or any Presidents wearing the traditional garb of some nation. They are helping to fuel bigotry in this country. And most people shrug it off.
The Clinton campaign injected race in this issue. Used latin voters in such disturbing ways by putting kids in sombreros on stage with her in Texas and talking about the food as if that is all the Latin Community has to off. And now this religious fear mongering tactics. It's bigotry plain and simple.
Yeah. Like the Obama campaign is using the white males in Ohio by putting them on the stage with him wearing baseball caps. Get a grip, willya?
Where does all this leave a Muslim American child who dreams of serving his country when he grows up?
Easy answer, it'll never happen in America that Muslim would be elected president. Maybe in a hundred years when Muslims do everything they can to clean up the perception of their religion. It'll never happen, not until the world changes.
With a greater challenge to overcome.
Not gonna happen in this racist, homophobic, sexist, xenophobic country.
Move to Canada...w
Keith Ellison, a Congressman, I believe, is from Minnesota.
Well respected man.......
Obama camp doth protest too much..
Apologies to William S.
This article is a lot of guff about nothing, Obama is a big boy, he can defend his own religion. Why does Hillary have to even honor such a lame question.
Her campaign has perpetuated racist notions in this contest. Likely her followers--or her campaign--have started this e-mail campaign saying he's Muslim, he doesn't know the national anthem, etc. Sure she should have to deal with it.
When the Clinton campaign attempted to inject race into the campaign, it backfired. So now, they're using religion. In both cases, their campaign is appealing to the very worse or lowest level of our humanity in their effort to win support. Over the duration of this campaign, what I have learned about the Clintons in general, and about Hillary in particular, has not only bolstered my support for Senator Obama, but makes me seriously question my willingness to vote for Senator Clinton should she be the nominee. My vote will be for the Democratic Party, no matter who wins; but if my choice is Hillary Clinton, it will be a very reluctant vote.
I agree. And Clinton didn't have anything to do with Vince Foster's murder. As far as I know.
The correct answer to this question is "He tells me he is but you should be asking him for these personal details, not me."
BTW: In which religion do people "pray to Jesus" ? I thought Jesus taught that you pray to God. Is there a religion where that's different? It seemed that he had to think about his answer a little too long, too. Is there gaffe here? Hillary seems to make so many and yet BO seems to be incapable of any error. Could it be PRESS BIAS????
Well, I do wish that both of them would confront bad questions more often and with more control over the interview process. I agree they both do not need to let these reporters walk over them and get them into crazy territory.
Once again Hillary is tested and once again she failed.
Actually it's the Obamamaniacs who have failed. They once again have overreacted to an imagined slight to Saint Barak.
We haven't failed, but realistically, after 9/11, people get seriously wigged-out about Muslims, which is ridiculous, because all Muslims shouldn't be grouped together as terrorists, as most are not. However, to promote that phobia is not a great idea, and her ability to make it somehow seem plausible, "as far as she knows" is wrong! Better to have said nothing or referred the question to Senator Obama!
Oh please. This is so ridiculous.
First of all, how does anyone know for SURE? we all believe he is christian. he belongs to that church. but, what are we, mind readers? when you read interviews of people where he grew up, they say he went with his step dad to pray (in the muslim church). his dad was muslim, his step dad is muslim, and his paternal grandparents are muslim.
So, unless there is something we all don't know, we take him at his word that he is a christian. can anyone say, with 100% certainty that he has never been a muslim, has never prayed/read the koran? he said in his own book that he went to a muslim school.
I DON'T care whether he is or not. I don't believe he is.
But NO one besides Obama and probably his wife can say for absolute certainty. (and I don't think there is anything wrong with being Musim, and he is insulting muslims to me, by his insistence
Should Hillary swear on her life that Obama is not a muslim? no. I wouldn't either. Who friggin cares. Personally, I think I would prefer he were, and not a member of a church that awards Farrakhan for *excellence*.
Obama thinks Hillary is desperate and corrupt. So, she needs to assure the american people that Obama is not a muslim? I think that is his job.
And as someone pointed out, when is religion a requirement for the presidency?
And Obama caught in another lie...
Another OBAMA LIE
In the Chicago Tribune article Obama states: "The fact pattern remains unchallenged," he said. "Tony Rezko was a friend and supporter of mine for many years…He supported not just me, but many Democrats and Republican
In the article he says that Tony Rezko was a friend and supporter of mine for many years.....
But in the debate with Hillary...
he was only INDIRECTLY involved with Rezko... by doing FIVE hours work for a law firm he worked for!
Caught in another DIRECT lie to the American people... that Hillary got pilloried for... for telling the TRUTH.
Obama lies, lies, lies!! You can take that one to the bank!
or when he lied about NAFTA, then lied about the meeting taking place with the Ambassador, then lied when the memo came out proving the meeting.
He is a hypocrite and now we know a liar.
"So, she needs to assure the american people that Obama is not a muslim? I think that is his job. "
Anytime a question about another's religion comes up - especially in the political spectrum - isn't it incumbent upon ALL of us to reject this type of attempted crap?
Hearing some of the comments that seem to think this line of questioning is OK from Hillary supporters blows my mind.
What the hell do you people stand for?
"Who are you, Senator Clinton?
You are doing exactly what the Republicans do when they campaign."
__________
Stephanie Tubbs on 'Tucker'-MSNBC, when asked about Mark Penn distancing himself from the Clinton campaign decisions:
"I have nothing to do with that. Mark Penn was hired by Hillary Clinton...
There ya go.
And so goes the campaign.
They are all bound by their words. More than they know.
Hillary is now living it.
Who are you Senator Obama?
One lie after the other. First NAFTA... now you tell the Chicago Tribune Rezko is a friend of many years, when 3 debates ago... you told Hillary that you didn't know 'that individual' and all you'd done was around 5 hours of work for him INDIRECTLY for a law firm you worked for???
Another outright lie... on tape in front of the whole country!
Another OBAMA LIE
In the Chicago Tribune article Obama states: "The fact pattern remains unchallenged," he said. "Tony Rezko was a friend and supporter of mine for many years…He supported not just me, but many Democrats and Republican
In the article Obama says that Tony Rezko was a friend and supporter of mine for many years.....
But in the debate with Hillary...
Caught in another DIRECT lie to the American people... that Hillary got pilloried for... for telling the TRUTH.
Why are Democrats even parsing Clinton's words like this? What the hell does Hillary know about Obama's faith? The words, "AS FAR AS I KNOW" are as honest as she possibly use. Only people who are obsessively or too emotionally involved would parse that statement to the ridiculous interpretation that seems to be all too typical when words aren't praising Obama as the Second Coming.
I'm a Hillary supporter, but will be absolutely thrilled to support Obama if he is the nominee. But I must say that all of this micro-inspection of the utterances of both candidates is so ridiculous, childish and downright tiresome.
Look at the rest of the transcript. "AS FAR AS I KNOW" is a throwaway line. It's nothing. Get over it!
For Democrats to blame Hillary for using Republican smear tactics is to employ the same in reverse.
I agree. As much as I like both Hillary and Obama, I sure can't stand their rabid supporters. Both camps irk me to no end.
I think it's time to put a stop to picking apart the words of Senator Clinton.
stop using the "F" word(female) and attacking her for her every word.
The media chooses to smooth over the words of Senator Obama, for fear
of being accused of attacking a Black man and using the "N" word.
Let's get real. It is still a man's world and cannot accept the fact that
a wpman could become President. She is more qualified based on
experience. She is not the upstart that is represented by Mr. Obama.
Were he a woman and black at the same time, he would be out the door
in one hot minute. it is time for change, and give a woman a chance, where so many of the Males
have failed. Jack Nicholson had it right: VOTE FOR SENATOR CLINTON NOW.
Or one could say: " It is time for a change, and give a Black a chance, where so many of the whites have failed.
Your notion that we should vote for HRC because she's a woman is as sexist as suggesting someone vote against her because she's female.
This surprises who? Why would she contradict a smear that her camp probably started themselves last summer?
I'm thinkin' you probably have something there - let everybody think it's "that vast right-wing conspiracy"
I'm an Obama supporter, but I also think this was particularly bad. She didn't loudly denounce the Muslim charge, but she didn't exactly contribute to the innuendo, either. So she passed the test, but she only got a B-minus.
The really brave thing I'd like to hear someone say is "And even if he was, that doesn't mean he can't love and serve America. He's still an American citizen." But even Obama hasn't been that gutsy yet, so in fairness I can't trash Hillary alone for not going out on that limb if no one else has either.
Actually, Obama has in fact said that it was an insult to Muslims. I was there when he said it and I clapped loudly. He will truly be a president for all Americans. As for Hillary, how do we know what religion SHE is? Christianity teaches honesty but I don't see her following that teaching.
Hillary knew exactly what she was doing. He was exercising plausible deniability - she wanted to deny it with the exact words that would leave a doubt in the audience's minds. Well, guess what - until that interview, she had a good shot at being Obama's running mate. Now, she won't be. Why? Because if she is, that piece of equivocating, qualifying quasi-denial will be used as tantamount proof that Obama is, in fact, a closet Muslim. So now, she wins the nomination - which is virtually impossible - or she's just a Senator. Not Senate Majority Leader, not chairman of anything - just a Senator.
This is an obscene distortion of what Senator Clinton said very clearly and forcefully. I've been watching Chris Matthews for the last hour, and he has been trying very hard to find a way to make her remarks look racist. If ever there was an example of media bias, this is it. I hope John Stewart plays the tape for the Senator tonight, and gives it the treatment it deserves. I'm sending a contribution to Senator Clinton tonight. This bias needs to stop and the best way to do it, is to send a message that money, momentum and media bias does not select the next leader for the free world.
are you two on a first name basis and can you give her the heads up on all the other negatives she's been putting out lately???
I'm sending a contribution to Senator Clinton tonight.
__________
Good. Send her a donation. Watch her take the Democratic nomination with her closet demagoguery. Then watch old John McCain and his running mate Mike Huckabee bury her in November. Ralph Nader will suck up more than enough votes from frustrated Democrats to make that happen.
And then, four more years of neo-con magic. Can you sing, "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran?"
I agree the media is a bit biased towards obama right now, but the idea that journalists can be completely unbiased is an illusion. They are doing their best considering Obama has an exciting message that is electrifying the country in a way that hasn't happened in a generation and hillary is playing the usual political game. She's doing it well and she would be a historic candidate any other year.
But I think what she said on that interview was shameful. I don't think she's doing it on perpose to imply Obama is muslim, but its a slipup and she needs to admit that. She should have been unequivocal. "Now that's just silly Mr. Kroft. Everyone knows sen. Obama is a Christian, he goes to church, he spoke about it in his book. Do you have any real questions for me?" that's what she should have said. It would be respectful and honest.
The fact she didn't doesn't say she's trying to implant unconscious meme's but it does show that her first impulse is to equivocate, to hedge her bets. Even when the answer is certain. That's why people don't like her and that's why she's going to lose tomorrow.
I'm guessing that you didn't actuall SEE the interview on 60 minutes. I did and I am SHOCKED that it's an issue. It just goes to show that the media will pick apart ANYTHING Hillary Clinton says. Firstly, the fact that she was even asked the question, I found insulting. It's OBVIOUS that its the MEDIA that is trying to make this an issue. Secondly, her first answer was perfectly reasonable as was the "you've got to be kidding me" look she had on her face. It was a look that matched her "Of course not. I mean, that, you know, there is no basis for that. I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that" statement.
I am STUNNED that people are trying to make this an issue. Of course, the rest of her statement about how RIDICULOUS it was that this is even being brought up as an issue is consistently left out of everyone attacking her. People need to stop, really. As a black person, I am sick of people who have not a clue as to what my experience is (and this includes the mainstream media) trying to speak in an overly pc manner by twisting words and adding innuendo to make them seem racist. It's absurd and insulting.
Nothing that comes from the Clinton campaign should surprise us. Hillary Clinton is the candidate whose chief strategist, Mark Penn, is CEO of Burson-Marsteller, PR honcho for Monsanto, Exxon, Blackwater, etc.
Burson-Marsteller's DC-based lobbying subsidiary is headed by one of John McCain's top advisers, a Republican lobbyist named Charlie Black.
The Clinton and McCain campaigns provide a perfect picture of the corporate establishment. These are people who will do and say anything in defense of money and power. In defense of the rest of us - not so much.
Haven't we had enough?
rbooks:
And everything that comes out of OBAMA's mouth should be questioned! Yesterday he tells the Chicago tribune that Resko has been a friend for many years, when at the debate, when Hillary questioned his relationship with Rezko... he announced loud and clear that he didn't know "That Individual" and the only relationship he had with him was indirect..
Another LIE! And many more to come.. get ready. And you call this judgment???
I am a Christian, but am wondering why everyone is so upset. Aren't you going to offend Muslims? Is not their faith worth just as much as yours or mine? We are not the ones to judge. Why does this upset BO and his supporters so much? I truly don't get this. Could it be they are only concerned about a political image?
#1 - it is a lie.
#2 - it is a bait lie.
#3 - it is an obvious lie.
#4 - it is a lie.
#5 - it is a lie that is to appeal to you as a Christian.
And THAT is the truth.
As an Obama supporter, I am not offended at all by the idea that he could be a Muslim, no more than I would be offended by the idea that he could be Jewish or Catholic. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are three credible and honorable religious faiths, and there is no shame in any of them. I am however offended by those who continue to question Senator Obama's Christian faith and who attempt to use the faith of his father and our fear of Islamic terrorists to appeal to the basest level of our humanity for the sole purpose of denigrating Senator Obama's candidacy. I do not blame Senator Obama or his supporters for being offended when he has repeatedly professed his Christian faith, and yet must continuously defend his faith simply because of the ignorance and intolerance of those who persist in looking for a reason to reject him and others who exploit the irrational prejudice against Muslims for self-serving purposes, as Senator Clinton, many of her supporters, and her campaign have done. When the image of any person is defamed by lies, offense is a natural reaction.
If it were just that simple and people weren't so stupid. Everyone with half a brain knows why these lies are being spread. And if you're using your other half a brain, you would know why they are trying to scare people with his middle name as well. And if you don't know then perhaps you not sane enough to vote.
This blog seems way over the top. She said "of course not." What more does anyone want her to say? Obama is going to win the nomination and everything is going to be fine. Can we all go back to hating republicans now? Please?
I agree-- she said no! I don't blame her for qualifying every statement because, if you're a politician, especially if you're HRC, and you say anything with too much certainty and it turns out you were wrong, you will be shredded for it as though you had lied.
Agreed. The whole notion that Clinton "crossed and unforgivable line" is so mind numbingly pathetic.
But this site IS Arianna's Obama campaign outlet.
Instead, can we go back to rebuilding America? Let's take the word HATE out of our minds and hearts. Religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, who cares? We need someone who will lead the country in the right direction, and I believe it's Hillary the best candidate. Let's stop this circus and give credit to whom credit deserves.
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