Obama Memo: "No Support For Claim That Clinton Has Passed `Commander-In-Chief Test'"

[MadBadger]

Good for Obama...hit her back hard on this dubious claim that she has somehow passed the imaginary threshold

Signaling a sustained and more aggressive counterattack against Hillary's "commander-in-chief test" assault, the Obama campaign has a new memo out from foreign policy adviser Greg Craig that goes after Hillary's claim to foreign policy seasoning with a sledgehammer:

There is no reason to believe...that she was a key player in foreign policy at any time during the Clinton Administration. She did not sit in on National Security Council meetings. She did not have a security clearance. She did not attend meetings in the Situation Room. She did not manage any part of the national security bureaucracy, nor did she have her own national security staff. She did not do any heavy-lifting with foreign governments, whether they were friendly or not. She never managed a foreign policy crisis, and there is no evidence to suggest that she participated in the decision-making that occurred in connection with any such crisis...
The Clinton campaign’s argument is nothing more than mere assertion, dramatized in a scary television commercial with a telephone ringing in the middle of the night. There is no support for or substance in the claim that Senator Clinton has passed “the Commander-in-Chief test.” That claim – as the TV ad – consists of nothing more than making the assertion, repeating it frequently to the voters and hoping that they will believe it.

Rough stuff. The Obama campaign has scheduled a presser today with Iraq War vets who will attest to his commitment to veterans and the armed forces. That comes a day after a press conference with former service secretaries who praised his judgment and preparedness. Clearly, the battle is fully engaged now.

More:

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/obama_camp_no_support_for_clai.php

[olkaz]

1. As long as he doesn't put McCain over his competition.

I know, I know, wouldn't happen.

I mean, seriously, who would do that?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. So More Using Of Her Own Tactics In The Same Way, Yet His Supporters Act Like He's Oh So Pure.

More hypocrisy. More "it's ok if he does it, she did it first!" "It'll hurt the party if she says stuff like that about him, but HOORAY!!!!!! when he says it about her!".

[flor de jasmim]

5. These are NOT the same tactics! Hillary...

charges that "all he has is a speech" (just one example). This is patently FALSE.

Obama, on the other hand, is following Harry Truman:

"I don't give them hell...I just tell the truth and they THINK it's hell!"

[Inuca]

6. In other words

he should just take the below the belt punches and stay still, right?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. There's A Big Difference Between Defending Oneself From Such Tactics And Showing Why They're Stupid,

and adopting those tactics to use in the exact same way.

[MadBadger]

8. The biggest problem with her comment was that she said McCain did and Obama didnt

Obama isnt making the claim that McCain has passed the "threshold" and she hasnt. There is a difference. He is making the general argument that few people have really passed that threshold. The only real person to pass it is the president himself.

[TheZug]

3. The threshold is whatever she says it is, you sexist pig!!!

[Adelante]

11. That clears that up

;)

[global1]

4. She Did Not Have Security Clearance - Just A Question - If Bill Her Husband......

talked with her about national security matters - in her roll as wife to the President - is that in violation of any laws?

[malik flavors]

10. Only the facts matter, not assumptions on what they might have discussed as husband and wife...

or how in depth those discussions might have been. And the facts are that she played no major role in any foreign policy decisions throughout the Clinton years. Even if they had foreign policy discussions that doesn't qualify her to be commander in chief. Laura Bush has probably discussed Middle Eastern Foriegn policy with Bush quite a bit, but I wouldn't want her taking over control of the war.

[Bread and Circus]

9. That's exactly what he needs to say....because...well...it's the truth

If she's going to tout her "experience", it at least needs to be real.