Drudge headline distorted Clinton comments to suggest she said Obama Not Muslim 'As Far As I Know'

[DeepModem Mom]

Media Matters for America: Mon, Mar 3, 2008
Drudge headline distorted Clinton comments to suggest she said "Obama Not Muslim 'As Far As I Know' ... "

On March 3, the Drudge Report linked to online news portal Breitbart.tv video footage from the March 2 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes under the headline "Hillary: Obama Not Muslim 'As Far As I Know' ... ," falsely suggesting that Sen. Hillary Clinton characterized the issue of Sen. Barack Obama's religion as unresolved. In fact, she did the opposite.

Correspondent Steve Kroft first asked Clinton, "You don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim?" to which Clinton replied, "Of course not. I mean, that's -- you know, there is no basis for that. You know, I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that." Kroft then asked, "And you said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not a Muslim," to which Clinton replied, "Right. Right." Only after Kroft went on to ask, "You don't believe that he's a Muslim or implying, right?," did Clinton respond, "No. No. Why would I? No, there is nothing to base that on, as far as I know."

Following Clinton's response to Kroft's third query on the subject, Kroft said, "It's just scurrilous --" to which Clinton responded, "Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors. I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200803030004?f=h_latest

[leftofcool]

1. The Obama crowd seems to be taking Druge at his word

[MethuenProgressive]

3. The DUbamas are big Drudge fans.

They'll learn. I Hope.

[MethuenProgressive]

2. 42 threads today faking outrage over a false quote....

What will the DUbamas do if he wins the nomination?
Will they be able to keep their heads when something bad, *really* big bad, happens? If they can't keep it together over the tiniest of non-issues?

[bowens43]

7. Keep defending the slime that Hillary spews.

Every time you do Obama goes up in the polls. Not to worry, it will most likely be over tomorrow and Hillary will tossed on the rubbish heap of history with the other 'also rans'.

[MethuenProgressive]

8. You need acting lessons. No one is buying your pretend outrage over something that Drudge lied about

I'm sorry Drudgey broke your liddle heart again, but you chose to sleep with the dogs, and you'll wake with the fleas.

[frazzled]

4. She did say "as far as I know"

She didn't have to add that, injecting a seed of doubt. She should have "denounced and rejected." Rather, she chose to be a politician, covering her ass by saying, "of course not ... as far as I know," and basing her answer on "taking him on the basis of what he says." It is the lawyer and politician in Hillary talking ("I don't recall"). She could have said:

"Of course not, and I renounce and reject the kind of innuendo that plants these seeds of doubt in the public's mind."

[bowens43]

5. She knew exactly what she was doing.

She's so slimy.

[Yael]

6. Distort my ass. Go watch the Youtube

There is a reason people are pissed at her nasty ass.

Edit -- response was for post #1 not the OP

[MethuenProgressive]

9. They're pissed at what they've been told happened. Classic Swiftboat.

Obama's getting good at running his Swiftboat over the little voters on his way to His reward.

[Yael]

10. I can't wait for the day where you have to say something nice or nothing at all

I give you a week before you blow.

[MethuenProgressive]

12. I can't wait until the HillaryHaters are all kicked off DU.

And only real Democrats remain.

[Yael]

15. Wow -- me too!

Won't that be great!

We can all finally come together and support Senator Obama without having to deflect the attacks from the less mature!

[leftofcool]

11. The Drudge Told me So?

[brenel]

13. What is wrong

with being a Muslim? I have had Muslim friends, employers, etc., and everyone with exception has been kind, very tolerant of other beliefs, generous, and very respectful of different ideas
...We as nation are conditioned to be afraid of anything "Islamic".

[Yael]

14. There is nothing wrong with being a muslim

There is something inherently wrong with suggesting that someone is lying about it and/or hiding it from the American people.

[brenel]

16. Why

should it even be an issue?

[Yael]

18. Because the RW wants people to believe that he is a Manchurian

candidate who will turn the US into a Sharia-law Islamic Caliphate and "destroy us from within".

Hillary just gave credibility to them because if she can't win, she will destroy the party rather than let anyone else sit on her throne.

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Hi, brenel -- welcome to DU! That is the problematic question in all this.

There's nothing wrong with being a Muslim -- except when one is not. It would be comparable to a Muslim in politics being the subject of rumors that he/she is a Christian. I think he/she would want to set the record straight.

[quakerboy]

19. Having never been to drudge

EVER, I didnt even listen to the clip on youtube. I just happened to be watching the show. And I couldn't believe what came out of her mouth. Clinton is no longer my second choice of the currently running democrats.