In Both Parties, 2008 Politeness Falls to Infighting

[Ethelk2044]

All of this is over Clinton's campaign could not find any thing to get Obama on and therefore they
jumped at their first chance. So what he is getting Free media. Someone who works in her camp sometimes came out and stated they have been looking for something to attack him on. Then we at DU jump on the Clinton's bandwagon to try to smear Obama. We need to start thinking and wait for all the truth comes out before accusing. So what he is getting Free Press.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/us/politics/22feud.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=politics





When pressed, she said she would leave it up to the Obama campaign to make its decision on Mr. Geffen, then noted that she was “excited” to be in Nevada “with the other candidates who came,” a comment that only drew attention to Mr. Obama’s choice to skip the event.

The Geffen remarks bubbled up throughout the forum. One candidate, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, said Mr. Obama should denounce Mr. Geffen’s remarks. “If we’re going to win, we have to be positive,” Mr. Richardson said. “I think these name-callings are not good.”

As he arrived in Iowa late yesterday afternoon, Mr. Obama was met with questions from reporters about the clash.

“It’s not clear to me why I would be apologizing for someone else’s remarks,” Mr. Obama said. “My sense is that Mr. Geffen may have differences with the Clintons, but that doesn’t really have anything to do with our campaign.”

When asked whether he was proud of Mr. Geffen’s support, the senator declared: “He hosted an event for me yesterday. Absolutely.”

Obama advisers described the Geffen remarks as an insignificant blip and said they saw no political

danger in letting them stand. While some supporters of Mrs. Clinton said they were worried that the campaign had lost its cool over Mr. Geffen, several Clinton advisers insisted that they were not overreacting.

One adviser, who is not part of Mrs. Clinton’s day-to-day inner circle but speaks to her regularly about politics and fund-raising, said Mr. Geffen’s comments might not shock “political insiders” in Washington or New York who are used to hearing bad things about the Clintons. But such criticism, especially from a former Clinton supporter like Mr. Geffen, could surprise and concern average voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and in other politically important states where they are starting to form impressions of Mrs. Clinton as a presidential candidate.

Other advisers said the Clinton camp was simply frustrated that Mr. Obama had received glowing media coverage, and was eager to call out his campaign for hypocrisy by contrasting the Geffen remarks with Mr. Obama’s pledge to be positive.

“Obama has gotten under the campaign’s skin for weeks now — especially his free ride in the media —and Hillary’s people were just waiting for their first chance to attack his image as Mr. Positive,” said one Clinton adviser who is not part of the day-to-day political operation.