The real question about Hillary using Sandy Berger as her advisor - is WHY would she open herself up

[jillan]

to this knowing that there is still so much controversy around those documents?

Whether he took them, destroyed them, borrowed them ....it doesn't matter

The fact is that this discussion of what really happened has not gone away.
Knowing this, why would she do this?

Not a very smart move on her part.

She had to know that she was opening a can of worms.:shrug:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Her Statement

At the end of an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton a short while ago, USA TODAY's Susan Page inquired about reports that former Clinton administration national security adviser Sandy Berger is advising her.

Susan asked whether Clinton has any qualms about having Berger as an unofficial adviser to her campaign, given his mishandling of sensitive, classified intelligence documents in 2003?

"He has no official role in my campaign. He's been a friend for more than 30 years. But he doesn't have any official role," Clinton said.

But he's an unofficial adviser, Susan asked?

"I have thousands of unofficial advisers," said Clinton, "and, you know, I appreciate all of that. But he has no official role in my campaign."

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/10/sen-clinton-san.html

[rodeodance]

9. thanks

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. "But he's an unofficial adviser, Susan asked? "

I like the prosecutorial tone...

[emilyg]

14. Thank you.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. No one has yet

documented his role in the campaign. Does he have any official title? Or is he just an old friend who spoke to her?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. No And Yes

Here's the author of the articles bio:

Bill Sammon is senior White House correspondent for the Washington Examiner (having left the same position at The Washington Times in February 2006), a political analyst for Fox News Channel, and the author of four New York Times bestsellers: At Any Cost: How Al Gore Tried to Steal the Election; Fighting Back: The War on Terrorism from Inside the White House; Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, Media Bias and the Bush Haters; and Strategery: How George W. Bush Is Defeating Terrorists, Outwitting Democrats, and Confounding the Mainstream Media. He is a frequent guest on shows like Special Report with Brit Hume, Fox News Sunday and Hannity & Colmes.

A graduate of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Bill lives in Maryland with his wife Becky and their five children.

Source: Bill Sammon at Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Sammon

[SteppingRazor]

3. I don't think it's a big deal.

I'd guess about 90 percent of the U.S. has no idea who Sandy Berger is. Of the ones who do, a large remainder has no clue about the National Archive incident. Of the ones who are aware of it and look at it negatively, the vast majority of them wouldn't vote for a Clinton if they were the second coming of Jesus Christ.

In this case, Berger's knowledge of foreign policy and national security, and how that knowledge can aid the Clinton camp, trumps a several-year-old pseudoscandal.

[trumad]

4. Agree---why would she give repukes and the Hillary DU bashers more ammo...

I can put up with the repukes, bit in my mind, the DU Hill bashers can go fuck themselves.

[jillan]

6. I'm not bashing Hillary - but I am trying to understand what was she thinking?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Thinking?

She said he has no official role in the campaign...


The whole story was started by a man who wrote a book whose thesis was Al Gore tried to steal the 00 election:

Bill Sammon is senior White House correspondent for the Washington Examiner (having left the same position at The Washington Times in February 2006), a political analyst for Fox News Channel, and the author of four New York Times bestsellers: At Any Cost: How Al Gore Tried to Steal the Election; Fighting Back: The War on Terrorism from Inside the White House; Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, Media Bias and the Bush Haters; and Strategery: How George W. Bush Is Defeating Terrorists, Outwitting Democrats, and Confounding the Mainstream Media. He is a frequent guest on shows like Special Report with Brit Hume, Fox News Sunday and Hannity & Colmes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Sammon

[jillan]

11. If that is the case - then she better nip this in the bud - now.

If the media runs away with this story, this could hurt her.

[ChiciB1]

12. Hurt Hillary???? What An Absurd Notion!! n/t

[emilyg]

15. The media won't. And it won't hurt her.

[incapsulated]

16. Think about the criminals the repukes surround themselves with

Convicted felons and the like. Give them appointments, put them in government, make them part of their campaigns.

It is absolutely true that there are hundreds of "unofficial advisors" in any campaign, and Berger is an old Clinton friend and worked for Bill.

He is unpaid and has no official role. Other than FOX and friends trying to make a stink about it, no one will care.

[Froward69]

5. no official role

at least she answered that particluar question.

[rodeodance]

8. yes, the RW talk shows have had hay out of this for a few years now.

[gateley]

13. Of all the candidates, Hillary seems to be the one whose actions are most

closely monitored and questioned. This one is a little dicey. Regardless of the REAL nature of the story, what will get attention is the negative side.

Same thing as her hiring her PR guy.

I think she's too smart not to have thought through the possible repercussions, but she may underestimate the fervor with which some will attack.

[DURHAM D]

17. Two weeks ago I called her campaign office and spoke with someone.

I didn't get his name.

However, I told all of my friends that I am a Clinton adviser.

I had a speeding ticket three years ago. Should I send Fox a press release and ask them to investigate?

[HeraldSquare212]

18. See? Strategy #4, deployed already.