Can it, Singer! Hil's slogan should read Triangulation+Caution=DLC, NOT Strength+Experience=Change

[flpoljunkie]

(As noted in an earlier post--these loathsomely familiar Clinton camp responses by Phil Singer--could have been written by a Bush flack. Ari Fleischer comes to mind. And, another thing, Phil, the "politics of hope" is not about refusing to drawing sharp contrasts between you and your opponents, it's about changing the way business is done in Washington!)

As noted yesterday, WaPo claimed that in their interview, Clinton was "vague" about how she would handle the CIA's special interrogation methods. She suggested she couldn't directly comment on how she would treat the specific methods because "it is not yet clear" what the administration is doing in terms of torturing terror suspects.

In response to those WaPo comments, Obama spokesperson Bill Burton emailed Election Central the following:

Barack Obama thinks that America's policy on torture needs to be a lot more explicit than the winks and nods she has seemed to put forth on this important issue.

Hillary spokesperson Phil Singer swiftly hit back, emailing over the following:

It’s unfortunate that Barack Obama is abandoning the politics of hope as his campaign stagnates and is launching false attacks on other Democrats instead. Senator Clinton explicitly stated that we "have to draw a bright line" against torture and "abide by the Geneva conventions." Senator Obama’s attacks won't bring change to America, but Senator Clinton’s strength and experience will.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/10/obama_campaign_slams_hillary_charges_shes_being_too_vague_on_torture.php

Singer's earlier response to Obama's op-ed in NH's Union Leader:

Clinton responds to Obama op-ed:

The exchanges between the Clinton and Obama campaigns are becoming more direct today, with Clinton spokesman Phil Singer responding sharply to Obama's op-ed on Iran in this morning's Union Leader. It's a response — like most of Clinton's — that's at least as focused on casting Obama as just another politician — and just another guy attacking Hillary — as on the substance of the argument:

It's unfortunate that Sen. Obama is abandoning the politics of hope and embracing the same old attack politics as his support stagnates. Sen. Obama is well aware that Sen. Clinton was one of the first to say George Bush must get explicit congressional authority before attacking Iran and is the sole co-sponsor of legislation forbidding the president from expending any money on military action there without Congressional approval. Sen. Obama’s attacks won’t bring change, but Sen. Clinton’s strength and experience will.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1007/Clinton_responds_to_Obama_oped.html

[rinsd]

1. More of that politics of hope!

"And, another thing, Phil, the "politics of hope" is not about refusing to drawing sharp contrasts between you and your opponents, it's about changing the way business is done in Washington!"

yeah drawing contrast by misrepresenting her position

Here's Obama at his announcement

"Obama's February announcement speech in Springfield, Illinois bemoaned "the smallness of our politics--the ease with which we're distracted by the petty and trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our preference for scoring cheap political points instead of rolling up our sleeves and building a working consensus to tackle big problems."

So is Obama gonna show up for any votes this week?

Must have looked at Edwards throwing grenades from outside the Senate and said "Man why bother taking a stand when I can just go after Hillary".

[SaveElmer]

2. Well he did say he would vote for the NAFTA extension into Peru...

So he probably has to show up for that one at least!!!

[flpoljunkie]

3. Hit a nerve did we, fellas?

And, thanks for keeping the thread going.

[oasis]

4. Awesome thread. I'm kicking it and recommending post reply#1.

:kick:

[flpoljunkie]

5. I don't think it works that way, but thanks, as well, for keeping thread going.

[oasis]

6. You're welcome.......BTW can we get a 2nd recommend for post 1?

;-)

[SaveElmer]

7. I'll rec post #1...

:-)

[oasis]

8. This thread's not getting the EXPOSURE that it deserves. Where's the Obama crew?

They should be good for at least a couple of kicks.:shrug:

[flpoljunkie]

9. Perhaps at work. Not much need anyway. Hillaries are doing your part to keep it going.

[desi]

18. I'll K&R

post reply#1 too...

:kick:

[Ethelk2044]

21. It sure isn't dealing with HSU. It also isn't siding with Lobbyist over the people

[oasis]

10. Let's hear from the Obama gallery. Oprah, you need to start passing out laptops.

:-)

[flpoljunkie]

11. You might want to remember that pride goeth before a fall.

[AtomicKitten]

12. Candidates Clinton and Obama are entirely different animals.

I thought Lewis Black pegged Obama perfectly when he referred to Obama on TDS as being "sophisticated and intellectual."

Hillary is a pro and delegates her dirty work to those around her who have plenty of experience getting their hands dirty.

One would think with polling indicating a huge national lead, Camp Clinton would feel unencumbered, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The fact that Camp Clinton is banging on her closest competitor signals to me Camp Clinton is watching her tail-feathers, and rightly so.

Gobama.

[rinsd]

13. Except AK this was a reponse to Obama's campaigns shots at her.

"The fact that Camp Clinton is banging on her closest competitor signals to me Camp Clinton is watching her tail-feathers, and rightly so."

Though I agree that Hillary is well aware of what is in her rear view mirror. Any Pres candidate not doing so before a single primary vote would be foolish.

[AtomicKitten]

14. Quite frankly I don't see anything extraordinary about this complaint.

Maybe it's because I come from a big family where this kind of stuff barely registers as anything more than candidates jostling for position.

Less than happy thoughts are slung in elections and this go is no different. No campaign is pristine. Hillary has plenty of devotees slinging their share of poo into the atmosphere, so I guess I'm not getting where her campaign is any different than the others in that regard.

The campaigns are challenging each other and puffing themselves up. They all want to win. And we pay our money, board the ride, and hope for the best.

[illinoisprogressive]

15. Her spokesman, like Hillary, have problems with coming up with anything original dont they?

[ShortnFiery]

16. Well Put. K & R. n/t

[illinoisprogressive]

17. thank you very much, Fiery.

[flpoljunkie]

20. Thanks, Fiery!

[AtomicKitten]

19. Specifically on the issue of torture which is a legitimate complaint -

Hillary is much too vague on torture, and that rather makes my skin crawl.

I wholeheartedly agree with what Obama says regarding that and I also believe it is critical as a nation that we re-redefine torture for what it is instead of coyly sweeping it under the carpet pretending all is well in the universe.

On further scrutiny of this, I believe the Clinton campaign launched a personal smear response against Obama rather than addressing the specific legitimate issue of torture that Obama raised.

[zulchzulu]

22. The Windows 95 Candidate is saying we need to go back to cassettes

That's what I see when the Clinton Camp throw out the "change" schtick.

Singer and crew can flail all they want about how Clinton didn't mean to give Bush power to go to war like she didn't mean to give Bush a free pass to go into Iran. She hates war and only likes to vote for it. She told him not to go to war, but gave him a nice early Christmas present to go to war.

That's all. Get it?

She didn't mean to sign the Four State Pledge when she thought she could stay on the Michigan ballot, which has not been printed yet. It's too late and besides, she signed the pledge which basically said she agreed with the DNC rules, but didn't want to not break the rules so that people might not like her.

Get it? Connect the spots. Cackle if you want too.

She didn't want a constitutional amendment on flag desecration, so she decided it would be a good idea to make flag desecration a federal crime. See?

Torture is really bad...so bad in fact that maybe we should allow it...sometimes.

What's wrong with you people?

:crazy: