I believe Samantha Power's remarks were approved at the highest levels of the Obama campaign

[journalist3072]

I don't think it's any coincidence that on the very same week that Obama promised to keep going negative on Sen. Clinton, that Samantha Power's (one of his very top advisers) calls Sen. Clinton "a monster."

The fact that these two comments surfaced in the same week (Obama promising negativity, and then the monster remark by Power) leads me to believe that her comment was planned and approved at the highest levels of the campaign.

What's more, this AM the Today show lead w/ the remarks by Power, and Andrea Mitchell was saying how extremely close Obama and Power are...that even ideologically, Obama is closer to Power than he is some others in his campaign.

But the sequence of events (Obama's comments this week, followed by Power's comment), truly leads me to believe her comments were planned, orchestrated and approved at the highest levels of the campaign.

[JuniperLea]

1. I don't get it...

He complains about the negative campaigning, yet says he's going negative himself? Seems uber hypocritical to me.

[roguevalley]

26. if that is your belief, than the same can be said about Hillary and

the Ken Starr remark. If belief is all it takes, then Hillary is guilty too. THat kind of thinking leads nowhere.

[JuniperLea]

27. That is exactly what I'm saying...

Neither is more or less guilty of this crap than the other.

[MadBadger]

2. She knew she made a mistake and right afterwards asked for them to be off the record

She made a fucking mistake, and the Queen Bee wants to turn this into something it isnt by saying there is a disturbing pattern of these things.

[SoFlaJet]

5. Fuck her anyway hnmnf

she IS a fucking monster and a despicable excuse for a democratic presidential candidate to say what she has said about the democratic frontrunner-I am starting to hate her-I'm sorry I just am, and I'm being honest

[Josiah1982]

14. obama said he was going to get tough then the POS Power called Hillary a "monster"

it's not a coincidence and the msm is all over the stroy. This was somehting that backfired on obama.:rofl:

[journalist3072]

33. No....she make her comment because she thought it would be off the record and she was hoping not to

get caught...and she got caught.

God has a way of exposing people in their mess.

[NashVegas]

3. I'd Doubt It

Unless whomever gave her the green light is even more inexperienced in elections than she is.

[stellanoir]

4. If you read her profile she is totally an independent thinker.

And an Irish redhead no less.

Stereotype warning: They are generally quite irascible and feisty and rarely told what to do.

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

[cali]

6. Utterly ridiculous. Why the fuck would he take the chance of

sacrificing Power by authorizing her to make such a dumb comment. You are paranoid. Seek help. Serious help.

[rinsd]

7. This is ridiculous. Obama can't control everyone in his campaign any more than Hillary can.

[Cant trust em]

19. Thank you for your common sense

it's nice to see someone who is obviously a supporter of a campaign use something crazy like logic.

[angie_love]

20. Thank you rinsd.

Hey journalist, why can't you be classy like your fellow hill supporter rinsd?

[movonne]

24. That was very nice of you to say...I wish this place would go back

to being more civil to one and another..

[journalist3072]

32. I agree with you there...but I think the circumstances are different here....considering the

sequence of events.

Do you really think it is an accident that on the very same week that Obama promises to keep going negative, that Samatha Power made the remark about Sen. Clinton being a "monster."

I don't think it is any accident or coincidence that Power made her remark, the very same week her boss promised a negative campaign.

That's the issue I'm having...these 2 comments (Obama's and Power's) in the same week.

I think it definitely makes it look like her comments were planned and coordinated at the highest levels.

[joeybee12]

8. I don't...I think they agreed they were going to be "tough" but one's

definition isn't another one's...besides, if BO did approve this, that really makes him look naive to think it wouldn't backfire.

[Josiah1982]

9. obama siad he was going to get tough on hillary this is how he did that

Powers was just followign orders.

[JimGinPA]

10. "I don't think " - You Should Have Stopped Right There...

It was the only credible part of your OP.


:eyes:

[americanstranger]

11. Paranoia strikes deep.

Look out! There's an Obama supporter under your bed!

- as

[thereismore]

12. Hell yeah! I demand that Obama and all his staff resign from campaign and bow to the Queen! nt

[jgraz]

13. One word vs weeks of racially tinged slime

And guess which one has the Hillaroids' panties in a wad? :eyes:

[blogslut]

15. Well, you would

n/t

[Cant trust em]

16. and having to apologize for something and resigning were all part of the big scheme?

This makes no sense. Egg is on Obama's face and this only distracts from real campaigning.

[marshall]

17. I believe her remarks are approved by the majority of the voters

Tina Fey's next SNL appearrance will feature "Monster is the New Black".

[DURHAM D]

23. Shouldn't that be "Monster is the new Bitch"? eom

[DearAbby]

18. Keeerist, this name-calling is at the highest level

when is the slap-fight be?...the "mamma, she's touching me, make him stop" this is fecking childish.

Come on people, there are troops dying in Iraq, Human beings being waterboarded, our civil rights being eroded away, and you are worried about someone calling Hillary a MONSTER?

[DURHAM D]

21. I don't think her comments were approved.

In the article (which I read about 3:00am so I am going on memory here) she made several defensive statements about Ohio and their NAFTA mistake was very much on her mind. She seemed to be defending her friend that caused the NAFTA snafu and it made me think that there is more to the story.

David Axelrod runs a very disciplined campaign and I think he is likely pissed about the rogue staffers who are out making statements without approval. Her leaving the staff sends a message to the others.

On another note - Obama has run a very nasty campaign from the get-go. The race baiting he did in order to win South Carolina will go down in the history books as one of the most cynical, sinister, and nasty campaign strategies in our recent political campaign history.

[DefoliateBush]

22. Monsters

Hitler and Stalin are examples of real-life monsters. For someone who is running on judgement rather than the value of experience, it seems that Obama is showing why he shouldn't be President by associating himself with a top foreign policy advisor who doesn't have the judgement to distinguish between Hillary and Hitler. Or a science advisor who can't answer science questions at a science debate and refers reporters to the Obama web site. Or an economic advisor who creates NAFTA-gate. The office of President is not the place for neophytes.

[smiley_glad_hands]

25. Nonstory. How about that Ken Starr thing? He is a true monster.

How about endorsing mccain?

[seabeyond]

28. i believe you are just saying shit to smear a person. rove, bush, limbaugh is that u. n/t

[barack the house]

29. Why would he sacrifice his finest advisor. HRC probably harassed her as Obama may of give her vp

Before taking the role she is reported as saying her honest streak maybe a problem . she told it like she sqw it.

[NMMatt]

30. Good if true, Hillary is a horrible individual, monster is pretty much spot on -nt

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

31. Hey journalist3072, Do you mean These Remarks > > >

Here's why throwing Power overboard was such and easy decision...

______________

The skirmishing over Samantha Power continued on an Obama campaign conference call moments ago, with the action shifting over to this recent interview with Power about Obama's commitment to withdrawing from Iraq.

In that interview, Power said the following about Obama's future approach to withdrawal from Iraq: "He will, of course, not rely on some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator."

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

[Tellurian]

39. Yes, what Obama says V what he plans to do in Iraq... the cat outta the bag w/Power

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzy3lObigF0


could have been a setup dumping Power's (big mouth) from the Campaign by (Obama ans) other Sr Advisers..

[sniffa]

34. .....

[jab105]

35. Calling Clinton a "Monster" doesn't benefit Obama...it hurts him...

Obama has the new type of politics, so he can't get away with saying what she can get away with saying...

It was a negative for him, and very distracting...I'd bet money that it was the exact opposite of a campaign plan...

Now...Clinton calling McCain experienced to be president, but Obama - well...now THAT was a campaign plan, and a disgusting one to use on someone in your own party - who on paper will most likely be our nominee...

Obama is having a rough 2 weeks...he's got to get back on his feet...Wyoming will help...and I think he's got to learn not to be quite so confident...he did it right before NH, he did it right before TUesday...asnd he didn't stay on top of things like he should have - and look what happened...

[LiveLiberally]

36. Your "belief" fails one simple, irrefutable test....

The test of common sense.

As an academic, I know the impact this comment will have on Powers' career. Samantha Powers is a highly respected, but still up-and-coming Professor at Harvard. At 38 she has a lifetime of achievement ahead of her. Why would she voluntarily commit professional Hara Kiri for absolutely no political or personal gain? Characterizing Clinton as a "monster" is too generic (and, frankly, Sesame Street-esque) a comment to score any points with voters. The Obama campaign gained nothing from this incident except the embarrassment of having to apologize. And, believe me, Powers' academic reputation will be tarnished by this foolish, politically naive remark. Which is a real shame. But that is the politics. Trying to make anything else of it is a mindless chasing of the tail.

[Little Star]

37. No doubt.

[Raine]

38. That's only your opinion and that doesn't make

it true. Obama is not responsible for someone else's personal opinion.

Edit: corrected one word.