Clinton, Obama campaigns clash over Iraq

[OhioChick]

Source: Yahoo News

2 hours, 42 minutes ago

NEW YORK - The Iraq war, a defining issue of the 2008 presidential race, has turned into a proxy fight between Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) over credibility and leadership.

Obama has cast his early and forceful opposition to the war as a key test of presidential judgment. The Clinton team has begun openly challenging his claim of political purity and authenticity on the volatile issue.

The matter came to a head Monday at a forum at Harvard University, where Clinton strategist Mark Penn squared off with Obama adviser David Axelrod over the Illinois senator's voting record on the war. But beneath the squabble lay an acute recognition of the depth of voter anger over Iraq, especially among Democratic primary voters.

Polling shows most Americans now decisively oppose the war, but the figure is much higher among Democrats. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll taken last month found that 61 percent of the public now believe the war was a mistake; among Democrats, it was 91 percent.




Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070321/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_obama_iraq

[crikkett]

1. these two are just gonna tear each other apart

and leave the floor nice and clean for Al Gore.

[vi5]

2. I really wish these 2 would cut the crap.....

I've never cared for Hillary and liked Obama o.k. But at this point they're both disgusting me with this back and forth. I'm sure it wouldn't be as heavily covered by the media even if they were, but none of the Republican candidates are at each others throats nearly as much as these two are (worse so because they're acting as though they are the only 2 in the race).

[Debau2005]

3. I haven't decided who I am

supporting yet. But I did have higher hopes for Obama. I would have thought he would have stayed about the mud slinging!

I am still waiting on Al Gore to enter the race. When he does my decision is made! B-)

[never cry wolf]

4. Well, what do you expect from a forum with their respective top advisers

There would have to be some sparring.

Penn, facing off against Obama strategist David Axelrod during a public forum at Harvard University, blasted the candidate for statements he made in 2004 when he was an Illinois state senator.

"Obama said he didn't know exactly how he would have voted in Congress because he didn't have the full intelligence," Penn said

Axelrod fired back saying Penn had misrepresented Obama's stance and suggesting that infighting between Democrats would ultimately hurt their party's chances in the general election.

"Are we going to spend 10 months savaging each other, or are we going to try to lift this country up?" said Axelrod.

[hedgehog]

5. I'm sure someone will correct me on this, but has Obama actually

attacked the Clintons? It sounds to me as if most of the stories start with Bill Clinton addressing one group or another of high rollers about Obama's answer as to how he would have voted if he had been in Congress at the time. The full quote, taken in context shows that Obama was graciously suggesting the possibility that he, too could have been mislead. However, the quote alas makes clear his adamant opposition to starting the war. All I have seen Obama do is reiterate his position with no mention of the Clintons.

[VegasWolf]

6. Hillary's continued Iraq Oil War support is the reason that I would never vote

for her.