POLITICS OF HOPE: Obama operatives planted Hsu story, want investigation into Clinton sex life

[Herman Munster]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/641088,sweet110708A.article

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Barack Obama’s presidential campaign “scored a significant hit” against chief rival Hillary Rodham Clinton “by helping to place” a story about tainted Democratic donor Norman Hsu, according to an article about Obama in the December issue of The Atlantic.

The story, titled “Teacher and Apprentice” by associate editor Marc Ambinder, describes how Obama campaign staffers were “frustrated” because the press was not covering Clinton “in the way they expected it would.”

“…And at a campaign event in Iowa, one of Obama’s aides plopped down next to me and spoke even more bluntly. He wanted to know when reporters would begin to look into Bill Clinton’s postpresidential sex life,” Ambinder writes.

[emilyg]

1. Shame.

[calteacherguy]

2. "One of Obama's aides"

Gee, that's a real specific source.

:eyes:

[Herman Munster]

3. so you are accusing a sun times reporter of lying

because it doesn't fit into your delusion that obama is running a campaign on hope? Okaaaaaay.

[calteacherguy]

6. No, not at all.

How many aides do you think Obama has? He is not responsible for everything an "aide" might say or do. Without more specifics, this is just gossip and National Enquirer type reporting.

[Herman Munster]

14. ultimately Obama is responsible for his campaign

There are two explanations:

1) He is endorsing these bad cop tactics behind the scenes while he plays good cop. That's politics as usual. It's also being a hypocrite since he wanted to change politics.

2) He is running an undisciplined campaign and doesn't know what his people are doing.

[calteacherguy]

19. 3)

Who is this so-called "aide?"

[Texas_Kat]

18. Reporters know the difference between "aides' and "oppo research" people

Since they get contacted by the 'oppo research' people all the time -- they're well known to each other.

[Texas_Kat]

15. The author is Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic Monthly

His credentials are impeccable.

The Suntimes is merely reporting the story

[Herman Munster]

17. thanks

I overlooked thar.

[incapsulated]

20. Hrm

Makes me tend to believe this. Although why an aide thought he could talk like this to a reporter like him and not have it go to press is beyond me. Stupid.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

21. Maybe he had him confused with Andrew Sullivan (same publication)

(joke... I think)

[incapsulated]

22. lol

I get it. :P

[2rth2pwr]

25. The aide thought that he could get a reporter to throw some mud against the wall

and hope some might land on Hillary

[incapsulated]

26. That kinda backfires

When it is printed that you were slinging mud, though. Especially when it wasn't an accusation, it was a plea to stir shit.

[AtomicKitten]

5. Hey, they don't need no stinkin' proper sourcing.

Any old port in the storm.

:silly:

[cuke]

4. I really hope this isn't true

I don't believe it. It does have the sound of a smear, but if it's true, it's the end of Obama.

[incapsulated]

7. No, it isn't

It means he is playing hardball like they all do.

This is how they all play this filthy game, despite protestations that righteous candidates win presidential elections, honorably and without getting dirty.

[cuke]

9. You sound as if you're saying it's not true, but it is true

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

10. I doubt any of us know if it's true.

[incapsulated]

11. I'm saying if it *is* true

I'm not surprised. Or disillusioned. Because I don't have any illusions about politics and political campaigns anymore.

That said, I always suspect "unnamed aides" telling random journalists their secret campaign strategy.

[cuke]

16. Ahhh

I also always wonder about unnamed sources. I'll wait for some corroboration

[aquart]

28. Nonsense.

Once people are hooked on a candidate, they excuse and rationalize endlessly.

[maximusveritas]

8. No evidence at all on the Hsu accusation

and the sex life stuff is just some anonymous aide asking a question. We don't know who that person was or what exactly the context was. Were they just making a joke? There's no way of knowing with such a vague description.

[ruggerson]

24. If Obama was found murdering children

you would come up with some rationalization and lash out at the people who caught him.

[Texas_Kat]

12. Sounds like the politics of "dirty business as usual" to me

According to the article, the Obama campaign is calling Ambinder a liar:

"Asked for comment on whether the campaign had a hand in “helping to place” the Hsu story, Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said "We had no knowledge of Norman Hsu’s past criminal activity, fugitive status or potential straw donor scheme until reading it in the newspaper."

Regarding the unidentified aide wondering about Bill Clinton, LaBolt said, "In no way, shape, or form would anyone who would say such a thing be representing our campaign."

Ambinder, told of the Obama campaign comment said, “I stand by my reporting and the article speaks for itself.”

[aquart]

13. My favorite part: Hsu also was a donor to Obama’s senate campaign and his HOPEFUND political action

committee.

[ruggerson]

23. hey calteacherguy

looks like time for another switch.

May I suggest Mike Gravel?

[Reno.Muse]

27. right on, Obama people!

I, for one, am not looking forward to the same drama we had when these two were living in the White House the last time. Out the crap now. Why do so many idiots forget the past?