Clinton Criticizes Obama in NH Mailer: On abortion rights

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Clinton Criticizes Obama in NH Mailer
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 5, 2008

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton criticizes rival Barack Obama's record on abortion rights in a mailing sent to New Hampshire voters. The mailer says that seven times during his time in the Illinois state Senate, Obama declined to take a position on abortion bills, while Clinton has been a defender of abortion rights.

During his eight years in the legislature, Obama cast a number of votes on abortion and received a 100 percent rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council for his support of abortion rights, family planning services and health insurance coverage for female contraceptives. He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive, a vote that especially riled abortion opponents.

He also joined other state Democrats in voting present on some bills.

The mailing comes amid division within the Clinton campaign over how negative to go against Obama after his victory Thursday in the Iowa caucuses. The campaign has made a decision to hold off on any television advertising, positive or negative, until after a nationally televised debate Saturday night....

***

During the Iowa campaign, the Clinton campaign criticized Obama's position on health care in Iowa. But she is taking a different approach in New Hampshire. ''A woman's right to choose,'' the mailing says on the front, then flips to the back, ''demands a leader who will stand up and protect it.'' It says Clinton has a record of fighting ''far-right Republicans'' to defend abortion rights, while Obama has been ''unwilling to take a stand on choice.''

''Seven times he had the opportunity to stand up against Republican anti-choice legislation in the Illinois state Senate,'' it says. ''Seven times he voted present -- not yes or no, but present. Being there is not enough to protect choice. ''On January 8 you have a choice,'' it closes. ''Vote for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, Tuesday, Jan. 8.'' The mailer says ''Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President'' and has a return address of her office in Manchester. The Clinton campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Clinton-Obama-Abortion.html

[aquart]

1. How dare she.

[Windy]

4. You do get the gist don't you? That Hillary was wrong and Obama has a great track record right?

"During his eight years in the legislature, Obama cast a number of votes on abortion and received a 100 percent rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council for his support of abortion rights, family planning services and health insurance coverage for female contraceptives. He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive, a vote that especially riled abortion opponents.

He also joined other state Democrats in voting present on some bills."


Hillary is spreading LIES.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE!!!

YES, HOW DARE SHE!

[Bicoastal]

2. I wasn't aware of any sweeping abortion legislation in the Senate since 2004...

...can someone enlighten me?

[Kittycat]

3. So all she has left is negativity to run on.

And HRC supporters think Obama is the negative one? Why doesn't she run on her record, rather than others?

[Cha]

5. Poor poor hillary...she's scratching

at straws.

[TeamJordan23]

6. Negativity will kill her. How did those negative 527 negative ads work in Iowa? nm

[Evergreen Emerald]

7. actually she is not spreading lies...she is pointing out that

he had seven opportunities to stand up to anti-choice legislation and did not vote. That is not a lie.

[chascarrillo]

8. Obama helped raise money to repeal South Dakota's abortion ban. Clinton did not.

And yeah, she is spreading lies. She knows that Obama is pro-choice and that those present votes were a tactic that originated with Planned Parenthood and who encouraged Obama to follow their strategy.

This is a lie by the Clinton campaign. You are promoting it. Stop it.

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. Look. Actions speak louder than words. One of Obama's problems

is that he does not take a stand on issues. Not voting seven times is an issue. It is something that the people should consider. I am stunned at the double standard on DU. Obama has been distorting Clinton's record and actions for weeks now, where have you been? I have not heard you complain. Now, when Clinton tells the truth about a voting record, you protest. Obama is not off limits. He needs to answer to his actions.

[chascarrillo]

15. Planned Parenthood came up with the strategy. Obama joined them. You are lying.

Planned Parenthood came up with the strategy of Illinois state senators voting "present" on the legislation in question. Obama supported Planned Parenthood by voting "present". When asked about these votes, he answered to his actions.

Why are you lying about Obama's record? Is this the way you want to win?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

23. And if he hadn't gone along with the strategy

The Obama haters would be accusing him of "Going against Planned Parenthood!" :eyes:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

11. Why don't you ask IL Planned Parenthood about that

Wash. Post's Solomon ignored Planned Parenthood support for Obama's abortion votes

http://mediamatters.org/items/200712140004

[Evergreen Emerald]

12. Obama can make that argument: admit that he did not vote on those issues

but explain why. And the voters can decide.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

13. And Clinton can stop the dishonest smearing of his record on choice. nt

[Evergreen Emerald]

17. Where the hell were you when Obama was smearing Clinton with lies and distortions?

Clinton is talking about his record. Obama lied about Clinton's.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

22. Clinton is lying about Obama's record right here. nt

[Cha]

19. It's the dishonest crap

that's gonna get her ass into trouble, big time. And Obama has a way about him that when he explains something..it's comprehended.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. That's a bullshit, bad faith attack. Check this out:

Wash. Post's Solomon ignored Planned Parenthood support for Obama's abortion votes


http://mediamatters.org/items/200712140004

[Robbins]

14. Reminder

Hillary offered support for Bush's abstinse only at school plan.Now my postion Is If people are
taught sex education,and It Is easier,not harder,to get condoms and birth control It can reduce
Abortions and the spread of diseases.I am 100 percent pro-choice and that Is the way to go.
First Hillary says he Is not supportive enough of Abortion rights and If Obama Is our nominee
Mccain,or Huckabee will allow ads calling him a murderer for supporting Abortion rights.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

20. She also fought against removing language from a "workplace religious freedom" bill

That would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions. According to her, it's okay to deny a woman contraception if the pharmacist thinks it's "immoral".

[NashVegas]

18. Sorry, I Gotta Go with Hillary On This

PP endorsed a "present" vote because it gave moderates a way of not being seen voting for restrictive legislation, while not actually voting against it.

In other words, not taking a stand against anti-abortion legislation.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

21. I'm going to go with the local Planned Parenthood organization

They might just have a tad better idea than Senator Clinton, you, or I about the political situation of Illinois. I'm pretty familiar with PP here in Arizona, and I can tell you they go along with legislative stuff that would have you scratching your head. Idealism is real nice, but not when it comes at the expense of the very real people who will be affected if you fail.

[CarbonDate]

24. Well, this is what we expected:

The kitchen sink approach. Throw absolutely anything they can at him, true or not. Clintons fight dirty. We know this.

[Sparkly]

25. "The Clintons fight dirty."

Oh, come on. Things are thrown from all sides, at all candidates.

[Cha]

30. Yeah, who cares if they

resort to smears cause they have nothing to stand on..Obama can handle.

[Sparkly]

31. They all do

and they all handle it.

[Cha]

35. Uh huh.

Riight.

[flpoljunkie]

16. Has Hillary ever taken even one vote in the Senate that required political courage?

I can't think of one--certainly not the Iraq war vote.

[Cha]

39. Not so I noticed as her constituent

in New York.

buzzflash doesn't think much of hillary's latest smear job attempts, either.. http://www.buzzflash.com/

Third item down on left.

[Nailzberg]

26. I was just talking about this with a friend of mine at Planned Parenthood

Just last week. The whole concept of attacking Obama for being part of an effort coordinated through Planned Parenthood to defeat these anti-choice bills. She feels this could blow back on Hillary because by attacking Obama's present votes, she is attacking Planned Parenthood's Illinois strategy. Planned Parenthood rates Obama 100% and is getting irritated at Clinton's line of attack.

There's a lot of planned parenthood staffers who would want nothing more than to vote for a female candidate, but are turning away from Clinton.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

29. I know. PP here in AZ engages in legislative strategies that are unique to our state.

These attacks by Clinton are just foul.

[K Gardner]

27. There she goes again. I hope Obama hits her with this dishonesty squarely tonight.

[Nailzberg]

28. She's gotta be real careful. It may be Planned Parenthood that hits her on this.

They held a press conference supporting him after two of his senate campaign rivals used this exact attack on him in 2004. Both rivals were solidly pro-choice, and Planned Parenthood wasn't going to take sides, but they don't respond well to attack, it's an organization always ready for a fight.

[BenDavid]

32. To all you pro choce dems out there. Obama missing votes

on an important issue like this maybe tells us all something....Maybe we need to understand that HRC when elected president will nominate maybe 2 for the surpreme court and hold steady women's rights. With Obama voting present makes one wonder....

[KennedyGuy]

33. yes it does indeed...

[calteacherguy]

34. He did what Planned Parenthood asked him to do.

Obviously, he is a strong supporter of abortion rights.

All he has to do is get info. out on his endorsement by Planned Parenthood.

[tammywammy]

36. Planned Parenthood has no problem

:shrug: I chose to accept what they say on this matter, and that present votes were planned, than what you say.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

37. Hey Ben, your candidate is behind in the NH polls. Just sayin' nt

[sandnsea]

38. It means she'll lie to your face

in order to return a political favor or do whatever it is she wants to do with those supreme court appointments, that's what it means.

[Nailzberg]

40. I don't want someone who disagrees with Planned Parenthood nominating judges

Makes me wonder about Hillary. She's willing to sell-out Planned Parenthood to score cheap political points. Keep her away from the Supremes.