Clinton lies about Obama's words

[mkultra]

It seemed pretty even for me between Clinton and Obamaup to this point. Bill Clinton's recent lies about Obama's past statements has decided it for me. This is why i hate bush and why i will not vote for Hillary now.

[MadBadger]

1. Are you talking about him being against the war from the start?

[mkultra]

6. yes

im talking about Clinton saying that obama said in 2004 that he didn't know how he would have voted and that later he said there was no difference between his own and Bush's position. These are dramatic distortions the likes of which i haven't seen from anyone but GWB.

[wyldwolf]

but that isn't a lie. It's true.

[HeraldSquare212]

30. Obama was trying to find a diplomatic way of not having a position contrary to the Dem nominee

This was at the convention, after all, and a reporter was pressing him on the difference between him and Kerry on the war.

This is typical Clinton work: Obama was trying to support the party's nominee, and the Clinton's exploit it for their own benefit. "Me vs. party loyalty...me vs. party loyalty...me vs party loyalty..." That conversation ends the same every time.

[wyldwolf]

53. LOL! Hey, the reason so many voted for the IWR in 2002 was so they wouldn't have...

... a position contrary to the Dem nominee in 2004.

[HeraldSquare212]

59. I think they were concerned about not having a position contrary

to the Rep nominee.

[wyldwolf]

63. ...so was Obama, obviously!!

[HeraldSquare212]

67. I'm not following nt

[1corona4u]

19. But they're not lies, he actually said them....

In 2004, Sen. Barack Obama said the following when asked on multiple occasions whether or not he would have voted for war in Iraq:

"I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports. What would I have done? I don't know."
-New York Times, July 26, 2004
"There's not much of a difference between my position (on Iraq) and George Bush's position at this stage."
-Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2004
And then when questioned by Tim Russert about why he said the things above, Barack responded:

"(Those comments) were made during the convention when we had a nominee, both for President and Vice President, who had voted for the war. It was probably the wrong time for me to be making a strong case against my party's nominee."
-Meet the Press, November 11, 2007


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/12/162459/48/786/421263

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21738432/page/2/

[mkultra]

56. well first of all

on the first one he said that if he was kerry or edwards then... "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports. What would I have done? I don't know." then he said but from my vantage point the case for war was not made.

This means that when Clinton claims that this statement shows that Obama was confused about his position he's lying. Obama voted NO.
Obama was being polite to the current Presidential nominees.

On the second point. The (on Iraq) is misleading. Obama was refering to support for funding troops already on the ground. Far different from support the resolution to go to war. I personally never support the war but i would never pull support away from regular people that are being jerked around by Bush.

[1corona4u]

68. Fuck it.

Think whatever the fuck you want.

[dsc]

97. No he didn't he wasn't in the Senate at all

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

95. Bill is effectively destroying his own legacy here

A shame to see so much of his work, most of it quite for the better, go down the tubes in the midst of such invective.

[Cha]

Didn't you know? ...bill clinton

NEVER lies! ;)

[sandnsea]

2. Yes, that is the real story

I think most people don't understand that. They also don't understand Obama wasn't even in the senate when he made that speech, so there isn't any reason for it to be on his senate site. And he said it with the same conviction he told us he hadn't had sex with that woman. The man is an accomplished liar, no question.

[Evergreen Emerald]

3. They were not lies.

You are just believing the political talking points. Here is the truth of it:


Sen. Barack Obama claimed that President Clinton "made several misleading statements about my record" on Iraq. Actually, everything President Clinton said was true:

It is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he has been against the war every year, enumerating the years, and never got asked one time -- not once -- well, how could you say that when you said in 2004 you didn't know how you would have voted on the resolution, you said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war, and you took that speech you're now running on off your Web site in 2004, and there is no difference in your voting record and Hillary's ever since.
In 2004, Sen. Obama said he didn’t know how he would have voted on the Iraq War resolution.

‘When asked about Senators Kerry and Edwards' votes on the Iraq war, Obama said, "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports,’ Mr. Obama said. ‘What would I have done? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made.’
In 2004, Sen. Obama also said there was little difference between his position and George Bush’s position on Iraq:

In a meeting with Chicago Tribune reporters at the Democratic National Convention, Obama said, “On Iraq, on paper, there's not as much difference, I think, between the Bush administration and a Kerry administration as there would have been a year ago. <…> There's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage.”
While running for Senate, Sen. Obama acknowledged that he took his anti-war speech off his campaign website, calling it "dated":

Specifically, State Senator Obama maintains that an October 2002 anti-war speech was removed from his campaign web site because “the speech was dated once the formal phase of the war was over, and my staff's desire to continually provide fresh news clips."
Finally, Sen. Obama and Hillary have almost identical voting records on Iraq:

In fact, Obama's Senate voting record on Iraq is nearly identical to Clinton's. Over the two years Obama has been in the Senate, the only Iraq-related vote on which they differed was the confirmation earlier this year of General George Casey to be Chief of Staff of the Army, which Obama voted for and Clinton voted against.

[FrenchieCat]

8. What date was that Obama 2004 statement made,

You do know?

[Evergreen Emerald]

13. 2004?

[wyldwolf]

14. Chicago Tribune, 07/27/04

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=There%27s+not+much+of+a+difference+between+my+position+and+George+Bush%27s+position+at+this+stage.%E2%80%9D&btnG=Google+Search

[FrenchieCat]

18. Was there anything special going on that day that we should recall?

Do y'all recall?

[wyldwolf]

25. was it his birthday? I get it! On special days, Obama can say things and not be held to them

[FrenchieCat]

35. When was the Democratic National Convention,

that Presidential Election year?

[wyldwolf]

39. so on the day of a Democratic convention, things Obama said in a past interview are null and void?

:shrug:

[FrenchieCat]

64. No, the day of the National Convention, when we are

have two candidates who voted for the IWR that are about to accept the nomination for the Democratic ticket....and the DNC is tampering any talk of Anti War and George Bush....

OBama, on that day, is interviewed and asked about his anti war stance.

As a member of this party, and as keynote speaker, he had two choices.

Well, here, let him explain the way that he did a few times, prior to what Bill Clinton said (that this guy is getting away with being able to mislead)....

THE FACT CHECKER

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/01/obama_and_iraq.html#more

As the keynote speaker, Obama was trying to be loyal to the Democratic nominees, John Kerry and John Edwards, both of whom had voted in favor of the war authorization resolution, along with Hillary Clinton.

In an interview reported by the New York Times on July 26, on the first day of the convention, he reiterated his opposition to the war but declined to criticize Kerry and Edwards, saying he was "not privy to Senate intelligence reports."

He then continued: "What would I have done? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made."

(The Clinton campaign left out that important last sentence when it e-mailed reporters with backup material for the inconsistency claim, which was also made by Hillary Clinton in the televised debate Saturday night.)

In an interview published in the Chicago Tribune the following day (July 27,2004), Obama said that he would have voted "no" on the Senate resolution. But he said he was not in favor of "pulling out now." On the issue of whether to stay in Iraq , he said "there's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage." The context of his remarks makes clear that he was not referring to the original decision to go into Iraq, but the question of whether to remain.

His views on whether to stay in Iraq have changed, of course, as he now advocates a phased withdrawal.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/01/obama_and_iraq.html#more

so because we had candidates that had voted for that fucked up IWR, Obama, not wanting to EMBARASS THE NOMINEES, stayed vague to a degree.

THANK YOU, BARACK OBAMA.

PS. Barack, just remember how users are. They use you when they can, and then jump on you when your back is turned. remember barack, you are dealing with vultures when you deal with the Clintons, who were handing out the talking points to their close confident, DNC Chair McAuliffe!.

just remember that shit!

[wyldwolf]

70. no dear, the quote appeared in the paper that day, he didn't make it that day

[Evergreen Emerald]

26. More of the same: says one thing, but it means another.

"I really did not mean what I said." "I was lying to you."


I don't buy his very very convenient excuse. Just like his "present" votes. He can say one thing, do another, and claim anything.

Bill Clinton did not lie. Obama is looking for excuses--and in doing so, admitting he was lying. I wonder what is worse? Let's think about his for a moment. After the election, he did not set the record straight. INdeed. The only time he ever set it straight was when he was running for President, and it was not a popular position. How CONVVEEEENIEEENT.

[1corona4u]

29. AGAIN, what's the difference WHAT day it was???

He LATER, this YEAR, tried to defend himself;

"(Those comments) were made during the convention when we had a nominee, both for President and Vice President, who had voted for the war. It was probably the wrong time for me to be making a strong case against my party's nominee."
-Meet the Press, November 11, 2007

[FrenchieCat]

37. Why don't you google 7/27/2004?

Let's see what we were all doing on that date? Give you a hint...many of us were doing the same thing.

[wyldwolf]

42. so what, frenchie? Does the DNC convention happen in an alternate reality?

[1corona4u]

75. You know what Frenchie,

Don't patronize me. I know what day it was, but it's irrelevant, and the fact that you think it was, only shows your insistance to excuse Obama no matter the topic.

[HeraldSquare212]

62. Loyalty to something other than himself

A trait the Clintons just can't muster in themselves.

[Adelante]

22. Here, Frenchie

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/01/obama_and_iraq.html#more

[FrenchieCat]

43. Oh...Thanks.....and I know,

just dealing with those who pretend a lot...with wide Doe eye innocence.

[1corona4u]

58. Obviously, you are blinded by your love of Obama.

So clear.

[1corona4u]

24. What's the difference what the date was?

I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports. What would I have done? I don't know."
-New York Times, July 26, 2004
"There's not much of a difference between my position (on Iraq) and George Bush's position at this stage."
-Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2004

[papau]

78. Monday 26 July thru Thursday 29 July 2004 was convention -report of remarks on 7/27

[wyldwolf]

4. where was the lie?

[mkultra]

9. the lie

the lie is to assert that any of these statements demonstrate support for the war.

in 2004 he said he didnt know how we would have voted if he was SOMEONE ELSE but HE didn't think the case was made.

And

his statement on the no difference between him and bush was in regard to funding troops AFTER approval for war was guven and troops where in country.



Clinton asserted that these somehow mean that he supported the war. Thats the lie. Read it for yourself and watch the video.

[wyldwolf]

11. his exact quotes are in this thread. It isn't Bill Clinton who is lying.

[mkultra]

23. your an idiot

i guess you read english differently than the rest of the world.

[wyldwolf]

28. LOL! Obama exact quotes prove you wrong

[1corona4u]

38. I think you do.

You're cherry picking from the facts, things that fit YOUR skewed perception of reality.

[wyldwolf]

45. it's getting bizarre around here.

[indimuse]

96. idiot s...are people who follow blindly...

:smoke: You know...just like the bush supporters! quack...quack..

[1corona4u]

32. Seems a lot of us posted them. LOL...

[durrrty libby]

5. Do tell ..............exactly what are the lies?

[wyldwolf]

7. "lie" means something different to the OP than it does to the rest of the world.

[mkultra]

12. or maybe not

i guess reality means something different to the Hillatards

[wyldwolf]

20. you're living in a fantasy world.

In 2004, Sen. Obama said he didn’t know how he would have voted on the Iraq War resolution.

‘When asked about Senators Kerry and Edwards' votes on the Iraq war, Obama said, "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports,’ Mr. Obama said. ‘What would I have done? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made.’

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E2DF153DF935A15754C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2

In 2004, Sen. Obama also said there was little difference between his position and George Bush’s position on Iraq:

In a meeting with Chicago Tribune reporters at the Democratic National Convention, Obama said, “On Iraq, on paper, there's not as much difference, I think, between the Bush administration and a Kerry administration as there would have been a year ago. <…> There's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage.” (Chicago Tribune, 07/27/04)

While running for Senate, Sen. Obama acknowledged that he took his anti-war speech off his campaign website, calling it "dated":

Specifically, State Senator Obama maintains that an October 2002 anti-war speech was removed from his campaign web site because “the speech was dated once the formal phase of the war was over, and my staff's desire to continually provide fresh news clips."

Finally, Sen. Obama and Hillary have almost identical voting records on Iraq:

In fact, Obama's Senate voting record on Iraq is nearly identical to Clinton's. Over the two years Obama has been in the Senate, the only Iraq-related vote on which they differed was the confirmation earlier this year of General George Casey to be Chief of Staff of the Army, which Obama voted for and Clinton voted against.

[durrrty libby]

21. "Hillatards"? I guess the BO Sniffers are just drunk with worship

and denial.

[mkultra]

33. no case made by you

you made my case for me. Explain how clintons words are NOT a lie or how Obama's statements somehow show support for the war.

[1corona4u]

40. Go back up the thread.

There are FACTS posted. Some links I provided show the FULL conversation.

[mkultra]

44. read the whole thing

and his qoutes show NOTHING about him supporting the war at ALL.


You not reading the whole quote.

[1corona4u]

51. NO, that is NOT what you said, what YOU said was;

"It seemed pretty even for me between Clinton and Obamaup to this point. Bill Clinton's recent lies about Obama's past statements has decided it for me. This is why i hate bush and why i will not vote for Hillary now."


Now several of US showed YOU that YOU were WRONG, now you decide that YOU have to change YOUR position because YOU find out YOU were WRONG. nowhere in your OP did YOU even hint at Bill lying about 'Obama's support FOR the war'. Nowhere. You specifically said "Obama's PAST statements" Which are ALL true.

Stick to the topic, since you posted it.

[mkultra]

83. your still full of it

Clinton:In 2004, Sen. Obama said he didn’t know how he would have voted on the Iraq War resolution.

Incorrect:

Obama said that he didnt know how he would have voted if he was Kerry or Edwards but that he voted NO.


if you cannot comprehend this you are blind. Clinton made it CLEAR that he thought obama was lying about never supporting the war resolution. Truth is, he never support the resolution and this statment taken out of context doesnt make it so.

Your trying to do to me exactly what Clinton did to Obama.

[Thrill]

10. He pissed me off, when he attacked Obama

with that fairy tale BS. I won't vote for Hillary. I just won't do it. Obama has been fair the whole time. Never attacking or doing anything negative. Its sad

[Herman Munster]

17. lol

you obviously have drank the cool aid or conveniently forget hillary clinton senator from punjab, and obama operatives going to the press and whining about them not investigating bill clinton's sex life.

This is what pisses Hillary supporters off the most. The hypocrisy. Obama is a poser. A regular politician who claims to be above it all.

[Thrill]

84. I don't see whats so funny

Bottom line is Obama has done no attacking or negative comments towards Hillary. Its all the Clinton's shooting at him. Because they thought they were going to cruise to the nomination. And are in for a surprise.

[annie1]

34. what was wrong with the fairytale comment? the truth always comes out...

was it found out that the items he noted were false? he was talking about the media. i've only been on this site for a few months, but i noticed when i came here everyone was saying the whole thing about "obama spoke out against the war, hillary voted for it" and that was sort of the common take on the situation. Isn't it fair to question that? granted, i think it's more Hillary's fault that no one came out and said what Bill said prior to him. She should have said something after he made the comment on his better judgement (right after Bhutto's assassination). imo, it's not the media's job to say that (unless she said it and the media didn't cover it, but i don't think she did). But in all seriousness, what was wrong with the fairytale comment? thanks.

[sandnsea]

76. Everyone knows that was ONE SENTENCE

said on the eve of the Dem convention to cover JOHN EDWARDS and John Kerry. Obama was covering YOUR candidate's vote, and you're going to attack him for it? You think Bill doesn't know exactly why those comments were made? The fairy tale is Bill Clinton getting up there and lying right straight to your face, and America falling for it, AGAIN.

'The whole thing is just a fairy tale' came off as very condescending and expressed a deeper resentment than just one sentence about Iraq.

[annie1]

86. Gotcha. thanks..

but at the same time, don't you feel that part of the anger was about the media's coverage on and reaction immediately following IA? I know i was really put off by how media turned around after Barack won IA and hailed him as the greatest thing since JFK, they kept saying how hil's campaign was essentially over. After 1 state. I know i felt disgusted by that, and not just b/c i am a hillary supporter. ya know? I mean Peter jennings was talking about how 'women were showing up with their babies and thrusting them in the air so that his (barack's) aura would rub off on them', i found it a little disturbing personally. But We saw hillary in the debate get asked "so, you told charles schumer you thought the licensing idea was a 'good idea',", but that was only 1 sentence as well. But i do see what you are saying, that does sound irrisponsible of bill given the context of the statement, and that's fucked up. But at the same time, it also doesn't sit quite right with me that he is generally talking about his good judgement, then saying hil voted for the war, when he wasn't there to vote at all. and we really don't know how he would have voted. was he ever asked that in a debate, how would he have voted? (i don't know if he has, but i don't think so). Plus He has been in office long enough that he has a past long enough to question him on it, but she has often been asked to account for her past, and i'm not seeing a whole lot about him.

[sandnsea]

88. Hillary had a year to win it

What the hell?? Bill is going to complain about a couple of days of good press for Obama when Hillary had all 5 Sunday shows at once?? I think people are just not remembering here.

Obama was speaking at an anti-war rally in Oct 2002. 22 Senate Dems voted against the IWR. There's no reason to believe Obama wouldn't have done exactly what he was doing at that anti-war rally. Hillary was telling Code Pink, on March 6, just days before the invasion, that Saddam wasn't disarming, and that there was nothing to be done but support the march to war. Listen to it for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYATbsu2cP8

As far as the licensing question, that was Chris Dodd who called her on her triangulating there. That's what they do. That's why they've got statements for and against the war in the press. So no matter how it turned out, they could pretend they were on the right side. The trend though, and the important remarks, indicate support. You didn't see Clinton all over the news opposing invasion. You did see him covering for Bush on the yellowcake.

It isn't about the vote to me. It's what the Clintons did after that vote, and how long it took for her to move to supporting a timeline and withdrawal. Yes Obama has voted for funding, and he didn't vote for Kerry-Feingold the way I wish he would have. But he isn't responsible for starting this war and it's ridiculous to make him more accountable than Hillary for ending it.

[annie1]

90. Gotcha. i hear ya.

[sandnsea]

91. It's policy I hate

Honestly, it's not them personally. It's not because I support Obama and would just say anything. I should have checked further on the Jewish comment, but I had heard it before. It seems there's another racial comment besides the Gandhi one too, I just can't remember. I try very hard to not say things that aren't true, just for the sake of campaigning. I do not believe the Clintons would be as good for this country as any of the other Dems who ran. She's been raising money since 2006. She came to Oregon and took money out when we were running a tough governor's race, and several important ballot initiatives. She had a huge war chest and she thought she could just run ads and roll her way right into the nomination. That's why you see these frustrating moments from them. It isn't about the media or some unfair thing about Obama. They thought they had the Dem Party machinery perfectly in place and can't believe some young upstart is whipping their fanny.

[annie1]

92. i agree that...

she thought it was in the bag, that she could just raise money and be done with it. i hate that. i posted one time that i liked her much better as a loser, because then she becomes humble and has a more honest approach. i loved the speech she made when she came in last in Iowa, it was a really honest and graceful moment. Same for the 5 days after IA when she honestly changed for a bit. i hope that she can hang onto that, but i certainly wouldn't bet my milk money on it. it's a big flaw. it's something i really don't like. i'm hoping that she campaigns honestly btwn now and the 5th. and by honestly i mean the type of campaigning she did in NH (minus the emotional moment). :D.

[1corona4u]

41. Is this your first election?

I think it might be...

[Rockholm]

15. Yawn.

[bunnies]

16. Bill Clinton lies.

Period. You dont need to justify yourself. No one in their right mind can argue that fact.

[mkultra]

27. the lie stares them right in the face yet they still ignore it.

HEY KOOLAID!@!!!!

[durrrty libby]

50. "HEY KOOLAID!@!!!!" Yes just put it down and some brain cells will return

...eventually

[bunnies]

57. Right. It was koolaid on that blue dress after all.

Lying to the entire country? No big deal.

[durrrty libby]

65. I have no doubt it fed your special fantasies for a good long time

and obviously still does since you can't stop thinking about it

[bunnies]

69. I assure you that no Clinton has ever been a part of my fantasies.

Way to distract from the fact that HE IS A LIAR. :thumbsup:

[bunnies]

66. Depends on what the meaning of "is" is.

Yep. Thats a man that can be trusted. :rofl:

[jackson_dem]

31. What lie

[mkultra]

36. clintons words

Here are clintons words

BILL CLINTON: You said in 2004 you didn't know how you would have voted on the resolution, you said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war, and you took that speech you're now running on off your Web site in 2004, and there's no difference in your voting record and Hillary's ever since. Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairytale I've ever seen.


Obama clearly said that in 2004 he felt the case wasnt made and that he didnt know how he would have voted if he was SOMEONE ELSE.


Obama said that there was no difference on the subject of funding deployed troops. NOT the war.

Both easily understandable lies.

[1corona4u]

46. GO back and READ the THREAD.

The facts ARE posted in the thread. If you INSIST that they are lies, then YOU look like the one being irrational. Which, you are.

[mkultra]

49. comparing

your the one who keeps support the idea that Obama said they He didnt know how he would have voted. but you leave out the part of him saying that he didnt know how he woudl have voted if he was a senator. But that from his view it was NO.

[jackson_dem]

94. That's basically the same thing

-snip- Obama said they He didnt know how he would have voted. but you leave out the part of him saying that he didnt know how he woudl have voted if he was a senator. -snip-

It was a nice fudge by Obama at a time the war was still popular.

[Evergreen Emerald]

47. ohhhh...so, let's get this straight, you will give Obama the

nuance, but not Hillary Clinton? Her vote was not for war. It was for sending the inspecters back in. So, turnabout is fair play.

[mkultra]

48. actually

your fabricating that . Ive made no measure of Hillary's record or words. Only thos of Bill Clinton.


I challenge you to show me how any of Obama's statements show support for the war.

[Evergreen Emerald]

54. ohmygod. Read what Clinton said, and then what Obama said.

Clinton said that Obama has been fudging his record, and noone is calling him on it in the media. And THAT IS TRUE.

We have given you Obama's statements, and Clintons. He did not lie. The media is white-washing Obama's record--or at least sitting mum while Obama does it.

[mkultra]

60. or maybe your full of it

clinton challenging Obama's record but saying that you dont know how you would have voted if you where someone else falls way short of support. Especially if you immediately say "but from my view the case is not made"

Clinton may or may not be correct about the media but if he wants to make that point he should do it without distortion of another candidates record.

[mkultra]

82. saying that obama is fudging his record is the lie

read what obama actually said.

[1corona4u]

55. You know what, you're not interested in the facts....

you just want to argue. Nothing more.

[Muttocracy]

52. thank you. though I doubt it will get through

I rather appreciate that Obama said senators should make judgements based on intelligence reports.

For those of you saying it's not a lie, the point is the context. Taking off the part about the case for war not being made is a slanted way to quote him.

Be fair.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FrenchieCat]

74. Welcome.....

Some of us are honest here at DU, and others support Clinton.

That's how it works, as you can see.

It is quite amazing, really. :hi:

[David Zephyr]

93. K&R.

That seems to be the logic.

[mkultra]

71. KISS

for hillabots , lets try a direct example


Clinton:How could you say that when you said in 2004 you didn't know how you would have voted on the resolution,

Obama in 2004:"I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports,’ Mr. Obama said. ‘What would I have done(if i saw them)? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made.’

For the language impaired, this means NO.


Clinton: you said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war


Obama: here's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage.” Refering to funding troops NOT the war after the invasion.

[Muttocracy]

72. From Wash Post FactChecker site

bold emphasis from me

----------------

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/01/obama_and_iraq.html

Candidate Watch
Obama and Iraq

5:10 p.m.

I just came from a Bill Clinton town hall meeting in Peterborough. The news nugget out of the meeting was his attack on Barack Obama for alleged inconsistency over the Iraq war. The former president reminded his audience that Obama had made a big deal out of a 2002 speech opposing the invasion of Iraq. According to Clinton, opposition to the war in Iraq has become "the central logic" behind the Obama presidential campaign.

Clinton then expressed surprise that Obama has been allowed to get away with a statement in 2004, "at the Democratic Convention," saying that there was "not much difference" between him and George W. Bush on Iraq. He also quoted Obama as saying that he "did not know" how he would have voted on the now-contentious 2002 Senate resolution authorizing military action in Iraq, had he been in the Senate at the time.

The way Clinton said all this, it sounded as if these statements were part of Obama's big speech to the convention, which marked his introduction to big-time politics. In fact, they are somewhat misleading snippets from newspaper interviews that Obama gave before the convention.

As the keynote speaker, Obama was trying to be loyal to the Democratic nominees, John Kerry and John Edwards, both of whom had voted in favor of the war authorization resolution, along with Hillary Clinton. In an interview reported by the New York Times on July 26, on the first day of the convention, he reiterated his opposition to the war but declined to criticize Kerry and Edwards, saying he was "not privy to Senate intelligence reports."

He then continued: "What would I have done? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made."

(The Clinton campaign left out that important last sentence when it e-mailed reporters with backup material for the inconsistency claim, which was also made by Hillary Clinton in the televised debate Saturday night.)

In an interview published in the Chicago Tribune the following day (July 27,2004), Obama said that he would have voted "no" on the Senate resolution. But he said he was not in favor of "pulling out now." On the issue of whether to stay in Iraq , he said "there's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage." The context of his remarks makes clear that he was not referring to the original decision to go into Iraq, but the question of whether to remain.

His views on whether to stay in Iraq have changed, of course, as he now advocates a phased withdrawal.
-----------------------------------

[sandnsea]

80. And supporting staying in Iraq was the Clintons idea

As she was running around all year saying "stay the course". He was just trying to support the Dem platform and Bill Clinton well knows it. To go around that country with the faux indignation and outrage, unbelievable.

[annie1]

87. thanks. Hmmmm.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sandnsea]

81. Yeah and Gandhi ran a gas station n/t

[David Zephyr]

77. Welcome, mkultra!

Welcome! :hi: You will be proud of your choice more and more every day! The future!

[mkultra]

79. thanks

i feel like if been dipped in the river styx

[madrchsod]

85. you know what`s really funny about what ever that was....

it`s how the game of politics is played. i`m old enough to remember my senator, Everett Dickson from the 50`s-60`s..he could rattle off an answer for 5 minutes and by the time he stopped the reporter would forget what he had asked him.

i`d say at this point in time the clintons are really better at playing the game,plus they canned penn and got a hot shot texan to lead their campaign. under the guidance of axelrod. obama is doing a good job of not over reacting to the clintons...

[dailykoff]

89. Yeah and they're all over the place.

Looks like the ol' war room is stuck on Sistah Souljah.