Battle Tested (Op-Ed by Joe Wilson)

[BeatleBoot]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.hillary12feb12,0,94551.story


Battle-tested

Hillary Clinton fought the Republican attack machine, and emerged stronger
By Joseph C. Wilson IV
February 12, 2008


With the emergence of Sen. John McCain as the presumptive Republican nominee, the choice for the Democrats in the 2008 presidential election now shifts to who is best positioned to beat him, in what promises to be a more hard-fought campaign - and perhaps a nastier one - than Democrats anticipated.

Sen. Barack Obama's promise of transformation and an end of partisan politics has its seductive appeal. The Bush-Cheney era, after all, has been punctuated by smear campaigns, character assassinations and ideological fervor.

Nobody dislikes such poisonous partisanship, especially in foreign policy, more than I do. I am one of very few Foreign Service officers to have served as ambassador in the administrations of both George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, yet I have spent the past four years fighting a concerted character assassination campaign orchestrated by the George W. Bush White House.



Sen. Hillary Clinton is one of the few who fully understood the stakes in that battle. Time and again, she reached out to my wife - outed CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson - and me to remind us that as painful as the attacks were, we simply could not allow ourselves to be driven from the public square by bullying. Mrs. Clinton knew from experience, having spent the better part of the past 20 years fighting the Republican attack machine. She is a fighter.

But will Mr. Obama fight? His brief time on the national scene gives little comfort. Consider a February 2006 exchange of letters with Mr. McCain on the subject of ethics reform. The wrathful Mr. McCain accused Mr. Obama of being "disingenuous," to which Mr. Obama meekly replied, "The fact that you have now questioned my sincerity and my desire to put aside politics for the public interest is regrettable but does not in any way diminish my deep respect for you."

Mr. McCain was insultingly dismissive but successful in intimidating his inexperienced colleague. Thus, in his one known face-to-face encounter with Mr. McCain, Mr. Obama failed to stand his ground.

What gives us confidence that Mr. Obama will be stronger the next time he faces Mr. McCain, a seasoned political fighter with extensive national security credentials? Even more important, what special disadvantages does Mr. Obama carry into this contest on questions of national security?

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[tabatha]

1. The comments to that article are interesting.

Basically, they like Joe but don't buy his arguments.

[BeatleBoot]

2. They don't like Joe and Valerie, just like Bush and Cheney hate them

and now Obama supporters on this site are falling in line with Bush and Cheney.

Strange Bedfellows Politics Make.

[Windy]

3. Mr. Wilson's rationale in defense of Hillary's war vote lacks merit

If I could ask a few questions of Mr. Wilson, it would be the following:

1. If Bush wasn't going to use force in Iraq, why did you fight like hell and take action, which ulitmately cost your wife her career, to expose the misinformation Bush spread about buying yellowcake from Africa!
2. Did you share what you knew about Bush's bogus claims of Iraqs nuclear program with friend Hillary?

Apparently, if you shared that information, she must not have been paying attention.

Joe Wilson's "defense" of Hillary on her war vote certainly makes the destruction of his wife's career based on "principle" seem like, at best, an exercise in futility!

[BeatleBoot]

4. What's the matter, did your thread get locked?

You and Rush Limbaugh share similar views.


:rofl:

[Windy]

6. My views are my own... and Im entitled. And yes, this is the thread of mine that was LOCKED!

For what reason? Because I question Joe's reasoning in light of his past actions to expose Bush to try and prevent him from going to war?

I find his analysis to be contradicted by his past what I considered to be heroic actions.

Didn't know that Rush felt that way about Joe Wilson? Never heard him called a hero by Rush either.

[BeatleBoot]

8. Rush Limbaugh hates Joe Wilson

[thunder rising]

5. four years fighting a concerted character assassination? So, you're good at it?

I'm beginning to see why Valerie Plame was outed. The cost benefit of losing her and getting rid of Joe.

[jaysunb]

7. That's not the point,now.

America wants the fighting to stop, and it wont as long as there are any of the combatants hanging around.

Sorry, that's just the way it is Joe.

[Cha]

9. I'm going with Brent Budowsky on this..

JOE WILSON IS WRONG ABOUT OBAMA

<snip>
"Anyone who supported the Iraq war for five bloody, deadly years and then supported the Lieberman-Kyl amendment should show more taste and better judgment and more modestly in boasting of their own "experience' and launching personal attacks on those who were far more right than she."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4576880

[Windy]

10. Agreed! nt

[Obamaniac]

11. Joe Wilson really needs to shut up...

His shilling for Hillary has already probably cost him any job in the future Obama Administration.

His arguments are absolutely ridiculous. Isn't it funny how Clinton and her supporters always use the same meme even when it's completely discredited --- it's called LISTENING Clinton people.

Clinton is stronger is she?

She does worse than Obama against McCain IN EVERY NATIONAL POLL.

Her negatives are A LOT higher than Obama or any other candidate in the race, Democrat or Republican.

She has lost the independent vote to Obama in every primary/caucus except one.

She trails McCain and Obama BADLY with men and independents.

"But...but...but..." says the Clinton people. "She'll still run a strong campaign and beat McCain."

"Oh ya," says this Obama supporter unconvinced, because her campaign thus far is strong evidence of her abilities as a campaigner.

If she can't beat Obama among the Democrats how will she beat McCain against Republicans and independents.

I want to win. I am supporting Obama.

[Cha]

14. Yeah, it wouldn't be so bad

if joe wilson were saying anything viable..but, just making up shit to suit his puppose. That's not giving him any future credibility.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. they will slay someone they have respected,trusted and loved for years ...it's disgusting and.....

edwards has already been slain on that altar.....Gore may be next.

BECAUSE OPRAH TOLD ME HE WAS GOOD AND SHE GIVES AWAY FREE CARS SO I TRUST HER!

[calmblueocean]

13. For Joe Wilson to sink this low is really sad. I already documented his lies here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4580656&mesg_id=4581341