NBC: Obama escalates his criticism of Hillary Clinton -- taking it to political defcon three

[ariesgem]

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell

Sen. Obama has ESCALATED his criticism of Hillary Clinton -- taking it to political defcon three -- in an exclusive on-camera interview with NBC News.

It is a lot tougher than what he said in the debate -- or in the Iowa newspaper interview yesterday.

During a stakeout outside his senate office, Obama said in part:

"I think what is irresponsible and naive is to have authorized a war without asking how we were going to get out -- and you know I think Senator Clinton hasn’t fully answered that issue.

"The general principle that I was laying out is that we should not be afraid as America to meet with anybody.

"Now, they may not like what we want to hear -- so if I’m talking to the President of Iran, I’m going to inform him that Israel is our stalwart ally, and we are going to do what's necessary to protect them -- that we will not accept a nuclear bomb in Iran, but that doesn’t mean we can’t say that face to face. And obviously, the diplomatic state work has to be done ahead of time.

"The notion that I was somehow going to be inviting them over for tea next week without having initial envoys meet is ridiculous.

"But the general principle is one that I think Senator Clinton is wrong on -- and that is if we are laying out preconditions that prevents us from speaking frankly to these folks, then we are continuing with Bush-Cheney policies, and I am not interested in continuing that.

"I know that she has said in the past that we have to talk to our enemies -- well that’s what this is about. And if we say that we will not talk to them unless they meet a series of preconditions, then that’s the same position that Bush and Cheney have maintained over the last six years, and it has made us less safe. And that’s what I think is going to be a significant part of this debate in 2008.

"We responded to her in this situation, and I think there is a genuine difference, if there isn’t a difference, then Senator Clinton should explain it. I think that we should talk to everybody.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>snip

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/25/290301.aspx

[BeyondGeography]

1. Obama's got her rattled to the point where she's catching up on her reading

[snowbear]

2. Is that photo-shopped?

[BeyondGeography]

6. Nah, got it here

http://jessicafertitta.com/?cat=26

[IndianaGreen]

44. On the day the Iraq Study Group report came out, Hillary and Lieberman held a joint press conference

in which they railed against violent video games. I gather Hillary did not want to comment on the ISG report, and one way to do that was by once again joining one of Holy Joe's crusades.

In 2006 Hillary opposed Kerry's Alito filibuster and Iraq troop withdrawal resolution.

Hillary did not discover Iraq as an issue until the polls showed that 60-percent of Americans thought the Iraq war was a mistake. Some leader, that Hillary!

[BeyondGeography]

47. I'm so glad Her Majesty still has to sweat over IWR

You know she wasn't counting on that.

[Cha]

72. Who can forget that? Anyone who's

gonna side up with the lieman to distract from the tragedy of Iraq is courting disaster themselves.

[SaveElmer]

3. Wriggle and Squirm...stop digging Obama...nt

[Qutzupalotl]

22. He sure got the Obama-haters riled up and spinning.

"Stop fighting back!"
:rofl:

[SaveElmer]

25. Why...it's working...

http://www.insideradvantage.com/free/2007/July/7-25-07/towery.php

:rofl:

[CTyankee]

66. The article doesn't say out loud that the poll was Democrats ONLY

unless South Carolina has "crossover" primaries.

Right now I'm interested only in polls that survey a group of all voters, not just Democratic ones. She or any other Dem in the race will have my support if they lead over the Repub. challenger. So far she meets my criteria of competency and organizational smarts. We'll see what tomorrow brings...

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

49. Where are the Obama haters??? His most vocal DU supporters seem determined to be as unappealing as

possible, but that's not his fault.

MKJ

[Qutzupalotl]

50. Upthread.

Just giving it back to him.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

52. Donde esta? I don't see it, which post #? MKJ

MKJ

[Ethelk2044]

48. She is the one that is squirming. She is so worried. She was stupid to go to him

It just goes to show how inexperienced she is. If you are leading you do not open the door for someone to attack you. He is correct on calling her out. THOUSAND OF SOLDIERS HAVE DIED for her wrong decision. Hillary Errors

1. NOT Reading the Report.
2. Authorizing the WAR.
3. NOT Apologizing for her VOTE on the Iraq WAR.
4. NOT Apologizing publicly to the families who have lost love ones.
5. Attacking someone when you are so call leading in the Polls.


It all shows how much experience she really has.

[sueh]

59. Yep. Obama can keep sticking it to her on her IRW vote and

she'll have to defend it every single time.

[Cha]

74. And how much dlc influence she has

"experienced".

[illinoisprogressive]

4. she shouldn't have messed with him.

[SaveElmer]

7. Obama messed up and is trying to squirm his way out..SC voters ain't buyin it...

http://www.insideradvantage.com/free/2007/July/7-25-07/towery.php

[sueh]

57. Their poll numbers add up to 105%. Fuzzy math??

[Tellurian]

61. Former UN Ambassador agrees with Hillary... Obama dead wrong!

Later Wednesday, the Clinton campaign issued a statement by former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who is supporting her candidacy, taking issue with Obama's comments and saying she would bring an end to "the cowboy approach of the Bush years."

"She has said she would initiate serious, responsible dialogue with nations with whom we don't agree in order to further the national security interest of the United States," Holbrooke said. "But she is right not to risk the prestige of the presidency by unconditionally committing to meet with leaders of adversarial nations."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070726/ap_on_el_pr/obama_clinton_8

[journalist3072]

29. Oh please! Spare me! eom

[ariesgem]

54. I'm hoping she takes more jabs at him...

Hillary may not know who she's up against. Obama is showing me that he's more than capable of hitting back hard. The more she puts the focus on him, the more press he gets. I think his poll numbers are not where they should be because he does not have the name recognition of HC. If he plays his cards right, he just may convert more folks to his camp with this face time he's getting in the media.

[Tellurian]

63. When is Obama going to put up a defense?

Isn't he supposed to be a lawyer?

I'd fire him for sure, if he was still chewing on the Iraq Vote, as some sort of defense after his incorrect answer at the debate. All he's done is repeat Hillary's words back to the press. You mean to tell me, he can't think of anything else as an issue to say for a defense?

Wow!

[BluegrassDem]

5. Obama nailed it!!!

Ouch...he's gonna turn lemon into lemonade after all.

[illinoisprogressive]

8. If someone starts stuff he is chicago tough back at them.

[Schema Thing]

9. I think he's saying all the right things

They are both playing for keeps. Hillary however, has to (or feels like she has to) play tough guy on the question, which once again shows me her political compass is really a weather-vane.

[quinnox]

10. wow tough stuff

I try to be objective and this response from Obama has impressed me.

He is tougher than I thought. Hillary may have more of a fight than I realized, but she is capable of it and I have confidence in her as a brawler.

[rinsd]

12. Anyone who worries about how Obama will handle GOPers should remember this

[rinsd]

11. Defcon 3? Oh please, this is minor.

[BeyondGeography]

13. I agree...same story as yesterday

but Andrea Mitchell's got a salary to justify, see.

[rinsd]

17. Seriously, Defcon 3 is accusing your opponent of having illegitmate children

Everyone knows that :evilgrin:

[MADem]

28. Nowadays, it's illegitimate chldren that you fail to support!!! Otherwise, the kid thing is

back a notch, at least.

[democratsin08]

14. awful

obama is tearing the party to pieces. i implore him to stop.

[BeyondGeography]

15. Oh, the humanity!

What is this, your first primary? Just stay calm and nobody will get hurt.

[Connie_Corleone]

23. LOL!! Please, stop! You're killing me!

:rofl: :rofl:

[superkia]

33. Are you serious?

So because someone is defending themself from the medias democratic nominee, you feel he is doing something bad? I hope that was sarcasm or something? If you allow a media to mainly support a candidate the country thinks its truth and best for us, we need people to question each other, right? I wonder why the controlled media has been shoving her down our throats, hmmmmm I wonder if maybe she is like her husband and supports the opening of our north and south borders to help the big corps get even wealthier?

[Pithy Cherub]

34. Irony Alert! That was Elizabeth Edwards challenging

Hillary Clinton on her support of women's issues right... :rofl:

Pick your league - Pop Warner or Smashmouth NFL Politics.

[Cha]

76. Irony RED Alert!

[Adelante]

53. Oh, my

You had better find a knitting group, hon, if this is so hard on you.

[sueh]

60. Obama is NOT tearing the party to pieces.

He is defending his position. Hillary cannot defend hers. It's primary season, not "coronation" season. I've told you before it's going to get hot in here. Heat. Meet. Kitchen.

[Cha]

75. Oh shit.

[bigdarryl]

16. Another example of Hillary FLIP FLOPPING just three months ago she...

said we should talk to hour enemies.Obama should get a whole of that clip and run it in all 50 states after all he has the money to do it.

[SaveElmer]

20. Another example of BD not recognizing the truth...

Shocking!

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[Qutzupalotl]

31. Well, you ARE donating to the same candidate as Roger Ailes...

just sayin'
:7

[rinsd]

38. Its hard I know but please keep the smears straight. Roger Ailes has not donated to Hillary.

http://www.newsmeat.com/media_political_donations/Roger_Ailes.php

[IndianaGreen]

40. Ailes hasn't, but Rupert Murdoch has contributed and raised money for Hillary

Murdoch knows that Hillary will not try to bring back the Fairness Doctrine or reverse the media concentration that began when her husband Bill supported that Telecommunications bill.

[SaveElmer]

43. ANd Ted Kennedy, and Barbara Boxer, and Howards Dean;.....and oops Fox execs gave $ to Obama...

[Qutzupalotl]

45. raised money for, whatever.

[rinsd]

56. Roger Ailes didn't raise money for her either.

And your "whatever" shows how little you actually care about facts vs the smear.

[Qutzupalotl]

78. Sorry, that was Murdoch who raised money for Clinton.

Forgive me for getting them confused.

I truly am baffled as to why he did this.

[rinsd]

30. With your Hillary hating obsession? Glass houses and all that jazz

[Ethelk2044]

46. Another lie by you. Obama stated Facts. It is so funny how you try to

cover Hillay's mistakes with lies.

[Forkboy]

18. Er....defcon 3? They're throwing balls of yarn at one another so far.

Could the media be just a little more transparent in their desire to make these two hate each other?

[Cha]

77. The corporatemediawhores couldn't

be more obvious in anything they do.

[bling bling]

19. I happen to agree with Obama on this.

But I think Clinton did him an enormous favor by calling him out on his answer. This issue needs to be ironed out now instead of later.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. Escalates?

He's just responding to Clinton's hypocritical slurs.

She shouldn't dish it out if she can't take it.

[MADem]

27. Andrea Mitchell doing General Electric's Bidding

GE is in the top ten Pentagon contractors list. They make BILLIONS every year off the US government. They make billions round the world.

Oh, and they own the "NBC family."

Who listens to her shit? Everyone's working the "Hillary-Barack" catfight angle lately.

It's just so .... LAME.

[TeamJordan23]

32. Tweety is gonna love this on Hardball today. haha. nm

[The River]

35. Let Them Destroy Each Other

Neither one has the chops to be President.
2008 is too important to risk it by nominating
a junior Senator.

[jillan]

62. And that is exactly what they are doing.

Acting like a couple of kids.

[Bitwit1234]

36. The more I hear about Obama's tatics I do believe he is doing the

"republican thing". Just because he wasn't a senator when the war was voted on he is getting a little too smug in this Hillary voted for the war crap. How many times must she say....if I knew then what I know now. Bullshit. He is falling so far behind he is trying to swift boat and it doesn't look good. I thought he was a straight shooter. I guess I was wrong.

[TeamJordan23]

37. HRC attacked him yesterday. He fought back today. Nothing wrong with that. nm

[jefferson_dem]

41. No shit.

That's more than we have saw from some past presidential and vice presidential nominees, eh?

I've learned that people evaluate candidates based as much on how they campaign as the actual positions they take. Fighting back with vigor is good. Winners do it. Losers don't.

[CTyankee]

67. Thank you. So glad someone else at DU sees this!

Have we not learned from the Kerry campaign's not coming back at not only the Swift Boat liars but others who demeaned the Purple Heart? Or Kerry's disastrous decision with that wind surfing? Or looking really stupid in that hunters camo?

As a matter of fact, Kerry admitted several months ago that he should have defended himself more vigorously in 04.

I'm looking for a true winner before I make my decision. So far, Hillary has hit my marks several times, but I really wish we could have John Edwards. I think he would be a tough opponent, given his litigation career.

[IndianaGreen]

39. It was Hillary that drew first blood with her saying that Obama was reckless and naive

Voting for IWR was reckless. Believing Bush was naive. Hillary is a bundle of experience alright, the wrong ones!

[TeamJordan23]

42. Totally right. nm

[Tellurian]

64. Today a former UN Ambassador is saying Obama was wrong...

"Later Wednesday, the Clinton campaign issued a statement by former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who is supporting her candidacy, taking issue with Obama's comments and saying she would bring an end to "the cowboy approach of the Bush years."

"She has said she would initiate serious, responsible dialogue with nations with whom we don't agree in order to further the national security interest of the United States," Holbrooke said. "But she is right not to risk the prestige of the presidency by unconditionally committing to meet with leaders of adversarial nations."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070726/ap_on_el_pr/obama_clinton_8

Pop! Goes the Weasel!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

51. I want to see McCain, Romney and Guiliani. Those guys are nuts. Good TV.

MKJ

[draft_mario_cuomo]

55. Clinton camp brings out Richard Holbrooke, claims BO risks US's prestige

First Albright and now Holbrooke? How long before William Cohen joins the fray?

==** SECOND UPDATE *** The Clinton campaign has now released this statement from Richard Holbrooke, who served as UN ambassador in Bill Clinton's administration: "As she has said many times, Senator Clinton believes we need to engage in vigorous diplomacy after the cowboy approach of the Bush years. She has said she would initiate serious, responsible dialogue with nations with whom we don’t agree in order to further the national security interest of the United States. But she is right not to risk the prestige of the presidency by unconditionally committing to meet with leaders of adversarial nations."==

[rinsd]

58. "How long before William Cohen joins the fray?"...that made me chuckle (nt)

[Tellurian]

65. dmc...hadn't seen your post..

Like minds and all that!

[draft_mario_cuomo]

69. Hey, no problem! nt

[Imagevision]

68. Obama: we should not be afraid as America to meet with anybody, "The

notion that I was somehow going to be inviting them over for tea next week without having initial envoys meet is ridiculous" Why would anyone have a problem with this?? Lay your cards on the table and carry a big stick. (no problem!)

[Tellurian]

71. In the quote he called them "these folks"...

showing his misunderstanding of who we are dealing with. He diminishes people as a Nation when he relates to them this way. They don't live next door to us in a neighborhood development. They have specific culture not in tune with our own..

This is turning into a TRUST issue.I just don't TRUST Obama to do and say the right things...He is insulting without even being aware of himself.. He says he is the best candidate in Foreign Policy... So what are Biden, Dodd and Richardson? They can run rings around Obama's statement. Obama is going to have ALL the Democratic candidates mad at him for his egotistical statements. He's certainly opened a can of worms this time and the only one who will suffer is him!

[Cha]

70. Yay! Obama!

I love that he's saying this in clear terms.

[ronnykmarshall]

73. OH! MY! GOD!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjFxJVeCQs