War of words over Iraq between Edwards and Clinton intensifies

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: August 22, 2007
Edwards to Clinton: 'No more personal attacks'

(CNN)–The war of words over Iraq between the campaigns of Democratic White House hopefuls Senator Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards, intensified on Wednesday.

"The issue of Iraq is one of the most important issues facing the country and the Clinton campaign knows that," said Chris Kofinis, communications director for Edwards. "The attempt to belittle these serious concerns by suggesting that this is about poll numbers is insulting to the American people and the brave men and women who are waiting for a leader to come up with a real solution to end this war," Kofinis said on Wednesday.

"Senator Edwards has a specific plan that will end this war, but after yesterday's speech, voters have a right to be confused about what Senator Clinton's plan for Iraq is," Kofinis went on to say. "Does Senator Clinton support George Bush's surge or not? Does Senator Clinton have a specific timetable for withdrawing troops or not? Does Senator Clinton have a specific plan for ending the war in Iraq or not? The American people deserve specific answers, not more rhetoric, and surely not more personal Washington-style attacks."

Clinton is taking heat from some of her Democratic rivals over her recent comments suggesting the president's surge policy in Iraq is "working." The remarks came during an address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention Monday, in which the New York Democrat said the president's Iraq policy was leading to success in "some areas."

After David Bonior, campaign manager for the Edwards campaign, called Clinton's comments "another instance of a Washington politician trying to have it both ways," Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communication director charged that Bonior was distorting Clinton's position. "Senator Edwards was right on Sunday when he said that all the Democrats would end the war and that the differences between them were small," he said. "He is wrong today to distort Senator Clinton's opposition to the surge in a sad attempt to raise his flagging poll numbers."...

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/22/edwards-to-clintonno-more-personal-attacks/