Points for Dodd: Hillary's comments were "tasteless"

[BeyondGeography]

Of all the responses one could compose to counter Hillary Clinton's claim that she is the Democrat best positioned to deal with the political fallout of a hypothetical terrorist attack, Chris Dodd nailed it best:

“Frankly, I find it tasteless to discuss political implications when talking about a potential terrorist attack on the United States,” Dodd said.

Exactly. Exactly to the third power, actually. No one should even try to top this.

One need only to revisit the original quote to see why Dodd's response is the most proper:

“It’s a horrible prospect to ask yourself ‘What if? What if?’ But if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world. So I think I’m the best of the Democrats to deal with that as well.”

A terrorist attack will automatically kill innocent people, Hillary, not create political advantage. Isn't viewing a horrific event entirely through the prism of political gain exactly what we accuse Bush and the Republicans of doing?

This is life as political calculation. For all of his time inside the Beltway, Dodd still knows how to strike the proper note.

[ccpup]

1. I'll give you your point

but Hillary is talking about Political Reality and how the repugs would abuse a horrific situation like that and Dodd is lagging in the Polls and getting Press.

I suspect many here on DU are suspicious of the repugs, their constant Terror Alerts (well, before elections anyway), their abusing the public's trust by playing on their fears and how they'd declare Martial Law and suspend the Elections if it were to happen. And we have a top-tier candidate -- Hillary -- who is (obliquely) addressing that Political Reality.

If this had been said by someone like Kucinich -- and maybe it has --, we'd be openly questioning why he's not a front runner as he's speaking for us! And why aren't more DUers supporting him as he's speaking the Truth! But if Hillary says it, well, she gets a much different DU response.

[Benhurst]

3. Not only tasteless, but stupid. The Republicans have bragged for

years now that they are protecting us from terrorists -- yeah, sure, after allowing 9/11. After all these years of bullshit, if there is another terrorist attack, once again the blame rests at the Republicans feet.

If Hillary was talking about a "political reality," then shame on her and all our other "leaders" who have played along with Bush and allowed the fascists to frame the debate. Bush failed to protect us on 9/11 (just where was The World's Only Superpower's military on that tragic date?) and why haven't all our "leaders" been screaming bloody murder since?

[ccpup]

5. if our "leaders" screamed bloody murder

do you think the Media would report it?

[Benhurst]

6. Have they tried? Too many have gone along.

Has the Armed Services Committee had even the first hearing on the military's pathetic lack of response on 9/11? Department of Defense, indeed.

[ccpup]

7. yes, many have gone along

but there have been press conferences, speeches on the floor of the House and Senate, town halls where this was discussed, attempts to inject this conversation into round table and interviews and all of it ended up in the Media Echo Chamber.

[Benhurst]

9. I may have missed exceptions; but most of the good responses

have come from what in England would be called backbenchers. If the Speaker of the House, for example, were to interject such criticism into an interview, I don't think it could be suppressed. I agree, though, the thoroughly corrupt corporate media is a problem.

But what if such statements were made in the debates? There are many opportunities out there which are not being taken.

[ccpup]

14. "There are many opportunities out there which are not being taken"

I agree. And a "front runner" like Hillary actually saying what she said is interjecting -- in a kind of "said, but not said" way -- into both the debate and the public's mind the reality of the dirty tricks the repugs would use in the event of another terrorist attack.

[paulk]

16. sure the media would report it

they would say that the Democrats were trying to take political advantage of a terrorist attack...

[Inuca]

2. Agree

It was indeed tasteless. And much more.

[krispos42]

4. Considering that all the righties are saying how much we NEED another 9/11

This is not out of line.

Republicans have no qualms talking publically about the political advantages they believe they will get if another terrorist attack happens. None at all. "Oh, we need another 9/11 to remind people it's a dangerous world out there!" and all that happy horseshit.




And, no, I'm not a Hillary supporter.

[JTFrog]

8. It's almost like

she's giving them advice. Hey, if they plot another MIHOP attack they'll have the upper hand!

I still can't believe she said this.

[emilyg]

10. I'll tell you what's tasteless

514 days of Shrub

[JTFrog]

11. No argument there. n/t

[BeyondGeography]

13. Dear Hillary Supporter

I know your preferred candidate is in the lead and favored to win at this point in time. I am not one of those hold-your-nose types. If she's the nominee, as we get into the GE fray, she will have my enthusiastic support.

In the meantime, the incident in question is exactly why I do not support her for the nomination. She has high unfavorables, ratings which can be traced largely to the perception that she is cold and calculating, an image that she reinforces all too frequently with her statements. This should bother you.

[emilyg]

15. It doesn't bother me

I will gladly vote for any of our candidates. I keep seeing Bush&co. in my mind and feel very determined I want to erase that image.

[nevergiveup]

12. No matter how one

twists or spins or sugar coats her statement she is still obviously playing on the fear factor and I think it is terribly mistake which may come back to haunt her. If Obama or Edwards had said this I would be equally disillusioned.

[yardwork]

17. Nonsense. Hillary Clinton was brilliant to get out ahead of this.

Chris Dodd is being disingenuous.