Clinton Campaign Backpedals on Richardson Comments - - Word-Parsing Extraordinaire

[jefferson_dem]

Clinton Campaign Backpedals on Richardson Comments
Posted by Fernando Suarez| 20

(CBS)From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

BURBANK, CALIF. - In an exchange with reporters at a press conference earlier today, Hillary Clinton was asked about reports that while, she was seeking his endorsement, she told Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., that Barack Obama could not win the general election if he were the nominee. Clinton responded, “You know we have been going back and forth in this campaign about who said what to whom and let me say this about that. I don’t talk about private conversations. But I have consistently made the case that I can win because I believe I can win. You know, sometimes people draw the conclusions that I’m saying somebody else can’t win. I can win, I know I can win. That’s why I do this everyday. I’m in it to win it.”

The reporter pressed Clinton saying, “Is that a no?” To which Clinton responded, “That’s a no.”

But later, a senior Clinton spokesman told reporters that Clinton did not mean to imply that she was not referring to what she allegedly said to Richardson about Obama. Instead, the campaign explains that Clinton took the follow up question to mean that she “does not talk about private conversations."

Reporters pressed the aide about Clinton’s answer to which the aide maintained that Clinton’s “that’s a no” answer was aimed at the fact that Clinton does not discuss private conversations.

The campaign’s move leaves open the possibility that Clinton may have been worried that Richardson, who eventually endorsed Obama, would have come out and challenged Clinton’s denial.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/03/politics/fromtheroad/entry3993075.shtml

VIDEO - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zgxJE895uM

[C_U_L8R]

1. "let me say this about that"

Who is this ...Hillary Gump ?

[Whisp]

2. her concession speech: I lost because of this, that and the other things. nt

[SwampG8r]

24. nixonian

absolutely nixonian

[earthlover]

3. I am so sick of the double talk of the Clinton campaign. What is it you have to say, girl?

Just say it already!

[jgraz]

10. They'd have to dial it back for it to be double-talk. We're looking at quintuple-talk here.

[DJ13]

4. Clinton did not mean to imply that she was not referring to what she allegedly said

:rofl:

[Umbram]

5. I think I'm going to have to draw a diagram to understand her point. (nt)

[Duke Newcombe]

12. And a Gantt chart, and a Venn diagram...

...just to keep it straight. :)

Duke

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

6. FFS. Why can't she just give a straight answer for once?

I can't even imagine what her presidency would be like. Never-ending spin, lies, and obfuscation.

[housewolf]

7. So it's okay for Bill to talk about it but she won't?

Is that what she's saying?

[Cha]

8. How much fucking back peddling is that little

bush wannabe gonna do?

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. She may be parsing, because Gov. Richardson might have the

conversation on tape, which would be very damning if she's caught in yet another lie. We have two serial liars, both of whom are on record as lying, up against a man whom America has no reason to believe is lying about this episode.

It goes to the very core of the issue of "credibility". And in poll after poll, Hillary has a big problem in the "honesty" department. If it's all the same, I'm gonna go with Bill Richardson on this one.

[Forkboy]

11. The Clintons, and some of her supporters, have been extra ugly on this one.

And now those same supporters are trashing Jimmy Carter of all people. That's just fucked up.

[roseBudd]

13. I guess it depends on the meaning of "told"

[msedano]

14. "let me say this about that" was Nixon's favorite

way to temporize while he came up with a thought. i shuddered when i read that expression coming out of mrs. clinton's lips. awful flashback to watergate, the hearings, the impeachment, the missing 18 1/2 minutes, the tapes, the lies, the lies, the lies. the abdication and ford's pardon.

what awful company clinton has aligned herself with. richard nixon.

shudder.

[LiberalAndProud]

16. Nostalgia.

I didn't pick up on Clinton's phraseology until you pointed it out, but I can almost hear Nixon saying it back in the day. I was a youngster back then. I giggle to remember, "Let me say this about that." And then he almost never said anything of importance after it. (No aspersion intended toward Clinton.)

[kevinmc]

15. I used to think she was just a liar ... now I am leaning to delusional schizophrenic... n/t

Paid for by

[shugah]

17. reasonable

i can see how "that's a no" could be in answer to a variety of implied or not exactly asked questions.

i'm not going to fault hillary for this one.

[pompano]

18. The sad part is....

most people just want to hear the truth. None of us think we are perfect. We all have slip of the tongues. People don't like to be bald-faced lied to. Most forget and move on if an apology is sincere.

When a person lies and then tells another lie to cover the original lie or parces words to excuse the lie or pushes blame for the lie around... people by nature feel like they were just shown an incredible lack of respect for them. To alot of people a pathological liar is a person you try to avoid at all costs, certainly not vote for to represent your country on a world stage.

[Catherina]

19. Backpedaling is a trait world leaders won't deal well with

no matter how happy an HRC presidency would temporarily make her supporters.

[bowens43]

20. HIllary is an accomplished liar.

[cboy4]

21. Poor Bill Richardson.

I can't imagine the guilt he's dealing with right now -- having turned his back on the people he owes his entire career. :(

[bklyncowgirl]

22. So did the Clintons elect him to th House of Representatives?

Richardson was first elected to Congress in 1982.

[cboy4]

26. Is Richardson's Congressional experience what he went

on and on in the debates about?

Or did he almost completely talk about diplomacy? -- and how he's been here and there -- and met with this person and that person?

All because of Bill Clinton.

[patrick t. cakes]

28. ive had many jobs in my life.

i was hired because of my skill or training.
after ive moved on from a job ive
never felt indebted to the company i was employed with.
its a job. bills moved on to a bigger better job opportunity.

backstabber. lol.

pot, kettle?

[cboy4]

29. It's not the same thing because you've not worked the

once in a lifetime, high profile, high paying jobs Richardson did.

He competed against many others who were equally qualified, yet Bill Clinton selected him.

I'm not saying Richardson didn't deserve those positions and I feel he did a very good job.

But he owes the Clinton family more than any of us can possibly imagine.

With all due respect, there's no way you can compare your situation, just like I can't compare my situation.

Not sure what the pot kettle reference means.

[jefferson_dem]

23. Poor Hillary-supporting DUers.

I can't imagine the guilt they are dealing with right now -- having sacrificed all dignity at the shabby ClintonInc alter.

[cboy4]

25. What does this have to do with Bill Richardson being

a back stabber?

I don't know what Hillary-supporting DUers are dealing with right now considering I voted for Edwards in the California Primary.

[Perky]

27. Chill out people!!!!!!! Geesh

I support Obama and I no proboem with either her telling Richardaon in a private conversation that Obama can's win (It is not racist....it is salesmanship)...I have no problem with her effectively saying it is none of your business what I say in a private conversation,,,,,,What the hell is she going to say.... "Yeah I said it and I meant it"? or "No I never said that".... and set up a longer public feud with Richardson?

THERE IS NOTHING TO THIS CAN WE PLEASE GET BACK TO STUFF THAT MATTERS...LIKE BOSNIA??? :shrug: