Clinton’s new 'friends' from Whitewater now pushing Obama smears

[democracy1st]

Clinton’s new 'friends' from Whitewater now pushing Obama smears
The Jed Report www.jedreport.com

Now, one decade after Scaife’s operation nearly removed her husband from office, Hillary Clinton has reached a rapprochement with the reclusive owner of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Last weekend Hillary Clinton accepted Scaife’s endorsement in the Pennsylvania primary, offered in the pages of the Tribune-Review. She had pursued the endorsement since last month, earning it after sitting down with Scaife and publicly attacking Barack Obama for attending Trinity United Church of Christ.

One day after Scaife’s endorsement, Newsmax, a Scaife-owned media outlet, began pushing a new negative smear campaign against Obama, attempting to portray him as “weak” on the war on terror because he opposes the death penalty.

At the center of the smear campaign is a television ad produced by an anti-Obama 527PAC called “The National Campaign Fund.” (Although the ad is sinister in tone, it is so over-the-top that it’s actually somewhat humorous.)

The National Campaign Fund is headed by Floyd Brown, infamous for creating the 1988 “Willie Horton” spot that helped defeat Michael Dukakis. In 2004, Floyd Brown was a key player in the right-wing assault on John Kerry.

In the 1990s, Brown was also a key player in the right-wing campaign to destroy the Clinton presidency. According to Joe Conason, Brown and his sidekick David Bossie “served as publicity agents for David Hale, the crooked and discredited former Little Rock municipal judge whose allegations against the Clintons forced the appointment of an independent counsel.” Hale was one of the most important early figures in “The Arkansas Project,” the Scaife-funded effort to destroy Bill Clinton documented in the 2004 movie “The Hunting of the President.”

Brown, who wrote “Slick Willie” in 1992, played an important role in shaping the media coverage of the Whitewater investigation throughout the 1990s, operating out of an organization called “Citizens United.”

Newsmax, which is now hosting and promoting Brown’s new television ad on its YouTube channel (it has already received over 50,000 views), was founded by Christopher Ruddy, formerly one of Richard Mellon Scaife’s top “reporters.” Ruddy spent much of the 1990s trying to prove outlandish conspiracy theories linking the Clintons to Vince Foster’s suicide and Ron Brown’s tragic death in a plane crash.

Scaife, one of Ruddy’s primary investors, owns the third-largest share of Newsmax.

Despite Clinton’s public embrace of Richard Mellon Scaife and her acceptance of his endorsement, Newsmax continues to pump out right-wing propaganda aimed at discrediting Democrats, including Barack Obama.

In addition to pushing the new smear campaign, Newsmax last month published a false story claiming that Barack Obama had been at church during one of the Wright sermons broadcast on YouTube. After New York Times columnist William Kristol repeated the false claim in his column, he was forced retract his claim and apologize. Despite clear video evidence disproving their claim, Newsmax merely issued an ambiguous “clarification.”

::

On Monday, Keith Olbermann asked Clinton why she had accepted Richard Mellon Scaife’s endorsement given his history of opposing the Clintons and the Democratic Party.


Clinton’s answer offered quite a glimpse at her loyalty to the Democratic Party, focusing completely on Scaife’s support for her and completely ignoring the ongoing negative impact that Scaife has had on the party. “I do believe in redemption, Keith. I believe in death bed conversions and I think it's possible for anyone to see the error of their ways. So I'm bringing people together as we speak. Anyone who doubts my ability to bridge the most incredible chasms can point to those recent events.”

It’s obvious that Scaife is using Hillary Clinton as a pawn with which to attack his real target: Barack Obama, who will almost certainly be the Democratic nominee in 2008. Apparently, Clinton doesn’t care. As long as Scaife isn’t after her, it’s not her problem.

That may be true, but Scaife is a problem for Democrats, though. Even though Clinton is so desperate for support that she doesn’t care where her friends come from, as Democrats, it is our responsibility to care.

Clinton’s ongoing embrace of right-wing thugs like like Scaife and her rejection of progressive stalwarts like MoveOn.org threaten to undermine our party’s bid for the presidency.

It’s time we step up and demand that Clinton both denounce and reject Richard Mellon Scaife and his endorsement.

We simply cannot afford his poison in our party.

For video
http://www.jedreport.com/2008/04/clinton-pursued.html

[Avalux]

1. Question for Hillary: Who will Scaife support in a GE? Her?

That's what I don't get about all of this. Do the Clintons think for a minute that if she becomes the nominee, their alliances with former enemies will remain? They'll turn on her in a heartbeat.

[karynnj]

2. I would bet that at this point, all she cares about is getting the nomination

like Scarlett, she will think of the general election in some future tomorrow. Fortunately by not winning a blow out in PA, her chances are gone with the wind.

[irish.lambchop]

3. I do believe Ms. Clinton believes in 'redemption',

as long as she's the one who doesn't have to redeem herself. Her silence on the ads to be aired in NC by republicans against Obama speaks volumes - disgraceful.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Empty people who are made for each other

[1776Forever]

5. Why should this surprise anyone that knows the REAL Hillary? Rupert Murdoch Loves Hillary Clinton

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/09/politics/main1600694.shtml

Rupert Murdoch Loves Hillary Clinton
Conservative Media Mogul To Host Fundraiser For Liberal N.Y. Senator

NEW YORK, May 9, 2006

(snip)

The Financial Times quoted one unnamed source as describing the Clinton-Murdoch connection in this way: "They have a respectful and cordial relationship. He has respect for the work she has done on behalf of New York. I wouldn't say it was illustrative of a close ongoing relationship. It is not like they are dining out together."

The fundraiser will take place in July, the newspaper said. Clinton is the frontrunner for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, though she has not indicated whether or not she will run.

Clinton has worked hard to take the edge off her reputation as a card-carrying liberal. She has has collaborated with congressional conservatives on some peices of legislation, called for a "common ground" on abortion and cut a political figure some on the left see as decidedly un-liberal.

Clinton, who made her debut in the Senate Armed Services Committee four years ago, has never voted against any major Iraq military spending legislation. She has also taken two high-profile trips to Iraq – journeys that may have helped to strengthen the credentials of a senator with no military background or experience.

Clinton, who says she’s "always been a praying person," has moved into the territory John Edwards had hoped to claim as the moderate Democrat who cares about the average American.

..................

Right an 'average' American who belongs to the Bilderberg's and has 'friends' like Murdoch and Richard Mellon Scaife!!!!


Yeah go Hillary Go! Take all the spoils with you and let your supporters eat cake!!!!!!!!

[1trackmindGOP]

14. Thanks..I was aware of this

I have done my homework and realize that the Clinton's are heavily supported by special interest and the Powers that be. This has always existed but never before have they been so bold and greedy to exact these kind of conditions on our country and the world...we must stand up and stop their glutenous and endless lust of money and power...pure and absolute greed that can't be quenched.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

6. This is telling of who she really is

She seems to care little for the party and only cares for herself. She will take support from anyone, and has petulant tantrums when she doesn't get her way ("enough with the big rallies, and the speeches!"). All is good in Hillaryland when she's got the backing of someone who will help her do a Tanya Harding on Obama. She has no scruples.

[NJmaverick]

7. I suspect that Hillary would sell her soul to the devil

If she thought it would get her what she wants. Her obsession and lack of moral principles makes her ill suited for the White House (look what happened when the similarly ethically challenged georgie boy ran).

[Liberal Dose]

8. Hillary only cares about "right now" and, herself right now. Probably figures she can be McCain's

running mate. :D

[WillyToad]

9. Obama supporters will fall for anything

This is the most shallow bit of reverse psychology Ive ever seen, and Obama supporters fall for it hook line and sinker, amazing

[blogslut]

10. Doesn't it bother you that the McCain campaign has condemned this ad

Yet the Clinton campaign hasn't uttered a peep about it?

link: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2330234120080423

[Sinistrous]

11. I see you are (mis)using big words in an attempt to sound erudite.

"reverse psychology". What a joke. Suggest you at least look up words before you use them so you don't look like such an ass.

[bigtree]

12. exactly. Now we're taking republicans at their word?

anything to provide a rationale for attacking Clinton.

[Sinistrous]

13. Yeah. Imagine actually believing that Scaife endorsed Clinton.

[bigtree]

17. as if that means something

Obviously you're impressed by it

[Sinistrous]

18. Not suprised you missed my inference.

One would have to be literate to get it.

[newmajority]

15. Winning the election isn't a priority for the DLC

Whether it's Hillary or McCain, the corporatist, warmonger, neocon status quo continues, and real Democrats are shut out. THAT is the one and only objective of the Hillary campaign, to maintain the neocon stranglehold.

[democracy1st]

16. bingo

thank you