ABC’s Political Radar blog, 1/21/2008:
Sen. Barack Obama says he’s ready to confront former President Bill Clinton, calling his advocacy on behalf of his wife’s presidential campaign, “troubling…”
“You know the former president, who I think all of us have a lot of regard for, has taken his advocacy on behalf of his wife to a level that I think is pretty troubling,” Obama said. “He continues to make statements that are not supported by the facts — whether it’s about my record of opposition to the war in Iraq or our approach to organizing in Las Vegas. This has become a habit, and one of the things that we’re gonna have to do is to directly confront Bill Clinton when he’s making statements that are not factually accurate.”
Fair enough. Once the spouse hits the campaign trail, they’re fair game, right? Just because Bill’s standing up for his wife doesn’t mean he should be above criticism.
But hold on a second. From today’s Vote2008 blog at ABC:
Sen. Barack Obama ripped into a Republican ad today that targets comments made by his wife, Michelle, and called the GOP tactic “low class” and “detestable…”
“The GOP, should I be the nominee, I think can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record,” Obama said. “I’ve been in public life for 20 years. I expect them to pore through everything that I’ve said, every utterance, every statement. And to paint it in the most undesirable light possible. That’s what they do.”
“But I do want to say this to the GOP. If they think that they’re going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful. Because that I find unacceptable,” he said.
Bill Clinton’s advocacy of his wife’s campaign: Troubling.
Michelle Obama’s advocacy of her husband’s campaign: Above reproach.
Obama’s supporters must be able to reconcile these two contradictory statements. Ready, set, spin!
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This guy lies more than Slick Willie does and that is saying something. His lack of understanding about foreign affairs, tax regulations, car manufacturing etc etc…is quite troubling. Amazing so many people fell for his hope and change shtick.
When he gets forced to start talking specifics (one hopes he will despite the compliant media) he will show he is utterly unready for head of his kids PTA let alone the nation.
But I guess I’m racist since I don’t like, trust, or believe in him.
Please keep talking Barack and Michelle! I love to your interesting take on America. A few topic suggestions:
1. White folks’ greed and how it runs a world in need…
2. Evil drug companies that save millions of lives and expect to make a profit! Heathens!
3. How we should emulate other Western powers
4. The need for unconditional surrender
Thanks!
Man if you thought you were gonna have trouble with the Paulbots, just wait ’til you question the Obamassiah.
Ah, hell, the Paulbots are nutty as turds at a peanut factory. Obamacons are like hippies. They make a lot of noise but aren’t able to either defend themselves in an argument or physically. They are like marshmallows. Is that racist?
Yeah in fact it is racist. What in the world do you have against marshmallows?
Left, right, male, female, no matter what the race, politicians cannot be trusted.
The thing is, Obama’s wife isn’t campaigning for her. Former President Clinton visited my college a few weeks ago and all he could seem to talk about was his wife. Is Obama’s wife hitting the campaign trail for him? I haven’t seen it happening.
The difference here is that Former President Clinton is using his muscle as a former successful president to spread lies about Obama. But then I don’t guess the Clinton’s have ever been the best at morals.
You’re kidding, right?
Good call, Simon!
Funny thing is, I find Michelle “troubling” and “unacceptable”, so I guess that makes it all fair…
the UN is set to investigate whether racism plays a role in the US presidential campaign. What will they find? This is going to be an absolutely hellish campaign. Everytime someone disagrees with Barak or Michelle they will be racist and worse than Hitler too.
Obama’s wife has most definitely been instrumental in his campaign and to say otherwise is pretty foolish.
don’t you know you can’t criticize the messiah, the annointed one, the savior? c’mon, why even pretend that this guy should be held to any kind of reasonable standards? who cares if he lies, is misinformed and harbors radical beliefs? he’s a liberal fascist and we should be honored to have him want to rule us!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WNGjawtP48
There you go Alex, two speeches by Michelle in support of Barack.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I’m called a racist all the time because I neither believe in nor support Obamassiah (oh how perfect is that play on names!?!) Actually they tell me I’m a self-loathing racist… WOW!!! While I thought I was utilizing the brain I was born with, and the common sense we all “suppose” to have, I was really in fact hating myself. Well wuddaya know!?!
LOL… I love indignant silly folk
I’m of two minds on this. While I agree it is rather silly to expect your wife not to be party to criticism if she’s stumping for you, while you criticise Clinton… I also think it’s a bit apples and oranges because “potential first lady” has nowhere near as much clout as “former president” in terms of shaping people’s opinions. Clinton got the electorate to vote him into office twice. He clearly has proven persuasive powers.
So I’m kind of on both sides. It’s not quite “fair” to compare the two spouses in terms of what weight their words on the candidacies have. But it’s also not fair to expect a wife to be off limits if she’s involving herself in the campaign. *shrug*
Besides Obama’s opinions, you mean.
andrea puts it well above:
“I’m of two minds on this. While I agree it is rather silly to expect your wife not to be party to criticism if she’s stumping for you, while you criticise Clinton… I also think it’s a bit apples and oranges because “potential first lady” has nowhere near as much clout as “former president” in terms of shaping people’s opinions. Clinton got the electorate to vote him into office twice. He clearly has proven persuasive powers.
“So I’m kind of on both sides. It’s not quite “fair” to compare the two spouses in terms of what weight their words on the candidacies have. But it’s also not fair to expect a wife to be off limits if she’s involving herself in the campaign. *shrug*”
but i also think it’s silly for the g.o.p. to be going after michelle obama, ’cause, frankly, who cares what she thinks? bill clinton’s opinions and such carry real weight.
Her husband. You know, the guy who’s running for president?
I wonder how much of this hands off stuff democrats are going to offer Cindy McCain. My guess is not much. If Obama wants his wife left out of it then fine. I don’t want to hear a word about John McCain’s wife then either.
simon says: “Her husband. You know, the guy who’s running for president?”
when i say “who cares what she thinks?” i am obviously referring to the general public, who mostly doesn’t care about her opinion, and that’s who the g.o.p. is banking on caring. that’s where their ad fails.
I’ll betcha the general public DOES care. Birds of a feather, and all that.
What are you basing this on?
If spouses expect to be out of the line of fire then they have to stay in the background and keep their yaps shut – if they campaign they are fair game.
It’s getting a little hot out there for the Obamas – they better get used to it.
This email was forwarded to me today. If even one quarter of these statements are accurate…we should all be afraid…!!!
OBAMA’S “Not Exactlys…”
Obama’s ‘Not Exactly’s’:
>
> 1.) Selma Got Me Born – NOT EXACTLY, your parents felt safe enough to have
> you in 1961 – Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965. (Google
> ‘Obama Selma’ for his full March 4, 2007 speech and articles about its
> various untruths).
> 2.) Father Was A Goat Herder – NOT EXACTLY, he was a privileged, well-
> educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.
> 3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter – NOT EXACTLY, he was part of one of
> the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had.
> 4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom – NOT EXACTLY, your cousin
> Raila Odinga, has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate
> election in 2007, in Kenya. It is the first widespread violence in decades.
> The current government is pro-American but Odinga wants to overthrow it and
> establish Muslim Sharia law. Your half-brother, Abongo Obama, is Odinga’s
> follower. You interrupted your New Hampshire campaigning to speak to Odinga on
> the phone. Check out the following link for verification of that..and for
> more. Obama’s cousin Odinga in Kenya ran for president and tried to get Sharia
> muslim law in place there. When Odinga lost the elections, his followers have
> burned Christians’ homes and then burned men, women and children alive in a
> Christian church where they took shelter. Obama SUPPORTED his cousin before
> the election process here started. Google Obama and Odinga and see what you
> get. No one wants to know the truth.
> 5.) My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian – NOT EXACTLY, she does her
> daily Salat prayers at 5:00 a.m. according to her own interviews. Not to mention,
> the fact that Christianity wouldn’t allow her to have been one of 14 wives to 1 man.
> 6.) My Name is African Swahili – NOT EXACTLY, your name is Arabic and
> ‘Baraka’ (from which Barack came) means ‘blessed’ in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so Obama Barack Hussein Obama is not half black. If elected,
> he would be the first Arab-American President, not the first black President.
> Barack Hussein Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother’s side and 43.75%
> Arabic and 6.25% African Negro from his father’s side. While Barack Hussein
> Obama’s father was from Kenya, his father’s family was mainly Arab. Barack
> Hussein Obama’s father was only 12.5% African Negro and 87.5% Arab (his father’s
> birth certificate even states he’s Arab, not African Negro). For more, go to:
>
> _http://www.arcadeathome.com/newsboy.phtml?Barack_Hussein_Obama_-_Arab-American,_only_6.25%_African_
> (http://www.arcadeathome.com/newsboy.phtml?Barack_Hussein_Obama_-_Arab-American,_only_6.25%_African)
>
> 7.) I Never Practiced Islam – NOT EXACTLY, you practiced it daily at school,
> where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years,
> until your wife made you change, so you could run for office. 4-3-08 Article:
> ‘Obama was ‘quite religious in islam.
> _http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=60559_ (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=60559)
>
8.) My School In Indonesia Was Christian – NOT EXACTLY, you were registered
> as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces
> (check your own book). February 28, 2008. & Kristoff from the New York Times a
> year ago: Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer,
> reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully
> uncalculated (it’ll give Alabama voters heart attacks) Mr. Obama described the
> call to prayer as ‘one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.’ This is
> just one example of what Pamela is talking about when she says ‘Obama’s
> narrative is being altered, enhanced and manipulated to whitewash troubling
> facts.’
> 9.) I Was Fluent In Indonesian – NOT EXACTLY, not one teacher says you
> could speak the language.
> 10.) Because I lived In Indonesia, I Have More Foreign Experience – NOT EXACTLY,
> you were there from the ages of 6 to 10 and couldn’t even speak the language.
> What you did learn was how to study the Koran and watch cartoons.
> 11.) I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs – NOT EXACTLY, except for Africa
> (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere
> else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies.
> 12.) I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion – NOT EXACTLY, you were
> quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no
> mention of struggle to identify – your classmates said you were just fine.
> 13.) An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office – NOT EXACTLY, Ebony has yet
> to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn’t, and never did,
> exist.
> 14.) A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life – NOT EXACTLY, Life
> has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn’t and never
> did, exist.
> 15.) I Won’t Run On A National Ticket In ‘08 – NOT EXACTLY, here you are,
> despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by
> then, and you are all about having experience first.
> 16.) Voting ‘Present’ is Common In Illinois Senate – NOT EXACTLY, they are
> common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.
> 17.) Oops, I Misvoted – NOT EXACTLY, only when caught by church groups and
> Democrats, did you beg to change your misvote.
> 18.) I Was A Professor Of Law – NOT EXACTLY, you were a senior lecturer ON
> LEAVE.
> 19.) I Was A Constitutional Lawyer – NOT EXACTLY, you were a senior lecturer
> ON LEAVE.
> 20.) Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill – NOT EXACTLY, you didn’t
> write it, introduce it, change it, or create it.
> 21.) The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass – NOT EXACTLY, it took just 14 days
> from start to finish.
> 22.) I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill – NOT EXACTLY, your bill was rejected by
> your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation – mainly because
> of your Nuclear donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.
> 23.) I Have Released My State Records – NOT EXACTLY, as of March, 2008,
> state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the
> special interests (pork) hidden within.
> 24.) I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess – NOT EXACTLY, you were
> part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens. You failed to
> mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.
> 25.) My Economics Bill Will Help America – NOT EXACTLY, your 111 economic
> policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0 and even YOU voted
> against your own bill.
> 26.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois – NOT EXACTLY, even your own
> supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.
> 27.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year – NOT EXACTLY, they were not
> YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow
> Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.
> 28.) No One on my campaign contacted Canada about NAFTA – NOT EXACTLY, the
> Canadian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your
> campaign had with them.
> 29.) I Am Tough On Terrorism – NOT EXACTLY, you missed the Iran Resolution
> vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction
> off Israel.
> 30.) I Want All Votes To Count – NOT EXACTLY, you said: “let the delegates
> decide.”
> 31.) I Want Americans To Decide – NOT EXACTLY, you prefer caucuses that
> limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote and only operate during
> small windows of time.
> 32.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate – NOT EXACTLY, you passed 26,
> most of which you didn’t write yourself.
> 33.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics – NOT EXACTLY, you used tactics to
> eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you.
> 34.) I Don’t Take PAC! Money – NOT EXACTLY, you take loads of it.
> 35.) I don’t Have Lobbyists – NOT EXACTLY, you have over 47 lobbyists, and
> counting.
> 36.) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad – NOT EXACTLY, your own
> campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.
> 37.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq – NOT EXACTLY, you weren’t in office to
> vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time.
>38.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care – NOT EXACTLY, your plan
> leaves us all to pay for the 15,000,000 who don’t have to buy it.
>
> ‘Qui non intelligit aut discat aut taceat’ Who does not understand
> should either learn, or be silent…
So Dee…. Are you voting for Obama, or not?
I am not voting for Obama this fall, but I don’t know that I’d call this an outright hypocrisy…
I think that Obama views his Mrs. Obama as someone in a category with Mrs. McCain – a civilian, a political non-combatant, whereas Bill Clinton is a former U.S. President, and has been a prominent political figure for over a decade, and is as such fair game.
I can say that for me, personally, I do not view Michelle Obama as any sort of authority on anything about this campaign. When she opens her mouth, I see her as a zealous cheerleader of sorts, but not a political leader. When Bill Clinton speaks, I am listening to a former President, and an experienced political combatant, and expect him to know what he’s talking about.
Despite that I do not think Barack is overtly hypocritical or deceitful on this particular stance, I do believe his wife should be held accountable for the words she uses when she’s campaigning for him, just as Mrs. McCain should be held accountable for the material and financial aid she is providing to the McCain camp.