Obama campaign rejects criticism not even aimed at him. Bill was going after rwers. MSM trickery?

[rinsd]

Former President Clinton strikes back over driver's license issue
By RYAN NAKASHIMA
Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton struck back Monday at Republican pundits for criticizing his wife for her stance on driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, comparing the attacks to the swiftboat ads that helped sink John Kerry's run at the White House.

"I had the feeling that at the end of that last debate we were about to get into cutesy land again," Clinton told some 3,000 members of the American Postal Worker's Union at a convention in Las Vegas.

<snip>

The former president warned the union members not to let Republican attacks distract them from the important issues of health care and education reform.

He compared the driver's license dustup to the swift boat ads that called Kerry's patriotism into question and TV spots suggesting former Sen. Max Cleland, a Democrat, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, was soft on rogue leaders such as Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. The campaign contributed to Cleland's defeat in 2002.

To which Obama responded:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/11/obama_rejects_bill_clintons_cr.php

I smell shenanigans by the press.

[Clintonista2]

1. Or incompetence of the Obama campaign

Wouldn't be a first.

[quinnox]

2. yes Obama was misinformed

I think the press told Obama the wrong thing about what Clinton said.

[rinsd]

4. That is my feeling as well.

[William769]

6. That seems to happen a lot.

[karynnj]

14. Or maybe he thought even the RW comments on HRC's debate answers

did not compare to what John Kerry and Max Cleland faced. Kerry had a 2 decade political record - that is not what they lied about. The nature of the lies went far beyond the worst they are saying about HRC.

[rinsd]

16. But you are viewing that thru the eyes of a die hard Kerry supporter.

Much as Bill is watching these attacks thru the perspective that they are on his wife.

[karynnj]

17. I admit that, but I am shocked that not one Clinton supporter that I have read a post from

has said that:
- No matter how unflattering or unkind the interpretation of HRC's comments, they are not equivalent to a campaign that included hours of free coverage of blatant lies, that were in variance with the official record and for which no proof was offered or requested.

Now, if 200 plus people claiming to be friends and neighbors of Vince Foster gained that kind of air play and offered what ever awful lies you could imagine - I would agree that she was swiftboated. What I am saying is that Bill Clinton is wrong here. They are attacking her words and policies - and can be addressed on that level. Does he expect that no one will question anything she says?

I take as much offense if not more that he throws in Cleland. Kerry is an extraordinarily strong man, who did fight back and who refused to let them define him. He has been able to continue working for things he believes in. Cleland, from a speech given at the Kennedy Center, preceding the premiere of a film on PTSD, spoke of being thrown into a severe bout of PTSD and getting the help he needed. Cleland is beyond amazing in having done what he did in the VA and then the Senate. That attack on him was unconscionable.

[JI7]

31. even as Kerry supporters we can see differences in swift boat attacks vs other attacks

there was a difference in attacking Kerry for things like "i voted for it before i voted against it", making fun of him for windsurfing etc, compared to the attacks on his service.

us Kerry supporters would even say the first two are not swiftboating. attacks on his service were.

[blm]

29. And was Hillary misinformed when she accepted Bush's lie about Kerry?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk1k0nUWEQg


Some dare call it Karma.

[DURHAM D]

3. I smell poor prepping of candidate - blame Obama's staff. n/t

[Cameron27]

5. It's going to be a rough few weeks before Iowa caucus

and Edwards, Obama, and Dodd are going to keep up their aggressive attack against Clinton. It's expected, but the very least they could do is get their facts straight.

/spelling

[jefferson_dem]

7. Ridiculous straw man.

Bill compared Hillary's treatment to Swift Boating. Obama criticized the analogy. He's right. It's simple, really. Unless...you agree with Bill.

[rinsd]

8. Obama likely criticized the analogy because he thought it was aimed at him.

I think a reporter gave him a half assed quote just to start shit.

[jefferson_dem]

10. Well...

We are talking about Nedra Pickler, you know. I'm not about to defend that (lack of) "integrity."

[rinsd]

12. I think the reporter said something like this.

"Bill Clinton today compared attacks on his wife's position of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants to the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry in 2004, how do you respond Senator?"

Fucking douchebag MSM.

[karynnj]

15. Bill Clinton was wrong to say this.

There will be criticism of HRC - She's running for President. This is not swiftboating.

[sandnsea]

25. It's NOT swift boating and that's all that matters n/t

[geek tragedy]

9. Which stance and which criticism are we talking about? n/t

Are we talking about the one where she says it makes a lot of sense, or the one where she says she's not going to endorse it, or the one where she tries to have it both three ways?

[Dawgs]

11. Bullshit. Bill was attacking anyone that criticized his wife.

Obama was right, again.

[rinsd]

13. So instead of nailing the press for starting shit, you play right into their hands?

C'mon Dawgs you're smarter than that.

[cuke]

18. You're generous

IMO, many of Obama's most ardent supporters don't care if they play into the right wings hand. As long as it seems to help Obama (or hurt Clinton) they will post anything, including Andrew Sullivan, Pat Buchanan, Ted Rall, *, Cheney, Rove, etc

[rinsd]

19. When the nomination is over, we will all have to coalesce around the nominee & work together.

Something to think about as you get to know your rivals here on DU.

[cuke]

20. Touche

point taken

[Colobo]

30. Obama will unite all of us, you will see.

[jefferson_dem]

22. Nonsense. To criticize Bill...

for linking Hillary's "treatment" to the deplorable Swift Boat Liars campaign against Kerry is not playing into anyone's hands. Seems Hillary apologists are now eager to extend the infamous "Vast Right Conspiracy" to include Democratic friends.

[sandnsea]

24. swift boating is a very specific charge

and means that the media carries the most slanderous LIES, specifically about military service. That's what Obama said and one more time YOU are the one distorting the situation to SMEAR another candidate. You Hillary supporters are vile vile creatures.

:puke:

[ClarkUSA]

21. Didn't both Edwards and Dodd also reject Bill Clinton's comments in press releases?

Bill Clinton's comments were subtle but methinks more men than Obama believes that they were aimed not solely
at Republican pundits.

[rinsd]

32. At the time of posting only Obama had said something.

But now the myth has grown its own legs.

[sandnsea]

23. The swift boat comment was way out of line

no matter who it was directed at. Knowing how absolutely WORTHLESS all the Clinton people were in 2004, it's even more outrageous.

I guess some people just like living in maggot piles.

[jenmito]

27. VERY true. Hillary's comments/evasion at the debate were criticized...

that's nothing like the swiftboat liars who accused Kerry of lying about his service, etc.

[jenmito]

26. Where do you see Bill saying "Republican attacks"? From your link:

"The former president encouraged an audience in Nevada Monday not to let "trivial matters" take away the election from the Democrats as they have in the past. He cited the television ads during the 2004 presidential campaign that questioned Kerry's patriotism and campaign commercials in 2002 suggesting that Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. was soft on terrorism."

He never said Republican attacks. By not letting "trivial matters" take away the election from the "Democrats" he most certainly meant from HILLARY since she's the one who bobbed and weaved and changed her answer.

[maximusveritas]

28. I think Bill was talking about Russert more than the Democratic candidates and Republican pundits

but even then, it's still a dumb comparison.
Russert may have been asking "gotcha" questions, but he was hardly swiftboating anyone. For Bill to compare that to the swiftboating really diminishes the severity of what happened to Kerry and Cleland. It was not about being "cutesy". It was about being contemptible.