Obama: When Good Put-Downs Go Bad

[Alamom]

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2007/11/27/obama-when-good-put-downs-go-bad/


Obama: When Good Put-Downs Go Bad
By Denise Williams
Nov 27th 2007


The sniping between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton heats up with snarky, sarcastic rhetoric thrown back and forth much to the delight of us here at Political Machine and the bored-out-of-their-minds pundit class.



Obama, in responding to Clinton camp claims that Hillary was the foreign affairs face of her husband's administration, dropped this bomb:


If she wants to tout her experience of having visited countries, that's fine, but, I don't think that Madeleine Albright would think Hillary Clinton was the face of foreign policy during the Clinton Administration. But maybe she'll disagree with that.



Whoops! Perhaps Barack forgot that Albright is working for Clinton as a foreign policy adviser, has been very close to the Clintons and has expressed her support of Hillary long before today. Or perhaps he should just be quiet if he can't speak unscripted.



Albright's people released this response today:



Hillary Clinton represented American interests and values during her visits to more than 80 countries and her meetings with presidents, prime ministers and leaders of civil society. She has been a dynamic representative even standing up to China by pointing out that women's rights are human rights. Her seven years as a U.S. Senator, including her service on the Armed Services Committee, has further deepened her experience as a dynamic and effective leader for our country. She will be ready from the very first day to lead our nation in a dangerous and complicated world, which is why I am supporting her candidacy.



Perhaps the headline "Madame Senator, I know Madeleine Albright and you are no Madeleine Albright!" flashed through his brain before that number came out of his mouth. But now the headline is more likely to read "Duh!"

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. I was wondering when Madeleine would respond.

[sandnsea]

2. And no matter what Madeleine Albright says

everybody knows Hillary Clinton was not the face of US foreign policy around the world, any more than Laura Bush is.

[Fredda Weinberg]

5. Except that some of us remember she was sent as good will ambassador

Remember, "It takes a village"? Unlike the current holder of the honor, HRC took her responsibilities seriously and has personal relationships upon which to base her administration.

[sandnsea]

8. But not the face of foreign policy

Someone as smart as you surely gets the difference.

[Fredda Weinberg]

18. I do. Parse the words and HRC is technically correct. And yes, I

understand how annoying it can be.

The phrase conveys her formal as well as personal experience. If HRC hadn't made the effort while Bill was in office, your criticism would be justified, but in her case, history records her global efforts. I was proud when she represented us and relieved that AKA Pickles didn't do worse than ignore criticism when she donned a headscarf.

Perhaps you disagree w/my assessment, but you cannot claim that HRC lacks diplomatic experience. She did her job well and that's more than enough to add to her already considerable qualifications. Remember, I see her as indispensable to Bill's success, so for me, this is only an extension of what was, for me at least, a decent administration.

As long as we disagree agreeably, whoever is the prevailing candidate will have a chance to improve our situation. I'm glad to share the experience with you - win or lose.

[cuke]

21. Thank you

I noticed sandnsea gave up once your reasonableness became too apparent

[AtomicKitten]

7. that is correct

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. Yes and No

An equation with Laura Bush is where it starts to fall apart. If Obama had left it at pointing out that some might argue instead that Albright was the face of America's foreign policy, he would have deftly scored a couple of points against Hillary for her over reaching in a potentially unseemly way. Instead he over reached and indirectly equated his wife's experience with Hillary Clinton's, and that opened him up to attacks that he is over reaching in his own dismissal of her relevent political experience.

Technically you are right that Hillary was no more "the face" of U.S. foreign policy then than Laura is now, but aa soon as one invites a detailed comparison of the degree of involvement Hillary Clinton had in hands on policy and diplomacy, with that of more typical political spouses, it strengthens Hillary's hand. If not "the face", a case can be made that Hillary was at least "an important face" in American foreign policy, and that is the door that Obama opened and allowed Albright to stroll on through with her comments here.

[Cameron27]

3. I love the pic in your sig line!

:loveya:

(I'm gonna steal it!)

I don't know why Obama specifically mentioned her name, he should have known that she was going to respond.

[Alamom]

4. Thank you and you're welcome to use it, too. nm

[CyberPieHole]

17. Obama is too foolish to know when to stop...

His inexperience shows at times like that. I am glad he got smacked down.

[polichick]

6. A.B. Stoddard (on msnbc tonite) said Obama can be a "bozo" when it comes to this stuff. nt

[sandnsea]

9. He apparently understands American "bozos"

Because every time he makes one of these "mistakes", the pundits end up being wrong as Obama's numbers rise.

[polichick]

10. Could be...

I thought it was a funny expression for her to use ~ hadn't heard it in ages.

[Cameron27]

11. She's funny,

so is the other Hillary on his show. They're the only saving grace on Tucker's otherwise pathetic show.

[polichick]

12. You're right - they are the only saving grace on that show! nt

[awoke_in_2003]

13. Being a bozo never stopped anyone

from being elected president :)

[polichick]

14. Lol - heck, in this country even a complete nitwit can be prez! nt

[calteacherguy]

15. Doesn't carry much crediblity since Albright has endorsed Clinton.

Naturally she will exagerrate and put a positive spin on things.

This is a non-story. I agree with Obama. Hillary has no claim to any special kind of "experience" needed in the Oval Office.

[durrrty libby]

19. Obama ended up looking foolish

[cuke]

20. Not foolish - stupid