Puzzled
Barack Obama vigorously defended two mailers his campaign dropped in Ohio that led rival Hillary Clinton to say today he should be ashamed of himself.
Noting that the mailers -- one on NAFTA and the other on health care -- had been out for weeks, Obama suggested during a press availability in Columbus that Clinton's fiery remarks smacked of political gamesmanship.
"I am puzzled by the sudden change in tone unless these were just brought to her attention it makes me think that there's something tactical about her getting so exercised this morning," he told reporters.
He added: "And unlike some of the attacks that have been leveled about me that have been debunked by news organizations, these are accurate. Sen. Clinton as part of the Clinton administration supported NAFTTA. In her book she called it one of the administration's successes. And we point that out in a state that has been devastated by trade and has been deeply concerned about the position of candidates on trade."
When questioned why the NAFTA mailer inaccurately indicates that Clinton said the agreement was a "boon" to the economy, a comment that was later corrected by a local paper, Obama said: "Well that's fair enough. It is true that the mailer went out before the newspaper made the correction, right? That's my understanding, and I will need to check with staff on that. The characterization that she supports NAFTA I think is indisputable."
Obama was also pressed on his healthcare mailer, which when it appeared weeks earlier had been compared to the Harry and Louise ads that scuttled Clinton's attempt to pass universal healthcare in 1993. He said nothing was "factually inaccurate" about the mailer.
"I have seen the mailer, and I completely dispute that characterization," Obama said. "There are many people who support Sen. Clinton who support healthcare mandates, who didn't like the characterization of it, but there wasn't anything inaccurate in what was said."
(NBC/NJ's ASWINI ANBURAJAN)
So her anger is simply about the fact that she didn't technically use the word "boon" to describe NAFTA, even though she was for NAFTA, and described it in her book as a success. How ridiculous! And strategically inept as well, because this outburst is only going to draw more attention to her longstanding support for NAFTA. You know what "BOON" really is? It's the sound her campaign is making, as it explodes and falls apart around her.
As if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.
That is hysterical. As for NAFTA, her point was that she didn’t say what the flyer alleges: That it was wrong and the paper who published it retracted it. That she and the paper have asked for that to be acknowledged and it was not.
So basically, Obama is lying about what she said and using a paper that made a mistake as cover for the lie.
I’ll just point out to Obama that Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton are actually two different people, and that one of the roles of First Lady is to agree with the President in public regardless of her private opinions.
And someone needs to ask Obama about his vote on the Peru trade agreement (not that I can count on anyone here to do that). Did it keep jobs here? Help anyone here except for the rich and corporations? Why did Obama vote for it?
Corinne, get a grip! If Senator Clinton's going to keep claiming all the policy successes of the Clinton Administration, then she should expect to get knocked about on the policy failures of that Administration. HRC can't have it both ways.
I'm glad you Hillary fans realize that her role as First Lady was just a glorified 50s housewife position; perhaps now you'll encourage your candidate to subtract the 8 years of "experience" she keeps claiming because of her First Lady "role" (which, as you say, required her to meekly "agree with the President in public regardless of her private opinions").
What a super feminist example, by the way!! Standing by her man, whether he was screwing interns OR American workers!! Gotta love it. Like America needs more of that craziness....