"I for one do not believe that imitating Ken Starr is the way to win the Democratic primary"

[bigtree]

from HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/06/clinton-aides-compare-oba_n_90220.html

Clinton Aides Compare Obama To Ken Starr

March 6, 2008 11:10 AM

Aides to Sen. Hillary Clinton accused Sen. Barack Obama of adopting Republican talking points and acting like Ken Starr for launching a more aggressive campaign following his losses in Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island on Tuesday.

Citing few specific instances in which Obama had averted to GOP form, Howard Wolfson, Clinton's chief spokesperson, nevertheless denounced the Illinois Senator's new rhetoric, such as pressing for Clinton to release her tax returns.

"I for one do not believe that imitating Ken Starr is the way to win the Democratic primary," he said, referencing the Clinton-era special prosecutor who is despised by Democrats.


Obama Aides Signal More Aggressive Attack Against Clinton

"If she wants to make issues like ethics and disclosure and law firms and real estate deals and all that stuff issues, as I've said before I don't know whey they'd want to go there, but I guess that's where they'll take the race,'' David Axelrod said.

In a conference call with reporters, Axelrod stepped up calls for Clinton to release her 2006 tax returns, and said the campaign would continue to pressure her to be more transparent.

"The vetting of Hillary Clinton has yet to start,'' Axelrod said.

[Kittycat]

1. If she can see that Obama is vetted, why can't we see that she is vetted?

No more smoke and mirrors. I'm sick of her sleazy repuke campaign, the spin is just nauseating.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Please Attack Her

The Clintons' are like bees...They are at their strongest when you attack them...See impeachment...

I think her alleged lesbian affair with Huma Abedin will get Team Obama some traction:




I really don't... I think it will help her with 18-30 year old males and she can ride it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue...

[Kittycat]

17. You posted this same exact thing, including some supposed lesbian affair?!?!

What the hell are you talking about? Did you get that off of a RW website? I don't follow tabloids, I'm only interested in the truth of things, and I've been asking about her tax returns for Months now. I have legitimate concerns, that as a democrat - deserve answers.

And she isn't being "attacked" she's being vetted, big difference. National concerns could be raised about her loyalties and financial dealings. Particularly since they involve her husband and foreigners.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. Attack, Vet, Investigate, Peruse, Inquire, Examine

People don't give a hoot...

For every person that cared about the Clinton controversies there are three who remember eight years of peace and prosperity...

[angie_love]

55. erm then why is it that so many, excluding democrats, despise the clintons?

I keep hearing over and over how they are despised from various ppl I know. I mean theres a reason for that.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

64. You Only Need A Plurality Or Majority To Win A Election

Hence, my for every person that hates the Clintons there are two people who remember how much better life for them and their neighbors were...

[Kittycat]

69. But, but but... I thought she was vetted?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

74. You Wanted To Vet Her Some More

Vet away...

Give her the political equivalent of a colonoscopy...

[Kittycat]

107. She hasn't been fully vetted at all.

[Wayjose]

58. The kitchen sink is boomeranging towards Hillary

and if she is in bed with McCain why not get RW talking points to attack Hillary including her "lesbian affair" with that beautiful 31 year old Muslim girl...
And remember Hillary kissing Arafat's wife during her trip to Palestine?
No Hillary, you are about to get mud in your face.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

115. Fantastic

Suggesting she's having a lesbian affair with a hottie like Huma Abedin will only help her with the eighteen-thirty male vote...It makes her seem "hot":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd9VwVPEhnQ

And she kissed Suha Arafat...

Now , if we can find a picture of her kissing Jenna Jameson who has endorsed her we will have the trifecta


http://www.tv.com/jenna-jameson/person/285965/photos.html


Yee Haw

[elixir]

52. "Smoke and mirrors", "repuke" Boy, you must be nervous. I would worry more about Obama's

inability to fight back. It's customary to release tax returns after 4/15, why doesn't Obama release all the information about Rezko, many questions have gone unanswered.

[Kittycat]

70. He's doing just a fine job, standing up to an unworthy dem like HRC.

DINO Hill. She should be using her energies to attack McCain, instead - she's elevating McCain, and everyone sees that.

[Tactical Progressive]

93. Hillary attacked Publicans throughout the campaign

while the media attacked her remorselessly and without ethics, and Obama and Edwards attacked her continually, though relatively reasonably.

Everybody remembers the debates. The media was on her like the stink that they are, and she turned things back to Dems versus Publicans every chance she got. It was impressive and noteworthy, and helped all of us, including her fellow Dem competitors.

The only problem was, while the media smeared Hillary up and down day and night, helping Obama smear Hillary any way they could, even to the point of putting Barack's craven, despicable racism on the Clinton's shoulders, they coddled and promoted Obama as the next coming. The results of that pathology weren't hard to predict.

Being the good girl, playing fair, doing the right thing - was a ticket for Hillary to lose against a smear-merchant like Obama and his smirking, Clinton-hating media promoters. ALOT of people from every corner have noticed it.

Now, it' a different story. She's hitting back, and the Clinton-haters are incensed. Like all bullies they are entitled to savage anyone they want without resistance. Too bad, because we're just getting started.


And btw, I've never in my life following politics seen a more "unworthy" Democrat, in every way, than Barack Obama.

[indimuse]

99. touche'

100% agreed!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. Since Clinton has decided to act like Karl Rove, I would welcome Obama acting like Ken Starr.

Let the investigations begin.

[bigtree]

7. that's a weird welcome, since Rove and Starr are members of the same pug club

. . . which has worked to defeat Democrats and the Democratic agenda for decades.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

24. I see that you're not denying she's acting like Rove.

Good. Admitting it is the first step.

[bigtree]

37. such hate

such presumption

[mrreowwr_kittty]

38. Yes, you are hateful and presumptious.

Good to see that you're coming to grips with it. :thumbsup:

[bigtree]

41. oh, I don't hate Mr. Obama

not at all. Grip that.

[elixir]

61. Bigtree, you kill me. Ha, ha, ha.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

76. You just play a hater on DU. nt

[bigtree]

82. now you've gone and hurt my feelings

shame on you

[mrreowwr_kittty]

86. Aw. Don't hate the player, bigtree. Hate the game. nt

[rodeodance]

22. since the premise of your argument is wrong. your claim is wrong.

[bigtree]

116. rove was a behind the scenes operator

this is a direct confrontation about Obama's tactics.

(this really got under folks' skin)

[peoli]

3. Its like she does something and accuses Obama of doing it. Reverse Psychology - Fuck Off Hillary!

[bigtree]

35. acK! Politics!

In a POlitical campaign! Oh, my.

[dkf]

4. Clintons were and are fertile ground for investigation.

Their fault, not ours.

[JimGinPA]

6. Rezko, Rezko, Rezko...

[Adelante]

8. It's Clinton's behaving like Ken Starr that is bringing this on herself

And it's a very sad thing to behold :(

[TwilightGardener]

9. Ha! Asking fair questions is now "Ken Starr"--that is priceless!

[iconocrastic]

42. Ken Starr never asked fair questions

(and he never got fair answers - LOL)

[smiley_glad_hands]

10. She's trying to play the victim from a decade ago.

Of which Obama had nothing to do with. It's an attack built into a defense. These are rovian tactics. Didn't the clintons say they had immense respect for rove?

[TwilightGardener]

12. It's the Clinton Martyr appeal. Half the Clinton supporters on this board think

Hillary and Bill were "martyrs" for the Dem party. Sickening.

[bigtree]

19. Impeachment attempts on our Democratic president were a direct assault on MY vote.

And, the assaults were a subversive attempt to derail our Democratic agenda. Their assaults had NOTHING to do with republicans caring ONE BIT about corruption, sexual affairs, or a failed land deal in Arkansas which LOST money. The assaults were a direct attack on the vote I cast, along with millions of others. Damn right, the Clintons were standing up for me in that fight.

[Kittycat]

23. There's a legitmate question on the table about their financial dealings.

Since bill left office. That has nothing to do with starr and blue dresses. As democrats, we have the right to ask - just as she is doing to Obama.

[bigtree]

32. No there isn't. There's an ACCUSATION that SOMETHING is in her tax returns

. . . which is scandalous, illegal, or whatever. That's highly unlikely, given the fact that Hillary Clinton has been planning this run for years. Hysterical, really.

[TwilightGardener]

40. So hysterical, and yet...what's the problem with releasing the 2006 returns?

[bigtree]

57. I dunno.

I don't care.

[TwilightGardener]

39. LOL! Maybe he shouldn't have perjured himself.

edit--or given the RW ammo, when he knew the attack hounds were after him.

[bigtree]

59. maybe Starr and Klayman should have stayed out of Bill Clinton's personal sex life.

[TwilightGardener]

68. Maybe Bill Clinton shouldn't have gotten a young woman to give him hummers in

the Oval Office, when he knew he was being investigated. And maybe he shouldn't have pointed that bony finger at the camera and lied with as much faux indignation as he could muster.

[bigtree]

71. maybe so, but his sex life is none of your business, none of Starr's, none of Judicial Watch's . . .

. . . and neither is your own sex life anyone else's business but your own.

[TwilightGardener]

80. Sorry, but a sex scandal in the White House is the people's bidness.

I'm glad to know that he's a sleazebag in his personal life.

[bigtree]

85. If you say so

you and the entire right-wing cottage industry which sprang up as soon as Clinton left New Hampshire as the comeback kid.

Good luck with all of that.

[TwilightGardener]

87. The Clintons are responsible for their own messes and scandals.

I'm not a right winger for thinking they're fundamentally dishonest. They've proven that themsleves.

[bigtree]

91. well, you have the burden of proof, just like the republicans did

have at it.

[rodeodance]

49. umm.seems obama is trying to make her the victum. Too bad.

[ProSense]

11. Another despicable comment from Hillary's campaign. Wolfson is a hypocrite. Release the tax return.

n/t

[wileedog]

13. Holy Hypocrisy Batman

She launches a "kitchen sink" offensive on Obama, scores some points, and pulls this statement out of her butt when he starts to fight back?

[truebrit71]

14. So imitating George W. Bush is somehow better, or excusable..

..Man I hate these fucking apologists...

What a pile of Rovian spin...

Fuck I hope she loses..and loses BIG...I am soooooooooooooooo done with that two-faced family...

[LeftCoast]

15. I love all the shrieks of outrage on this thread

I mean, all you have to do is peruse GDP for a few minutes to see every one of the republican Whitewater talkingpoints.

[truebrit71]

18. Has she released her 2006 tax return yet? No? What is she hiding?

More payments from Marc Rich for that pardon?

Muliple millions from rich Arabs in the Gulf?

Hmmm...just how much DOES she have in common with the "common man" she claims to represent?

[bigtree]

25. echoes of a multi million dollar republican fishing expedition

. . . which netted a lie about a personal affair, period.

[truebrit71]

27. Fine...so show us the returns...nothing to hide right?

Get 'em out in the open then...oh...and don't forget all of her WH records too...Who paid for what bedroom etc etc...

[rodeodance]

33. You obviously like to look foolish--keep updated please--April 15 they are coming out.

[truebrit71]

43. Her 2006 returns? Are you sure?

I had heard she was only going to release her 2007 return on that day...

What is she hiding in 2006?

[bigtree]

34. nothing to hide

cheap political trick. silly rabbit.

[truebrit71]

44. Then produce the documents. Now.

Otherwise we can only assume that she is hiding something she or her ethically-challenged husband did that they would rather not have disclosed publicly...

Wonder what it is..??

[bigtree]

62. no. go fish

somewhere else

[truebrit71]

75. More hypocrisy from Hypocrite Rodham Clinton...

...what is she hiding?

[bigtree]

88. she's hiding

a big ole can of whoop ass!

[JBoy]

65. The demand for release of her 2006 tax returns are echoes

of Hillary's demand in 2000 that her opponent release his tax returns.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EFD61E31F93AA1575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

[bigtree]

72. cute, cheap

political tactic

[truebrit71]

78. ..and one she needs to end by providing the paperwork..otherwise her hypocrisy will be on show..

...for all the world to see...

She can demand it from her opponents, but NOT the other way around?

I don't think so.

[rodeodance]

28. Patience is a virtue lacking with so many Obamafans. But coming to a theater near you April 15.

[truebrit71]

46. Which year? 2006? That's the year she needs to disclose.

...very simple request...

[mmonk]

16. You know, I'm pretty raw with the Clintons right now.

Keep it up.

[rodeodance]

30. too bad.

[truebrit71]

47. Clintonista defense tactic 101...when in doubt..

...act like a tool...

[rodeodance]

51. You are one using the Rovian tactics. I see you have his book again.

[truebrit71]

So when Hillary demands the retruns of an opponent it's ok...but when an opponent ask her it isn't?

Hypocrite much?

[Bluerthanblue]

84. I've never even seen Rove's book- obviously you have if you

know his tactics-

:shrug:

[mmonk]

53. Do you say that to every democrat who is complaining

at the tactics? Do you really in your heart think your candidate has a great chance should she get into the general election without us?

[yourguide]

20. Pot meet kettle, now where are those tax returns

:rofl:

they wanted to play dirty...

[rodeodance]

54. your posts are a broken record. -no creativity at all.

[Yes We Did]

21. You have to be kidding.... right?

Wow, I forgot... Only Camp Clinton can go negative. What hypocrisy.

[Yossariant]

29. Smart. "Been there; done that." Good move by Wolfson.

Obama is looking more desperate and foolish as he feels it slipping away.

GO-Bama. :evilgrin:

[angie_love]

60. Oh Please! THEY'VE been there done that, now its Obamas turn.

Its so laughable that only the CLintons can go negative and not Obama. Guess what, what goes around comes around and its not going to be pretty for Hillary.

[rodeodance]

31. Good response here--Obamacamp echoing Repugs attacks with have FAILED--my

thinking is that Obama best get a new strategy. People have heard all of this and are tuning out. Its like a broken record.


"The voters are going to decide what is fair. We thought it was striking that one day after a hard fought campaign... what we have heard is a series of personal attacks against Sen. Hillary Clinton, and again, some of them echoed Republican charges against Sen. Clinton that have been raised over the years and failed."

[jefferson_dem]

36. Smarmy Wolfson's own words turn him into a lying fool - -

''Rick Lazio can't explain why it took three months to release his taxes,'' said Howard Wolfson, a Clinton campaign spokesman. ''Now he won't come clean with New Yorkers and reveal the real cost of his reckless trillion-dollar tax plan. It's time for Mr. Lazio to stop playing games and start talking straight.''

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EFD61E31F93AA1575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2

[truebrit71]

50. Ooops!!! Paging Mr. Hypocrite, Mr. Hypocrite you have a call on line one...

...What a fool!!

:rofl:

[Bluerthanblue]

45. Clinton Aides can say whatever they like- She's getting 'vetted'-

and if she can't handle it- maybe she shouldn't have started dishing it out in the first place- and claiming that she is so able to withstand the fight.

Sorry Hillary- people are taking you at your word(s)-

peace~

[AtomicKitten]

56. She has been "vetted" since the 1990s.

I think she believes if she keeps repeating that over and over that she has already been vetted, people will assume she is and let it slide.

Time to pop open the hood and take a look.

[Bluerthanblue]

77. 'vetting' isn't a one time thing- as Hillary is going to find out-

Time doesn't stand still- and the focus was not on her.

The more 'experienced' the vehicle, the more problems are likely to pop up- despite having been inspected yearly.

(18yrs and 278,000for my old clunker)

:hi:


peace~

[AtomicKitten]

90. excellent analogy

I suspect Hillary is going to find out right quick and in a hurry about what vetting really means. I'll bet she ends up wishing she didn't open that particular can of worms.

:patriot:

[KittyWampus]

111. oh no she hasn't. she has NOT been vetted since the 90's. What are you saying?

the Media has done next to jackshit about covering Clinton crap.

I say "next to" because they print a story and then promptly forget about it.

[AtomicKitten]

114. I think you're right on that.

I guess sometimes with all the brouhaha about Monica and Watergate and Vince Foster, etc. that factoid got lost in the shuffle.

Thanks for making that point.

[NorthernSpy]

48. me, I didn't think imitating Jesse Helms was the way to go...

... but that didn't spare us the "OJ"ed Obama, did it?


:shrug:

[walldude]

63. Mighty strong comparison from someone who is willing

to throw the whole party under the bus to make sure she gets the nomination.

"I have experience. John McCain has experience. Obama has speeches" "Obama is acting like Ken Starr."

Thanks for your party loyalty.

[stray cat]

66. mccain won't be nice and avoid it

[bigbrother05]

67. from the article

The Obama campaign responded swiftly to the accusation, calling it "absurd" that the "Clinton campaign believes that they should be held to an entirely different standard."

Wrote spokesperson Bill Burton in an email to reporters:

"We don't believe that expecting candidates for the presidency to disclose their tax returns somehow constitutes Ken Starr-tactics, but the kind of transparency and accountability that Americans are looking for and that's been missing in Washington for far too long. And if Senator Clinton doesn't think that the Republicans will ask these very same questions, then she's not as ready to go toe-to-toe with John McCain as she claims."

[bigtree]

79. republicans already HAVE asked those questions and lost

They produced nothing but a private affair for their multi-million dollar fishing expedition. And, here comes Axelrod's gang with a string on a stick . . .

[TwilightGardener]

83. There's a host of new material since the Clintons left the WH, I'm sure.

And it's better if we get it all out there now, don't you think?

[bigtree]

92. you've got them right there

. . . in your pocket?

[NorthernSpy]

95. And who defended the Clintons back then? Democrats.

And who did Hillary just betray by boosting McCain against Obama, and who is being damaged by her campaign tactics?


The Democratic Party.


She opened fire on her former defenders, and now we're firing back.

[bigtree]

97. tThe obama camp did that by elevating and twisting her statement into a 'boost'

They've mishandled almost every one of the supposed hits on them. I think Axelrod and Co. are pathetic. They exude weakness with their flailing out at every utterance from the Clinton camp.

[bigbrother05]

101. Hillary has got Mark Penn and Ickes

throwing this Ken starr crap, so you think Obama is going to bite, Well it's not about Bill , and he ain't going to bite, not unless we want to talk about Hillary's experience during Ken Starr. and I don't think they want to go there
Weak as water argument.
Talk about anything but the real issues

[bigtree]

103. He's claiming to be above what he calls 'politics as usual'

He looks like a pretty ordinary politician to me today.

[bigbrother05]

117. You can turn the other cheek only so many times...

Eventually you realize the true nature of your opponent and you fight back not only for self preservation, but for those who will be hurt if you don't stop them.

[Radical Activist]

73. She's projecting.

Just like a Republican, she accuses Obama of doing that of which she is most guilty.

[rodeodance]

81. REC

[workinclasszero]

89. She's afraid of you now Obama!!

Pour it on!

Hillary Clinton's record cannot stand the light of day!

GOBAMA!!!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

94. That's A Great Line And A Great Sound Bite. Good For Them!

[Justitia]

96. Oh, but I thought your candidate was "FULLY VETTED"??? Why so secretive? But thanks for the 90s!

[bigtree]

98. thanks for zapping us back to the '50's

[Justitia]

104. Why does the Clinton Machine never embrace transparency? They are worse than Bush in this. -eom

[mod mom]

100. OBAMA SPOKESMAN: SHOULD THERE BE DIFF STANDARDS? WE NEED TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY:

Late Late Update: Obama spokesperson Bill Burton responds:

“It is absurd that after weeks of badgering the media to ‘vet’ Senator Obama, the Clinton campaign believes that they should be held to an entirely different standard. We don’t believe that expecting candidates for the presidency to disclose their tax returns somehow constitutes Ken Starr-tactics, but the kind of transparency and accountability that Americans are looking for and that’s been missing in Washington for far too long. And if Senator Clinton doesn’t think that the Republicans will ask these very same questions, then she’s not as ready to go toe-to-toe with John McCain as she claims.”

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/hillary_spokesperson_compares.php

WOW SHE SURE DOESN'T WANT TO RELEASE THOSE TAX RETURNS-DOES SHE?

You've got to wonder if this has something to do with it:

THE NEW REPUBLIC
With Friends Like These ...
by Marin Cogan, Melanie Mason, and Barron YoungSmith
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Clintons' shadiest donors.
Post Date Monday, February 04, 2008

t's not that we expect politicians to have squeaky-clean donor lists. You try running for office without, at one point or another, taking money from someone you probably shouldn't. Even Barack Obama, Mr. Clean, has Tony Rezko. But the Frank Giustra-Kazakhstan-Uranium affair, blown open by The New York Times last week, serves as a reminder that the relationship between the Clintons and money has not always been lily-white. Here, a guide to the unsavory characters who have been associated with Bill and Hillary Clinton.


http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=076fd56f-4aca-4683-a9d1-3c55d748946e

[bigtree]

105. that one article came out at the beginning of February.

not much traction, huh?

[mod mom]

110. so you're OK WITH HER SHADY DONORS? how telling!

[bigtree]

113. I don't convict based on articles. There has to be a due process of accountability for the accusers

. . . in a court of law, or before a body of their peers in Congress. let me know when that happens.

[JerseygirlCT]

102. No they prefer to act like Rove. nt

[bigtree]

109. no. Rove practices the Machiavellian stuff the Obama campaign's been practicing

. . . badly.

[Vinca]

106. OMG, is she going to start crying because mean, old Barack is picking

on her? Give me a freaking break. It's perfectly fine for the Clinton campaign to smear Obama ("not as far as I know"), but he's not supposed to question her "experience?" I thought I couldn't dislike Hillary any more and I was wrong.

[DemGa]

108. Ha! "New politics" indeed! Hillary needs to deal the KO to BO!

Obama's campaign appears schizophrenic -- is it negative attacks or "hope and change"?

Actually, it's been BOTH all along -- and one reason so many see Obama as a FRAUD.

[Enrique]

112. playing the Ken Starr card

she's got it, why not play it?