(Sen.) Clinton Does Damage Control After "Adviser" Slams McCain

[ProSense]

October 14, 2006

Clinton Does Damage Control After "Adviser" Slams McCain

Sen. Hillary Clinton rushed to quiet a row today set off by a vicious slur against Sen. John McCain that columnist Maureen Dowd attributed to one of her advisers.

Snip...

Asked by the New York Daily News about the comment, John Weaver, McCain's chief strategist, e-mailed this response:

"I never expected the Clintons or their allies to know much about Vietnam. But is disappointing to see one of her spokespeople purposefully lie about John's war record and time in a Hanoi prison camp. There was no such tape recording; though he did once give up the starting lineup of the Green Bay Packers while under extreme duress. Senator Clinton's spokesperson does a disservice to all who were there and served so bravely and honorably."

The adviser was apparently being caustic and catty without permission.

We know that Clinton's real team of advisers was angry and upset. Clinton's political spokesman, Howard Wolfson, e-mailed us this statement: ""These comments are reprehensible and they in no way reflect Senator Clinton's feelings."

Clinton called McCain this morning to apologize and to disassociate herself from her advisers' freelancing.

The small episode demonstrates four points about the '08 race.

One -- McCain will beat back rumors more quickly and aggressively than he was able to do in 2000.

Two -- Someone on Clinton's team is scared enough of McCain to libel him in a chat with MoDo.

Three -- the rapid, public response of Wolfson suggests that Clinton does not, in fact, believe the slur about McCain.

Four -- the person who talked to Dowd violated a cardinal rule of politics -- never, ever, let your principal (Clinton) be tied to a dirty trick. In other words, the "Clinton adviser" did her boss an enormous disservice by allowing Dowd to attribute the remark to a "Clinton adviser," rather than as a "Democrat" or someone else. Think about it -- what better way is there to get conservatives to rally to McCain's side?

McCain and Clinton get along and respect each other. They are said to joke and josh around in private, both aware of their roles in history and within their party. McCain's shot across the bow on North Korea was designed to get Clinton to draw a contrast with McCain on an issue -- not on a personal attribute. And now, someone, somewhere on Clinton's team -- let's face it, Dowd has good Clinton sources -- has lifted McCain the high ground.

[Union Thug]

1. I love how indignant these screwheads become when one of their own

has their military record swiftboated!!! HYPOCRITES ALL!

Screw McCain.

[Tellurian]

6. Water off a Duck's back...

Apologies in order...deal over and done..

Move ON!

McCain has gained nothing. I assume his reading comprehensive skills are intact.
He knew darn well what Clinton's policy was with N.Korea when Clinton left office.
To float an outright lie to the public of Clinton being responsible for NK's
nuclear testing is an abomination to his conscience. How McCain can justify a smear
like that one is telling of his own desperation..for the nomination.

Keep listening to those losers John. They're going down in flames and plan on
dragging you down with them..smarten up!

[bluestateguy]

2. I'm sorry but McCain's war record is on the table

He couldn't have spoken out against the smearing of John Kerry's record in 2004, but he chose not to. So, his record will have to be on the table as well. And some people have said that there are some serious concerns that require scrutiny.

Many of these questions about McCain's service in Vietnam were first raised, not by Hillary Clinton, but by the Bush campaign in 2000.

[beaconess]

3. She SHOULD distance herself. That was a stupid comment

[leesa]

4. Who wants either one of these warmongering nitwits as candidates?

Let them outdo one another in frivolous politicking.

[karynnj]

5. I saw that yesterday - and hoped it was not true

Maureen Dowd after all made up the Kerry "Whom among us is not a NASCAR fan? (which doesn't seem how Kerry speaks anyway). this confirms someone did say this.

The question is did Hillary take actions to fgind out who said this and fire (him/her). This is reprehensible and on the level of the SBVT. There was an article when Wolfson spoke of the fact that we needed to look at the Swiftboat tactics ourselves. The question is whether Hillary and Wolfson will pledge to avoid seiftboat tactics.

Was this really free lance or did they hope Dowd would use it without linking to Hillary?

[ProSense]

7. It almost seems like a story to

promote McCain as the opposition.

[sandnsea]

8. Well yikes

He did give up some stuff, don't remember what exactly. It's way too early to be making those kinds of jabs in any event, but if you're gonna do that, you better have your facts right at least. In the end, this was an awful thing to say and Hillary really needs to fire whoever said it.

[BlueStater]

9. Fuck McCain

From some of the shit he's been spewing recently, it seems like he and Rove have gotten into quite a few conversations the past few weeks.

To hell with this bastard. I can't believe I once considered him to be a decent man.