Obama Advisor Axelrod Blames Hillary For Bhutto Assassination

[BenDavid]

Source: Talk Left

Bhutto’s death will “call into issue the judgment: who’s made the right judgments,She was a strong supporter of the war in Iraq, which we would submit, was one of the reasons why we were diverted from Afghanistan, Pakistan and al-Qaeda, who may have been players in this event today, so that’s a judgment she’ll have to defend,” ” Axelrod said.

Read more: http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/12/27/14304/829

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It can only hurt. Even if there is a connection between Iraq and Bhutto's death, this can only hurt. You don't blame your opponent for a political murder for which there is no direct connection between the assassin and your opponent. As for the Iraq invasion connection, that is tenuous. You cannot say but for the Iraq invasion, Bhutto would not have been killed. That is not the sole proximate cause of death. even HRC is not accountable for the supervening illegal acts of others.

[KittyWampus]

1. wow, so now we know that Hillary's campaign is organizing this slanderous bullshit crap

you're the THIRD Hillary supporter pushing this vile bullshit.

SHAME on you.

[TankLV]

17. What is disgusting and shameful is the obamabots still TRYING to make excuses...

Can't ignore what was said, can you - so you try to turn it around - just like the repukes do!

Shame on you!

[EFerrari]

23. Yep. n/t

[Marrah_G]

25. I heard his comments and that is what the guy was inferring

I am not a Hillary supporter but I found the comments in very bad taste and if I were Obama I would be very angry. I would think Obama would NOT support what this guy said and the tone in which he said it.

[rodeodance]

2. Obama's advisor made a grave errror here and he best fix it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. He did no such fucking thing.

Read the original article in Time.

Talking heads have been spouting about how Hillary will benefit, because of her foreign policy experience (sic), and Axelrod simply said she will NOT benefit from this. He blames the diversion of resources and attention to Iraq - and Hillary has said the SAME FUCKING THING.

[gaiilonfong]

9. It's that DLC mouthpiece and loser Armando

The Big Tent Democrat my fat butt. He is a moutpiece for the DLC and that is why Talk Left has lost all credibility!

[Marrah_G]

26. I agree- I hope Obama gives him a good talking to

His words and tone and facial expression were just damn sleazy

[DemKR]

3. shame on obama

[bluewisdom]

13. shame on obama and defenders too!

:wtf::grr:

[TankLV]

18. ESPECIALLY is shameful defenders - defending the INDEFENSIBLE since the last outrage...

I wonder how their homphobia is working out for them?!...

[Marrah_G]

27. Obama didn't say it- one of his staff did

I'm hopeful he will say he doesn't agree with his staffer.

[madrchsod]

4. what axelrod said should have been left for another day

these questions of judgement of anyone who supported the wrong war is valid.

[TomClash]

5. This is a completely false and unfair characterization

Here is the complete text from Time - without selective editing - and without the first year law school legal analysis. It is obvious that Axelrod is saying Hillary can't benefit politically from Bhutto's death through her "experience" because she got it wrong on the War. It's the same judgment v. experience argument but a new topic. Axelrod doesn't "blame Hillary."

http://thepage.time.com/axelrod-on-bhutto-assassination/

by Mark Halperin|Thursday, December 27, 2007 Axelrod on Bhutto AssassinationFrom TIME’s Jay Newton-Small:

David Axelrod, Barack Obama’s top strategist, told reporters after the speech that Clinton will not benefit from a renewed conversation about foreign policy in the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in Pakistan.

Bhutto’s death will “call into issue the judgment: who’s made the right judgments,” Axelrod said. “Obviously, one of the reasons that Pakistan is in the distress that it’s in is because al-Qaeda is resurgent, has become more powerful within that country and that’s a consequence of us taking the eye off the ball and making the wrong judgment in going into Iraq. That’s a serious difference between these candidates and I’m sure that people will take that into consideration.”

Foreign policy had been considered by many to be Clinton’s strength and a subject that had been waning ahead of the caucuses as candidates focused their closing arguments on domestic issues. Axelrod argued a focus on Pakistan does not help Clinton, who voted to give President Bush the authority to go to war in Iraq.

“She was a strong supporter of the war in Iraq, which we would submit, was one of the reasons why we were diverted from Afghanistan, Pakistan and al-Qaeda, who may have been players in this event today, so that’s a judgment she’ll have to defend,” Axelrod said. “I know Woody Allen said that 80% of life is just showing up but there’s actually more to being proficient in foreign policy than just having been around for a long time. You also have to have good judgment. Obama was willing to split with the conventional wisdom on Iraq and many of these other issues and I think events have borne out his judgment.”

[Malva Zebrina]

7. I have been waiting for the

Clinton campaign to capitalize on this assissination. I fully expect it. Sorry, but I see her as doing it at this point. Perhaps she will think twice now. Wait and see.

If there is any blame to go around, it rests on Condi Rice's shoulders.
Brilliant strategy from Rice, eh?

See Juan Cole blog for details.

http://www.juancole.com/

[Misha2]

20. Why is the Clinton's fault?

If- the assumption is that the voting for the war in Iraq is the reason the PM was executed then why is it Hillary's "fault" more than any other Senator who voted?? Do Bush/Rice/Cheney have any responsibility in the mess in the Middle East? Or is it just Hillary? Same as the Republicans blaming Bill for everything that happened even now? All the candidates are going to jump on this and use it to attack each other rather than those whose fault it is that Afghanistan is falling apart along with everything the WH puts it finger on.

[gaiilonfong]

8. You are quoting Armando the biggest LOSER ever

He is an abomination, A DLC propaganda queen. He was thrown out of DKos for his lying posts and you quote him here on DU...shame on you. The article doesn't blame Hillary for her death, just points out her vote, and is in response to the MSM and the DLC cocktail crowd saying Bhutto's death favors Hillary, very lame indeed.

[BenDavid]

10. O's campaign is in a panic. Axelrod's reprehensible statement

is meant to deflect the spotlight and rescue his candidate, because as people think about the implications of Benazir Bhutto's assassination one thing comes to mind and it isn't the leadership experience of Barack Obama.

Once again, Barack Obama and his campaign not only prove that they are willing to say anything and take any opportunity to point a finger at a fellow Democrat, but they do so revealing their abject amateur status of their own national security thinking.

The politics of hope was always a mirage, but today it revealed what an unmitigated fraud the notion was from the start. It also reminds us all that hope in regions like Pakistan will only get people killed and make the world a more dangerous place through thinking of politicians like Barack Obama who obviously is offering no insight, while hoisting speculative solutions that are in their infancy of formation." attributed to Taylor Marsh...

Ben David

[gaiilonfong]

11. Wow you really have Rovian speak down to a science!

BRAVO!

[TankLV]

19. And you people have repuke excuse making down to a science...

[NoodleyAppendage]

12. Move on...Hillary shill. Many here at DU are keenly aware of the grassroots infiltration.

What? Are you worried that we might actually have a Dem candidate who isn't a syncophant for Israeli regional interests?

J

[bluewisdom]

15. thank you ben.

something i've been saying for a long time... in other words of course. bravo!:bounce:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

24. you are so full of it, I'll bet your

no, I won't mention your eyes.

[bagimin]

32. my, we're full of vile rhetoric today

aren't we?

[jamesinca]

33. When I heard of the assignation I didn't think of the Dems

I thought of the crappy foreign policy of GWB. I thought of all of the enabling politicians that allow this to happen. A lack of experience is a lot better than the experience we are currently having with this president.

In your mind "one thing comes to mind and it isn't the leadership experience of Barack Obama". that most likely happens because you don't like his candidacy or you are a rabid blind Hillary supporter. Thanks for posting your I hate a Dem who is not the one I like piece for the day.

[DemKR]

14. K&r's should be kept up. n/t

[peoli]

16. Do you lie when you talk to yourself too?

The title of this thread is horseshit.

[DemKR]

21. Are you accusing the blogosphere of making this up? he was not misquoted.

[Marrah_G]

28. Did you see the clip of the advisor?

[uppityperson]

22. At least your subject line says Advisor. Thank you for that bit. eom

[AtomicKitten]

29. Quaid! Start the reactor!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaaf_9TqPL8

[intaglio]

30. I know the supporters of HRC are trying to stir the pot BUT

Seriously do they not understand plain US English?

All that is being said is that HRC showed poor judgment in voting for the use of force in Iraq. Mr Axelrod is also of the opinion that this poor judgment led to the recovery of Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan and hence their ability to pressure Musharaf and recruit the ignorant cannon fodder who carry out murders and assassinations.

The text being followed by several campaign against BHO is that BHO is "inexperienced"

The BHO text is that others might have experience but that such experience is meaningless unless the person concerned has good judgment

Sheeesh!

[Didereaux]

31. Axwlrod is a loose cannon, an idiot,,,those who employ such people are ????