EXCLUSIVE: Barack vs. Bill: Obama Hits Ex-Prez Over 'Troubling' Attacks

Source: ABC News

Sen. Barack Obama says he's ready to confront former President Bill Clinton, calling his advocacy on behalf of his wife's presidential campaign, "troubling."

In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Robin Roberts to air Monday on "Good Morning America," Obama, D-Ill., directly engages Bill Clinton on a series of issues.

"You know the former president, who I think all of us have a lot of regard for, has taken his advocacy on behalf of his wife to a level that I think is pretty troubling," Obama said. "He continues to make statements that are not supported by the facts -- whether it's about my record of opposition to the war in Iraq or our approach to organizing in Las Vegas.

"This has become a habit, and one of the things that we're going to have to do is to directly confront Bill Clinton when he's making statements that are not factually accurate," Obama said.






Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=4162996&page=1

Just ignore them, they'll go away...

He responded as any honest politician would when people lie - he made sure the media had the truth. On this, they already had it BEFORE the August attacks. In Kerry's case, it was not only that he had not done something wrong, he had very good reason to be proud of the man he proved himself to be. He risked his life to save someone and by all the fitness reports had managed with every crew assigned him to inspire an unusually strong commitment.

They had:
- Over 100 pages of naval records, with fitness reports that were glowing - some written by the SBVT
- The Nixon tapes show they investigated him in 1971, found he was a clean cut guy and a real war hero, and they set out toi destroy him because he was credible.
- Brinkley an academic historian interviewed 100 + other people and looked through records on the swift boat operations. His book, over which Kerry had no editorial rights backed him. (It was because Kerry came out so good, that the media took it as a campaign biography - which it wasn't.)
- The Navy doesn't award the silver star indiscriminately and they reiterated that it was deserved and procedures followed.
- All the men, still alive, who were in Kerry's boat when he got any medals backed him.

Go back through 1992 newspaper accounts and compare what Clinton gave the media on any of the charges against him. Look at the draft comments - he lied at least 3 times before telling the truth.

That list is just what the media had BEFORE the August attacks. Yet they did not ask the SBVT for one shred of truth - nor, did they offer any. Kerry then sought out others to dispute hundreds of the charges - the media still gave them time.

Because up until a couple weeks ago, I would have that swiftboating was a taboo thing. At least according to DUers. Now all of the sudden, some in are party are for broad voter supression, swiftboating, killing the thought of unity & hope... Need I go on?

even when it is commenting on HRC answers heard by all. Even if the comments were wrong, they were wrong, but not swiftboating.

if he burns Bill Clinton (as he should), you'd attack him for being "negative". When he tries to address the attacks in a way that retains some class, you say he's whiny

Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, huh?

In that case, Obama should just be straight up with his comments.

"Bill Clinton, who? The same guy who couldn't keep faithful to his wife SEVERAL times? That pillar of morality and trustworthiness? The man who ended "welfare as we know it"? Thank you, but I'd rather take my cues about how to be a better person and a better candidate from someone else".

Oh, wait, it was and they whined in preparation for losing. Clever people that they are!

sitting through ages of fluff to get to an interview I want to hear.

If Bill Clinton becomes and active part of Hillary's campaign, and Hillary wins the nomination, the republicans WILL use him in their campaign against us. At the very least they will constantly play his testimony under oath when he said, "I never had sex with that woman"

I am sure that will go over really well

However, if he takes a backseat in the campaign, it probably won't have as much of an effect

that Bill Clinton was a centrist, and a DLC-elitist within the party as well. People have this liberal mythology around Bill Clinton because he's a charming guy and he plays the saxophone. Kinda like Huckabee and his bass.

But when you examine his policies, he's not very liberal at all, and he's not very conscientious at all. He does what he needs to do to keep power...and if that means going with the flow and the establishment when it wants to engage in wars of choice, so be it. When the wind changes, so does the arguments and the positions.

They didn't call him Slick Willy for nothing. I'm for liberals in this country, but I never fell THAT in love with Bill.

He did much good, but a liberal? Not really.

And he is extremely charming, but I think both he and his wife are too ready to make decisions based on political expediency. That troubles me, and always has.

The country was more conservative back then. Any more liberal and he wouldn't have won.

Clinton showed that dems could be fiscally responsible which was the big line the GOP used.

But the country has shifted now and we can afford someone more progressive.

he ran on being a centrist...and GOVERNED as a centrist. It wasn't a political ploy to win election...it was who he was...and who is wife has been.

I find it hard to give a vote to a woman who was a former conservative. Sorry. I don't believe people's political viewpoints sway THAT much. And as another poster mentioned...there's the issue of political expediency. They represent the corrupt old core of the system...and I'm not giving my vote to that.

refutes, rebuts, answers ...

No in modern media it's about how exaggerated you can make the headline.

I have been a fan of Bill Clinton for a long time.

I was a county campaign chair for him in 1992.

But I have to agree that in the last two months he has seemed to forget that HE is not a candidate this year.

And I think his crass politicking for his WIFE is lowering his standing as a former President and statesman.

Another of the perils of dynastic politics.

dueling egos.

:popcorn:

I thought the Dems were ignoring Faux News?

Yeah, this is going to turn into a battle royale - I think Hil is going to have to "disappear" Bill for a period of time, she doesn't need to be upstaged by him, never mind have to deal with the messes he gets into.

This is the kinda thing usually seen in the general elections; the candidates keep their hands clean while they let their VP running mates play the role of attack dog. It lets them get the message out, and they can still claim to be playing clean politics.

Hillary has the equivalent weapon at the primary level. There's no way in hell she will, or should, get rid of that.

tell his wife to shut up first. He's just p'sd off that nobody really pays attention to her other than she comes across as a blowhard who wants to be in the limelight while the opposite is true for Clinton.

She is a woman of great substance, and I think we need her in the first mate role far more than we need him (Clinton).

the respect a former president deserves, he'll be sitting next to John Kerry in the Swiftboat. It's a shame Bill Clinton finds it necessary to operate under Republican standards.

It takes courage to make allegations like this against such a big power broker.

Kerry slapped back several of the hits BC made on Obama with grace and class. He even managed to do this while standing up for all the Democrats running.

But, the media will not tell the truth--that would interfere with the Clinton bashing.

I don't understand these particular attacks on Obama by another Democrat. Accusing Obama's supporters of cheating isn't productive, helpful, or accurate for that matter. How is whining about organizing tactics going to advance her cause, now or in November?

Rise above the petty crap and stay on issues. Going after Obama's past or his supporters does not present the body language of a leader or a winner. With a general election win all but a slam dunk for any Democratic candidate, don't spoil the chances with childish mud-wrestling that alienates people. It's unseemly, and should be left to the other brand (X). I'm getting more than just a little pissed.

Maybe the Big Dog is the Same Old Dog

I haven't fact checked Bill's & Obama's statements and I am not picking sides here. I'm just making an observation.

I have to think Bill is hurting more than helping Hillary.

Wonder if this is why Gore wanted to keep him at arm's length during his campaign?

...

I am sure WJC would be there. But Obama because of his ego has let himself fall for the oldest school yard trick out there. Obama got JUKED......instead of concentrating on his campaign and HRC, obama is ranting about WJC, HRC is out there delivering her message and folks are seeing obama in a different light.......

Hey, I would purchase it if it came on pay per view....No better television entertainment then watching the Big Dawg tear into obama's ass and then handing it to him......to keep it at a low cost 39.95 plus tax....

This bit of strategery has worked perfectly as far as the Clintons are concerned, and I'm sure it's not a coincidence that it comes right after James Carville rejoined the ranks!