Hillary's "What if? What if?" gaffe called "tasteless" by Dodd

Be careful what you say?
Posted: Friday, August 24, 2007 4:38 PM by Mark Murray
Categories: Democrats, 2008, Security
From NBC's Mark Murray

At last weekend's Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton once again made this argument in criticizing Barack Obama for saying that nuclear weapons should be off the table when dealing with Al Qaeda in Pakistan: You need to be careful what you say. "We shouldn't use hypotheticals. You know, words do matter. And this campaign just like every other thing that happens in the United States, is looked at and followed with very great interest."

So given those remarks, it's striking that she made this hypothetical yesterday: "It's a horrible prospect to ask yourself 'What if? What if?,'" she said. "But if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world. So I think I'm the best of the Democrats to deal with that as well." Clinton's comment came as she was touting her experience and how that would benefit her in a general election.

Her Democratic rivals weren't too pleased with the comment. Said Chris Dodd in a statement, "Frankly, I find it tasteless to discuss political implications when talking about a potential terrorist attack on the United States."

Asked for a response to Dodd's charge, Clinton spokesman Isaac Baker tells First Read, “Sen Clinton was making clear that she has the strength and experience to keep the country safe.”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/24/332286.aspx

so her and Dodd are creating a phony spat to spread her fear-mongering even further.

Terra Terra Terra - Iron Woman to the rescue!!

:eyes:

I don't like that statement. I've been trying to keep an open mind, but I don't like this.

She is right. The knee jerk reaction from the idiot middle of this country will be to gravitate toward the party with the reputation (deserved or not) of being tougher.

I think she is also right to say this because what she is doing is planting a seed, so if something DOES happen, hopefully some of the public will recognize what the political reaction will be, a knee jerk reaction to find someone insanely 'tough' to kick the enemy's ass. If she didn't talk about it, an attack happened, and a huge surge of support went to the Repukes, she would be accused of playing politics at that point by pointing it out. Instead, she can now say 'I told you so' and try to argue we are not safer BECAUSE of Republican policies, and can comfort her supporters, giving them an argument to take home and attempt to bring back into the fold any cowards that are politically motivated by fear, like most Repukes are.

So, I don't see the problem with what she said. She's right. I'm sad to say, I fear she is probably gonna need to recall this argument before election day for tragic reasons. Osama and Repukes BOTH want a terror attack before then...they know it is their only chance to keep Repukes in the White House.

I have no confidence that the American voter would NOT vote Republican. B*'s popularity only started a continual drop by mid-2005. Many Americans are gullible and lack any critical thinking skills. It will be the same-o, same-o if we are attacked.

FDR said the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, for too long, we have let our judgment slip in this country,
fear and 9-11 induced paranoia has gotten us into the current mess. Beating that ooga booga drum and tearing down the Dem Party
is uncalled for. I respect Dems and do not want another torture, wiretapping, nuke all party.

that if their guy is elected the U.S. will be a terrorist "attack free" zone?

An attack before the next election will give the Repubs a leg up - no question about it.

That's like saying "If another Katrina happens, republicans will get a leg up". The only way we lose is if people like Clinton surrender the issue without a fight.

or she knows something that we also suspect.