Michelle Obama cries foul against Bill Clinton

She doesn't quite have Bill Clinton's political pedigree. But Michelle Obama has truly become an active combatant in the nasty fray that has pitted her husband against the ex-president: Her name is on an e-mailed letter that seeks to use the quarrel as a way to raise money for Barack Obama's battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"What we didn't expect" is the subject line for the appeal. And here's the text that follows:

"In the past week or two, another candidate's spouse has been getting an awful lot of attention.

"We knew getting into this race that Barack would be competing ...

with Senator Clinton and President Clinton at the same time.

"We expected that Bill Clinton would tout his record from the nineties and talk about Hillary's role in his past success. That's a fair approach and a challenge we are prepared to face.

"What we didn't expect, at least not from our fellow Democrats, are the win-at-all-costs tactics we've seen recently. We didn't expect misleading accusations that willfully distort Barack's record.

"Barack Obama isn't relying on a former president of the United States to campaign for him.

"He's relying on us -- you, me, and hundreds of thousands of people like us who are giving whatever they can afford to support this movement.

"Please stand up in the face of these new attacks. Make your first online donation of $50 today and own a piece of this campaign ..."

Initially, Michelle's husband and his crew seemed knocked off stride -- like many before them -- by the barrage the Clintonites directed at the candidates. Now, perhaps a bit belatedly, they're attacking the attacks -- and hoping that turns into a plus for them.

Here's the looming question: Will this tactic be as successful for Obama as it proved to be, over and over again, for the Clintons in previous battles?

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[EJDubya]

The attacks by President Clinton have definitely pushed me and my family farther into Barack's corner. Of course, it's a bit naive to have thought that the Clinton campaign would not pour out all the vitriol they can muster. All I can hope is that the voters have the good sense not to succumb to the misstatements. Go Barack!

[Chris]

I don't really see how this email sent only to Obama supporters amounts to "combat" "in the nasty fray." I may be someone who will vote for Obama, but I'm sure there are others of all persuasions who can identify this type of reporting as sensationalist. Whether it's about the Obamas or the Clintons, all I keep seeing are articles in which what purports to be journalism has devolved into exaggerated claims devoid of analysis.

[amurcia]

I would asked Michelle if obama is a uniter why he started the attacks, a
while back, trashing her and her experience , she responded, he the one
who throws the first stone be ware. If he cannot take it then get out the race. It's ridiculous are we supposed to
feel sorry for him and flip $50 now? It is a fact that bill was the first
black president and it was ignored and spanned, ungratefully so, further, you
play the race card along with the media, Perhaps Oprah and rensko can help
again. We`regular folks cannot flip money every time obama crybaby, don't
you know there is a financial crisis going on now?

[Raquel]

I think Michelle Obama's response was classy and dignified -- the best possible response to the Clinton machine's mudslinging and innuendo. I love Bill Clinton, but please -- shut up already.

[Jay]

Good on Obama - for anyone watching what is going on - the Clinton's have been playing a slimey game. Lie, deceive, set-up, manipulate. Hmmm, kind of reminds me of the Bush Admin...

[miriam biteng]

michele obama and Bill clinton are both working hard for their own spouses, why worry, this is the game of politics, Worry when you can not prove tract of records of notable accomplishments.

[Elise MacDonald]

Every time I hear about Bill "defending Hillary" when he's actually trash-talking Barack, I flip Obama's campaign another $25 matching donation (matching new, small donors).

We here in NH are TICKED that the crocodile tears in the diner ploy worked, and that the SlurMail piece smearing Barack's spotless record on choice worked --- Obama lost here by a 3% margin. All the volunteers I know from Obama's NH campaign are still working for him (phoning voters in other states, writing letters to the editor, and yes, forking over the cash, big-time).

Just say no to political dynasties...haven't we had enough of those?

Signed,
Another twice-over Bill Clinton voter for Obama

[Nikki]

www.shutupbill.com

Sincerely,
Pretty Much Everyone

[understanding]

Now, I get it. This paper Los Angeles Times is bias against Barack Obama. There is nothing in this ad that indicates Michelle is crying anything but truths!

[Barbara Sheffield]

Bill' Clinton's comments to the radio DJ were fowl enough, but today MSNBC showed him on camera berating a reporter when asked about his (on air radio comments). He blatantly raked the poor guy over the coals, practically calling him a liar, saying he never said any such thing. Did he think the mic was off? Too bad Bill... it wasn't, and neither was it apparently off a bit later when he let loose with a barrage of curse words!

But, that's not was has me the most upset... why isn't anyone paying attention (the Cable news, Network News,Newspapers, etc,) to what Hillary said towards the end of the debate the other night when asked what she would do (they were both asked btw) if Iran developed a nuclear weapon and attacked Israel? Barrack said of course we'd defend our ally Israel, but (paraphrasing here) he hoped it would never come to that, rather that we'd work very hard by means of diplomacy to prevent Iran from ever even getting a Nuclear weapon!. Hillary first said, that any nuclear attact by Iran would be met with with "massive retaliation". She went on further to say that she planned to put the entire middle eastern area (those nations "friendly" to us, of course, under an "umbrella of protection" also. Great! So,, now is Saudia Arabia or the UAE were attacked we're supposed to nuke Iran for them too? Then, if that wasn't bad enough... I read today in the LA Times, that she's now saying that if Iran attacked Iran attacked Israel "they would be obliterated!" Lord! She's beginning to sound more like Bush than even Bush does! I think Ms C. is far more of a hawk than any of us ever dreamed. I've always been worried about her sense of entitlement to the Presidency... as if no one else could possibly save the world but her. That's what I dislike most about GB... his "dictator-like" attitude to his Presidency. I've worried for some time, that if given the chance, she'd become every bit as much of a dictator as he's been for the past 6yrs! It has become increasingly obvious by how far she appears to be willing to go to steal this nomination! She cares nothing about the Democratics Party, or what she's in the process of doing to it... it's all about her, and her "birth-right"!

As for those of you griping about being asked for more money to support Barack's campaign... I hardlly believe you could be in worse shape than I am... a 58yr old Texan (and yes, I'm also white),My son has to support me, with help from Medicaid & SSDI benefits, and no we don't live all that well... but I still manage to send Barack at least $25/mo, and have every month since he spoke in Austin a year ago.

We're close, friends, and if we can just hold out a bit longer... he'll be the nominee. With McCain's war mongering, his age (which I do believe is showing at times, under the stress of caimpaigning, poor man), plus his supreme lack of knowledge of all things economic... I really do think Obama can beat him in the fall. Barack just needs to learn from his mistakes.. .like in San Francisco... he should never have spoken so honestly in public! He also needs to get firm control over his surrogates... 24hr news cycles are hungry and must be fed every 30minutes... they have microphone, plants, or cameras everywhere! I know Barack hates politics, but he's going to have to play the game somewhat in order to deal with the Darth Vader GOP Oposition Research people... remember Watergate... they really haven't channged all that much!

B. Sheffield
Round Rock, Tx. 78665

[Al]

Please stop the continuing distortion of the truth by the Obama campaign. A large number of African-American politicians and I wouldn't be supporting Hillary Clinton is she were a racist. Her record is good enough for us.

Please read:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120821921853714665.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries