Obama, Clinton backers get carried away

Good vibes may have emanated from the two remaining Democratic presidential contenders during Thursday's debate in Hollywood, but my oh my, surrogates let loose Friday by each campaign sniped away -- and in each instance, apologies were the end result.

In one case, a top military advisor to Barack Obama ridiculed Hillary Clinton's now-famed misty-eyed moment in the buildup to the New Hampshire primary and her later claim to have found her voice in that state.

In the other case, a participant in a conference call set up by Team Clinton to rebuke an Obama mailer about healthcare policy used a Nazi reference in decrying it (always a bad idea).

The Times' Peter Wallsten has the details on the pointed remarks made by the Obama counselor, retired Air Force Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak. Indeed, the remarks were made to Wallsten during a telephone interview, much to the chagrin of the Obama aide listening in.

Commenting on the argument Clinton likes to make that she offers a "gravitas" ...

in foreign policy that Obama lacks, McPeak went off.

Here's the key quote, one that may reverberate a bit on the campaign trail: "[Obama] doesn't go on television and have crying fits. He isn't discovering his voice at the age of 60." ****

McPeak had more to say in a similarly dismissive tone, which you can read about here.

Wallsten was still digesting what he had heard when McPeak called back to retract what he had said (we would guess he got a few nudges to do so from cooler heads). And, as Wallsten relates in his story, the Obama campaign officially repudiated the remarks and apologized.

McPeak isn't just any old supporter. He's a heavyweight -- a former Air Force chief of staff under two presidents (including Bill Clinton in the early part of his first term). McPeak no doubt has provided Obama some valuable guidance. But we're betting that his availability to the media may become more limited.

Same goes for Len Nichols, director of health policy for the New America Foundation. That's a nonpartisan think tank, and Nichols says he is not officially affiliated with the Clinton campaign. But he was part of that conference call it set up to respond to the Obama mailer, and he ended up making more news than her aides would have wanted.

Perhaps the key domestic policy distinction between the two Democrats stems from their healthcare plans -- Clinton's would mandate universal coverage, while Obama's doesn't (he agrees that his proposal would lead to something close to it, though).

The Obama mailer shows a couple sitting at a kitchen table reviewing Clinton's plan. The caption reads: "Hillary's health care plan forces everyone to buy insurance, even if you can't afford it.''

The Clinton campaign took great umbrage to the image, declaring it reminiscent of the famous "Harry and Louise'' ads that the insurance industry used so effectively in the early 1990s to defeat the healthcare revamp effort that Clinton spearheaded while her husband occupied the White House. In the conference call, which The Times' Peter Nicholas listened to, Nichols said he was outraged by the picture.

And then he let his ire get the best of him.

"It is as outrageous as having Nazis march through Skokie, Ill.,'' he said.

He was referring to a cause celebre in the late 1970s, when a group of American Nazis wanted to march through a Chicago suburb with a heavily Jewish population.

The Clinton campaign quickly disavowed Nichols' remark, and he issued an apology.

"Today my passion overwhelmed me,'' he said. "I chose an analogy that was wholly inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for any offense that my unfortunate comments may have caused.''

-- Don Frederick

**** It was open season on the 60-year-old mark the last few days. Mike Huckabee had this to say in cracking wise about his rival in the Republican presidential race, Mitt Romney: "... here's a man who didn't hit political puberty in the conservative ranks until 60 years old."

You can see Huckabee (a mere pup at 52) deliver his line here.

Comments

[Drew]

Look, the ad goes like this:

I voted for the bankruptcy bill after I took their money, but I'm glad it didn't pass.

I voted for the "Authorization to Use Force in Iraq," but I had no idea George Bush would use it to use force in Iraq. [Crude image of Hillary flipping upside down.]

I supported the Governor in issuing Driver's licenses to illegal immigrants before I concluded it was horrible. [Crude image of Hillary flipping upside down.]

I called Reagan one of my favorite Presidents, a man who played the music beautifully before I attacked a primary opponent who said he changed the direction of the country. [Crude image of Hillary flipping upside down.]

Then, you throw in a shot of her casting her head back in that laugh, and we have President McCain. Unelectable.

[Joe Bergevin]

If you're an Obama supporter or thinking about becoming one, and if you're interested in taking a musical side-track for a few moments, check out this song that captures the spirit... www.youtube.com/bergevinbrothers

Enjoy.

Joe

[Barbara]

Personally I thought McPeak was dead on and should not have had to apologize. But everyone is tiptoeing around each other now.

His remark is a good indicator that Clinton might not be respected by the military should she take office.

This will all blow over by tomorrow.

[katharine]

Clinton''s insurance plan is unworkable and unmanageable. Forcing everyone to buy insurance from the upstart will only benefit insurance companies, who will then charge anything they want. But then, maybe Hillary knows that? Obama''s plan will stop the gouging by insurance companies, and not penalize those who can''t afford the insurance, while bringing down costs so that more people can afford it. Under Obama''s plan ANYONE who wants insurance will be given enough subsidy to afford it. His plan is smart and fair. Hers is the equivalent of solving the problem with a sledge hammer and letting the fallout go where it may. Look closely at both plans and you see the managemant style, judgement, and level of compassion of each candidate. Vote for Obama- integrity and compassion!!

[Black Americans for Clinton]

I will vote for HIllary Clinton.

As will the majority of my friends, coworkers, and family.

Obama: You are not ready to lead. Hillary, however, is.

HILLARY '08.

[Ravi]

I am no office bearer or affiliated in any way with either campaign but am simply distressed at the behavior of several actors in this election saga. Talking of ethics the hypocrisy of the Obama campaign boggles my mind.

Two days ago at the University of Denver he launched a series of scathing personal attacks on Hillary Clinton (please read story at http://www.latimes. com/news/ nationworld/ nation/la- na-dems31jan31, 1,7339204. story?ctrack= 1&cset=true ) continuing a pattern that started with the very first primary for Iowa where he painted her as the villain secretly pursuing the agenda of helping lobbyists and special interests and succeeded in derailing her from her hopeful message of Democrats in the White House undoing the years of damage to our society inflicted by George Bush, pursuing universal health care, a more fair tax system, bringing the troops home etc. When she counterattacked -the Obama camp cried uncle and played victim.

Furthermore through their campaign of calumny and dissemblement they tried and succeeded in tarring her and President Clinton with the racist brush. They completely distorted what Bill Clinton said about Obama's supposed track record of consistent opposition of the Iraq war being a fairy tale, to falsely imply that President Clinton was calling his entire campaign (and quest to become President) a fairy tale and was therefore racist. Obama also threw the first barb at Hillary in the last debate when he accused her of being a corporate lawyer for WalMart when he was conducting public service. When she retorted by citing his legal representation of a slum-lord, Obama's campaign again cried uncle and accused the Clintons of being racists. It befuddles me that the Obama campaign is able to so successfully mislead a large number of highly educated young people by dissembling through an anti Clinton media.

The Republicans are enthusiastically cheering him on and doing their very best to drag Hillary's name in the mud. It almost seems that the two campaigns (Republican National Party ) and the Obama campaign are secret allies with a common goal. Guess what ladies and gentlemen, the republicans are not doing this with an altruistic motive!! They are watching with glee as the Democratic Party self destructs and demolishes its only solid and viable candidate for presidency (Hillary). Nothing would be better for them than to have Obama as the nominee. He is a candidate that had no economic plan. He did a poor job of plagiarizing Hillary's plan within 10 hours of Hillary's plan being released by simply adding some items of meaningless spending adding up to $10 billion to Hillary's initiatives in her plan that address such pressing concerns as the housing crisis. However, he left out details of how he would pay for his plan (unlike Hillary). He has empty slogans, cliches and shibboleths to offer, he is shallow and bereft of any substance. She has detailed and intelligent policy prescriptions that reflect a grasp of the most weighty issues confronting our nation and economy, and much deliberation and hard work in thinking through the solutions.

Let us not allow this historic opportunity of electing a truly extraordinary, brilliant and dedicated democratic candidate slip away from us and let us not play into the hands of the Republicans!

Cheers
Ravi

[Jefferson]

I will not vote for Hillary Clinton

As will all of my friends, coworkers, and family (not vote for her)

Obama: You are not ready to lead. John McCain, however, is.

[Greg Jones]

IMPORTANT ISSUE !!!
Hillary's Health Care Plan Would Create 47 Million 'Universal' Law Breakers !

BEWARE !!! Hillary's so-called 'Universal' Health Care Plan is to make it AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE TO NOT BUY THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE (LIKE AUTO INSURANCE)That's not health care....that's just a law (that's what mandate means) !!!!! Under Hillary's health care plan everyone who breaks her law and does not buy their own health coverage (if not offered through their job) would be fined and wages could be garnished. Also, everyone would have to prove that they already have health insurance (show an insurance policy) before they could get a new job if that new job does not offer coverage.If people could afford health care they would have it already! To make it a mandatory law will just make people who are unable to afford the coverage (could be $300-$400 per month/per person) afraid to go to the hospital when seriously ill in fear of getting caught breaking the law (without coverage). Then we'll end up with millions of people simply hiding the fact that they don't have coverage....instead of receiving the true health care they need. TERRIBLE !!! DON'T BE FOOLED AMERICA !!!!!

"All Americans Would be required by law to purchase health insurance" reports CBS News Chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

Visit: http://blacks4barack.homestead.com/ (A Multi-Racial Organization

PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA NEED TO KNOW THIS ABOUT HILLARY'S PLAN. THE LAST THING THESE 47 MILLION PEOPLE NEED IS TO BE CALLED LAW BREAKERS BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO POOR TO AFFORD HEALTH CARE. AND A TAX CUT FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER COVER THE TRUE COST. PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE FACTS !!!

[mark donnelly]

What is all this breathless talk of hope? The “politics of hope?” What does that mean? Does it mean we hope we have world peace? Hope there will be more comity in Washington? Hope that cute guy will call me? Hope my screenplay sells? Does it mean we hope Al Quida stops blowing up buildings and becomes a pro football team and learns to take out its aggression on the field? Hope to me seems, like its limp sister Wishful Thinking, a waste of time.

Hope is not going to make anything happen other than more hope. Hoping the stock market will go up won’t make it happen. Hoping you pass the algebra test won’t help you pass. Working hard, making good, tough decisions (I guess I’ll study rather than watch TV) and bringing dedication, smarts and diligence to the task at hand just might.

Well, you say, hope would just make things so much nicer. More pleasant. More, well, hopeful. Maybe, but to what end? Should we hope that China stops its civil rights abuses or should we do something about it? Should we hope the slaughter in the Congo suddenly morphs into a community picnic or should we take some action? Should we hope that Abu Grahib never happens again or should we take tough minded decisions that assure it won’t?

It’s understandable to hope that your cancer will be healed, but its more important that you can afford health care that might actually make it happen. Its comforting to hope that you’ll win the lottery, but hard work and getting a good education is probably a better career path.

I have heard people say, “Oh, but it was so lovely back when Kennedy was president. He was so hopeful.” Was he? Let’s think about that a minute.

In his inaugural speech Kennedy did not say we should hope for better days. What he said was, don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. He didn’t hope for pie-in-the-sky and say, “Oh, I wish we could go to the moon!” he said we will go to the moon by the end of this decade, and we did. He didn’t hope Americans would be more charitable and kind, he created the Peace Corps. How did this all happen? By hope? No. By hard work, dedication, leadership and tough-mindedness.

So now we are in this fuzzy world of “hope”. All the pundits are talking about it. I hear it at Starbucks. “Oh, I just want someone who will bring back hope.” I don’t. I want a person in the Oval Office who will kick some butt. Who will make tough decisions, get down in the trenches and fight the good fight. The next time someone suggests we dispense with habeas corpus, I want a president who says, “Not on my watch.”

I do not want a president who is full of hope and wishful thinking. I want a president who will grit their teeth and dig in and do the job, even when the job is tough, unpleasant or nasty. I do not want a president who hopes Putin will be more agreeable at the next summit, I want a president who says, back up buddy, this is not my first time at the rodeo. In short, I don’t want a president who hopes things will get better for America. I want a president who makes it happen.

[craig seganti]

Look at this--the country's turned into an apology machine. Watch what you say, don't offend anyone! Let the least offensive person win..what a boring culture we are becoming. So Mcpeak takes a crack--big deal. Everyone looking for their next opportunity to be offended.

I'm voting Ron Paul and could care less about either of these two so anxious to spend my money on others, but let'em have at it if they want without everyone getting so offended.

[Ansh Ammital]

JFK was a serial philanderer, Bay of Pigs. LBJ perpetuated the Vietnam war. Nixon, criminal. Carter, serial incompetency. Reagan, soaring national debt/Iran-contra/S&L fiasco. Bush Sr, king of recession, House of Saudis. Then, Democrats, we had Bill Clinton. Get some historical perspective. Alan Greenspan called him the smartest president he had worked with. Listen: nothing is perfect in life. It was the search for perfection that doomed Gore. Don’t join republicans in destroying the best presidential years in near history. If you must chuck Clintons, fine. Don’t throw them overboard to the sharks. Don’t skewer them. Hillary was destroyed because she wanted to get you Universal Healthcare. Her method was flawed but look where her heart was. Be kinder.

As for Obama. If this guy had to vote Present 133 times instead of taking a position in the Illinois chambers, to deny grist for republican propaganda; if he has to be politically expedient in the bluest of blue states, what the heck would he have done in the jingoistic, pressure cooker the senate was in 2002/03?! More so, what would he have done if Sears tower had been attacked rather than World Trade Center?! He is 46 years old – not that young. What has he done except organize in the streets of Chicago?! It is sad to hear him repeat that over and over again. Ethics bill? Are you kidding me? If you don’t do anything, of course, you will be clean as heck. It’s like dumping a veteran captain and handing the sword to a young soldier fresh from the academy and telling him to go fight because he is fresh, strong, untainted and has been known to have given expert commentary on a battle from a distant hill. One anti-war speech made from the extra safe liberal bulwarks of Illinois should not a president make. The guy has barely made any special anti-war noise in the senate, and followed the exact stroll of Hillary with respect to all bills – funding and otherwise.

[Vish]

Here's an Ad for Hillary.

Heading: Another Lying Politician.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQY_9ZcsjpQ&NR=1

[Middle Class in California]

Well, I was a Hillary supporter. But I notice her followers and campaign aren't, for the most part, being forthright in giving compelling reasons to vote for her. For example, just saying, "Hillary is ready to lead. Obama isn't" might work in High School, but not for grown-ups who have to work and pay taxes. After looking at her record and policies, I have doubts about where and how she would lead. As for her health care policy, it looks to be "universal" in name only, and people would still be uncovered. It would definitely help insurance profits, and grown-ups can't help noticing that she is well funded by the insurance industry. As a middle class voter, I don't want to be used as a pawn.

Other than that, what is the difference between her and Obama? His position on the war and their years of experience are at issue. Well, his call on the war rightly anticipated the problem we're in now. As far as experience goes, he's been an ELECTED official at the state and national level 4 years longer than she has. Bill Clinton was a year younger than Obama when he ran for president and had no national or foreign policy experience, whereas Obama does.

Other than Obama, I think Huckabee is an interesting candidate. And, no, I am not an evangelist. (I am Christian, in the tradition of Jesus' teachings to love my neighbor as myself and to seek the kingdom of God). But what impresses me about Huckabee is that as Governor he always balanced the budget and improved schools, health care, and infrastructure.

On Tuesday, I'll be voting for Obama it turns out. I think it’s okay for a candidate to have brains and inspire people. I don’t hold it against him. If by chance Hillary wins the nomination for the ticket, I'm inclined to vote republican. But I'm leaving it open for the Hillary campaign to address some of the serious flaws of her record, associations, and platform.