The heat keeps rising in the Democratic race

Another day, another mini-dustup between the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns.

Regardless of how "honored" she felt late last week about sharing a debate stage with Obama, Clinton spent the weekend expressing both anger and ridicule toward him, as The Times' Michael Finnegan and Mark Barabak detailed here. Today, there surfaced a more indirect effort to undermine Obama, apparently emanating from the Clinton team.

Throughout much of the day, the lead item on the influential Drudge Report has been a photo of Obama dressed in native garb as he visited Kenya two years ago -- a picture that, according to the post, was circulated by "stressed Clinton staffers."

Obama aides, already having dealt with anonymous efforts to depict Obama as a "Muslim plant," reacted with indignation. Campaign manager David Plouffe issued a statement saying: “On the very day that Senator Clinton is giving a speech about restoring respect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we’ve seen from either party in this election."

The response from Clinton's newly installed campaign manager, Maggie Williams, was intriguing: she essentially told ...

the Obama folks to clam up, without addressing the question of how the photo came to attract such attention.

"Enough," read the start of Williams' statement.

It went on: “If Barack Obama’s campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed. Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely."

Indeed, the Drudge item includes such shots not only of her (with her daughter, Chelsea, also in the frame), but of Bill Clinton and President Bush, as well.

On the trail, meanwhile, Hillary Clinton continued her frontal assault on Obama today. In the speech focusing on foreign policy that Plouffe referred to, delivered in Washington, she had this to say: "We have seen the tragic result of having a president who had neither the experience or the wisdom to manage our foreign policy and safeguard our nation. America has already taken that chance one time too many."

She may not have uttered Obama's name, but it's not like she had in mind presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain, whose calling card is his foreign-policy credentials.

It's all enough to make you think the two Democrats are approaching some sort of big showdown -- say, in Ohio and Texas.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Vile]

I was absolutely enraged when I saw this story cross the wires this morning. That they would deliberately try to stoke religious hatred in order to win the next states is horrifying to contemplate. That's what Hitler did to come to power.

And her campaign manager sits there and suggests it's just a harmless little photo.

Doesn't Clinton remember there's a Muslim congressman? Is he somehow "unfit" to serve suddenly.

The fact the party STILL hasn't come out and denounced this just disgusts me even more. It's truly sickening.

[Rod Fraser]

Hillary Clinton has gone a s low as you can go. She and her handlers should be ashamed. This will truly be her undoing. She is a phony.

[Windfall]

Huessein Obama looks as ridiculous in his turban and bed sheet as Michael Dukakis looked in his helmet and tank.

If these guys are our “best and brightest”, how come they have absolutely no common sense… even as relates to their field of endeavor, i.e., politics?

[soflindie]

This is the exact reason why I could never vote for a Clinton ever ! Get out Hill , before you lose more respect !

[chris cameron]

Why is Obama so embarrassed about this photo? Is he embarrassed to be seen in traditional African garb? Obama's bizarre reaction to it in very intriguing. It seems to be an over-reaction. Why?

If he didn't want to be seen in that turban, why did he put it on and let himself be photographed? This guy makes no sense to me. He doesn't add up. I know one thing, if he's the nominee you can say hello to President McCain.

[Billy]

We shouldn't focus on silly pictures. We should focus on what happens when we make the mistake of voting for someone who is inexperienced to lead our nation.

[Jim]

Do you actually believe that the Hillary camp would think this image would help their cause. Give me a break! It took only a few minutes for everyone to realize that this image was not a big deal, but at the same time cause a fury among none other than the mean-spirited Barack Obama supporters. Calm down! The facts are not all here, and you would be delusional to think that the Clinton camp would think this is exactly what they needed to do to stop Obamania.

[don]

So Obama's campaign and his supporters are actually naive enough to believe the Drudge Report? How pathetic can you get? Obama's campaign tries to blame Clinton's campiagn for everything out on the internet. Do they realize how the internet even works? They are either very naive or purposefully trying to make it look as though Clinton's campaign is spreading things they are not.

[Robert]

Hillary is fear mongering again. She is desperate for a win and is now reacting with arrogance as she has discovered that Clinton clout and connections are not enough to win the election. The American People will decide this election and we are sick and tired of the dysfunctional political games on both sides of the aisle. Did the Dems listen to us when spoke at the polls 2 years ago? Apparently not. This time we will speak load and clear. The internet has made us more powerful as a people. Politicians...take notice....Americans are going to take our country back. Your old games are outdated and do not work. Either serve the American people and not your egos....and do the job we elected you to do....otherwise....we will send you home packing.

[George Watson]

I am convinced that Hillary would stoop any low win this election.

GW

[TK]

IF this was truly distributed by elements of the Clinton campaign it is as disgraceful as Bill Clinton's attempt to marginalize the Obama candidacy by racial triangulation politics.

But at the point where we start taking the Drudge Report as an authoritative source, I think it's time to take a deep breath and think twice.

[The Joker]

Billary and Nader - The Dream Team from the past. They both should just fold up their tents and go home. Oh, wait, Billary doesn't know whether the home is east or west of the Mississippi...LOL

[Disgusted in Seattle]

Well, one can hope that the Democratic Party elders are very annoyed but also feel that Obama can handle this just like he's handled all the ugliness that has come from the HRC campaign, including from our esteemed former President.

For someone who accused Obama of Karl Rove tactics just this weekend, Hillary is indeed proving to be what many felt she always was - down and dirty and win at any costs, even if it means dividing the country and the Party. I hope it backfires (there's that word "hope" again), and feel it will.

She can't lose fast enough, for this Democrat. Because who knows what other "Karl Rove" tactics she might come up with.

[digger]

I was more or less ambivalent about both candidates, but this made me so angry that I gave Obama $100. Clinton should throw in the towel before she completely derails the democratic campaign.

[manuto]

This is a pathetic story and the writers should be ashamed for even participating. Hillary is desperately trying to alter the scheme of things. Her attacks are so inconsequential that I doubt anyone is listening outside of the obsessive/compulsive authors. Either they are on the payroll of the Clinton team or simply morons.

[Cdn observer.]

Maggie William's response seems to be virtual tacit admission, that the photo was circulated by the Clinton camp. If it was not, then she would simply state what any reasonable unbiased democrat might say, namely to deny any connection with the image's appearance in the media. William's rhetoric suggests a strategy of insinuation playing to the public's latent racism. It is a heinous, well-worn, but unfortunately often historically successfully ploy.

Whether the GOP can refrain from such tactics when the presidential race comes down to a Obama/McCain showdown remains to be seen.

For the average person with any decency and intelligence, what a sad and barbaric place the world has become. Hopefully either McCain or Obama can help turn things around, at least a little bit.

[Bunja!]

The Clintons can wave Buh-Bye to the Black vote forever! And if she is the nominee - the Dems - can watch the Black Vote hemorrhaging from the bleachers!

She is disgusting and the fact that Mr. Liberal himself Howard Dean does not make a statement against this is just as disgusting!

[spiritguide]

Although I am well traveled and do not take offense at the photo of Barack Obama dressed in traditional garb during a relatively recent trip to Kenya, I'm sure many in post 9/11 America will, and they will read alot into it as they do with Michelle Obama's "really proud" remark. What does offend me is the obvious intent of Hillary Clinton's team to stir up such prejudicial and fear-driven reactions on the part of moderate and conservative voters. Altho in the past I have wavered, at this point I would never be able to vote for her in the primary or general election. Way to go Hillary! I doubt she'll ever get any votes out of this, but she seems determined to take the Democratic party down with her.

[Tony in LA]

HRC Inc. is in full melt-down mode.

Texas and Ohio, PLEASE SAVE US from any more of this. She's destroying the Democratic party.

[James]

I really dont understand why this would be a big issue.
Whoever started circulating this pictures on the web has some answering to do yes. But to be completely thrown off by what the picture depicts is just wrong. We certainly know that Obama is an African American, and would it be an issue, nor would it be offensive to see him in a Somali clothing? I really dont think so. We all came from different racial backgrounds, if this is the basis for our decision then we have to reevaluate ourselves.

[hms]

Why is Obama ashamed of wearing a dress when he went to Kenya.

I don't think Clinton's campaign is stoking this story. Obama's campaign is..

[Jim]

Wow.

Godwin's Law comes into play with the very first comment.

[captbilly]

I'm not saying the Bush knew what he was doing as president but in the same way that Hillary claims to have experience because her husband was president couldn't Bush Jr. claim to have had experience because his father was president. I'm sure George Jr. heard a lot about foreign policy during the years his dad was VP and then President, and I'm sure he has had some conversations with dad since Jr. took ofice. In the end though, being president is not the same as being the son or wife of a president. I'm a bit tired of this ready on day one BS that Hillary keeps spewing. I don't believe any president in history would be ready to take on the problems that Bush has left us. We have some tough days ahead dealing with the Iraq war and outragious deficits, the best we can hope for is some real meaningful change in how things get done in Washington.

[shirlin]

The Clinton campaign is pure toxicity for the Democratic Party and for our nation. The photo inflames the lies about Obama's so-called Muslim identity, attempts to sway African Americans that Obama is African and so feeds the xenophobia that has so stained our nation's history. Is Hillary's team the face we patriots wish to present to the rest of the world? Her campaign is like one that may be run by despotic rulers such as Catherine the Great and the Empress Dowager of China. As a senior citizen feminist I am heart-sick to think that she is the face of US feminism. We deserve much much better that her ugly tactics of scorch-earth victory. Such disgusting politics must surely pull out the worse elements of hatred of others in our national psyche. The Hillary campaign is truly becoming very dangerous for us as a people and a nation.

[DoThe Math]

Attempts such as this, designed to appeal to the worst in people, explain what Obama means when he says, "My faith in the American people is vindicated."

Look around, Americans. Sure, we still have a few throw-backs who slither out from under their rocks to spew their venom. Stunts like this photo release make them feel brave enough to come out - as long as they're posting anonymously.

But guess what? We finally have overwhelming proof that they're a small minority. Look at the numbers. Look at the millions who are NOT influenced by these slimy tactics.

Congratulations, America! You've already moved past the divisive politics that have held us back for such a long time.