Key Barack Obama advisor calls Hillary Clinton a 'monster'

Samantha Power, a Barack Obama foreign policy advisor and Harvard professor who helped focus the world's attention on genocide, apparently has a little trouble with personal diplomacy. In an interview with the Scotsman published today, Power described Hillary Clinton as a "monster" and used an expletive to describe the Obama campaign's losing effort in Ohio -- comments for which she is already apologizing.

The money quote: "You just look at her and think, 'Ergh.' But if you are poor and she is telling you some story about how Obama is going to take your job away, maybe it will be more effective. The amount of deceit she has put forward is really unattractive."

And: "In Ohio, they are obsessed and Hillary is going to town on it, because she knows Ohio's the only place they can win. She is a monster, too -– that is off the record -– she is stooping to anything."

Imagine the meeting this morning among the Obama communications advisors. Power, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, already has drawn lightning over her views on the Mideast, though she has picked up some defenders too.

And there will probably be some chatter this morning about Power's saying that the "monster" comment was off the record. But Power should know better. Off-the-record status is something agreed to between interviewer and interviewee, not something decreed by the person being interviewed because he or she uttered something problematic.

And in this case, Power's "frankness" might not rise to the level of Obama's "problem from hell," but it's not exactly the kind of distraction the campaign needs at this point.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Jason]

If the shoe fits, wear it.

[disgusted]

Positively brilliant, Power. You've managed to damage Obama in the moment where he needed more than ever to appear gracious and to rise above this kind of mudslinging.

[Apolitical Joe]

Mommy! Mommy! Samantha said a bad! Samantha said a bad! Are you going to spank her mommy?

What a dumb story, and who cares? Only newspapers thinking only about sales figures.

To all: Lowest common denominator crud journalism is on the march, ready to inform you!

[Kirk Davids]

So Samantha Power committed the cardinal sin of speaking the truth to the press (whose mandate, I believe, is to "speak truth to power").

Hillary Clinton, in her increasing desperation to "win" the Democratic nomination, has resorted to calling for the rules to which she agreed to be changed half-way thru the process by "counting" delegates from Florida and (unbelievably) from Michgian, where Obama and Edwards were not even on the ballot. She's compared Senator Obama to Kenn Starr, she's implied that she doesn't really know if he's a Muslim or not, that his wins in some states were due to "racial pride", her campaign has threatened to sue the Texas Democratic Party, and she's compained endlessly about the caucus system is unfair.

In short - she's become a monster in just three short months. Kudos to Ms. Power - a woman used to dealing with the results of egomania from the former Yugoslavia to Darfur - for calling it like she sees it. It's a shame she needs to apologize at all, to be honest. I am one voter who will stay home rather than vote for any Democratic nominee who wins neither the pledged delegate count nor the popular vote.

[Jackie]

Hillary is a monster only those asleep don't know that.

[Bob P]

I agree...she is a ruthless monster...good call a spade is a spade.

[Stacey Alpert]

This person is an academic, and the only life experience she has is picking up her dry-cleaning. She may have a mean jump shot, but basketball is won in the fourth quarter as everyone knows, and she didn't even make it to half-time. Back to your laptop at Starbucks, dear.

[Bianka]

And she is a Harvard professor... she should know better.

[Valerie Harris]

Powers just got fired!

[sunjay]

Since you're covering reports from the Foreign Press w/regard to the campagin, how about covering the report that it was *Hillary's campaign* not Barack's that reached out to Canadian officials re: a NAFTA wink-wink ..?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080305.wharpleak0305/BNStory/National/home

"Quite a few people heard it," said one source in the room.

"He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton's campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt. . . That someone called us and told us not to worry."

Clinton playbook == DENY, DENY, DENY

[Bob P]

I agree...she is a ruthless monster...good call a spade is a spade.

[Paula]

I am surprised that Obama's campaign didn't say that they were MISQUOTED! lol!

[FreedomRider]

Hillary is divisive. She is polarizing the democratic party in the same manner in which she has polarized the nation. She is a divider, not a uniter. Professor Power would have been better served to state that Hillary's behavior is monstrous when it comes to her placing her own quest for power above uniting the country.

[jimmy]

SHE has problems with personal diplomacy!?!?!?!

LOL! No, baby, she's just telling it like it is. You want to know the truth, you need to stop focusing on little bits like this and write an article about how horrible home prices are across the country and we need a drop in the housing market badly or how wages are falling while prices are skyrocketing or how working class people are working full time, earning under the federal poverty line, and NOT GETTING THEIR NEEDS MET.

This is the important stuff. This crap about name calling is not important and a waste of ALL of our time. Especially after all the bullshit attacks Hillary Clinton has brought against Obama. Shit like - if she wants to take credit for the work of her husband, she also needs to take responibility for NAFTA, but I guess that would take some critical thinking and writing instead of this, "poor little Hillary" mindset you people are displaying.

[FLRepublican]

Monster is a bit exaggerating. Ruthless hag would be closer.

[Ramon]

Well, so much for the Obama fairytale that they are all "good guys" that just want to talk about hope and none of the ugliness of real issues.

[Ron, Redlands.]

Many in this country are getting upset like Samantha Power with the gutter politics Clinton has sunk to. Obama's campaign has been uplifting to date, but in the end to set the country on a new path, he may have to wade in the cesspoll of Clintonland.

[Ramon]

Well, so much for the Obama fairytale that they are all "good guys" that just want to talk about hope and none of the ugliness of real issues.

[Kye]

Funny how people are made to eat their words after speaking the truth. Perhaps everyone wants to continue to live in La-La Land and don't want to acept the truth.

[Campaign Monster]

By the time Obama and Clinton are done with each other, the majority of the party will be too disillusioned and disheartened to go out and vote in November. Throw on top of that 80% of the democrats in Michigan and Florida who will be revolting in November.

[Art Hale]

I am involved in grassroots CaDem politics and am surprised at the number of people I run into who are deeply troubled by Hillary's actions and Obama's apparent need to respond in kind. They feel that the Dems may snatch defeat from the jaws of what should be an easy victory. I think Rosa Brooks' op-ed piece in today's Times is right on.

[Doug]

Truth is a defense

[Dj Delmonico]

Hillary IS A MONSTER
she is stooping to bush tactics to try and get elected.
Sue Lie Cheat and Steal.

If she gets the nom, I vote Nader, otherwise, its Obama.

Hillary, you neocon dawg in hiding.

[The Steadmanns]

She is a monster -- just ask Vince Foster.

The Steadmanns

[char]

Hillary Clinton is in a time warp, and living in 1992. People cared and were excited about politics again, especially young people...Bill not Hillary was responsible for this. This is why she is a bitter hag. On topic: Completely agree with her characterization as a MONSTER, yes she is a monster; willing to tear apart the party for her selfish ego. It is too bad that stupid people fall for her negative politics.