Clinton camp roots out a rogue element

A work week partly consumed by an uproar sparked by controversial remarks by one of Hillary Clinton's high-profile supporters -- Geraldine Ferraro -- ended, at least at the presidential candidate's Philadelphia field office, with a minor flap caused by an anonymous backer.

The Times' Peter Nicholas was observing Clinton's grassroots operation in the City of Brotherly Love when a man who had been making calls at a phone bank on her behalf walked over, unbidden, to explain what motivated him.

"I'm supporting Hillary because I love the Lord and I don't want a person named Al-Barack Hussein Obama to be our next president,'' he said.

Told that Barack Obama is a practicing member of the Christian faith, the man said he believed Clinton's rival to be Muslim.

He went on to say that Obama "would be detrimental to the church.''

Nicholas relates that word of the incident ...

quickly spread through the suite of offices. And in short order, another campaign worker came over as the man was about to make another call and grabbed the campaign-issued cellphone out of his hand. The worker then escorted the man, who said he was 55 years old, out of the room.

A spokesman for Clinton's Pennsylvania campaign, Mark Nevins, who was in another office at the time, told Nicholas afterward: "That guy's not going to be making phone calls for us anymore. Sometimes people have their own agenda. And that's not what our campaign is all about.''

The ill-informed worker, however, was not immediately drummed out of the corps. Asked a little later what became of the man, Nevins told Nicholas that he was assembling Clinton yard signs. He added that other campaign aides planned to talk to him.

"I don't think we want someone like that associated with the campaign,'' Nevins said.

Nicholas on Thursday night had visited Obama's campaign's field office in Doylestown, Pa., about an hour north of Philadelphia, and was allowed free access to roam without an escort. But he found the Clinton office more buttoned-down; a campaign volunteer shadowed him throughout his visit.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[GK]

Don, this is the most interesting thing of the campaign to report, isn't it? It is possible Nicholas had a personal agenda as was mentioned, I wonder though, what's yours?

Thank you.

[Marcos]

I'm voting for McCain because JFK was a Baptist. Just kidding.

[fanny funny]

Will it EVER end? first, barack is accused of being a muslim mole; now he's accused of being too close to a white-hating pastor. there will undoubtedly be quite a few who believe both simultaneously.

[GERI YROBEC]

iN THE BEGINNING I WAS CONVINCED THAT I COULD ACCEPT EITHER HILLARY OR OBAMA AS THEIR CAMPAIGNS DO NOT DIFFER THAT MUCH.THEN I WENT TO SEE AND LISTEN TO HILLARY SHE WILL HAVE MY VOTE.I AM SO SICK OF HEARING OBAMA'S NAME,IF I HAD A DIME FOR EVERY TIME HIS NAME HAS BEEN MENTIONED I COULD RETIRE IN PEACE.IF HE WINS YOU CAN THANK ALL OF CNN,WHAT A BIASED BUNCH,BUT AS LONG AS THEY KEEP HIS NAME OUT THERE ,THEY ARE DOING HIS DIRTY WORK FOR HIM AND HE COMES OUT SMELLING LIKE A ROSE.iF I HEAR THE LONG DEAD :WHITE RIVER: MORE TIME.THEY REACH DEEP AND DIIRTY,THEY SHOULD ALL LOSE THEIIR JOBS FOR NOT STAYING IMPARTIAL.hILLARY YOU GO GIRL

[Paul]

'"I don't think we want someone like that associated with the campaign,'' Nevins said.'
Clinton is just churning out McCain supporters, isn't she.

[Larry M]

Hey Geri Y, I see that they did take away your cellphone, but why did they place you on the blogging campaign? Would you prefer that his name not be spoken? Have you been to a Obama town hall? Are you just a little bit mixed up? Just a little? Be careful, for they will take away your internet privileges as well.

[Bon]

Geri, allow me to educate you. First a little etiquette: Using all CAPS online is the equivalent of yelling your message. It's rude

Second, and more importantly: A major difference between the Obama and Clinton campaigns is that Obama's campaign does not sling mud like Clinton's does. There is no dirty work -- by CNN or anyone else. He stays focused on the positive, on the possibilities ahead of us, not on what's bad and negative. Nothing productive comes of focusing on the negative. It's another indicator of his potential for bringing true change to a country that sorely needs it.

Third: It's Whitewater, not White River. If you are going to claim a position, you should not build it on the sands of ignorance.

[Bill Clinton]

Hey, I bet once Peter Nicholas left, they returned the cell phone to that guy.

[Chad]

I have no CONTROL over my CAPItal LoCk KEYS like GERI YROBEC... SOMEone HELP me - for I also NEVER went to that there schoooool ... (yes i have placed extra o's in the word school, however, i am not sure GERI will notice) ... I HOPE I donT lose my "DIIRTY" job (not that GERI has ONE) ... GO hILLIARY!!! ... Thank god the only thing of importance you have EVER done is marry bill CLINTON (who slept around on you ... because honestly, who wouldnt! - well at least i wont want to sleep with that manily woman)

[RR]

Yeah, Geri Y... you were neutral, then you heard Hillary... did you bother to hear Barack? Nice objectivity.

[Foo]

When someone brags about money, he probably doesn't have much - Bill Gates wouldn't need to show off. When a guy yells and acts tough, he's probably scared - world's best fighters like Chuck Liddell are actually very laid back because they have nothing to prove.

Likewise, when people attack others just because of their unusual name or skin color, that's due to insecurity. It takes a secure person to embrace positive differences and diversity. It takes a confident person to know that certain unfamiliarities are harmless. It's when you are insecure and uninformed, that you start to feel only comfortable with things/ people exactly like you, and react to anything different with anger and attacks. That's how our lowest uncivil instincts react when scared.

If you dislike Obama as a candidate because he doesn't have a longer resume, I respect that although disagree. But if you are discussed at him only because his name sounds a little different, or that his skin color looks a little different, please think again why you feel that why and who's really the petty one here.

[Jim]

I don't think that Clinton's campaign can be faulted for a volunteer making those comments, as long as they did something about stopping this person from saying offensive comments while representing the campaign once it was brought to their attention.
While I don't fault the Clinton campaign for this, I still think that they have gone too far in several attacks they have made against the Obama camapaign. I hope the attacks don't work. Go Obama!

[James K]

I am going to vote for Obama because of his name. Ever heard the phrase, if you can't beat them - join them. Well, we've been in Iraq what 5 years?!? Obviously the greatest military power the world has ever seen isn't a match for a bunch of rag-tag desert dwellers. Remember, we were seeing the last throes of the insurgency a couple years ago. Maybe if we join them, they won't attack us.

[Edwin Herdman]

Even though Geri put it in all-caps, it's still worth noting that Obama has done very well to deflect criticism while in fact having pulled some political pranks of his own, like "accidental" campaigning in places (and his ads in southern Florida before the primary).

What troubles me more than that is the disconnect between Obama and much of his support base (not to mention the disconnect between some states that have voted for him but who will turn out Republican in the fall); young people and bloggers who just like his message of change and are fanatical about it.

Obama does not read blogs (he's said so); so it's hard to believe he cares what his vaunted youth core of supporters think. He probably doesn't condone supporters going out and trashing Clinton, but nobody feels the need to go out onto the 'net and try to correct the distortions going on out there. That's true of both candidates, but he benefits from it in a way that Clinton doesn't due to the fact that the nation hasn't had a history with him (unlike Clinton).

[Bruce Stewart]

Where there is smoke there is fire. Since Senator Obama took the lead in this campaign the Clinton campaign has stooped to all sorts of nasty tricks to discredit him. This is just one more way of spreading their venom. The Clinton have a well established record of dirty tricks and amoral activity.

God forbid if Clinton wins this primary campaign. The Gop will tear her to shreds!!

A vote for Obama is a vote for decency and honesty. Come on America, you have just lived through almost 8 years of lies and deception, do you want more of the same??

jbs

[fred]

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH USING ALL CAPS. JUST B/C ITS ALL IN CAPS DOESNT MEAN I AM YELLING. I'M ACTUALLY THINKING THIS VERY CALM AND POLITE. JUST LIKE SOME PEOPLE WRITE IN ALL CAPS... BUT ANYWAY OBAMA IS RACISIT. ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER BLACKS.

[Frank]

Whether Barack Obama is a true Christian or a closet Muslim is a question that no one can answer with certainty except Obama himself or the Lord. It is okay for anyone who has any doubt to say his/her mind as long as he/she cites facts instead of falsehood. Frankly, there simply were no records of Obama involved with any Church activities until he was politically active. And let’s just look at normal statistics of one’s religious faith versus one’s childhood upbringing. If you were raised in a Catholic family and went to a Catholic school as a child, you have a 92% chance of being a Catholic as an adult. Obama was raised in a Muslim family and was sent to an Indonesia Muslim school. He wasn’t in Indonesia because his parents were US diplomats stationed in Indonesia; he was there because his parents wanted him to be educated as a good Muslim. Granted, Obama could be part of the 8% of population that took up a different religion in spite of his family’s upbringing and his childhood religious schooling. If any voter has any doubt on Obama’s faith, I think such a doubt is legitimate and that person should not be automatically looked upon as a racist or an intolerant person.

[Michael L]

my stab at sarcasm here, but comes from my truth; Too bad politics is such a dirty game; Iʻm not young, but how ironic does it have to be that persons running for president of the USA, or even any political office, to make decisions and rule/lead "the people" will STOOP so low, toss most shreds of decency allowable to the winds, and create such stink... and still keep and even increase their support in some cases... (shakes head; over and over). At least I can understand the "crazy" guy....
wtf.
Hillary, never.

[Fred]

Edwin - Obama purchased time for a nationwide cable ad that the cable company told him they could not keep out of just Florida. So he went to the DNC to ask if that violated the rules and got an official ruling that it did NOT. I expect you heard it from Clinton supporters the way you phrased it, but please stop spreading the falsehood about him violating the rules in Florida.

[Fred]

This latest instance, combined with first hand reports of Clinton campaign workers calling voters and "accidentally" calling Obama, "Osama" instead, makes it clear that SOMEONE in the Clinton hierarchy thinks this is a good idea. (link to one report below)

If it's not already Clinton herself telling people to do this, she needs to straighten them out immediately or she is condoning their behavior.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/did_i_say_osama_i_meant_obama.html

[mike k]

So the question is, was he kicked out because you were there or because they don't want falsehoods about Obama spread around? Hard to tell, 'as far as I know.'

[Tahler]

OBAMA'S RACIST PREACHER HATES AMERICA!

[whataplace]

I don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim, but if he were--why would that matter? I still can't figure out what all these intolerant rednecks (yes, attitude-wise, you could even be from Manhattan and be a "redneck") are so afraid of (?)

Most Muslims are about as close to radical Muslims in their religious outlook as most American Christians are to radical Evangelicals (yup, equally dangerous in my book).

It's really pathetic that such a large portion of the popluation in the "world's greatest country" is apparently living out their lives cowering in fear and distrust.

I think we can thank the Shrub for that.

And to "Frank" @ 2:45--highly suspect numbers you are quoting--got any sources for your "facts"?

[Glen]

Does anyone remember the name BUSH. That is evil. That is injustice. That is contempt of law. That is the name to fear. Mcain = Bush. Clinton = Clinton. Enough.
So, there are no white churchs that hate blacks, or non christians. Oh, and all white people subscribe to that prejudice, I forgot. And a church in Chicago, is going to do less harm to this country than BalckwaterUSA and Halliburton trust me, so get over it. Oh and the war idea, suuuper. Spend billions of my money, illegally, and then have Hillary tell me that I have to buy health insurance. Tell it to the dead GI's, their families and the ones that have been denied coverage. Great fiscal and responsible planning all round.

[stuck in the ME]

lets just all be honest- i almost dont care what either one of them runs on. i just want to change the party in office right now. i am voting for whichever one makes it through the nomination process. Look on the bright-side, whoever wins it will usher in a monumental period of time in american politics. so why bother to bicker about it?

[Dylan]

Religion has no place in politics, one way or the other. Who cares even if Obama were muslim? Honestly, this is what is killing America and the rest of the planet -- religious fervor instead of focusing on the real issues.

It's the economy, you fools!

[Nadji]

Dylan - who cares? I promise you you will if the muslims ever get the upper hand here, and thinking like you do they may. I bet you would change your mind once they start cutting heads. I assure you that is real.

[dino p]

Why was Kosmo Kramer chastised for using the N word and Obamas pastor, Rev Jeremiah Wright not ? Is it because he is a black man himself ? Does that make it ok ? Seems like something is wrong in our society.

[roneida]

The childish debates and jealous backbiting that the Democrats show more everyday, is obviously planned and directed by President Bush and Vice President Cheney using Carl Roves script. No one else is brilliant and persistent enough to make their opposition self destruct from within without spending a dime. John McCain may as well go to the beach for a month and come back to no opposition. God bless America.. no caps needed ..I don't have to scream to be heard.

[Just an observer]

McCain = Bush
Hillarry = Bush
Obama = ?

Your Choice, live with the consequences.

[Kaycee]

After reading all the comments on this blog I have come to the conclusion that no one is listening to either candidate. You guys want to fight with each other on who is yelling on the blog, or that Obama is muslim ( Not True) You get smear email's and believe it with out doing researce to see if any of it is correct..what this country needs is to change and grow up..We fight to much with each other..Red's vs Blue, Blacks vs white, South vs West, Liberal vs conservative. Yada Yada Yada~ We are all american's One Nation....No one is listening to the issue's.. I'm a white senior woman that has lived life & you kids are going to have to run this country..If you don't learn to get over all your prejudices these same problems will go on for the next genration...
Our young people have a chance to make things happen..to make things different from the old school days when prejudice was alive and well...Stop being so picky and listen...Just because Obama preacher is a radical ~ Lots of my priest's have been radical too..does't mean I listen. I have my own mind. Make my own decision's..I watch people ~Gop's that don't like McCain yet will vote for him because they won't vote out of party..It's all about the person , his qualifications, who do we want to represent US? We need someone smart, articulet, calm, has good judgement, Someone that can get our good name back in the world...The U.S. has to come together or we will be finished with all our fighting...As a grandmother wishing for you young people our world without all the fighting.......Please study the candidates and not all the negative's...Both have plenty of positives to focus on.. I myself am an Obama supporter because I really want to believe In Hope...Nothing wrong with Hope ? John and Jackie Kennedy gave us hope.... Barack and Michele will be able to guild our country just fine I believe ..JMHO~

[challie]

for those who remember, we believed fidel castro when he said he wanted to form a democracy and be a friend of the U.S., if U believe Obama U are about to be betrayed again. he is a convincing liar, a promiser of dreams and a sweet talker, but underneath he is draped in robes and a turbin, ready to betray us just as fidel who almost put nukes in our back yard. BE CAREFUL AMERICA, U are about to be deceived !!!!!!!!

[roger]

Why people are so hateful?
Clintons were to blame when stirred the controversy about Obama's faith via robo-call, radio-call and inspired other hate groups. That's the most obvious reason Obama lost in New Hampshire - this is the fact!

Interestingly people are more intrigued by rumor than facts. Since Barack has a funny name and one of his grandma is a Muslim, does not necessarily make him a Muslim, does it?

Even, presumtous, B "HUSSAIN", is it that scary? Why in the world people think Obama will harm American's interest as a President? Afterall, he is serving this country for so long! Why people would question his patriotism? There should be no doubt he is as patriotic as us, he is serving in US Senate for a long time.

Obama is very unique, given his international stature - I can't disagree Bill Richardson, Obama is an Internationalist. Barack can heal this nation, he can bring bright future, he can walk us to the future.

Think future, vote Obama!

[DAVID A. BELANGER,VET]

Bernanke took advantage of little-used parts of Fed law, added in the 1930s and last utilized in the 1960s, that allow it to lend to corporations and private partnerships with a special board vote. The Fed chief probably sought to stave off a deeper blow to the financial system from a Bear Stearns collapse, former Fed researcher Keith Hembre said.

``The Fed really doesn't have any obligation to help a non- bank aside from its role or responsibility to keep the financial markets functioning,'' said Hembre, who helps oversee $107 billion as chief economist at FAF Advisors Inc. in Minneapolis. ``They made a judgment, probably an accurate one, that they're not going to function very well if you've got a full-blown crisis with a major Wall Street firm.''

Unanimous Vote

THEY HAVE GIVEN THE BANKS 500 BILLION IN THE LAST 30 DAYS, AND THEY ARE ALL GOING UNDER, WOULD OF BEEN BETTER TO PAY OFF OR DOWN ALL THE MORTGAGES FROM 2001 TO 2007 AND SAVE AMERICANS FROM LOSEING THEIR HOMES..

WHAT YOU THINK AMERICA?????

for-america@hotmail.com

[BenAMarine]

George W. Bush et. al. is responsible for the deaths of over 1 million innocent men, women and children. And, he lied to do it. Sheikh Usama bin Laden is still "Determined to Strike in US."

"Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh." ~ George W. Bush

You have not been paying attention!

[Will K.]

Obama's religion should not be an issue, and is not an issue for me. What is at issue is what his agenda is, what he thinks, what kind of president he would make. In this regard, I find him lacking. He is too much of an unknown to be, in my opinion, president.

I also question his judgment. The statements by his minister are ignorant and base, displaying a passionate hatred of white people and extreme racism. I assume Obama rejection of these comments are for political purposes. The fact that he knew about these comments, by his own admission at the start of his bid for the presidency, and still made his minister a part of his campaign, displays at best poor judgment, at worse agreement with some if not all of the statements. This should not something easily overlooked. He is, in deed and fact, too inexperienced to be president. It also puts his decision not to wear the US flag pin, and his wife's comments about never previously feeling pride in her country, in a more sinister context.

The only candidate who can help this nation, in the world and at home, is Hillary. I implore every Obama supporter to reexamine their decision for the good of the country.

[Stop the Madness]

I am going to vote for Obama because of his name. Ever heard the phrase, if you can't beat them - join them. Well, we've been in Iraq what 5 years?!? Obviously the greatest military power the world has ever seen isn't a match for a bunch of rag-tag desert dwellers. Remember, we were seeing the last throes of the insurgency a couple years ago. Maybe if we join them, they won't attack us.

Obviously we don't learn from the past. It was just a little more than 200 years ago when a bunch of rag tag farmers and a band of militia fought the greatest military power in the world. If you don't know who won that conflict than you shouldn't be voting in the upcoming election.

[dufferdo]

Riots in LA if he doesnt win.

[Cathy]

Hillary NEEDS to come OUT and SAY to HER SUPPORTERS that OBAMA is NOT a MUSLIM! ANYTHING LESS and she is riding to the Nomination on BIGOTRY! SICK.

[Cathy]

Dylan is so right! WHAT happened to the ISSUES? Citizens hungry, homeless, jobless and the Media is debating RACE?
Whatever happened to the separation of Church and State? Are we NOW going to have an Religious Inquisition instead of Election?

[alex]

frank: you're a complete idiot. i hope you choke on your big mac (or whopper or whatever fast food trash you stuff down your gullet every day) and keel over.

[Joy]

Glen - Get a grip! Spewing hatred about anyone is not productive. Saying that the name "Bush" stand for evil, injustice and contempt, doesn't do much to promote whatever candidate you support. This election is not about Bush, though some are trying to make it so. It is about the future of this country. I want to hear positive messages from candidates of either party. There is too much hatred in this world. Let's try to be above that, please.

[Marc]

Hmmm. Dollar falling, Gold Rising, Bear Sterns failing ( who is next - Fed made fast decision equals they knew for months!!! )

Jobs going overseas, housing sector failing, more jobs going to manufactures in the Maquiladors via NAFTA.

Health care costs draining our U.S. productivity.

Oil climbing to what 120?150? Still no alternative fuel policy ( been waiting since the 70s? remember the lines? the fear? )

More politicians and leaders being rooted out as corrupt hypocrites.

Google the news and then extrapolate from the history of the past. What is coming?

We need a rebirth. We need to stop this downward spiral now.

Anyone up for the challenge or are we just going to watch it all crumble from inside the Starbucks cafe?

Come on people, open your eyes. Get up and fix your country!

Its your responsibility, it's your future and your families' future.

Not sure where to start? Neither did the founding fathers, but they got us going and they didn't even have an internet or a cell phone to text message. Communication. Communication.

Organize, analyze, strategize, communicate, recruit, implement, improve. Do it again and again until the deficit is gone, the fuel is as free as air or water, the future generations are safe, and the children in the poorest countries are fed and clothed.

The moment is now, this is the war for our future.

[Hella_good]

80% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

[Tapas Debray]

Dear all,

Can we forget about race, color etc. and get focussed on who can inspire the national unity, fill with hope of a better future (without wars!) with understanding and mutual respect across all nationalities etc. etc. all positive qualities. We do need a big change in this world for a better tomorrow. We can not afford to continue with divisive minds that normally is followed by hate/crime/wars etc for too long unless we've lost humanity for good.
In my view, (perdon my audacity!), each one of us should do or say the things that is right for the nation rather than right for a select party. Afterall, we all have a shared responsibility to make a better future!

With love,
Tapas

[Susan]

Fred I'm sure it was a total accident that Mr.Obama picked a cable company that just couldn't stop those ads from running in Florida.... To Whataplace well there is nothing wrong with being muslim, what bothers me is when someone works so hard to distance themselves from something that was such a big part of his upbringing, sorry but it makes me wonder about who they really are... And why is it okay to say white people are racist, but you better never say a black person is a racist...How many black people are voting for Obama just because he's black....I really don't care what color or religion anyone is(or who they sleep with), what I know is this country is a mess and we need someone with political schooling to start repairing this nation. makes my choices obvious.

[larry boord]

love watching amoral dems cut each other to pieces....haven't got an answer? Blame PRESIDENT Bush .
He did cause global warming, bad economy, fires in california, fires in florida, clinton and obama remarks (moles ) twin towers, ships blown up by muslims 1st twin towers, the holocaust hitler and bad beef.
You all better get a clue cause you are headed quickly down the socialist road to perdition

[chris]

For the uninformed guy who quoted the 92% and 8% number regarding religious conversion, let me give you some facts. Sen. Obama was born in the United States (Hawaii) to a single Mother who happened to be white and was from Kansas. Through no control of his own his Mother chose to marry a Muslim man from Indonesia who took his bride and her son home. Sen. Obama attended a Catholic school in Indonesia and was not raised in any religion. As a college graduate working in Chicago he personally accepted Jesus Christ and joined a Christian church. There was no conversion because he was never Muslim.

Just as you had no control in deciding your race, middle and last name, religion of your parents, etc. Neither did he. You also have no control over what the cleric at your church you attend says, and neither does he. What you do have control over is to think for yourself rather than repeat ignorance you heard somewhere. Judge the man by his own words and his own deeds. he is no more responsible for his pastor than Hillary is for Bill.

[Rachhpal Kukreja M.D]

Insecre people raise peripheral issues like name, religion etc. But not issues which will effect THE NATION. Lack of financial discipline is probably the SINGLE important issue that will effect the future of country. No candidate will be able to succeed in their goals. If you like BUSH then MacCain is is your guy. Clinton or Obama will have a very difficult time because of rupture in Demcratic votes. I dont care about color, or someones" preacher or faith of a candidate. County is at crossroads. Old as usual is represented by good people like Clinton and MacCain . Obama is fresh and that freshness wiill depend on how he looks at problems .But he will not win because majority of our people are emotionally driven in general about race ect than ideas and good goverance.

[Peter]

"Clinton camp roots out a rogue element"?, seriously? how was he "rooted out" he volunteered his prejudice in front of a reporter, and was transferred WITHIN the campaign. So how can the caption claim that the Clinton Camp was "rooting out" those spreading lies? in fact they where not looking, nor did they dismiss this. Did they even have a meeting where they informed people that this would not be tolerated by campaign staff or volunteers? I'm constantly shocked at how the Clintons have managed to destroy what was once a very strong legacy.