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From The Times

March 4, 2008

'Desperate' Clinton accuses Obama of dishonesty

Tim Reid in Washington

Hillary Clinton accused Barack Obama of being dishonest with voters on the eve of their potentially decisive contests in Texas and Ohio today.

Mrs Clinton, fighting to keep her candidacy alive after 11 straight losses to her rival, pounced on a leaked memo suggesting that Mr Obama had not been truthful in his campaign rhetoric on the subject of free trade, a critical issue in economically depressed Ohio.

The two candidates continued to swap accusations before today’s primaries in Texas and Ohio, where Mrs Clinton has banked all to revitalise her attempt to reach the White House. Last night she held small poll leads in Ohio, while Mr Obama was just ahead in Texas.

Defeat in both states would almost certainly end her campaign. There are also primaries today in Rhode Island and Vermont.

Yet her aides say that even if Mrs Clinton loses Texas, a victory in Ohio would probably see her press on to the contest in Pennsylvania on April 22. She believes that Mr Obama has begun to face harsher scrutiny and that the longer the nomination race continues, the more traction she will gain.

Her advisers held a conference call with reporters highlighting contributions given to Mr Obama by Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a financier from Chicago, who went on trial yesterday on charges of corruption and money-laundering. She produced a television advert questioning Mr Obama’s preparedness to be commander-in-chief.

The Illinois senator continued to attack Mrs Clinton for voting for the Iraq war and failing to read the 2002 National Intelligence estimate before she backed President Bush. Mrs Clinton also faced criticism for saying in a television interview that Mr Obama was not a Muslim “as far as I know”.

In Ohio both candidates have promised publicly to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) between the US, Canada and Mexico, and have threatened to pull out of it if it fails to include more protections for US workers. Such protectionist rhetoric is aimed at Ohio’s large blue-collar voting bloc, where Nafta is blamed for letting foreign competition destroy US manufacturing jobs.

Yesterday a memo emerged detailing a meeting between Mr Obama’s senior economic policy adviser and Canadian officials. It appeared to show the adviser, Austan Goolsbee, assuring the Canadians that Mr Obama’s protectionist rhetoric was merely political posturing. When a story emerged in the Canadian press last week saying that an Obama adviser had told the officials that his rhetoric on Nafta was overblown, the Obama campaign denied it.

The memo said: “Goolsbee candidly acknowledged the protectionist sentiment that has emerged during the primary campaign. He cautioned that this should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.”

At a hastily arranged press conference in Toledo, Ohio, Mrs Clinton accused the Obama campaign of doing “the old wink-wink” with the Canadian Government. “After days of denial, the Obama campaign was confronted with a memo of a meeting . . . I don’t think people should come to Ohio and tell the people of Ohio one thing and then have your campaign tell a foreign government something else behind closed doors,” she said.

Mr Goolsbee said that the memo was an inaccurate portrayal of his discussion and said that he did not use the phrase “political positioning”. Stephen Harper, Canada's conservative Prime Minister, yesterday denied that his government had tried “to interfere” in the election by leaking the document.

Officials at the British Embassy in Washington have told The Times that they are not too worried about the trade policies of either Democrat. One said: “There is a difference between what they say to get elected and what they do afterwards.”

Mrs Clinton’s campaign has received a boost from an unlikely cast of supporters including the Joker from Batman and a haunted madman from the film The Shining.

Since its release on Friday, more than 1.2 million people have viewed a film posted on the internet by Jack Nicholson, which splices together scenes from some of the Oscar-winner’s most famous films to articulate his reasons for endorsing Clinton.

I'm just a humble Brit... but one who has watched and studied American Politics for years... in all honesty, I cannot see Bill Clinton as the First Lady.

He'll no doubt be given his own 'office' and then the two Clintons will be at each other's throats throughout the first term - there won't be a second one.

I just think that handing the White House to yet another dynasty will be bad for America and bad for the World. Our American cousins deserve better than that the Odd Couple in the Oval Office.

John Pickworth, Blackpool, UK

Yeah, me too. I too go along believing that the Obama Bin Laden type and a Winnie Mandela character are the dream team for the most powerful country on Earth. It suits perfectly the hollow nature of our publicitary times. The future of the world is a bright promise, no doubt.

Francisco Andrade, Lisboa, Portugal

Are Americans that gullible? Unbelievable stiff if they vote for this character. . Playing the gender and race cards is bizzare.
Alice, Manchester, UK

Yes Alice we are gullible. But more importantly we are very fickle. Whichever way the wind blows we go. Then we complain when people with principals who stand are attacked for it.
Which is why I support Barack Obama.
Hillary has today endorsed McCain.

Jake Katz, Kansas City, KS, USA

I feel more optimistic now than I have at any time since 9/11. We have got rid of Tony and it looks as though his co conspirator, Gordon Brown, will soon be replaced by a more honest and younger man.

Over the pond the last 8 years have been a disaster for the world and equally importantly for the USA once the greatest nation on earth.

With a McCain v Obama presidential election run off there is new hope for America and the world. Neither, in my opinion, is perfect but their take on how they think the world should be is far better than that with which we have had to put up with for the passed 8 years.

Roll on November 4th.

M, Bromyard, Uk

It is impossible for me to understand how, after eight year of the Clinton presidency, anyone can believe anything that comes out of the mouth of a Clinton. If this isn't th pot calling the kettle black, nothing is.

JIm , Massapequa, NY

Jesse Monsen - did you just say the U.S. should fall into line and get a 'new' Clinton? What, are you a foreign agent representing Communist Cuba and Russia?? Since when did the U.S. follow their lead. And since you are a Hillary supporter, you have just confirmed what she stands for!

Abdul Hassan, London, UK

In most democratic countries there is growing distrust of politicians as a group of self-seekers with greedy hands, willing to say anything to get elected. This is obviously true of some but not all. Obama is an example of a decent man in politics. He has won the respect of millions world over. Why besmirch his character without hard evidence.Hillary's negative campaign alone should be sufficient to disqualify her. Libel laws seem not to exist in America otherwise how can they tell all these lies about an honourable man. The problem with some people is that they judge people by their own standards.

sinna mani, london, uk

A Clinton accusing another politician of lying "to the people?"

ROTFLOL!!! What great theatre!

sara, Arlington, TX/USA

I agree with those who see Clinton's campaign becoming increasingly desperate and reactionary over the recent weeks. As for her "experience," what exactly is that? How does being married to a president prepare HER to be president-unless, per our jokes during that time, she was the one running the country. If that's the case, she has already "served" 2 terms and cannot be re-elected!
After that, she moved to a state where she had never lived before, took up residence in the largest city, remote from the rest of the largely rural state, and the fools elected her to the Senate, where she is only in her second term! Before that, she was just a lawyer. Also, Clinton promised us a Brave New World, including a national health program when he ran. Hillary came up with a program that Congress could not fathom putting it into practice and didn't pass it. There it ended, with no cooperative effort to salvage it.
As a mum, she thinks staying home with children means "baking cookies all day."

Marcia, New London, PA/USA

The cynical message of Clinton's last ditch effort to save her campaign is that it's okay to try and plaster your fellow Democratic competitor with false and discredited charges, even when you know that they ARE false and discredited. Thus the old politics of negativity desperately tries to submerge the message of hope. I only hope that voters in Texas and Ohio are smart enough to see through this game and what amounts to a destructive take-no-prisoners campaign against Barack Obama. The tactics tell us more about what Billary is really into to than all of the claims about "feelin" our pain, no matter how many "g"s get dropped in an effort to convince the gullible.

Richard, Charlottesville, VA, USA

"Officials at the British Embassy in Washington have told The Times that they are not too worried about the trade policies of either Democrat. One said: â€œThere is a difference between what they say to get elected and what they do afterwards.â€

Sounds familiar.

b, HAMPTON, Middx

i think its time Mrs.Clinton gave it up, dont air dirty laundry in public, just give it up and accept defeat..
up until now this campaign was clean of any dirty play,
the democratic candidates need to come together and be seen as a united front or else the republicans will run away with the vote AGAIN!!
am all behind the democrats, have been for as long as i can remember, but at this stage am losing faith just as the democrats seem to be losing the clear picture
GET A GRIP HILLARY,and play fair!!!

laureen, Leeds,

Right, all i have to say is that we all know that Clinton has got a massive problem and therefore does not deserve to win the election. If America want hope, new hope, peace, love and reasl honesty, the only way they are going to receive it is through standing by Obamas side and making sure that he gets full power. He is the one and the only one that actually wants an imporvement for America and i am sad and disappointed that most of you can not see that. Clinton has even gone as far as blaming Obama for something that he has not done. If that is not showing desperation and 'I Dont Know What To Do', then quite frankly, you are going to have to tell me what it is showing! OBAMA! OBAMA! For Obama all the way!

Radiance, Enfield,

My undivided support for Hillary Clinton have been because,
she is the most hard working and caring politician, areal mum,
to all american, While Barak Obama is just selfish and could'nt
care a damn about any one, and all the media, who knows if
Barak Obama is the Democrats candidate, then Republican-
will win for sure, even those supporting Barak Obama have no
chance against republican candidate, but cant think that the
good American residents need some one like Hillary Clinton,to
help the poorest American !

I only hope who ever return as a president of -USA- after
Dear George Bush Jr. will look in to the poverty in american states, and give all American health-care and homes, in all USA: Cllr Ken Tiwari (Oxford UK)

Cllr Ken Tiwari (Independent), Oxford, United Kingdom

After the Democrat picks her as the Presidential candidate, Obama will fade into oblivion. That's how strong her stars are in the Year of the Rat. They are dim and distant for Obama. Hillary Clinton will go on to become the 44th President of the USA. Her-story is written in the stars.

S K Lin, Hong KOng, CHina

I have greatly admired Hilary Clinton until now. But now I ask myself: Is this the woman Americans want to represent them in the world, a candidate without grace towards political opponents? A candidate who loses her cool under minor pressures? Does the world want a feminised form of Bushâ€™s hate gospel and politics for the next 4 years? Have America and the world not had enough of all this for the past 8 years, which has only succeeded in producing more hate, violence and deaths across the world? Americans, especially the Democrats need to think seriously about a candidate who is so obsessed with her own place in history that she is willing to exploit any tools to achieve that aim. Bush wanted more than anything else the vindication of his father. We all have seen the dire results. I hope Obama will win big in Ohio and Texas to put an end to this ugly politics. America is a great country, and can be even greater still if Obamaâ€™s message becomes a reality. Those across America and the world responding to Obama are fed up with politicians who make their careers and bucks by creating atmosphere of hate and division. It saps our creative energies, we deserve something better.

Jesse Kally-Williams, Pratigau, Switzerland

Clinton is the "Nadar factor" in this year's Democratic nomination. Hilary has clearly harmed the Democratic cause than any member of the Republican Party. Is this the "experience" she is talking about? If she loses the nomination how is she going to turn around to support the Democratic nominee? The ugly old-politics has reared its ugly head: "I" instead â€œWeâ€. If a candidate has to take recourse to such ugly and dirty means to get the nomination, what then will she do when she gets into the White House? Hilary's quest of power is nothing more than her own emotional need and the vindication of Billâ€™s presidency. Why didn't Bill campaign for Al Gore in 2000? No, he wanted to return to the White House on the ticket of his wife after 8 years. What has this quest to do with women empowerment? If Obama had lost 11 successive contests what would the Democrats and Clinton campaign team have said to him? â€œGood riddance!â€ But Clinton continues to hang in destroying everything. This is not a sign of competitiveness; it is self-destruction. Isnâ€™t it ironic that the ultra conservative cohorts of the Republican Party now campaigning for Clinton? Clintonâ€™s victory will be a sure victory for McCain.

Jesse Kally-Williams, Pratigau, Switzerland

CLINTON 08

y else

Ryan (13), utoxeter,

I am tired of seeing the same "Old faces" and I do mean "OLD" giving us the same old lines and the same old stories, there is a theme building here, we need someone who is going to energize the country not bore us to death, and Clinton and McKain are very "Boring".

Anthony, Al Qayarrah, Iraq

[quote]End the foreign policy madness of the last eight years, find the 'missing-class' and pull them into the life boat before we all drown, and begin to rebuild what was once a reputation as a world leader.[/quote]

Get a clue, this guy's been passed the Kennedy torch from both 'fat cat' teddy and 'yes I can have 4 kids, I'm rich',caroline and you think they are interested in finding the 'missing class'; yeah right.

that's just the legacy american needs, not.

With those kind of endorsements there will most probably be an even larger Republican victory, unfortunately

The Porcini, Alaska,

I'm in favor of Hillary .she is expected to create a new America,no one can prevent her from entering into the whitehouse,America needs her!

yangqian, yichang, china

Are Americans that gullible? Unbelievable stiff if they vote for this character. . Playing the gender and race cards is bizzare.

Alice, Manchester, UK

I was for Clinton at first but seeing how her actions have been over the past few weeks have changed my vote.

The clinton years were good but we must not forget all the bad also. They have a lot of skeletons in their closet going way back.

I now believe they will say and do anything to get elected.

bobby, new city, usa

Hillary Clinton is desperate, and its all in the knowledge that
she had led the election race at the beginning by such a
huge margin, only to lose it to an unknown senator from
Chicago.
Clinton cannot instill the same passion and newness to
as many people as Barack Obama, and even if that were
possible, it is too late now. The momentum is with
Obama now, and though I don't support him, he will defeat
Clinton.
However, the assumption that he will become President
by this victory is dangerous. There is a long road ahead
till November, plenty of time for John McCain to launch
a counter attack.
As I said before, Clinton had a lead and lost it. If he wins,
Obama needs to sustain people's interest, and needs
to get more aggressive towards John McCain.
McCain is percieved by the media as a 'lame duck', but he
is alot smarter than people give him credit for, and may well
have the last laugh.

james hunt, lady lake, usa / florida

Like it or not, our president occupies an international office. Decisions made in that office will reflect our president's world perspective on any given situation. From that view point what is important above all else is the lens through which our president gains understanding. We need to stop thinking that who we elect will magically alter reality. Most important is this lens: the thinking of political advisors modified by the character of the individual who occupies this office. Only Obama represents new thinkers and a fresh perspective (character-wise). This is exactly what we want--a change and a new perspective.

Jerry Stein, Prague, Czech Republic

HRC is being dishonest with voters on the eve of their potentially decisive contests. While she will do or say anything to get elected

Trevor, ellenwood, ga

Obama has skated around every damaging story about him.I don't believe he is ready now or ever to be president of the US.
We have Rezko,the Canadians and nafta. He lied to the people of Ohio and Texas about nafta. What else does he have to hide? A speech against the war should'nt a president make! Think before you vote for this smoothie.

Vince K., Sewickley, USA/ PA.

It's time for Mrs. Clinton to go. Had Obama lost 11 primaries and caucuses in a row he would have been written off a very long time ago. The fact that we still hear anything about Hillary's candidacy at all shows where the true media bias is. If she loses Ohio and Texas, or even if she wins by slim margins, her continued presence will damage the Democratic Party and do nothing more than help the Republicans on to a victory they definitely do not deserve. If she truly cares about the US--and unless her tears before the New Hampshire primary were nothing more than a political ploy, she does, she needs to bow out gracefully.

Andrea, Fort Wayne, Indiana USA

There is no way that Obama can, nor will unite the country. You are forgetting about the nearly half of all Democrats that are voting for Hillary for a real change in the White House. We've had men controlling that position long enough. REAL CHANGE, MEANS A WOMAN AS PRESIDENT, AND NOT ANOTHER MAN. We've had it with empty promises from smiling and nodding and hand waving male politicians. That's how Bush got elected. HAVE YOU ALREADY FORGOTTEN THAT?
Hillary for President. ....Now that's one brilliant woman who can help revive this country!

J, Naperville,

I usually don't bother to write comments such as this one, but this time I will make an exception.

All of you who expect Mr. Barack Obama to deliver miracles (if he becomes the President) will be disappointed to find out that he is just another politician. Because the system, i.e. all the people who surround him, will make sure he plays by the rules. This article shows you one example of the rules, with many to follow.

Anyone who disagrees with Hillary Clinton's "The skies opened" speech now?

Alex K., Brookeville, MD, US

I'm not a political strategist, nor am I a current member of our esteemed armed forces. However, I am a common sense voter with awareness, and a veteran of the U.S. Regular Army.

As I've watched the state of our Union grow more bleak in the last 7-10 years specifically, the Democratic presidential campaign. I for one do not want to see my country continue on it's present course. I believe, with Hillary Clinton in our White House it will be business as usual. More importantly, this woman is showing desperate, erratic, and hateful behavior towards Senator Obama during this process. I do not want a person with this type of character representing our country. She represents a female Bush, and who needs 4 additional years of unstable behavior?

J.D. , Sacramento, Ca., United States

Hillary knocked out a lot of Ohio families with NAFTA! A million jobs went overseas! Now Hillary is asking the families that lost jobs to vote for her?
Obama will bring all Americans together to end the gridlock in Washington DC! Which means more jobs not just in Ohio, Texas but across the country!

Vote Obama 08! Join Us!

cooday, New York, USA/NY

After 20 years in the U.S. Army, I am vexed about the discussion about "judgement" vs. "experience." Without benefit of the NIE, I remember distinctly twhen George Bush , shifted the conversation from Afghanistan to Iraq. It was a curious moment considering that forensic accountants, for whom I have immense respect, pointed us to Afghanistan. When the US dropped a thermobaric bomb and effectively redecorated the Afghani landscape, I admit, I was charged. It was the right thing at the right time. Pursuit of bin Laden subsequent to that moment was nothing short of glorious. I was prepared to follow the action 24/7 to victory. Bush promised retaliation and I backed him.

Fast forward to the dilution of that promise. Bush? Consumed with his father's legacy. Colin Powell? Casualty of a stupidly pursued war. Given her additional benefit of the NIE report, there is absolutely no reason Sen. Clinton should have voted as she did. Hers was the responsibility of oversight, which she neglected.

MKSinSA, San Antonio,

'new' Clinton? you want us to go down just like them ?!!

nice, NY,

I was at the Obama town hall meeting this after noon with my daughter so she could see the political process in action. I spoke with a reporter from the Times and he asked what I expected in the first 100 days of Obama's adminsitration if he were elected. I think my answer was representative of what many feel in the U.S. right now, bridge the chasm between the different parties to put together a plan that will move the country forward. End the foreign policy madness of the last eight years, find the 'missing-class' and pull them into the life boat before we all drown, and begin to rebuild what was once a reputation as a world leader.

Chris Schafer, Delaware, OH, USA

These videos are a god send to those of us who can't have cable because they can't afford it. Those of us who can only afford "basic" tv miss out on CNN, CNBC, etc broadcasts.

Raul De Anda, Harlingen, USA

Cuba just got a 'new' (very experienced) Castro. Russia just got a 'new' Putin (Medvedev). The U.S. should fall into line now and get a 'new' Clinton?

Jesse Monsen, Xenia, Ohio