Edwards Campaign Accuses Hillary Of Laughing At Loss Of American Jobs — Did She?

[KoKo]

Edwards Campaign Accuses Hillary Of Laughing At Loss Of American Jobs — Did She?
By Eric Kleefeld - November 16, 2007, 3:21PM

On a conference call this afternoon, Edwards campaign advisers tore into Hillary Clinton over her performance at last night's debate, claiming she laughed off a question about trade policies that have a direct impact on the lives of working people:

"If you were in Iowa and you watched that debate," said Edwards campaign manger David Bonior, a former House Dem Whip, "and you were in tune to how those trade deals have hurt us, and you heard the response by Senator Clinton, and you heard the response by Senator Edwards, that would make a huge difference in regard to both of those candidates."
"I was shocked," said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers. "She might have wanted to laugh at Ross Perot, but she shouldn't have laughed at the fact that Ross Perot was right

Video of Hillary's statement from CNN Debate at.................

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/11/edwards_campaign_accuses_hillary_of_laughing_at_loss_of_american_jobs_did_she.php

[Forkboy]

1. her saying all she remembers about NAFTA was charts is incredibly weak.

:puke:

[Clintonista2]

4. She said that's all she remembers of the NAFTA debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot

Don't let those pesky facts get in your way though, Forkboy! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Forkboy]

8. If I knew those pesky facts beforehand I would have shared them.

Remind us of how you're perfect again, Lirwin.

[Clintonista2]

11. I'm glad you learned your lesson. I'm assuming that next time you'll get the facts before you post?

:spray:

[Forkboy]

19. I'm assuming your next post will be perfect and lacking arrogance?

:toast:

[Clintonista2]

21. Sure. n/t

[hedgehog]

24. She was asked if Perot was wrong about NAFTA

That's when she made the smart remark about the charts.

[Forkboy]

26. That's been pointed out to me.

I am honestly sorry for the mistake.

[hedgehog]

28. I think you're right. She was asked a question about NAFTA, she

defelected that and answered a question about the Perot-Gore debate.

[Forkboy]

31. I'm going to read the whole transcript later on or tomorrow sometime.

Because, as usual, I no longer know what the hell is going on. :D

[Clintonista2]

36. Wrong, here's from the transcript:

BLITZER: "Senator Clinton, all of us remember the big NAFTA debate when your husband was president of the United States, and a lot of us remember the debate between Al Gore, who was then vice president, and Ross Perot. Ross Perot was fiercely against NAFTA.

Knowing what we know now, was Ross Perot right?" (Laughter.)

SEN. CLINTON: "All I can remember from that is a bunch of charts. (Laughter.) That sort of is a vague memory.

Look, NAFTA did not do what many had hoped, and so we do need to take a look at it and we do need to figure out how we're going to have trade relations that are smart, that give the American worker and the American consumer rights around the world.

And I want to go back to Campbell's question for a minute because it's really related to this. It is something that every parent should be worried about. It's not only the toys; it's the pet food, it's the medical components and prescription drugs. If we don't impose a third-party, independent investigative arm on our corporations that do business in China as well as the Chinese government, we should not permit any items to be imported into our country until we're sure they're safe. (Applause.) I mean, that to me is rule number one." (Applause.)


http://www.cfr.org/publication/14820/democratic_debate_transcript_las_vegas_nevada.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F480%2Fus_election_2008

As another poster below pointed out, Ross Perot was famous for pulling out these hand drawn charts to make his point.

[Divine Discontent]

41. I agree, but that wasn't the question posed to her

and she turned the question about job loss for hundreds of thousands, into laughing commentary about pie charts... really bad mistake by her. I think that will be a video by the GOP if she's our nominee. I hope she's not!

[Clintonista2]

42. "That question wasn't posed to her"- Yes it was. Transcripts are easily available, you know

BLITZER: "Senator Clinton, all of us remember the big NAFTA debate when your husband was president of the United States, and a lot of us remember the debate between Al Gore, who was then vice president, and Ross Perot. Ross Perot was fiercely against NAFTA.

Knowing what we know now, was Ross Perot right?" (Laughter.)

SEN. CLINTON: "All I can remember from that is a bunch of charts. (Laughter.) That sort of is a vague memory.

Look, NAFTA did not do what many had hoped, and so we do need to take a look at it and we do need to figure out how we're going to have trade relations that are smart, that give the American worker and the American consumer rights around the world.

And I want to go back to Campbell's question for a minute because it's really related to this. It is something that every parent should be worried about. It's not only the toys; it's the pet food, it's the medical components and prescription drugs. If we don't impose a third-party, independent investigative arm on our corporations that do business in China as well as the Chinese government, we should not permit any items to be imported into our country until we're sure they're safe. (Applause.) I mean, that to me is rule number one." (Applause.)

[Divine Discontent]

43. I don't need a transcript, smarmy one! lol

The question that was posed asked for her opinion regarding NAFTA being a bad thing, as Perot said it was, and if she agreed. She turned it to the pie charts, which, yes, that's funny, but considering we're talking about a decision in which her husband re-signing of the NAFTA agreement cost over a million Americans their jobs - it's not very funny and it was a deliberate way to get out of the question and she was forced to say at the end, after being prodded, it didn't work out as "MANY" had hoped.

[Clintonista2]

44. She made a one sentence joke about Ross Perot, and then moved on to her response

I see some straws hanging over there, why not go and grasp for them?

[Divine Discontent]

45. she instantaneously made a joke after the serious subject matter being posed to her

I got a PM a few months back from a DUer who lost his job because of NAFTA, I'm sure he didn't find humor in her response either.

I don't need to grasp for the straws - they're coming out of the ripped seams in her campaign.

She's certainly no Bill - and that comment will resonate more and more.

What'd she lose last week, 5 points off her lead in Iowa? Even at a 1/4 of that rate, Obama or Edwards will have taken the lead by Dec. 1. I see Biden surging, possibly above O & John by the end of the year because of the 2nd favorite status that plays heavily into the Iowa caucuses.

So, who's your backup when/if Hillary doesn't get the nomination?

[MethuenProgressive]

30. It's just Edwards. So who cares?

:puke:

[Beaverhausen]

37. Who here doesn't remember Perot talking about "that giant sucking sound"

of jobs going overseas?

I'm sorry, but for her not to remember that is weak.

[journalist3072]

2. The desparation of the Edwards camp is more apparent w/ each passing day. Not a good look for him.

[Tellurian]

29. Edwards is acting more like an ASS than a Presidential hopeful

I don't think he's going to score any points for the unrelenting attacks he and the Mrs think is a beneficial way to win the minds and hearts of Iowans or NHians for that matter. Maybe they play dirty like this in NC but it doesn't fly as a winning strategy in most other places.

[papau]

32. Hillary said NAFTA was a mistake because it did not deliver as we had thought it would - what

does Edwards want her to say?

Edwards quotes Leo Gerard:

"I was shocked," said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers. "She might have wanted to laugh at Ross Perot, but she shouldn't have laughed at the fact that Ross Perot was right."

But forgets that Hillary said:

"NAFTA DID NOT DELIVER ON WHAT MANY HAD HOPED... NAFTA WAS A MISTAKE TO THE EXTENT IT DID NOT DELIVER ON WHAT WE HAD HOPED IT WOULD, AND THAT IS WHY I CALLED FOR A TRADE TIME OUT ..AND WE DO NEED TO GET BACK TO ENFORCING THE ONES (TRADE AGREEMENTS) THAT WE DO HAVE WHICH THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS TOTAL ABROGATED."

[Evergreen Emerald]

3. ohmygod. Feign outrage after twisting and distorting what really happened

Edwards is getting embarassing. She was talking about Perot's charts and said that NAFTA did not bring what she expected it to bring and needs changes.

Dang, Edwards is getting worse and worse.

[SaveElmer]

5. Ahhh...the faux outrage of the day...now that Obama has been exposed...

Of course as anyone who remembers the debate...Ross Perot was famous for pulling out these hand drawn charts to make his point...clearly what Hillary was referring too...at least to all but those perpetually outraged souls desperately casting around for something...anything...to bring Hillary down with...

[Jillian]

6. I can understand why Edwards is trying to take her down but this is a bit over the top.

[Cameron27]

7. And so did Edwards when he lobbed that "cute"

barb at Kucininch when he outed him on the China trade deal.

[hijinx87]

20. yeah, but dennis broke it off in him.

edwards definitely came out the worse for wear that night
as far as kucinich goes.

[frogmarch]

9. I think her laugh (more of a smile) was

merely a response to being put on the spot over something bad that her husband supported. I didn't take it that she was laughing about the loss of jobs.

[ellisonz]

10. Yeah, there's that problem isn't there...

[Tellurian]

12. Edwards has a BIG problem. His 6yr Senate Voting record..

Nothing to be proud of there. Any wonder he NEVER allude to it during his campaign?

[Clintonista2]

14. EDWARDS WAS IN THE SENATE????

Omgosh! When did THAT happen? :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[ellisonz]

15. Ha.

And Hillary has 8 years of Bill Clinton's scandals and failures plus 6 years of warmongering and pandering in the Senate!

[Clintonista2]

17. yea, because we know how terribly unpopular Bill's "scandals and failures" made him

What did he leave office with... 70% approval ratings? Edwards, on the other hand, can't take a position without knowing whether he's apologized for his previous ones yet.

[ellisonz]

33. Just saying...it's baggage.

I'm not going to rehash the entire Clinton presidency with you.

But suffice: Triangulating on welfare, NAFTA, healthcare DOA, 1994 elections, Monica.

[Tellurian]

35. You're not capable of an accurate rehash of the Clinton presidency!

suffice nothing. If you only knew how foolish you sound, you'd stop digging.

[ellisonz]

39. Defensive!

:rofl:

:sarcasm:

[Tellurian]

47. If the Tuth hurts...take a Tylenol!

[Tellurian]

23. So you don't even know the difference between a car and a bicycle..

and you can't admit what a ass kisser Edwards is to the GOP and corporate world..OK then..

[ellisonz]

34. ...

Do you see my Obama sign?:crazy:

Not gonna do it...

[Clintonista2]

38. Except that we've been discussing Edwards

So what does you defending Edwards have to do with your Obama sign, exactly?

[ellisonz]

40. Impartiality.

In terms of GE problems: Hillary Clinton > John Edwards

[frogmarch]

13. Yeah, there is that problem.

It was interesting to see how she handled the question. I'm an Edwards supporter, but I thought she did okay.

[hedgehog]

25. But, but , but The Clinton year were the Golden Age!

[BeyondGeography]

16. Geeze, Edwards...that's impossibly weak

and what the fuck are you and your campaign thinking? Of all the ways to go after Hillary, this doesn't rate at all.

[hijinx87]

18. john edwards is just tedious.

and is headed full steam toward ridiculous.

[frogmarch]

22. Read the OP again, anti-Edwards posters

No one in the Edwards campaign criticized Hillary for laughing. It was Leo Gerard of the United Steelworkers who did that.

The only thing that the Edwards campaign mgr. David Bonior did was to say he thought Edwards' response was better than Clinton's response.

Period.

[Catchawave]

27. Here's the official Edwards statement:

http://www.johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20071116-clinton-laughing-off-nafta/

EDWARDS STATEMENT ON SENATOR CLINTON DISMISSIVELY LAUGHING OFF QUESTIONS ON NAFTA IN LAST NIGHT’S CNN DEBATE

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, at a media availability following a meeting with SEIU nurses at St. Rose Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, Senator John Edwards made the following statement regarding Senator Clinton’s response to a question on NAFTA in last night’s Democratic debate:

"Last night's debate was important because it showed distinctions between the candidates on issues that really matter to Americans. One moment from the debate stuck with me – when Senator Clinton was asked about NAFTA and she tried to joke about charts and laugh about it.

"For the one million Americans who lost their jobs because of NAFTA, this isn't a laughing matter. And for me, this isn't about charts – it's very personal. I grew up in a mill town, and today in hundreds of towns just like Robbins, people's lives hang in the balance because of bad trade agreements. When that mill closed down, it meant less food on the table, not being able to pay for your home or your health care, and financial hardships that were devastating for families.

"One of the most important choices for Democrats in this election is whether we're going to continue to pay lip service to workers while we put the profits of big multinational corporations first, or if we're finally going to show some backbone and strength and stand up for American workers."

[antigop]

46. Was it a laugh or a cackle? n/t