Clinton Fury Over Obama Photo Claims

[Purveyor]

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign hit back furiously Monday after being accused of trying to smear rival Barack Obama by distributing a photograph of him in traditional African dress.

"Enough. If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed," Clinton's campaign manager Maggie Williams said in a statement.

--
The Obama camp's anger over the photograph threatened to overshadow a Clinton speech in Washington on foreign policy, a week before make-or-break primaries in Ohio and Texas.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe had issued a blistering statement accusing the Clinton campaign of underhand tactics over the picture of Obama, whose father was Kenyan, taken during a 2006 visit to Wajir, Kenya.

"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," Plouffe said.

"This is... exactly the kind of divisive politics that turns away Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in the world," he said.

---EOE---

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5irIOs_yU1RYYk9fhK4_Bw9RGGGBw

[tularetom]

1. The Clinton campaign does not do "righteous indignation" well

In fact they don't really do anything very well.

[rndmprsn]

2. what he said...

clintons are pretty pathetic these days now aren't they...

[NastyRiffraff]

7. Who's doing "righteous indignation"?

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe had issued a blistering statement accusing the Clinton campaign of underhand tactics over the picture of Obama, whose father was Kenyan, taken during a 2006 visit to Wajir, Kenya.

"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," Plouffe said.

"This is... exactly the kind of divisive politics that turns away Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in the world," he said.

This with no proof whatsoever that the Clinton campaign had anything to do with Drudge getting that picture. Or for that matter, the National Examiner getting it. Where was his indignation then?

[Stephanie]

14. Except that Drudge said he got it from the Clinton camp

So, yeah, I guess that means "no proof" in Hillaryland.

[NastyRiffraff]

25. All of a sudden Drudge is saying it is "proof"?

Since when do we treat Drudge as creditable?

[Windy]

19. No proof and no denial either. this is pure slime politics. nothing more.

The ap article goes on to note that there has been no denial from the Clinton campaign.

They can't deny it because obviously the evidence exists that would rebutt that denial. If there wasn't something out there, they would be denying it by now based upon the bad press they are getting.


Clinton needed to fire her "highly paid" (and thats an understatement) consultants months ago!

[arewenotdemo]

11. Other than perfecting "The Great Campaign Death Spiral"?

[blogslut]

3. So, they did send it

Slip slip oops.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

23. sounds like it or else the Clinton campaign wouldn't be so defensive!

[jillan]

4. I hope that whoever is hosting the debate tomorrow nite

brings this up, and the fliers that the Obama campaign has been passing out.

Looks like Hopeobama has some 'splaining to do.

[cali]

9. nope. it'll be bad for Hill if it gets brought up

the Clinton campaign hasn't really denied it, and I just listened to NPR, definitely bad news for Hilly. As ususal, she comes off looking bad, and he comes off looking good. I really hope she goes at him tomorrow night. She'll just blow it again.

[jillan]

20. But why is Obama upset? He put the costume on in Africa.

Shouldn't he be proud that he wore it?

Him getting pissed off about the picture surfacing is the real question.

[cali]

24. that should be obvious

whether by the Clinton campaign or another agent, it's an attempt to paint him as a muslim. It's a lovely picture, but without context, and under these circumstances it's a weak smear. And Barack Obama is not going to let himself by swift boated- by anyone.

[jillan]

27. Then rather than throwing a tizzy, wouldn't it be more 'presidential' to put out

a statement of why it was an honor for him to dress like that?

He doesn't seem to handle attacks very well.

[cali]

28. um, no. he handled it well. no tizzy. and

explaining why he was dressed that way would be too involved and make him look defensive. And he's handled all of hillary's attacks quite well. he has destroyed her. and she's been fighting hard ball.

[durrrty libby]

5. Love Maggie Williams

[cali]

10. Me too! looks like she's gaffe prone, too. it's great!

[durrrty libby]

34. So Maggie said

"If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed,"

and that Senator Clinton had worn the garb of many cultures when visiting countries and that she

had been photographed hundreds of times in these outfits


So where's the gaffe? :shrug:

[Bluerthanblue]

6. their campaign is big on the "SHAME" meme- it is not very healthy- and

something they would do well to quit.

peace~

[HereSince1628]

8. Wasn't "FURY" the name of a horse on a 50's tv show right before SKY KING?

Seems like FURY needs to be put out to pasture.

[Little Star]

12. Clinton fury over Obama photo claims

From the article these are Maggie Williams words in sequence.

~snip~
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign hit back furiously Monday after being accused of trying to smear rival Barack Obama by distributing a photograph of him in traditional African dress.

"Enough. If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed," Clinton's campaign manager Maggie Williams said in a statement.

Obama's campaign had accused the Clinton camp of "fear-mongering" after the picture of Obama in an African robe and turban appeared on gossip website Drudge Report, which said it had been circulated by Clinton aides.

"Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely," Williams said.

"This is nothing more than an obvious and transparent attempt to distract from the serious issues confronting our country today and to attempt to create the very divisions they claim to decry. We will not be distracted."
~snip~

[Stephanie]

16. So she doesn't deny distributng the photo.

[Little Star]

17. I know you are not that dense. She is saying it would be

a stupid thing to do since Hillary herself has dressed in other countries traditional clothing. It was a denial done in a very classy way.

[Windy]

21. She has not denied it at all. Jesus, take off the blinders. This is not how the democratic party

conducts itself! This is a republican tactic.

[yellowcanine]

30. "It was a denial done in a very classy way." You get the spin award.

That was no denial.

[bvar22]

35. That is the opposite of a denial....

It is a rationalization or a justification for questionable behavior.

[Stephanie]

36. Nope. It was NOT a denial. Not at all.

She's saying, 'why would you have a problem with those photos, Barack?' She is definitely NOT saying they didn't distribute them. Show me where she says it.

[tekisui]

13. Shame on you, Barack Obama!!!!!

[DearAbby]

15. Is this the denial denial DENIAL?

the line from "All the President's men"

Maybe Drudge can come forward on the origin of this email? Become the story itself...get lots of hits there Matt. What do you say?

[jillan]

18. My question is - Why would Obama be upset?

He put on the costume to honor Somalia...

So why should he be upset?

[Windy]

22. His campaign is upset that Clinton thought this would somehow instill fear.

The intent of the dissemination of the photograph is bigoted on its face.
She has insulted the good people of Somalia and their graciousness by her attempt to bring irrational, unwarranted muslim hatred into the DEMOCRATIC primary!

[jillan]

26. She hasn't done anything - it's the Obama drama that is making in an issue.

Why can't people just say "whatever - he was in Somalia and honored them by wearing their native dress?"

But NO - they are trying to make this an issue.

Newsflash - when you are running for public office, don't dress in a costume, because it will be photographed...and distributed.

[yellowcanine]

31. Whatever it is, it is another day when Hillary loses ground to Obama.

She cannot afford any more of those.

[sniffa]

29. "he should be ashamed"

I think I'm picking up on a theme by her. :think:

[dave123williams]

32. Why hasn't anybody pointed out that Drudge is a Republican WHORE?

Doesn't this kind of attack smack of GOP? Anybody?

[jillan]

33. I know....

I have been wondering the same thing all day.