Obama v. (Which) Clinton
EmailABC News’ David Wright and Sunlen Miller Report: Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., Thursday took exception to President Bill Clinton’s effort to accept full blame for the failure of health care reform in 1993.
The former President, campaigning in Iowa today on behalf of his wife, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, suggested that the problems with the plan were more his fault than hers, even though she was nominally in charge of drafting the legislation.
Obama, in response to a reporter’s question, suggested the Clintons are trying to have it both ways on the issue. "If part of your basis for experience is that work that you did on health care, then presumably when it didn’t work that’s part of the experience as well."
Obama refused to elaborate on the point. "My understanding is that President Clinton is not on the ballot."
Then Obama abruptly turned and got back on his campaign bus.
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The more comments Obama makes the less I like him … and will not vote for him even if he is the Democratic nominee .. I will switch parties and vote for Guiliani.
Posted by: Jackson | November 8, 2007, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
Great comments Barack!
He has a great way of cutting to the crux of all the B.S. with very few words.
Posted by: Bsmith | November 8, 2007, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
Obama is right. the clintons always want it both ways and love to play their silly games.
Obama knows this and makes sure the press doesn’t loose sight of the facts.
Posted by: dlake | November 8, 2007, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Have mercy. She has been running on her health are policy work the entire campaign. For better or worse both Republican and Democrat understood that she was in charge of the health care policy in 1993. Now, in 2007 Bill wants to come in and take responsibility. Why didn’t he say this during her senate campaign? How about releasing the documents that prove who did what and the matter will be settled. Don’t blame Obama or any of the other candidates for pointing out the obvious. Maybe Bill is doing more harm then good.
Posted by: RealB.G. | November 8, 2007, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
A guy who graduated first in his class at Harvard Law School and became the first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review. You gotta give it to Barack Obama. He makes the Clintons look like amateurs.
Finally in this primary, someone has the guts to address the very issues that would cause the Democrats to lose the White House in 2008 if Hillary were the nominee.
- She chimes “I’m tough, I can take on the Republicans”. When they challenge her, she cries “I’m a girl”.
- She boasts “I’m experienced, I worked on healthcare”. When the failure is brought to light and she’s being pressed to release your records, again she cries “Blame it on Bill”.
What a farce! What a sham!
And Obama is right. Bill is not on the Ballot. Let the woman who’s on the ballot take responsibility and answer the questions herself.
Posted by: Diamond | November 8, 2007, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
She was ‘nominally in charge’ ??? Uh… can we quote you on that Bill? Who’s moderating the next debate?
Hillary: And I’m very proud of my experience fighting for health care during my husband’s presidency..
Moderator: On November 8th, your husband said you were nominally involved.
Hillary: loud, long, irritating laugh….
Posted by: Terri | November 8, 2007, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
Exactly. Hillary is playing it both ways and Obama is smart enough to point it out, it’s about time we moved away from an aristocratic presidency and returned to an meritocracy.
Posted by: paul | November 8, 2007, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
Both Clintons is alike, except one is male, and the other is female.
Posted by: cpman1946 | November 8, 2007, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
i WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA HUSSEIN INCASE IF HE ELECTED IN PRIMARY.
WE NEED CLINTON IN WHITE HOUSE TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK.
HILLARY2008!
Posted by: Uma, mpls, MN | November 8, 2007, 11:42 pm 11:42 pm
Umm…Obama, it wasn’t exactly the fault of the people who were attempting to be reformers.
Posted by: mr Blifil | November 9, 2007, 12:19 am 12:19 am
Another moronic vapid comment from Pepsodent Obama. Does this guy ever really say anything of substance? Sorry buddy but being a minority novelty only goes so far.
Posted by: LAguy | November 9, 2007, 12:27 am 12:27 am
Obama responds to the absurd in an intelligent manner without wasting a ton of words. What a different politician this is; what a nice change. The Clinton’s don’t ride the fence, they just keep jumping from one side to the other. As a Republican I would most assuredly vote for Obama. Hillary – you have to be joking….she is frightening as well as a very poor choice for any political office. Get the Clinton’s out of public office & let them enjoy their nearly full time of retirement at home together (snicker, choke, laugh heartily).
Posted by: CJ-San Diego | November 9, 2007, 12:51 am 12:51 am
Am I the only one who realizes that Bill Clinton is running for a third term? These two will do and say anything to get Bubba back into the White House. There may be a few female staff people he missed the last time he was in residence. Wake up everybody.
Posted by: Evelyn W Voehringer | November 9, 2007, 2:17 am 2:17 am
When will America wake up and smell the coffee. Special Intrest Groups have already deceided on who will be the next President. For all the remarks people make about who they are for it is for not. D.C. is controled by the special interest groups. They will choose someone that will allow they to contuine business as usual. Both parties have been in charge and is there any change? NO! We had better start looking after Americans before we fall like the Roman Empire and are just parts of history.
Posted by: G.T. | November 9, 2007, 3:53 am 3:53 am
Please correct me if I am wrong but in 1992 when Wild Bill was elected President, the Dems were in control of Congress. The Reps did not take control until 1994 so for almost two years Hillary had a chance to get her health care through Congress. Am I the only one that thinks even back then people were thinking she is too far in left field. What makes people think that 15 years later she has changed? Let’s also remember this people say we need a Clinton in the White House to bring back the good old days of the 90′s why not bring back the 50′s or 60′s, 70′s or 80′s? The world is a different place than it was during those times. Stop living in the past and start looking at now and the future. The good ole days are gone. America has problems and if our elected leaders do not start listening to the everyday people we are in for some hard times. Our elected leaders need to stop worring about getting re-elected to office and START doing their jobs. If we could fire all 100 Senators and all 435 members of the House and let them come back to the real world and stop living in their glass houses. They have forgotten the everyday American who is just trying to make the right choices to keep their families safe. Taking jobs to other parts of the world is not good for America.
Posted by: G.T. | November 9, 2007, 8:20 am 8:20 am
Well said Senator Obama…
Posted by: coonsey | November 9, 2007, 9:38 am 9:38 am
If Hillary gets elected there may be confusion about who the VP is. What will be his falt then? Will she be able the reign him in.
Posted by: lorax_mbell | November 9, 2007, 10:01 am 10:01 am
robot-o-bama speaks.
1)Hillary Clinton designed and planned the healthcare initiative; thus EXPERIENCE.
2)Hillary Clinton was not in an elected office; she can’t force people in Congress to vote a certain way, and had no clout except in her husband to sway congress’ voting members; thus, she is not responsible.
WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT COMPREHENDING BASICS, people?
This, coming from a “great Democracy” where a very small percentage of its population votes…I expect it.
Hillary ’08!
Posted by: destardi | November 9, 2007, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Good response from Obama!!! — clear and concise — I didn’t think Bill was on the Ballot either.
Oh, please will the American people wake up — No Hillary and No Rudy equals No polarizers!!! Why else the Robertson move — I personally can’t take it anymore.
Posted by: Paulet | November 9, 2007, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
WHERE ARE YOU OBAMA? SINCE YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, YOU STILL HAVEN’T KEPT YOUR PROMISE TO FIX THE HEALTHCARE FOR UNION WORKERS AND THE PROMISE YOU MADE TO REBUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PUBLIC TRANSIT IS STILL NOWHERE TO BE FOUND…AND WINTER IS COMING STILL NO HEATING FUEL TO LAST US THROUGH THE WINTER…YOU’RE JOKE OSAMA HUSSEIN BARACK “BARRY” IN THE MADRASSA. YOU’RE TOO BUSY PROMOTING YOUR PATHETIC LIES AND LIFE THROUGH YOUR AUDACITY TO NOWHERE BOOK. YOU AND BILL HAVE A LOT IN COMMON, YEAH COCAINE! YOU ARE WASTE OF AMERICA TIME AND EFFORT….
Posted by: Jude | November 9, 2007, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
DESTARDI,thanks a lot for explaining how
the government works for some of these
cheese head who taugth that Mrs Clinton
could have gotten the health care bill
passed without the approval of the house
of congress,last time I checked,the
republican party did not want to work with the first lady on that issue then
and now they are using scare tactics again call it socialize health care.
From Guiliani,Mitt,Mcain all those guys
will not give nothing but four more years of the same. VOTE FOR HILLARY IN
2008.
Posted by: UGOCHUKWU | November 9, 2007, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
OBAMA WHO? IS THIS A COMICAL OR WHAT? FIRST LET’S TAKE OUT THE FLAG PIN AND NOT PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO AMERICA, LET’S BEG OUR ENEMIES (IRAN, SYRIA, LIBYA, AL-QUEDA AND COVENANT/FLOOD -HA HA HA J/K) FOR PEACE AND OFFER THEM A PIE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM…OH YEAH THEY ALREADY HAVE THE SPECIAL INTEREST OF THIS NATION…RON PAUL IS RIGHT TO BELIEVE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FIRST RATHER THAN TAKING CARE OF THE WORLD. OBAMA HUSSEIN BARACK FROM THE MADRASSA, FIX THE HEALTHCARE ISSUES IN ILLINOIS FIRST THAN GO ATTACKED HILLARY CLINTON ABOUT HER HEALTHCARE POLICY. AT LEAST SHE IS TRYING NEW FORMULA TO CORRECT IT, YOU (OBAMA) IS ALL TALK AND EMPTY PROMISES OF AUDACITY TO HOPELESSNESS…RON PAUL LIBERTARIAN FOR AMERICA….
Posted by: JOHN | November 9, 2007, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
OBAMA IF YOUR SO GREAT LEADING THIS NATION…WHY IN THE HELL YOUR STATE IS CHARGING US $2 EACH FOR OUR LAGGAGE IN O’HARE AIRPORT IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A.? HUH…YOU CAN’T EVEN REPRESENT YOUR STATE OF ILLINOIS, YET YOU WANT TO REPRESENT US AMERICANS TO THE REST OF WORLD…HMMM LET ME SEE MORE TAXES TO REACH OUT TO OUR ENEMIES OR TO THE REST OF WORLD LIKE YOU SAY IF YOU ARE ELECTED YOU WOULD REACH OUT IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD TO HELP THEM…YEAH WITH OUR MIDDLE-CLASS HAVING TO PAY FOR IT… RON PAUL FOR U.S. PRESIDENT OR OBAMA HUSSEIN BARACK THE PRESIDENT FOR THE UNITED NATION…NO THANKS, I’LL RATHER HAVE A LIBERTERIAN FOR PRESIDENT THAN YOU NEOCON REPRESENTING MADRASSA…
Posted by: JOHN | November 9, 2007, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
OBAMA LET’S BEG IRAN FOR PEACE TALK AND HAVE ANOTHER 444 DAYS OF AMERICAN HOSTAGE CRISIS…THAT WAS MR. PEANUT PLAN ALSO, HE SENT HIS BROTHER TO TALK PEACE IN THE MIDDLE-EAST AND LOOKED WHAT HAPPENED…YEAH THE MIDDLE-EAST IS A MESS…
Posted by: JOHN | November 9, 2007, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
Obama is witty, a quick thinker. Such are usaully misunderstood. Obama should be VP at least.
Posted by: Kobby | November 9, 2007, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
It’s pathetic that Hillary presents herself as the candidate with “experience”. WHAT EXPERIENCE?? As First Lady? Would you want the wife of the president of General Motors to run GM? Before being First Lady, Hillary practices law at a PATENT LAW FIRM in Arkansas (she flunked her law exam in Washington DC, but passed the exam in Arkansas, and some say that’s the real reason she ended up in Arkansas). She has had limited experience as a Senator, so why shouldn’t Obama bring up her failed effort at health care reform while Bill was president? That’s the only real responsibility she had as First Lady, and SHE FAILED. And, let’s not forget, it was highly inappropriate for Bill to give her this responsibility in the first place… there were literally thousands of people who knew more about health care than Hillary.
Posted by: Marianne | November 10, 2007, 2:07 am 2:07 am
She’s going to win.
Posted by: WanderSF | November 10, 2007, 10:33 am 10:33 am
the double wrestling team of bill and hillary make a sausage grinder look and smell clean.
each represent the worst not only in politics but in human decency.
both are liars, hustlers, cheats, and they’re arrogant, conceited and conninving, just for starters.
they are the absolute worst of humankind.
they will do anything to stay in
power, but rest assured, they are
low lifes and trailer trash, to the max.
and the most painful conclusion of all is that they believe their own fraud.
January 21, 2008 5:56 AM
Posted by: francesco antinori | January 21, 2008, 10:09 am 10:09 am