Is Bill Clinton Getting in Obama’s Head?

This is wonderful. Bill
gets to play “bad cop”
and say whatever negative
things he wants to about
Obama and travel the
low road and Hilliary
gets to play “good cop” and
stick to the high road.
When Obama strikes back,
he has to strike at Bill.
When Obama does object
in public and hold
Hilliary responsible, she
claims that Bill is his
own man and not the
candidate. For the
Clintons it is a winning
strategy which they will
repeat in the general
election. The competition
is forces to respond to
Bill giving her a bye.

yes!! obama is. you know what obama lies about everything. after iowa he tought he was the cock of the walk. acting like he had it all wraped up. the song that he was playing after the caucas was sign sealed delivered i’m yours. so he thought he could walk a over this thing. well looks like he can’t. he is frusterated in the fact that he is not winning. so he has to whine. boo hoo obama boo hooo…

This is the second non story from ABC today on Obama! How about the endorsement of the State Newspaper in S.C. and remarks on Clinton!
What is the point! Such blogging or reporting as this is child play!!!

Looks like another 4 years of 50+1 politics…looks like Obama is 4 years too early.

The truth of the matter is that Bill Clinton’s campaigning is inappropriate for a former President. I don’t care if his Missus is running for President. If she’s that talented, she wouldn’t need his constant assistance. If Bill can’t keep his mouth shut now, imagine the petty chaos he’ll create as America’s First Man.

Obama feels because he is half black that should give him special treatment he is no better than the clintons or any one else is okay for him to go tpo a segregated church its okay for him to buy a house he cannot fford with a well known drug king pin come on people how blind can yuou be obama is the biggest joke of this race vote with your brains not skin color we are all the same

Let us see if the press plays this over and over again and refers to it as a blow-up like they did with Bill Clinton and Mitt Romney reactions to the press over the last few weeks.

This is clear bisis on the part of the media, If Bill Clinton was any one but Bill Clinton his intro in every artical would read.
Is Bill Clinton getting into Obama’s head?
The former President Bill Clinton (Fellon) spoke today….
Has everyone forgot that Clinton copped a plea on his last day in office? Or that the Special Prosector could have conviceted the Hil in any other local in the usa, but not washington DC She will lose the genreal by a wide margin and take the rest of the party with her and My bet is that Gore will then try to save the party. After all who is next? Obama? Could well be if he does not give up and let her rule the roost.
These two are way too much for the country to stand, and it would be a mess from day one.
The other part is the economic conditions not much a president can do to help the econimc conditions. Sorry but that is the truth. Her wild spending trying to do any thing will cost her in the end.
Her campaign will ever be a issue in the Gereral, as it is rifle with fraud and pay offs.
But who is surprised Iowa tried to help us out… but she tricked a lot of people who other wise would have voted for OBama into voting for McCain IN NH by crying it was Clinton tricks again Slick Willie at it again.
Hil must go. What will she do call Bill in AK. to come beat up someone who gives her a hard time in the WH? Bill would be hard to find as I am sure he would be with some bimbo.

Jeff Zeleny doersn’t like Barack Obama and has tried to get under his skin repeated ly on the campaign trail. Like many of the Times’ reporters, and those at WaPo, they seem to be shilling for Hillary and Bill.
As any good reporter knows, you take ANY opportunity to talk to a candidate, on or off the record. Access is the name of the game and Zeleney just blew his.

No . . . you mean there’s a reporter out there that doesn’t worship the ground Obama walks on? Well knock me over with a feather!

i dont understand why people say obama is losing or lost NH and NV.
he won in iowa.
he tied hillary in delegates in NH.
he got 1 more delegate than hillary in NV.
right now Obama is leading in delegates.
he is the leader in this race right now.

BILL’S OBAMA STRATEGY
It takes an attack dog to know an attack dog…Bill Clinton’s ex-buddy Dick Morris’ take on Bill’s Obama Strategy below…point by point
“WHY is Bill Clinton courting such intense publicity, in evitably much of it negative?
Is he crazy? Crazy like a fox.
He has two goals and is achieving them both spectacularly.
First, he wants to be the same kind of lightning rod for Hillary that she was for him during his run for the presidency.
Now, she rarely gets hit anymore. They’re hitting Bill instead.
The other method behind his madness is that Bill wants to suck up all the oxygen in the room and dominate the coverage of the Democratic contest. By doing so, he cuts Obama out of the news, pushes him off the front page, and usurps the headlines.
His tactics now are reminiscent of those he used to black out John Kerry during the lead-up to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Ultimately, the Clintons are playing a game of jujitsu with Obama, using his own strength against him.
By challenging Obama for the black vote – by promising to go door to door in South Carolina in minority neighborhoods, for example – Bill is highlighting the question: Will Obama carry the black vote? Of course, he will. He leads, 4 to 1, among African-Americans now.
But by making that the central question, Obama’s South Carolina victory will be hailed as proof that he won the African-American vote. Such block voting will trigger the white backlash Sen. Clinton needs to win.
Once whites see blacks voting en masse for a black man, they will figure that it is a racial game and line up for Hillary. Already, she carries white voters by 2 to 1.

From the Washington Post, a key read for coherent feminists interested in politics …
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/broaddrick022599.htm

Yes Let’s see if this story gets played over and over again – like Whitewater, like something called Filegate, like Hillary killed Vince Foster, like something called Travelgate – let’s just see if it gets played the same way the Republicans and complicit Dems played the Clintons while in office.
You all kept trying and it didn’t work so let’s see if Obama can stand up to the scrutiny. Let’s see if Obama is still standing at the end of the day after Bill says a few nasty things about him. Let’s see what he does under oath when the Rezko thing gets heated up. Let’s see what he has to say about Mr. Rezko (thank you Patrick Fitzgerald) when his name comes up in his trial. Let’s have Mr. Obama explain his LAND deal in which he got a house worth 2 million thanks to his buddy Rezko. Let’s get a special prosecutor to look into that LAND deal in which the Obamas profitted. Let’s look at Michelle Obama’s ties to corporate America and health care. Let’s just….

You’ve got the kidding me. Comments here are suggesting the media is on the Clintons’ side? That’s the biggest “fairy tale” I’ve hever heard. Hillary has had a horrible relationship with the media for decades. NBC outwardly admitted that they were mesmerized by Obama (the former Obama, that is, the candidate that was “above the fray” and “non adversarial” – we lost him). If anything, the media is so hard on the Clintons that this turn around into questioning Obama even ever so slightly is showing how weak of a person and a candidate Obama seems to be. Don’t screw it up by letting him be another losing nominee like his buddy Kerry. Omg was Kerry a mess.

The media is salivating over Obama’s mental breakdowns as of late. Trust me, they love to prop people up and tear them down. I think they are playing him with kid-gloves since he is so quick to scream RACISM.
Stick a fork in him. He is so done.

fasteddie: Get up with the times. Hillary left SC yesterday, she’s not going door-to-door. People are not such sheep as you think, Republicans only. Democrats, generally, think for themselves. That’s why Hillary is still winning despite the media and the Democrats’ touting of Obama.

Obama ahead by delegates? Oh gd. You mean you rather focus on delegates than the people who are voting? Hmmmm.

Barack Obama came to Nevada knowing he had little chance of winning, and yet he fought on to gain a majority of the national delegates. Hillary came just a couple of days to South Carolina, mostly to participate in a nationally-televised debate, and then decided Sc is just not worth it and will actually be leaving the state well before the primary. Think about it. She’s not interested in winning the people to her philosophy of governing; once she figured out the SC voters aren’t worth anything to her, they became invisible. What a crass act.

Testy Obama = Dean Scream.
Stick a fork in him, he’s done.
No one likes an ANGRY candidate. If he can’t handle Clinton, how will he deal with McCain?
How will he deal with Kim Jong Il? Putin? Hu Jintao? Will he get “testy” with them as well? Complain that they’re ganging up on him?
He’ll win one primary by a smaller margin than he expects, and then he’ll be annihilated on Super Duper Tuesday.
He’s coming across as mean, mad, lame, weak, shaken and chastened. Not positive qualities for the Leader of the Free World.
He started out well, but he’s flaming out. He needs a bit more seasoning before he’ll be ready for prime time.

So, is the news gonna show him losing his temper over and over again like they showed that clip of Bill last week?

Why did you use “confronted again”? First, the “again” is inaccurate. No where in your reporting does it suggest that Obama “confronted” Zeleny a first time. Both of Obama’s initial statements came in response to questions from Zeleny. Second, “confronted” is a loaded term. It suggests that Obama came at him angrily. Actually, it suggests that he went at him physically. Instead, Obama said/asked “I will answer your question though off the record, would you like to talk off the record?”
Basically, quit editorializing, particularly when doing so seems like an attempt to make Obama seem angry or threatening. It might make people think the author of this piece has … issues.

TiffanyCraigBrown, you’re funny.

Democrats, please remember: she CANNOT win the general. Keep your eye on the 11/08 ball before its too late. She will rally the Republicans like nobody else and John McCain will be our next President. She cannot win the general. Do something about it before its too late…remind every Democrat you know: a vote for Hillary is a vote for McCain.

The repub machine will tear Obama to shreds. Look how he reacts with Clintons under fire, repubs will tear him apart, Obama will completely loose it under the repub pressure and attacks that await him if he wins the nomination. If your a democrat do not spread remarks like those, we’ve had enough fear politics from this current presidency.

Of COURSE they’re getting to him – the Clinton Machine is slicing him up pretty good, and now the media piles on. It’s all so predictable – I hope his skin grows thicker.

Hillary was for Nafta, now she thinks NAFTA is not such a good idea. Hillary voted for the war, now she doesn’t think the war is such a good idea. Hillary voted for open trade with China, now she doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Does she have any judgement or vision? Or does she just go with the sheep?
How about a visionary president!!
OBAMA 08

Yeah maybe he can sell the white house lawn to Rezco!

the clintons are gross. it’s unfathomable that anyone could actually like anything about them at this juncture. they’re double-talking, hyper-ambitious slimebags who are trying to trump up race issues in order to trigger white racism against obama. he’s not perfect, but at least he’s not a 65-year old tool of an unethical, serpentine political dynasty.

Obama must know who Jeff Zeleny and anyone reading this article should also know who the reporter is and what his biases are in this race. His recent piece in the NYT has already been criticized on several blogs for the way it described the SC debate and its selective and deliberate uses of adjectives in describing Senator Obama. This is as much a story as Krugman writing another hit piece on Obama would be. Has NYT not made its endorsement yet? I wish they would, so their credibility in this fight would diminish.

Well said CarolinaGirl.

Obama should just cut his losses and move on. He’s constantly on defense and it doesn’t look good. Sure, the Clintons made some distortions, but it has happened on both sides. Obama is just upset that they can get it out there in the media better than he can. It’s politics. He’s coming off holier than thou. His hands are not the least bit clean. In fact, right after the ABC debate, when they made the truce, his spokeman went after Hilary, and Hilary’s spokeman reamined cordial. In this last debate, he misquoted what Bill said about him, and he misquoted what Hilary said about the bankruptcy vote. Just move on, dude.

Maybe it’s a little disoncerting for a Democratic candidate for President to be constantly attacked by a former President of his own party.
How is Obama supposed to respond? By attacking Bill Clinton? A former President of his own party.

If anyone taped the SC debate, I ask you to forward to the part about health care. Watch how Obama shoots Edwards dirty looks TWICE. I didn’t catch it at first, but rewatched it tonight and couldn’t believe it. The camera person caught the first glare, then zoomed out to show Barack and Edwards on the second glare. Your sides will split watching that again.

If Hillary was not in the race, EVERYONE in the Democratic Party would be lobbying him to campaign for THEIR candidate, even in the primaries.
Only the people who think their candidate is hurt by his efforts are complaining. This is uncharted territory and complainers look like whiners – including the media.

It’s clear from the Reno editorial transcript that the Clinton’s are distorting Obama’s interview for political advantage. It is also clear from the past two weeks that they are not above playing the race card, if ever so subtly, in order to marginalize Obama and drive him out of the race. Bill Clinton has become the Carl Rove of the Democratic Party. It’s sad, really. More pathetic than sad even.

I would be frustrated too dealing with bold-faced liars. Hillary repeated the lie last night (1-21-08), saying at he debate that she “read the transcript” and that Barack said that the GOP had “good ideas.” She is too shrewd for this to have been an error-this repeating a known lie even after it had been disproved by the media!

Barack is just throwing a hissy fit that Hillary has Big Dog Bill and Barack has Franken-Kerry the loser.
I hope drunken Kennedy endorses Barack next.

As a Hillary supporter, I have to say what’s truly sad is that all this negativity and talk about the past isn’t necessary. If Iowa had seen the Hillary we saw in New Hampshire, Hillary would have won Iowa … but Hillary’s success in NH has clearly been erased from the campaign scene. My questions: Which is the real Hillary? … the year in Iowa or the five days in NH. So far, that answer seems to be the former rather than the latter, so I’d like to know why? “Personal in NH” Hillary could win the nomination without burning so many bridges … but no we’ve been forced back to arrogant Hillary who lectures us daily so WHY? Is it a broken culture within the campaign that’s giving her this bad advice?

i love obama. he is a kind and thoughtful man of good judgement. his best thoughts and words fly above the pornography of these events. what a shame the way negativity always wins. it is so much easier to tear down than build. never underestimate the stupidity of the american voter. it is sad, real sad.

I cannot believe anyone in their right mind would want someone as underhanded and evil as Hilary Clinton to be their President. How can any voter ever trust what she would say if she were President if she cannot be trusted in what she says in her campaign. If we think GW Bush is bad, wait until Hilary takes control, I firmly believe that would be the end of the US as we know it.

Sorry, to those of you good people who are Obama supporters. It must seem real bad right now. I don’t have any ill will against you, just the double standards. I guess we are enjoying our turn for once.

there is something about south carolina that makes folks strange. obama, romney, miss south carolina…”.such as and such as and maps for iraq”

Please not again. Didn’t we get enough.
Sex,lies,scandals, cigars, and impeachment for lying. What an embarrassment to himself and the country. My Republican friends are still rubbing salt in my wounds.After watching these two dignified people(Clintons) for the past 2 weeks, I feel like the Dixie Chicks, I am embarrased the Clintons are from America!

Obama simply did not answer the question asked about the economy. Also, we did not hear him drive his slogan ‘hope’. He said the word only two times. Is he still talking change and hope?
Obama needs to focus on the issues, ignore the Clintons, and learn strategies to manage the heat from the Clintons and others. I do not think that he will get a free pass that he gets from his politically correct Democratic party when the Republics come beating him left and right. If he cannot handle a punch from HRC then how will be deal with Karl Rove? He will call him racist?

Apparently ABC doesn’t know what the word “testy” means. Usually the people involved aren’t smiling. That’s a pretty good hint.
Overhype much?

I am so tired of Obama whining like a spoiled brat. He came to a debate with one thing on his mind and that was to tell the whole world how Bill Clinton is talking about him. I am sorry to hear that someone who wants to be president has been mixed up with a drug dealer and has gotten a 2 millon dollar home. I wonder what he will have to do if he becomes president for that. Talking about spouses I remember when Obama won Iowa and his daughter was worried that he might loose New Hampshire to Edwards and Michelle told her not to worry Edwards did not have enough money to win. So lets not talk about Bill.

BillaryisJustLikeBush
If you did not what politics is …thats what it is ….permanent self interests not conscience. Obama’s inability to respond to questions directly and getting defensive is not better than ‘I did not have sex with that woman’.

This is a totally bogus story. I saw this headline earlier today and thought that he’d lost his temper. Then I watch the video and see that it’s nothing like that? What on earth are you people reporting? It’s one thing for this to be on you blog but now it’s also in your sneak peak section with the same misleading headline.
This is completely out of bounds reporting on your part. There’s no anger, no losing of themper, and the guy is completely composed. How can you keep running with this :frustrated Obama” thread? It’s straight from the Clinton camp and pretty transparent.

why whould the former president of the Harvard Law Review need to be associated w/ a drug dealer?
what’s really strange is that a former president of the Harvard Law Review would be living in a $2mm house! Those former presidents of the Harvard Law Review usually like to slum it…

What the press should be reporting on and making headlines out of is Bill’s involvement in this campaign and his outright lies. This surely make me question whether she will be able to run the country or not, if she cant run her own campaign and on her own. After all, did daddy George campaign for son George?
I WILL WALK THROUGH GLASS ON MY HANDS AND KNEES IF I MUST, IN ORDER TO VOTE AGAINST HILLARY AND VOTE FOR HER OPPONENT, WHOMEVER IT MAY BE.
I am completely disgusted by the stunts of BOTH HER AND BILL.

They probably are getting into his head. It is clear they are gutter trash filth and he is not. I think most everyone can see that. These people have no morals. The have no consistency in ANYTHING they say. Just panderers, liars, crooks, amoral…etc. I wish them nothing, which is better than what they deserve.

ABC News–what is wrong with you (and any number of other blatherers on this blog). How is this a story? For everyone inclined to say Obama’s losing it, either you didn’t watch the video or your deluded by wishful thinking. Hillary yells during the debate (the lines about healthcare) and it plays as passionate, intelligent, committed. Obama shrugs off an idiotic question from a reporter trying to play up substance-less controversy and all of a sudden he’s on the verge of a breakdown. To call this journalism is embarrassing.

Posted by: Jim Heaphy
Don’t hold your breath for to long Jim, I wouldn’t want you passing out. The press has no plans to report on anything such as what you listed above. You might think it is news worthty, but I guarantee you they do not. Besides, why go against the wonderful HRC?

Obama keeps referring to Bill Clinton’s condemnation of his admiration for the Reagan administration and his claim that the Republican party is the party of ideas as spreading false facts (being mistruthful about his comments, if you will). However, John Edwards also reacted the same way to Obama’s comments. Is John Edwards also spreading untrue remarks about Obama??

Obama keeps referring to Bill Clinton’s condemnation of his admiration for the Reagan administration and his claim that the Republican party is the party of ideas as spreading false facts (being mistruthful about his comments, if you will). However, John Edwards also reacted the same way to Obama’s comments. Is John Edwards also spreading untrue remarks about Obama??

Bill Clinton is dividing the Democratic party. If he keeps it up, the Party will be so divided it will lose the Presidential election. This will be very bad for the country, but will serve the Clintons right. They think that Hillary is entitled to the nomination, and how dare Obama try to take her pony away from her.

I’m glad Obama is confronting both Hillary and Bill Clinton. They’re not the know-it-all in American democracy as they would like to think they are. They feel the White House belongs to them solely. According to them, its their right and legacy, and know one will take it from them. Billary will lied, steal, play slime, hardball politics as they ususal do, to get back in the White House.
I will credit them for trying every tactic possible to show Hillary as a likable candidate, soft, gentle candidate…Oh yea, those misty-eyed in NH when faced the possibility of defeat!
The only way they know how to play the game is use divide and conquer politics,or status quo politics. They play slimy, negative and dirty tactics when they compete in an above the fray politics such as Obama’s campaign.
Now they are exposed for all their negative politics, including Bill Clinton for acting like a personal “pitt bull” instead of a former President, or was he ever the stateman.
Obama now need to refocus on what has brought him a win in Iowa that sent the Clinton reevaulating their campaign.
I just hope the American people make the right choice and fight the Clintons for their negative, slimy campaign tactics.

Listen up Hillary people ,
if we are talking about qualifications as far as YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ALL AREAS, having done the most, well he–, then let us be fair. The most qualified is JOHN MCCAIN.
Now, are you all voting for him over her? What? I didn’t hear you? I will vote for him; I will especially vote for him if she is the nominee! She is a classless monkey and I’m NOT voting for some classless gutter trash monkey. At least that’s what I saw last night. Speaking of monkey’s where is Bill these days? Oh, I forgot, NC lying like always regarding something….
This is what you get when you tick off half the electorate that might would have voted for you! Good going Hillary, Bill and all her supporters (including ABC News)!
Barack we’re here for you. Edwards, we’re not mad at you. We know you’re only surviving so you’re still good with us. In fact, we would still be fine if you were too win this! But Hillary, you are dead to us.

It must be very difficult for Obama when a former, popular president takes such a partisan role. It also allows Hillary to stay above the fray as her husband throws barbs at Obama. I think Obama should try to remain above this bickering as the Clintons are associated with this sort of politics. If Obama can win a primary or two soon, he will again find his stride.

This is a nonstory. It was a taunting question, and his response was appropriate.
The character assasination, and guilt- by-association of the refco stuff an example of Clinton-style politics of personal destruction. As a lawyer, you represent some good people and some bad people but mostly you represent people who are both. Holding Obama accountable for what a third-party did — whether or not it was known to Obama — is absurd. If I was held accountable for all the acts of my clients who have paid my salary over the years, I would probably get the death penalty.
And, really, for the good of this forum someone should delete the book-length, poorly reasoned diatribes, such as the one by Lou above. They add nothing and are a pain to scroll past.

THAT is what you term “testy”?! I thought he’d actually look ticked or irritated, not mildly exasperated! Nice work, news team — betting that no one will actually look at the video and larding the content with implications that he flew off the handle. Good lord.

To whoever wrote this below, you have mischarecterized what Obama takes issue with. Both Clintons said that Obama stated that he “liked” Reagan’s ideas. But Obama never said that and the Clintons know it and have known it but continue to lie about it. Obama clearly siad that Reagan’s ideas were more dramatic and he was able to tranform the country by gaining lots of support from the other party. Anyone who can’t tell the difference between admiration for political ability and the substantive ideas deserves to have Hillary or maybe worse, a Republican , as president. Also, Hillary in fact praised Reagan for personal qualities in Brokaw’s book.
“Obama keeps referring to Bill Clinton’s condemnation of his admiration for the Reagan administration and his claim that the Republican party is the party of ideas as spreading false facts (being mistruthful about his comments, if you will). However, John Edwards also reacted the same way to Obama’s comments. Is John Edwards also spreading untrue remarks about Obama??”

Sociopath?
Is Bill Clinton a sociopath? Is Hillary? Both? Decide for yourself… here’s the summary of such behavior… how many can you count?
-Glibness and Superficial Charm
-Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible.
-They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used.
-They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
-Grandiose Sense of Self
-Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”
-Pathological Lying
-Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis.
-Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities.
-Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
-Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core.
-Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities.
-Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims.
-The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
-Shallow Emotions
-When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive.
-Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person.
-Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
Incapacity for Love
Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity common.
-Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
-Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
-”Gets by” by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to women
-Irresponsibility/Unreliability
-Not concerned about wrecking others’ lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
-Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.
-Exploits others effectively.
-Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

Other Related Qualities of a Sociopath… sorry Bill, but you clearly really need professional help…
-Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
-Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
-Authoritarian
-Secretive
-Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
-Conventional appearance
-Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
-Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim’s life
-Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim’s affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
-Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
-Incapable of real human attachment to another
-Unable to feel remorse or guilt
-Extreme narcissism and grandiose
-May state readily that their goal is to rule the world
(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

Umm . . .
Did you actually watch the video? He isn’t testy at all. Actually, he seemed to keep his cool dispite the circumstances and promised that he would talk to him about it in the future.
Maybe I am blind, but after watching the video, I don’t really know what the fuss is about.
BTW, the video shows a completely different story than your written version.

Well I wasn’t going to vote for Hillary in the primary because she has nothing going for her except the Clinton name.
But the only alternative seems to be Obama and I won’t vote for him because his hard-line supporters seem to be worse than the slime machine of the Republican party. Wingnuts are an abomination whether they are right-wing or left-wing.

I am stunned that the network of Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel and Charlie Gibson, three of the great journalists of our time, would do such a classless story.
You’re reporting in NO WAY depicts the video I just saw.

This is going to split the party. We all will suffer.

I am so turned off by the Clintons’ attacks on Sen. Obama> Oboviously the so called liberal media loves it. I am a strong Dennis Kucinich supporter. Sen Edwards was my second choice and Obama my third choice. If Clinton becomes the nominee of the Democratic party I will not vote for her mainly because of the despicable actions of her her husband. Although I detest John McCain’s ideas I would rather see him elected President because he is a more decent person than the unprincipled Clintons who must win at all costs.

Brendan I’m not half as embarresed about the Clinton’s& what they have been thru as i am about George Bush & the mess he has made of this country, as for obama he thought he was the cock of the walk when he won Iowa . Thank goodness NH & NV proved him wrong.I’ll put my bets on Bill Clinton over Obama any day The Clinton’s have him running scared as he knows she is going to win. He is washed up.

Bill Clinton is soooooooo yesterday, so 20th C. He thinks he’s relevant. He’s not.
Let him talk all over S.C. Let him think he makes a difference. He doesn’t.
Anyone who is Black and confused by Bill Clinton: take a deep breath and ask anyone standing around you.

I liked one of the first comments that Bill and Hillary are acting like good cop/bad cop; it seems right. And it is like being blind in a game of gotcha. You can’t tell where they are coming from — now — and now, etc. It is a crazy-making situation. Not being able to confront Hillary on her husband’s rude comments (‘I am here; I didn’t make those comments’) is like being asked if you have stopped beating your wife. After reading this article I began to think about what it is like to be black and to FEEL and KNOW you are being dissed, but others can’t see it. (‘Are YOU letting Bill get into your head?’ As if Bill Clinton were not making killing attacks, all the more powerful coming from a former president, and in public) I always think of the title of a lecture the linguist Hayakawa gave in L.A. in about 1959; it was called: ‘How to Be Sane Though Negro’. The title itself expresses what it must be like to not be able to confront shady, shadowy attacks like this NYTimes reporter’s and Clinton’s.

Good luck to all of us. Splitting the Democratic Party is not the half. There will not be that many Republicans that will sit out the election if Hillary is the winner ofr the Democratics.
Also, it Hillary have and has had a horrilbe relationship with the media for decades then I shutter to think what will happen in the general election. She will face the medi and the Republicans, adn if you all don’t think this is going to happen than this is the biggest fairy tale yet.
You know you can’t always go back. These are differnt times, and you will not be albe to relive the Clinton’s era of the 1990s. With the amount of money owed for this war, housing markets, jobs being shipped to other countries, and the job market is not producing jobs that pays a decent wage, college students graduating with high debt, tell me what is going to happen.
Ready from one day. Just like the House that was suppose to do some much for the Country. Tell me what have they don’t? Who are you kidding?
This Congress is worse than the President, and the rating is about the same. This came with big plans and what have they done? I think they said from day one, they will end the war and bring the troops on. Yet, Bush has been able to get everything he wanted. Who voted for the increases? Why have they not override Bush’s vetos? And you think this is not going to pay out in the general election. Please.
All need to stop the bricking, and look at the facts.
Oh!! by the way I am not planning on burining or robbing anyone.. You see, I am able to work and I pay taxes just like you. Please don’t think all Blacks are poor. This is one of the reason I am telling Blacks it is time to leave the Democratic Party. They think you all are poor and on welfare. Well, it is time for them to find out that our parents did any excellent job of stressing education and we listen.
One who will not vote for Hillary in November, and will be encouraging other Blacks to do the same. You see, don’t believe everythign you read about us. We are becoing more Independent, get it.

I watched the video. Obama smiled away at first as he responded to the “reporter”, which Zeleny is not acting like by refusing an off-the-record interview. Zeleny got his answer to his juvenile question, a much more reasoned answer than he wanted. No real reporter would refuse an interview with Obama. He’s probably afraid he’ll like Obama as much as so many editorial boards have after extended interviews with him, on the record and off. That would make his Obama-bashing assignment more difficult than it already is. Poor guy can’t find a scandal worth the bytes. I haven’t been impressed with NYT coverage in general in this election. What, is Disney planning to buy the NYT, too?

I’m alway very curious about any off the cuff video or exchanges with Obama to see how things are happening behind the scenes. I expected to see something of substance here but it was a complete waste of time. This is a non-story and someone wasted the time encoding the video for posting and the keystrokes for this entry.
Maybe I can save someone else here some time. There’s nothing to see here, move along.

The Clintons aren’t in Obama’s head. Obama is in the Clinton’s heads. He turned the entire audience to his favor in less than half an hour and brought out the old-fashioned petulant ice-queen Hillary. Every shot at Hillary was met with resounding applause and Hillary’s dishonesty was met with overpowering boos.
Funny how Hillary went from a 20 point lead to a 20 point deficit in South Carolina in LESS THAN ONE MONTH.
Now it’s a choice between the heavily scripted and repetitive John “personal, battle of my life” Edwards, the charming, bullet-proof, endearing young talent Barack “Hope” Obama, and the ruler-swinging, authoritarian, fact-challenged Hillary “GRRRRR” Clinton.
Hillary realizes she can’t beat Obama on the facts, so she has her husband expend his good faith lying. Once that is tapped, the entire machines is going to rebound right back in her face and she’s going down for the count.

The person who said HRC and Barack Hussein Obama are in a tie in NYC is flat out lying, just like Obama always does. He was caught again in a lie on NBC this morning. Good thing they called him out on it and he turned red.
All the polls show NYC is creaming Barack. Get over it and no amount of lies (paid lies) will stop that.
She will win CA too.

Obama is TRYING to respect Bill Clinton as a former President of the United States. Bill realizes this and using it to his advantage.
However, Obama also KNOWS that he cannot ALLOW his opponent to define who he is. KNOWING that Bill is not his opponent—–should tell AMERICA the WEAKNESS of the Clintons if BILL IS NEEDED FOR DISTORTION to gain momentum. If the race was—Rodham vs Obama, the title of this article would NOT be an issue.
Bush’s father did not NEED to campaign for him. Nor did he feel that his son’s platform was SO WEAK that it was necessary to use his “power” to boost his son.
Getting in Obama’s Head? No. It’s called respect. And respect will remain, BUT with decency in informing the AMERICAN people of his record.

Obama is a crybaby who has been swinging at HRC for 6 or more months. Now he is being asked to substantiate his record and he is crying fowl.
The only problem with Bill is has focused the electorate on issues vs. Idol worship

This will not change any of these commentators mind here on this post, but let’s start with the question asked, “Is Bill Clinton getting in your head?” First this a leading question, which just by answering it means that he has thought about Bill and and therefore it does concern him. Often reporters ask these type of questions but let’s be fair, it is a leading question. No reporters are going up to Mrs. Clinton and asking her, “Is Bill running for co-president?” or going up to Huckabee and asking him, “Are their racist in yor family?(because of his comments about the confederate flag)” or John McCain, “You say you straight talk, but how do feel about taking two sides of an arguement, is this really straight talk” or Romney, “Did you rent porn in the Hotels you were running back Salt Lake?” or Guiliani, “Do you have ties to the mob?” or Edwards, “Aren’t you really a dispicable trial lawyer?” Come on people, we all hate what Bush has done to this country, we are divided! We all beleive in change, so let’s make sure we elect someone who can change the momentum in this country from favoring the top 5% and start thinking about how to take care of each and every american because that is our patriotic duty! Does that mean that we will all agree, hell no discourse is neecessary in free country!
And this is the second non-story hat ABC has pushed in this direction in two days. I guess the news budget is tight in for profit business which cares about the short term exploitation of current events rather than thoughtful investigative analysis!
Gotta go, stay solid!

It’s to bad for Obama. The Clinton’s are the masters of corruption and will do or say anything to win. It’s not about doing good for the Country. It’s about their own power and glory. I’m a Democart and would love to see a women my age as President. But not Hillary.
If she’s in I will vote Republican or I will sit it out. Clinton’s are no different then the Bush’s just smarter.

I’m an undecided voter…so doing a lot of reading and listening. Jeff…and ABC…this wasn’t quality reporting. Jeff tried to make news rather than report it. Watching the video, as I did, it was clear Jeff ‘punched up’ the story by his commentary. This is NOT Fox News, thank God, but you’d better remember that!
d’

Ed Rendell just endorsed Hillary. This is huge. Those that jumped on the Barack band wagon too early are sweating in Washington now.
OBAMA NEVER LIES. This guy is arrogant and pompous.

well, no shortage of short-sighted, ignorant folks around here! do any of y’all even know any of the positions the candidates advocate? do you know that Clinton is planning to ditch net neutrality, remove Howard Dean from the DNC? why why why would people want to put the country through watching Hillary Clinton lose what should be a no-lose situation? everyone’s convinced that the Clintons can handle Republican attacks. unfortunately, the truth is these attacks nearly always work on the Clintons, and they are vulnerable to them uniquely in relation to Obama. Clinton fatigue throughout the country is much stronger than people who follow politics closely realize.

In the video Barack does not appear much angry. He just answers the question and goes about his business.

Do you Obama supports think that voting records or the lach thereof even matters. Everytime Hillary questions BO about his record he retorts “you see this is just the type of politics that America is sick and tired of”. Ok that’s not responding to the question, which BO is very skilled at doing.
Also, that Rezko situation is very real. Just take a little time a read what the Chicago Tribune has reported on Obama’s relationship with this indicted slumlord. You won’t find people like Russert and Matthews discussing it b/c it clearly seems like Obama was on the take from Rezko.
The Baltimore Sun has and article about Obama and Rezko today. So everyone take a chill pill and read about the guy you know nothing about.

This is classic Karl Rove tactics. I don’t like it at all but maybe that will be the only way to beat the republicons in the general. I’m sure they’ll be pulling the same stunts. At least Barack will be used to it by then.

Is ABC campaigning for the Clintons? Aside from the Clintons’ talking points and strategy, what warrants this reaction and article? The video certainly doesn’t.

It is incredibly sad to have to counter a blatantly false story on ABC News’ website with a link to Fox news, but this video footage of Senator Obama’s exchange with NYT reporter Jeff Zeleny tells an entirely different story than that portrayed in your story above.

quit mischaracterizing the slightest things for the sake of a story, please. he didn’t “angrily shoot back” anything. if you people were less set on “narratives” and turning everything into a fistfight, maybe we’d have some substantive debate on the issues. we don’t need your spin and coloring and you can’t invent the story instead of letting it tell itself.

After all the red-face, finger-wagging dreck from Bill Clinton and the loud arm-waving vein-busting nonsense from HRC, you call this a “testy” exchange?? You’ve got to be kidding me!! Senator Obama is totally cool and collected!!

ABC has horribly distorted this story.
The incident on the video is nothing
like it’s portrayed in this story. Shame on ABC.

What garbage this is. Is this ABC or Fox? I can’t tell the difference.

This story is a disgrace. If you look at the actual video, it totally misstates and over-embellishes what actually happened. ABC News should discipline the reporter responsible for this

What kind of crap is this? “Testy exchange”? Sorry, I didn’t see/hear it in this clip.
Looks like some of the posters here also didn’t see what I didn’t see. I’m glad they’re not buying ABC’s tripe.

What a ridiculous, awful, incompetent story.

I have watched the video and Zelaney has completely mischaracterized Obama’s response, which was in no w way angry. You call this reporting?

Nice video. It proves that your description of this event isn’t even close to accurate. The idea that this was written by a journalist is laughable.

who the hell is Sunlen Miller? Is she a journalist? Why does she make up stories? And if she is going to make up a story, why be so un-original as to just ape the Clinton-is-driving-Barak-nuts meme that the Clinton campaign is peddling, when that clearly wasn’t what happened here? A testy exchange? Ridiculous. Terrible terrible reporting. ABC news sucks.

After watching the video in which Obama is grinning and saying “C’mon Jeff, you’re better than that” in a light-hearted manner, reading the ABC characterization that he “fired back angrily” in regards to that very same response is dispiriting.
More than that, it’s dishonest.
At most, his first gambit was pointed. The second two, characterized successively as “fired back angrily” and “confront[ing] Zeleny again,” were both clearly in a joking tone.
ABC reporters were admitting sheepishly that “it’s hard to stay objective about this guy” when he had momentum. But as soon as it starts to wane, a mostly playful exchange is described as a heated argument.
To read this shameful description almost makes Obama sound like he’s turning into (gasp) Bill Clinton!

What a bad mischaracterization on the part of Mr. Zeleny. After watching the video this article does not come even close to the event that occured. Mr. Zeleny’s editor needs to step in and clarify this subversion

what the hell is this? the video isn’t even close to matching this article’s description. have you gone from reporting the news to trying to generate it?

After watching the video of this incident, it seems that there is a disparity between what is seen and how it is characterized by the reporter. It brings mind that quote by Groucho Marx “Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” Let there be Hope.

fire Sunlen and your editors today! this story along with the writer somehow squirmed out from the warm thighs of the hillary campaign to make abc news? c’mon

umm i dont know what video you were watching when you wrote that story, but the one you linked to must not have been it because the events dont match your description of them

I’ve seen the video – talk about bad reporting. No wonder people don’t trust the mainstream media…

Please please point out when and how:
* Obama SHOT back
* Obama fired back ANGRILY
* Obama CONFRONTED Zeleny again
That’s all I ask.
~ Jess

Here’s the problem for Obama. He’s the “wine” candidate, which frankly appeals to the elite grad school educated classes, and there just aren’t as many as Hillary is appealing to. She’s the “beer” candidate.

I am a an Edwards supporter but can see that ABC and Jeff Zeleny doing a hit job on Obama. The clip does not come close to backing up Zelney’s / ABC’s story line. The corporate media’s journalistic ethics are becoming just a joke.

This is not suprising. Obama can feel the momentum slipping from his fingers, and is whining like a little girl.

BAD JOURNALISM!
ABC’s reporting here is a joke. Their account of Obama’s reaction is totally fictional! He didn’t seem even slightly angry!

How astonishingly irresponsible. Miller seems to have a problem with emotional intelligence. Maybe ABC is in the “tear down” Obama phase….

The mainstream press is so scummy. Watch the video. Obama wasn’t angry. This reporter sounded like my older brother razzing me and Obama handled it with class, like he always does. ABC worships the establishment, just like the rest of them.

Characterizing Obama’s reaction as “testy” is tantamount to lying. It’s clear to anyone who sees the video (yet somehow eluded the reporter of this story).
ABC, do you need to make up stories to get attention? This deserves a retraction.

Horrible characterization of what transpired. ABC should rewrite this, maybe the person who wrote it didn’t see the video themselves. Horrible job, guys. I expect better from ABC News.
More to the point of the question…look what happened to Kerry when he let lies about his record go unchallenged. He was ridiculed for not responding. Nothing wrong with setting the record straight.

It’s enlightening, while sad, to see fellow Dems spew negative talking points that were instigated by their candidate. It’s…so…Republican-like. Think for yourself and analyze the process rationally.
I thought there was a difference between the two Parties in who made up the majority of their base. I’m seeing that maybe we are mostly all just malleable putty in our “hero’s” hands.

Are you serious? Has anyone watched the video?
The media, in trying to create a storyline that will play well on an across-the-screen ticker is trying to pigeon-hole Barack. Instead of looking at evidence and developing a story, they have developed a story and are looking for evidence to prop it up! Disgusting! No wonder people are sick of MSM!

If someone came up to me to ask me such a personal question I would have told him to go away…BHO doesnt have to answer a stupid question like that! Talk about giving away the goods! The Clintons and their minions are going to run what good feelings we had about them into the ground. They better stop exposing themselves as who the GOPers claimed they were or they will lose the “war” even if they win the battle.
America is NOT an oligarchy or a monarchy…Reagan/Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton???? We need someone new because this thing just hasnt been working for us…

If that is characterized as ‘firing back angrily,’ you need to fire that reporter. Because he has no backbone. I have more testy exchanges with my barber.

To say that Obama “confronts” anyone or “shoots back angrily” at any point is a misrepresentation of facts. Watch the video– he’s as cool as a cucumber.

Boo to ABC. I read the story without the accompanying video. It gave me a distinct impression of events. I then saw the video. Completely different. It amounts to false reporting, sexing up the dossier. There are plenty of other blogs and news sites that won’t get as desperate as this. It cheapens the campaigns and insults your viewers. I for one will not frequent this site again, or watch any more of your new programming. Shameless, shameful.

Good to know that ABC has made the leap into tabloid version, and can no longer be trusted to present news in an evenhanded, disinterested manner.
The video doesn’t lie. Shame on ABC.

Just stop it, ABC Political Radar. You’re hurting America… I’m feeling testy after reading your overwrought characterization of the exchange.
Just stop. Why do people hate the media? Because you’re more interested in simplistic psychobabble like this crap than you were in digging into Bush’s case for war in Iraq. Shame on you.

This was abysmal reporting.
Shame on you, ABC.
At least you were stupid enough to post the video so we can see for ourselves how biased your reporter was.

I am not a supporter of any of the Democratic candidates, haven’t yet made up my mind.
I am however, not a supporter of the MSM which continues distorted, biased reporting on them. The unsubtle use of incorrect and biased words to describe the exchange is clearly belied by the video of the event.
“Obama shot back as he walked away” – he said over his shoulder, somewhat distractedly as he was doing other things would have been more appropriate.
“Obama fired back angrily, “Don’t try cheap stunts like that” This is the most laughable one as Obama was actually smiling and appeared to be joking with a reporter who was clearly trying to bait him.
Obama came back and confronted Zeleny again. “I will answer your question though off the record, would you like to talk off the record?” Obama asked. Zeleny refused to go off the record and then motioned toward the gaggle of TV cameras gathered around him.
In addition to completely overstating the fact that he simply circulated around the crowd and found hs way back to the reporter (You imply he marched back over and called him out) you left out the second part of Obama’s statement that it was hard to do so with all the reporters around indicating he actually knew he couldn’t do so and did not need the prodding of the reporter.
What a completely nonfactual, biased bit of spinning a story this was, completely lacking in journalistic integrity, a term that ABC News seems to be doing its best to turn into an OXYMORON.

Now ABC News goes from “questionable” to “unreliable” on the list of “News” agencies regarding the current political race. There are damn few reliable sources any more. What’s saddest is so many people are so lazy that they don’t check the “facts” that are spewed forth by the fifth estate…they just accept what they hear as “truth”. This nation deserves the crappy governments it gets so long as it stays complacent. Democracy, like Freedom, is not free. It takes work and a willingness to work to see beyond the distortions that always plauge politics.

The Clintons really ARE getting in Obama’s head. He has NEVER faced a tough campaign, and he is naturally thin-skinned–not a recipe for a strong general election match-up. He has a sense of entitlement to be President that is completely undeserved. Gives a great speech, seems to represent generational change–but it’s otherwise all fluff and there’s little substantive difference between him, Clinton, and Edwards. He acts surprised and aggrieved and victimized because his opponents are–shockingly!!–trying to win. Politics is not tiddlywinks, Barack, which you would know if your previous opponents hadn’t self-destructed and let you waltz into office (an office you’re apparently too bored to stay in? or was it all just a prelude to a run for the WH after all? oh, my, my illusions are shattered.) Obama supporters need to get over their collective self-delusion. This is politics. there are no saints, only sinners.