Obama Calls Spitzer Scandal a ‘Tragedy’
EmailABC News’ David Wright and Sunlen Miller Report: Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama today expressed sympathy for disgraced New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who resigned yesterday in the midst of a prostitution scandal.
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
"Obviously it’s a tragedy," Obama said. "It’s heartbreaking for the family, but I suspect that it would not have been possible to function as governor."
Pressed by reporters, Obama suggested the various sex scandals of the Clinton years should not be an issue for voters now.
"Sen. Clinton should be judged on her own merits," he said.
"People can actually draw maybe better conclusions from how our respective campaigns have been run where both I’m in charge of my campaign and she is in charge of hers," he said.
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I wouldn’t worry too much, Truth. Obama’s an extremely smart, savvy guy.
He’s wise to steer clear of the topic of Bill’s cheating because he knows the Spitzer case will *automatically* get people talking about it. He (Obama) simply rises above it, and let’s the story speak for itself.
In a related matter, I found it ridiculous the other day when one of Mrs. Clinton’s high-paid flacks tried foolishly to equate Obama with Ken Starr — LOL! Why would any Clinton drone work so awkwardly and ineptly to bring up Starr, of all people — thus reminding Americans once more of the Clintons’ myriad scandals and investigations throughout the ’90s!!!
Posted by: adam | March 13, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am
This is why I am an Obama supporter. This reaction he just gave, this is exactly why. Kudos Barack.
Posted by: Brando | March 13, 2008, 11:45 am 11:45 am
Brando, I wholeheartedly second your observation. It’s time to turn the page on the old-style, ugly, ruthless politics.
Keep up the good work, Senator Obama.
Posted by: mark | March 13, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Way to go, Barack Obama!!! Were the shoe on the other foot, I doubt Hillary would have taken the high road!
Posted by: Jackt51 | March 13, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am
People do not have short memory. When the scandal of Spitzer broke out, I can assure you, the sacandal of Bill Clinton struck to their mind again at least 99.9%.
Posted by: Peace | March 13, 2008, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
OBAMA is clearly trying to ride the surf from another press story unrelated to his campaign. I would actually have a bit more respect for him if he stood up and spoke critically of Spitzer’s BEHAVIOR before Spitzer resigned, to influence him out of office. This after the fact stuff is worth zero points or negative points.
As I recall earlier this week someone in the OBAMA campaign wrote a vitriolic email attacking HILLARY for Bill’s behavior. Sounds like the OBAMA team is trying to have it both ways.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | March 13, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
People will always remember Bill Sex Scandal but what does Hillary has to do with it? She is wrong for having him to act as if the white house will belong to him again. Republicans will not vote for Hillary as long as Bill is behind her. Democrats are divided and the future of the party will be damaged for the next few years. Let Mccain be elected once for all since Democrats are tearing each other apart.
Posted by: Truth | March 13, 2008, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Kick the tires people. dont want buyers remorse for another 4 years.
strongmen4hill
Posted by: billy | March 13, 2008, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
what about Obama’s sex scandal?
Posted by: geevill | March 13, 2008, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
Obama – playing the look at me Rise above it rhetoric. I am sure that he feels differently about this issue.
With all his mudslinging – I don’t buy this line bull at all. Obama your day is coming.
Posted by: Karl | March 13, 2008, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Obama08, thank you for the leadership and the right answers, judgement count. You will never judge Hillary for their sex scandals or sexual orientations. American people will have to do that judgement.
Posted by: BKMC | March 13, 2008, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
Brando – yet he has not apologized or renounced or rejected his wife’s personal attacks on Senator Clinton where she blamed Senator Clinton for Bill’s cheating. He is such a hypocrit.
Posted by: DCVoter | March 13, 2008, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
DCVOTER:
Please tell me where I can find Mrs. Obama’s statement in which she blamed Hilary for Bill’s cheating…. I would like to read it for myself.
And if you can’t provide me with any proof.. then I think you know what you can do with your comment. :o)
(oh, and I want a credible source.. no gossip sites.)
Posted by: LeAnn | March 13, 2008, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
Hello Truth, you say Hillary has nothing to do with Bill’s scandal!! Please think again.
This is the woman who did not take any concrete action to show other women that she has self-esteem, and she did not deserve to be treated that way.
To sum up all these, she did let down all women of the entire world.
Posted by: Peace | March 13, 2008, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
When this crap is all over, McCain will be in he White House for 4 years, he economy will be just as bad, we will still be in Iraq and preparing to go into Iran. At that point, America will surely hunger for someone who will bring this country together. Since Hillary will never be trusted by Republicans and Independents, then it will be up to Barack to get back the presidency and properly steer the nation. Too bad we’re going to have to give the Bush/Cheney regime 4 more years through McCain. Democrats are proud of who they have to choose from but the divisiveness of the race means you will get neither. I am unaffiliated and will stay that way. I will also sit out this November.
Posted by: coleen | March 13, 2008, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
You may just be right, colleen. Perhaps though, it would be worth paying the price just to end the dynastic, unseemly Bush/Clinton era once and for all.
That said, as much as I have *DESPISED* these last eight years of the Bush cabal, I may sit this one out too, should Hillary be the nominee.
For many a month I’d told myself that I could support either Obama *or* Clinton. But having watched Her Ladyship’s (and her surrogates’) outrageous behavior in the interim, I’ve concluded since the Ferraro bigot eruption that I cannot vote for her without violating my own internal code of honor and ethics, and my sense of decency and fair play.
I won’t *ever* vote for the truly awful John W. McBush, but unfortunately, Mrs. Clinton has made it impossible for me to support her either.
Posted by: mark | March 13, 2008, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
I agree with BHO here.
But I just don’t understand why the wife has to paraded through every appology session.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | March 13, 2008, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Okay – so why can’t BHO or HRC just come right out and say “That’s wrong, disgusting, criminal, and a dis-service to the people of New York” instead of trying to paint this as a “tragedy”. Disabled in car wreck – that’s a tragedy. One of his children dies – that’s a tragedy. But this? One more example of a certain brand of politician excusing bad, or downright criminal behavior simply because of the (D) that should be after their name (but is blatantly missing) in the newscasts. If this had involved a (R), do you suppose BHO, HRC, or anybody at ABC would have the nerve to call this a “tragedy”? What a joke.
Posted by: todd | March 13, 2008, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Dont really care. Cheating politicans is nothing new.
Posted by: Ashley B. | March 13, 2008, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
Obama is damn if he does or damn if he doesn’t. I guess I really did not know it was so much hatred in America. Let’s just face it most of you just hate Obama just to hate. I am a strong support of Obama, but because we are really seeing the true feelings of so many people I wish a black man had never run. Then you people can go back into your evil hatefull worlds and keep your ugly feelings to yourself. Believe me no one has ever thought for one minute the this hatred that you people carry around was gone. You know you pick the settings to voice what you feel too cowardly to speak too loudly, afraid someone might hear you and will see you in another light. Let’s just keep it real the number 1 thing that Obama has against him for all of the haters on the blog is that he is a black man that might be in the powerful position in america and you would rather have the world to come to an end.
Posted by: Tamara | March 13, 2008, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Obviously it’s a tragedy that his pastor hates America.
Posted by: crisis08 | March 13, 2008, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
Hey Ashley B,
I couldn’t have said it any better…..
Posted by: KirkW | March 14, 2008, 6:38 am 6:38 am
Obama Calls Spitzer Scandal a ‘Tragedy’. Ironic isn’t it? When he was pressed further in a subsequent Fox News interview. Obama admitted that he would have quit his church had he witnessed and heard Wright’s statements FIRSTHAND. “If I had heard them repeated, I would have quit,” he said. “If I thought that was the repeated tenor of the church, then I wouldn’t feel comfortable there.” Well, another ‘Tragedy’?
Posted by: Substance | March 15, 2008, 2:58 am 2:58 am
Todd said, “Disabled in car wreck – that’s a tragedy. One of his children dies – that’s a tragedy. But this?”
No, Obama has this exactly right. Tragedy is a bad outcome that’s the direct, inevitable result of a serious flaw or failing — a good description of Spitzer’s situation. The car wreck / children dying scenario — that’s catastrophe, not tragedy. Catastrophe and tragedy are sad for two entirely different reasons.
Posted by: Smiling Mortician | March 15, 2008, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm